Category: Uncategorized Page 48 of 157

For Father’s day last weekend I joined my parents, my sister, and her family for a camping trip at Deer Creek State park. I went down early Saturday morning and had breakfast with them. Then we went on the dam tour. Some folks asked a lot of dam questions and there were a lot of dam stairs. We had a pretty cool tour guide and one of the most comically ill-behaved children I’ve even encountered. Well, it was comical later on – during the tour the kid was a trouble-maker.

We rode bikes, played on the playground with my nieces, and hung out around the campfire. I also had a minor injury on the playground.  I went down the slide after my niece and she didn’t pop-up and take off at the end – she just sat there.  I was already on my way down the slide and slammed my arms out to get myself stopped so I didn’t kick her in the head – and got plastic burns.

Playgrounds are dangerous.  To adults, at least.

On Sunday, I helped get things packed up and we headed out after lunch.

One funny bit was the GPS. It insisted that I turn onto a road near the campground – a road that did not at all exist. And when I didn’t drive over the ditch and into the trees, it added 2 minutes to my destination time. When I was leaving, it tried to make me take that same road that did not exist and added time to the clock when I stubbornly stayed on the real roads. There was a bit of swearing on my part – but I made it home safely.  And then took the mother of all showers to get the bug spray, sweat, and multi-day non-showering off of me.

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One of my colleagues is in an unusual situation in that his contract did not get renewed this last time around – but that he’s still working here. He got a new title, a new office across campus, and a new assignment. While it all looks good on paper, it sort of amounts to a kind of exile. I hadn’t talked to him in a bit so I decided to make some cool origami for his office and drop by for a visit.

The new office is far off the beaten path in a building that is not terribly well organized. I had the office number and got close – but it wasn’t until I heard him on the phone in an unmarked office that I realized I was in the right place.

I gave him the origami and we talked for a bit about how things were going and his job prospects. I don’t know the whole story – and didn’t ask – but he seemed okay with things and in good spirits. I didn’t stay long since I had to get back to the office – but it was good to check in and I think he appreciated the visit.

I understand this is business and all the rules, regs, and politics that go along with that – but it still kinda sucks.
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I was set to meet up with some friends on Friday evening at Cilantro – a nice restaurant downtown. Except it wasn’t for Friday – it was for last night. Some of the planning got skewed and half of the group thought it was Friday and half were already there and wondering where we were. I had already eaten and was just in my shorts at home playing a video game when I got the text that dinner was, in fact, on for that night. I got dressed quickly and went to pick up the rest of the group.

I had just intended to have dessert and hang out with the crew – but the sushi on the menu sang a siren song and I ordered a salmon roll.

And it was astonishingly good.

I mean, this might have been the best thing I’ve ever eaten. And it was just a piece of raw salmon, rice, and a seaweed wrap.

It was a pretty good sized roll and I was able to eat it slowly and enjoy it. I could have eaten my body weight in those rolls – they were that good.

The evening was fun, but it was a school night and I had to head out early.
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I’m on a committee for work and found out yesterday that the chair and secretary – and now the treasurer – will all be gone for the meeting today. I’ve been scrambling a bit to get things organized and set an agenda.

I’m not a great leader – I tend to rush things, not follow the rules of order, and sort of plow through ineffectiveness. Which actually doesn’t sound that bad, but it comes across as ruling with an iron fist [Obey the fist!].

We’ll get through it – hopefully with no injuries – and we’ll all we wiser for the experience. Vice-chair? Sure. Chair? Errr… no.

My house has two bathrooms – one in the basement and one on the second floor – and I noticed a leak around the toilet in the upstairs bathroom after a flush.

It wasn’t a lot of water, but any leak is a problem and I knew I had to fix it.

I cleaned the toilet thoroughly and then didn’t use that toilet for a few days while I worked up the courage to tackle the project.

See, my dad is really handy. He can build huge projects and tackle all kinds of home-improvement tasks and I’ve learned a lot from him over the years. But, he’s always had a dislike for plumbing. I think mostly because it’s so imprecise. You can measure boards and if you’re careful, they will always line up. With plumbing, you can over tighten or under tighten and you’ve got a leak. It’s too random.

I bought a wax ring and figured that was the issue based on where the leak was – then I watched a Youtube video on how to change it out.

So:
Water off and one last flush
Scoop the rest of the water from the tank and bowl
Remove the nuts and washers and lift off the bowl

The wax ring was in bad shape and I scraped it off with a putty knife and cleaned up the area. I had some help in getting the bowl back on and lined up with the new ring. When everything was back in place, I turned on the water and let the tank fill up.

And then I flushed.

No.

Leaks.

I mean, none. It worked perfectly. I was, frankly, a little scared to say anything in front of the toilet since I didn’t want to tempt fate – but it’s working great.

I got the bathroom cleaned up and washed my hands for about an hour – even with gloves on that wax ring was pretty foul – but then I was done and my bathroom was fine.

Huh. I guess this home-owner thing isn’t too bad.

I called my dad to tell him the news and his response was to jokingly suggest he now knows who to call if he has a plumbing problem. I laughed and said I should have kept it to myself.

So, I fixed a sump pump last year and now a toilet’s wax ring. I’ve been asked to maybe help put in a sink – we’ll have to see about that.

Not too shabby for a geek – though I’m not looking for a new profession.

There’s a little spot in my back-yard, behind the garage, where a combination of garages, sheds, fences, and trees block all the sight-lines. Now that summer is finally here, I’ve headed back there with a folding chair, a bottle of water, and my headphones.

And dropped my shorts.

Hey, nobody can see me – I’ve checked.

Just me, the music in my ears, and piece of the sky. It’s kind of amazing to find that bit of peace in the city.  All the people and the traffic – it’s tough to just be alone sometimes.

I wear sun-screen and I don’t stay out too long – the light only hits that spot for a small amount of time – but it’s enough to recharge me.

Not that I’m solar powered – yet – but being stuck in a windowless office for 8 hours a day can start to wear a person down.

And when I’m done, I put the shorts back on to walk across the visible part of my yard and put my chair away.

If you ever get a chance to get a lot of sun (you know what I mean) – and you have your own piece of the sky – I highly recommend it.  Be sure to wear sun-screen.

Oh, and if you stop over uninvited to my house in the summer, might be a good idea to make yourself known before you start wandering around my backyard. 🙂

I went to the Red Cross blood drive not that long ago and hit the 72 pint mark. That’s 9 gallons donated life-time – or just over 7 full peoples’ worth of blood.

Which is kind of amazing.  Gross, maybe, but amazing.

The staff at the blood drive were un-impressed, though, when I mentioned it. I thought they used to give out pins at each gallon or something, but now it’s now no big deal, I guess.

The needle site kinda hurt during and after the donation (which is odd for me – I have veins like super-highways), and I was wiped out afterwards. I don’t think I ate enough before-hand – it happens.

But, the keebler cookies were good and I got a best buy gift card so that was cool.

I’ve been a donor since high school and don’t see myself stopping until I’m no longer able. It’s actually good for me since my diet has me eating a lot of iron rich foods and too much iron is as bad as not enough.

Kinda cool to think about the good it does. Maybe not much in the grand scheme of things, but if it help out just one person that’s enough, isn’t it?

I was working on dinner last night and went to the living room to check on the cat. Just as I got there, the doorbell rang and – because it’s a horrible noise and I was right there – I quickly opened the door. This startled the guy at the door from one of the energy companies and he said so. He wanted to see a copy of my gas bill so he could show me how to save money. I told him that it wasn’t a good time and that I was in the middle of fixing dinner. He said it would only take a few minutes and at that point Thunder(cat) got to the threshold for the open doorway. I shoved the cat back in the house and asked the guy if the guy had any literature he could leave with me. He reluctantly parted with a flyer and made another bid for my time. I politely, but firmly, told him that I don’t make decisions about utilities without doing some research first.

Finally got him on his way and I got back to my dinner. When I looked up the rates, his company was higher – though I’m guessing he was going to make a big deal out of locking in that rate for 3 years and being safe from price fluctuations. Err… not convinced.

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Later that evening I was playing a game when my phone freaked out with a tornado warning. I shut down the computer, closed the windows, grabbed a flashlight, book, and the cat – and headed to the basement.

I read my book and kept up with the weather reports on my phone. When the rain started to really kick in, I crated the cat and tucked him under the foos-ball table. It was really intense and I started to get a little worried. The rain eventually died down a bit and then the next problem started.

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I heard the water before I saw it – the interior wall of my basement bathroom started to gush water. I used a dust pan and a bucket to try and contain some of it and alternated with a shop-vac. I think I cleared about 20-25 gallons of water before it started to subside. It was 11 o’clock before I called it a night.

—————–

I was up early this morning to check on things and the basement is in good shape. I’ll need to do some cleaning, but it’s no longer flooded.

So, work to do when I get home, but not a disaster.

I got invited to got see Cher in concert last weekend – with Cyndi Lauper as the opening act. Not my favorite artists, but how can you say no to Cher? The answer is that you can’t.

The adventure began with just trying to get to the venue. We left to head up to Cleveland in plenty of time – even factoring in traffic and parking. Or so we thought. As we got close – less than 2 minutes away by the GPS – we got stuck in traffic. And we stayed at “2 minutes away” for a very long time.

We finally broke free, found some parking, and looked for the walkway over to the arena. Also, the restrooms in the Tower City were inexplicably closed – something that would become more important shortly.

Along with a ton of baseball and Cher fans, we were channeled down the hallway… to a stop.

Another “very long time” or so passed while we waited, crowded in a hallway. Every so often someone from the far right side could be seen heading through the doors. The escalators were closed for some reason – though clearly running – and a few folks were taking the stairs. We finally were able to that as well and got up to the top of the stairs where we were stopped again. Something about an entrance being closed for no apparent reason.

It’s now 8 o’clock and the show has started. We’re finally allowed to head the rest of the way up and fought the crowds to get in. Then up an elevator to the correct level and – blissfully – open restrooms.

With that done, we find the correct entrance to the seating and make our way to the seats.

Now, I’ve got a fear of heights. It’s not crippling anymore because I’ve been working on it, but I’m not exactly comfortable. And we were way up there. And right on the edge of the balcony with only a short plexiglass partition (knee height if you are standing) between the seats and… well… certain painful death. On the left, a drunk woman is leaning back over the partition with a beer in her hand. On the right, a heavy-set woman that wouldn’t give ground if you needed to get past her.

I settled into my seat, put in some earplugs, and got a death grip on the arm-rest.
Cyndi Lauper was already on stage and a couple songs into her set. She did a pretty good job and seemed to have fun – even with the songs you know she’s sung thousands of times. Her band was good and she had plenty of energy.

She wrapped up her act, thanked the band, and headed off stage.

The house lights came back up and I could now see just how high up we were. I did some deep breathing, kept to my seat, and tried to relax as they got set up for Cher.

After a bit, Cher’s voice came over the speakers and said that she was running late, but she’d be on stage quicker than we could say, “She’s fabulous!”

The lights fell shortly after that and the music started. And Cher was… well.. Cher.

She started the show up on a 20 ft tall platform in a huge head-dress. Over the course of the evening we were treated to a circus, a two story tall Trojan horse (that she emerged from), a burlesque show, a duet with Sonny (I got you babe, with a video wall of a Sonny recording), a vampire attack, native american dress, enough rhinestones and sequins to start a new currency, and plenty of “I’m 100 years old and I still fit into my costume” humor.

And she’s still got it. Cher was belting out songs at full power and put on an amazing show. She’s still an amazing singer – hell, an amazing performer. Really awesome.

Her last number had her dressed as a celestial figure on a platform that lifted up off the stage and floated majestically over the audience as she sang.

As she drifted past us, I turned and said, “I think we just got Cher-ed”

She landed, stepped off the platform, and gracefully walked towards the back of the stage to leave – stopped once to turn back to the audience and wave.

The lights came up, I gratefully made my way back to solid ground, and we headed home.

She said this is her final tour – and if so, she went out with a bang – but she made a big deal of winking and crossing her fingers as she said it.

It was a great show and a lot of fun. I can’t recommend the venue, but I can recommend Cher.

She’s still got it.

blortch, yardwork, computer guy

When Thunder(cat) got home from the vet – missing a tooth and acting groggy – I tried to go easy on him food-wise. He was hungry, though, since he hadn’t eaten since the night before and Jim brought over some canned cat food so I could stay home and watch the feline.

Thunder(cat) went after that wet seafood in his bowl like it was nip. Or so I imagine – this is a nip-free house.

He ate about half of a small can and then – while I was unfortunately watching – threw most of it back up right into the bowl. The sound it made was:

“blortch” Or perhaps more like:

“bloorrtch”

It was so gross I actually laughed out loud. Which may not have been the right reaction, though Thunder(cat) didn’t seem to care. I cleaned up the bowl and took the food away for a while. He finished it up the next day and after some astonishing and revolting poop, he’s back on dry food and pretty much back to normal.  Though I think the bonding time we had while he was drugged up has had a lasting impact – he’s much more tolerant of me in general.
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I’ve been out doing yardwork whenever the weather is even remotely nice. I’m mostly just doing some clean-up and enjoying the sunshine. I’ve got some vague plans for the yard, but nothing really serious.

While I was out there mowing the front yard, my neighbor from across the street came over. I hadn’t met him yet and we talked briefly about the new mailman getting deliveries wrong and the yard work we were doing. He asked what I did and when I said I was a computer guy, his whole face lit up.

And my heart sank.

But, because I’m a nice guy, I agreed to save his favorites and format his computer, and re-install windows from a back-up. I worked on that one evening this week and while it wasn’t complicated it did take for-freaking-ever to re-install. 3 hours or so. Which is forever, incidentally. I had him come back over and we did some clean-up on all the crap the backup had re-installed. We talked a little bit about computers and his 3 ex-wives and then I sent him on his way to check his internet. I didn’t hear back from him, so I’m guessing that went okay as well.

I don’t think we’re bros at this point – a little too weird in a non-amusing way – but at least I know another one of my neighbors.

I got to see my nieces for Easter and they are both a lot of fun. We had them hunting plastic eggs in my parent’s backyard and the littlest suddenly squatted down and picked something up – then delightedly exclaimed, “Rock!”

Not quite the object of the game, but she was having fun. She also delights in saying her own name – and correcting people when they call her something else.

I’ll get to see them again for Mother’s day.

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Last week, I conducted some usability tests on our website along with a focus group. I’d done these kind of tests before and we always learn a lot – though they are tiring – but this was the first focus group I had done.

It went amazingly well. I think we got a real insight into our students and learned a lot about how they use the site on a computer and on their phone. It was fun and engaging too – I’m hoping we can do more of these.

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I updated my garmin recently while I was doing yardwork. It’s slow to update and I was able to multi-task. The problem? My garmin didn’t have enough storage space for the new map.

Really? Did the US suddenly get bigger? How does that work? It suggested I insert a memory card – which I don’t have and which my garim doesn’t have a slot for – or load only a region of the maps.

I did the later and I’m now good unless I travel further west than Illinois. So much for the lifetime maps…
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I took the day off today to get some errands done. By 9 o’clock I had:

1. had breakfast
2. dropped off the cat to get his teeth checked
3. got copies of paperwork made at staples
4. bought a gift card at giant eagle
5. worked on two art projects
6. fixed some tea
7. cleaned the litter box

Next up, a trip to the Clerk of Courts to get a passport. Or rather, submit the application and pay a pile of money. I was loaded down with documentation and had my checkbook ready.

Except…

No, sorry, that’s not going to work. You need a certified copy of your birth certificate. Not the original and not a photo copy – both of which I had. The clerk gave me the phone number and website of the right department – in Illinois – that I’ll have to contact. She also stapled my photo to the application. Gee, thanks for the staples. So, more fees and more bullshit.

As my niece would say, “Not today, customer!”

I don’t have any immediate travel plans, but I was hoping to make the most of my day and get some of these things done.

So, I went and got my watch band fixed, then lunch at BK. They screwed up my sandwich and I didn’t realize it until I was long gone.

I let out my neighbor’s dogs, wiped the mayo off the sandwich and ate it, and then went home.

Now I’m waiting for the gas company to come and check the meter for… ummm… I really don’t know why except I have to be here between 12-4 because it’s the year 2014 and they can’t schedule any more accurately than that.

Finally – insult to injury – Diablo 3 is down for maintenance today.

Really?

Expansion pack. 4 hours to kill. System is down.

Screw it. I’m going to go read a book. At least those don’t require extra forms from out of state or an internet connection. And the don’t come with mayo, thankfully.

I taught a class on Information Design earlier this week after work. It went okay – I could have been better prepared – but I think some of the students got something out of it.

The interesting bit was what happened before class. I had the email that the instructor sent me printed out – with the time and location of the class. I got there a few minutes early and went in to talk to the teacher.

Except he wasn’t there – instead, it was one of my colleagues in IT. She explained that the professor had been getting the room wrong all semester and walked me around the building to the correct room. Even more interesting was that I hadn’t talked to her in a few months – we’re in different departments – but I had emailed her earlier that day with a question. And then just happened to run into her that evening for class.

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I also went and got my oil changed this past week. It took longer than I expected, but I had plenty of paper with me. And my phone. When it was done, they went over some service notes with me and I was on my way.

I got an email from the customer service manager thanking me for stopping in. Then they said I would be getting a survey from the manufacturer. She said it was important to give all 10’s as anything less was unacceptable – and she wanted me to contact her if anything about the service was less than excellent.

This is not the first time I’ve been “guided” towards answering a survey by one level that is reported to another level. “If you can’t give us all 10’s – we want to make it right so you can”

Which is bullshit.

A great big steaming pile of bullshit.

Perfection is an illusion. Life is messy.

And all 10’s? Well…

1. Took longer than expected.
2. The service report had no context for the information. A 10 mm note on the brake pads doesn’t mean anything unless you already know what it is supposed to be.
3. The waiting room was noisy and the TV was on HLN. I mean, really?
4. The un-requested, but free, car wash left spots on my windows.
5. The handling and vibration of the car felt worryingly different after the tire rotation – a heads up would have been nice.

None of this is really important or terrible. But, if you’re going to tell me it has to be Perfect ™, then it wasn’t.

So, what do I do? Really judge the service against a standard that can’t exist? Or just put in all 10’s to make the manufacturer happy – and keep the service folks out of trouble? They did do a great job – but Perfect? Really Perfect? errr…no.

Instead of some 10 point scale with meaningless numbers – meaningless if 10 is the only acceptable choice – I would suggest a simple picto-gram.

Happy Face or Sad Face.

If the service was good and you’d come back and tell all your friends and rename your first-born – then indicate a Happy Face. If the car catches fire or parts fall off – Sad Face.

I’m going to respond to the service manager and recommend that she pass it along up the chain to a policy maker.

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I had a dream last night that the power kept going on and off with a bright flashing light. The next thing I saw was darkness, and then me being wheeled out of my house on a gurney.

Apparently, I was dead.

They took my temp to determine time of death – I think it was around 80 degrees – and the coroner decided to start on the autopsy right there in my yard. She climbed up on the table with me and got her scalpel ready. Before she made the first cut, I sat up and gasped. She jumped off the table and everyone stepped back in shock.

And then I woke up. Or came back – I dunno. They say you can’t die in your dreams – you always wake up before you “hit the ground”.

Pretty freaky – but still not as bad as that physics class dream. I was soooo out of my league on that one.

I’ve got a huge headache this morning. Apparently, being dead is rough.