I went to see Spielberg's new film AI on opening night. I was so psyched, as this film seemed like it would be a classic sci-fi flick. But it wasn’t to be... What a lame ending. It started out so freaking great, and then got mired in this *Pinochio* shit that just became tedious. Read my entire review here. If you have seen AI, I'd be interested to get your impressions.

Just informed that a co-worker, one of the nicest, sweetest individuals you could know, just passed away. He had been fighting cancer for just a couple of months. The cancer won. He was about my age. Life is as fragile as it is precious. I will miss you, Lee.

I feel alot better today than I did at this time yesterday. To all those that I told to *Go to Hell*... sorry 'bout that! Today is Friday, and I really look forward to this weekend. Need a couple of days away from MJ to unwind. Dying to see the movie AI. Since wifey is goin out wit da girls, maybe I can hook up with a buddy to go to the flicks. How bout it Kirk, John, Al, Gordon...somebody!

Sucks... doesn't it? Its not surprising in todays political climate, steeped in corporate quid pro quo. Micro$uck's court imposed breakup has been overturned. The good news is that the decision did reaffirm that Micro$hit IS a monopoly, and has used its status to crush its competion in an unfair way. It is just the penalty phase that has been overturned and remanded to a new trial and new judge. Like I say, in today's Pro-Business (therefore anti-consumer) environment, it is unlikely that Micro$tink will get any meaningful penalty out of this... we'll have to wait and see.

I could use some good news... well here it is. Miller Johnson Digital has won the prestigeous Benjamin Franklin Award. Actually we won 2 Bennys. That is quite a feat. For those of you not in the printing industry, the Bennys are to printing, what the Oscars are to the Film industry. You are lucky to win one in a lifetime... we won 2 in one year. The icing on the cake is that although MJ entered in over dozen catagories, It was the Digital pieces that won BOTH awards.

Watch out... I am in a pissed off mood. I just feel like everything is NOT right. Kids ignore me, wife rejects me. I feel fat and don't fit in my clothes. I am uncomfortable with my own body. People around me irritate me. Work is spiraling downhill and there is no light at the end of the tunnel. Everyone comes to me to get things done, but when it is time to reap some rewards... I am passed over (that goes for in and out of work). So... everyone can just go to hell. .... have a nice day!

I know, I shouldn't be whining... I've got it pretty good here... but I have this inescapable feeling that I must move on. My expectations and aspirations will never be achieved as long as I remain at this position. Then there is the security, or lack of it, unless something really big can cause a turn-around. Opportunities at this venture have come and passed me by, there is no reason to think that those types of opportunities will ever be presented to me here (and maybe, with the state of things, I wouldn't want them anyway). Therefore, I will forge ahead and seek new ground. Change is good.

Listening to the Doors. What a great band they were. Such a unique sound. It rocks-takes you back to some good, crazy ole times! Think I'll spend the day listening to 60's psychedelic rock. Jimi Hendrix anyone?

Went to see Lara Croft: Tomb Raider last night with Dave... It was pretty bad. Only redeeming features are the opening sequence... and Angelina Jolie's hot looks. That opening sequence did have the feel of the game. Her movements were like run/run/duck/roll/jump/flip...etc-if you've played or seen the game, you know what I mean. After that its all down-hill. I think I actually dozed off for a little bit during the flick.

Nice to go out with my son to the movies. We went to the new cinema in Hartford. Bit of a rough neighborhood, and tough looking crowd, but the seating and sound system is awesome.

If I can be a proud poppy for a moment... just got back from Rachel's Scholastic awards night. She raked 'em in. Here is a sampling. The coveted Whitlock for French, an honored Bonano Mathematics award, the Presidents award (signed by dubya), and the creme de la creme... the VCMS Scholar award (high honors in all 12 semesters at Middle School). Where did she get such smarts? Actually, she worked REAL hard. What a girl!

BTW, by popular demand, the webcam is back. Dave confiscated it to do god knows what, but I stole it back.

Rach is as bubbly as freshly poured champagne, and its infectious... it has lifted my spirits this AM. She is excited about school ending and the anticipation of High School next year. She spent all night talking to her freinds comparing HS schedules, and all morning in the car reading notes written to her in her yearbook ... its a joy to see her so excited.

THE situation worsens... both for myself, and the enterprise. I feel almost totally out of the loop. Disgusted and disenchanted, I have been exploring new pursuits, one could be encouraging. Sorry for being so cryptic... but must be carefull.

Despite that, I got into developing a data format for a customer DB that can be easily updated, merged, synced with handhelds, exported for mail merge... and the application is free on all Mac's. I want to roll it out quickly, but need support from management. We'll see if I get it.

Its been a full weekend. On friday night, I went to Mets Yankees game with three buddies from work. Great game, great fun, but Mets lost 5-4 on a stupid base running play in the 8th inning by Mikey that would have tied the game. Man, I am beginning to hate those Damn Yankees. Anyway, Shea Stadium was packed, and the house was rockin'. On the way to NYC though, I hit a log that was laying in the road, and blew a tire. That was a bummer, but the rest of the night was a blast.

Got home at 2AM, and woke up a few hours later to take off for a 6.5 hour drive to Rachacha for the wedding of one of my nephews. I really hate weddings. I think bridesmaids outfits look stupid, as do their buffant hairdos. I hate the shlock Karen Carpenter and Kenny G music they play. I'm tired of the bride and groom cutting the cake and smashing it in each others face. I don't appreciate everyone telling us to dance when I don't feel like it. Then, you always have that one pissed off relative that doesn't like the seating arrangement. I just don't like these affairs. I guess I am just a social dweeb... I am glad everyone else enjoys themselves, though! ;-)

Writing this blog while driving home. Between NYC and Rochester trips, I will have logged twenty hours in the car this weekend (though C and D did almost all the driving). Oh, yeah... its Fathers day... happy, happy!

Tonite! Going back to Shea Stadium for Mets v Yankee game! One of the toughest tickets in NYC, and I got 4 of 'em. Going with some guys at work, and in our Fantasy Baseball league. Should be a BLAST!

A "must read" article -- The Seattle Times: Microsoft and AOL duel for the Internet crown. In short Microsoft is trying to control your access to the internet with its technology, while AOL is trying to control the content through its acquisition of Time Warner... the worlds largest media provider. Both companies want to control the Internet by limiting your choices of what you can see, and how you will see it... and pay for it. A POX ON BOTH THEIR HOUSES!

OK, the softball season is over, and so is my 5 year career as a coach of U14 girls softball. I have to admit, I feel a sadness and a huge void now that it is over. This year was such a joy for me (and I hope the girls). This last year I was fortunate to have the greatest group of kids to coach. The enthusiasm, joy, dedication, fun, skill, intensity was so evident you could feel it all around you. We placed second in the league with a 9-2 record, beating every team but one. Those 2 games could have gone either way. There is no doubt that we had the best team overall... best hitting, fielding, baserunning. That "other" team had one great pitcher that no one could hit--thats all. By the end of the season, our team was awesome. We won one game by 40 runs, and the last game against one of the better teams 16-4.

Like I said, the end of the season creates an emptiness in my being. The right thing to do is to fill that void with renewed enthusiasm towards my professional life. I will try to place that same energy into my career... whether that means at my present job, or in a search for new opportunities.

Listening to CNN live about the McVeigh execution. Its such a strange thing. I feel a compelling urge to listen, though I am sickened by it. I doubt if this act will heal the wounds of the families of the victims, or bring closure to their suffering. I don't see how this accomplishes anything positive at all. Yet I feel the man deserves to die.

Got my hair chopped yesterday. I had this strange feeling since Friday, that if I cut my hair, I would release some of the negative energies that were making me feel down. So, early Sat morning, I had my hair buzzed real short. I think it worked. Nothing but peach fuzz on the top now.

Full day yesterday. Besides the buzz cut, Mom, Dad, Di and Andy came over for lunch... went to "A Day at the Park"... all the kids from town were out and we watched Andy in a break dance show. Then went to a minor league baseball game (New Britain Rockcats). Rach and friend went with us. It was Blues Brothers night. Everyone at the ball park got free Blues Bros. Sunglasses, and Blues Brothers look-a-likes entertained between innings. It was a gas!

I am in a bummed out mood. Not real happy about my professional situation. Can't be to explicit here. I feel a deteriorating situation exists. My concern is in two areas. First, the state of this company in general. Second, my own place in the company's hierarchy. The effect of all this is it is more difficult to be motivated, and to stay on task... a general melaise and depression sinking in.

It is Friday, though, and I should try to get pumped up for the weekend.

Bought Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon DVD last night. We watched it 2 times, switching audio between Manderin, English, and Director narrative. IMHO, this is one of the greatest films of all time. A perfect balance between Asian mysticism, romance, martial arts, gogeous music, beautiful cinematography. I can't get enough of watching the fighting scenes. They are more like an intricate modern ballet than martial arts. Amazing... no computer generated special effects. All done with wires. A wonderful, wonderous movie.

Ahhh! Our girls softball team wins 44 - 4. The game was a real embarrasment. It was actually uncomfortable playing such a blow out. The game ended in the top of the 4th inning by the other team giving up... not wanting to play anymore. There are some nice pictures of Rach playing ball on our Photo Page that I added yesterday.

Weekend Update - Softball win against Stafford 18-1; Shampoo basement rug, cleaning out weeks of sick cat vomit and poop (aren't you glad to know that!); Sushi, Borders and Books - Excellent!; Drive a bucket of balls with David... more Sushi; Mow lawn in the rain; Help out at softball practice for summer league.

If music is a big part of your life you have GOT to check out the All Music Guide site. I've killed a few hours here over the last couple of days. Its got album reviews, biographies, discographies, music maps... etc. Its a site that is put together very well for just surfin' around.

Last night... Sushi. Tried rainbow roll and spicy salmon hand roll... mmmmmm! C says "sushi good... blogging bad".

Here is a first hand account of the Living Colours, Kaycee hoax. Its a pretty amazing tale. I had seen the Living Colours blog the day after it was announced she had died. I read back a few months of posts, and was actually moved by it all. At first, I chuckled when I found out it was a hoax... but now I see how elaborate it was, and how many people really got sucked into it.

Now, I am an admitted web geek, but its hard for me to imagine all these folks who have such deep emotional relationships with people that exist to them only in cyberspace. whew!

Long time... no blog. Just not much to say. Get up, go to work, come home, veg out. Only excitement these day's are our softball games. On Wed. we won 18-1 without 2 of our best players. Rach hits monster HR. Speaking of which, Rach's school team season is over. She hits 2 dingers in her last game. Our travel team has another game tonite in Stafford, one of the better teams. Looking forward to that. Nothing planned for the weekend. Will have to go out to a movie or dinner or both... any suggestions?