Random Things

Work continues, deadline nears, I'll probably be working this weekend. Whee...

The other day, it snowed...a lot. In the morning I was shoveling snow, cleaned off the walks and driveway. Got some of the snow out into the street. I started to work on the intersection, to get rid of some of the snow. While I was working on it, one of my neighbor's nurses (she's under 24 hour nursing care) tried to drive down 43rd...with not much luck at all. In fact she compacted the snow down that her tires were barely touching the snow...meaning she wasn't going anywhere. A man, who I suspect was from the church down the street, who had snow blown the sidewalks from at least 42nd all the way up to 44th, came back and he helped me push, remove snow around the car and finally to use the shovels to get the snow out from under the car. With a few more pushes she was able to get down the street. The phantom snow blower, continued down the street...

Early this morning, the snow plow finally made our street, so with a bit of clean up, we're setup for the next storm...if there is one.

I haven't felt much like cooking lately...so the meals have generally been repetitive for the most part, a few highlights here and there...I've been practicing some knife skills and cooking things and paying close attention...but I'm generally really tired.

I've been staying up a bit later, and getting up a lot earlier. I've been working around 8 until 6, and I've pushed the start time back to 7 to 7:30. I've been on a total caffeine binge...coffee, tea and soda...though still no mountain dew (I have a bad history).

My 401k is moving, generally, back up to where it was before...though it is still off 13%...at least I'm hoping it's it's going up.

I got our taxes done. We, once again, used TaxAct (my dad works there). Did it all on the web this time...since they don't have an OS X client. It worked pretty much the same, I was fairly impressed. Anyways, big fan, support my pops, get your taxes done.

Obama is holding his own. I still feel very connected to him being the next president. I've watched election results...even stayed up late to watch them...it's like I care. I must say that he's a powerful speaker. Even his words put to music are impressive. The victory speech in South Carolina was amazing.

A while ago, Shannon bought a kitchen cart with money she inherited. I got it put together...but here's the rub. I had to stop the first time, because we were missing a couple of back pieces. Got those sent to us, got back to work on it. Only to finish it but using extra pieces... The cabinet doors had a few problems. On one side it was missing the door hinge thing...which I used a metal piece to replace, so I could get the door on, and on the other it had mis-drilled holes. So the handle went on, but it is not totally connected. I could drill another hole so it could fit...but then I'd have an extra hole... The customer services has been ok...not to bad on the hold times to talk to a person... I got the door parts ordered...so we'll see if we can call it done.

Due to the new places ot put things, I've been able to reorder the kitchen...it's been nice...the spices all in one place, in alpha order (save for a few that didn't fit in the drawer). All the hard alcohol in the cupboards...places to put some storage containers... and able to put the cat food out of sight...except the stuff in the bowls...but it's better then nothing...I still have some space to figure out what to do with...but in doing this latest reorganization I was able to finally get the massive amount of cookie cutters (most from the wedding) put away.

I think I really need glasses...I was looking for the spelling of one of the managers name on his placard...and I had to move my chair to see...it wasn't that far away. I did put money into our flexable spending account for this...so all I really need to do is go out and do it...but...I don't have the time right now to do so. I'm curious if the headaches I've been having are related to the caffeine, the long work hours, or the need for new glasses. I guess it could be a combination of all of them.

My car went in for service the other day. After sitting out all weekend, I went out to warm up Shannon's car and my own, and get set to go to work. After a rough start with my car, the engine light came on, so I turned it off...read the manual, called in and they told me to drive in...which I did. After resetting the light, they said they couldn't reproduces, I ended up with a new battery (was reporting poorly, prorated), tires (really needed, driving on snow has been like driving a sled), wheel alignment and an oil change. It's been driving really nice (especially over the snow, at least by comparison).

Working more hours, and bringing in my iPod charger into work, have really drained my primary listening list (4 or 5 star that hasn't been played in 3 weeks). A bit over half has been played in the last 3 weeks...it's kinda crazy since there's about 7.5 days of music...

I've been wanting to journal, but haven't been feeling up to it lately...so apparently it all comes out at the same time. I think I should probably stop now...

Welcome to the World, Kaylee!

I got beaten to the punch and I don't have pictures like Tiff, but...

This afternoon at around 4:37 PM, Kaylee Rose Heiselman was born to parents Jerry and Renee. Weighing in at 8 pounds and 3.2 ounces and at 20 inches long, it sounds like everyone is doing good!

Congrats to Jerry and Renee!

DirecTV in the House

So the installer came, saw, and kicked some ass...

Well he called and said his first job was running long and that he'd be a little late, and I said that was fine. When he got here, he looked around, I explained why the last installer had said that he didn't have the ladder to get up on the roof. The installer said that was silly and that it would be fine. He ended up deciding to put it on the deck. Am I one to question his installation, no, however, it does seem to me that when the leaves come in, it may be problematic...but...who knows. I guess we'll have to see. Getting the signal into the house proved to be the most difficult problem.

My house is brick. The base of the house is concrete block. Neither are very easy to get through. So he decided to follow the same path that the cable gets into the house (which is fine by me, since I really didn't want to have a hole drilled through my wall). He ended up having to fish the wire through the wall. I helped...this was not an easy thing to do, because of the corners and all that, but eventually it came through and he was able to finish up the job.

Joseph was also up and he helped as well. He cleaned snow off the deck for the installer.

I helped hook up the DVR and got it all wired and hooked up.

So, after using another DVR so long it just seems a bit odd how things are organized. So it has been an adjustment. Not that it is overly complicated, but not knowing what things do, or trying to figure out what channels are this and that.

Things for the most part are labeled well. Usually with the company logo. Some of the HD channels do not have logos yet, so they have their little code + HD and it doesn't always make sense as to what they all are. There are also new channels, that we didn't get with Mediacom, that have proved to be interesting.

All said and done, we have around 50 channels of HD content that we will actually watch (ESPN and etc are not included in this number). Some of which I was very excited, until I figured out that the HD content channel didn't match the regular channel (food network). I suppose this will change over time.

The drawbacks.

The Guide is still getting up to date, and where it goes out a ways for some channels (I think it actually does it programs at a time and it says X program with X description with show and A,B,C,D,E,F times). So it's still filling things in. You would think it could do this faster since it is hooked up to the internet.

Our local content is not in HD. It is a good thing the writers strike is on, because it would kinda tick me off if I had to watch the shows on ABC, CBS, NBC in standard definition. There are HD feeds, but apparently you have to get a waiver from the local channels to see them (which I applied for). I may end up getting an HD antenna, but the drawback on that is that it's not on the DVR so no recording them...

We do not have on Demand...yet. Brandon has the HR20 model of the HD DVR, I (and my co-worker Keith) have the HR21 (my exact model is HR21-200). While there is a menu for it, it does not let us access the content yet... Brandon read something that it would be coming in February...or at least I think i heard him say that.

The Qwest DSL is noticeably slower then Mediacom cable internet...only at certain times. When I update the podcasts and the downloads happen...sometimes it can take a while...it can be quite a bit of content though. Especially the HD video ones...Hopefully we'll be able get the 8 megabit DSL soon.

After the installer finished, Shannon, Joseph and I headed down to Uncle Wendell's to get dinner....mmm...bbq....

A while...

This past weekend we headed down to Cedar Rapids. Scott and Jessica hosted a wine tasting party for a "January is Boring" party. It was quite fun. They had quite the spread of both foods and wines. Some brought and some for tasting. They had bottles that we all tasted, and were given clues as to what type of grape it was and where it came from. It was certainly a way to think of it. They also had an extra bottle of each wine that was the prize for the best written statement. I was a bit tipsy, so I got a bit silly....but I did win 1 of the 2 wines that I was very enamored with (the Matta's got the other). It was kind of funny, that after a bit the crew from Go Daddy (Jessica's Co-workers) who were apparently part of the marketing team, wasn't even trying to win...I asked about it, and it seemed to be related more to the insane hours that they've been working preparing for the Super Bowl. When we left their house, it was dreadfully cold, even through the alcohol haze....but after we got back to the Matta's I slept well. I had a lot of fun, I didn't make to much of an ass out of myself and I hope to go again. Certainly a good idea and fun too.

Monday we had a movie night. It was a bit off because Holly was taking a class on Thursday nights. I made a new recipie of bake make and cheese. I did some early prep work (grated cheese and made bread crumbs) on Sunday, which made monday go a bit smoother. I also used some La Quercia pancetta in the baked mac. It was quite good. I also cut off the pork skin from it and fried that up in a pan to become a wonderful crispy goodness.

After a good recharging weekend, I went back to the drudgery of work. I've by making my new hours 8-6 (about 35% more then my normal day). Quite a bit longer then my normal work day, but I am getting a lot done. Progress is being made. Am I going to make the dead line? I have my doubts, but I'm ok with that. It's still affecting my sleep, but when I actually get down, I tend to sleep all night.

I went to my sleep and lung doctor yesterday. My pressure level on my CPAP has been upped to 10 (of some measure of pressure).

I finally broke down and brought my iPod charger to work. It had stopped making it through the day (even the shorter one). Being that it's on it's second battery, it's not that surprising, but it's still a bit annoying. But it has been nice to be able to get all the way through the day with my iPod...

Mediacom Going Part 3

Rats!

So the DirecTV installer came today bright and early (we were first on the list). Out in the very cold, he looked around the house, looked over to the sky. He saw trees...very large trees. Not that they are in our yard, but they are blocking our view of the sky.

He did not have the 60 foot ladder...so, we'll be getting rescheduled here, to make sure we get someone with a 60 foot ladder, so it can go on top of the roof, since that'll give the best route towards the satellite. Our neighbors have it there too...though across the street they're able to put it much lower.

Oh well...I guess Mediacom will be here a bit longer.

Mediacom Going part 2

I forgot to metion the two other big annoyances.

Lets just say you have a couple of movies in HD and maybe a show or two on the DVR...oh crap, you are at 50 or 60% full on the DVR. So if, say, we were gone for a weekend, and there was a lot of TV and/or movies we wanted to record. On our return, we would have to immediately have to start watching stuff, since the space is almost at capacity.

Was this a problem at standard def? Not in a long shot, however, this is an HD world and being able to record maybe 12 or 15 hours of HD content before it's full is just not acceptable...sometimes I watch a lot of TV on Saturday, since I don't have time during the week to do so.

And the final one. So not only does the DVR not have enough space, if you are recording two HD streams then just dream on if you want the DVR to respond in a timely fashion, then you can really dream on...often we'll get a bunch of things queued up, and then all at once it'll go. Flash through 5 menus and not really do what you want.

So the DVR, underpowered and not enough space. I've seen Brandon's and while there may be a slow response from time to time (a few second delay), it's not like the 20 or 30 seconds of nothing, before you fly through a bunch of menus.

Also. One thing I'm liking about DirecTV over Mediacom, is that they make a general announcement of what they are working on. Hey we're working on an on demand (of sorts) system, hey on the next software update you can do this with your DVR...Mediacom...there's not enough communication not only with myself, but with the company. I've got promotional items, where I'll call to ask about it, and the rep doesn't know what I'm talking about, and has to put me on hold to figure it out.

So I guess that's 3...

Anyways. My 3 megabit limited DSL is, on average 40% the download speed of the 8 megabit, which really means that I don't get the 8 megabits...Sitting here at work on a 45 or so megabit pipe (burstable to more), I know sites can serve me way more then 8 megabits, so...(though I can't get those rates during business hours...silly other people using my bandwidth). In my experience with DSL before, I've always thought that Qwest took way better care of their network then mediacom did....though mediacom has gotten a lot better over the years.

The Beginning of the End, at least in this house

So here's what sealed the end of the deal for Mediacom, in our house.

So it was a Sunday, the movie HD channels were out for about 6 hours. The NBC, ABC, and CBS were fine, Fox was broke, but there wasn't a football game on, so, it generally doesn't work when some sort of sports isn't playing.

So I called. I sat on hold for nearly 30 minutes before they run me through the standard scripts. Try this, ok let me restart the box. Blah blah blah, same thing same thing. There's no outage in the area, so it must by your stuff.

So they schedule a repair guy to come out. I left specific instructions that they were to call my cell phone 15 minutes before they came. This way I can jet from work and meet them here.

There was no calls on my cell phone (no missed calls or anything), no messages at work and no missed calls on the home phone. No note on the door. No nothing.

There's just so much bad customer service I can take. I'm not a big complainer. The biggest thing I've gotten was the 25% discount for 6 Months from Mediacom. Which was great...I was quite pissed though. Mostly things have been fine, I don't call every day or even every month, but when I do I don't want to wait too long. I understand 5 minutes, or maybe if it's extra busy, 10. But if something catastrophic isn't happening, and I have to wait beyond that, it's just treating me like I don't have anything better to do.

So DirecTV and Qwest DSL is the choice of the day. I found out that I wasn't able to get all the way up to the 8 megabit, but only 3...but that is about half what I generally get from Mediacom, with the DSL connection being more consistent with it's speeds (checked on Speakeasy's speed test on each city, twice). I'm on Qwest DSL now, and DirecTV is is coming on Saturday. I'll be returning my things to Mediacom on Monday....unless they are open on Saturday...I guess.

Anyways, here's hoping for better customer service.

Another sign of my old age...

I am 28 minutes away from watching an entire debate for the first time in my life...and have no desire to stop watching.

Weird.

And I intended to as well...I even DVR'd the debate.

Our first Caucus

So I called Shannon at around 5:55 PM to see if she was coming home and she was on her way out of the parking lot. I packed her up a quick dinner and she got home, quick changed and we headed down to Monroe Elementary to Caucus...apparently a lot of other precincts were there too along with the Republicans as well...So we ending up parking about 3 or so blocks away from the school and hiking our way in. Hiked around the school and then waited in line. There was confusion about which line to be in, where to change our independent party to democrat...it didn't seem very well organized.

We finally got into the Cafeteria and...well...for all the people in there, it was very full. So full in fact, that somebody apparently called the fire department to claim that we were breaking fire code. Since we probably were, we eventually headed out and switched places with another group (I think republicans) and went in the gym (where it was still crowded, but not near as bad).

We both caucused for Barack Obama. In our group we had over 400 people, which almost doubled the the amount at the previous caucus. Eventually we as a group sent 4 delegates for Barack Obama, 2 each for Hillary, Edwards and Richardson.

There was a lot of waiting, and a lot of being warm and a lot of counting. From leaving our house to getting back home it took about 3 hours.

Last night I went to see Barack Obama at Hoover High and even though a lot of things were, to me, fairly transparent ways to pump up the crowd, but it was still kind of fun to go to. He was a very good speaker too.

I don't know what it is for sure. If it's the words that Barack says or the the message of hope for a better future. Or Finally feeling a connection with a candidate. Or the realization that the time grows short for that one guy. Maybe it's a combination of all of them. I've never wanted to caucus before, but I'll probably go in the future...

Congrats to Barack Obama!

Way to end vacation...

Today is the last day of my just shy of two weeks of vacation. While I'm glad to be on vacation, I'm happy to go back to work. The structure will do me some good. I've been staying up later and later and later. Even last night when I got in bed at around 10:30, I still ended up reading till 1 or so in the morning.

For New Years, we took a trip down to to Cedar Rapids for the second time over this break. We spent the evening with the Matta's, which has become kind of our tradition. We went to the Sushi House, which was...ok. It's good for Cedar Rapids, which doesn't have a lot of choices, especially in this area, but after such a short time since a trip for pretty good sushi, by comparison, Sushi House was...pretty lackluster.

We headed back to the Matta's, and them being childless for the evening (Taylor and Cali staying with Jenny's mom), Nathan and I dug right into the booze. We started off with some sweeter wines, I was hoping that Shannon would actually like, which I think she did. For both of us, though, our tastings were at a bare minimum, since we were both impaired by colds. I had trouble smelling (only strong odors came through), while Shannon had trouble with both taste and smell. But the highlight of the evening was the Cedar Ridge Vinyards Port. The port was reccomended by one of the find staffers at the Gateway Market. While both Nathan and I thought the Cedar Ridge Vinyards Port was a bit too sweet, and should be aged a bit longer in wood, it was better then the other bottle of port that we had, which name slips my head. This Port was something that you could sit down and have glass, just for fun...and at the price, it wouldn't be such an expense.

Nathan also broke out the last of his Absinthe, which he had gotten through a mistake made by someone close to them (they didn't know it was illegal to import at the time). Even though the cold, it had a strong odor...and tasted vile...and I mean vile. Even after I added a whole lot of sugar, it was still just nasty.

We eventually played Pop Culture Trivial Pursuit, to ring in the new year...and by the end of it was Was having trouble rolling dice, reading questions and giving answers... I often gave answers for other people...since...well...my internal filter was pretty much gone.

We headed to bed, and got up the next day had some lunch and headed over to Kim and Mike's (Shannon's sister and brother in law) for Sean's birthday. Luckily, it was not going to be at Chucky Cheese this year. For me, especially this year, this was a good thing, since the noise of the place, the kids, and the vile food would have not gone well with the way my body felt. It was nice and simple, Sean got a nice pile of loot and we had cake and chatted with people for a few hours. And headed home. Unlike most times we take a trip to CR, we actually had to fill up on the way home.

Good weekend! Second visit to the Matta's and good times.

Oh and I just noticed this...I know that not all of the time that I've taken off is on this pay stub, but I'm still at 90% full PTO bank...though I guess another 10% will get taken off...on the next one...I guess less..since I'll earn a bit less...more like another 8%...but still..silly.