Hello everyone, today is Saturday, March 27, 2010.

OMG! The first quarter of the year is nearly over. Winter is waning and spring just around the corner. It seems both coasts got a taste of spring this past Saturday (the 20th) as temps were around 70 in the West and close to 80 in the East.

Given such a beautiful day I elected to take a walk-about 'round Baltimore's Inner Harbor. I'd driven through the city before, always on my way somewhere else, so this was the first time I stopped to venture out.

It's quite compact and lots to see within a few square blocks. Since it is a working harbor there are several maritime exhibits to see which are operated by Historic Ships in Baltimore. For a fee you are permitted to tour the USS Constellation, the USS Torsk, the USCGC Taney, and the Lightship Chesapeake. Then there is the oldest surviving screwpile light house known as the Seven Foot Knoll Lighthouse. I passed on the tours but did manage to get a couple shots of these well maintained pieces of history. Directly below is the light house...

And then here is one of the Taney...


In addition to these attractions is the National Aquarium. I passed on this too as there was quite the line of folks trying to get in. Maybe next time I'll give it a go.

So after walking for a couple of hours in 80 degree heat and long sleeves (I had no idea it would be this warm), I thought I'd better stop to get a cool drink: enter the Pratt Street Ale House. Now there is all manner of food places around the Inner Harbor. But I found this place as I was walking over toward Camden Yards. I'm sure this would be a great place for a meal and the menu had some wonderful items, but what got me was the Beer Menu. How can you not like a place that has a menu dedicated to craft brews. After a detailed review of the menu I decided to try the Blackfriar Stout, which by the way was real good.


Needless to say the afternoon in Baltimore was great. The weather was warm, a plethora of photo ops, and lots of excellent venues to eat and drink. I look forward to my return. That's it for now and we'll see y'all soon.

Later

Back in the saddle

Good morning all and welcome to Daylight Savings 2010 edition (I for one can't stand daylight savings). It's Sunday, March 14, 2010.

Well, after yet another lengthy layoff period I am scheduled to return to work tomorrow. I am very excited to be returning to gainful employment and prayerfully optimistic to begin climbing out of this financial hole. But there is also a bit of trepidation and uncertainty. The economy is still weak and the unemployment rate is still well above 10% here in California. I know first hand the struggles that our state is facing, but I am thankful for the public aid that I received. Had it not been for the benefits I've received during this time, I have know idea where I'd be. Thank you California for the help and now hopefully you can help someone else.

But now to look ahead. I will be again working in the Metro DC area and am scheduled to depart southern California tonight on a red eye headed East. I hope to bring y'all new images of the area and its surroundings as well as comments on local eateries. I will also be much closer to the goings on of our Nation and sure to have something to say about what's happening around me and to all of us.

So stay in touch as the next post will be from our nation's capitol. God bless you and have a wonderful Sunday.

F**K YOU Tom Delay

Hi all and forgive the title. It's Monday, March 8, 2010.

I came across a headline that really hit a nerve this morning. It was published by "The Huffington Post" and read as follows, Tom Delay: People Are Unemployed Because They Want To Be.

That statement really pisses me off! I have been actively seeking any kind of employment since August of last year. I have submitted hundreds of resumes to employers across a wide range of industries; from IT Security (my most recent position) to truck driving. If you apply to an employer looking for someone with your skills, they have between 6 to 10 other candidates or more from which to choose. If you apply as a grocery clerk (and I did and worked in this industry in my twenties) they don't even bother to look at your skills. They immediately consider you to be overqualified. I will admit that there are likely a handful of the populace that has no desire to go back to work and continue to live off the government tit through unemployment benefits, food stamps, welfare, or some combination of benefits. But I for one along with countless others WANT to work. We want to secure gainful employment and regain our self respect. We want to have something meaningful to do with our lives and something to represent our efforts at the end of a full day of work. I personally take affront to this statement and feel that everyone who has been in the same boat with me voice their opinion. I don't have a wealthy wife to lean on. In fact my wife cannot work and thus dependent on me to support us both. I want and need to work as I'm certain that most real MEN do. For someone who is supposed to have been a public servant, I find this kind of comment uncalled for, inappropriate, irresponsible, and offensive. But, perhaps that is one reason he is no longer a public servant.

I invite your thoughts.

Who is Bart Stupak?

Hi y'all and welcome to the weekend. It is Saturday, March 6, 2010.

Now I know that some of you are gonna' take this opinion kinda' hard and that's okay. But this is how I feel on this issue and that's okay too.

It seems that another politico has come to the surface over the debate on healthcare. Rep. Bart Stupak, the nine-term Democrat from Michigan is the author of the "Stupak Amendment" which is a rider attached to the House health care legislation that would effectively ban most government funding of abortion under the new health care system. I must say that I agree that this is a procedure that should not be paid for with tax dollars. This is not a condition like a cold or the flu which can be contracted by simply interacting with daily life. The condition for which an abortion becomes the treatment is clearly, and in most cases, avoidable.

I believe that too many folks have come to accept abortion as a means of contraception; it is not. And as such I don't believe that abortions should be funded by tax dollars. If people desire to engage in unprotected sexual activity then they should bear the burden of the cost and not John Q. Taxpayer. I believe that if these were the rules then folks might think a bit harder before engaging in an act that results in a human life. Not withstanding the issue of a person relying on the government to pay for their abortion, but then to pay for the food and care of the new infant as well. Seriously people, it all boils down to this... "If you can't feed 'em, don't breed 'em".

I welcome your thoughts and have a great weekend.