I've recently come to the realization that I don't like music for the sound or the beat. I like it for the memories.

Until the iPod I spent more time listening to the Pop stations than listening to my CDs. This led to hearing a lot of new music regardless of the type. So in the past all of the music I heard was from the Pop stations or movies.

I only buy an entire album from my favorite artists, like Richard Marx, Tracy Chapman, Bon Jovi and most recently John Mayer. Most of my favorite music is from the Pop stations. I don't mind turning on the Pop stations and letting them play but with the iPod I spend more time listening to my own music than the Pop Stations.

Songs are like little keys to my past. I can be listening to my music, close my eyes, sit very still and transport myself in my mind back to a point in time that the song reminds me of. Along with the point in time is the surroundings such as where I was, what I was doing, who I was doing it with and the little details. I can slowly rebuild an entire scene in my head of that point in time including even the smallest details.

Some of my favorite music (memories) comes from the late 80's when I was High School. Most recently the music from The Fast and The Furious Tokyo Drift has struck a note with me. There is something about the movie that makes me feel good or young, whatever it is I associate certain songs in the movie with those feelings. Songs that I know I would have never listened to otherwise. Once a song is associated with a memory it doesn't matter how many times I listen to it, it always reminds me of the original memory.

I listen to music for the memories. I even organize my music by the dates in which they remind me. My Playlists are titled like so "1988-06 GrandMother's (Hanson)", "1988-07 Dorothy's (C.L.V.)" and "1988-08_1989-05 Senior (Cherry Creek)". I was just listening to a song that reminded me the two summers (87 and 88) that I spent away from home my family moved.

There is a song that I like because it reminds me of my Granddad and how the song made me literally thank him for being there for me. That same song reminds my wife of a bad memory, not the same way I associate memories to songs but certainly a point in time. I choose not to listen to it for that reason. I avoid any song that's associated to a bad memory, mine or hers.

If I'm ever in a comma I want some tests to be run on my brain activity. I know for a fact that certain songs trigger memories for me so if I'm in a comma I would bet money playing those songs will modify my brain activity. Even if it doesn't, play the songs for me anyway (the ones organized by date and checked in iTunes).

I received a call today, the gentlemen asked for Karen Jones (my wife). I said "How can I help you?"

I could already tell that he may a tele-marketer or someone from church wanting Karen to volunteer for something.

He asked if Karen was available. I asked what company he worked for and he said "Rob Jones Tech Support".

I started laughing out loud and looked at Karen who was on the couch next to me. I told Karen the guy on the phone said he worked for Rob Jones Tech Support and she started laughing.

I asked the gentlemen his name "Warren" he said. I asked Warren if he knew he was talking to Rob Jones and he said "I thought I might be".

After telling Warren that I don't remember seeing him around the office (jokingly) I asked why he was calling. He said that he was calling about Karen's domain (Fresh Hot Coffee).

That's when I realized that I knew who I was talking too. As I'm a reseller of many products I realized that Warren actually does work for me.

Warren works for me as part of my web hosting company. It surprised me because I don't remember being notified about them making calls.
I'm not bothered by it, I wish other companies would try to increase my income.

After asking him a few more questions and having a good laugh I let him get back to work.

I've seen people do it, but I was always embarrassed to do it. But I was in a hurry to get home to get my girls to gymnastics.

I made it half was down the ramp before realizing that the highway was at a complete stand still.

I pulled as far to the right as I could, thought about how long I would stuck (45 minutes). I put the car in Reverse, turned on my hazard lights and started backing up slowly.

After making it all the way back up (using the shoulder) I put it in Drive and maneuvered my way back onto road.

I then proceeded to tell 4 other cars that were in line to get on the highway no to go that way. All of them went a different direction.

As it would turn out I did the Backup Maneuver again the following day without hesitation. When I saw I would be stuck in traffic on the highway for an extended period of time.

I honestly don't know if it's illegal to do The Backup Maneuver but I'm going to keep doing it (cautiously of course).

I had some work to do today really late. As I left one client (after dark) and headed towards another the fog had begun rolling in.

About a mile from the clients house I had to slow to about 20 mph. The fog was so bad it was like there was a 40 ft shield around the car and I couldn't see out of it.
Even house and street lights were only visible at about a few hundred feet. I made it to the clients house and worked for a couple hours.

When I left there I had an hour long drive home. I thought it would make sense to get to the highway first even thought it lengthened my trip.

Before making it to the highway a couple times I came to a complete stop on the road. When the lines of paint ended at an intersection it was impossible to see anything.
I didn't know if the road curved at the intersection or what and I couldn't see the road just the paint.

I made it to the highway and it wasn't any better. I drove at a maximum 40 mph until I found a Semi that was bright enough to follow.
Even after driving all the way home I couldn't see the Taco Bell sign until I was 300 ft from it.

It was the worst fog that I had ever experienced. I hear some schools even had a delay the next morning because of it.

I recently heard of the arrests of 8 people who were stealing from peoples mail boxes. Article Here

We've lived in this house for almost 4 years now and when we had the brick mailbox built I decided to not put a flag on it. Being a geek, my wife and I try to pay everything online. Anything that can't be paid online I take to the nearest USPS Mailbox.

Before we moved in I already knew of the possibility of this type of identity and check theft so I decided it wasn't worth the risk. It's only slightly inconvient, as I'm always passing the USPS Mailbox and we mail so few things anyway.

If you put things in your mailbox for the mailman to pickup you are taking the risk of having your identity or checks stolen. Either way, you can avoid the whole thing by just not doing it. Fins the nearest USPS Mailbox and drive past it regularly to drop off your out-going mail. It's a small inconvenience compared to the victims of the recent thefts.

It's happened to you too. You see someone or some-ones and you know you know them from somewhere. So now you start the tedious task of thinking of all the places you might know them from.

Tonight I was in the Taco Bell drive thru and saw a couple inside the store. I thought to myself "They look familiar". Normally when this happens I try to determine if I know from my Senior year of High School from either McDonald's or Architecture class. You would be surprised how many times it's one of these two options for me.

After a couple seconds I had gone through the normal stuff and no match. Now I was on to the one of many jobs I've ever had. About that time their kids walked up next to them. The smallest girl was recognizable. Why, because she plays with my daughter (of the same name) occasionally. You see, these people that I couldn't make out were my neighbors.

As sad as that sounds, I only know a few of my neighbors and most of them are because their kids come to my house and play.

So neighbors, If you're reading this I apologize.

Today was the final day for the adoption. We met with our attorney and the Judge at the court house and every went beautifully.

We now have a new daughter, Sierra Jones.