March 23, 2009

• So Say We All …

  Chewy and I took a quick trip up to Boston this past weekend to help install and setup a few computers for her folks.  It seems like things always happen in bunches as we’ve replaced three computers for our collective families.  Thank goodness for the downturn in the economy and tech companies pushing out stock because it means extremely CHEAP deals for good hardware and products. 

  What it also meant was that I missed the series finale of Battlestar Galactica.    Well at least until I watched it this morning.  For all the buildup I’d have to say they did a really good job of tying most of the loose ends up except for Starbuck’s return from the dead.  All in all it wasn’t that bad.  It’s just over now.

  Other interesting things that happened over the past four days:

  • Cornell didn’t live up to it’s end of the deal and lost to Missouri 59-78.  Then Maryland got stomped on by Memphis 70-89 in the second round.  I guess this is good since it means one less thing to think about over the next few weeks.
  • Chewy did most of the work setting up both computers and basically said: You do this all day at work?  Which I said no, just for family and friends.  I actually do much higher level design and implementation at work.
  • While Chewy was working on the computers I basically took a somewhat non-functioning garage door and broke it.  Basically the garage door opener wouldn’t lift open the door.  I initially thought it was dirty rollers and a warped tracked.  I cleaned out the dirt and relubricated everything and then the door would only go up about 2″ off the ground (as before when it would go half-way).    Exactly.  (oh and that icon stands for What the Frak )  Apparently, the garage door is unbalanced and the door is rubbing against the track and the wall causing enough friction for the garage door opener to not lift the door open.  I basically cleaned everything up to make the issue more noticable.  The real problem is that the spring cables need replacement and that was beyond what I knew I’d be able to do.  Errr, that was a good problem solving exercise. 
  • While visiting her parents church we talked to this elderly African-American guy who we talked to during our last visit.  He was all excited about Obama as President and the inauguration so this time he asked us if the Capitol or the Statue of Freedom was still there.  Obviously, he was jesting but I couldn’t get what angle he was coming at in asking those questions.  My initial sterotyping made me think that those in attendance stole them or burned them down.  But I couldn’t see how he was joking about that.  Chewy didn’t know either.
  • There was an email sent out to various church members about a brainstorming session (not gripfest) about the future of our church service. I personally have no really constructive thoughts and this isn’t part of my actions to remove myself from the politics and leadership positions within the church either.  I could only come up with a few things which made me think to the previous church renovations meeting we had.
  • The aisles need to be wider and so we need to play the Drew Brees ESPN commerical for people.  I now can’t separate the two in my mind.  When I think of one I’ll always think of the other.  The next time I hear the topic I may breakout in an uncontrollable laughing fit.
  • The worship team needs more cow bell.  Even though I jest, knowing those on the team I’m sure they would try and incorporate the cow bell somehow.  Maybe.  Please?  Cow Bell?
  • Driving back we were making good time.  New York was fine.  The NJ Turnpike was fine.  But for all of it’s 11 miles, Delaware delayed us by 30 minutes.  That one state always seems to slow us down when we drive.  I just don’t get it.
  • Over the weekend both Chewy and I got sick (hence why this is being published in the middle of the day and how I watched BSG this morning).  It’s probably a cold or the flu.  We’ve both been bogged down by work these past few months.  Not to tute our own horn but why is there this notion to overachieve and work beyond oneself when most everyone else is not.  It’s one thing to know that you did a good job and the higher up “Thank You” are nice but you can usually tell that they say it just to say it.  You work.  You stress.  You get wornout or sick.  You continue to work.  Not that we aren’t grateful for the work we do have especially during this particular time in the U.S. but maybe the cycle needs to be broken and a clean slate is needed.  Yet as we saw in BSG the cycle will repeat.

  • 11:28 am
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