Not much to post about lately I guess. Busy with Dance Theatre stuff. It’s fun. I enjoy it. Part of me is a little grumpy though ‘cuz I don’t get to go to the Def Leppard concert on Friday. beldurnik and czar_sonja are coming out to RF to see the DT concert on Saturday night. I’m greatly looking forward to it. 
Archive for March, 2003
I am really happy that my parents finally have high-speed Internet. They got DSL service on Friday… actually earlier in the week but the computer they were installing it to got bolluxed up by the installer. They got it working with a different computer on Friday. I came up for a visit today to install a router so they can share the connection between the 3 computers. I gave them my old SMC Barricade to use for this. Apparently the firmware that was on it (unsupported version that I upgraded to while I was using it) has decided to be flakey so I downgraded it from v1.95u to 1.95n. I’d like to put 1.95j on it since that’s what people in the forums are recommending but I can’t seem to locate it in a format that I can make use of (only Windows EXEs)
I find it interesting how reading statements relating to national pride sometimes give me goosebumps. I just browsed over a news article relating to the deployment of the 4th Infantry Division … aka Task Force Ironhorse. I read it because liz4jc4ever‘s brother is part of that division, though his trip over was delayed to make room for some MPs on the plane. It sucks because Liz got word Thursday that he was leaving, and now he’s not gone, and she’ll probably get word again soon that he really is leaving and have to again go through the thoughts that enter one’s head when you ponder a loved one departing for military combat.
Anyway. I was reading that article and some of the statements inspire a degree of national pride and sense of history that few other things do.
Dance Theatre rehearsal went very well tonight. We finished 2 hrs ahead of schedule (otherwise I’d still be there). I think our decision to go without a student stage manager calling cues is working out very well indeed. I have rehearsals every day through Monday, then we have performances. I managed to get the updated website in place yesterday. That made me happy.
Work has been rather crazy. We’re working on having people evaluate email clients, which of course involves getting them installed. Since we want them configured in a particular way it’s wise to have install instructions, which of course weren’t written up so I had to write them yesterday so my technicians could take care of the installs. I am still doing a few installs myself simply because of what those users are currently using to read their email.
Now I think I’m just going to go to sleep while I can still safely make it down the stairs.
… what spring break. I had one day off this week, so not a big break for me. But it was enough, ‘cuz I was approaching burn-out and my body was telling me to take a break. Hopefully I can survive the next two weeks ‘cuz there won’t be time for naps. I also probably won’t be doing much in the line of posting either, since rehearsals start at around 4:30 and last until around 10ish … and that doesn’t including time to drive home. Ideally I’d be able to eat during rehearsal too, but that will require someone to get food for me.
I just finished watching a show on submarines … including a portion regarding the Kursk and the K-129. Interesting stories. I’m thinking of getting a cell phone … I’m looking at AT&T Wireless … they seem to have a pretty good plan for $30/mth. I’d drop my wired phone’s long distance service for this.
Time for bed. My thoughts and prayers go out to those who are in the middle east for the war, as well as those who love them.
I’m hanging out with liz4jc4ever and her friend Paula for a while tomorrow and we need something fun to do. Any suggestions? I was thinking maybe a museum in the Cities but I’m not sure.
I had visitors tonight. They came bearing gifts. The first was a hilarious card which contained something even more amuzing … twisty ties (yes, I know I have creative spelling … I’m tired). The second was a card so I can go buy something that cuts wood. We shall see.
My parents treated me to dinner at Jake’s Supper Club on Tainter Lake north of Menomonie. It was yummy … serlion tips … er tenderlion tips (yes … more creative spelling) … sweet potatoes … and a salad. Yummy.
I should get to bed while I can still think … since I obviously can’t type.
Work today was pretty boring. While working on other things I had another computer burning copies of the Dance Theatre concert DVD from last year. Nothing particularly exciting. I worked on getting some of the old computers we’ve accumulated from doing new computer installs out the door as well as getting some records updated. My day got cut short however ‘cuz I had to go rescue liz4jc4ever from a vehicular problem while she was in the cities. On the way back I decided to get my oil changed, so that’s done and my truck’s happier for it. I learned that Toyota dyes their coolant red … so my radiator has red stuff in it rather than green. This is useful to know in case it ever springs a leak and I wonder what the heck all the red stuff is and why it was in my radiator. It is overdue for some maintenance … I need to get said cooling system flushed among other things ‘cuz it has sediment in it. Not too good.
Off to bed … I’m tired and just don’t feel like dealing with the day any longer.
I actually talked to anney on the phone today … she decided she’d like some ‘puter boxes to ship her computer to HI. I hope she decided I’m worthy of chit-chatting with over a meal or something before she leaves. I haven’t had a chance to talk to her in quite a while. I’m hoping I’ll get a chance to visit her and zason over there … but we’ll see. I’m glad we had nice weather today, though I could have done without the snow this evening. Icky. I stayed at work later than normal so that I could start burning Dance Theatre DVDs and get some computers set up for a donation to a school that one of our former employees is consulting for. I also did some testing on some laser printers … one of which I think is going to end up at my parents’ place for their usage, since we can’t really use it at work anymore due to the connection type it uses.
This morning we had yet another email group meeting. This was the second one trying to decide what email clients to support. We have made a preliminary decision to use Outlook Express, having ruled out Outlook with the Corporate Time calendar connector as something that would be at risk of breaking in the future, since the connector that makes it work with our new calendaring system is a hack. So now we’re doing research to make sure OE will work correctly in our email environment.
My license tabs for my truck still haven’t arrived. Grumble. They better arrive before Sunday because I’m planning on going up to my parents for a visit and it would be good to be able to put the new tabs on my old 4Runner so that they can drive it again.
Oh…. another bathroom pet peeve … guys who seem to think they have good enough aim that they don’t need to lift the toilet seat. Is it all that hard? We were reduced to one toilet in the basement of the library today because some guy decided to be “untidy” and the other toilet was … well … I’ll just say I didn’t want to use it.
I did a bit more work on the new dance theatre website tonight. It’s not on the UWRF server yet and the site isn’t complete, but I hope to have it finished and uploaded by the end of the week. By the way … for those who aren’t aware, we’re having our spring concert in a few weeks and I encourage anybody who is reading this (and those who aren’t) to try to attend. It’s Dance Theatre’s biggest fund-raiser and the money goes towards the production and other DT activities. I especially encourage those who are of the opinion that Dance Theatre is just for artsy folks. /end of shameless plug.
I’m looking forward to the weekend. Nice weather should make it very enjoyable. Heck, even if it rains I think I’ll be happy.
Well, time for sleep. I was pretty energetic today, but I doubt that will be the case tomorrow, ‘cuz it’s already past my bedtime. It’s one of the few reasons it would be nice to live closer to work … shorter commute.
Today I was feeling very apathetic about work. It sucked. I just didn’t feel like working in the office, even though I had a lot to get done there, so I went and did a couple of office calls. I’m sure I could have been more productive. As it stands, one of my top priorities tomorrow is to evaluate email clients, so I have it done before the meeting we have on that subject on Friday. I think I need a break from work. I’m going to take off a day over Spring Break because that’s the most convenient time to do it. Maybe I should take two days and spent some time with a buddy who’s going to be up visiting from Ohio.
I heard from a good friend again today … Laura for those who know her. She’s doing well. She’s decided to take a break before moving on to grad school. I can’t remember what she’s studying unfortunately. I am currently planning on heading down to see her graduate … or at least celebrate with her. Hopefully she can come up for the DT concert, but I’d be surprised.
Off to bed …. *yawn*
