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.

CALIFORNIA DREAMING is indeed becoming a reality here at Chez Chaput. I have given my 'official' notice to Queens Public Library and we have started packing up.

As things stand now Donna and I hope to be in SoCal by August 21 the latest. We already have an apartment (found during our trip out there the other week) which takes pets, so Babie is coming along for the ride. I may post some photos of the surrounding area in the next week, since we took a bunch while looking at different places.

Wanted you folks to be among the first to know.

I may be jumping the gun here, as I haven't really officially announced this, but it looks like Donna and I will be moving soon. Not everything is in place but staying here in NY doesn't seem to be our best (or only) option.

I'll probably have more to say early next week, so I'll see you then unless something comes up worth blogging about.

Apparently G.W. took note of my blog post earlier and has changed his mind. Seems that Condi will be racking up some more frequent flyer miles and will have to curtail her shopping for Prada this weekend.

The comedy duo of Bush & Blair are doing boffo with their tag-team act and are taking it on the road, it seems.

Spotted this earlier this morning:

"BEIRUT (Reuters) - Intense Israeli bombardment killed 13 people in Lebanon on Friday, while U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she would return to the region only when the time was right for a lasting solution to the crisis."

And exactly at point would that be? Maybe after most of Beirut has been leveled and the entire infrastructure of the country destroyed?

I'm very sorry to report that the position I was hoping for in Los Angeles didn't come through. I received the call last evening and it pretty much put a damper on the evening as you can imagine. Sometimes these things just don't work out.

Donna and I are discussing our future here in New York. No quick decisions but we're leaning towards a move to the coast just the same. I'll keep you updated.

The expression "No news is good news" may or may not be generally true, but in my case not so much. Unfortunately, we don't have a definitive answer re the new job in California, so Donna & I continue to keep our fingers crossed. I hope that those of you wishing us well will do like wise.

I do want to thank Dr. Chang, Dawn, and the other members of the Braille Institute staff for allowing me to take up their time last Tuesday. They are very busy and being there for several hours, I'm sure, cut into the work they do. I really do hope to count myself as one of them in the near future.

On the other hand, Donna and I did do some apartment hunting while in the OC. While not thrilled by some of the places we saw initially, we found a couple of places in the Ladera Ranch area that really looked like places to settle down. I'm tempted to post some pics, but don't want to jinx anything.

I'll keep you all posted as the week progresses.

I expect all of you to do your best in preventing WWIII breaking out while I'm in California. I'll happily deal with the fires, earthquakes and mudslides if you'll keep atomic warfare from ruining my vacation.

Since I may not be able to post for the next week I wanted to share the Los Angeles skyline with you. Got no clue when this may have been taken, but it certainly must have been an unbelievably clear day, huh?

With any luck I'll have some news to report when I get back.

Well, the contractors are working on the A/C here at the library. It's really nice in the Adult room, but sadly the Children's Room was around 85 degrees at 9:30am. The unit hasn't worked properly since the branched re-opened in March. Earlier in the year, folks downstairs had to wear sweaters it was so cold, as there was no heat. Fingers crossed that they'll get the unit working properly by later today.

When I worked in Brooklyn the branch would be closed if the temperature went above or below a certain set mark. Here in Queens The Powers That Be have decided that employees can sit in the heat or cold, comforted by the possiblity that Administration may shell out a few extra dollars as Compenstation Pay. I doubt the folks at Central would sit in the conditions the branch staff works in each and every day.

Well, I'm sure the guillotine is being readied back in Paris. I actually watched a soccer game (not all of it since there was also a Mets game on at the same time) for the first time in years. I was really sorry to see French lose by only a penalty kick after a very good record.

Not much of a fan of this sport, as I've mentioned before, but had my reasons for rooting this time around.

The worst part is that here in Dyker Heights & Bensonhurst, as you can imagine, the locals are going crazy. Car horns, fireworks and drunks hanging out sunroofs and car window waving the red, white & green.

Hard to believe that this time next week Donna and I will be in California with The Child and her friends.

Interesting to discover the news of the death of Ken Lay this morning. While I have little sympathy for the man, considering what his actions did to the pensions and savings of hundreds (if not thousands) of working folk, I do feel badly for his family. I'm sure that the coming days will be hard enough without the bad jokes and other comments sure to be directed at Mr. Lay.

Speaking of which, The White House has announced that the President still doesn't know Mr. Lay, despite photographs and video reputed to exist.

I know my might catch flack for this, but I'd like to give the folks folks reading my two blogs an early crack at comics & fanzines I'm clearing from my collection. I may be moving in the next few months, but even if we remain in Brooklyn I think it's time to weed out stuff I no longer want/need.

There's about ten comicbook long-boxes of stuff I'm getting rid of one way or the other.

The fanzines/magazines include stuff from the 1970s, i.e. a couple of issues of RBCC, GUTS, OMNIVERSE and others. I also have some copies of Comic Book Profiles, Amazing Heroes, etc. There are also some zines (pro & fan) on "B" movies & serials. Some of these are yellowing with a bit of water damage on a few.

The comics are mostly in Very Good or better condition, but that's according to my standards. Most are DC & Marvels from the 1980s-'90s, when I was collecting heavily. Many individual mini-series, and cross-over tie-ins. There are also a few 'underground/adult comics','anthropomorpics' and 'independents', including some 'ash cans'.

If you are interested in either or both lists I'll send them along as an attachment via e-mail.

Write me at: sachaput50@yahoo.com