I've been using this account as my primary for about a week now, and I'm think I'm settled on using it for the foreseeable future, so I guess it's time to do another #introduction post.

I'm a dad of four kids, and a web developer. I have a college degree in #Theater (or #Theatre) and had aspirations of being an actor. I kind of fell into web development as a career. It was a hobby back in high school, and I just needed to pay some bills after college, so I ended up doing this.

I always have aspirations to do other things, but for now, I'm pretty happy spending most of my time as a dad and husband.

Some day, I'd like to get back into #acting, or maybe do some #VoiceActing. I also enjoy #writing and will, from time to time, post some #MicroFiction, usually from somebody's #WritingPrompt.

I love #StarTrek, and usually watch at least one episode nearly every day. I like all #SciFi really, though, as well as #fantasy. I used to read a lot, but find I don't have as much time or mental capacity for it as I used to. I also enjoy watching #anime, and have really been enjoying the new episodes of #Bleach lately.

Feel free to follow me if you think we have similar interests, and I may follow you back, if I think likewise.

#WebDev #PHP #BackEnd #Laravel #introductions #Parenting #DadLife

Last night, I watched this new #anime, With You and the Rain (a.k.a., Ame to Kimi to, or 雨と君と).

It's a simple premise. A woman sees a tanuki sitting by the side of the road in the rain with a sign that says "Please take me home." She thinks it's an abandoned dog, as she apparently doesn't know what a tanuki looks like.

The story is very cute, and very cozy, and I really liked the first episode, but the premise is kind of far-fetched. Not only does she not realize this animal is not a dog, but when she takes it to the veterinarian to have it checked out, the vet doesn't tell her, "By the way, that's not a dog. It's a tanuki." The vet is just like, "Oh, that's an interesting doggy you've got there."

Now, we don't have tanuki where I live. The closest we have is a fox. And, I'm pretty sure that if I picked up a fox on the side of the road, took it to a vet, and said, "Can you check out this dog I found?", the vet would tell me, "That's a fox. Not a dog."

But, I will suspend disbelief, because it's a very cute and enjoyable show so far.

As a person with a heart condition who experiences arrhythmia, anytime someone in a rom-com said their heart "skipped a beat", I want to tell them to see a cardiologist.

I don't hate the USA. I love it, actually. I don't love its current state. I don't love the wannabe tyrant trying to destroy everything that's good about it. But I love the ideals, a place for all people to pursue their dreams, regardless of who they are, where they come from.

But, I don't love the way we celebrate Independence Day. I don't like that I sit in a crowded park (or parking lot) for fifteen minutes of entertainment, and then have to fight the crowds just to get home. I don't like that the street I live on (and even my own driveway) is covered in detritus because of the fireworks my neighbors shoot off. I don't like how I have to carefully watch my dogs to make sure they don't run off in fear and get hurt. I don't think any of the stress and frustration is worth the ooohs and aaahhs.

I do like neighborhood parades with kids riding their bikes with little American flags attached. I do like hearing "Have a Happy Fourth of July."

Can we do more wholesome celebrations that nearly everybody enjoys to celebrate the birth of our nation, instead of blowing up a part of it?

#Patriot #IndependenceDay

Let us celebrate the birth of our nation by blowing up a small part of it.

#IndependenceDay #4thOfJuly

I just learned that a hole drilled in a wooden barrel (to provide access to the contents) is called a bunghole.

And now, I can't stop laughing.

I know, I'm a child: a big ole' man child.

I recently learned I have a heart condition. It's probably genetic; they're not sure exactly what's going on yet, but they know that stress exacerbates the problem. Most of the time, I'm perfectly fine, but if I get overly stressed, my heart doesn't beat quite right.

So, my cardiologist sent me to have some MRIs done to help him determine the most appropriate course of treatment. I'm scheduled to get those MRIs a week from today, and I just got a text about them, informing me that my cost for the MRIs is $350, which I have to prepay.

I don't know about you, but suddenly having a $350 bill due in less than a week is pretty stressful, which is not exactly good for my heart. It's almost like the healthcare system in this country is designed to keep me unhealthy.

#Healthcare #HealthInsurance