The Power of the H4

So it isn't exactly our H4, but it is colored the same and it is made to look just as cool as it is in real life. I don't know that our little scooter could reach the speed limit on the road that I've photoshopped it on...but, with that environment it looks cool and rugged like something that Hummer would make.

Well, we've had quite a week. It was Lisa's first week of full work at Target. It was good and bad at the same time. I'm really glad for her that she has something to do during the day. Especially while I'm at work since I know she gets a little stir crazy without me around. So, that is a good thing. That and our budget could certainly use the padding that her employment will provide. But, at the same time...even though she works what Target deems a "daytime" shift...the times that we are home don't coordinate as well anymore. I guess by "daytime" Target means "during any daylight hour" right up until there are no daylight hours left. In other words, there may come a time when I'm in bed by the time Lisa gets home.

There hasn't really been anything eventful that has happened recently. I put in some overtime at the station. It is really nice to get the hours. It will be even better to get the check. Now...I don't want to say anything to tarnish anyone's name...but, I will say that I am awfully glad that the talent that I work with in the morning is much more amiable and much less full of themselves.

I suppose that is about it. I could go on a tirade about how upsetting certain personalities can be...but, I'd rather end this on a pleasant note. I hope everyone can get a good laugh out of the picture of the H4. I also hope that this next week can produce some more newsworthy events. Until then...talk at you later!

From the Batcave

Well, it has been a little while since the last update. Apologies to those of you (Mom) who have been waiting for such with baited breath and have been disappointed. I guess life just has not been all that exciting of late.

In home news, we have decided to christen our little scooter. I went to visit Lisa while she was at work at Target yesterday since I was done at 3 and she would not be done until 6:30. Well, Lisa and I picked up a few items while she was on her break. I already had a few things in the seat of the scooter and Lisa asked if she wanted to put the groceries in the car or if I could take them with me in the scooter. I said, "Oh sure, the H4 can handle it." So there you have it. Hummer's latest creation: our little scooter. Not exactly all terrain, but it is a funny little name for our inner city cruiser.

At work, I have been doing shifts in master control. Master control is essentially, in a watered down way of describing it, watching TV for eight hours straight. In a more descriptive yet still simple way of stating it, it entails the monitoring of programming (i.e. checking the meter readings on our analog and digital outputs to make sure that everything is where it should be), rolling the local commercial spots, getting shows off of the satellites, clipping up daily shows like Jeopardy, Family Feud and Wheel of Fortune (Jeopardy comes in two days before it airs, so I know who will be the new/returning champion before anyone else even watches it), and during our newscasts, I switch the tapes for the show. It is a lot of work…for just watching TV. The shift is also a bit different from what I’m used to. Instead of the early rising 4 to 12:30, it is 7 to 3. So, it has been nice to “sleep in” until 6 instead of 3. But, I did get up at 3 this morning…and that was a little shock to the system. I’m sure that I will crash pretty quick tonight.

So…I’m sure you are a bit puzzled by the title of this particular entry. Well, puzzle no more. The story goes: because Lisa has been working quite a bit more than before and since her hours conflict somewhat with mine, I have been riding the scooter in to work everyday. My boss, Tom Benson, said that it was okay for me to pull my scooter inside a little garage door just behind the studio. So, that’s what I have been doing. The other day, Tom watched me take off on the scooter and he said that having the little garage made it like me taking off out of the Batcave. But, that’s not where the story ends. So, yesterday when I was home and Lisa was not, I had our whole garage in which to park the H4. Well, when I went to visit Lisa at work and later when I took off for the library I had to be innovative. See, we only have one garage door opener and that stays with Big Papa (AKA the Buick). So, what I’ve been doing is unlocking our door to the garage, opening the garage, pulling out the H4, going back in to shut the garage door and then locking and closing the door to the garage behind me and finally getting on the scooter and taking off for wherever I need to go. Well, this time I decided to try something. I backed the scooter up to the garage door button and started the engine. I pressed the button and gunned the H4 and went flying out under the closing garage door! Now that was a Batcave experience! I almost couldn’t stop laughing after I had done it. Lisa said she isn’t sure if she wants to watch me do it or not…since she isn’t sure she wants to know how close I get to being clothes-lined by the door. I don’t really know…all I know is: I made it and it is really fun. So there you have it: the Batcave title and the included picture.

Anyway…I hope that this update has been satisfying and amusing. Until next time…same Bat time…same Bat channel!

Hooray for scooters!!

So...yesterday after leaving the library, we got on our mighty scooter and started on our way home. Well...there isn't really a way to get home without going on a hill in one direction or another. So, we tackled probably the biggest hill that we could have. I knew it would be slow going and that it was possible that we would have to get off and push. I throttled as much as I could and got the bike up to 40. The speed dropped precipitously, but leveled out at 20 and the only repercussions that we faced were the impatient drivers who shot past us in the other lane. No harm, no foul. I'm certain they expected that we wouldn't be able to maintain the 30 mph speed limit, so it wasn't that we made anyone angry. If anything, I'm sure they laughed at us struggling up the hill. And the upshot is: we know we can make it both to and from the library on the scooter!

Work today was pretty good. I had forgotten my cell phone and was unable to receive texts from Lisa. I was able to send one via T-Mobile.com, but I couldn't get texts back. That was okay, because I was rather busy the entire time. Generally, I spend a bit of time just walking around looking for something to entertain myself between cut ins and shows. But, I worked on a few web graphics and helped with some of the pre-producing of this Friday's "Technology Spot". It was an all day sort of work day, which was nice.

Spring officially begins tonight just after midnight. It will be nice to see the temperatures rise to bring weather that is a little more scooter-worthy. Not that I'm anticipating that overnight, but, it will be nice to leave behind a winter that should fly in the face of the global warming theory.

Happy Spring everyone, enjoy the vernal equinox!

Smaller than small

Sorry...not much time to write today.

Things are going well. Mom and Dad came to visit. It was really nice to finally see them after a month. Boy, I've gone soft, huh? I could handle four months while I was at school, but now that I'm in the same state, I guess I think I should see them more. Their visit was great, albeit brief. Thanks to their generosity we have a TV stand, we have a scooter and most important: we have food!

My boss, Tom Benson, is off on vacation this week. Not that there is anything significant about this week. His kids do have spring break this week, so it is timely. But, from the sound of things...he just had vacation days left and didn't want them to go unused. I can understand that. But, it does mean that one of my other coworkers is directing and his approach and style are very different. If I were to name Tao in terms of what I have learned in my Pooh book, I would say he is a Tigger. If there is any wonder what I mean...read the book. You'll see what I'm talking about and laugh.

Anyway...as was the caveat at the beginning of this entry, my time is limited. So, rather than belabor this particular entry, I will leave what little I have already said. Until next time. Same Nigh website, anytime you feel like it.

A fly can't bird, but a bird can fly

Well, here we are. Another day older and wiser, too. At leas ideally that's the case, the one is inevitable and the other depends on you.

Work remains very much the same. I've gotten to the point that I very rarely make mistakes on audio. Although today I was pretty tired and just about fell asleep during the noon show. Tom called for bump music (which is the music that plays right before we go to commercial break) and I about jumped out of my chair making sure I hit it. It was almost a disaster. In any case, I certainly didn't look calm and controlled. Tom got a laugh out of it.

I have made a very sound determination about my life. Not anything that will alter the trajectory of my career or the goals that I intend to pursue in life. It is really more of an affirmation that I have gone into the correct field. I had a meeting last night with the Young Men's Presidency. We had a meeting with the scouting committee from our ward and the Chippewa Falls Branch. I'm not really certain what all of the squabbling was about...but, it felt to me like something that I might experience were I a senator or congressman. Do we see where I'm going with this? I could never be a politician, if for no other reason than the fact that it would drive me crazy to have sitting around pontificating and blowing smoke be a part of the duties of my office. It was so irritating to sit there and feel as though there were a number of good ideas that were presented that would have worked as the solution to the problem that I had gleaned from what was being said. But, someone had something different in mind and so rather than seek to understand how such a solution might be viable, they reject it because it wasn't exactly what they had in mind. Grrr.

Moving onwardly...Lisa and I have been reading a book called The Tao of Pooh. What a fascinating book! It talks about how Pooh is somewhat the embodied epitome of Taoist philosophy and how the other characters in the Pooh story are, in one way or another, the antithesis of such. It goes through and takes a chapter to explain how each character is at odds with Taoist teachings and how Pooh is. Reading it has sparked a few enlightening philosophical conversations between Lisa and me. I have determined already that I am not very much like Pooh. Which...from a Taoist perspective, is okay. I don't know that I could say that I am any one character, though. I don't think anyone is. It's like the Myers Briggs personality assessment. You will be dominantly one thing over another, but have characteristics of both, otherwise you have some sort of mental disorder.

In other news, my parents are coming to town tomorrow!! I've been looking forward to this since they told me that was their plan. Of course, when they told me it felt like forever away. But, I've been like a little kid who has been told that Christmas is almost here. Not that I keep thinking that I need to ask Lisa if Mom and Dad are coming today...but, almost that bad. It will be exciting in so many ways. They will get to see our place and what we have done to move in, they will get to see my work and see what I do so they can picture me there, they will get to see the area and know a little more what it is like here in Eau Claire and they will get to meet the people we go to church with. It is exciting!

Anyway...there isn't really anymore to be said. TTFN, ta ta for now.

The Beat Goes On

Well, another day another fist full of dollars, right? It hasn't been any easier on a body that still hasn't been able to find more than a few hours of sleep. Sunday night was a late night, Monday was a late night and last night was a fairly late night (considering I get up at 3:30). So, for three consecutive days I have opted to take my shower when I get home from work in the afternoon so that I could get an additional half hour of recovery sleep. My coworkers don't seem to mind. But, it is still my determination to go to work clean tomorrow.

I don't know that there is a whole lot of news...Lisa has already posted regarding getting pulled over...which was frustrating and scary. I'm not certain why police find it necessary to sit there in their squad car forever when you're sitting there with your engine idling. I was really glad that the officer was lenient. But, the written warning that he handed me wasn't really even that detailed. What was he doing in his car for the lengthy time he had me sweating in mine?

At any rate...I don't think there is too much more to say. So long for now.

Coasting through life

Dave wants me to write but I don't want to because I don't have anything to say really. He told me to write about this...

Yesterday on the way home from the library, Dave got pulled over for going 8 over the speed limit down hill. He got off with a written warning, thank goodness. We were both irritated me mostly because he was going down hill, what do you expect a car to do when you are going down hill? it wasn't like he was flooring it to go that fast he was just coasting. In order to not speed down that hill, based on the speed limit and the height and slope of the hill, one would have to ride their breaks all the way down. Which as I've seen no one does, but they have decided that this must change and have started putting police there. At least there was no harm done, no ticket. I did notice that today on the way to the library Dave did the speed limit exactly, not even 5 over.

Daylight Savings, how I loathe thee

So...anyone else that is yawning and rubbing their sore eyes from a lost precious hour of sleep knows the reason for the hostility towards daylight savings. Of course, it didn't help much that this past week I worked in master control and didn't have to get up until 6...add to that getting up at 3 (2, if you ask my body). But...I have not allowed myself to nap at all today, with the exception of crashing on the bed while I waited for Lisa to get ready so we could come here to the library. But, that was really more of a doze than a nap. Certainly not enough to prevent me from slipping off the face of consciousness when I hit the hay tonight.

Our weekend was fabulous! On Saturday, we did our usual laundry and housekeeping. After this, we reviewed our benefits packages for NBC and for Target and I filled out the paperwork for mine. When I finished looking through the 1040 booklet trying to determine the maximum amount that we could get from Uncle Sam, I filled in everything I needed to for our federal return. It looks like we should get a pretty decent check. Hallelujah! The economic stimulus that will be sent a little later will be a Godsend, too. People can say what they want about Bush, but...I've gotten a grant during his presidency and I'll get another handsome check before he's done, too. I'm not going to gripe.

Where was I? Oh yes, the weekend. Saturday evening, Lisa and I went to the ward talent show. What a blast! I got to MC, so I was right in my element. I was able to play my guitar intermittently when people were setting up for their talent. Some of the kids did talents like karaoke, dancing...which was really more like running and flailing around on stage, and singing songs about the 50 Nifty United States and Down by the Bay. But, even though some of the talents were simple and just plain nutty, everyone applauded and cheered. Now...everyone knows what a cantankerous and ornery person I am about people who are disingenuous in action or word and that I frequently tend to doubt people's sincerity, especially after being in Utah where even the most miserable performance gets a standing ovation. But, when everyone was so enthusiastically clapping for each performer, no matter how facile the performance, there was a divine genuineness to it. Certainly everyone recognized that in terms of expecting perhaps a Broadway performance, a Pavarottian rendition of Down by the Bay, or Freddie Mercury and Queen playing Rainbow Connection, the performances (obviously including my own) weren't spectacular. But, with utmost sincerity they encouraged and applauded the performers for their courage to perform in front of a body of people, however familiar. It wasn't the over-enthusiastic standing ovation that made me wish to defiantly fold my arms and refuse to clap, rather it was a loving support that made each act feel better than it really was, for both performer and audience.

In the way of movie reviews, Lisa and I watched My Big, Fat, Greek Wedding. What a hilarious and touching movie that was! I told Lisa that this movie was a point of discussion in my film program at BYU. Frequently the topic of "Mormon cinema" was addressed. Teachers would ask us what we thought Mormon cinema should or could be. They felt this question was especially pertinent since we were prospective LDS filmmakers and it applied particularly because of the fact that our religion (ideally) is inextricably connected with who we are and would have to find a place within our craft. This was also viewed in light of the fact that films like Single's Ward and The R.M. are definitely about Mormon culture and even touch somewhat in the realm of belief. But, they aren't films that are explicitly LDS that are accessible to people who are not. There are all sorts of decidedly LDS nuances that are palatable and humorous to us because we understand them. So, the market has been attenuated. Instead, our teachers encouraged us to express what it means to be Mormon in a way that is accessible to a broader human experience. It would have to be specific, of course, because that is what makes a film great and enjoyable: specificity. If you are too universal, the film will feel preachy and few will like it. Big, Fat, Greek Wedding did this beautifully. Greek Orthodoxy was a major figure in this movie. But, it was very approachable. It didn't make references to things that I couldn't understand. It didn't make me feel stupid by trying to "teach" me about Greek Orthodoxy. Rather it opened itself up and allowed me to see at least a part of what a Greek family is like and think of it whatever I chose. It was a really neat film. As an aside, Alonzo said that the family was spot on Greek. Almost exactly like his family.

Well...I have carried on and on and on. There will be more news tomorrow, I'm sure. Lisa and I are doing well, we are happy and healthy (no flu yet...YAY!). We hope to hear from everyone. Lots of love. Happy sleep recovery.

The more I want to get something done, the less I call it work

We can all thank Richard Bach for that quote. He was an American novelist.

Well, it is the end of the week and thank goodness for it! Working in master control has been fun...but, I cannot say that my childhood dream of watching TV all day and getting paid for it has been as glamorous in its fulfillment as I once thought it would be. Oh well, at the very least I got experience and will have an accompanying paycheck to verify said experience.

Well, tending the kids last night was really fun. There was one other brother in the nursery with me, so at least I didn't have to try to monitor things on my own. Not that it would have been a whole lot of trouble. We only had three boys nearly the whole time. Michael, Matthew and Chris. All of them brothers. Michael and Matthew were the older two and Chris (whom Matthew and Michael called "Chupe") was probably little more than 1. Cute kids! Matthew and Michael were pretty much 100% horseplay. They wrestled and danced (if one could call what they did dancing). They were ever so eager to laugh. Chupe was hilarious for an altogether different reason. We had one of those storybooks that has the buttons down the side that play sounds to accompany the story. Well, it was The Lion King and one of the buttons was a very tribal sounding clip of music. Chupe did this funny little dance where he would tuck his arms close to his body, pucker his face and wiggle like a worm. Brother Valentine (my assisting sitter) and I both just cracked up. I tried to get Chupe to perform his interpretive movements again for my phone camcorder, but could not conjure up the same dance. Just as a funny little aside, we almost had one little girl to look after. Sister Javner, one of the sisters in our ward, came in with her little daughter (I'm guessing about Chupe's age). Upon seeing Matthew and Michael roughhousing, she commented that she was glad that she has a girl. But, what I found funny was that while Matt and Mike were roughhousing, they never really got angry at each other and were quite fine being away from their mother, as was Chupe who just sort of watched his brothers horse around and did whatever else he wanted to do. But, when Sister Javner would even get up to walk to the door, her little girl would fly into hysterics. Ultimately, Sister Javner ended up taking her daughter with. Not to be a chauvinist or anything, but...I don't know that I would have traded two rowdy boys for a screaming girl on a bet.

In other news...I've got quite a few little projects to work on this weekend. For one, Lisa and I will be filing our taxes. Because of my dad, I've had my own free personal accountant to do my taxes. So, I've never really taken the time to learn how to file. This year I'm doing it (almost) on my own. Ideally, Dad still won't bill me for his time...but, I'm certain that I will spend a reasonable amount of time on the phone asking questions.

Another little lovable notch on the docket will be figuring out and filling out benefit forms for both myself and Lisa. Mine were supposed to be turned in on Monday, but I was given an extension so that we could find out what sort of benefits Lisa would have available to her at Target. Since she started training yesterday, we will be able to figure that out as early as tomorrow. It will be nice to have everything covered and a little more settled.

Finally, amidst taxes, occupational paperwork and the inevitable weekend cleaning and laundry, I will be writing a talk. Apparently, quite a number of people bailed on the bishopric and skipped town so that they wouldn't have to speak in sacrament meeting. I will be speaking about family history. It will be interesting. There aren't a whole ton of scriptures that doctrinally dig into the principle of family history aside from everyone's favorite "begat" chapters. But, I think that with the extra liberty of giving a talk rather than just a testimony, I can be a little more anecdotal and share stories about Grandpa and stuff like that.

Well, tonight I will be on my own and will be able to get a start on some of, if not all of those things. Lisa is working her first official shift at Target and I will be left to my own devices for the evening. I'm certain that I will be a lost little puppy dog when I go to pick her up.

At any rate...the life of Nigh continues to roll along. And remember, if the ladies don't find you handsome, at least they can find you handy!

If music be the food of love, play on

All continues to go splendidly in the life of Nigh.

Yesterday, whilst in the library going about our daily routine of checking our e-mail, Facebook and other internetly necessities, when my phone rang. It was a 715 number which meant it was either someone from church or someone from work, because there aren't any other people that would call me that have a 715 area code. That is, of course, unless someone was really slow in assuming that I had committed voter fraud...which was also in the distantly doubtful category. So, sure enough it was one of my coworkers, Andrew, asking if I could come in to do audio for the Sunrise, Today and Noon shows since he had to do two weeks worth of his show, Technology Spot. Seeing as I really wanted to be able to get to the plasma center and still get Lisa to her training meeting on time, I did not hesitate in benevolently accepting this responsibility.

After gathering some lovely weekend reading material (AKA 1040s, their accompanying instruction booklet, and another couple of necessary tax forms) we hurried back home to throw together a meal for the Elders who were coming over at 5:30. Well, as was mentioned in Lisa's blog yesterday, we were preparing to feed four mouths aside from our own. So, I pulled out the table leaves and spread a table for six. The Elders arrived shy a pair, which was fine by me, especially since thanks to the unexpectedly lower attendance I was able to have some meaty spaghetti for my lunch today. Leftovers, yum! We had a lovely visit and the Elders and I promptly excused ourselves to run to the chapel for meetings we were all going to be late for.

What meeting you ask? Well, I can't imagine that I need to narrow it down too much. It was a weekday evening around 7ish. Yes, you guessed it. I was recently called as the Young Men's Secretary. For those not familiar...it is basically like the YMCA as it was in its early years. We have all of the young men from our congregation get together during the week for fun, games and (if we're all lucky) some spiritual enlightenment and nourishment as well. My presence was primarily for a meeting with my "boss". We discussed a few items that will be coming up in the not too distant future as well as some possible activities in the future. I cut out after we had dispensed with the opening exercises for the young men/young women. I went home and went pretty much straight to bed.

Thankfully, today I have not been too terribly tired. I was unable to punch out for a break because we were under the impression that the Brett Favre press conference was due to start at 11. We did get word that it was postponed until 11:30...but, I still hadn't punched out in case he showed up early. It was a rather tough thing to watch. I got a little choked up when Brett started crying. It is really weird, but he feels like more than just the star of the state professional football team. He feels a lot more like a neighbor. Much closer than most athletes are in a given community. As the conference cut all the way through what would have been our noon news show, it started to be painful for a different reason. Yes, Brett, we're all going to miss you, but...all I've had to fill my belly since 3 this morning was a bowl of Marshmallow Matey's and a couple of granola bars. By the time the whole shindig was finished, Brett's retirement had been announced halfway into Days of Our Lives. Not a major loss of air time, if you ask me.

After rushing home and grabbing some dinner, we ran over to the plasma center. Just in case I wasn't feeling tired enough...I had a needle pulling blood in and out of me for about an hour. On top of that, after I drop Lisa off at her Target training meeting, I will be honoring my commitment to watch kids in the nursery while the ladies of the ward celebrate the anniversary of the Relief Society. Somebody we know is going to sleep like a rock tonight, give me an Advil and I'll tell you who.

Long story short...today is a long story. It has been really busy and tiring...and I wouldn't change a thing! I like when it's busy. I like having lots to do. Although I shouldn't type that too loud. Someone might think that with this blog, I have discretionary time to fill.

That's how life is on the Nigh side of things. TTFN. Ta ta for now!

Everyone has a first

I was thinking a blog might be a great way for Dave and I to keep everyone a little more informed on whats going on in our lives. Or maybe I'm just wasting time on the internet, who knows.

Nothing terribly exciting is going on. I got a job at Target and I have training tomorrow. I'll probably have more to say on that tomorrow.

Dave is working on getting everything together for our taxes. He's been working Master control this week, which as he puts it is getting paid to watch TV all day. He puts the commercial in. He got a few moments in the spotlight yesterday as he had to go in front of the camera and mic a guest that was on the news.

We are having the elders over for dinner tonight and we found out this morning that we are actually having 4 elders for dinner tonight not just 2. I'm not really sure why. I was planning on making Spaghetti so it's not big of a deal. Dave told them they couldn't eat too much.

We are getting all settled into our apartment. The only thing that is out of place is our TV stand made out of large rubbermaid tubs.

Time to go we have to get home and start dinner for 6.