The Lewis Show

 I think my title says it all. It also implies that today I feel like writing, and tomorrow I will not feel like writing. Time will tell. Considering I have made only a handful of posts in the past seven years, I will remain skeptical.  It has been an interesting couple of years since I posted my farewell to my cat, Topaz. I have since moved, two more cats have passed on, leaving me with one, I am almost finished with college (finally), my teenagers are almost adults, and we adopted a baby boy.  That is entirely too much to delve into deeper in a single writing, but I shall over time, if I continue to write here. I really don't want to write about myself anymore. I never really wanted to in the first place. I think deep down, I wanted to create, and create I shall do.  I had made an attempt to write articles about certain life rules that were set forth by prominent men and women of old. I wanted to write a modern version of "Washington's Rules" and I also wanted to m...

Four years ago, yesterday, Janine and I caught the midnight showing for Batman, The Dark Knight. We all always remember that modern classic and the good time that we had. Now, exactly four years later, we are embarking again on a midnight run to see the last of this trilogy, The Dark Knight Rises. I decided to look back at my blog and do a recap of my world then as it compares to my world now. The similarities and differences will be astounding. This also will mark my 8th year of blogging, if you want to call it that. I know it's a dying art form, but I still like the platform. Four years ago this week, I took a small cat to an animal hospital for a blood transfusion. She is healthy, happy, spoiled, and just as weird now as she was when she was a fragile and sick baby. I was also a heavy Pownce user four years ago. I wasn't marginally using Twitter, Facebook was a joke (still is), but I had put all my eggs in the wrong social basket. We were seriously house shopping ...

We had a bit of a road trip last weekend. Janine's family held a Memorial Day weekend gathering on the Northern Neck. Being from Warsaw myself, I knew this was going to be a good time. There is a family house outside of Reedville with close access to the Chesapeake Bay. The house is beautiful and there are a lot of houses over there for sale reasonably. I have a feeling Janine and I are going to be looking into vacation houses as we get our current house paid for. What a great way to get away from it all! I can not say enough about how we have some of the most beautiful real estate in the country right here.  I wanted to drop a couple photos here. View of the Bay Family House in Reedville

I looked at my poor blog and realized that I haven't posted anything in a month. This year has gone entirely too fast. How about some rants? My latest distraction from regular posts at my blog has been regular posts at my other blog, Android Activist and Google Plus . I have formed and found such a great community of people, photographers, engaging and interesting people, and a variety of view points and world views. I have really enjoyed keeping up with people there and have completely neglected my site here, Twitter, and all the other internet stuff that now just seems so unimportant. I'm ready to consolidate my digital life to one place and devote more and more of my waking time with waking real people. I, like most have been doing a steady eye roll since the Christmas shopping season starts around Halloween now. Part of me understands the desperation of retail and car companies to move inventory in these challenging times, but the holiday burn out is only going to get ...

Last night, Janine and I took advantage of a rare chance to catch some prolific artwork. The Picasso exhibit came to Richmond earlier this year and this weekend it is concluding to sold out crowds. I'm glad we went. Picasso's art is thought provoking, it makes statements towards the time the works were done, and we get to see his perspective on humanity and the world. We in fact were so thrilled with the work that the Va Museum of Fine Arts is bringing to Richmond, that we became members. Between this exhibit, the Tiffany exhibit last year, and Faberge coming up later on this year, it made sense to become a part of this, and we think it's important to support local venues that work hard to bring the world to our town. There's a lot of change and growth in the city and I'm becoming more and more proud to call Richmond home. It was announced this morning that there will be a cultural exchange with China. Two hundred items from the Beijing Palace will be sent here ...

Where have I been you ask? I've been working...at work. And I've been working...at home (with a lot of help).

So I've gone a couple weeks back into the grind after my mini vacation earlier this month. The weather started to get warm and then right when spring hit, back to winter. That's okay though, warm weather will prevail and my struggle against the yard will continue again. In my free time though, I have been focusing some of my attention to a new gig. I decided a long time ago that putting Android stuff in my blog is great, but making it a regular habit makes this less a journal and more of some kind of semi tech blog that's not a tech blog. So to keep things cohesive, I'm starting to write now at a small blog called Android Activist. I'm writing with a great bunch of writers and pundits. I just hope I can keep up. I feel this will help get me out of several ruts and I can go back to being creative. Android Activist was started by an evangelist to the platform, Scott Brown, host at the Radio Android network that he started. I feel I can fit into place with his bl...

No, nothing has gotten away from me. Janine and I decided to get away ourselves for a couple days. We loaded up the Mom car (my Ford Escape), and we headed to Virginia Beach to listen to the ocean for a couple days. There's something about that sound alone that can really recharge me. I'm 37 now for those trying to keep count. I figure it's time for me to stop trying to count and rely on the kindness of strangers to do the math for me. I feel great though. Going to the gym and being motivated have made me very content overall. Now for pictures: Making a run for the Mom Car on Tuesday afternoon Immediately kicked my feet up Soaked in the view. I love this time of year at the beach. No people! Did I mention I got a Nook ? Thanks, Janine ! I've also already hacked it.

I really have not been up to much at all. As winter fades into spring, the hibernating Mike will begin to emerge from his cave. I did get a new phone. It's new to me anyways. I was able to get a hold of a used  Nexus One . This was Google's first phone branded specifically as their own. All Android phones are Google phones, but this is the first one made by Google via HTC. It was a much needed upgrade and I got a great deal. I'll be posting more app suggestions down the road now that I have a phone that can keep up with new apps. I did have a nice long weekend recently too. I was able to visit Sam and Jessi in Lynchburg then attend a birthday party for Janine's cousin. It's always refreshing to see the state. In all my travels, Virginia is most unique and it's always rewarding to see its history on display. All in all things are going well, I am rested, we're going to the gym with more regularity, and I'm ready to take on the year. Wait, it's a...

Also appearing, Janine and Mike. And friends. We think.

I know I've posted this picture before. Probably when talking about my forever saga moving leaves every fall. There's something in this picture though that is missing now. Want to take any guesses? I woke up this morning, got up and headed out. While backing up, I looked over my shoulder to see where the trash bin was located. I put it on the street for pick up the other night. It wasn't freaking there! Some ghetto, redneck, knuckle dragging, slacker dipstick targeted my dumpster. It's possible it was lifted because it had less garbage in it then the rest of the cans on my street. My first thought was maybe the county claimed it for a late bill or my can was getting replaced, but it's a pretty new can. So I called and ordered a replacement, but what a stitch. Here's my tweet which will will assuredly afflict these thieves with various skin and body disorders. I will have justice! Bahhahaha! To the redneck who stole our trash bin this morning, may...

My inbox was stacked pretty high today! Actually we're doing some necessary hardware upgrades. A run on milk? There must be flurries a'coming! This slow cooker full of pulled pork barbecue will get me through! The welcoming party did not have to get up. Must be tough...

I really tried to post something last night. I had nothing. It's not that there's nothing going on, it's just all work related. I prefer not to post about my work here. Nothing bad happening, we are making a lot of major upgrades which involve my expertise over the next couple weeks. We're getting new hardware, new software, a lot of shiny new-ness. Other than that, there really isn't anything going on, just your typical January slowdown after the holidays. I'm thinking I'll be singing three tunes over the next several months, work, gym, and home. So I don't expect much personally, over the next few days and weeks. I think I'll stick to posting on new gadgets and apps especially in light of this week's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Looks like I'll have a very nice birthday this year!

 I didn't have much to post. This has been and will be a very busy week at work. Actually it will probably be a very busy month for me at work, but it's all very good and I'm very excited to be this tired. From @hexxeh and posted here , not only have people been able to port OS X and Windows 7 to the Google laptop, but apparently now Android is running on it. I would greatly enjoy a dual boot or more. I can't wait to see what people do with these devices.

I must like to stretch out the holidays. This morning, we departed for my parents for the exchanging of gifts and to enjoy some much needed quality time. Plus I really enjoy the mini road trip in our new ride. I always enjoy spending the day with my parents. I never thought I'd enjoy heading back to the Northern Neck, but now that I'm an adult and not a wily teenager, I can appreciate the quiet beauty and close knit community that I took for granted so long ago. I got to take Janine back into Sharps to show her some of the old houses I used to visit when I was younger. It's bittersweet to see some houses still standing while some have been long abandoned. I don't want that area to become a ghost town. There's vital early history in that part of Virginia that not many get to see. In the photo is the current local hunt club. Before that it was the old Tidewater post office. It ceased being a post office long before my time. Growing up I mostly remember it being ...

As 2011 begins, I spend the day reflecting on the past year and thinking ahead for the new year. I never keep resolutions, I prefer to call it advanced planning. There's a stigma that comes with making resolutions. I can swear I'll go to the gym, be a more charitable person, vow to write a book, or learn a new language. I usually don't follow through. I think it's the American way. I do plan to be married and a student though by this time next year. I can think of no better direction to stay on my continued path to contentment. This can be a good year and I plan on doing my best to make that happen. Best wishes to everyone as they continue on their paths, may you all get there as well.

I figured I would start 2011 in the same fashion as I did July of 2010, by posting every day. I'm planning another 31 days of not so though provoking fun and frivolity. I decided to throw in one catch this time. I'm going to post from my new laptop. Earlier in the month, I signed up for Google's Chrome OS pilot program with no expectation at all. I pleaded my case with Google stating that I am a citizen of the clouds and to carry out my patriotic duty I need a device to complete that experience. Someone in Mountain View must have either found great pity on me or agreed that I needed this laptop. On the afternoon of the 14th, one was on my doorstep waiting for me. I'm still thrilled to have this laptop. There's been a lot said about the Chrome OS, what it lacks, and where it shines. Here's Google's take on their operating system: So what's my initial take on Chrome OS? My first reaction was to the speed. I'm browsing within 15 seconds even f...

It's that time for everything to run together into a haze. Apparently I'm not the only one... I did get an early present though from Google to help me decompress. (More on that later) The beautiful sunrise this morning also helped me un-haze. I am so unbelievably, unimaginably lucky.

It was really coming down this morning. Best believe I took no interstates in this morning! Even made it to work on time. Or close enough...

I successfully made a path to the trash can... And we're able to get away if the leaves do win this year.