College of the Desert

My Web Publishing 1 class starts today at COD's "Virtual Valley", aka online courses. Its part of the Computer Information Systems degree curriculum. In the early 90's when I was going to COD, they didn't have $hit "booop" (that's my ASCII sound effect) for computer courses, and they were oblivious to the Internet. Back then, everything was DOS based (dang, that was a long time ago). Now, not only do they have actual programming courses, they have all types of classes online. So after registering for the Web Pub class, I decided to order my transcripts to see what I actually accomplished back in the day. Turns out I only need a couple of classes of general ed left, and if I follow the CIS curriculum I can get an AA degree. Since I can take all these courses online, I've decided to go for it. Why not?

Actually there is one CIS course I can't take online, which is Windows and Internet. I had to get a prerequisite override from the department to take the Web Publishing class. Hopefully I'll be able to get credit by examination for it, if I have to go to COD for 5 months and take that class, I have a feeling I'll pull my hair out.

When I was at the campus taking care of the pre-req override, walking around (lost) was bringing back so many memories of when I first attended at 17. For one thing, I remember my mom had bought a Motorola cell phone, and I used to take it with me on the days I went to COD. It was smaller than the brick style, (it was actually a flip-phone) but it wasn't much lighter! I also remember there were no internet dialup numbers local to the desert yet. I had to call long distance to San Diego to use the internet. One night I was up late screwing around and I fell asleep with it logged on. Not only was there no "unlimited plans" like today, but as I said it was long distance to SD. I didn't do that again.

Jan 27th

Happy Birthday, Jess!

Go Fish

I can not be held accountable for anything that happens today. I've been up since 3am, on 3 hours sleep. I tried to go back to bed, I just couldn't. I hate being a sleep-freak. I also hate people. I know this because at 5am when I gave up on my failed attempts to sleep, I got on the computer and read another Intelligent Design vs. Evolution debate. It actually started as a discussion regarding a recent lawsuit filed by parents regarding a Fresno high school for teaching ID in a "Philosophy of Design," elective course in which they were to discuss "evolution as a theory and will discuss the scientific, biological and Biblical aspects that suggest why Darwin's philosophy is not rock solid.", and "relies exclusively on videos that advocate religious perspectives and present religious theories as scientific ones." BTW, the teacher's husband is a pastor, and, its a public school.

You know what I don't get? Why is it that often times super-religious people attempt to recruit others? Wtf do they care what people they don't know believe? I mean...OMG you're not going to believe this, I just got a piece of spam titled "Free King James Bible". K that's freaky.

Uhhhh, anyway...I treated myself to a Starbucks for getting to work early/on-time today (however you look at it). It's wearing off because I already feel my eyes going a little comatose. Not the rest of me, just the eyes.

Glamis

I got a chicken fajita pita from Jack in the Box today for lunch. My drink cup is sitting on my desk, and i just noticed on the advertisement on it. "Jack Cash Card - great for gift giving" then it lists different gift giving occasions. Among other things, one of the occasions is "wedding". It made me wonder...what if I had gotten a JIB gift card for a wedding present? How would I feel about it? A bit odd, I think. A bit odd.

We went to Glamis last weekend, sandy, but fun. We are now officially saving to buy a few quads and a toy box. I don't mean officially as in I've already put money aside, I mean officially as in I told Mike "I want a toy hauler" and he said "Ok. Save for it and we'll pay cash". Then I informed him I wanted the Kawasaki KFX 400 quad, mostly because it's green. What? I like green!

So far I've kept my '06 resolution, as I took more than a few pics of my nephew on his quad in the dunes. However I didn't take that many, so I'll try to do better next time. We might go out to Joshua Tree Sunday, should be a good opportunity.

Cats are Democrats

Plenty of people would say cats are extremely lazy. But when you domesticate an animal, it no longer gets all its needed exercise, entertainment and nutrition from its food-hunting job. The only dues a house cat must repay you are the contract killing/torturing of the odd cricket/moth in the house. Other than that, its nap time, or time to expend excess accumulated energy..by wrecking up furniture. Why? You gave him a home, bowls of food and water, a warm fuzzy place to nap. No chores. For your cat, its always Sunday afternoon. Your turned him into a Democrat, you Commie.

Citrus Country Club

Panaramic view of 12th Green from the house
Taken by my mom from her patio

New Year's Resolution

This year my New Year's Resolution is going to be not only to remember to take my camera with me on the weekends, but to actually use it. I go for the more realistic/not-that-hard resolutions. I can end world hunger next year, and if '06 goes as planned, I can document it with pictures!

I have a total inability to take photos for some reason. Last weekend I made a mental note to take it with me to the New Year's Eve party we went to, but of course I forgot when it came time to leave. Normally I put it in the purse I'm taking with me. Which really, just makes it a "purse-weight", cuz that's where it stays. Christmas Eve I successfully took like 7 pics. I looked pretty good that night too - I shoulda had someone take one of me LOLOL.

So they say its 3 weeks to a habit. This weekend is Skyler's birthday party, so I am definitely going to make a point to take some real pics. She's so dang cute, it won't be hard. Next weekend we're going out to Glamis to take out the quads (hopefully I won't run over the camera). The weekend after that, which is the 3rd week to my "habit" we currently have no plans. I'm "screening a death-ray" to this weekend until we get some real plans for it, or else it'll curse my photo-documenting resolution.

BTW Happy Birthday Stacey Lee. "Sisters by Marriage, Friends by Choice"