January 2009

There were 71 posts published in January 2009 (this is page 5 of 8).

Highlights of 2008: Wrecking our car

Up until last year I’d been pretty good at avoiding car accidents. I try to drive defensively, watch my speed (more or less), and aside from a fender bender that wasn’t my fault its paid off in keeping me out of wrecks. All good things must come to an end, and that streak ended in November when I wrecked our minivan while towing an overloaded load of mulch. (And two days later I lost my job, but that’s the subject of another post).

If I had to total my car this wasn’t a bad way to do it: with no injuries, no other vehicles involved, no traffic ticket, and a decent payoff from the insurance company. The worst damage was to my pride and my wallet, in towing charges and insurance hikes. And the minivan’s transmission was only eight months old. It was a great car in great shape. Until.

We still haven’t replaced the minivan yet. We’re still shopping around, and a neighbor has graciously loaned us their extra car in the meantime.

Funny how just a few seconds can make such an impact in your life, so to speak.

Highlights of 2008: Civic participation

The year 2008 was the year that I got much more involved with civic affairs. I’d always been interested in playing a bigger role in Raleigh but it was after the Raleigh Neighborhood College that I began to consider it more seriously. As I mentioned in my RNC post, it led me to become the East CAC chair and a member of Raleigh’s Parks, Recreation, and Greenways Advisory Board.

The East CAC thing seemed like a natural fit for me. I’d been to a few meetings and got a lot out of them. I was also impressed at the large number of neighbors who came each month. When the former chair, Lynette, said she was stepping down, I felt I had to step up. Besides, the easiest election to win is the one where you’re unopposed!

I was perfectly happy being CAC chair when word came ’round that there was an opening on the Parks board. I’d been angling for a spot on a city board for over a year and couldn’t turn down the chance when I finally got it.

Both are lots of work, but the CAC probably takes more of my time. I have a newfound appreciation for the kind of time our volunteers put forth in improving the city of Raleigh.

Highlights of 2008: Raleigh Neighborhood College

One of the big highlights of 2008 was the 12 weeks I spent in the Raleigh Neighborhood College (RNC) program.

I found out about RNC one day from a flyer posted in my downtown office building. I called and found that because of the late date the class was already full. Fortunately, someone canceled and I got in.

Twelve weeks I spent time at Peace College and other area locations, hearing presentations from city staff about what the city does. Even better, I spend those wonderful weeks with a class full of outstanding citizens, from whom I learned as much as from the presenters. At the end of it all, my fellow classmates elected me valedictorian: an honor I deeply appreciated. I was sorry to see it end.

The RNC got me thinking that I could spend more time helping the city as a volunteer. It led me to seek appointment on the Raleigh Parks board and encouraged me to become a leader in my CAC. Both of these responsibilities take lots of time but have provided me exceptional exposure to some of Raleigh’s finest people.

I would be a very different person today had I not responded to that flyer. No doubt about it!

Legal age

I was thinking the other day that some enterprising 18-year-old busted for underage drinking may someday take his or her case to court and argue that legal age is not legal age if it doesn’t include the right to drink alcohol. I also I think he or she should prevail.

I don’t think its right to ask our young people to be considered an adult in matters of voting, criminal law, registering for the draft, and so forth but have other rights withheld.

You’re an adult or you’re not an adult. There should be no middle ground.

What a day

I had a great day at work, jumping right in to get some things done. I then came home to a welcoming family, had a great dinner, and tucked the kids in bed.

Then, I kicked butt in the garage, totally rearranging everything so that two cars fit and stuff has its place on the shelves.

Now I’m going to bed. Whew!

Putting the lap in laptop

I’ve been enjoying posting and editing Wikipedia tonight from the recliner, thanks to my Thinkpad T61 work laptop. My personal Thinkpad is still desk-bound due to its tendency to have seizures.

Work tomorrow should be interesting as it will be my first full week. I should have a better taste for the job (though the taste of the Winter Ale I tasted at the company’s Friday “beer bash” at the company was pretty hard to beat).

Cedar Waxwing!

Cedar Waxwing

Cedar Waxwing

I saw my first Cedar Waxwing this afternoon. What a beautiful bird! Rocket and I were romping in the backyard when I spotted the bird sipping from a water puddle just three feet away. It seemed quite trusting and lingered on a branch above me for a bit. I went inside for the camera but couldn’t capture it on film before it flew away.

Waxwings travel in large flocks in search of berries. There must be berries somewhere because I think our trees are full of these birds right now. Maybe I can get a picture before they’re gone.

Update: I wasn’t able to get a pic, sadly enough. The one in this post is from Ken Thomas, courtesy of Wikipedia..Thanks for sharing, Ken!

Greenway Parade

After I returned from the Inauguration Parade, I joined the rest of the family (and neighborhood friends) for a family bike ride down the Middle Crabtree Creek greenway. Unlike all the other times the kids joined us for rides, this time they pedaled their own bikes – thanks to the amazing invention known as a Balance Buddy.

Kelly and I jogged after Hallie and Travis as they rode their bikes along the boardwalk and back. It was about 3 miles total (to add to the 6 I already walked) and left us all feeling great.

Inauguration Parade

This morning K and I split up the things needing doing. She took the kids on errands and I was given the task of wearing out our dog. After seeing F/A-18s fly over our home this morning, I got the idea of taking the dog with me to see the Governor Perdue’s Inauguration Parade. As I remembered that local amateur radio operators would be assisting in the parade, I grabbed my dual-band HT and Rocket and I began walking.

The walk from here to Fayetteville Street takes a little over 30 minutes. We got there just as the parade was beginning. I must have made the security teams nervous with my backpack and a radio on my belt, but also having a big, dumb Labrador kind of evened that out.
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