7: Hardware Issues

7: Hardware Issues
Originally uploaded by Qfamily.

I received a server back from the computer company only to find the motherboard damaged during shipping. I finally got a new motherboard and decided to replace it myself only to find out that it too was bad. This ate up most of the day.

6: White balance

6: White balance
Originally uploaded by Qfamily.

I was actually going to do something totally different but I kind of liked how this accident turned out. I couldn't figure out some settings so I ended up with a bunch of washed out photos.

I did this on my lunch break at work which turned disastrous because I apparently had a thing I was supposed to do and missed it because I was screwing around in a nearby grave yard taking pictures.

5: Argh, too much at the cookout

5: Argh, too much at the cookout
Originally uploaded by Qfamily.

When it comes to cookouts, I just go crazy and eat as much as I can. It didn't help that I went nuts the day before when I made a whole batch of brownies and proceeded to eat -the whole batch-. I didn't have an egg, so it didn't rise making it look like a lot less. Just more concentrated, and now my moment of weakness haunts me. I guess the good news is that I can still see my feet!

4: Mowed the lawn

4: Mowed the lawn
Originally uploaded by Qfamily.

Today, I mowed the lawn

3: Cookout time

3: Cookout time
Originally uploaded by Qfamily.

Cookout at the in laws. I love going to these things. My wife's mom has like six sisters that all live in the area. Any reason for a cook out and everyone comes. I love listening in to the conversations at these gatherings as they are always changing with the constant cycling of people coming or going. There is never discussion of rich or poor, or anything that divides. I'm only rarely asked about computer problems. It's almost as if you walk through a gate that removes all labels, and everyone is just there enjoying the day.

2: View from an alarm clock

2: View from an alarm clock
Originally uploaded by Qfamily.

Well, my alarm clock isn't really right here, but I thought it would be a fun picture anyway. That's me hitting snooze.

Man Accused of Terrorism for Taking Pictures of French Fries

Here is your freedom, love it or get the hell out!

Seriously though, this kind of thing is what you get when you sell your freedom for safety.


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1: Checking my haircut

1: Checking my haircut
Originally uploaded by Qfamily.

I just gave myself a haircut and was using the camera to see if I got everything. There is no mirror where I do this. Oh yea, and this is DAY 1 (just joined 365). It's also day one of not smoking. Might as well make this 365 days of healthy.

New Toy

New Toy
Originally uploaded by Qfamily.

Got me a new mower for the lawn. My old riding mower that came with the house lost a drive belt, and we had a problem with a gas leak on it (the fuel like can be detached if the hood is shut wrong).

Pros: I like that there is no start. Just pull the thingy and it's off and running. There are no fumes, no gas, and it BAGS which I haven't had before. No more crap in the pool or the house. It's much more quiet than gas mowers.

Cons: I might need a longer cord. The cord can take some getting used to. And finally, in an area where everyone else cutting the lawn is an old man with a super power gas mower, I felt like a guy who just discovered his new Mini Cooper is favored by women because it's "cute", and it's also Barbie's feature car.

Well, it cuts the grass and it's lighter than gas powered mowers.

Syslog-NG stats into Cacti

Just posted a How-TO for graphing syslog-ng stats into cacti. Right now it's only the total incoming messages and total messages to destinations. I'm going to see if I can later write a query that will do a more automatic job.

Syslog-NG to Cacti

Doh!

IMG_0965



Originally uploaded by Qfamily.

All day I had thought I turned 34. Then someone had to do the math and figure out that I was actually turning 35. Argh! I was happy being ignorant.

TERRORISTS WIN!

At least, that's what my computer kept telling me while I was playing Counter Strike. I was playing on the side of the military, the SAS to be exact. I put it on easy mode, put in a bunch of computer players to fill out the teams, bumped up the cash so I can buy all the good stuff, and away I went. I learned very quickly that I am not good at this game, though there were a few occasions where I suspect a glitch in the system.

I learned that even getting that gun that looks like a Mac 10 with a high rate of fire seems to bounce off the bad guys. I was in a room hiding behind a fridge when a bad guy came in, looked, and started to leave. I jumped out from my spot with a "HA HA!" and began to fire with such speed my machine gun sounded like a chainsaw. He turned and looked at me like "What the hell are you doing", fired once with his pistol, and watched as my now dead body slumped to the floor.

So I decided that the little SMG's just aren't going to cut it anymore. I'd try the big SAW. I'd also stick with my mates and provide cover for them (I can say mates, I played for the SAS). I pretty much had the same effect with this big ole machine gun as I did with my little SMG. I had some pretty good success with the sniper rifle, but they seemed to learn that I was using it and after the one map of my sniper domination, they kept cutting me down from locations I didn't know existed.

I died a lot, and the terrorists won a lot of rounds. I did enjoy rag doll effects, and the Half Life physics. I was trying to find a bad guy in this building. Then I heard the sound of a can scoot across the floor. I turned around, and there he was comming out from around the corner. That was pretty cool. It would have been nice if I got him, but I unloaded my pistol and he got me with a head shot.

I think the lesson in all of this is that I need to setup a default loadout that INCLUDES BODY ARMOR!