Sunday, December 31, 2006
Pursuit Of Happyness
Went out tonight and watched that movie at the theater tonight with Jason and Valery. To see how much the Will's main character has t suffer to achieve what he wants, is quite a tear-jerking experience. I know it is not even remotely close to what the character goes through in the movie, but I did find myself reflecting on when I was not working, and the guilt I felt every day seeing Chloe, knowing that I had no way to support her at that time. I also remember how it felt that after that first day of work, knowing when I cam home, that I was doing the right thing for Chloe. Just when you thought a movie couldn't have any more bottoms, they manage to pull together a scene such as the one when they put a roll of toilet paper down on the subway bathroom floor, so they can have a place to sleep. And he is sitting on the floor crying, while people are knocking at the door trying to get in, and he has no other place to go. Those are the kind of scenes will affect everyone, but you can't help but see your own kids in that movie, when you are a parent. It just affects you more. Yeah, I came out of that movie a sobbing fool....
Friday, December 29, 2006
You bad lil' boy Saddam
Guess who's getting hung this week? Had me thinking about how intentionally well televised it will be. It is a gimme that thanks to TV like Al-Jazeera, the event will inevitably end up on the Internet. Makes me wonder how it will "accidentally get leaked to the big media. I would think from a moral standpoint it won't be aired, but when it hits the Internet, will morals really matter anymore?
Congrats to Kari and Tommy
Just heard about a week ago, that Kari and Tommy will be adopting their first kid-o in February! A big congratulation's to you both!!!!
When you need a babysitter, because you are no longer to stay awake, give me a call, I will pay it forward, some people did it for us as well!
When you need a babysitter, because you are no longer to stay awake, give me a call, I will pay it forward, some people did it for us as well!
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Quiet Tuesday
I'm working today, at the office I had the option to take Friday or Tuesday off, I chose Friday. It wasn't like I got to do anything relaxing with the time, it was devoted to wrapping up Christmas shopping. Oh well, here I am at the office, only 3 tech staff on duty, an not much of anything going on. Its a nice break. Get to catch up on some reading. Tomorrow involves a trip to Detroit to see 2 outside accounts for ITP. Sounds like another trip to Greektown Casino afterwards!
Chloe is learning to brush her teeth this week, this is picking it up fast, the first few days were trying, she didn't even like the idea of that brush in her mouth.
In a desperate attempt to find new music to inspire me, I went out a few days ago, and bought AFI "December Underground", and Mike Doughty's "Rockity Roll", And "Skittish". Al are great albums, I highly recommended them if you an underground kinda fellow. I really had to take a leap of faith on AFI, it felt like I was selling out to the ever-so-popular whiny sound that so many bands have today. This band shows some promise...
Chloe is learning to brush her teeth this week, this is picking it up fast, the first few days were trying, she didn't even like the idea of that brush in her mouth.
In a desperate attempt to find new music to inspire me, I went out a few days ago, and bought AFI "December Underground", and Mike Doughty's "Rockity Roll", And "Skittish". Al are great albums, I highly recommended them if you an underground kinda fellow. I really had to take a leap of faith on AFI, it felt like I was selling out to the ever-so-popular whiny sound that so many bands have today. This band shows some promise...
Friday, December 22, 2006
Got the day of today...
Hanging out at the house, telling myself should go out and get the last 3 things for Christmas, but I m so lazy today. I'm gonna watch Young and the Restless, and I am gonna like it.
At work, a couple of weeks ago I tried to make a meeting, and so stepped on my bosses toes, he still seems like he avoids me, hope he thinks I have gotten back into my bounds. I never wanted to do what it looked like to him I did. I felt really bad about that.
Chloe went to her well-baby doctor appointment yesterday, and for the first time in recorded history, left the office under her own power, not having a complete shit-fit. That lil lady is growing up
Brian Dymond will be back in town in a couple of days, I am really looking forward to seeing him
At work, a couple of weeks ago I tried to make a meeting, and so stepped on my bosses toes, he still seems like he avoids me, hope he thinks I have gotten back into my bounds. I never wanted to do what it looked like to him I did. I felt really bad about that.
Chloe went to her well-baby doctor appointment yesterday, and for the first time in recorded history, left the office under her own power, not having a complete shit-fit. That lil lady is growing up
Brian Dymond will be back in town in a couple of days, I am really looking forward to seeing him
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Chloe lately...
Oh, so you wanna help do dishes?
Thanksgiving, and the hat she made at daycare...
The chicken costume, Halloween
Picking out her pumpkins, October
Carving pumpkins
Somebody's ready for bed...
Chillin'
Typical Saturday
It usually goes like this....
7:30 am, starting to hear those mumbles coming out o Chloe's room. In my head I think "If I roll over and act like I didn't hear it, she will chill out for another 45 minutes or so, more sleep time for me." Proceed to roll over feeling relieved that it is not a weekday....
7:45 am, Chloe is hollering something, the words unintelligible, I assume it is something along the lines of "I know you're in there Dad, I'm just going to keep on hollering till you free me from this cage!" Time to wake up I think..... Gotta make sure Tracy doesn't get away with sleeping either! One smack to the ass follows... :-) (Sorry hun, we know we do that to each other all the time, have to admit it...)
7:50am, tote the kid downstairs, get a new diaper on her. Wish to myself there was some switch that would turn on a potty-trained mode.
7:55am, Turn on Playhouse Disney, this channel will be on for a while. we may sneek in book or 2 every now and then, but mostly the television. The guilt typically sets in telling myself we should be doing something far more fulfilling than this, sometimes, I switch up, most of the time, I don't....
8:30, "Kid-O" makes a dash to the Kitchen, hollering something, the kid speak filter turns on, and I start asking the questions like "You hungry?" or "You want something to drink?" She typically pulls the fridge open and shows us what she wants.
8:45, trying to eat my bowl of cereal, Kid-o no longer has any interest in what she was munching on, she now absolutely has to have whats in my bowl. For the tens of times I have probably said no, this time a yes is typically okay. Were sharing Cookie Crisp the rest of the way to the bottom of the bowl...
8:47, Chloe wants something from the counter that there is no way in hell she should have, those lips sag in the ends, and the tantrum is about to ensue. Here comes the yelling!
8:50, Yeah she's over it, already giggling again while watching the Wiggles.
9:00, Tracy will start running a list of all the thing that we absolutely have to get done, either for that day, or for the next 3 weeks, and adamantly describe how little time we have to get them done. This must typically raise my blood pressure a few notches every time.
9:10-12, A mix of Playhouse Disney, Finding Nemo, and Madagascar. I miss watching the Today show, or even the news! My internal dialogue speaks "Who is president again?, oh thats right..."
12:15, time to put the kid down for a nap, she usually doesn't put much of a dispute up over it. One bottle, one blanket, turn on the CD Player in her room that has a bedtime music running, some mix of classical, give her a smooch on the head, she won't be up for more than 15 more minutes....
12:30-3, work feverishly cleaning the house with Tracy, washing dishes, vacuuming, picking up the utter destruction Chloe has made of the house.
Between 3-4, Chloe is rumbling upstairs, she is up, and clearly fed up with being stuck in the crib.
4-6pm, That TV is on again, what a shock, she pulled the Wiggles video out of the pile I thought I hid, "Damn that Jeff, he's always sleeping... damned him indeed"
6pm, Tracy is getting ready to make dinner, still tending to the Chloe, I get in front of the laptop for a few minutes to check email, only to have her tug me out of the chair and back to the floor, where she is holding a book to ready. Back to more movie time...
7pm, the in-laws appear (if they weren't here the day before...) This buys me a few moments to do whatever I wanna do.
7:30, Get that bottle ready, time to prep Chloe for bed.
8:00, Get Chloe to bed
8:01, Give her a kiss, tell her I love her
8:02, Give Tracy a kiss, do my best to tell her all that I appreciate about her and what she does for the family
8:03, Go get a Corona Out of the fridge, sit down, and enjoy some real television.
8:45, try to find the ambition to do any of my side projects, Servers, Trixbox, DD-WRT
8:46, realize that I am a friggin lazy shit, find out if I have another cocktail for me in the fridge.
8:47, Outta beer, back to pop.
9:00, Get in another Netflix, that has been sitting on the DVD player for way too long..
11:00, Ponder bedtime...
11:01, Do bedtime
...Sunday, ditto.....
It's not a bad routine, but sometimes it feels like I should really try to do better.
7:30 am, starting to hear those mumbles coming out o Chloe's room. In my head I think "If I roll over and act like I didn't hear it, she will chill out for another 45 minutes or so, more sleep time for me." Proceed to roll over feeling relieved that it is not a weekday....
7:45 am, Chloe is hollering something, the words unintelligible, I assume it is something along the lines of "I know you're in there Dad, I'm just going to keep on hollering till you free me from this cage!" Time to wake up I think..... Gotta make sure Tracy doesn't get away with sleeping either! One smack to the ass follows... :-) (Sorry hun, we know we do that to each other all the time, have to admit it...)
7:50am, tote the kid downstairs, get a new diaper on her. Wish to myself there was some switch that would turn on a potty-trained mode.
7:55am, Turn on Playhouse Disney, this channel will be on for a while. we may sneek in book or 2 every now and then, but mostly the television. The guilt typically sets in telling myself we should be doing something far more fulfilling than this, sometimes, I switch up, most of the time, I don't....
8:30, "Kid-O" makes a dash to the Kitchen, hollering something, the kid speak filter turns on, and I start asking the questions like "You hungry?" or "You want something to drink?" She typically pulls the fridge open and shows us what she wants.
8:45, trying to eat my bowl of cereal, Kid-o no longer has any interest in what she was munching on, she now absolutely has to have whats in my bowl. For the tens of times I have probably said no, this time a yes is typically okay. Were sharing Cookie Crisp the rest of the way to the bottom of the bowl...
8:47, Chloe wants something from the counter that there is no way in hell she should have, those lips sag in the ends, and the tantrum is about to ensue. Here comes the yelling!
8:50, Yeah she's over it, already giggling again while watching the Wiggles.
9:00, Tracy will start running a list of all the thing that we absolutely have to get done, either for that day, or for the next 3 weeks, and adamantly describe how little time we have to get them done. This must typically raise my blood pressure a few notches every time.
9:10-12, A mix of Playhouse Disney, Finding Nemo, and Madagascar. I miss watching the Today show, or even the news! My internal dialogue speaks "Who is president again?, oh thats right..."
12:15, time to put the kid down for a nap, she usually doesn't put much of a dispute up over it. One bottle, one blanket, turn on the CD Player in her room that has a bedtime music running, some mix of classical, give her a smooch on the head, she won't be up for more than 15 more minutes....
12:30-3, work feverishly cleaning the house with Tracy, washing dishes, vacuuming, picking up the utter destruction Chloe has made of the house.
Between 3-4, Chloe is rumbling upstairs, she is up, and clearly fed up with being stuck in the crib.
4-6pm, That TV is on again, what a shock, she pulled the Wiggles video out of the pile I thought I hid, "Damn that Jeff, he's always sleeping... damned him indeed"
6pm, Tracy is getting ready to make dinner, still tending to the Chloe, I get in front of the laptop for a few minutes to check email, only to have her tug me out of the chair and back to the floor, where she is holding a book to ready. Back to more movie time...
7pm, the in-laws appear (if they weren't here the day before...) This buys me a few moments to do whatever I wanna do.
7:30, Get that bottle ready, time to prep Chloe for bed.
8:00, Get Chloe to bed
8:01, Give her a kiss, tell her I love her
8:02, Give Tracy a kiss, do my best to tell her all that I appreciate about her and what she does for the family
8:03, Go get a Corona Out of the fridge, sit down, and enjoy some real television.
8:45, try to find the ambition to do any of my side projects, Servers, Trixbox, DD-WRT
8:46, realize that I am a friggin lazy shit, find out if I have another cocktail for me in the fridge.
8:47, Outta beer, back to pop.
9:00, Get in another Netflix, that has been sitting on the DVD player for way too long..
11:00, Ponder bedtime...
11:01, Do bedtime
...Sunday, ditto.....
It's not a bad routine, but sometimes it feels like I should really try to do better.
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Its been a while again!
Time to get caught up again....
Got hired in to ITP finally after over a year, nothing like the comfort of salaried paycheck. Only wish it was with a bunch that didn't seem so volatile as an organization. They may have a ruffling of feathers in the next few months, but I don't think it will affect me or my job, the people that I work for "really" don't want any of our tech team to leave, I am positive it will work out.
It is interesting getting older when you see things you have lived through, and watch it happening to other people. There is a coworker in my department, he is single, and nearly impossible to keep up with when it comes to the work he is doing in the department. He will do computer stuff all night I think, at home or at work, till whatever hours. It makes me feel like he is going to get further in the job than me. That used to be me back in the day at the old company. Having a family changes that dynamic, I feel sometimes like I could be much better at my job, and could excel further. A family takes so much time, it seems impossible to be Exceptional at both. When I have to choose, I choose to be exceptional as a family man, but sometimes I look at what the new guy is doing, and get jealous, but I have to keep it in perspective. People know what kind of work you're capable of, staying up till 11 at work every night doesn't always prove what you want it to...
Chloe is about halfway through her alphabet, and one tough kid to catch when it comes to a diaper change. Wish she would hurry up and sit on a toilet like big kids, but thats my job to make happen. Guess I need to hurry up...
Got all the Christmas decorations up on the house, nice an early. What a relief! I will have to post pictures of it later on....
I almost forgot to make a post about 2 buddies of mine, Todd Berry, and Chuck Alberts. ( I type their names in this on purpose, I hope it ends up in Yahoo...) They seemed to have come to the conclusion that I am some sort of friggin whacko, and refuse to hang out with me anymore. It makes me feel really bad, and during this time of the year, I think of all of the things that we would of done, and now we do nothing. I loathe them for giving up on our friendship the way they did. My daughter will not know them now, and that makes me sad. I hope they will change their perpective on me some day. That narrows down my running list of close local friends to 2, Brian, J, and Jason. When did I turn into this hermit that I am now?
Got hired in to ITP finally after over a year, nothing like the comfort of salaried paycheck. Only wish it was with a bunch that didn't seem so volatile as an organization. They may have a ruffling of feathers in the next few months, but I don't think it will affect me or my job, the people that I work for "really" don't want any of our tech team to leave, I am positive it will work out.
It is interesting getting older when you see things you have lived through, and watch it happening to other people. There is a coworker in my department, he is single, and nearly impossible to keep up with when it comes to the work he is doing in the department. He will do computer stuff all night I think, at home or at work, till whatever hours. It makes me feel like he is going to get further in the job than me. That used to be me back in the day at the old company. Having a family changes that dynamic, I feel sometimes like I could be much better at my job, and could excel further. A family takes so much time, it seems impossible to be Exceptional at both. When I have to choose, I choose to be exceptional as a family man, but sometimes I look at what the new guy is doing, and get jealous, but I have to keep it in perspective. People know what kind of work you're capable of, staying up till 11 at work every night doesn't always prove what you want it to...
Chloe is about halfway through her alphabet, and one tough kid to catch when it comes to a diaper change. Wish she would hurry up and sit on a toilet like big kids, but thats my job to make happen. Guess I need to hurry up...
Got all the Christmas decorations up on the house, nice an early. What a relief! I will have to post pictures of it later on....
I almost forgot to make a post about 2 buddies of mine, Todd Berry, and Chuck Alberts. ( I type their names in this on purpose, I hope it ends up in Yahoo...) They seemed to have come to the conclusion that I am some sort of friggin whacko, and refuse to hang out with me anymore. It makes me feel really bad, and during this time of the year, I think of all of the things that we would of done, and now we do nothing. I loathe them for giving up on our friendship the way they did. My daughter will not know them now, and that makes me sad. I hope they will change their perpective on me some day. That narrows down my running list of close local friends to 2, Brian, J, and Jason. When did I turn into this hermit that I am now?
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
From 4th of July weekend
These are blogs I made but never posted when I was on vacation during 4th of July. They are a bit skewed in perspective, because when I wrote them, was when I was sick of everyone in the room fighting. I really thought I should capture it in text though...
Monday, July 3rd, 2006
Day started off with a big fight between Tracy, and her dad. It was the meeting of the minds, and when they finished, they still both believe they are right. What they really need to do is learn how to listen to one another, instead of shouting out orders to each other.
Chloe is doing really well up here, taking a nap while I write this. She really knows how to push the buttons and get what she wants these days. Her newest thing she likes to do is pull you by hand to do whatever she wants you to do. Really cute to watch, until she pulls you over to something she wants but can't have. Then it gets messy... She is also learning to make more sounds, some words come out of her mouth with such clarity now, it almost makes you think it was fake. For so many months now, the indistinguishable mumbles were getting so typical, but to hear actual consonants and vowels feels surreal at times. It has been a couple of weeks now since Chloe has had the tubes put in her ears. She is doing real well with it, I can already tell it is making a difference for her. I do have to admit that I never want to have to relive the trauma of watching Chloe get knocked out with the anesthesia. That was a eerie thing to watch when its your own daughter holding your hand when they do it to her.
I am having the worst fight with Clover in my yard. That's some really tough crap to kill when your trying to save the grass around it. I read somewhere that Clover seed can live dormant in the dirt for up to 20 years. That's tough stuff....
The job is going really well, it sounds like ITP is going to hire me in and make me an offer very soon. It has taken them 8 months after my contract had ended to get this offer together. I can already imagine them making some sort of crappy initial offer, maybe 5-10k less per year than what I make now. That would be my luck. If that is the case, it may be time to have the recruiter come up with some new assignments. I would hate having to leave, considering all the new projects currently going on, like VMWare ESX Server, and Cisco Call Manager. But I can't make that the one tie that binds me to this. That's what Frank liked to do to me.
I hope the rest of my vacation goes better than today, the last thing I want to hear more of this week is more bitching out of the family. Its also the last I need Chloe witnessing too. My recommendation is already in to go home. But I know Tracy, she'd rather stay here and suffer, just so she doesn't end up being the "bad guy."
Tuesday, July 4th, 2006
Before we all went to bed last night, Tom managed to fit in his next 2 bits worth in Tracy's face last night. This proved to me finally that 1) we really should leave now, and 2) Tom is not capable of having the sort of "heartfelt" that they both need right now. The bickering is quite childish and really not worth it on a weekend like this. It also puts me in an uncomfortable position of defending my wife from her own father. The type of discussion that would be handled "one-on-one" in my family. I hope she chooses to leave this and let us go home so we can enjoy the rest of our vacation. I can't help but reflect on their fights, an imagine what I would do. I know I sure wouldn't be letting Tom treat me that way for sure
Besides all the drama, it really has been a beautiful vacation weather-wise.
Monday, July 3rd, 2006
Day started off with a big fight between Tracy, and her dad. It was the meeting of the minds, and when they finished, they still both believe they are right. What they really need to do is learn how to listen to one another, instead of shouting out orders to each other.
Chloe is doing really well up here, taking a nap while I write this. She really knows how to push the buttons and get what she wants these days. Her newest thing she likes to do is pull you by hand to do whatever she wants you to do. Really cute to watch, until she pulls you over to something she wants but can't have. Then it gets messy... She is also learning to make more sounds, some words come out of her mouth with such clarity now, it almost makes you think it was fake. For so many months now, the indistinguishable mumbles were getting so typical, but to hear actual consonants and vowels feels surreal at times. It has been a couple of weeks now since Chloe has had the tubes put in her ears. She is doing real well with it, I can already tell it is making a difference for her. I do have to admit that I never want to have to relive the trauma of watching Chloe get knocked out with the anesthesia. That was a eerie thing to watch when its your own daughter holding your hand when they do it to her.
I am having the worst fight with Clover in my yard. That's some really tough crap to kill when your trying to save the grass around it. I read somewhere that Clover seed can live dormant in the dirt for up to 20 years. That's tough stuff....
The job is going really well, it sounds like ITP is going to hire me in and make me an offer very soon. It has taken them 8 months after my contract had ended to get this offer together. I can already imagine them making some sort of crappy initial offer, maybe 5-10k less per year than what I make now. That would be my luck. If that is the case, it may be time to have the recruiter come up with some new assignments. I would hate having to leave, considering all the new projects currently going on, like VMWare ESX Server, and Cisco Call Manager. But I can't make that the one tie that binds me to this. That's what Frank liked to do to me.
I hope the rest of my vacation goes better than today, the last thing I want to hear more of this week is more bitching out of the family. Its also the last I need Chloe witnessing too. My recommendation is already in to go home. But I know Tracy, she'd rather stay here and suffer, just so she doesn't end up being the "bad guy."
Tuesday, July 4th, 2006
Before we all went to bed last night, Tom managed to fit in his next 2 bits worth in Tracy's face last night. This proved to me finally that 1) we really should leave now, and 2) Tom is not capable of having the sort of "heartfelt" that they both need right now. The bickering is quite childish and really not worth it on a weekend like this. It also puts me in an uncomfortable position of defending my wife from her own father. The type of discussion that would be handled "one-on-one" in my family. I hope she chooses to leave this and let us go home so we can enjoy the rest of our vacation. I can't help but reflect on their fights, an imagine what I would do. I know I sure wouldn't be letting Tom treat me that way for sure
Besides all the drama, it really has been a beautiful vacation weather-wise.
Sonic
I am really sick of Sonic, the fast food chain, advertising on our local cable band. That food looks awfully damn good, and I am sick of the fact that the nearest one to my house in in Anderson, Indiana. They really have a jackass in Marketing that likes to torment fast-food junkies like myself...
Offer Letter From ITP
Supposedly, the company I have been working for for the last 11 months has finally sent me an offer letter in the mail, and I will receive it most likely tomorrow.
After hearing how terrible they treated the rest of the gang for their reviews , I am not sure what to think of what they are going to offer me. If they don't at least match my current rate, I swear to God I will go apeshit on them, even if they are way over in Wisconsin!
I saw on their website what they consider my job position. Interesting to see it on paper. You would have been sentenced to death at my old company to have it all laid out like this in text...
My coworker Otto had a meeting with the president today, and he is stuck with a $10,000+ pay cut. I wouldn't be shocked if he left the job, they are putting him in a tough position.
The Lead Engineer, Jason apparently they treated well, I was glad to hear that, he really deserves it more than anyone. When network problems get past all of us, the buck always stops with him, they gotta take good care of him... He is the shit.
After hearing how terrible they treated the rest of the gang for their reviews , I am not sure what to think of what they are going to offer me. If they don't at least match my current rate, I swear to God I will go apeshit on them, even if they are way over in Wisconsin!
I saw on their website what they consider my job position. Interesting to see it on paper. You would have been sentenced to death at my old company to have it all laid out like this in text...
My coworker Otto had a meeting with the president today, and he is stuck with a $10,000+ pay cut. I wouldn't be shocked if he left the job, they are putting him in a tough position.
The Lead Engineer, Jason apparently they treated well, I was glad to hear that, he really deserves it more than anyone. When network problems get past all of us, the buck always stops with him, they gotta take good care of him... He is the shit.
Monday, July 17, 2006
Who is the wierdo that deemed this...
... is a fashionable thing to put in one's yard. What the hell's up with that. If you ever choose to be this hillbilly and put one of these in your own yard, get your head checked first.If you ever find yourself gazing into a ball like this, you need to quit drinking at that point, and go to bed, try to sleep it off...
Anyways, time to go to work, see ya'll later!
Friday, July 14, 2006
Chloe
That kid amazes the hell out me sometimes. Good god they sure do grow fast. Just noticed when she was standing next to a stool she used to be able to pass under and never hit, she looks down on now as it stands under her chin level. Since the tubes in her ears, we are now getting a consistent nights sleep and so is she. She is starting to try to talk and not just throw out single words, it is all babble, but I appreciate her trying... All I can do is nod my head and make up what I think she is saying and answer. Its kind of fun after a few beers to imagine what is coming out of her head, my answers to Chloe's questions make Tracy scratch her head in disbelief, but most of what comes out of my mouth does that too....
She is really having trouble sharing and playing with others, at least from what we see at home. Daycare could always be a different story, but when Amanda, our neighbors daughter comes over, she gets very defensive, and tends to take things from her. I hate to see it, and maybe its a phase...
She is really having trouble sharing and playing with others, at least from what we see at home. Daycare could always be a different story, but when Amanda, our neighbors daughter comes over, she gets very defensive, and tends to take things from her. I hate to see it, and maybe its a phase...
Net Neutrality
Something that will probably squash my cost-effective dreams of running my own VOIP system is Net Neutrality. If the big hogs like AT&T, and Comcast have their ways with good effective lobbying and legislators in their pockets get their way, the concet of Net Neutrality will be over for users of the Internet. To explain it as simply (probably oversimplifying...)as possible, Net Neutrality allows users to connect to whatever sites and resources they choose with out authorities inbetween such as your own ISP to choose their own preferences first. Nerds such as myself hate this concept mostly, because what it will inevitably do is make people who host their own services, like me to pay more for that traffic to pass on a network, such as Comcast. The effects of this are already prevalent, as I just recently lost my mail traffic on the Comcast network because they are running some sort of transparent proxy which catches my SMTP traffic, and they attempt to resolve it on their network. I have yet to call and discuss what I have to do to get mail traffic to pass, but I am sure that it will involve some sort of business-class pricing. Of course this rule is not new to Comcast, apparently, I have been getting away with pasing mail traffic for a long time, and it shouldn't have worked from the get-go... This type of restriction will not be the last one they ever pass, wait until they try to regulate SIP....
My workaround for mail is to run Dynamic DNS, and redirect it into another port. It irritates me to do it, but I am sure Comcast won't offer me a cheap resolve to this either....
My workaround for mail is to run Dynamic DNS, and redirect it into another port. It irritates me to do it, but I am sure Comcast won't offer me a cheap resolve to this either....
Screw the phone company
Being that I am fed up with poor customer service, and entirely far too high of phone bills for basic phone service, I have decided with the advice of my cohorts at the CMH to build my own VOIP server for home. Well, actually, it is already built. And it will be online when my last part shows up.
Here's what I did, (Skip this paragraph if you don't wanna hear nerd-speak...)
Build a server (or virtual server is even a better option) from a iso you can get from asterisk@home, now known as Tribox. This will enable you be be your own provider, like as if you were with Vonage. To get your own phone number, you need a SIP provider, the one I am using is from a company called EXGN. They allow you to have a local phone number practically anywhere, unlike Vonage, who as an example, will not give a local extension in Lansing, your phone number would end up with a Howell prefix. By having a local number, all the people that call me who usually don't have to call me long distance, still won't. This is where the only recurring charge happens. They charge about 1.4 cents per minute for outbound traffic, and you only pay about $8 a month for unlimited inbound traffic. What these 2 things give you is a DID, and the ability to send that traffic to any IP you choose, like your own ISP IP address. Now to circumvent the Vonage box you would be stuck buying typically, you need to get a a box just like they would give ya, like the one from Linksys, but without their locked in codes that only work with their system, like the one 1 bought. Once that last part shows up, all that has to happen, is I unplug the main line into the house, make the Linksys box an extension in the server, and forward my calls from the land line to the new DID I got from EXGN. The last step will be link the Linksys to any open phone jack in the house. Instant phone service!... Well, after a few months of tinkering....
Screw you AT&T, screw you TDS Metrocom, and even screw Vonage, but Comcast, lets be really good friends.... Hey if I could be my own ISP, I'd do it, so I have to keep at least 1 ally.
Here's what I did, (Skip this paragraph if you don't wanna hear nerd-speak...)
Build a server (or virtual server is even a better option) from a iso you can get from asterisk@home, now known as Tribox. This will enable you be be your own provider, like as if you were with Vonage. To get your own phone number, you need a SIP provider, the one I am using is from a company called EXGN. They allow you to have a local phone number practically anywhere, unlike Vonage, who as an example, will not give a local extension in Lansing, your phone number would end up with a Howell prefix. By having a local number, all the people that call me who usually don't have to call me long distance, still won't. This is where the only recurring charge happens. They charge about 1.4 cents per minute for outbound traffic, and you only pay about $8 a month for unlimited inbound traffic. What these 2 things give you is a DID, and the ability to send that traffic to any IP you choose, like your own ISP IP address. Now to circumvent the Vonage box you would be stuck buying typically, you need to get a a box just like they would give ya, like the one from Linksys, but without their locked in codes that only work with their system, like the one 1 bought. Once that last part shows up, all that has to happen, is I unplug the main line into the house, make the Linksys box an extension in the server, and forward my calls from the land line to the new DID I got from EXGN. The last step will be link the Linksys to any open phone jack in the house. Instant phone service!... Well, after a few months of tinkering....
Screw you AT&T, screw you TDS Metrocom, and even screw Vonage, but Comcast, lets be really good friends.... Hey if I could be my own ISP, I'd do it, so I have to keep at least 1 ally.
Sunday, July 09, 2006
Chloe and the family up north last weekend
Chloe with her 2nd cousins Landon and JP
This jackass doesn't need to be captioned...
Chloe at Guthrie Lake
Chloe chillin' at the dock
Alright, The Vinman's Back
Time to take back the blog and get these here thoughts down. Many more to come on the 4th of July Weekend/Fiasco to come....
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Forgive me for I have sinned...
...It has been over a month since my last confession....
Wow, and that month blew by like a blur...
First, being that I am working, I will blab on about that...
I cannot believe the kind of stuff this place has exposed me to in the past 6 months. It is incredible.
New things I have picked up since starting
How to:
Build a Thin Client Infrastructure
Set up and deploy Windows CE/Windows Mobile 2003 for users
Install and configure Citrix Metaframe Presentation Server 3
Publish applications through Citrix and Nfuse
Work on Cisco Modular Routers
Added to existing knowledge of Cisco 2950 Switches
Drive image management for large organizations
IPCOP for Linux
Build /Configure Rack Mount Servers with Windows 2003 Standard (HP Proliant mostly)
Install / Configure Exchange Server Enterprise 2003
Wow, and that month blew by like a blur...
First, being that I am working, I will blab on about that...
I cannot believe the kind of stuff this place has exposed me to in the past 6 months. It is incredible.
New things I have picked up since starting
How to:
Build a Thin Client Infrastructure
Set up and deploy Windows CE/Windows Mobile 2003 for users
Install and configure Citrix Metaframe Presentation Server 3
Publish applications through Citrix and Nfuse
Work on Cisco Modular Routers
Added to existing knowledge of Cisco 2950 Switches
Drive image management for large organizations
IPCOP for Linux
Build /Configure Rack Mount Servers with Windows 2003 Standard (HP Proliant mostly)
Install / Configure Exchange Server Enterprise 2003
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Chef From South Park
I saw this article this morning, and I just gotta say, it has got everything to do with that Scientology bullshit, and this is a tragedy for South Park, they might as well have lost Trey from the show. This just sucks, they better get this sorted out.
Saturday, March 11, 2006
Friday, March 03, 2006
Been a hard couple of weeks
That bug I caught, whatever the hell it was had knocked me out of my norm for about a good 2 weeks before I kicked it. That was bad, that fever lasted about 4 days until it was gone, holding anywhere between 101 and 104. What a miserable feeling.. Then it was this damned cough. Still doing the coughing, until my chest hurts from it. Going to the doctor would be way too easy, could never do that.... Wouldn't be very me if I did... :-)
Have seen quite a bit of situations from the other side of the family in the past couple of weeks, and poor Lisa, my heart goes out to ya, what you're deling with is such complete bullshit. You don't deserve that...
...that being said, it's time for me to outline the picture of what happens in the Krug family that, to be honest, I don't like or think is healthy behavior for themselves either. And this applies to all the Krugs, sorry Tracy, and Lisa, you're included....
Something happens to every one of them when they either get frustrated, or are ignored when they have instructed someone else to do something. They all get into this obsessive compusive behavior, where they need to clean or fix things, usually cleaning. They get all frustrated with everything, and everyone around them. Everyone who's around them during this has to get the 'inconvenienced' treatment, where you are either an obstacle to them, are not trying to help. And when you are deemed to be "A Slacker" in their eyes during one of these bouts, oh God, watch out! Then the guilt, and attacks on your character will ensue.
These situations happen when I am around typically 1-3 times a week. I have to admit, they do it because they care, and their concern for others is noted, but when they take the anger and apply it to everyone around them during these compulsive fits is inappropriate. There, I wanted it out on screen so I can say that I have put it out there.
Have seen quite a bit of situations from the other side of the family in the past couple of weeks, and poor Lisa, my heart goes out to ya, what you're deling with is such complete bullshit. You don't deserve that...
...that being said, it's time for me to outline the picture of what happens in the Krug family that, to be honest, I don't like or think is healthy behavior for themselves either. And this applies to all the Krugs, sorry Tracy, and Lisa, you're included....
Something happens to every one of them when they either get frustrated, or are ignored when they have instructed someone else to do something. They all get into this obsessive compusive behavior, where they need to clean or fix things, usually cleaning. They get all frustrated with everything, and everyone around them. Everyone who's around them during this has to get the 'inconvenienced' treatment, where you are either an obstacle to them, are not trying to help. And when you are deemed to be "A Slacker" in their eyes during one of these bouts, oh God, watch out! Then the guilt, and attacks on your character will ensue.
These situations happen when I am around typically 1-3 times a week. I have to admit, they do it because they care, and their concern for others is noted, but when they take the anger and apply it to everyone around them during these compulsive fits is inappropriate. There, I wanted it out on screen so I can say that I have put it out there.
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Not feeling well today
Very sick, wish I would have stayed home, but I need the hours at work...
Have had a 103-104 degree fever for the last 2 days, can't seem to shake it.
Wish I was in bed, slept like shit for the past 2 days now...
Have had a 103-104 degree fever for the last 2 days, can't seem to shake it.
Wish I was in bed, slept like shit for the past 2 days now...
Monday, February 06, 2006
And...
I ain't got no help at the help desk, where's my runner when I need one!
Tommy my man! we gotta get together and have that beer.
I love it when a guy calls me on the phone and asks..."So would you happen to know how to design, build, procure materials for, and market trench boxes." I can say at least modestly, "yeah, just a little..." Good time!
Tommy my man! we gotta get together and have that beer.
I love it when a guy calls me on the phone and asks..."So would you happen to know how to design, build, procure materials for, and market trench boxes." I can say at least modestly, "yeah, just a little..." Good time!
Mondays...
Some Mondays are just better than others.... This morning has been a typically hectic one. Got in for systems verification to find a mail server for Coldwater has gone down, all it gave me was a blue screen of death, ** Hardware Malfunction **, not a good sign, especially when all the array was running with green lights, (bad little controller, it is not okay...)
Oh well, had a good streak going there, almost 3 Mondays in a row, no issues. They can't all be perfect.
Chloe is really showing remarkable changes, I am sure they are all typical for kids her age, but amazing to watch when its your own daughter. She has been going to the gate that runs upstairs, and when she is tired, she goes up to it, with her blanket she sleeps with, and gives it a shake, and looks at us. I love it, finally the girl knows when she is tired, and wants to actually sleep. Now if I can just get her to quit fighting me when I change her clothes, then I will be one giddy lil kid!
At the end of the month, ITP will have a choice on hiring me on in a full-time, salaried capacity. From all their indicators, getting hired in is really a "formality" at this point, but I will feel better about the formalities when it actually happens. When the interview happens, I will be able to better establish my salary, and descriptive role, besides being NSE "Network Systems Engineer" I am hoping to get better situated into what they call "Level 2" work, which is in a higher capacity, and less with end users. I have been trying to get more project work from Jason, the Lead Engineer, but it is a bit competitive with Troy (My partner) looking for some of the same work too. He tends to get more opportunities that turn up "on the fly", because he doesn't have kids and a wife waiting for him at home. I would like to get a crack at a few of those opportunities, but find it difficult explaining to the wife why I am working late. She has a good point that she nearly always brings to the table, "You home life needs to come first." She's right, but at the same time the looming feeling of getting overlooked for new projects plagues me every time I have to tell them that I have to get home and watch Chloe. But it isn't a hard choice, it is just one of those things you have to do for the family. No debating it. I do tend to look back at how I would of handled it if I was 5 years younger, wow, I would be kicking even more serious ass at this. But hey, I am satisfied with the results so far, no complaints there...
I have so many projects at home to finish, I find myself doing the nerdy thing, writing them all down in Outlook, and trying to put due dates on them to keep myself in pace. Turn out I have no pace at all and they are all red with tardiness.... I really have to get my side projects going again, and wifey is going to have to come to grips with it too, they will take more than 3 hours to complete sometimes, she or someone else will need to watch Chloe, no debating it...
Going to check on wifey's progress with the Wellbutrin tonight. Last time I counted pills in the jar I had come up with 58 out of the original 60 in the jar, I bet when I count again, it will be at about 52, when it should be half gone by now. She really hates the idea of what the pills do, and I can't blame her, I never think a magic pill will fix anything, but the odds of her going back to a Psychologist are slim at best, so she needs all the help she can get.
I ran a chart showing the account balance trend for the last 1-1/2 years. We go from having thousands, then having Chloe for a few months, and starting to take her to daycare, and then me losing the last job, we watched the balance pretty much fall off the map. Scary to watch, hard to fix.
Oh well, had a good streak going there, almost 3 Mondays in a row, no issues. They can't all be perfect.
Chloe is really showing remarkable changes, I am sure they are all typical for kids her age, but amazing to watch when its your own daughter. She has been going to the gate that runs upstairs, and when she is tired, she goes up to it, with her blanket she sleeps with, and gives it a shake, and looks at us. I love it, finally the girl knows when she is tired, and wants to actually sleep. Now if I can just get her to quit fighting me when I change her clothes, then I will be one giddy lil kid!
At the end of the month, ITP will have a choice on hiring me on in a full-time, salaried capacity. From all their indicators, getting hired in is really a "formality" at this point, but I will feel better about the formalities when it actually happens. When the interview happens, I will be able to better establish my salary, and descriptive role, besides being NSE "Network Systems Engineer" I am hoping to get better situated into what they call "Level 2" work, which is in a higher capacity, and less with end users. I have been trying to get more project work from Jason, the Lead Engineer, but it is a bit competitive with Troy (My partner) looking for some of the same work too. He tends to get more opportunities that turn up "on the fly", because he doesn't have kids and a wife waiting for him at home. I would like to get a crack at a few of those opportunities, but find it difficult explaining to the wife why I am working late. She has a good point that she nearly always brings to the table, "You home life needs to come first." She's right, but at the same time the looming feeling of getting overlooked for new projects plagues me every time I have to tell them that I have to get home and watch Chloe. But it isn't a hard choice, it is just one of those things you have to do for the family. No debating it. I do tend to look back at how I would of handled it if I was 5 years younger, wow, I would be kicking even more serious ass at this. But hey, I am satisfied with the results so far, no complaints there...
I have so many projects at home to finish, I find myself doing the nerdy thing, writing them all down in Outlook, and trying to put due dates on them to keep myself in pace. Turn out I have no pace at all and they are all red with tardiness.... I really have to get my side projects going again, and wifey is going to have to come to grips with it too, they will take more than 3 hours to complete sometimes, she or someone else will need to watch Chloe, no debating it...
Going to check on wifey's progress with the Wellbutrin tonight. Last time I counted pills in the jar I had come up with 58 out of the original 60 in the jar, I bet when I count again, it will be at about 52, when it should be half gone by now. She really hates the idea of what the pills do, and I can't blame her, I never think a magic pill will fix anything, but the odds of her going back to a Psychologist are slim at best, so she needs all the help she can get.
I ran a chart showing the account balance trend for the last 1-1/2 years. We go from having thousands, then having Chloe for a few months, and starting to take her to daycare, and then me losing the last job, we watched the balance pretty much fall off the map. Scary to watch, hard to fix.
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
After a mere 3 months...
I think I have about 80% of the Wiggles Songs memorized. They really get stuck in your head, and not in a good way whatsoever...
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
What a nice break!
Nice long weekend, long overdue weekend to reset my mind, and distance myself from all the petty shit I dwell upon from day-to-day.
Chloe has been cracking me up lately, she is learning to scoot on a cart she has, but she can only scoot backwards, It almost feels like she needs to have one of those reverse-beeping thingys so she can warn people with vulnerable ankles, like myself perhaps... She was laughing and giggling the whole weekend long, with the exception of Monday AM, when she had the intrusion of another tooth coming through, think its a molar too, ouch! Other than that, she has been quite a doll! Love that kid, makes me feel young again.
Work has been hell today, when everyone get back from vacation, they all seem to have a laundry list of things they wish were different on their computers. And all seem to call within the same 15 minute window.
(Warning, nerd-speak...)
Sober AG is coming out tomorrow, with the combination of the new WMF flaw, could prove to be a trying day... First time I have heard the engineers ever discuss the "Nuclear Option" which is simply shutting down the DS3 if it gets overwhelming. Wow... That would suck... Last week Jason and I put the service pack on Citrix farm getting the binaries up to v4, should prove to quell some of the petty phone calls
(End of nerd-speak...)
Wifey is supposed to have restarted her Depression meds yesterday, but based on observation, and noticing that the pill bottle hasn't moved, indicates that she hasn't taken shit. This pisses me off, I know from experience that it isn't some sort of miracle cure for her, and have acknowledged that, but it helps "level the playing field" when things get overwhelming. She needs that right now, but refuses to accept it. I can't make her take it, but instead, I need to end some of these fights she provokes by simply reminding her what she is arguing about, and to simply shut up about it. It is the simplest things annoying her lately, she needs to let it go. (for my sake at least...) I hope her frustration about Anna's wedding settles down soon, I fear they may get to a point where they will find no resolve soon.
Chloe has been cracking me up lately, she is learning to scoot on a cart she has, but she can only scoot backwards, It almost feels like she needs to have one of those reverse-beeping thingys so she can warn people with vulnerable ankles, like myself perhaps... She was laughing and giggling the whole weekend long, with the exception of Monday AM, when she had the intrusion of another tooth coming through, think its a molar too, ouch! Other than that, she has been quite a doll! Love that kid, makes me feel young again.
Work has been hell today, when everyone get back from vacation, they all seem to have a laundry list of things they wish were different on their computers. And all seem to call within the same 15 minute window.
Sober AG is coming out tomorrow, with the combination of the new WMF flaw, could prove to be a trying day... First time I have heard the engineers ever discuss the "Nuclear Option" which is simply shutting down the DS3 if it gets overwhelming. Wow... That would suck... Last week Jason and I put the service pack on Citrix farm getting the binaries up to v4, should prove to quell some of the petty phone calls
Wifey is supposed to have restarted her Depression meds yesterday, but based on observation, and noticing that the pill bottle hasn't moved, indicates that she hasn't taken shit. This pisses me off, I know from experience that it isn't some sort of miracle cure for her, and have acknowledged that, but it helps "level the playing field" when things get overwhelming. She needs that right now, but refuses to accept it. I can't make her take it, but instead, I need to end some of these fights she provokes by simply reminding her what she is arguing about, and to simply shut up about it. It is the simplest things annoying her lately, she needs to let it go. (for my sake at least...) I hope her frustration about Anna's wedding settles down soon, I fear they may get to a point where they will find no resolve soon.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)