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March 7, 2006

Away to L.A.

I'll be in Los Angeles until next Tuesday. I won't have a connection to the Internets, so there won't be any updates here until Wednesday the 15th. You kids behave yourselves while I'm gone, and try not to wreck the place! Since Michelle tagged me with a chain letter meme, I'll leave my response in the extended entry.

Hasta,

Mr. Bali Hai

What were you doing ten years ago?

Exactly what I'm doing now, except then I had a career path, regular salary increases, and opportunities for personal growth in my position.

What were you doing one year ago?

Exactly what I'm doing now, but without a career path, regular salary increases, and opportunities for personal growth in my position.

Five snacks you enjoy?

Black bean tortilla chips, chocolate pudding, granola bars, black licorice, and Ritter Sport chocolate bars.

Five songs you know all the lyrics to?

Blitzkrieg Bop, White Riot, Ziggy Stardust, Won't Get Fooled Again, and We Are the Robots.

Five things you would do if you were a millionaire?

Pay off my first and second mortgages, pay for my children's college education, replace the 35-year old orange shag carpet in my mom's house, climb the Andes, fly to Tahiti and Easter Island.

Five things you like doing?

Going to the opera, seeing plays, hanging out in tiki bars (duh), mountain climbing, sailing.

Five things you would never wear again?

A thong, a little sailor suit, pants with a 27-inch waist, platform shoes, a Grateful Dead t-shirt.

Five favorite toys?

My 'puter, mountain bike, my Subaru Baja, pocket translator, my digital-media lab systems at work.

March 5, 2006

Breaking Out of the Icebox

I survived my 16th layoff at work last Thursday, and have now officially begun my 3rd sabbatical. Now that the threat of a Northwest pilots' strike appears to have receded, I'm preparing to depart for Los Angeles to spend a week doing odd jobs for my aging mother, crawl tiki bars, and hit the flea markets. I'm also planning to take in a performance of Ubu Roi, visit the Museum of Jurassic Technology, and then the Petersen Automotive Museum.

When I return, I'll spend a week antiquing in Eastern Minnesota, then I'll finish off the 3rd week of my sabbatical sucking down Ron y Limons in Barcelona. I'll wind up back at work, teaching a class in Munich, where I'll no doubt drink several beers as big as my head.

Live is hard.