Where do I vegan? With a blog.

OK, so the blog about eating plants is up, up and away. Tell your friends. Tell your enemies, unless you don't want them to become healthy, that is.

A perfect night to... bask in the rays of a TV?

So I just got back home from taking the dogs for a walk with my daughter. It is arguably the most perfect temperature outside right now. We've had a few decent evenings this summer, but this one gets my vote. Little-to-no breeze, 70 degrees, comfortable in terms of humidity... perfecto.

The sun was already down when we headed out, so by the time we headed back it was nearly dark. Walking through the 'hood, it was dark enough that the large screen TV (like the size of a wall) of this one house lit up the living room and half of the front yard. Then I noticed another. Then another. I realized that our house was about the only house "in the dark." About.

And then I realized that there was, like, nobody outside. Everyone was in their living rooms, squinting at their moving walls, getting a TV tan. For six or seven blocks–nobody but me, my daughter, two dogs and the crickets.

How sad. August is almost out of wick. The number of perfect evenings are few, and then its about a four or five month wait.

So, for tonight anyway, I'm glad I don't have a TV that could double as a billboard.

The NEW Helio "Total Happiness Guarantee"

It is now August 26.

You may want to read my post "Stranded in the Ocean" first. But a quick recap for those of you keeping score at home: ordered phones from Helio in May, canceled in June within the 30 day trial period, still have the devices and a growing file of records from my phone calls to Helio.

I just spent 44 minutes and 27 seconds on the phone with Helio for my 6th call to get this one issue resolved. With each call I have been keeping a note of the time, date, person I've talked to, etc. So here's round 6, and I've still made no progress.

Helio offers a "Total Happiness Guarantee (middle of the page, toward the bottom)." So you order their products and, if not satisfied, return them within 30 days for a full refund. I called for the first time on June 11 to cancel my account. We're closing in on a full 3 months since that call and I have yet to receive the mysterious RMA slips that I need to return the devices for credit.

Each of the 6 times I have called I have spoken with girl service reps, all sounding about 18 years old. I just spoke with a supervisor, Jackie. She sounded 20ish, though the way she was arguing with me she may still be in high school. She is an unprofessional smart alec. She also struggled with finding the word "expedite," though its quite possible they are not allowed to use such a dirty word at Helio.

So what sucks is the fact that I cannot receive my refund until Helio receives the devices. I cannot send the devices until I receive the RMA slips from Helio. And Helio can't seem to figure out a way to get the RMA slips to my house, though the devices made it here without 6 additional calls.

I am totally not happy. They can't guarantee happiness. So, I will give you the "New Helio Total Happiness Guarantee" from a Helio customer's perspective. The new guarantee is much shorter, too. If you want a guarantee that Helio will make you happy, don't do business with them. Done.

Tell your family. Tell your friends.

Helio: Korean for ridiculous.

It is official - summer is over

While we'll have our 90's, we'll have our humidity, we'll have our thunderstorms for the next month or even two, the summer time is officially over. 

Tomorrow morning the kids head off to school for the '07 - '08 school year.  The kids are saying their farewell's tonight to late nights and lazy mornings.  We're trading in our "what would you like to do tonight's  for "did you get everything done?'s.  The cushy life is on hold for now.

This 2007 summer has been good in most ways.  I personally feel like it has been long, which is a good thing.  Winter is fine, as long as there is snow on the ground, but I prefer hanging out with summer.  Like not a little.  Like, a lot.

Busyness is here.  Let the games begin.

Blogged with Flock

Those days

100_1501.JPG,
originally uploaded by lyndonperry.

This photo is date stamped August of 2003. Four years ago. Those four years aren't as big a deal for me, but for Shea and Shanna, it is a third of their life. The physical difference in them from the date of this shot to today is dramatic.

One trait I love about these kids is the fact that being pulled around in a little trailer on the back of a lawn mower tractor is good entertainment in their book. To an extent that is still true today, though they'd rather be on the tractor, driving. But even at 10 and 11 they would get a kick out of this same ride.

Shanna's "cute" has begun its metamorphisis into "beautiful." She probably wouldn't want dirt smudged on her face now, or at least not want a photo taken while in that condition.

Shea's "cute" is becoming "handsome" and "rawk starish." He'd have the same smile, but you may not see his eyes now with his shaggy do. You certainly wouldn't see his forehead. And the length of his body, which has practically doubled since this shot, wouldn't fit comfortably in that position any longer.

I love those days, but I love who they are now, too. You can't have both, so I'm glad we at least have the ability to capture the "those days" with photographs.

Time to (plant) launch the veggie blog

There were overwhelming results from the poll I posted for a blog about vegan eating. Five total votes. I can't remember, but I think one of those votes was mine. Thankfully the poll calculates the results for me. I just don't have time to wade through the votes to come up with the conclusion on my own.

So the most voted for title is "Where Do I Vegan." I'm still going to think on it some, but I'll probably go ahead and launch it as such. From day to day Nicola and I field a number of questions about eating plants, so I'd like to launch it sooner than later. It will be nice to direct people to one place online to give our story and provide a bunch of links.

So thanks to the four of you who voted. From that poll alone it is clear - this is going to be one popular blog. Hope Google is ready for the bandwidth drain.

Here I am, and its your fault

So, with me and my "A" posted, I have my "A"ssociate Degree. Nicola was being sneaky on Wednesday of this week and sent out a load of emails to friends and family to let them know, and to nudge them to congratulate me. She did a very good job. Throughout the day I was receiving text messages and emails from people who I am quite sure I hadn't informed yet, so I knew something was up.

Although only about 3 people actually read this, I'll post this as if to reach everyone that sent some form of congratulations to me. I have to admit that while I did take the effort to sign up and attend classes and do the work to get the grades, I had the help of many people. There have been countless times in the past few years where I have had to turn down activities with friends and family to study. It paid off, of course.

So though I've been given the pat on the back from many of you, I'd like to say, "hats off to you." Its true that I did make it to this important milestone. I know I got here because of many of you. Be sure to stay 'til the end of my biographical film to see your name in the credits. As with this blog, that film is going to be huge!

Especially to my family, Nicola and Shea and Shanna, thank you, thank you, thank you. You have all pitched in and sacrificed to gimme the juice to cross the finish line.

Me and my "A"

I finally got myself edumacated. Tonight I took a final exam for an online summer class through Illinois Central College. Upon completion of this course I now have the required number of total credits, 64, and the required classes necessary for an Associate Degree in Arts and Science.

Not unusual. Until you consider that in two weeks my high school class will gather for a reunion. The twenty year reunion.

Let's recap. I'm two weeks away from a 20 year reunion with my high school mates, and yet I just... now... crossed... the finishline... for my Associate....... Degree.

Eesh.

So I start at Eureka College in about 3 weeks, and this time I will finish 2 years worth of degree in 2 years. The way it should have been done all those years ago. Actually I finish in under 2 years, because its five straight semesters. No breaks. But I say yeay and amen to that.

Twenty years and several jobs later (with holes in my resume), I'm finally on the other side.

Kids, go to college after high school. Like, right after. Parents, tell your kids to go to college after high school. Like, right after.

Oh, and as a little good-bye kiss to my first 2 years of college, I got an "A" in the class. I needed ninety points on a 100-point final and I got ninety. On the dot. Nothing like racing to the bus and just barely getting on before it pulls away. My heart is racing, but I'm on the bus. Me and my "A."

Becoming a Devil: Orientation tomorrow

devil_m_84,
originally uploaded by lyndonperry.

So tomorrow I am going to orientation at Eureka College, home of the Red Devils. I start this August on a 22-month track to finish up my bachelor degree. I've known of Eureka College for a long time, but I didn't really know much. When I discovered the particular program I'm going through, Organizational Leadership, I started digging in to become familiar with the school.

I find it amusing that the school mascot is a Red Devil, especially with the fact of how the school was founded:

Eureka College, a liberal arts and science institution, affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), exists to cultivate excellence in learning, service, and leadership. The College fosters...

Fun stuff. It isn't a Christian college, yet still affiliated.

"Where shall we send our little Annie to school, Ralph?"

"That's a no brainer, Ethel. Let's send her off to Eureka to be a devil."

I've been called a devil before. Now I'll have a hoody and a senior ring with a logo to prove it.

Stranded in the Ocean

Helio Ocean - QWERTY,
originally uploaded by anearthling.

So I was pretty stoked when Helio announced the release of the Ocean. Let it be known that I am an Apple kind of guy, through and through. However, there are a few reasons why I did hold out and continue to hold out on the purchase of an iPhone. It will happen. Just not yet. I'll save that for another post.

The Ocean offers a lot of what I was / am looking for in a phone. Some of the attributes on my list are: non-Windows OS, full QWERTY, a browser (not the standard paltry portals on most handsets), and a shooter with more than 1.3 megapixels. Beyond that I was / am looking for an unlimited data plan that doesn't cost more than my home broadband bill.

The Ocean hit the spot. I jumped in, knowing I'd be paying for my nuptial agreement with Verizon. And it hit the spot. Every spot except phone calls, that is. I have had a Palm Treo 700p for a year. Its a great pda and a miserable phone. But even its miserable self is better than the voice service I was getting in the Ocean. I had dropped calls in my house and at my desk at work, the two places that, when combined, equals 90% of my time. I can't have that.

Helio doesn't want you to call their devices a phone. Now I understand why. Its not a phone. At least not a good one.

I was bummed. I really like the design. Well done. It actually feels Apple-esque. Quality hardware. Excellent packaging. The keyboard is a bit cramped on the top row, but otherwise its a great keyboard. The picture quality is excellent. Music sounds great, though I can't for the life of me understand why manufacturers are pumping out devices for music and still using 2.5mm jacks instead of the standard 3.5mm. Regardless, the performance is good.

BUT, it still has to be a good phone with good service. So I called to cancel because Helio extends a 30-day trial. That initial call to cancel was on June 11. Its now July 19, and three calls later, I still have not rec'd the packing slip from Helio to return the Ocean and the Drift I bought for my wife. Not cool.

I'm a gadget fan. Its slightly more than a hobby for me. I take in RSS feeds and podcasts and check websites and forums about gadgets, specifically mobile technology. My friends and family know this about me, and will come to me for questions about which device or carrier they should go with. I'm not an evangelist, but I have influenced a lot of people to by Apple and Palm devices. Several.

I could have been an evangelist for Helio. On the contrary, now, I will steer any friends and family clear of Helio. An device is only as good as its service and the company that backs it up. Apple shines in this arena. Palm is faltering. But Helio has lost my respect out of the gate.

Ian and Wyndon

Ian and Wyndon,
originally uploaded by lyndonperry.

My boy (well, really my nephew) Ian wikes his uncle Wyndon. Turns out I think he's kind of a big deal. The camera likes him, too.

Lights, camera(phone), action

pic_020407_008.jpg,
originally uploaded by lyndonperry.

This pic was shot with my Palm Treo 700p. All 1.3 megapixels temporarily became my canvas. I really did shoot this on purpose.

It dig the textile effect. That was purely accidental. I was more interested in capturing the halo that is notorious for the typical lo-fi camera in (America's) cellphones.

Every time I look at this image I find myself turning my head clockwise, and then the other way. I guess that means there is a focal point, but with my eye is trying to decipher what should be the top. With the horizon shifting it is difficult to find that reference. Too bad, in this case, that we are constrained to a four-sided frame.

Its that "life gives you lemons, make lemonade" approach to crappy cellphones. You can find a way to make something visually... interesting with the meager 1.3 megapixels and low light.

A blog about eating (plants)

More than likely if you are reading this you've been invited. If you've been invited, I know you. If I've invited you and I know you, you probably know that Nicola and I went vegan in the spring of 2006. The main catalyst was Nicola's health, though I needed a tune-up, too.

We have both become much healthier in that time. A lot of people have noticed. Some want to know why, and some of the some are intrigued by our choice and the impact it has had on both of us. So we find ourselves talking, often, about why we switched, what information lead us to that decision, how we got started, what foods we buy, where we shop, what recipes we use... and so on.

We want to keep talking about this with people. It reminds us each time, which helps keep us on track. But we also want to share the information because we know first hand how dramatic the change has been for us. People see the difference, but the bigger impact is what can't be seen. That's the real stuff. The improved focus, sleep, blood pressure readings to name a few. So we are not looking for an out to person to person discussion.

But (prolly shouldn't start a paragraph with a but), we have also decided that it would be very helpful to have a blog going about our experience. We want to link people to the info that got us up and running. We want to link people with books, podcasts, news, recipes, and other web goodness about eating plants. The blog will only be about the health aspect of vegetarianism. We're really vegan, but only in our diet. We don't know, follow or promote the lifestyle of veganism except for how it pertains to food, diet and personal health.

Maybe you didn't know we have been doing the vegan thing. I will detail the whole meal deal, but I'm saving it for the as-of-yet-unnamed blog. This is where you come in.

I've got ideas for what to call the veg blog. I'd like your input. It needs to be about plant, food, health, etc. Take a moment, if I may ask of you, to take the poll. If I have other ideas in the meantime I will post them here.