Sandpaper Poncho

Snow, Lost, and Nose Bleeds

2008-02-07T10:06:00.000-06:00

Even though I was outside shoveling for almost two hours last night, I still like it. I dislike having to drive though it, whereas I used to hate driving though it. I am glad my opinions on snow are changing. It makes life a little easier and less stressful. I would imagine everyone else would agree that going 15-20 in a 25 zone is much nicer compared to going 15-20 in a 55 zone. The stops and turns are something else to deal with. Even so, makes less silliness around you.

I got into watching Lost this past week. I just finished the first season last night. Shoveling for 2 hours and then watching 5 hours of Lost is also quite an experience. It makes it a slight bit less nice when you don't realize that the season finale is a "2 hour special", so you end up staying up until three rather than two, and you can't stop in mid-episode. That would be silly.

Attempting to go to bed at 3 in the morning (to get up at 7) and getting a nose bleed from the dry air is frustrating, though. As it is the third night in a row like this, I did a test. It was immediately when I rolled onto my stomach that it started. I sleep on my stomach usually. So, time to un-learn that. I tried swapping pillows, as my usual one is for sleeping on your side/stomach and the other one on my bed is more for sleeping on your back. I woke up on the other side of the bed, on the other pillow. I guess my body knows what it likes.

Home Cooked

2008-01-31T19:09:00.000-06:00

One of the things that I have been looking forward to is the home cooked meals. For a while, it was just sandwiches. Honestly, you can get sick of them after not too long. Took a break from them, but now that I feel moved in, I have been cooking bigger meals. Rather than just making enough for a day, I made stew a few nights ago. That sort of warm, filling meal just makes you happy. Plus, being able to put some in the fridge and reheat it the next day, that is the magic of it. Left over stew, a turkey and pepperjack sandwich, a salad and some tea. Just wonderful.

Well, I am out of stew, so time to plan round two. Maybe the third one will be in the slow cooker rather than using the the electric skillet. We will see. It will be good.

Had done moved out.

2008-01-31T08:50:00.000-06:00

In the process of moving out, you don't really feel completely at home for a while. On Sunday, that finally felt done after moving my love seat over to the new place. I could finally just sit on my couch, watch tv or play a game, rather than on folding chairs. I also brought my desktop computer over, but I don't have much need for it at the moment. So, I feel like it is all done. I still have a few odds and ends to take with, but it is just more things that I won't know exactly what to do with.

I got yelled at by Paul (I am pretty sure it is Paul, Meat man at Outpost) for not going riding with him and Jojo this past weekend. I never knew it was going down. I blame Jojo. I am just kinda afraid that, since I have not ridden with Jojo or Paul or anyone else who rides a lot, I am going to get my butt kicked by the trail. We'll see.

Packing up and Moving out

2008-01-15T10:13:00.000-06:00

It has finally started. Moving out of my parents. It is good.

I spent most of the weekend getting packed up and hauling stuff over. It is an odd experience, but it is kinda fun. When you move out, you don't realize how much stuff you actually have. I have been living out of a single room at my parents for a long time, so there was a lot of stuff packed in one room. Getting that expanded into several rooms, you get a better feel for what it is that you have. Also, though, you realize how much stuff you use that you will have to purchase for yourself. A trip or two to goodwill for kitchenware and Kohls or Sears for the rest.

It will be a good upcoming weekend to be spending indoors setting stuff up, with the projected snow and low temps. I have a garage spot for the month until the parking a block away is available. Almost everything is moved, short of my love seat and main computer, everything that I have is there. There still is no internet, so besides music and movies, not going to be needing my main computer much.

My finger needs to hurry up and finish healing. It is 90% done, just waiting for the nail to regrow. No way to hurry that, sadly. That finger has a lot of things it wants to do. Trigger shift for my front derailer, fret board, typing normally, wear gloves easily . . . you know, the important stuff.

Year so far

2008-01-03T22:58:00.001-06:00

Three days into the year, and I have to say that is has been pretty good. Went hiking for most of the day tuesday, had a nice dinner with some friends this evening, whacked my still healing finger pretty good over-reaching for a door. All sorts of good things.

Well, I got my formal offer for my job today, which makes me quite happy. No more worrying about the looming 6 months until my benefits kick in (read: insurance). Once the job starts, so will the clock ticking down for that.

This evening I also got my Jury summons. Real Juror, not a reserve. So, we will see. Gotta tell work I won't be in.

New Years Morning

2008-01-01T00:39:00.001-06:00

It is a strange occurrence to watch a red fox eat its prey. It is a stranger occurrence to see that happening in your backyard, in the middle of the city. Nature has some funny ways to remind you of what is going on around you, even without you realizing it.

I meant to start the New Year off right, and I think that is as good a place as any.

Misty Days

2007-12-22T15:28:00.000-06:00

I really do enjoy misty days. Driving in it is not always the best, but daylight makes it alright. See, for me, I really enjoy walking in it. The obscured vision gives you an altered perspective on your surroundings. I ended up walking down by the lake, and the mist creates a perfect background for so many photos . . . if I ever got around to buying a camera. Various gift giving and receiving opportunities are coming up soon, so that'll be something I can wait on.

School is done. There isn't a whole lot to say ab0ut that. I think it is partially since it usually is vacation time now anyways, so it really isn't any different. Wen the semester starts up, then we will see how I feel.

I looked at a wonderful upstairs of a duplex. I would very like to get it. They want to start the lease January first, so we will be finding out shortly.

My finger is not a piece of cabbage

2007-12-10T21:06:00.000-06:00

I cut my finger last night. Bad. Slicing cabbage.

So, with less than two weeks remaining of class, and a project due in a a few days, I gotta just keep going. As much as I want school over, I am close. Less than a week until I walk, and a few days extra for exams.

No fun. Ice storm tonight makes it even less fun. We'll see how it goes. I got one bus ticket in my pocket and can get the bus pass that'll last the semester at school.

GO ME!!!

Begin Bloggin in T-15 Days

2007-12-05T09:33:00.000-06:00

So, just as I expected, nothing got written here. Well, nothing much. It turned out to be a long semester, so the lack of doing all of the things that I started doing at the beginning of the semester (Modding stuff, riding my bike, drawing, playing the guitar, etc.) kinda had me bummed. BUT, since I haven't been doing what I wanted to do, I HAVE been getting my homework done. Less stress is a good thing.

I graduate (finish exams) in 15 days. I graduate (walk across the stage) in 11 days. Then, let the fun begin.

Hella cute. http://dailycoyote.blogspot.com/

Wiitendo or WiiNes, or whatever you want to call it

2007-10-23T23:48:00.000-05:00

So, my buddy Lance sent me a comic from way back when.

http://www.reallifecomics.com/archive/050216.html

I made one of these guys a while back, and I was the first time that he had heard of the idea. So, for a while he thought I did it first, before it went mainstream. The NesPC is cool, but not cool enough to not get scrapped for parts after 2 or 3 revisions of it. I said that I could easily do a final revision with a dedicated photographer. If anyone would feel like spending a long day or two shorter days (~16 hours total) of photographing the process to put it online, I'd be game. My design is much cleaner than anything else out there that I have seen. Regardless.

I got to thinking, the NesPC is cool, but a Wii in a Nes would be cooler. I have install mod chips in a dozen or more machines, so I know how they are all laid out inside. I get to thinking about that, and it seems very doable. My mods are designed to to the least amount of damage to the outside case, since the LOOK is what makes the mod cool, not because you just happend to put one thing into the other.

For the NesPC, is has 2 holes in the outside case that were not there by design. One was about the size of a pencil eraser to accommodate the power adapter. The second was an inch by an inch and a half (i think) located in the space of the black stripe in the top back of the case. Since it is a black hole, I make the inside black also, and it is very inconspicuous. Most NesPCs have very bad overheating issues since there is no air flow, and that hole has a PCI fan exhausting out that hole. It works like a charm.

So, WiiNes or Wiitendo ( http://www.nintendo-hacks.com/wii-mods/wii-inside-old-nintendo/) or whatever name fits it best. These people did it, so I can't claim that I did it first. They clearly have that by a good month or two (gotta take time to make it). I feel that I can do it better. I don't own a Wii right now, but it would be worth doing it. So, a new task to go for.

It will be good. Still minimal holes in the case, but the ones that I put in it will be for obvious enhancements. Built-in Light bar in front, working Nes ports and all 4 GC ports (still have to figure out where those go), etc, etc, etc.

Expensive food

2007-10-20T00:20:00.000-05:00

So, how come every time you stumble upon one of those "Most Expensive Food" lists, how come every thing in it has truffles? Seriously. They just throw that stuff into anything they can to jack the price up. Why not just serve it with a 55 gallon drum of gasoline on the side? At least you could get the some use out of it. Wendys with 55 gallon drum of gas. Still would cost ~$100.

I would like to see some most expensive food site that doesn't contain truffles. BTW, the Ice Cream Sundae contained caviar instead. So, that dosen't count, either.

Lakefront

2007-10-14T11:48:00.000-05:00

I have to day that I am very sad that I do not have a digital camera, or any camera for that matter. I decided to take a drive to the lakefront, and I have to say it was very beautiful out there. I go by the lake a lot, since it is on my way to work. Actually having time to look at the trees changing colors, with some dense fog covering the far coastline would have made for a wonderful picture or two. There have been a lot of missed opportunities, but hopefully that can be resolved soon.

Sadly, the rain picked up (from a light drizzle to a pretty decent rate), so I quit my search. I ended up in Mequon, so it was a good adventure.

I are sad.

2007-10-13T22:43:00.000-05:00

It is really disappointing when plans fall though. Nothing you can do about it, but it is kinda sad.

Hilarious

2007-10-09T22:18:00.000-05:00

http://www.reallifecomics.com/archive/071006.html

Blogging

2007-10-09T14:13:00.000-05:00

I am currently sitting in class, watching a presentation about blogging. While blogging. I don't think I need to be listening too closely.

Yea, and no one read this, that I know. It's sad. According to business-opportunities.biz, my blog is worth $0.00

Music

2007-10-07T21:25:00.000-05:00

I have unintentionally gotten to much breakup music on my iPod. It is depressing cause otherwise it is really good.

Feeling better

2007-10-07T21:09:00.000-05:00

So, I talked to my ex today, and I'm feeling a bit better. There was some stuff to get out of the way, so I'm glad it's taken care of. A word to the wise, if you don't want more problems when you are already depressed, don't go for a 1 1/2 hour walk with nothing for your mind to be occupied with.

Otherwise, Slushy party was a success. The cops only showed up twice, and that was from the neighbors complaining. No tickets, citations, or arrests. Almost hit a guy trying to flag a cab and then walking across the intersection of Farwell and North at 2:30 in the morning. Good time all in all.

Biking

2007-10-06T18:25:00.000-05:00

So, in a day of biking (not in Milwaukee), I saw two squirrels, 4 or 5 snakes, a few dozen caterpillars, and a deer. I seriously wonder if deer have a death wish or something. It is probably that they get spooked when they are standing near a trail, and when you get close, they decide to dash across the path. In my case, the deer was probably 3 or 4 yards from me, which is plenty of time to slow down on a bike.

All in all, 41 miles in ~3 1/2 hours.

Homework and Riding

2007-10-05T20:38:00.000-05:00

So, it comes to that time of the school year when the real homework starts to appear. It never is that hard to take care of, but all classes decided to start is at the same time. So, time to get to work. Sadly, it is supposed to be record temperatures this weekend. That means some beautiful biking weather. If I want to ride tomorrow all day and party all night, then I gotta start this stuff now. What a way to spend a friday night.

Tomorrow will proably be the Eisenbahn Trail. It is a good long ride, 55 miles if you go the whole way, both directions. I doubt I will go that far, but I have once. Pretty crazy long, but it is nice. Load up the good old iPod with some podcasts and listen as I ride. Also, that is a place that there is about a 1% of seeing my ex, compared to anywhere else in West Bend, which is a plenty low probability for me.

Otherwise, an oil change for my car and possibly buying new glasses to replace my ~6 year old pair that I have is about all I have to do this weekend. That, and hang out with Sam if she has time and mobility.

This should be a good weekend.

To the hate

2007-10-03T11:14:00.001-05:00

Yea, loneliness is pretty much gone. Today, it is hate. I have ideas why, but it doesn't matter. It is fun being in hate mode, since you can really focus in on a task and put all your energy into it. That, and being pissed off at just about everyone around you. Where I work though, it doesn't really change anything. No one really notices. The hate is strong where I work. It is almost a cultural thing.

2007-10-02T22:45:00.001-05:00

My hands hurt from playing the guitar for an hour. It is kinda like the feeling you get in your legs when you ride your bike for a long time and they got a good workout. It feels good.

One Week Later

2007-10-02T16:16:00.000-05:00

So, it is a week of being out of a relationship. I suppose it really has finally hit me, but not like I had expected. I suppose that the biggest part is just being lonely. Over time, you get used to being able to have someone to just give a call and talk about whatever. Not having that is kinda hard. Granted, by the end of the relationship, it was hard to talk to my ex about stuff since neither of us seemed to be doing very well.

I know I have people to talk to if I need it, but it isn't the same. I suppose that is how it'll go.

So, yea, lonely.

2007-10-02T00:25:00.000-05:00

Also, as good of an idea as it may seem at the time, you might want to give up on a plan if it takes about 3-4 hours of your night to finally accomplish 1 hour of result. Some times it is worth it, but sitting on the phone trying to get a game to work over the net really isn't one of them. Maybe.

Another day, another dollar

2007-10-01T19:08:00.000-05:00

I still find it a little bizarre that about once a week I leave work early to go work at a better paying side job. I earn 3x as much as at my usual job, and I seem to be appreciated more then my normal job. The down side is that it is a school, so there is no business for 4 or 5 months a year. I am also getting paid more per hour than the teachers there, but I am still undercutting the market by about half what I should be getting paid. My usual job is still an hourly paid position, so no great loss there. No benefits or vacation days. Soon it should be a full time gig, so then things will change. I doubt that I will be getting paid more at the salary job than at the school, though

Tech jobs are screwy. It's like a mechanic. You don't need their service all the time, but when you do, it'll cost you. If the mechanic likes what s/he does, then they wouldn't mind doing free work sometimes, but they need to actually make a living to cover their expenses. The jobs seems good, but if they are too far apart, then you are kinda left out to dry.

Aaah, the life of a tech. It is how it goes. I like it, though.

BTW, elbo.ws is sweet.

First down

2007-09-30T20:16:00.000-05:00

So, initial blog post. Not sure what to put. I suppose that it doesn't matter.

Quick start -

1. Just ending a 4 year relationship which was back to back with a 3 1/2 year relationship. So, new territory for me. I haven't been single for a while

2. Last semester of college, 5 1/2 years after this semester. Management Information Systems degree, which just means that I like computers but don't want to bother with 2 years of math before doing the real work. Instead, I do 2 years of accounting, statistics, and economics before doing the real stuff. It may not sound like it, but I prefer my choice.

3. Still living at home, since it is a lot cheaper then both paying 8k+ a year for tuition and rent. I can walk out of college with no Student Loans, so that makes it worth it. I'd move out now, but I would prefer to wait a few more months. My sis and bro get help with college and rent, but I prefer to take care of it myself. I don't hold it against them, the whole "middle child self-reliance" is the driving factor.

4. I live in Milwaukee, but I don't drink. 75% of the social scene is kinda killed that that point. I classify myself as a nerd, but I don't look the part. Nerd culture has hooked on pretty well, so it isn't a problem. I just would prefer to get out of my social circle more.

I think that about covers all the bases.

Out.