Category: Uncategorized

In anticipation of Thanksgiving, I would like to extend a “Happy Thanksgiving” to all may past, present and future family. The ones who I have lost through the years, whose graves I will never visit but who I still hold close in my heart and memory. The ones, who’s faces I see almost daily in pictures and whose graves I still visit. The ones who have been lost, who I still deeply love, and who have left me wondering if we will ever reconcile. The ones who are still here and put up with me. Lastly, the ones who I have not yet met but know in my heart that I will welcome you to my family no matter what. Know that I always keep you all in my prayers. The beauty of the written word is that it can help heal the writer. It can help organize the mind and prioritize the heart.

This year (every year), I am again truly thankful for my wife who helps keep me sane in this insane life. I am thankful for my daughter who despite her boyfriends initial insistence on being a big, insulting, asshole, I feel is turning the corner with him. While I still feel like that they deserve each other, now, it’s not out of spite, but out of love. Growing up can be painful. However, the ability to keep growing with the one you love is what separates the good ones from the bad. Recognizing that love is a choice, is a huge hurdle in that maturity. My only hope for her is that denial and complacency isn’t a substitute for commitment. I know it was for me, and it took a long time to understand that. I am thankful that my son is starting to take his life seriously and is making education a priority. I just hope his mother and step-father will cut him enough slack until he is ready to fly from the nest. My wish for him is to continue to make small strides in that direction. Inch by inch, and all,. Hell, I was on the 15 year plan. OMG, that sounds awful, even to me now. At the time, it went by so fast and it felt like I was always back on my heels. I felt completely out of control; as if I couldn’t control what I was doing.

A big shout out to all those in “the game” (GOW), addicted, in-denial, and broke. It’s a spiral I’m glad I was able to break free from. I pray for you all daily. It’s just like any other addiction.

We went and saw Justice League last night. It seemed a bit darker and a bit more twisted than the Marvel movie, but was very entertaining. Marvel (Ragnarock) had much more levity and seemed much lighter in production. The story/content was just as dark but the execution seemed much darker in Justice League. When we got home last night, I stayed up and made chicken soup. I will say that its much harder to strip the meat off a whole chicken after refrigeration, than immediately after roasting. I won’t make that mistake again. I get to leave work early today (hence the Cartman quote). when I get home, I have to cook some stuff for tomorrow. We are making roasted brussel sprouts with wild rice and the typical/traditional green bean casserole (yummy). We already gave my sister-in-law the turkey.

Happy Thanksgiving, One and All,

-Rat

I’m in a pretty good mood today for not having had lunch. I’ve been so flipping busy at work. However, on the home front – the bathroom tile is starting to crumble. I’m hoping I or my wife don’t end up in the crawl space beneath. That just sounds wrong, but you know what I mean – the toilet falls through the floor…. Which is ok I think because it precipitates the need to fix it. It kind if sucks when something is on the fence for a while. No, I’m not advocating that I wait until it falls, but I’d rather just know that I’ve got to spend the time, effort and money to fix it. So, I’m cool with it. On another note, the basement is slowly coming along. Which is really cool. However as I’ve been tooling along, I’ve been going through the pictures in boxes. Kind of fun but in a sad way. If that makes sense. So many of my loved ones gone, but so nice to see them and in my heart it makes me realize just how short life is. I’ve started to go to daily mass again. The bird bath heater is not functioning as I think it should so, need to take care of that. I still have not set up the router yet. I feel like I’m just digitally existing. I just have to do it. Quit being on the fence, and just do it. Hook all the crap back up and try to get it all to work and play nice together. Nothing ventured, nothing gained – my DNLA/Media server with cameras. My brother-in-law was supposed to come over and take care of some locks, but the hell with it. He’s too busy with life, and I’m sick of waiting. Have to put in the light over the island. Run the cables for the cameras in the ceiling, run the cables for the network under the floor, run the HDMI cables between the levels, run the antenna for the XM radio, install the cameras in the ceiling to the front door – inside and out, the back door, outside, put the front door dead-bolt on its own IP address. Same with the garage doors. Start preparing my mindset for the bathroom remodel. Thinking grey and white colors, traditional/modern. Something sleek and shiny like polished chrome fixtures and handles.

Yesterday, we went to the Odium in Villa Park. They had a “Craft” show. It was ok. Kind of cute stuff, some interesting items. I just always tell myself, “it’s not an art show – it’s a craft show”. I have to cut them some slack. I felt like it was craft overload.

On a JDE note, I think I’m finally over the JDE security hump in 9.1.

On a music note, I really am enjoying “Spotify”. I am considering becoming a paid member. I really need to review my other music services. Up till now, I really enjoyed the flexibility of not having to choose. However, I suppose I can just continue with free Spotify. It kind of reminds me of Rhapsody but better. If I didn’t get Amazon music service for free, I wouldn’t use it out of spite anyway. My favorites are Apple Music, XM Radio, and Spotify. They all have their own niches which appeal to me. Kind of like graphics programs, operating systems, hardware – including graphics, CPU, MBD, and networking. Oh! And brick and mortar stores. Which I patronize due to the hatred of monopolies – like Amazon. Since I am on an anti-Amazon rant, I pay for “Prime”. Don’t allow sellers that are not prime to use your portal if they cannot fulfill the prime requirements. It pisses me off when I buy something and have to wait for 12 days because a seller couldn’t fulfill it. You customer service couldn’t offer me something in lieu of it, no % off next time, no nothing. Almost made me quit prime. My buddy quit prime specifically for the same reason. Things he wanted to order couldn’t be shipped in the 2 days. He waited 6. Prime, nothing. And what’s up with Kindle? I thought I get kindle books, however I have always bought kindle books. I also subscribe to Audible. Now, I really used to be an Amazon junkie. Your music is worthless, at least to me. Your “free kindle” is worthless, at least to me. I do like your video selection and the streaming video when I buy a video, that is worth something. But, instead of 2 days free shipping, give me 3 days GUARANTEED on EVERYTHING. That would be worth the $99.

On a blog note, I’m trying to figure out how to add a galleries page with something like a blogs page off of a front page. Kind of like what I have but with some basic page navigation since, currently its extremely basic. I think I may just have figured it out. Menus – heh.

Rat

So, last weekend I went out with my neighbor to the local range and shot my AR and AK. I pinched my index finger tip between the clip and the lower receiver on the AR. What a bloody mess. I had to cancel my guitar lessons for the next 2 weeks while I recover. Bummer. I was just learning power cords. I ordered an amplifier book to relearn all the stuff I learned 30 years ago concerning power-amps, pre-amps, tubes, and discrete components. Pretty fun. It was good to see that very little has changed. On another unrelated art note, my buddy from my college art classes keeps hounding me to paint while I recover. I would love to but there is just not enough hours in the day. I need 8 more hours between 6 and 9pm at night. I have been cleaning and straightening up the basement – slowly. I’ve got a ton of computer stuff in the way of cables, hard drives, etc. that I have been organizing. Next is software – I also have a ton of that. I promised the missus that I wouldn’t buy a weather station. I was looking at them yesterday. It would be cool to have. I love weather. It would have to wait anyway till after the spring and I replace the shed roof. She’s right though, I have an extremely accurate app for my phone – Dark Skies ($4.99) and need a weather station like a hole in the head. I really wanted a real-time camera of the back yard so I can watch live weather. I used to have a close one that I could connect to in Lombard that overlooked the park and would show snaps of the park. Someone put together a video of several years frame by frame. It was really cool to watch bushes, trees grow, drop their leaves, snow pile, melt, sun shiny days, and repeat. She said I’d be better served by pointing it at the front door to see who’s there or if someone dropped off a package. I see her point. I agree. Who knows, maybe ill pick up a new camera to try out.

Rat

My mom used to say (the frost quote) that when there was a killing frost, which there was for the first time this morning. So, yesterday, I was practicing guitar and was getting frustrated with the blasted cord. I forgot I had picked up a wireless controller for the guitar to amp. I’ll have to drag it out again. So, I’m looking at the amp yesterday evening and I really have no idea what the hell amp I have. What I think I have doesn’t reconcile with the P/N which doesn’t reconcile with the documentation I downloaded from Fender, which doesn’t reconcile with the tube specs from the tube supplier. My guess is that the tubes are old and decrepit and need to be replaced. Who knows. Ill order some new ones and save the existing ones just in case something blows. At least I’ll have some spares.

I finally bit the proverbial bullet this morning and bought some ammo for my AR. I think I’ll ask the neighbor to go to the rifle range this weekend and blow off some ammo with the AK.

I really am starting to despise running and training – It’s just so boring. I have the apps that are supposed to make it more palatable but I’m just having issues with the whole mindset thing. Maybe its just a hump I have to get over.

Since I’m on a rant… What the hell is wrong with iPower Web? I moved almost a year and a half ago, I fixed my address and sent verification of new address, fixed my domain whois information and still I’m getting shit and empty threats concerning the domains. WTF? What do I have to do for resolution? On the upside, most of the domain names are not used yet so there is no impact. Retirement can’t come soon enough. I wish I had some time for art 🙁

Rat

So, I’m also learning about the sonics of guitar playing. Very cool. It’s a release for my inner physicist (ha). I bought a used/damaged Fender Twin Amp a while back and I’m trying to figure out how everything works. No instructions. Ill never do that again. I repaired the case and now it sounds like a low level white noise generator. I read that it matches my Mexican made Fender Stratocaster – seems like a match made in Mexican heaven. Hopefully, the sonics can be corrected, the white noise dampened or eliminated, and the sound effects working. Still working on those power cords…

Rat

So besides the kludge, backhanded, security, I don’t like the antiquated change management.  It’s taking me 2hrs tonight to do what should take me 20min without having to babysit the processes.  Yea I’m bitching, but I still love my job.  I just don’t like the software – and I don’t like staying up past 10pm.  I need my beauty rest.

My guitar learning is going very slowly.  It’s interesting learning it though.  It’s very satisfying.  My goal is to learn to play the “Blues”.  Maybe I’ll write a blues song about an ERP admin.  Nerd blues…  I got the ERP, nerd blues…

I did buy a new router for my Xfinity.  I hate the original’s firmware and crappy configuration.  I think I’m just going to use its VOIP and modem connection with “bridge mode”   I am also buying some MIMO AC network cards.  Ill let you know how everything works out.  I’m going “ASUS” baby…  maybe I’ll just have to set up my SAN.  Hopefully my network will scream and not me 😛

Rat

 

So Saturday I walked my first 5k marathon. What a great experience, humbling as it was.  A couple of things (concepts) were distilled for me.  First, getting older sucks.  Second, I’m fat and out of shape.  Third, I’m still competitive.  I’m going to keep training for a spring 5k, AND I’m going to run it.  I’m committed.

Rat

So tomorrow, after a month of preparation, I run my old, fat, out of shape, body around a 5k – appropriately called “The Great Pumpkin Run”. Yesterday, I went to the gym and actually felt like I was in fairly good shape to do this – uneventfully (sans heart attack). Over the couple of two weeks around Labor Day, I decided I would graduate off the treadmill and run on the street while I was on vacation in Saugatuck and Traverse. It was a very humbling experience. I thought I was in “OK” shape, but my lungs knew better. I still have not been eating the best, but I at least I have been keeping up with the workouts. I decided I would find a run in the spring, and actually run the 5k instead of walking it like I am going to do tomorrow. I will probably run/walk tomorrow. Saugatuck and Traverse was very relaxing and we went to some interesting places. I am adding some new pix for the banner.

Rat

Hi, Going to see a Led Zeppelin Tribute band called “Get the Led Out” at Rivers Edge Park in Aurora, Illinois. They are awesome and I will have seen them for the last 3 years in a row. There are more than 4 members because Zep did track overlays during recording so to truly sound like Zep, you need more musicians. The lead singer looks like Howard Stern but sounds just like Plant. The lead guitarist looks like Nikki Sixx from Motley Crue but just shreds it. Kind of funny but they are serious as a heart attack. Should be an awesome concert.

Rat

Ha, can’t talk and chew gum. I do however have excellent balance. I have great respect for someone who can sing while playing guitar – amazing. I went to see Brian the bass player from LFC (Libido Funk Circus) at a local bar – Holstein’s, Tuesday night. He was killer. A consummate professional. And, to make it better, they had a dollar burgers special!! Whoda thunk?? Kind of an eclectic set but a set right up my alley. Not that I don’t like the dance music that LFC plays. Last week, my daughter texted me out of the blue to run in a 5K race. I’m doing it. Maybe it will help me lose some weight – ha! In any event, it gives me a fitness goal which is sorely missing. I am 4 days into it so far and I’m using an app. I love running, always have. Hopefully I can keep it up. On a related note (something I haven’t done in ages), I am starting guitar lessons. Really looking forward to it. I have to laugh – my teacher is Mike Stone (a stage name if I ever heard one…) Yea, its really his name. Related to that, my amp is just waiting to be glued. I will probably do that when I get home tonight. I’m thinking though that it is not going to fit back together well as far as the box goes. The (joint) parts are just too splintered. I suppose I could chisel and sand it, then glue it. Almost needs a joiner but that would entail completely breaking the box – out of the question since its just too risky. Definitely needs some tolex tape or some way to re-tolex the joint. Wish me luck on all fronts!

Rat