Differences That Make All The Difference
by Steve West on August 5, 2013

Recent discussion with Brenda:
me: There's such a huge difference between how I interact with people at work and how I interact with the people in my home.
Brenda: How so?
me: At work, I spend all day talking about banking practices and domestic and international finance. At home, I spend hours with you and the kids engaging in mostly small talk.
Brenda: You sure that doesn't bore you?
me: Quite the contrary. I find it refreshing. The most difficult decision to make is normally whether to cut the lawn to 1 or 2 inch heighth. Math is relegated to determining whether or not we can afford to go to Red Robin tonight. Heady talk still happens when necessary, it's just not an everyday event. I appreciate you guys for the breath of fresh air you are to me.
One Reply to Differences That Make All The Difference
Web Junkie
Steve West scours the Web searching for interest or absurdity and then shakes his head ruefully when he finds it. Read more »

Breakfast Becomes Dessert
Recently, Brenda and I had breakfast at a local diner because they have a fairly low age requirement (55) to get the "senior special". For $4.00 you get 2 eggs, bacon, hash browns and toast. Go »
See You At The Pole
At the end of my college career, I walked on the campus of the University of Maryland for the thousandth time. Near the chapel, in front of an administrative building, stood flagpoles bearing the flag of the State of Maryland flying slightly lower than the flag of the United States. Annually, in September, students are encouraged to gather at the flagpole of their school and pray, an event called "See You At The Pole". Go »
Half-time
At about the halfway mark between Halloween and Christmas, I ran across this gift idea suitable for both holidays. Zombie lawn sculpture. Dave Barry included this in his annual gift guide and I found the original source for it. Go »
Slip Slidin' Away
Why do adults get on children's slides? Compilation film of various acidents, big, small, young, and old. The fifth clip in of the guy going down the water slide head first sans kid almost gave me a brain hemorrhage from laughing. Go »
The Texas Chili Cook-Off
Recently, at a Bowie Baysox baseball game, I was honored to be selected as a judge at a Texas chili cook-off. The original person called in sick at the last minute, and I happened to be standing there at the judge’s table, asking for directions to the Coors Light truck, when the call came in. I was assured by the other two judges (Native Texans, probably) that the chili wouldn’t be all that spicy; and besides, they told me I could have free beer during the tasting, so I accepted and became Judge #3. Go »
Scott Hardie | August 9, 2013
I know how you feel. Some of my friends are programmers, and they want to talk code when we get together, but I rarely find myself in the mood because my interests are compartmentalized; there's time for every subject, but they do not mix. Plus I'm too cognizant of the non-programmers in the room who don't want to hear that.