Mikes Blog

“Mid pleasures and palaces though we may roam, be it ever so humble, there’s no place like home.”  John Howard Payne US actor & dramatist (1791 – 1852)
Midmorning the water is solid, not a break in its glass perfection.  The reflection of the sun hit’s the water through a break in green foliage from paper white Birch that line the shore. First inspection of an old friend reveals nothing out of the ordinary or new, all is just as left.  The wood stacked at the back of the Boat House to the left, the hoist that lifts the boat to shore to the far right, and White Giant Birch landscaping the yard, shoed and protected by green moss, even the ancient barren Oak carved into stairs running downhill.
A few steps onto the lush greenery feels comfortable and welcoming, a slight cushion to every step reminds the mind that no pain shall come from here, only comfort and joy.  A black spotted, four-legged friend bounds from the car doors, rolls downhill, darts across the dock and takes a plunge.
The sweet musk of moss covering the rocks, and undergrowth of trees fills the air. Closer to the lake a slight rotten fish odor from a dead fish washed ashore from old age.  The water is almost odorless, and clear.  Slight hint of mold passes under your nose, most likely coming from the water logged wooden boards under the dock.  Just as a complete sense of peace washes over, the sting of canine feces overwhelms everything else; the companion on this trip has just relieved himself after the long excursion to arrive at this destination.
A piddling dampness penetrates through a layer of nylon as a splash sounds with feet dangling in the water.  Sitting on the dock after a few minutes the once frightened minnows come back to inspect the intruder.  Recognition of an old friend brings a feast of microscopic dead bits of skin and microorganisms.  Soon more gather for the feast and the tickling becomes unbearable, with a laugh of pleasure and a slight splash of water the chambermaids of the water scatter only to come back and find their meal missing.
Day moving into early evening the sun begins to drop and fade to orange.  A long ray of orange light spans the entire length of the lake.  A gentle roll of the lake relaxes, as the yodel of a male common Loon wards off competition.  The females wail for attention sounding much like a long drawn out wolf howl, soon after the laughter of both begin in repetition to warn others to stay away.
In complete darkness only the dancing of fire awakens the evening.  With Grandfather tending the flame, and Grandmother preparing food for the evening, a glance of warmth and comfort protects over the young as the elders of the family smile with a welcoming peace in their eyes.  Dinner is simple yet entirely satisfying, hot dogs covered in chili, with cauliflower, chips, and cookies.  A bite into such a simple yet delectable food brings tastes of smoke and charred bits of hotdog with a mouth warming spice of southern America.  After a few bites, the tongue signals for a break, a piece of cauliflower drowned in ranch dressing brings the much needed cool down.  A few sips of Pop tickle the palette before finishing the main course, followed by the sweet chocolaty goodness of soft brand chocolate chip cookies.
The black spotted friend returns to wish fair dreams and cuddle for warmth as fabric softener relaxes the spirit.  A soft hug and kiss goodnight touches the soul with comfort and warmth, as eyes grow heavy with exhaustion.  Soon the morning will come with the dampness of dew, and the call of the morning dove.  All is right and good; forever our home is forever in our spirit.

This is only picture I have left of my families lake home in Minnesota.  This was taken the last time Mary and I were there, before it got sold off.  I wish I could have saved the place.  But oh well, hopefully someday I will be able to buy it back, if not something that means just as much to me as this place did.

As your looking at the picture to your left would have been the “Boat” house, to your right would have been the dock, and right behind you would have been the house.  All around you would have been surrounded by HUGE White Birch trees.  Oh it was so Beautiful…

Look at what I did today!!  I got in a 1st gen Mac Air with a busted up screen.  So I ordered a brand new screen from powerbookmedic.com and put it in.  While I was in there I decided to do a little modding and changed the color of the Apple Logo.  I am willing to bet that, I may actually have one of the only Mac Air’s with this Mod since typically changing out the screen is not done on the airs.  Ussually Apple just replaces the entire top half of the notebook.  The reason they do this is that its almost impossible to get into the top half with out destroying the trim bezel.  They use some un-godly commercial grade double side sticky tape to keep it togather.  But with a little patience and a hair dryer set to high it was no match for me.  Some severely hot fingers, a couple of new burns on the good ole tips, and I had that display out of there in no time.  Well…actually about 30 minutes, but with a little patience it CAN be done.  Nomatter what Apple tells you.

So while I was waiting on the new display to arrive I decided to take a look and see if I can change the glow logo to a nice blue color.  This is how it went.  First after getting the Air torn down completely I removed the piece of white paper stuck to the inside of the panel.  I found that the logo is actually painted white after scraping a little with my trusty razor knife.  So I went to the hardware store and purchased some 400, and 600 grit sand paper.  Using some mineral spirits to help eat the paint I sanded away with the 400.  I would recommend to anybody that does this to start with 600 or 800 grit, it may take longer but the result will be much nicer.  Once the paint was removed I went back over the logo with 1500 grit and some water to get rid of the deep scratches and to polish it up a bit to bring back the transperancy.  This actually took a LOOONG time.  Had I used 800 grit in the first place I think it would have been much easier, and the result would have looked a bit better.  Once I had the logo blocked, I used some rubbing compound by 3m to polish it back up and clean up the logo.  After that I simply took some 3mil Vinyl and adhered it to the inside of the case.  After rubbing all the bubbles out, I started reassembly.  And hour and half later you see the result.  I am very happy with it.

Okay well this post only ate up about a 1/2 an hour of my imprisonment in the computer lab.  So off to find something else to do.

Okay every year people ask me what I want for Christmas. I never know what to say because I honestly don’t know what to tell them. I don’t want to say something like a new car, because who can afford to give a new car as a present, and I don’t want to say Hotwheels because who gives that to an adult?  So here is a list of Christmas presents that everybody can look at. Not in any particular order and in ALL sorts of price ranges. I know some people don’t like giving gift cards, but you know what? I LOVE THEM! To me they are great, because I can combine them to get something expensive, save them, and go shopping for myself.

So here goes.

1. Gift Card to Lowes or Home Depot, I am doing a lot of work downstairs and this will help me in buying stuff for that. Tools, wood, drywall, paint, etc

2. Sears Gift Card Really just for tools, I LOVE TOOLS, but I like buying them myself because I get what I want with the options I want.

3. Gift Card to Casual Male XL, Again I can buy the clothes I like and in my sizes with out having to dictate sizes and taste.

4. Gift Card to Best Buy, do I really need to explain that one? Music, V-games, Movies

Actual Things I would like.
5. Apple Airport Express

6. Memory for my Mac Pro here is a link OWC

7. 1TB Hard Drive again for my Mac Pro-I use it as a Hometheater PC, and can always use more storage. No links for this as you can get from Best Buy,  Western Digital is a good innexpensive brand.  Not a big fan of Seagate.

8.  Apple Wireless Keyboard

9. If anybody feels the need to be REALLY nice.  I really could use a new Laptop.  Mine is 7 years old now, and we really cant afford a new one.  But I do need one for school, especially if I make it to Rolla for Architecture school.  Any one of them would be great, but I really like the new Apple Macbook Pro’s

10.  Stargate SG-1 Season DVD’s  I would like all of them,  and dont have any.  So start at Season 1

11.  Playstation 3 Controller

12 Any cool Techie Gadgets

13 Anything Mac related.  I have really taken this Apple Fanboydom to the next degree.  I am actually getting Apple Certified for the fun of it, and to hopefully supplement our income while going to school.

14. Tattoo Parlor Gift Card

15 Music-Muddy Waters, John Coltrain, Bob Marley, etc another plug for Best Buy Gift Cards

16 Shamwow

Sorry this all I can come up with right now.  Another reason I love Giftcards.  I know they aren’t that personal, and it really is a lot more fun to open something BIG and see that thing you have been wanting, but could not get yourself.  But lets get real, those things I want are really expensive, I don’t really expect anybody to buy them(although it would be really really cool to get a new MBP), and usually if it only costs 20-50 dollars I just buy it.

Right now my focus really is going to school and getting that done.  I really want to become an Architect because I love building things, and working downstairs has really made me realize how much I really do love it.  The houses I want to build, I want to design and build right.  I want my buildings to be there two hundred years after I die, and make a design statement at the same time.  So anything that helps me achieve that is great.  Whatever you think, money, scholarships, whatever…I don’t know.  Tools to help me do that, is really what I want and need.

I hope this helps some of you out. I am telling Mary to tell everybody that asks to come here to look at this post.  So don’t ask me, I will just tell you to come here.

A general sense of Melancholy usually hits me around this time year.  Not that anything is wrong, but two of the people that meant most in my life passed during this time of year.

First my Grandmother, then my Grandfather; both meant a tremendous amount to me.  My grandmother because she was the proverbial Matriarch of the family.  Always caring, sensitive, and willing to hug whenever you needed it.  She always had that look of love on her face, even when upset, and did whatever she could to make you happy.  I miss her so much…in many respects she was also my mother.  I know it sounds weird, but if you knew my family dynamics it is easier to understand.  During Christmas were really her time and the some of the happiest moments of my life.  Really aside for moments with my wife, times with my grandparents are the happiest moments of my life.  My grandmother passed just a couple of days before Christmas; she first collapsed right after Halloween.

My Grandfather passed a couple of months after her.  The things I remember most about my Grandfather is how well spoken he could be.  He was a man that could look at you, speak a few words, and totally shut you down while still telling you that he loved you.  He was eloquent, intelligent, and distinguished all at the same time.  Hardly rose his voice, but when he spoke, his words could shake the world.  Not only could he speak very well, but also when he met people he was able to read them and know exactly how to interact with that person to get exactly what he needed or wanted from them.  He gave respect to everybody until a reason to take that respect away was given, was generous, and treated everybody equally.  I hope I become half the man he was.  To be honest I don’t know that even this description of him does him justice.  He was that great of a man.  There is so much I wish I could have talked to him about.  Especially now that I am an adult in my thirties.  As a young man I couldn’t have spoken to him as I can now, reason being I wouldn’t have understand what he was saying, and I don’t think I could have talked on his level.  There is so much I would love to talk to him about now.  A lot of advise on certain events in my life, and questions on how to handle other events and people in my life.

Every year I think about them come this time of year.  Just until the recent couple of years around the Holidays have they become enjoyable again.  Being able to spend time with my wife’s family, the grandkids, brothers and sisters.  It reminds me a lot of my family.  The dynamics are very similar.  Five children, three boys, two sisters, a mother that can be extremely protective with love and care, and a strong father.  Being able to produce my Grandmothers Banana bread for them is wonderful.  I know Grandma would have a smile on her face if she could see Mary and her family.

I miss you Grandma and Grandpa, you’re always in my heart.  You guys shaped me, and who I am.  I just hope that I can live up to your standards, and do you proud.

What do you say that isn’t being said already today?  I just want to say, that as much of a victory as this is for Black Americans.  It is a real victory for EVERYBODY.  We not only proved that the young generation pays attention and voices our oppinion, but that we can also dictate our destiny.  We not only proved a Black Man can be president of the US, but that ANYBODY can be Commander and Chief.  We also proved that the American People have a say in what happens.  Something that had left many Americans through the last eight elections.  We had lost faith in our Government.  Now we have a renewed sense, that we can make our impact and make change when its needed.  No longer are we controlled by what the “Older” generations think or believe is best for us, but what we believe is best for us.  Today fellow Americans we grew up.

There is a war at hand, we all need to pick sides and go with our gut instincts. Get prepared it will be ugly, this war will pit brother against brother, father against son, friend against friend, and will literally split the country in half.  There will be lots of casualties, emotions will run high, and at the end of the war will be a clear victor.  This war will be like no other that has ever been fought on this planet before.  For almost thirty years we have been preparing for this war, little battles here and there, but now an all out full-scale war will rage.  Now it is time to choose your side…which side do you choose?  I myself choose Apple.

November is officially here, the time change has taken place, the air is getting snippy, and its getting close to ‘Naner bread time.  So here is what I need.  I need everybody would like one or two to PLEASE PLEASE comment on this post so I can get a running count on how many I need for Thanksgiving and Christmas.  I know not everybody in the family and friends circle reads this,  but I need some sort of count.  Thank you very much.

Start looking for our christmas card soon.  We are coming with some ideas on the card, and will be shooting soon.  Last years card was hit, and still talked about it seems wherever I go.  My vets offices’ still have it hanging on their picture boards.  There will be a few changes in the Animal line-up.  Brandy passed away earlier this year, Brandy was Mary’s baby.  And the gliders are gone this year.  Mary decided she didn’t want to deal with them anymore.  Then we added Kendall and Bella the twin Golden Retrievers.