Why?

I really can't figure out why I have this blog. So many other people say what's on my mind so much better than I can. Maybe it's because I'm on a Nyquil stupor but I just can't think. Why oh why is our Congress creating a bill to force the NCAA to use a playoff system for Div-I football? I guess they don't have anything better to do like the economy. Actually, that is better, now that can't screw it up more than they already have. I also love the false science that global warming has become. While many millions of people will agree that the Earths' temperatures fluctuate, man's influence on those temperatures is minimal at best. What you don't hear is that the solar activity has quieted down over the past two years. Houston has had snow the past two years, coincidence? I don't think so. Places that haven't had snow in over 100 years have had snow. Again I ask, coincidence? I guess the hockey stick graph is going to be the smoking gun, but not in their favor. Unfortunately the media is on their side. Algore refuses to debate anyone making him look like a 13 year old spoiled rotten girl with his fingers in his ears mumbling so he can't hear anyone.
Maybe I can think. It's late. I'm going to bed.

Dreary Tuesday.

I really don't have much to say. Thanksgiving was great. I spent two days with the parents, helping fix dinner, pull out some of the Christmas stuff, helped demo parts of the inside of the garage, hung the giant wreaths on the house, watched a lot of football. It was a good two days. I spent the next two days helping a friend with her Christmas stuff and worrying about what I was going to get for my nephew for his birthday on 12/7 as well as he and his sister for Christmas. Where has this year gone?!?!

I guess on the bright side, I've gotten the office up and running on new software which killed me the first half of the year, but it's much easier on me now which enables me to add to this blog during working hours. Hooray! I still have to deal with the confused masses, but it gets better every day.

As for things I'm thankful for, well, my family and their health, a great company to work for, and the knowledge that there may only be three more years of BHO in office. Yay.

Getting Anxious

With just three days remaining, I'm really getting stoked for my trip. My bag is packed. Essentials set out and organized for packing, tickets printed, money exchanged, What To Do manuals completed and left for anyone who cares. I can't believe it's been 10 months since the planning stages of this trip. Lucky for me, the big boss man is pretty relaxed about me taking 2 weeks away. I just told him to pretend it's a male maternity leave. I don't think he bought into that idea. The trip down is somewhere around 38 hours including layovers. Leave Houston 9:55am Saturday - arrive Cairns Monday around noon. Sheesh. The return trip is worse. Leave Christ Church NZ Saturday 10:00am - arrive Houston Saturday 11:30pm. I think we are in travel mode for around 40+ hours. Hell...but worth it.

Preparation

Well, with 23 days until my trip to Australia & New Zealand, I'm gathering the few things that will help make my trip easier. The company I slave for purchased a Dell Inspiron mini netbook, using it now to post this entry. Since I'll be gone during the end of October, I will have to find a McDonald's that has free WiFi so I can log on and do my Month-End processes. I have also activated the International Data & calling plan on my phone ( company paying ) so IF there is a problem, they can contact me. Although 17hrs difference I'll probably kill them when I get back.
I've purchased 2 pr Ex Officio boxer brief to save space. I can wash in sink and wear the next day. Quick dry shirts & pants since they save space and weight as well. We are really restricted in the size of our luggage. Even still, I'll be pissing them off with my carry-on. They'll get over it. I still need a plug adapter and smaller travel bottles. I have everything else I hope. I'll probably start packing just to see if I have everything I need and that it all fits. Oh, and there is a weight restriction too. Forty-five pounds. Yikes.

The Good, The Bad and the OMG

Well another league night has come and gone. With the averages our team has set, we were giving 125 pins a game. That's a lot to make up for mediocre bowlers. Needless to say we lost 3 of 4. I didn't help our case at all. Threw a fantabulous 113 ( on a 182 average). I did manage to close out the night with a team high 231 to win the third game. We are a great group of misfits that just have a great time regardless of how good or bad we are doing. Team scores are here.

Like I said, we do have fun but I am a competitor and I don't like performing so poorly. I'll get'em next week. Unfortunately, I work with a couple of bowlers on the other team so I won't hear the end of it. Of course I just tell them that I bowl to the competition, and this weeks level of competition was, well, lower than my teams.

Great Weekend...RIIIIIGHT!

Well, I spent 12 hours at the office working on 1 server and 1 workstation. Workstation is like brand new and working great, except Adobe Reader wouldn't install. So I installed Foxit Reader and it works fine. The server, well, at least it isn't worse. I could not get anything to work. Couldn't do a repair install due the fact that it couldn't find any drives. I tried installing the Raid software during the process, nope, wouldn't work still. I now have someone slightly smarter than me looking into it. At least everyone here can still do their respective jobs, I just can't monitor the server or log into it using RDP. The best thing about Saturday is that Marshall beat Memphis, Texas best UTEP, and Houston beat Texas Tech. Oh and Miami & Florida State lost. I got to listen to the Marshall game over the net while viewing the VT v. Miami game while working. Anyway, at least the weather here was okay. Not that I got to enjoy it, but it wasn't raining. I may have to spend some time up here next weekend with whatever solution we come up with to get the server back to normal. Yay!

Rainy Thursday

It's mid-morning and I'm already in the mood to go home. I've actually gotten a lot accomplished in the time I've been here, I'm just tired of the constant complaining. Apparently they don't realize how fortunate they are to still be employed. Yes, we've made some cutbacks. Yes, we could do more but we are still turning a profit enabling them to keep their jobs. Furthermore, they sound like 9 year old girls with their whining. I tune them out by putting my headphones on and keeping my face buried in my iMac.

Last night I ran some ethernet cable in the attic to connect the ATT U-Verse boxes. The 3/8" hole 18" down the wall wasn't easy to find with my fish tape. At least it's now installed, hooked up and looks good. ATT installers are idiots and regardless of how many times I showed them how bad the coax connection was, they did not want to install ethernet cables the lazy bastards. Now the picture looks great in the main room & bedroom and the biggest problems are gone. I can deal with the occasional minor 1 second hiccup. It was the freezing and pixelating I couldn't stand.

I guess I'll be working this weekend. I just know Lumbergh will ask me to work this weekend.

Rambling For Today

After a decent outing with last nights league bowling, I had to be at the office at the crack of dawn to restart our file servers. Needless to say, I have one that has issues. Was it the Microsoft Security Patches? Most likely. Now I can't even uninstall them. So, I'll just have to download them and reinstall them. Oh what fun for running on 5 hours of sleep two nights in a row. I'm too old for this crap. I need my 8 hours of beauty sleep.

As for the bowling, I bowl in a "church" league, one that I do not attend. A couple of friends are members so they asked me to join the league. I have a coworker that's on my team and another coworker (the member) that is on another team who talks a lot of garbage. Back story: After not having bowled in 10 years, he challenged me ( after he's league bowled for 3 years now ). Needless to say the first outing May, he did beat me. Only buy a few pins but he did win. He hasn't beaten me since so I can't figure out why he talks so much trash. Anyway, I started off September 15 with a 175, 206 & 185. This week I started off poorly but finished strong with a 152, 150, 224. I do enjoy bowling in a league since I relish the competition, not only with the other teams but with myself. I know what I am capable of and I really strive to better my average with every ball searching for that elusive 300. Maybe one day.