Fresh bread from the bread maker. I always have to cut off the top, butter it, and test it out.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Turmoil in Myanmar (Burma)
Aung San Suu Kyi is a nonviolent pro-democracy activist and leader of the National League for Democracy in Myanmar (Burma), and a noted prisoner of conscience. A Buddhist, Suu Kyi won the Rafto Prize and the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in 1990 and in 1991 was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her peaceful and non-violent struggle under a military dictatorship.
Wikipedia
Google News
It's too bad these people aren't sitting on a bunch of oil so the world would be interested in putting an end to this.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Day 94: Spam!
We had a huge meeting today and it sounds like we are going to use my idea for dealing with spam... Outsource! I've been the spam guy before and I know all about the problems with doing it yourself. I never really thought about outsourcing it until my old boss explained the benefits of doing it.
Where I am at now, we have a unix guy and a windows guy nearly dedicated to dealing with spam. We get requests "I didn't get email from so-and-so", or "Did my email make it to so-and-so". Then you have to look at logs, other logs, get addresses. Send it over to the windows guys so they can look at the exchange server, and so on. There is the server maintenance, and the license cost of the anti-spam tools, admin cost/ lost time, updating virus and spam signatures. Then there is the constant adding and removing of addresses into and from the white/black lists.
Outsourcing, it's just done. You get the admins time back. You don't hear the user email complaints, or requests. They can control their own filters and check their own quarantine queues. Also, the company you run the mail through updates the virus and spam rules for you. Done!
I used to love being the mail guy and the feeling of job security being the go to person. But after I have done other things like clusters, I don't miss email at all. In fact, it kept me from doing really cool projects.
Anyway, today we had a presentation with all the players, my boss, my bosses boss, and my bosses bosses boss. I was just happy that my idea was listened to, but even happier that we are giving it a try.
Where I am at now, we have a unix guy and a windows guy nearly dedicated to dealing with spam. We get requests "I didn't get email from so-and-so", or "Did my email make it to so-and-so". Then you have to look at logs, other logs, get addresses. Send it over to the windows guys so they can look at the exchange server, and so on. There is the server maintenance, and the license cost of the anti-spam tools, admin cost/ lost time, updating virus and spam signatures. Then there is the constant adding and removing of addresses into and from the white/black lists.
Outsourcing, it's just done. You get the admins time back. You don't hear the user email complaints, or requests. They can control their own filters and check their own quarantine queues. Also, the company you run the mail through updates the virus and spam rules for you. Done!
I used to love being the mail guy and the feeling of job security being the go to person. But after I have done other things like clusters, I don't miss email at all. In fact, it kept me from doing really cool projects.
Anyway, today we had a presentation with all the players, my boss, my bosses boss, and my bosses bosses boss. I was just happy that my idea was listened to, but even happier that we are giving it a try.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Day 92: End of life
I just got through a one week visit from my father. He's got cancer now, and due to other medical conditions, he's terminal. I don't know how long he has left or anything like that. Just that, this visit was pretty much the last times I, or any of the kids will see him again.
Not exactly what I had expected. This dying man wanted to talk a lot about the past. Hung up on the same old stories. Always talking about "The Islands" (I used to live on St. John for a short time.) At first I thought it was just thinking fondly of some past memories, but it kept happening over and over again. He never talked about today.
This really made me understand living in the present moment, and why it's so important. He was still living in the past even though at the present moment, he was seeing me and his grand kids for the last time. How can you enjoy what is going on right now, if all you are thinking about is another place and time?
I hope I can let go of attachment to the past, or future when it becomes my end of days.
Not exactly what I had expected. This dying man wanted to talk a lot about the past. Hung up on the same old stories. Always talking about "The Islands" (I used to live on St. John for a short time.) At first I thought it was just thinking fondly of some past memories, but it kept happening over and over again. He never talked about today.
This really made me understand living in the present moment, and why it's so important. He was still living in the past even though at the present moment, he was seeing me and his grand kids for the last time. How can you enjoy what is going on right now, if all you are thinking about is another place and time?
I hope I can let go of attachment to the past, or future when it becomes my end of days.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Friday, August 24, 2007
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Day 89: Busy Day
I had a really busy day today, and forgot to get a picture of myself during the funs. Doh!
Two times two...
My family has a long tradition of doing multiplication tables in this way. My father had to do it, and my sister and I had to suffer through it. Now my father gets to introduce the kids to it...
Traditional Q Breakfast
When I was young, my father used to take me to a place to eat breakfast from time to time. He'd alway order me the same thing, two eggs over easy, hash browns, bacon, and toast. Then he'd mash up the eggs like making hash or something.
So today, we took the kids and had the Q breakfast. We all had the eggs, home fries, bacon and toast (the kids took all my bacon). I showed them how to mash it up, and how to use the toast as a scooper for the eggs.
So today, we took the kids and had the Q breakfast. We all had the eggs, home fries, bacon and toast (the kids took all my bacon). I showed them how to mash it up, and how to use the toast as a scooper for the eggs.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Day 87: Watching Movies with my pop
I had a good day with my dad today. We went to Home Depot to get some supplies for the storage area that I am going to build. I usually bring my camera with me, but I forgot this time and damn! I really should have brought it. We got to Home Depot and we were not looking forward to having my dad walk all through that store in the condition he's in. Not a problem! There is one of those electric scooters right there! We got the key, and after a little bit of a learning curve to get it moving, he was off. And man was he off. Once he got moving, we were trying to keep up with him. He spotted a worker in the orange apron, and drove right up to him. I thought he was going to run right into him, but he stopped about six inches from his shins. He didn't let a moment pass before asking him for a drill bit for a cement wall. After he got his bit, he led the way to the cut nails. These are the nails used to pound into cement. I grabbed the box off the shelf and he inspected them, felt the weight, looked at the bit. "Ok, these will do", and zoom, off he went to the lumber.
We ended up getting 2x3's instead of 2x4's. He got up, out of the scooter, and began inspecting the lumber for the good pieces. After getting 15 of them, we headed out.
It was really something to see his face light up once he was in the scooter. I could tell he was really worried about the pain of walking through the store. One he found out it wasn't going to hurt him, he gone like a kid entering Toy's R Us.
In this picture we are watching "This Movie is Not Yet Rated". I'm pretty much just getting this out of the way because he really wants me to watch "The Game", so I have to send this back A.S.A.P.
We ended up getting 2x3's instead of 2x4's. He got up, out of the scooter, and began inspecting the lumber for the good pieces. After getting 15 of them, we headed out.
It was really something to see his face light up once he was in the scooter. I could tell he was really worried about the pain of walking through the store. One he found out it wasn't going to hurt him, he gone like a kid entering Toy's R Us.
In this picture we are watching "This Movie is Not Yet Rated". I'm pretty much just getting this out of the way because he really wants me to watch "The Game", so I have to send this back A.S.A.P.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Day 85: Building Storage
I'm trying to think of a storage system for my computer stuff. I'd like to include a work desk/bench thing, storage, and a mini-wiring closet / rack system.
Friday, August 17, 2007
Day 84: Pick up father from airport
And of course it was delayed by like three hours, but they can't just tell you that. You have to keep checking every half hour. Gah.
Lost it
Well, I didn't plan to take time off for when my father comes to visit. I wanted to save that time for his funeral because I don't know when it's going to be. He's got cancer, and no one has given him a time line. My understanding is that it's all over the place so it's unlikely that he's going to go through any treatment. I called and discussed it with him, and he let me know that he'd like to see the kids one last time before he moved on. After trying to figure out how to get the whole family out there to see him, how much to save and so on, we decided to simply fly him out to see us. So I have him coming out here for a week and I get to pick him up from the airport today, after work.
I guess I didn't really think about it much. He's coming out here to see the kids, and I already spent a week of vacation when my father-in-law died back in January. I didn't have a problem with working next week. I was just going to come in early so I could leave early. Then I figured I'd like a day or two off do do things. So, to take some days off I had to let my boss know what is going on. I pulled my obss into a meeting room to let him know. As soon as I said "My father is coming to visit" I started to choke up. Why? I had been fine with this for months now. I have known about this. I guess I never actually spoke it out loud. I never actually said the words "My father is dying of cancer".
Well, I got through it and my boss convinced me to take next week off. I'm going to try and schedule the mountain climbing trip for next week and take my father with me. I don't think he'll climb the mountain, but maybe he will! It would be tremendous if he did. Maybe if we go slow enough. Who knows. I've only ever been camping one time with my father and that was kind of by accident. We'll see.
I guess I didn't really think about it much. He's coming out here to see the kids, and I already spent a week of vacation when my father-in-law died back in January. I didn't have a problem with working next week. I was just going to come in early so I could leave early. Then I figured I'd like a day or two off do do things. So, to take some days off I had to let my boss know what is going on. I pulled my obss into a meeting room to let him know. As soon as I said "My father is coming to visit" I started to choke up. Why? I had been fine with this for months now. I have known about this. I guess I never actually spoke it out loud. I never actually said the words "My father is dying of cancer".
Well, I got through it and my boss convinced me to take next week off. I'm going to try and schedule the mountain climbing trip for next week and take my father with me. I don't think he'll climb the mountain, but maybe he will! It would be tremendous if he did. Maybe if we go slow enough. Who knows. I've only ever been camping one time with my father and that was kind of by accident. We'll see.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Day 83: Fixing Servers
Trying to get this thing running. I only get to use spare parts, and I don't know if anything is use works or not. Much fun! Well, I started with beep codes. I had to track down the manual for the motherboard online, and decipher the beeps. I managed to finally find good memory sticks, got passed the beep codes, but no video. I tried many things, and nothing is working. I'm in a video black hole of some kind. Maybe I'll have this running tomorrow.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Day 82: Shrimp with Garlic Sauce
I love this stuff! I wish they would make it more spicy though. I keep asking for "Crazy Spicy" and they never take it that far. I just wish that one of these times they would indulge me and let me breath fire.
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Monday, August 13, 2007
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Day 79: Battle with the bees
I sprayed bees last night and tonight. I killed many many bees. Maybe now they'll get the hint and stay away from my house.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
my 30: Simplify - Clean work bench
So far I have learned that to simplify ones life is more of a religion than it is just doing something. It's just a big task, and so complicated to simplify. You need to adopt it as a lifestyle. Like a habit. You can't just "de-clutter" something and call it done. And clutter is only one small part of simplification. There is also getting you finances in order. Figure out your money, make a budget. And then if you live with someone (especially kids), they need to get on board, at least a little.
I have gotten back into Freecycle, and not only for looking for stuff, but getting rid of things. I got rid of my lawnmower today which is a huge step to getting rid of clutter. As long as I keep doing -something-, I'll finally feel like I'm gaining ground.
Now that my desk is clean, I can start working on the old computer systems that I have and figuring out what works and what doesn't. What to freecycle, donate or trash. That's a huge part of the junk I have, is the computer stuff.
I have gotten back into Freecycle, and not only for looking for stuff, but getting rid of things. I got rid of my lawnmower today which is a huge step to getting rid of clutter. As long as I keep doing -something-, I'll finally feel like I'm gaining ground.
Now that my desk is clean, I can start working on the old computer systems that I have and figuring out what works and what doesn't. What to freecycle, donate or trash. That's a huge part of the junk I have, is the computer stuff.
Friday, August 10, 2007
Day 77: TGIF
I think the fact that it's Friday cancels the fact that I'm drinking alone. It's been a long week, and I don't care right now.
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Day 76: Wake up!
This is the store that I sometimes stop at, on my way home, to wake up. I just wander around a little bit and enjoy the AC.
I put the camera inside the drink cooler in this shot. Next time I'll put it in the back of the cooler (duh).
I put the camera inside the drink cooler in this shot. Next time I'll put it in the back of the cooler (duh).
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Day 75: Playing with the kids
I'm Appa from Avatar. My son tells me "Yip yip!", and that's my cue to go up. Then he tells me down, then yip yip again. He's a good drill sergeant.
Monday, August 6, 2007
Day 73: Stuck at work
I have to sit and wait for this server to rebuild and I have no idea how long it's going to take. I've been at work for 12 hours, and now I'm breaking out my emergency Ramen noodles. Do I look happy?
Sunday, August 5, 2007
Day 72: Killing Bees
My mother-in-law has a bee problem. There are these really big, BIG wasps burrowing into her back porch. I decided to do battle. I had four confirmed kills, two indirect hits (they flew off), and a bunch that might have been in the holes while I bombed them.
Friday, August 3, 2007
Day 70: Angry about the war
I spent an hour extra at work responding to an email about the war in Iraq. He mentioned that by being over there, the fight is over there. And it's better to have it there than here. I went off about how the U.S. should not have a foreign policy of messing with other countries in the first place, and we wouldn't be fighting at all!
Yea... So anyway, I was a bit more than an hour late coming home today.
Yea... So anyway, I was a bit more than an hour late coming home today.
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Day 68: Swift River
I pass by this river on my commute to and from work. I had been noticing some fog on this thing in the mornings and finally decided to get some photos of it. My 365 is the shadow in the morning sun.
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