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[11.2004]
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Friday, January 30, 2004
Quote
"Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born."
-- Anaïs Nin
[post.command] ::>auth-code~ Aular-0802ZXC -; ::>Time.stamp ~ 4:51 PM ::> [
Rest In Peace, Old Man
Roscoe P. Coaltrain. Just shy of 14 years old -- that's 98, in dog years.
I'll miss you, Old Man.
[post.command] ::>auth-code~ Aular-0802ZXC -; ::>Time.stamp ~ 3:34 PM ::> [
create your own visited states map
or write about it on the open travel guide
[post.command] ::>auth-code~ Aular-0802ZXC -; ::>Time.stamp ~ 9:00 AM ::> [
Wednesday, January 28, 2004
System Low on Virtual Memory
Feeling very distracted today. My thoughts keep straying to large concepts and the future.
Which makes it very hard to focus on the present. Which makes it very hard to be concerned with the immediate tasks I've been assigned.
I guess that this "future worry" is why I'm not so good at remembering past things. I don't remember a lot of early childhood. I remember scattered bits of adolescence. High school is blurry, even. But things forward? I remember those. I better remember things upcoming. I run iterations of possible futures in my brain when anything happens. It's weird. From what I gather by impressions via conversation, other people don't do this.
And of late, there's a lot upcoming. Which has my brain in overdrive, running iterations of conversations, events, decisions. Makes it hard to fall asleep at night, and makes it hard to focus on the present.
[post.command] ::>auth-code~ Aular-0802ZXC -; ::>Time.stamp ~ 10:19 AM ::> [
Tuesday, January 27, 2004
Workin' from home
Matthew headed out a few minutes before me, and left a voicemail about the road conditions. I called my boss to see what she wanted me to do, and asked if I had MSaccess at home. 'Course. So, I'm working on a side-project for her today. She wants a really simple DB to track something that can be handled with a simple query from our system, but that has the possibility of actually getting into our computer system some time in 2006.
So, I'm jammin' at home with Rufus on Itunes workin on an access DB that needs to just work and doesn't need a whole lotta bells and whistles on a project neither she nor I are really involved in, for a process that should have been someone else's work and concern but landed on our plate.
The fact I can do it from home helps ;)
[post.command] ::>auth-code~ Aular-0802ZXC -; ::>Time.stamp ~ 9:28 AM ::> [
Monday, January 26, 2004
lol
Saw a car with a bunch of bumber stickers. It was a hatchback of some sort. It had a Rainbow flag, "Feminism is the Radical notion that women are people", and a Rainbow sticker in the shape of a cat, among a few others.
The one that caught my eye, though: "The only Bush I trust is my own."
I was DYING from laughter. Oi. :)
[post.command] ::>auth-code~ Aular-0802ZXC -; ::>Time.stamp ~ 4:01 PM ::> [
wsf is naughty....
..at least, the IT dept here at work thinks so. Everytime I try and hit SFPRO, it hits the work filters. I get:
Problem Report -- Access denied to system because of URL Filter Configuration, while attempting to retrieve the URL: http://www dot sfpro dot com/blog/blogger dot html.
Message ID -- FILTER_DENIED
Problem Description -- Your system was configured to deny access to this URL.
Possible Problem Cause -- Request denied, as specified in the local filter list configuration.
Possible Solution -- Contact the helpdesk at (***)***-**** if this problem persists and the content should not be filtered. Please provide as much information as you can regarding the problem.
..and it then forwards me to my company's "Acceptable Internet Use Policy."
Oi. So, will have to read CABM and PIMP (wow, never spelled that out in acronym before) from home.
[post.command] ::>auth-code~ Aular-0802ZXC -; ::>Time.stamp ~ 12:01 PM ::> [
Managing Transition
From the work newsletter....
Transitions come into our lives in many forms. Some are the result of choices we make: a job change, having a baby, getting a divorce. Some are part of the normal progression of life: graduations, promotions, retirement. Some come unexpectedly: illness, downsizing or having to relocate. All transitions, both those we seek and those that surprise us, require change. They are a disruption to the usualness of our lives. Often, even though we know transitions are coming, we are unprepared for our reactions to them. They may awaken fears about the future and frustrations with things that are out of our control.
The good news is that transitions are springboards into our future. Whether timely or not, they put us in a position to review who we are, how we are living and what we want from the future. Transitions allow us to become the author of the next chapter of our lives.
Whatever type of transition we face, one thing that each has in common is requiring some sort of ending. We must say goodbye to whatever we are leaving: the school, the neighborhood, the home, the family or the old self.
Even when the transition is a good one, we need to acknowledge a loss or change, and sometimes we need to actually grieve. Trying to skip this step or pretending there are no feelings about an ending usually does not work. Fortunately, we have rituals that help in this process. We hold graduation ceremonies, promotion dinners and moving-away parties to both honor the end and celebrate the new beginning.
People who do not truly say goodbye to the past life may have difficulty in the new one. When too many of our thoughts go to the old friends, old job, old school or how things used to be, we have no energy left to participate in the new life in front of us.
Though endings can be hard and new beginnings scary, the hardest part of a transition is the middle, uncertain phase. During this time it's difficult to know if our decisions have been good ones. We are unclear if the path we are on will turn out for the best. However, we can usually tolerate that up-in-the-air feeling if the transition has meaning for us. In fact, the uncertainty can be exhilarating if we feel that we are moving closer to a goal we desire.
Here are some tips to help through a transition:
Remember that our perceptions are not always accurate. When we are in transition we may "awfulize" (tell ourselves that things are worse than they really are). Recognize this and talk to yourself to stay grounded. Thinking, "I can handle this," is much better than thinking, "Everything is hopeless." Be careful not to rehash old fears and traumas. Sometimes simply adopting a confident wait-and-see attitude can smooth a transition better than trying to force an outcome. Talk to someone who can help. It can be any family member or friend who can remain objective and keep from catching your anxiety. You want someone who says, "We all go through that," or "Is there something specific you need to do?" to help you keep your perspective. Professional help such as talking with a counselor or someone in the clergy, may also help you keep your eye on what is valuable, rather than being sidetracked by less significant details.
Log your experiences. Write down what is happening, how you are feeling about it, what you need to do and what is keeping you from doing it. Getting our thoughts into a concrete form helps stop the rumination and get us into action.
Review your past transitions. Recognize that you have handled many transitions in your life and have demonstrated over and over the ability to tolerate change. Pay attention to the fact that most transitions, even ones you did not choose, have created new opportunities for personal growth and success. Imagine the new job, neighborhood, school or relationship as the best thing that ever happened to you.
Most of the time simply believing in the exciting possibilities of the future can have a positive influence on your behavior right now. This belief will let you embark on your next transition with hope, confidence and eagerness for your new beginning..
[post.command] ::>auth-code~ Aular-0802ZXC -; ::>Time.stamp ~ 8:39 AM ::> [
Wednesday, January 21, 2004
I'm the "Bad Son" again, I guess...
E-mail from dad yesterday. Mom's complaining nobody ever calls her.
I wonder if the buttons on her phone work. I wonder if her phone works. Next time I'm over, I should check to see if the phone gets a dial-tone and whether or not the numbers do, indeed, dial out.
[post.command] ::>auth-code~ Aular-0802ZXC -; ::>Time.stamp ~ 9:17 AM ::> [
Da Weekend, Ya?
Lovely. Games, dinner out one night for Japanese food with a coworker. Monday off for MLK day. It was good. I did a little homework, though far less than I should have. Oh well.
Must. Get. Caught. Up. I'm going to try and push through 150 pages of Livy tonight. We'll see how that goes. I almost took a 1/2 personal day today to try and accomplish that.
Also considering taking the classic civ class into "Pass/Fail" land. Deadline is soon, so, gotta decide...
[post.command] ::>auth-code~ Aular-0802ZXC -; ::>Time.stamp ~ 9:13 AM ::> [
Friday, January 16, 2004
Though...
It's not very fair that HE gets a ranged attack, I don't. Appropriate to our personalities, probably, but not entirely fair ;)
[post.command] ::>auth-code~ Aular-0802ZXC -; ::>Time.stamp ~ 12:47 PM ::> [
lol
Evil is apparently relative ;)
Matvey, Aular...FIGHT! *clang*
[post.command] ::>auth-code~ Aular-0802ZXC -; ::>Time.stamp ~ 12:39 PM ::> [
Who are You?
via Nuadha
[post.command] ::>auth-code~ Aular-0802ZXC -; ::>Time.stamp ~ 8:56 AM ::> [
Thursday, January 15, 2004
ZingCheese! Zing!
Wow. It was a *LOT* of cheese -- 12 blocks to try, with 3 dishes made of some of the cheeses to try in addition to the tasting. By the last 3 or 4, I was cheesed out.
This is what I've determined:
I like Pecorino Romano, Parmigiano-Reggiano, fresh Mozzarella, Pecorino Toscano, Fontina (melted, please)
I don't like: Gorgonzola (Ew. Blue and fuzzy).
And, I think cheese is better WITH something else. They made Parmegiano "Ice cream" -- which was really rich. It was much better over bread. Much, much better.
[post.command] ::>auth-code~ Aular-0802ZXC -; ::>Time.stamp ~ 9:11 AM ::> [
Wednesday, January 14, 2004
Why Video games are cool. Wow.
The next time someone starts talking about how bad Vice City is, as though it were the only game in existence, as though game consoles were only capable of that single experience and nothing peripheral to it, I really do want the opportunity to ask them - please, name another game. Name one other game that you know about. No, it's not a trick question. Well, it is, if by "trick question" you mean "question designed to make you look like an idiot." I wonder if they even know that far, far from Vice City, past even the Vice suburbs, that the same machine can allow a father and son - separated by three hundred miles and thirty years - the chance to play a round of golf together, for no good reason other than its being Tuesday.
Full editorial here: http://www.penny-arcade.com/
I like that. Video Games can bring people together when it might be physically infeasable to do so otherwise. I'd love to play a board game with my friend in Kentucky or a friend in Florida, but distance makes that hard. With online games, I can have much more regular contact with them.
[post.command] ::>auth-code~ Aular-0802ZXC -; ::>Time.stamp ~ 11:15 AM ::> [
Cheese, Cheese, Cheese....
I'm going to a cheese tasting tonight at Zingerman's. Yay ;) We love Zingermans.
I'll be paying for it later, of course -- homework is already starting to stack up. But, I can catch up this weekend -- three day holiday because of MLKJ day. It's one of those rare days that both the U of M and work observe.
[post.command] ::>auth-code~ Aular-0802ZXC -; ::>Time.stamp ~ 10:34 AM ::> [
Tuesday, January 13, 2004
Grumble
All it wanted was another keyboard, ps2-plug, to be plugged into it. I shut down everything and rebooted with the normal USB keyboard -- and it works fine.
The reasons for these silly technological things eludes me.
[post.command] ::>auth-code~ Aular-0802ZXC -; ::>Time.stamp ~ 8:21 PM ::> [
Keyboard Error or no Keyboard input...
...said my computer at 7:45 AM. I wanted to just print off a rough draft of my assignment due Thursday. I have to have it for class today. And my computer smirked, and said no.
It wouldn't even launch into the OS. Hokay. I fussed with the power a few times, and tried moving the USB plug the keyboard was in. I tried moving the keyboard to a ps2 port through a converter. None of that worked.
I then called the Big Guns - my brother-in-law, Hardware Man Extraordinaire. He stepped me through a few more things, to no avail. He mentioned that the motherboard might have taken some damage. It'll likely be covered under warrenty.
Joy. I've got two more things to try tonight -- 1) Flashing the Bios. 2) Purchasing a ps2 keyboard to try.
If the board is damaged, then I likely know the source. Dry House + non-static protected carpet protector (for the office chair) = Static Static *zot*. So, I'll be purchasing a pair of Static-free carpet protectors, which are going to be a pretty penny.
I think it's far better to buy that than a new motherboard every time the static bug decides to jump wires.
[post.command] ::>auth-code~ Aular-0802ZXC -; ::>Time.stamp ~ 1:39 PM ::> [
Monday, January 12, 2004
Settlers of Catan
Okay. Rather hooked on this at the moment. It's a fun game. :)
Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles
Pre-ordered today! Yay! Came with a free cord to hook the Gameboy up the Gamecube.
[post.command] ::>auth-code~ Aular-0802ZXC -; ::>Time.stamp ~ 1:05 PM ::> [
A Fun Filled Weekend...
...I've been feeling really social lately. Thus, I was oddly fine with doing something with friends every day this weekend -- Friday night, Saturday and Sunday. Normally, a weekend like that would exhaust me out and I'd then require several days of quiet introspection. But I feel fine at the moment, and wouldn't mind more social events soon.
Which is good, since I meeting friends to go eat cheese on Wednesday .... ;)
[post.command] ::>auth-code~ Aular-0802ZXC -; ::>Time.stamp ~ 1:01 PM ::> [
Friday, January 09, 2004
Tech Writing
I've sat next to this one guy in class who I have decided I can't work with very well. He's the Frat Boy type -- sweat pants is the norm. He was a personal trainer. He hasn't contributed anything worthwhile to either discussion we've had.
And in groupwork yesterday -- which was geographically decided -- he and the other two guys in my group just wanted to swap information about easy classes so they can get easy A's. We were supposed to be discussing how our resumes met (or didn't meet) the 8 criteria for effective technical communication. I saw and heard other groups discussing and critiqueing well after the College Guys were swapping Easy-A advice.
*sighs*
[post.command] ::>auth-code~ Aular-0802ZXC -; ::>Time.stamp ~ 8:58 AM ::> [
Butch Points, in escrow...
Discussion section was cancelled yesterday because, well, we've nothing to discuss yet. We've had only one lecture, and it was the standard "Here's the sylabus, here's where you get your books, here's what I expect of you...". Thus, I made my way to Fox Auto Parts in Belleville. It's basically a junk yard -- all sorts of cars in various states of salvage and damage. It's much, much nicer than the one I went to when I was 17 -- they got the part for me here -- but a junk yard all the same. "Used Auto Parts", they called it. I got a taillight for a Ford Focus SE Sedan, passanger side for $40.00. Ford's website put it in the $140 range. The part looks fine, so I'm not too worried about it.
And now, I get to try and install it. The very nice gentleman at the Auto Place said it'd be easy. He came out to my car and showed me what I needed to do (he needed to verify whether I had a 2 or 3 bulb set-up, since I didn't know). It sounds easy enough. Three screws to remove the plastic panel in the trunk. 3 bolts to loosen the taillight. Pop the bulbs in the new one. Rebolt. Rescrew.
I'm dubious it will be that easy, but I guess I'll give it a whirl this weekend ;)
[post.command] ::>auth-code~ Aular-0802ZXC -; ::>Time.stamp ~ 8:54 AM ::> [
Wednesday, January 07, 2004
VitaminQ
Fun Link: http://vitaminq.blogspot.com/
[post.command] ::>auth-code~ Aular-0802ZXC -; ::>Time.stamp ~ 6:51 PM ::> [
Class...
...was interesting. There's a variety of people in the class, of course: from sorority chick to engineering geek; sophomore to post-seniors; theatre majors to business majors. I read about 2/3 of my assignment for Thursday when I just zoned out. The textbook is pretty well done. Assignments for Thursday are to read two chapters (Intro chapter and How to do a Resume chapter), and to bring in my resume, one good technical communication and one poor technical communication. I have an example of a poor one from a coworker but still need to hunt down a good example. I started my resume last night since I can't seem to locate a copy in my files.
[post.command] ::>auth-code~ Aular-0802ZXC -; ::>Time.stamp ~ 10:53 AM ::> [
Tuesday, January 06, 2004
Semester thus far....
Professor emailed last night. He alluded to the fact that his colleagues are not the most punctual people and order their books at the last minute, often using the book he uses in class. He recommended we buy it early. 10 minutes of standing in the cold outside of Shamun-Drum (which was far better than other times I've had to wait there), and a few more minutes of waiting on the stairs up, and I had my copy. $82 including tax. *winces* I so hate buying overpriced textbooks.
So, checked on amazon. Yay. $55.00, slightly used copy that looks like new. $5.29 for expedited shipping, and I've saved $20.00.
It will be so awesome to not have to fork over tons of cash for overpriced books. So nice.
I'm sort of wishing life was equipped with a fast forward button. I want to skip to May 2nd.
[post.command] ::>auth-code~ Aular-0802ZXC -; ::>Time.stamp ~ 12:01 PM ::> [
Epiphany...
This is the Last time that it will be the First Day of the semester.
*dances*
[post.command] ::>auth-code~ Aular-0802ZXC -; ::>Time.stamp ~ 11:57 AM ::> [
Friday, January 02, 2004
Yay...
Found some time this evening and finally fixed my banner. While I was doing, I decided it needed a fresh concept. Thus the change.
New Years
New Year's party was really fun. I was a good boy, too - only 3 margaritas all night. I started on a 4th, but switched to water before I got the to half-way point. There was dancing, laughing, talking, eye-toying, dance dance revolutioning and even the psuedo-uninvited guests were well behaved. We watched the ball drop at midnight whilst assisting the countdown, and just enjoyed the ambiance. There were a pair sorely missed, and my thoughts were with them whilst they endured their own bit of holiday discomfort. But overall ... it was a good end to 2003.
[post.command] ::>auth-code~ Aular-0802ZXC -; ::>Time.stamp ~ 9:12 PM ::> [
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