Hey! Did you miss me?

The past week has been pretty hectic as you can imagine, so blogging has pretty much dropped from my activity list. Once we get our own computer up and running I’ll try to get back to posting on a regular basis. I’m typing this on the apartment complex computer in the “library”. I also had to put together an updated resume and a couple of sample flyers for a five-minute presentation I had to give at an interview. I suppose I should be happy to have this at my disposal to begin with.

While our car was shipped ahead, and Kristina even met us at the airport with it, our furniture and most of our belongings still won’t be out here for at least a week. I don’t even want to get into that, since we are pretty upset. Fortunately, we had planned on buying a lot of stuff once we got here to begin with, but still our bed, computer, television sets and the majority of our clothing, etc. are just now making their way cross country.

The three of us (me, Donna & Babie) survived our flight out on Jet Blue. The tranquilizers we gave Babie worked just fine and the Benedryl the vet recommended also helped her with the flight. I wish I had been that calm and got to sleep the entire flight. Donna also slept, while I drank coffee and watched several episodes of BAND OF BROTHERS on the History Channel.

I’ll let you know more about how things went when I get a chance. Right now I want to check out some job sites, but I just wanted to let you know that we’re doing okay.

Here's a picture of Terramore Aquatic Park, which is near us in Ladera Ranch. I know it's mostly for kids, but I think Donna and I may check it out during our first week.

It's hard to believe that in just two days I'm going to have to consider myself a Californian and not a New Yorker.

I'm leaving work in a couple of hours and don't really know when I'll get a chance to post anything. It may well be more than a week before we get our furniture (including the computer). I'll try to blog from the library or from Kristina's laptop (unless the battery blows up!), but until then I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy doing this. Hope we won't lose touch and you'll keep Donna & I in your thoughts.

I'm sure not going to miss the commute on the MTA everyday, that's for damn sure!

I have to admit that I was one of those folks who were convinced that it was the parents of JonBenet Ramsey who were responsible for her death. Guess many of us folks over on the True Crime group were way off on that one, huh?

Sadly, Mrs. Ramsey died before the murder of her daughter was officially solved, still under a cloud of suspicion. Fortunately, the rest of the Ramsey family can now have some closure.

If you're trying to contact me try using the Comment option here. The folks at Verizon were simply supposed to cancel out DSL account and switch it to 'dial-up' so we could maintain our accounts until we got to California. Apparently they totally closed our account causing us to not only not have e-mail but also lose stuff saved in the files. Fortunately, Donna printed out a lot of the material (including our Jet Blue flight passes) or we really would have been in trouble.

To be honest, Donna hasn't been happy with Verizon since we got it, but we kept it because we also had out regular and cell phones with the company. In Ladera Ranch, we will gladly switch over to Cox.

Color us as dissatisfied Verizon customers!

I've been meaning to add a link to Thom Hartman's site for a couple of months now and finally got around to it. I enjoy listening to his Air America program on Saturday mornings on my way to work and have also liked those times he has filled in for other AA hosts. I especially enjoy when Thom has on spokespeople from conservative and right-wing organizations, usually poking holes through their arguements but allowing them to explain where they are coming from. It allows you to hear "the other side" which in itself makes his show a must.

Hartman is probably one of the most educated and well-read of the AA hosts and fully expect that he'll be the one stepping into Al Franken's shoes, should Al actually run for office in '08.

A few more shots of Heritage Park, from the 'official' website. The pics we took were pretty similar but it give you a nice idea of where the new Chez Chaput will be located.

It really is hard to believe that a week from today will be my last day here at QPL.

I wish I had remembered to bring a camera along on Tuesday night. Donna and I finally had a chance to get together with two of my former supervisors and friends. Sue Raboy & Mady Kiner were the Branch Manager and Assistant Branch Manager at my very first branch in Brooklyn, Sunset Park. I can't begin to tell you all the stories and memories we shared at dinner.

Along with Mady & Sue was Arnold, Mady's husband, all three of whom were among those who attended my wedding to the current Mrs. Riggs.

It really is hard to believe that I've known the three of them for twenty years at this point.

For those comics fans reading this who may wonder. Yes, Sue is indeed related to the late Mac Raboy, artist on Flash Gordon, Captain Marvel, Jr and plenty of other stuff.

Here's a photo from the 'active adult community' where we'll be living shortly. Hard to believe that in only a little over two weeks, Donna and I actually be there.

When we were in California a few weeks ago we saw a lot of places from Long Beach to West Hollywood and places in between. For a while it seemed we were going to be taking a place a few miles away, but financially this place worked out.

If I get a chance I'll try to post a few shots we took, but I wanted to give you an idea.

According to the latest from CNN-- "Israeli forces are operating in Baalbeck area, northeast Lebanon -- about 50 miles from Lebanese capital, Beirut, and near border with Syria."

The whole situation is becoming uglier each day and there doesn't appear to be a resolution in sight. The Administration dragged its feet for way too long, thanks to the neo-Cons and their ties to certain groups.

At least that and Fidel's health issues have driven the Iraq civil war (and let's face it, it really has become that!) from the front page & evening news. G.W. & Co. can be thankful for that at least.

Good also to see the NYC tabloids find Mel and Christie much bigger news.