WordUp by Chad Gramling

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

I wanted to send out word that I will be part of a DeKalb County Author’s Book Singing on Saturday, May 17th. It takes place at MJ’s Bookmark on South Main Street in Auburn from 1-4PM. Hope to see you there. But don’t come for just me. There will be many other local authors there and I know I am pretty excited to meet with them and hear about their books and publishing experiences.

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

I got my Flip Camera today. Pretty cool. Here’s the first video I made; staring the two most talented Gramling girls of course…

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

Okay, I swore that I would sit on my economic stimulus money to spite President Bush. But I guess I couldn’t resist spending a little bit on this cool little video Flip Ultra camera. I have a Sony HandyCam (let me know if you are interested in buying it), but getting video from it to a computer is pretty much impossible. This camera, which is friggen cheap looks like it will be a sinch. Thanks President Bush!

Anywho, can’t wait to start using it to video Daphne and Stella, or some baseball this summer. Should add a new element to my blogs. It’s about time.

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

As you probably know, I don’t get offended very easily. In fact, I openly claim that nothing offends me. However, there is one thing that comes frighteningly close: When people try thinking for me. I guess some people don’t have anything better to do than but into people’s lives and tell them how they should live, think, act, feel or work. That just ain’t civil in my book.

Throwing that out there for reactions, thoughts or comments.

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

So, we go to Wrigley and the Cubs suck. We put up with belligerent Reds fans on the train ride up, then we deal with two giddy Reds fans we meet up with and then we make the long train ride home with about a half dozen drunken cubs fans. Why do “I Live for This” again?

Anywho, win or lose (and it’s usually lose), Wrigley is always a good trip. Too bad Griffey’s 596th and Joey Votto [see also] had to combine forces with Ted Lilly and the AWOL Cubs’ offense to ruin the actual game.

[Show as slideshow]

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

The last couple months, I have noticed an oddity of keyphrases that people have used to find my site. Most of them, I can explain in some fashion . . . except for my top search keyphrase. If, anyone could tell me what the phrase below is and why it is bringing people to my site, I would really appreciate it. If it is something bad, please let me know how to get rid of it too. Thanks.

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

Every year, right about this time as a matter of fact, there are folks who canvass my neighborhood. The look at all the houses and try to target folks who might want their services.

Siding. Windows. Gutters. Lawn Care. Petitions. Vacuum Cleaners. “Magic” Wishy Washy Detergent That Cleans Everything . . . you get the idea.

My house seems to be singled out often. Not once have I purchased anything sold at my doorstep. NOT ONCE! Every time, I have politely declined, wanting nothing more to than to return to my dinner, my movie, my blog or whatever I was doing before some random solicitor entered my life by knocking on my door.

Despite my polite decline of their services, invariably I get the same outcome:

“Well, what about . . . ” or “Well, what if . . . ”

I DON’T CARE!!!!!

Today, I put up a simple little red sign that says “NO SOLICITORS” because you people continue to interrupt my life. I know it’s just a sign, but if it deters even just one such interruption, it was 89 cents well spent. I know you have a job to do and have to earn a living just like everyone else. But don’t do it at my doorstep . . . or my telephone. I’m on Indiana’s No Call List (THANK YOU STEVE CARTER) and I WILL REPORT YOU!

That is all.

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

Note: The following poem is one of the most often hit posts on this blog. Not sure why, but I thought I would throw it out there because I would love to see some folks comment on it and let me know their thoughts.

I wish we could go back

I wish we could go back;
back to a time before people
looked for reasons to take offense.
To a time when we loved one another
without regard to our selfish interests
and built walls of personal cells.

I wish we could go back;
and tell those we’ve loved,
and those we’ve lost,
the way we really felt;
and could speak
with honesty,
sincerity,
and integrity.

I wish we could go back,
to a time when genuine
was a trait that was
effortless.

Feelings might get hurt,
but if we could go back,
to a time when we
respected others;
the pain would sting less
and maybe - just maybe -
we could make humanity
a better race. And in turn,
make this earth a better place.

This year, as you gather one and all
take hands and experience the joy
of Christmas; and
remember the one true King.

Thank each other . . . just for being there.
Share your love as did He;
and don’t wish later
that you’d done it then . . . if only,
you could go back.

Tags: poems, poetry, Christmas, regret, Chad Gramling

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

I had a dream loast night. In that dream, there was a person who made a joke about himself. It was funny. I would have never come up with a joke that clever in a conscious state. But in truth, that joke was quite insulting and had someone else said that joke to him in a real life situation, fists probably would have been flying.

This troubles me. I bet I have said many terrible things to people without realizing the hurt I have caused.

If this includes you, I’m very sorry.

(No Ratings Yet)

 Loading ...

I have learned that I made a poor choice on the permalink structure when I set up my blogs. For instance, the most recent post at WordUp has the URL:

“http://www.chadgramling.com/wordup/?p=313″

But I would prefer it be:

“http://www.chadgramling.com/wordup/Chad-on-the-Radio.html”

From what I have learned, the latter format is better for SEO reasons. I know how to go into the options and change the structure to make it as such, but if I do that, I will in essence kill all my links. I could go in an edit .htaccess to redirect previous URLS to the new URL names. That’s a lot of work, but may be the price I have to pay.

Anyone have better suggestions? What else might this impact that I haven’t considered (like pages, categories, etc.)?