I shouldn't have left you, without a new post to step to! Sorry just a bit silly I guess. It has indeed be a while since I have posted anything other that photos and pictures. The truth of the matter is, I have been quite uninspired to write anything in a very long time. This past week I have finally had some quiet time and been able to get my digital life organized. Along with that my own mind.

Although I have not thought of anything substantial in terms of a theme, I do feel the desire to put fingers on keys again. That is somewhat refreshing. Now I need to find my sense of humor and begin to look at the world through my silly glasses and start to share with the world. The past few months have been quite crazy. Pulling double duty at work between New Jersey and California and even contemplating a move out west. The damn lifestyle is just so much better for me and the kin-folk. A Clampet am I? Who knows and that is to be seen at a later date.

What I can tell you is that the only thing that irritated me about it all was those people who always ask "Why would you want to move to California? They have earthquakes!" as if that is some sort of argument for someone who spent 7.5 years in Alaska and 16 years in Japan. Earthquakes..... whatever. Then the tables turned with the earthquake in Virgina! Ironically at the same time I was enjoying the weather in SoCal. Oh the smack I talked when that went down.

I came home for a stint at the beginning of September after spending all of July in California then pulling a two week there, one weekend at home rotation for about 4 weeks. It was good to be home, but I was hit with yet another reminder other than the snow of why I wouldn't miss the "right-coast" Hurricane Irene.

Now as someone who has experienced almost everything that Mother Nature has to offer, I was not the least bit worried about making it through the hurricane. It is just the damn dealing with all of the fall out that sucks. We had our share of it this time. A large tree branch fell about 100ft and hit the house, then rolled off putting a small'ish hole in the roof and another tree came completely down across the road, blocking in neighbors and ripping the power cable off of our house. We lost a fence in the chaos as well. It's mother nature, so there is nothing that can be done, but to grab your ankles and hope for the best.

So at a 35,000ft. view, that is about it lately. I am also still posting to my other sites as well, so check them out if you get a chance. They're listed on the side of this blog.

Unfortunately companies are doing a very bad job at broadcasting their efforts in support of the Japan Earthquake/Tsunami disaster.  It took an Aussie friend of mine in Japan to post a list of U.S. companies who are contributing to the aid needed in Japan for me to find the following from AT&T:

Effective beginning March 11, and continuing through March 31, AT&T wireless postpaid customers will not be charged for:

• International long distance usage from the United States and Puerto Rico to Japan
• Text messages to Japan, originated from a U.S. wireless number

In addition, and also effective March 11 through March 31, residential wireline customers can seek credits for up to 60 minutes of direct dial calling to Japan:

Upon receiving their wireline bill, customers may call AT&T to receive adjusted calling for up to 60 minutes. In other words, no charges for up to 60 minutes of call time from the United States to Japan between March 11 and March 31.

For any of the above activity, customers will either see no charges reflected on their monthly statement, or they will see a full credit applied to their statement for activity between March 11 and March 31

This is a big deal for anyone who has ever had to deal with killer international wireless rates. So Kudos to AT&T for doing it, but maybe getting the word out should also be part of the plan or else it is just a way to demonstrate support without anyone actually being able to use it.

Anyhow, here is the entire list of companies and what they are contributing to the aid effort in Japan.

Thanks to Jason Ball for clueing me in.