Monday, August 30, 2004

late nite blogging

I'm suffering through a late night release tonite. A new version of software is released upon the world. Somehow, and every company I work for thinks like this, we only release new software during times when very few people should be online. I say, why? I want sleep regular hours. I want instant feedback. I want to be able to access instant help if there is trouble.

Why should we do this when it's inconvenient for me? I know the automobile dealer makes me lose sleep to purchase their cars. Why should the people buying our product be treated with courtesy? The grocery store doesn't care if I have to wait in line. And don't get me started on the DOL.

I know I prefer instant feedback. If the customer doesn't know I'm changing their application, how do they know I'm working? If something is broken after I work on it, wouldn't you want to know sooner, not 10 or 12 hours later when you get on line. If my program is going to suffer under heavy usage, I wanna know now!

I also know that I want to be able to get support if stuff I'm doing doesn't work. My auto mechanic stops working at six. Try to get an electrician after 5pm. When the trees blew into my home late one evening, days passed before the county showed up to help.

So another late night push continues. I lose sleep. The customers don't know what we're doing. I have no help, but fortunately my team rocks. So tell me why?!?


Sunday, August 29, 2004

win some - lose some

I won a local poker tourney today. Actually the second time I have won that tournament. Of course, a huge amount of luck is necessary to win any of these things. However, I dominated today. I sat atop the “big stack” all day. I played just like the professionals on television. I was able to play almost every hand because I had the chips to see a ton of flops. In fact, I stayed in before the flop with a lousy Q – 7, and when the flop turned up 3 more queens, I was in the driver’s seat. The other player still in the pot, actually raised 10,000 to try to get me to drop, I stopped, stared him down, and announced to the table, “I don’t believe you have it.” Then I just called. I wanted him to commit more money, but he ran away after 4th street. I was such a jerk that the other players then tried to ‘gang-up’ on me. What a blast!

In other news, I gotta take my kid to the DMV 1st thing tomorrow morning to get her driver’s license. So, I have a late start on Monday at the office. What a drag.

Thursday, August 26, 2004

writing practice

It has been brought to my attention that my writing skills are somewhat lax. I was NOT surprised. I am aware of how difficult this is for me. It was suggested I practice writing in my blog.

Now, what to say?

Tuesday, August 24, 2004

Perception

Today I met someone I ONLY knew through their blog. It was quite surreal for me to meet someone I only know from their online life. It was a little like meeting a TV star. My biggest single impression is that this person was shorter than I thought they would be.

Hmmm. Blogging makes you taller.

Monday, August 23, 2004

not much to report

caught an interesting radio show tonite. I listened to Harvey Weisman and Old Folk's Chat. Tonites topic: What's the farthest you've ever dragged some one under your car?

I am not making this stuff up.

Sunday, August 22, 2004

movie time

Actually spent the bulk of my free hours in the office this weekend. Trying to understand how to maintain a confusing codebase. I was trying to achieve the ultimate developer's fantasy and finish in a timely fashion with decent code -- I wrote crap that took all day. Ah well.

The wife and I got to go see the new Exorcist movie. I think this movie set some kind of record for horror movie cliche's -- surprise bat appearances, gory mid 1900's surgery, mysteriously moving artifacts, and most of all, a hero who doesn't believe until it's too late. What crap. And oh, yeah, I forgot, gratuitous sexually explicit language. All of which wouldn't be so bad, except, on this damn adkins diet, you can't snack on ANY movie provided snacky's. No milk duds, no popcorn, no nacho's. I suppose you could eat a hot dog, but who the hell knows what's in one of those things.

The other bright side to this weekend's extravaganza is that I statyed away from the poker table.

C'mon Monday!

Friday, August 20, 2004

Long time, no write

Not much to say this week, so no posts. Been buried in an application at the office. (as my wife would say, 'app-i -ca-shun') Didn't do well running this week either. I think maybe my lack of weight loss has me a little down. So, tomorrow, it's off to the health food store and get me atkins-vitamins. Ain't never been a fad I couldn't donate my hard earned cash to.

Looking forward to a cooler weekend. Ninety degrees is too damn hot with no air conditioning. List of stuff I need to get done is growing. On the upside I haven't had to mow the lawn since I don't know when.

Long time, no write

Not much to say this week, so no posts. Been buried in an application at the office. (as my wife would say, 'app-i -ca-shun') Didn't do well running this week either. I think maybe my lack of weight loss has me a little down. So, tomorrow, it's off to the health food store and get me atkins-vitamins. Ain't never been a fad I couldn't donate my hard earned cash to.

Looking forward to a cooler weekend. Ninety degrees is too damn hot with no air conditioning. List of stuff I need to get done is growing. On the upside I haven't had to mow the lawn since I don't know when.

Monday, August 16, 2004

pleasant Monday

Good Monday. Looking forward to the Blackberry festival this Saturday. Another weekend, another run. (cold fear-sweat breaks out ...)

Saturday, August 14, 2004

Eating Crow

Well, the race did not turn out quite as I had predicted.

Larry: 27:48
Lori: 26:04

On the upside, I did better this year than last. On the downside, my weight seems to have stabilized above 200. Crap. Time to review the diet concept and perhaps monitor a little more closely.

Friday, August 13, 2004

storm warnings

Charlie has acheived category 4!!! I have relatives down there (near Tampa). This is for them:

Betty! GET OUT!

I hear on the radio that Julia Childs has passed. Age 91. "Good cooking and Bon Appetit!"


Thursday, August 12, 2004

race day

Well, race day is almost here, Saturday is THE big day. 3.1 miles. My wife is going to kick my ass.

That said, I am going to try to keep up with her this time. Wish me luck (I'm gonna need it)

Tuesday, August 10, 2004

Real Property Associates - customer service!

My kitchen sink stopped up. So, I can't wash dishes by hand and I can't run the dishwasher. We can't cook, cause we can't clean. Not an emergency, but not something that can last more than a day, realistically.

Last night we took the liquid plummer route. No dice.

Early this morning, I called the landlord (rental agency). Real Property Associates (RPA).
I called RPA at 8:30, cause I was thinking, I don't wanna pay for some expensive ass plumber. RPA, of course, isn't in the office until 9am. I leave a message.

I call back at 9am and speak to a "real" person. Apparently I need to log this sort of request with my property manager (Mike). The "real" person tells me she will send email to Mike and to maintenance. The question in my brain is, "why do I need a property manager?"

I call back at 10:15 because Mike has yet to call me. Mike says, "Oh yeah, I sent email to the maintenance guy (Lynne-sp?) and he should be out late this afternoon. It's not an emergency." Reminds me of a Steve Martin bit about the word 'opt'. He says he was drinking a thick milkshake and the shake was so thick that it created a vacuum that sucked his face into the straw. Since he knew he wanted to go into show biz, he 'opted' to have the straw cut off. Since I want to use my kitchen, I would opt to have the plumber here before my wife get's home from work. So I asked Mike, "What's later this afternoon? 1pm, 3pm, 5pm?" Mike says, "I dunno, I just send email. I don't know his schedule." Well, thanks a lot Mike. What, precisely, do you do for me as my property manager? I pay rent to your company. RPA must take a cut of my rent to pay your salary. Don't you think you could at least know the schedule of your company's maintenance department? Am I being unreasonable? BTW, as a courtesy, even if you don't know maintenance's schedule, you could call me back and let me know you are handling it. This is your job, right? WTF? over.

At this point I'm thinkin, these chuckle-heads won't be able to even look at my problem until 5pm. There's no way I have a kitchen I can use tonite. I'm concerned.

Sure enough, Lynne arrives at 3pm. By 4pm Lynne has diagnosed the problem as one that he is unqualified to resolve. Lynne calls a real plumber. The real plumber can't make it until tomorrow morning. BTW, I coulda called Roto-Rooter at 6am today and gone to the office.

Fortunately, my wife was home. She's much better at confrontation than I am. Roto-Rooter showed up at 4:30pm. Our kitchen works again. Oh, and I had to give the RR guy a check. So guess what RPA, you get a receipt instead of a check this month.

Tally:
1 day wasted waiting
$200 to RR
Coronary inducing level of anger with landlord
Seeing wife "dope-slap" maintenance guy - priceless.

Monday, August 09, 2004

Yet more news

I thought the weekend was over, but I see that Edgar MArtinez has resigned today. http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=1855838

Also, on the stiff's front, super freak is gone. Buh-Bye Rick James. Bitch!

Sunday, August 08, 2004

bulletins as events warrant.

Race day in less than 6 days. 5K, I'm nervous. Played poker this weekend, badly.
Not much else to report.

Friday, August 06, 2004

feeling better

covered 3.6 miles last night in 37 minutes flat. I know that's not good for normal people, but it's improvement for me. Also, weigh-in day is still 6 days away.

Also, changing my diet attitude. Here we go: "Mmm-mm, I really loved my sausage and eggs this AM. I can't wait for my bacon-bacon supper. Yum! I hardly miss those silly carb-laden fruits and veggies."

Think it'll work?

Thursday, August 05, 2004

officially depressed

So, today was weigh-in day. Every Thursday is weigh-in day. I've been on this silly-little diet for just over 2 weeks now. Here's a chart:


Date Weight
15-Jul 210
22-Jul 208
29-Jul 205
5-Aug 204.5

Half a pound!!!!! Oh cripes. There has to be a better payoff, or I'm gonna eat a loaf of Italian bread smothered in ice cream.

Oh, and my wacky wife signed us up to start running 5K's again this fall. 1st one in 2 weeks. I am not ready.

Tuesday, August 03, 2004

Diet woes (part deux)

Well, 2 weeks have gone by. I'm about 6 pounds lighter, although the official weigh-in isn't until Thursday. Man I'd love a big bowl of chocolate-peanut butter ice cream.

Anyway, we demo'd for the client today, and they were impressed. They think we're smart. Now we gotta get 'em to give us money before they catch on! (just kidding)

Saw The Village last weekend, now the Manchurian Candidate needs my vote. BTW, spoiler ahead, on the Daily Show, Jon Stewart said that the big surprise at the end of the movie is that the Village is really...









... a hamlet.

Sunday, August 01, 2004

diet woes

Arrrgghhh. Tonite I scavenged thru my cabinets. Did you know that 2 tbsp of chunky peanut butter has only 6 gm of carbs? Thank goodness! 2 measured tbsp's of PB it is for me! ahhh, satisfaction.

BTW, why is it I love shark week on the discovery channel so darn much? Is it the attack? Is it teeth? I once again spent 5 hours of my life this past week being glued to the discovery channel.

Back to work tomorrow...