Top Ten Posts of 2009

This is my 2009 "best of". I picked them. They're not based on hits, or number of comments or anything indicating they were better than any other post. I just picked 10 of what I consider our most interesting posts this year. 

We started the year with The Snowpocalypse, and Rubi's post about it. Then later in the year I updated with a summary of a few weeks in the life, which included remodeling! and more remodeling. At one point my job and I were in the news. At the end of September, Rubi got a new job. I feel it necessary to include the Muppets rendition of a classic Queen tune.   At Thaksgiving I like to post my yearly Thankfulness post. And Rubi and I started a podcast!

And here's a bonus, Miss Kitty!

Happy New Year!

Top Ten Posts of 2009

2009 Year in Review

I did a decade in review first... then thought I might as well do a year in review as well.

January: Snowpocalypse! An ice storm forces us to spend a week with at Rubi's parents' house because ours was without power.

February: We got to come home!

March: uh... Daylight Saving Time began?

April: can't think of anything.

May: Duh, 15th wedding anniversary!

June: Massive remodeling project on the kids' rooms.

July: The kids spent a week with Rubi's parents. Awesome!

August: Rubi begins occasionally guest co-hosting Massively Speaking, the podcast from the website she will later become employed at.

September: Rubi gets hired on at Massively.com!

October: Rubi stresses over working two jobs, and her secratary job finally succumbs to the pressure. Kevin and Rubi start a podcast. Rubi's sister moves to Texas.

November: I have to work Thanksgiving. Again. The first episode of our podcast hits the feed.

December: We welcome Miss Kitty Fantastico into our home.

2009 Year in Review

The Decade in Review

The first decade of the 21st Century: the naughts, the aughts, the naughties, the ohs?
Let's see what has transpired for The Bayer Family over the past decade.

2000: Alexander, our second child, is born. Yay! (Lizzy was born last century!)

2001: Catherine, our third child and second daughter, is born. Yay! (How'd that happen?)

2002: Lizzy started Kindergarten at the same private school I attended.

2003: I registered this blog... then waited a year to begin posting

2004: Rubi and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary on our first family trip to Walt Disney World! Thanks to Rubi's parents.

2005: I started reviewing books on this blog, and elsewhere, occasionally.

2006: Rubi and I became fans of Firefly via the DVDs.

2007: Our second family trip to Walt Disney World! Thanks Rubi's parents!

2008: Rubi and I took up in-line skating for the spring.

2009: Rubi and I celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary!
 

The Decade in Review

Addendum (or: A Few More Things)

Last post, I mentioned one of my current favorite Christmas Songs.
The Twelve Days of Christmas, as performed by Straight No Chaser.
Here's the most excellent video to it:


I also mentioned that Die Hard might be my favorite Christmas movie. I forgot all about Scrooged. Rubi hates that movie (the Ghost of Christmas Future creeps her out). But I think it's awesome, and it reminds of of one of my best friends, who often used to quote the movie.

And, here's a couple of cool links:

Free Stuff from Gmail (stickers, yay!)

And a massive collection of the most recent posts from Science Fiction and Fantasy authors that blog.

That is all for now.


.

Addendum (or: A Few More Things)

Thanks Carrie!

I've been meaning to mention this for awhile... but it completely slipped my mind (read, whenever I did think about it - I procrastinated doing anything about it).

Carrie at Mommy Brain gave me an award!

Thanks Carrie!

The following text is supposed to be included:

This blog invests and believes the PROXIMITY - nearness in space, time and relationships!

These blogs are exceedingly charming.
These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement.
Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated.
Please give more attention to these writers!
Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.

Hmmm... I don't know that I read eight blogs that qualify.
Mommy Brain definitely qualifies.
MCF does as well.
I'll vote for my sister, too.

But all the other blogs I read are Sci-Fi/Geek stuff, and don't really qualify.

Anyway... thanks again for the award! I appreciate it.

Thanks Carrie!

Interests Meme

From E.E. Knight's LJ, he picked some of my interests/meta-keywords and wants me to explain them.

APCO
From http://www.apcointl.org/new/about/

"APCO International is the world's largest organization dedicated to public
safety communications. We have been around since 1935 - far longer than any
other public safety communications association (visit APCOHistory.org for more
on APCO's 70+ year history). More than 15,000 members rely on APCO for their
professional needs - from examining standards and issues to providing education,
products and services.

With more than 70 years behind us, APCO has a
rich and interesting history worth exploring. View past bulletins from as far
back as 1935, read meeting minutes and explore original charters. It’s these
decades of experience that make APCO the most formidable and well-operated
association of its kind. Our governing documents, executive leaders and senior
members are a testament to the public safety community’s dedication and
expertise.

APCO Mission

The Association of Public-Safety
Communications Officials International (APCO) is a member driven association of
communications professionals that provides leadership; influences public safety
communications decisions of government and industry; promotes professional
development; and, fosters the development and use of technology for the benefit
of the public."

FAMILY
I have one. My wife and three kids constantly make me proud to be a part of their lives.

GUILD WARS
This is a Massive Multi-player Online Role Playing Game. See Guildwars.com. It's fun, and both my wife and I play, as does our oldest daughter.

NENA
NENA is the National Emergency Number Association, of which I am a member.
From: http://www.nena.org/pages/ContentList.asp?CTID=38

NENA's mission is to foster the technological advancement, availability, and
implementation of a universal emergency telephone number system. In carrying out
its mission, NENA promotes research, planning, training and education. The
protection of human life, the preservation of property and the maintenance of
general community security are among NENA's objectives. NENA's elected Executive
Board, volunteer Chapter Presidents and Committee Chairpersons, and NENA
Headquarters staff are easily reachable to help you.

PUBLIC SAFETY
This is the business I'm in. My career as a Public Safety Communications Supervisor I oversee the day-to-day operations on my shift: taking 9-1-1 calls, dispatching law enforcement and fire services as needed to emergency and non-emergency incidents.

TALL WOMEN (Heh)
My wife is taller than I am. When I was applying for my job, I had to take a psychological exam and one of the questions was "Do you like tall women?". I had to answer in the affirmative because I like my wife.

TECH
Gadgets are cool. Gadgets are fun. I like technological things.

Interests Meme

This and That, or "Join up!"

Occasionally on my blog, I’ll post a few things and links to places I’ve been on the internet. I call them “THINKS”, a combination of the words things and links. It’s been months since I’ve posted any THINKS… It’s been months since I posted anything of substance at all. Lately it’s been random memes and questionnaires.

Here are a few THINKS, some related to my hometown – Evansville, Indiana. Others are just some things I find interesting.

Club Evansville is a brand new website, Evansville’s version of MySpace. Join up!

If you’re a Star Wars fan, the Evansville region has it’s very own Star Wars FanForce fanclub (look for the “Welcome New Members” thread and introduce yourself!). They have monthly book club meetings, monthly collecting meetings, monthly costuming meetings, monthly General meetings (all optional, you can pick and choose what you want to attend and what you don’t). They also have occasional “unofficial” get-togethers and movie outings. Again: Join up! Oh, and the club also maintains a MySpace page.

If you’re in the Evansville area and a fan of Joss Whedon’s Firefly and Serenity… you’re out of luck. There’s no fanclub for us Browncoats in the area. There is a website for Indiana Browncoats to gather though. Once again I say: Join up (even if you’re not in Indiana, we’ll take anyone willing to make a trek to Hoosierland ever now and again for Browncoat revelry – Louisville, St. Louis, etc.)!

Lately I’ve been playing a couple of online games, both are sort of “Space Strategy” games. In oGame, you start a colony on a planet and build up your production to produce fleets of ships, conduct research into new technology, colonize other planets, and maybe attack other players’ colonies to raid for resources. In Dark Pirates, you are a loan pirate raiding transport ships, convoys, and fleets, attacking other pirates, searching for resources, and working on space-stations to earn money to repair and upgrade your ship or buy a new ship. If you join up at either of these, please don’t attack me!

And to finish up, my sister (who does not live in the Evansville area) has started her own blog. She’s better at it than I am.

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This and That, or "Join up!"

June Blog Events

A couple of interesting blog events happen this month.

First, June 13 the everyone is supposed to Blog Like It's The End Of The World.
Really.

The following day, June 14, is International Weblogger's Day. In the past, the point was just to blog about blogging: why you blog, how blogging has affected you, etc. This year, though, they actually have a theme.

Join in, have fun with the first one and then get serious with the 2nd one.

June Blog Events

One Word Answers

Answer all of the following questions using only one word:

1. Where is your cell phone? pocket
2. Relationship? married
3. Your hair? brown
4. Work? yep
5. Your sister? three
6. Your favorite thing? nap
7. Your dream last night? forgotten
8. Your favorite drink? caffeine
9. Your dream car? gasless
10. The room you’re in? loud
11. Your shoes? off
12. Your fears? fearful
13. What do you want to be in 10 years? happy
14. Who did you hang out with this weekend? family
15. What you’re not good at? conversation
16. Muffin? please!
17. One of your wish list items? books
18. Where you grew up? Indiana
19. The last thing you did? typed
20. What are you wearing? clothes
21. What aren’t you wearing? shoes
22. Your pet? mini
23. Your computer? on
24. Your life? busy
25. Your mood? bleh
26. Missing? no
27. What are you thinking about right now? answers
28. Your car? parked
29. Your kitchen? messy
30. Your summer? hot
31. Your favorite color? blue
32. When is the last time you laughed? dunno
33. Last time you cried? dunno
34. School? OVER!
35. Love? often

Tagged. You're it.

One Word Answers

THINKs April 6 2007

Another installment of the various and sundry items I find of interest around the digital world.

First off, here's an article about an easier way to post images in webposts.

This is just funny as all get out.


Here is a short list of ways to not be late.

For fans of Heroes, a report from a panel with the cast and crew.

I want one of these. Especially if it transforms into a car. Especially a vegetable oil powered car.

How cool is this?

On a side note. Rubi is doing way better in Guild Wars than I am. She's level 19 already and much further along in the game. My two characters are still trudging away at level 13 and are barely into the game. It'd be much more fun if we had another computer and another copy of Guild Wars so we could play together.

THINKS: Kev's term combining the words Things and Links: an assortment of images, links, games, trivia, memes, minutia, and whatnot found while browsing and mentioned collectively in a blog or message-board posts.

THINKs April 6 2007

Blog Party

A mom's blog is hosting a blog party the first week-ish of March.

Make plans to stop by. I heard mention of prizes. Plus, maybe you can make some new virtual friends.

Blog Party