First Things First
I'm happy to write that I've been working on the site and adding things here and there.  I know that the site is a long, long way from being complete, but I'm trying to add more things daily.  Right now I've been concentrating on adding stuff, pictures, to Vista Drive.  As for November 1st there are 18 color pictures and 14 black and white pictures in the various galleries.  However, as soon as I get more pictures I'll add them throughout the month.  And, there is always my journal entries.  There are nearly 100 of them covering almost a year.  November 11th is the one year anniversary of my journal entries, so I doubt you can finish reading that in one sitting.  Enjoy the site.

Afterthoughts : Last minute thoughts
Well, it's a few minutes from my self-imposed deadline for this section of the site and I have no idea what to write for this particular section.  Afterthoughts is supposed to be my little way of looking back at a particular event during the last month.  However, this month has been rather hectic and my leaving this section until the last minute has backfired on me.  The nature of this part is exactly to wait until the end of the month, because one never knows what will happen.

I thought about writing about my remembrances of Kat, but that only gave me writer's block.  Hell, writing about not having anything to write about isn't doing much to inspire me either.  I simply needed more time for reflection.

And yet, as I reflect on this month the overall theme that I come away with is joy.  Joy because I'm alive.  Almost two months after the Sept. 11th attacks I feel great joy.  We have come together as a nation like I haven't seen in a long time.  If anything positive is going to come out of this horrible act it's going to be our nation uniting.

I've tried to go back to life as normal, and amazingly I've been able to.  Being here on the left coast has helped.  But, also being within myself has helped.  I've tried to reflect on recent events and tried to gain perspective.  No one knows what tomorrow brings, so it's best to live each day to its fullest.  I think that I won't hold back as much as I used to.  The old running joke with a friend of mine was a saying that went, "There's nothing that a man can't do, tomorrow."  The comma is important because to us it meant that you could put off something for tomorrow and slack off today.  I'm taking the comma off of that personal motto.  And with that, I end this attempt at filling this space.

Man About Town - The Santa Monica pier
The fog drifts across the ocean and obscures the view of the horizon.  Nevertheless the views are not all external.  The Santa Monica pier is a mix of tourist destination and local hangout simply because you can just want to hang out and check out the view, or ride a roller coaster.  While not the cleanest beach in California, Santa Monica is freeway close and close to shops and restaurants.

Not too many piers have their own amusement park.  Pacific Park is not huge, but it is filled with fun.  There are carnival games, bumper cars, a ferris wheel and a roller coaster.  There's also a real, 75 year old merry-go-round with 44 hand-crafted horses to choose from.  If that wasn't enough there is also the UCLA Ocean Discovery Center.  The discovery center is a marine science learning center and aquarium.  The pier has been the site of many film and TV shoots, such as "Son of the Beach" and "Pacific Blue," to name just two.
And, if all this is not enough, or too much, you can just sit back and watch the waves go by.  For those who love to people watch, the pier is a perfect spot to view people of all creeds and nations.
For more information about the Santa Monica pier please visit SantaMonicaPier.org.

Editorial : DOA, No Trial
Osama Bin Laden must die... no question of that.  In my mind the United States can't afford not to hunt down and kill Bin Laden.  Why do I say that?  Because, the reality of finding Bin Laden and eventually putting him on trial is a logistical and terror filled nightmare.  Why?  For one, he will have to be imprisoned while the trial is on.  You know that his followers will use that imprisonment for more attacks (not that they need an excuse in their minds).  Secondly, assume that he is found guilty.  Then he will remain as a symbol for every terrorist in the world, a martyr, if you will, to those who hate us.  Granted, killing him will also create a martyr.  However, we must not forget the importance of a leader.  He is the leader of his cause, as evil as it might be.  He is nearly irreplaceable.  I say that it's like cutting of the head of a snake.  Without it the rest of the snake is nothing.  Third, having him dead will make us feel a whole lot better.  The taking of a life is horrible, under any circumstances.  However, the eradication of evil is a fight that must be fought, by any means necessary.  Because who we are dealing is a man who is willing to take lives to glorify his cause.  We should kill him if only so he can go meet Allah, since he likes him so.  I'm sure that when Bin Laden shows up Allah will be in the bathroom, or something.  Or Allah will pretend to not be home, like so many people do on Halloween when they haven't bought any candy to give out.

I'm being a little frivolous right now, but the truth is, Bin Laden must die.  He must die the way other evil men have died, ruthlessly and without honor.  Let us take a page out of Hitler's passing.  He rather die than be captured.  Sure enough, reports are that Bin Laden feels the same way.  Dead is dead.  But, I would rather the military find him alive and kill him on sight... then have him quartered and have his body buried in separate pieces so he can never get to his make-believe heaven.  In closing, die Osama Bin Laden... Die!

Etcetera : Cell Phone Etiquette
The proliferation of cell phones in the last few years has caused a downturn in etiquette.  Phones are not a new thing, but the idea of a phone that works anywhere is not so entrenched as to have a formal set of etiquette rules.  I hope to change that with these few rules of cell-phone etiquette.

1) The most important rule for cell phone users is to not use the phone while driving.  Even with hands-free devices the distraction factor is still there.  Studies have shown that even hands-free devices don't lower the occurrences of accidents via the use of cell phones while driving.

2) Unless it's a matter of life and death, don't interrupt a conversation your having in order to answer the phone.  It's so rude to ignore a person your talking to in order to answer a phone call.  Furthermore, you make the person your talking to wait around while you have this delightful conversation.  That's downright wrong.  Prioritize your conversations.  If your expecting an important call excuse yourself and answer the phone.  If you know the call is going to take a while tell the person your talking to in person that you might get a call that will take a while.  With that knowledge the person your talking to could go about their business as soon as you answer your phone.

3) Speak in a normal tone.  Not everyone around you for 100 feet needs to hear your conversation.  If it's important that the person on the other side of the phone call listen to every word you say, make sure that your in a quiet place.  People on cell phones tend to talk extra loud when on the phone.  There is no need for that extra volume.  However, if there is, simply go to a more secluded place to make your phone call.

4) Turn off your phone when your in a movie, a play or any other sort of performance.  No one needs to hear a phone ring, and have you answer it when trying to watch a movie, or a play.  The illusion of being taken to another place is broken with the ringing of a phone.  About the only thing worse is bring a crying baby to a movie.  Yet, people, I think, hate phone users more because you can turn off the phone, at least.

5) Last, but not least, make more phone calls at home.  The simple act of talking to someone has gone out the window.  People don't talk to each other anymore, they throw words at each other while doing a million other things.  The simple act of talking to someone isn't enough, it would seem, for some.  They find it necessary to talk on a cell phone while shopping, driving and walking around aimlessly.  Take a few minutes to converse with someone, face to face if possible.  But, if not, take a phone call when your not doing 10 other things at the same time.  I will grant you, there isn't always time for that.  However, I implore you to make that time.  Why?  Because it's important to talk to one another, without distractions.

In short, be considerate of the people around you.  The next time someone with a cell phone annoys you think about what they did.  And then, think about your actions as well.  Do you do the same things while on the phone?  If so, then your being just as annoying to others as that person was to you.  For more advice and information visit the Advocates for Cell Phone Safety.