Author: John Bollwitt

Cold, snowy, and windy. That sums up the day today. I’m half tempted to go grab my inner tube and hit the hills, but there is a large part of me that would just rather grab a cup of hot, green tea and curl up in some blankets, maybe pop in a DVD or two. Oh wait, I have to work today. That’s right, I have a job… Well, crap. And today hasn’t been a cake walk by any means. Computer viruses, a new server, remotes with WBGH in Boston, and so on. If you want a really good secret to losing weight, it would be days like today.

I’m ready for warmth. Deep down, I do love the winter time, but hot, sunny days are what I crave. Every season has it’s smell, and I’ve grown tired of the cold, frozen fumes that fill the air when I get up to go running or start my car in the morning. I’ve been craving the smell of the air after the rain. Or maybe the sound of water hitting the roof. Even the sound of thunder that is enough to make you jump.

To be completely honest, I think a large part of stems from the picture that my niece, Josie, drew for me a couple of weeks ago. It was a present. “Clouds, butterflies, the sun, and you.” I have the picture hanging in my office at the station. I have to admit, to see butterflies would a wonderful thing right now.

I was thinking last night about all the places that I have seen in the world. It’s safe to say that I have barely scratched the surface, but I’ve done and seen things that some people never have a lifetime to experience. I started to trace a list of things in my head and started to take a trip, in no particular order… Climbing the path to Castle Neuschwanstein in Bavaria. Attempting to hike Mt. Fuji, only to have altitude sickness over take me, sleeping in a hut on the side of the sleeping volcano, and watching the sun rise over the Kanto Plain. Dying for breath while climbing the steps of The Pyramid of the Sun at Teotihuacan, sitting on the top, and being mind blown by the fact that my blood line could have passed through these parts. Walking through the catacombs of Cholula, the largest pyramid structure in the world. Running around Yokohama with Jennie, Doug, and Aki, eating at the Hard Rock, taking a boat ride around Yokohama Bay, Chinatown, yaki-soba, yaki-udon, and beer machines… Can’t forget about the beer machines. “Drinking beer on the train, let John do his thing…”

Going to Amsterdam and seeing where Anne Frank hid from the Nazis during the occupation and lived the last days of her free life, if you can call it that. Dachau… That’s all I should have to say about that experience. And the Berlin Wall, all of its graffiti, the history, Checkpoint Charlie, and just the awe of keeping people prisoners like they did. Hanging out with my friends in the Zocalo in Mexico City, checking out the vendors, the smell of raw sewage, the Aztec ruins, and all the VW Beetles that were everywhere. Seeing the sacred site of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the image of the virgin on Juan Diego’s cape, the people walking only on their knees as they enter the front gate, and never standing up until they get back out. Taking a boat ride down the Rhine River in Germany, looking at all of the castles lining the shores, and just in complete astonishment of the history all around me…

This is just what I can think about off the top of my head, and I know that there is some details, places, and events that I am forgetting. However, I amaze myself when I really put my mind to it. I have done a lot with the short life that I have led to this point. If there is one passion in my life, it’s to see more of the world before I die. When you think about how large the world is, but how small the planet you live on actually is, problems in your life seem a lot more insignificant.

It’s been a pretty great weekend in terms of just feeling good and happy. I have had the chance to talk to a few friends that I haven’t seen or heard from in ages. My old neighbor, Amber, popped up on my computer and we chatted for quite a while. Life sounds to be treating her incredibly well. There were many nights spent with her and I talking about life and love in nearly every single way that there is for people to communicate, just shy of sending messages in bottles. I’m looking forward to hearing more about where life has taken her.

I can’t forget that I talked with Doug for a while, too. It was pretty hilarious to think about some of the times that we shared in Japan. It was a good trip down memory lane, especially our adventures during typhoon lock downs. One of those things where you had to be there, but it always make me laugh. I have to mention that the guy is thinking about building a wooden kayak. I kid you not, this is a perfect example of the type of guy Doug is. Always has something interesting like that up his sleeve. But seriously, who builds a kayak?

I spent a portion of this weekend watching TV, most of it consisting of history channel shows. I’m a sucker for anything that involves history of World War II. I think a large part of that stems from the stories that my great uncle Richard has told me through the years during his stint in Europe shortly after the invasion. I’ve seen some of the ovens that were used first hand in the final solution. I have also walked through a gas chamber that was never used, but the intention is enough to make you pee your pants as you pass through it. I don’t know what it is, but historical topics like that just suck me in.

I said that I would get my picture gallery updated, and I have proven my word. It’s a start, and I’ll add more when I get the time.

Always remember that no matter how much you love your job, there is a point where you have to say, “Enough. It’s time to go home.” That was me last night. However, I swear, whatever it is that you worship, God, Allah, Vishnu, the sun, or corn nuts, he/she/it has it out for me this month. From the crashing and burning of my love life to the smoldering of equipment at work, January has sucked. Well, not all of it, but it’s been a stressful one. Never the less, the fan that keeps me cool in my overheated apartment decided to die around four this morning. Woke up in a pool of sweat, swapped out fans, and collapsed back into bed. Is it a curse with electronics this month or is it just me?

I think there is a family of squirrels living in the attic space above my apartment. I woke up late this morning to the sound of thumps and thunks. Being so sunny out today, I opened the shades wide open to see three of them on my fire escape. I might try to get something to feed them and set it outside my window. I have always been a bit of a nature freak. Heck, I have always wanted one for a pet, but I think that would be cruel.

It’s looking like the Troubled Hubble weekend that Don will be in town will be a pretty rocking one. Muffin is looking to make the trip up as well. I’m not sure how much of a gathering that will be, but it’s still going to be a good time. Hopefully get Sushi and the others rounded up, too. Time to get my butt in motion for the day. I’m burning precious daylight.

Had some FTP issues with my ISP. Turns out, the guy over there doesn’t like me logging in underneath the master account. Completely understandable and no worries on my part. I actually went to high school with Jerry. He graduated two years before I did, tried the college thing, and fell away from it to start his own ISP. Very smart individual. Got the proper information to update my site, which is a good thing.

I’ve been pretty burnt out on National Public Radio this week. We’ve been working really hard on problems that have either come up or we have sort of caused at the station. So while I’m sitting in my office, I like to tune into WOXY out of Cinncinati. Truly what radio should be. Isn’t it horrible though?… Not listening to the very station that you work for? Everyone needs a change from time to time.

I’ve been getting into a pretty good workout routine, trading strength training off with cardio every other day, taking a day or two off a week. When I went running this morning, I was somewhere over on the east side of town when church bells started ringing in about three different directions. It was quite something. I’m not sure if they do that every morning, but it was a pretty spectacular noise. Even in the middle of my three mile run, it was almost soothing.

No lack of projects coming up for this recently promoted individual. New domain server to come online, switching to a new traffic and billing system, and the migration of all office computers to Windows XP. Oh, Spain… How I look forward to seeing thee…

Guess who got promoted? Yesterday, it came down the tubes that I’m on board for one year, 40 hours a week, and salaried. Finally, the long nights, hard work, cuts, bruises, and headaches are all starting to make sense. There is a reason that I’m doing this. I am a bright, talented individual, and it is days like these that it is proven to myself that it is true. I am now under the “Professional and Scientific” classification at the station. Technically, I do not have anyone supervising me except the head of the station. Basically, I’m my own supervisor, capable of handling tasks without the need of given instruction. And the position that I have long talked about here, the permanent one… I know things about it that are unfit to be shared with those of you out there. That’s all I’ll really say.

Have heard a few words from my long lost friend Doug. He was my roommate in Japan when I was over there in the summer of 2000. Truly a great individual. We have exchanged a few emails, and it feels like we haven’t really lost a step in terms of the friendship that we had. It’s probably been about two years since I have seen or heard from the guy. We have a lot of catching up to do. I’m trying to pencil in an adventure up to his neck of the woods. The twin cities are always a good time.

Planning for Spain is still in its infancy stages. I suspect that it is entirely possible to go via a non-rev flight, thanks to my brother. Accomodations will be free, provided by my aunt and uncle who will be in the country at the same time. Not much time will be spent in the city of Sevilla, as they plan to spend about three weeks on the beach in the southern reaches of the country(where I’m told that there are nude beaches… hmmmmm…). All the cards are there, so I’m taking great pains to save up my funds and make the hop. No better time in my life to stretch my legs and go. I’d like to grab a ferry and hit Africa, but we’ll see.

We fried a computer at the station the other day. I say this literally. There was a snap, and the smell of burning components filled the room. The PD came into the room and asked what we were smoking. It was pretty nasty. And the turd of a computer has been the pain in our necks here since Tuesday. Been some long, late nights. Hope to catch up on some much deserved sleep this weekend.

No matter how insignifcant or harsh your life seems, there is always some one else out there in the world that has it worse than you. Today, we had a guest on our morning talk show that is hooked on gambling. It was rather amazing. The story of how one could throw money at such a habit, how they would manipulate their family for more money, and so on. It truly makes you appreciate the things that you have. The roof over your head, the food that you eat, and all the other things you take for granted in life. If you look on the flip side, hanging out in the casino and mooching off the free buffet wouldn’t be so bad, but I think you’d get pretty fat.

A low power FM radio station has taken to the airwaves in Iowa City, 88.7FM. I’m not entirely sure what the format is, but it could be complete christian, possibly catholic, programming. I tuned in while waiting for my car to warm up the other morning. The signal is much weaker than I would expect from a LPFM. KRUI was coming in way hotter than this little thing. Last night, whatever CD they were playing was stuck, so it was a one second blip over and over for who knows how long. This morning, they weren’t broadcasting anything, but the transmitter was still on. Oh the trials and tribulation of radio…

Watched the Howard Dean concession speech the other night after the caucus. I watched the news channels replay it over and over again. And at the station, I listened to them play it over and over again. This guy should be a professional wrestler. I haven’t laughed that hard in a long time. It still makes me laugh, especially when the BBC plays it. “Yah!”

Another day, another virus. I caught the news yesterday of the Bagle virus/worm spreading like fire in Australia. Got word of what patches and preperations we should take this morning, so it was my duty to tighten the hatches and prepare for war. We’ll see if it works. Would be a shame if all these new computers I installed were suddenly hit by an onslaught of a computer geek payoff.

More news from Mike today. He seems to be pretty busy, flying in, out, and over Iraq. Reports of living conditions and food quality seem alright. I’m sure it could be worse. The weather doesn’t seem as harsh as it was when he was last over there. Hopefully he won’t have to experience that again.

Classes have kicked back in at the UI. Turned on my old stomping grounds to hear the beauty of KRUI in the hands of humans again. Hopefully things can get back on track and the new studios will get finished up soon.

I’m getting to updating the rest of the site as I get time. I’m in the process of selecting photos for the gallery, on top of finally getting some of the pictures that I have turned into potential desktop pictures available for download. Give me a little time and I hope to get the up soon. I’ll admit, I procrastinate because I think it will be a painful, tedious process to get it all done, but then my abilities tend to surprise me and it takes not long at all. Hang in there…

I’m pleased with how this site is starting to come along. Eventually, yes, I will have a way that you can contact me. I would love to hear your feedback on how things look and so on. As with any web site, things are always a work in progress. Tweeking code here and there. Nothing can stay static for too long. Heaven knows that the junk on here about that cat was up here for far too long.

Word from overseas is that my brother, Mike, is doing alright. He has had his share of flights it seems. Already been into Baghdad, and keeps pretty busy day to day. I hope that you can join me in wishing him safe travels and a hasty return.

Got word last night that Don is coming back to town and we’ll be hitting the Troubled Hubble show in February in Iowa City. Should be a heck of a good time. And also heard from my wonderful friend Renee that she’ll be coming to town in March. Can’t wait! Been a while since I’ve seen my favorite Texan. In the meantime, I continue my conquest to make it to Spain this summer. More on that as details come together.

MLK Day today… I’m not sure if it is the sane thing to wish everyone a happy one, but I will do so anyhow.