Darth Brock's Blog

Vader Day has Arrived!

nobody@vox.com(Darren B.) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 07:14:25 -0400

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xt’x x gxxx thxng xhx hxx x fxll txxx jxb.

Wx’ll bx txlkxng xbxxt thx Chxxxtxxx xxxtx xt wxxk thxx xxxnxng. x’vx gxt x

xxxthBxxckxnxxxxg_Txnx cxxxlx xf xxxxx – xf thxx wxnt tx gx xxt wx cxxlx bxxk x txblx xt thx xxk xxk’x xhxw (xx wx cxxlx xxnt x xtxgx xnx hxvx Jxhn xxt txgxthxx x txxxxx). xf thxx wxnt tx xtxx xn thxx cxxlx cxtxx x xxxl xt Bxxnxx’x xlxcx xnx wx cxxlx xlxx x gxxx – xx xx thx gxxx wxth xxt lxck xnx xxxnx thx xxnxx xn gxft cxxxx fxx thx xxxlxxxxx.

x’vx gxt x cxxxlx xf xxxxx fxx thx gxxx txx – wx cxxlx xx x xxxxxx xxxtxxx whxxx xxch xxxlxxxx xlxxx x xxlx (xlthxxgh thxxx xxx xx fxw gxxlx thxt xxx bx xn xxxxx..) xx wx cxxlx xlxx xx xhxtx xcxvxngxx Hxnt gxxx (x thxnk Chxxx xnx Jxhn xxx thx xnlx xnxx thxt hxvx xlxxxx bxfxxx...)

Wx’ll xxx whxt thx gxng hxx tx xxx.

xxxthBxxck_xnWhxtxHxx, x bxxxxx xntx xhxl xxxtxxxxx. Hx nxxxxx x txxxxx fxx x qxxck xhxxt thxt hx’x xxxng. Wx xxxn’t gxt tx txlk xxch, bxt hx lxxkx gxxx xnx wxx xn x fxbxlxxx xxxx. Gxxx fxx hxx. Hxxxfxllx wx’ll hxvx txxx tx xx cxffxx xxxxtxxx xxxn. (Hx’x xtxll thxnkxng xbxxt cxxxng xxt fxx thx lxxt fxxx xxxxxv clxxxxx).

x’x thxnkfxl thxt Vxxxx wxll gxt xxxx xxcxgnxtxxn txnxght – x lxvx xxxng cxxl

xxxthxxxxkxn xtxff

x’x thxnkfxl thxt x cxn hxlx xxt fxxxnxx wxth thxxx xxxjxctx

x’x thxnkfxl thxt xx wxxk lxkxx tx hxvx xxxtxxx.

x knxw thxt Gxx wxntx xx tx cxlxbxxtx.

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Ya, that was fun

nobody@vox.com(Darren B.) — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 12:50:16 -0400

TreeWithSunInside

Ok, so the improv class is a whole lot of fun. We warmed up with a little object freeze and then did a bunch of listening to theory.

The next game was Party Quirks where there’s a host and three quirky guests arrive (the audience picks the quirks) and the host has to figure out what the quirk is.

I had a chance to host a party and I had an astronaut, Bugs Bunny and a baby giraffe being born (Chris Nelson – he did a good job of it too!). It was a lot of fun – the monologue just came out and apparently it was pretty good. Cool.

The only thing that troubles me about this is that in a couple of more weeks I’ll be thoroughly addicted and then what? Unless I start a troupe, or join the Fidgets, where can I use my new madd skillz? Hmmm. Is John setting us up for another money making venture?

Improv Recovery? Improvs Anonymous?

“Ok, someone give me something that frustrated Improvs might say - what’s that? Ok – let’s go with ‘Hi, my name is Darren and I have a problem.’”

It looks like we’re headed into an Indian Summer – the next 10 days are supposed to be really nice – that should make the end of Sherry’s work season really pleasant. Hopefully it doesn’t inspire her boss to book more jobs than he can fit in before the e

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IMPROV!

nobody@vox.com(Darren B.) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 13:28:27 -0400

Whxhxx! xxxxghx xx xxxxhxx xxghx xf xxxxxv Cxxxdy Bxxx Cxxx!

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xhx whxxx xhxxg xx chxxdxxh. xxd xhx Gxy xx xhx xxx xhxx cxxxxx xx bx x Chxxxxxxx. Gx fxgxxx.

xhxxxy gxx x xxxxcx xhxx x fxxxd hxx xx fxxxx xxcxxxxcxxy xxxxx xf 2007 xxd xhxy wxxxxd xx kxxw why xy dxxxxx fxgxxx dxdx’x xxxch hxx xxxxxyxxx. Hxx. Gxxd qxxxxxxx – xf xhxy hxd xxkxd xx xxy xf 2007 x xxghx hxvx xxxxxbxxxd.

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x’x xhxxkfxx xhxx xy hxgh xxxxd cxxxxcxxxx xx xxxxxx dxxx (xx’xx xxkx xx xxxxxx xx wxxx fxx xxdxxxx xx dxwxxxxd!)

x kxxw xhxx Gxd hxx x xxxxx xf hxxxxx (jxxx xxxk xx xhx dxck bxxxxd xxxxyxxx!)

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Things are going well

nobody@vox.com(Darren B.) — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 09:36:59 -0400

IMG_4291e

It was a really nice weekend – a whole bunch of stuff went on.

Friday night was a Financial Course, but not like any we’ve ever taken before. This one wasn’t really about money, but your attitude toward money.

Have you ever noticed that people tend to cluster in like earning groups? People don’t tend to be comfortable with people in a significantly higher or lower income bracket than their own.

If you want to bring yourself up financially you need to change your attitude about money. It’s startling how many opportunities that you may have to make changes that you pass by simply because of your attitude.

Saturday morning was a trip across the border to do some shopping and then part two of the Financial Class (it’s called “Healing Your Financial Soul” – well worth reading) and then Dinner Club for the rest of the day.

It was fun and funny and tasty and comfy and just a really good time. We called it a night relatively early, but we were beat.

Sunday after church we had Michelle over for lunch – which was really nice and then we did a bunch of little chores around the house and took the night off (we watched a movie and went to bed early).

Whew.

So, Michelle is doing really well. She’s got a job now at a local Telemarketing Company (which she really doesn’t like, but she needs the money). Her plan is to earn enough to pay for her lifestyle while she looks for a new job.

(Which, btw, is _exactly_ what I told her to do while she was living here...)

Her first paycheck is already spent – and then some. She has a lot of catching up to do – hopefully that will motivate her to learn perseverance... it’s the last skill that she needs to learn to really be successful.

Sherry is starting to wear out for the season. She put her elbow out on the last job and she’s basically just hanging in there waiting for the end of the season. I’m really glad that we have a hot tub for her to warm up in after work.

One of the exercises for the Financial Attitude class is to carry around a lot of money (they suggest $300) in cash in your purse or wallet. I think Sherry is a little uncomfortable with that idea. Hopefully she’ll get past that – I like the feeling of having cash in my wallet.

I’m thankful that Michelle is doing well – it’s nice to see her finally doing the stuff that we’ve been trying to motivate her to do.

I’m thankful that Michelle is still friendly with us – forcing her to grow up could have been nasty.

I’m thankful that we’ve started to change our attitude toward money.

I know that God wants us to be wildly successful.

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Ick

nobody@vox.com(Darren B.) — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 16:43:13 -0400

non-responsive programs is that

In other news we’re planning on keeping a low profile this weekend. We’re hoping to take another financial course and do Dinner Club and that’s pretty much it.

It’ll likely rain all weekend so finishing the tree is pretty much out.

I’m thankful that it’s the weekend

I’m thankful that my code doesn’t break like this very often

I’m thankful that our attitudes toward money are very similar

I know that God wants money to serve us and not the other way around.

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Steady as she goes

nobody@vox.com(Darren B.) — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 12:07:34 -0400

JohnForwardTwoBack_tiny

Once again a pretty boring couple of days. I’m really enjoying putting those together.

Coffee with Rick was as pleasant as ever. We went over by about 25% this week and really didn’t notice that we were into overtime. Cool. He has a really cool story and he gets me too. I like having coffee with Rick.

After supper I had a chance to attend John’s (www.fidgetsonline.com) Improv Comedy Boot Camp.

We spent 90 minutes being introduced to the concept of Improv Comedy – we have five classes left to practice and perform.

What a blast that was! It was an adrenaline rush for sure and it was a lot of fun. We had a couple of people there from my church and one other co-worker. There were more children there than i was expecting (which was none). They held their own and were a convenient prop in the Human Object Freeze. They’re cool enough that John should be able to keep them under control.

I was asleep about half an hour later than usual and didn’t wake up tired at all, so it’s not going to be as bad as I had imagined.

Sherry and I are starting to pull together our materials for the kitchen renovation. We’re having second thoughts about the colour scheme (I’d like to go dramatic and Sherry is afraid that it’s going to be too dark and look too small). I trust Sherry’s sense of style completely, so I’m sure it’ll be gorgeous once we’re done.

I’m thankful that Sherry’s season is so close to being done that we’re buying materials for the off season.

I’m thankful that I can do fun things like Boot Camp.

I’m thankful that Rick gets me.

I know that God places other people in our lives for a reason.

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Ummm - boring

nobody@vox.com(Darren B.) — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 15:19:53 -0400

IMG_0836_e

I wrote tons of code, made supper, soaked in the hot tub, watched a little TV and fell asleep.

Sherry did a ton of landscaping, soaked in the hot tub, watched a little TV and fell asleep.

Blissfully boring!

Mom and Dad head for Florida shortly. They’ll spend a month down there, fly home for a couple of weeks and then fly back for the rest of the winter. Cool (or warm, actually).

I’m thankful that my life is back to boring – it’s better than all the drama!

I’m thankful that we have a (rental) hot tub for Sherry to unwind in after work – it’s cold outside and the hot water relaxes her sore muscles.

I’m thankful that we’re caught up enough to take a night off and not fall behind

I know that God gives us times of refreshing.

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That was nice

nobody@vox.com(Darren B.) — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 15:13:45 -0400

DarthBrock2_tiny

We had his and hers date nights this weekend. It was actually really, really nice. Instead of finding a happy compromise (which is great most of the time) we had a date that focused solely on Sherry and then the next night one that focused solely on me.

Truth be told I enjoyed Sherry’s night more than mine. Being able to show her how much I love her by doing her stuff and not expecting anything else in return was fabulous.

We lit the Blue Spruce in the front yard this weekend. We hung Michael from the boom and Bernie lifted him up to the top of the tree. He put a wreath with the female ends of our lights zip tied to it. There are 10 stands of 120 lights hanging from the top.

Next we’ll move the strands around the tree and then we’ll wrap up the power at the bottom of the tree. Should be done by the end of November. Hopefully it’ll look as cool as I think it will – I’ll take photos.

We cleaned up Michelle’s Cabbie this past weekend – that was pretty nasty. We washed out all the urine, beer and mold. Ewww. I burned through several pairs of latex gloves – so did Sherry. We showered as soon as we were done.

We’ll park the car for the winter and hopefully Michelle will have paid off her loan by Spring and we’ll just sign the car over to her. If not we’ll work on selling it and we’ll put that money toward her loan.

Sherry has one more job before she’s done, but it’ll take the next month to get it done. Yuck. She doesn’t like the big jobs and this is the last one of the season.

Our Dinner Club is meeting this week. Should be fun – it always is. Hopefully everyone will be able to make it.

I’m thankful that I love Sherry enough to enjoy loving her more than being loved by her (not that it isn’t mind blowingly wonderful to be loved by her!)

I’m thankful that Sherry loves me enough to spend an entire evening doing Nerdy Stuff just to say that she loves me.

I’m thankful that our marriage is a safe place for us to serve from.

I know that God wants our marriage (and all marriages) to be as strong as possible.

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I want to be a film maker

nobody@vox.com(Darren B.) — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 14:50:48 -0400

Just say no to...

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Oh Friday, Sweet Friday

nobody@vox.com(Darren B.) — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 07:29:54 -0400

DarthBrock_Revealed_Tiny

Happy Friday!

The most stressful thing that happened to me yesterday was breaking a glass.

Oh, that’s such happy news (once I got past the fact that I had to move the bed to get the little shards). Oh, and the dog rolled in something and had to be bathed while I was cooking supper. And I burned the ham (just a little) and had one of my PCs fail.

Anyway, the point is that my stressors are back to normal! Oh, happy day.

Tomorrow is date night and I’m in a really spectacular mood.

I did a little work last night on my 8mm Film to DVD job and the reels all transferred flawlessly. Perfect colour and no flicker. I’ll render them this weekend and have the finished product ready to go for Monday morning.

The cash will go toward the kitchen renovation (or maybe our next vacation – we got a Sunshine Guarantee coupon because of Gustav – so we’ll be going back to Jamaica to collect the coupon – it’s worth over $300 off our next vacation!)

I’m hoping to make really good progress on my mapping app today – it’s way easier to program the tough algorithms when you’re in a good mood. I should be able to get the tough stuff wrapped up today – then it’s all integration and cleanup. Should be good.

Sherry is trying to talk Johnny into letting her go the Second week in November instead of the Third. That’d be cool. I doubt he’ll fall for it, but I have vacation booked for the fourth week to force Johnny’s hand a little (he did promise, but every now and then he changes his mind...)

I’m thankful that I’m in such a good mood today – it should be a fabulously productive day!

I’m thankful that I’m in such a good mood today – it should be a really fun date night

I’m thankful that I’m in such a good mood today – it’s a reflection of my life returning to normal

I know that God wants me to spend more time in deep joy.

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Darth Brock's Blog

Vader Day has Arrived!

Ya, that was fun

IMPROV!

Things are going well

Ick

Steady as she goes

Ummm - *boring*

That was nice

I want to be a film maker

Oh Friday, Sweet Friday

Ummm - boring