A Beer and a Dog

"Why should I blog about brewing?", I asked. "Nothing like a beer and a dog...", So Sayeth Virtual Wayne.

Saturday, October 30, 2010

No longer am I peddling whisky to the stars….

Tonight was the last time that I’ll work for the Virginia ABC.  No more.  No mas.  I’m going to miss my peeps to whom I peddled whisky but not as much as I’ll miss my good friends with whom I’ve worked; it’s going to be lonely without them all.  I’ll still stop by and see them from time to time; send them text messages and e-mails, call from time to time…

They gave me a nice card complete with sincere notes… The newest employee, Alia, gave me a copy of On The Road by Jack Kerouac;  I mentioned that I would have liked to have read the book when I was younger.  I saw her reading it whenever she took her lunch breaks, and we struck up  conversations regarding literature, music, travel… I kept asking her, “Where were you when I needed you?” when we struck a chord with one another.  But then I would remark that her momma and daddy probably hadn’t even met yet when I needed her….  She would laugh…

Alia made a unit of delicious cupcakes for my sending off, El Jefe made a batch of his famous cookies too, and all of my co-workers gave me the card with warm wishes and tender notes penned within it.  I’m deeply touched.  El Jefe said that he wishes that he could have paid me enough to keep me on because I have been such an asset to the operation, and he isn’t yanking my chain on that one; for this I’m certain.  Over the years many customers told me that they shop at the C on Willie-D rather than at a store closer to their homes because they enjoy conversing with me and my humor, also.  I’ve congratulated them on milestones and offered condolences at times of grief.  Kind words, kind words indeed!  I’m always touched.  Many of them I’d asked if I could take their pictures so that I’d never forget them after I leave.  I would have liked to have taken more, like a picture of Tony One Shot, but these folks didn’t stop by.  A few people such as Mr. Wallace were in a hurry and couldn’t stay for a photo-op (although, Mr. Wallace did say that he would e-mail one to me…)

I’m going to miss the people and customers at the C on Willie-D, but it is time to move on, much as Ulysses did after each trial encountered on his journey home from the Trojan Wars.  And like Ulysses, I’m on the next leg of the journey, a Contract Process Engineer on a short term contract.  Where will my sojourn take me?  What is the destination, for that matter?  Maybe I’m on a never-ending voyage like ‘The Flying Dutchman’  an overture on an endless loop on an 8-track tape?  Who knows but God himself…. Yarr, Mateys!  Monday we cast off the lines and set sail for….

Windows Live is having some issues

I was chatting with my peeps in England & about the globe last nite when the program kicked me out… So, I tried to send an off line message to my pal Virtual Wayne… and Live crashed.  Tried signing in again, and the little bahstid began having connectivity issues.  Still having issues today.  Even tried resetting my password.  No go.  Wonder if someone has hijacked Messenger?  Then with me having reset my password, they will wander the globe doing evil in the good name of CyberDave… Conspiracy theories abound…

Monday, October 18, 2010

Job Offer….

I received a call while at work from a contracting agent asking if I would like the job that he & I have been communicating about.  After some parlaying he said he would contact the client and get back to me in an hour.  He did. I do.  Contract design for a short period… so I beached my boat, burned it to the waterline, and turned in my two week notice.  I’ll begin work on 1 November.

More as more happens….

 

(Huzzah!)

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Suicide

My dear friend lost a close relative to suicide, a family tradition.  He’s off in the Territories now, joining the other survivors in their loss and grieving as a unit.  I didn’t know his relative personally, only through my conversations with my pal, but he was a good chap, and he & I shared some common considerations.  I mourn for them both, and their families.  I feel that I have lost a friend as well.

Situations such as this are few and far between, so there is rarely a base from which to draw to express ones feelings, compassion, empathy…  How does one relate?  Dunno. One tries the best one can, and mourns…

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Job Interview

Had a great job interview this morning, spoke to five people and had a nickel tour about the manufacturing facilities, it was fascinating.  I felt comfortable with the whole three hour soiree, and I get the feeling that the people that interviewed me really liked me and know that I can do for them that which they desire to be done.  I’m excited about the opportunity.  It is a contract position, 2-3 or longer months, but ya gotta roll the dice sometimes: It might turn into a full time position, or, if not, lead to other opportunities elsewhere.

Let’s kick back & see what transpires…

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Batchelors Degree in Engineering

Me? I’m dumbfounded.  Could I do such at thing at age 55?  Will it be a waste of time and money?  The big fear descends upon me…

Washer out of balance

Trish moved the washer to vacuum under it which is her way… and the thing was out of balance when she tried to replace it.  We had to get a new washer when the other one died; it is a high efficiency washer, and the spin cycle is really spin-o-licious!  So… balancing is crucial.  I moved it back to its place and readjusted the balance and put a load of wash in to see if I made the adjustments correctly when the spin cycle is underway.  Once it is correct, I will take a marker and draw circles about the feet so that it will be easier to get the boogair back in the proper place after we move it for whatever purpose.  I also hung the special adjustment tool on a hook next to the washer and put the level that I acquired for this on the shelf over the washer… handy in times of need.

The load has just begun the clean cycle… won’t be long til it is ready to spin….

Another thing about High Efficiency washers: They use a special detergent and don’t use NEARLY as much washing liquid as the old ones required.  And yes, we found out about that the hard way. 

Later…

Balanced… but Trish didn’t want me to wash the white clothes.  Something about me never looking at my clothes to treat stains (which is true…) and now she is lamenting.  Nothing bad happened this time, but Oh, I’m a fool…

Friday, October 8, 2010

Too much.

Cap’n Eddie and I sat up til about 11:00 last night telling tales of adventure and drinking beers… then I came home and chatted with Virtual Wayne for a while til he was ready for bed.  I still wanted to communicate with other humaans, so I went to the chat site that often go to, to parlay with my peeps across the globe – and who knows, maybe out in the ‘verse as well.

…and I had another beer and a brandy.  Finally headed upstairs at 2 ish, ate a little ice cream and turned on the TV.  Woke up at 4:30-ish and went to bed.  The dogs woke me at 8:30 and I had a feeling that I was forgetting something…. Oh, yeah.  A meeting with the dude at the VEC at 10:00.  I fed the dogs, showered, dressed, poured some coffee, ate a bowl of cereal & three slices of hog jowel, and went to the meet & greet.

The VEC dude gave me some things to think about.  He said that perhaps I would find it interesting if I went to http://www.humanmetrics.com/cgi-win/JTypes2.asp and took the Meyers Briggs personality test.  He thinks that I am the type of humanoid that really needs to go back to school & get a Bachelors degree to find the types of jobs I will find satisfying.  Or some such thing as that.  And who nose, Uncle Sugar might even pop for it! Woo-hoo!  Free Federal Spare Change!  Oh, thank you future generations that will have to foot the bill!  I won’t let your ancestors down!

Have about an hour til’ I have to head off to the ole likker store to peddle whiskey to the Pilgrims.  And another Dave in Paradise begins anew!  And when I return tonite, Phase III of Window Repair…

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Goin’ to see Cap’n Eddie…

Cap’n Eddie has been having diabetes related problems for years and now is pretty much confined to a wheelchair at home with the occasional trip to the ER on the side.  (Last time he was there he asked the doctor, “Doc, am I gonna live?” to which the doctor replied: “Yeah, but you aren’t gonna like it.”  Ed keeps a good humour about the situation.)

I told him that I’d bring him a couple bottles of my home brewed beer and he said that he wouldn’t bar me from the house…

Had to do Phase II of storm window frame repair before I left.  That is done and we await the caulk to dry so that Phase III may begin.  More on that as it happens to me….

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Phone screening day before yesterday… and ramblings

The screener sent me an e-mail to tell me that he was sending my resume on to the company that has the opening.  I’ll keep mum about the per-ticulars for now… don’t want to put the whammy on it or anything.  However, I will say that I am enthused!

I told El Jefe that there might be a job offer coming my way soon, and he gave me the thumbs up… and said, “You WILL keep me posted, won’t you?”  Sure thing, Jefe…  I promised him 2 weeks notice when I signed on, and I’ll keep that word;  it will take him a couple weeks to replace me with a newbie and train him or her.

A woman with whom I work said that her pappy & a friend of his have a website called ‘ScotchHunter’ at, believe it or not,

http://scotchhunter.com/

I’ll check it out here in a few…. I’m a scotch fan. 

Friday, October 1, 2010

Whoa…. Virtual Wayne showed me this Writer thing in MS Live…and a whole new world has opened up before mine eyes….

Yeah, this looks like it will be useful, and less of a pain to blog.  Let’s mash the PUBLISH button and see…..

Now THIS is neat.  One stop shopping without a bunch of button mashing, accepting, publishing, viewing, editing and crap.  Nice.

It’s often nice when you have a whole new world show up before yer eyes...

100921_Dog_Angel100921_Dog_Zeppo 100921_Dog_Nixie The Dog Angel looks up as if to say. “Is that something new to eat, Humaan Dave?”  The other personnel look on in anticipation of my answer…..

Not one of these.. these... FAUX CyberDaves... but the TRUE CyberDave!


About CyberDave

My photo
Contract engineering, working in the field in which I truly love: Mechanical Design.

Followers

That was it, apparently

"Bonus Nachos!" as we say on my planet. "And CHEERS!"