Things and stuff

I've just gotten back from Illinois. I'm finished with classes, so I've got more time to spend at work and at home. I've been really busy at work lately, having to standup an exchange 2003 site capable of handing x509 Fortezza encryption. All of this done from dense 10point font tech manuals written by an Aerospace company that gets paid by the page. Its really fun. At least I've been rocking out to all of Jack Johnson's albums while waiting around for the servers to reboot. I'm in a big hurry to get it operational so that I can play around with virtualizing it all onto one or two servers, instead of the four it currently runs. We have power constraints due to the glacially slow pace of the government procurement of a new Power Distribution box.

Super Sport

Friday was our unit's Pre-Deployment BBQ and Family day. While not as many people turned out as they should have, it was still a good showing. We were able to muster up a good game of Ultimate, with a pretty balanced team of experienced players and newbies. The game lasted for an hour, during which we did pretty well. After that game, I joined a pickup Softball game that ended up lasting until around 3:30. I batted 5 times, reaching a plate all times, but got home only three. I also caught a great outfield pop that went out toward centerfield. I was so surprised that I caught it, I just stood there looking at the ball, forgetting to throw it back in time to catch a runner on his way home. Its been a long time since I had fun playing base/soft ball.

Coke Blak

IMG_0999
Originally uploaded by cfpresley.

Walking through Target last night, I set my gaze upon this 4 pack of Coca-Cola Blak. I read about it last year as being test marketed in Europe or somewhere, and I couldn't wait to try it out. I can say that it incorporates C2's lower carb formulation with both HFCS (high fructose corn syrup), Equal (aspartame), and Sweet One(Acesulfame Potassium). Giving only 45 calories to the 8 oz bottle. The initial smell is like coke, but with a chocolaty smell. It tastes like coke, but then fades away to a sweet coffee flavor, kind of like a bottled or canned coffee drink. I think its pretty good. However, at 1.50 per 8oz. I don't think I'll be buying cases of it.

Igarts Flars!

IMG_0969
Originally uploaded by cfpresley.

Finally got around to taking pictures of my flowers. I ended up taking more shots of the damn bees that fly around my mailbox, but I did get the blooms. I'll take some of the Azealeas later.
Speaking of flowers, I was remembering a Reading Rainbow episode where they read a book about the Legend of the Indian Paintbrush. Here is a link.

IMG_0983
Originally uploaded by cfpresley.

because I don't like talking on the phone

I've been really busy with schoolin, with just one month left before I graduate. I'm having to really do a lot of reading to catch up on my Learning contract course. It's just two tests, like an extra long CLEP I guess. I've also been able to find something at work that makes me want to actually go there, and do actual work, instead of just hitting refresh on the 4 or so blogs I read every time I'm done reading the updates.

In case anyone is wondering, that is http://www.boingboing.net http://www.makezine.com/blog http://www.slashdot.org and http://www.digg.com

I'm also reading all the old comics from Dinette Set on the Houston Chronicles website. Something about making fun of ourselves.

Anyway, it's time for bed, I have to be at work by 7:30, probably work through lunch, and then go to the gym at 3:00. Go home, shower, and then go downtown for Differential Equations & International Marketing (really really boring BTW) from 6:30 until about 9:45. Sometimes, when Brandi and I are arguing, I joke and say that nightschool is the glue that holds our marriage together. I still haven't gotten a laugh out of her on that one.

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Funny commentary

I was sitting in my driveway, about to get out when I heard this hilarious commentary by Lori Gottlieb called NPR : Think Partnered Parenting Is Hard? Try Going Solo I think I am about half of the husbands described, yet Brandi still finds thing about me to gripe about. She just doesn't know how lucky she has it.

Neat DIY camera projects to try

I've been wanting to get into Macro photography, and now that I have a tripod, all I need is a macro lens and a light source, like a ring flash. Through the magic of MAKE, i've found DIY guides for building an extension tube, and a LED ring light. One of the old school tricks to macro photography is to just reverse the lens, allowing for high magnification, depending on length from the sensor. The problem with such a long lens barrel is that your flash will be obscured, leaving all or most of the subject matter in a shadow.


LED ring light
Extension/Reversing tube

Put the Audi up for sale

Listed the Audi. Also created a little home for the ad on blogger.
http://buymyaudi.blogspot.com

Another nifty project

digg turned me on using my miniDV camcorder & ieee1394 connection to perform backups onto miniDV. According to the article 60min miniDV's can hold up 18GB compressed in LP mode, and take an hour or so to backup. I'm currently searching around for a cheap possibly broken miniDV camcorder on ebay. I looked around for a miniDV deck, but they are professional grade, and cost thousands. An old sony dcr-trv8 would do the same thing. With some tinkering, I could also utilize the LCD attached.

Working on a new diversion

I'm currently working on a new project, part diversion, part yak-shaving. All the cool kids are doing it, so I thought I'd give it a try. While everyone is waiting, here is a cool program to check out. http://www.songbirdnest.com

Funny comics

A site that I've been watching for awhile has some really funny comics, drawn one per day. I found the site from BoingBoing.
The artist's wife also does a comic, and together they have started a joint comic.

* of a Salesman

Summary:
Willy Lowman goes to his boss to ask for a better job.
Boss turns him down.
All the hopes and dreams (or perhaps delusions) that Willy had of providing for his family are irrevocably lost.

The Mission

The Mission
Originally uploaded by PGraphx.

Looks familiar

Chase & Dallas 4 yrs

Chase & Dallas 4 yrs
Originally uploaded by cfpresley.

Found this pic while uploading stuff to my flickr.

New Old Baby pics

Chase-Birth-15
Originally uploaded by cfpresley.

My cousin Dane has been scanning photos at my grandmother's house, and he emailed me some of my baby pics. Click on the post title to see the photoset.