Upgraded backend

So I spent some time this evening upgrading the backend of my blog. Except for the fact that my lame ftp client crashed on me like three times (FireFTP plugin in Firefox is in fact not that great) it was pretty simple.

Setting up a blog is particularly easy with powweb.com. If you are looking for a good hosting solution they are pretty sweet. They even give me access to the last seven days of backups so I didn’t even really have to backup my blog before continuing with the upgrade, it was already backed up.

Kudos to WordPress and PowWeb. They both make this so much easier than it could be.

Wireless Networking

Another GREAT thing about living in a city Ahead of the Curve is wireless networking.

City of Renton Outdoor Wireless Network was brought to my attention tonight by a neighbor of Monya and Bop-Op’s. I have seen that wireless node on my laptop here and there but it was always so spotty, I pegged it for a neighbor with a thing for hard liquor.

Turns out CROWN is a citywide wireless network!

So, if I can squeeze in a little do-it-yerself time in the coming days I could build myself a Cantenna and dump my $50 / month internet bill.

Now THAT I like. Thanks JohnP.

Car Accident

To begin with, we are fine.
Angela and I were coming home from the Opera (sounds so cliche) which was my birthday present from Mom and Dad (Monya and Bop-Op) tonight and it was deja-vu all over again.
Angela 5-6 mo’s pregnant
Coming down Renton Ave and the pregnant genes want french fries.
So I slowed down to take the right turn into McD’s and she warned me “Ahh ah” because she thought I might enter the turn lane too soon. There is a right-only turn just before the entrance to McD and when she was pregnant with Abby at 5-6 mo’s she was hit in that same spot by a guy travelling down that lane in error.
So I let off the brakes, continued my signal to the right and coasted to the correct place to turn right. My rearview mirror flashed with headlights and I saw a car coming too fast behind me from the left rear and he was immediately out of view as I turned. I said “WHOA!” and immediately thought, ‘Whew! He went past on my left side’ …about the time Angela did her version of “WHOA!” as he struck the passenger side front door of Petey (Short for PT Cruiser). He also struck the curb and flattened his right front tire as well as slightly damaging his left front quarter panel where he swiped me.

Got out, exchanged information as best as my adrenaline-addled mind could muster and in the end I didn’t get his address or an insurance policy number.
Got his name and phone and license plate number.
With no cell phone and no apparent pay phone I waited to call the police till I got home.
Turns out he had a suspended license, probably doesn’t have insurance and I have two doors, a fender, and the decorative underbody/frame to repair.
Sure glad I didn’t change my insurance coverage last week to increase all my deductibles etc. 🙂

Angela seems fine and I seem fine, it really was a glancing blow, but I know that we had better go see someone first thing tomorrow just to make sure. Just tensing our muscles and then having an impact is enough to strain a thing or two. Just physics.
Car impacts are nothing to sneeze at unfortunately…and we get in cars everyday like drinking water or having a meal.

Something like that always makes one contemplative and glad to have all that we do.
Abby is still screaming her blinkin head off, after a long night of stories, fun, and play with Monya and Bop-Op, trying to get herself to sleep and tonight her screams are like music.

Without taking sides

Without taking sides I have a question.
How is it that a politician can take money from a source, use that money for a particular purpose expressly wished for by that source, and then when that source pleads guilty to some heinous crime the politician on the radar donates that same amount of money given in the past to some unrelated charity of his/her choosing.
Somehow that makes it okay?
Why is that acceptable recompense?

How much different is that to say, jaywalking to get a newspaper. When a police officer stops you for a citation you can either take the ticket and the fine pleading your case before a judge OR you can tell that police officer that you will walk back across the street at the corner with the light according to the rules AND you get to keep the paper, read it, and then hand it to a homeless person on the other side.

No Hugs?

I came home from work bleary eyed but contemplative.
I stood in the doorway to the kitchen looking past everything in the room. When I noticed Abby, fresh off a late nap, looking back at me wondering where I was and what that meant for her movie I said without introduction

“Can I have a hug?”
long pause and then looking much like this picture she said very quietly into her hand…
“Mommy already gave you one.”

christmas 2005 with a particular look I required for this story.

What we did today.

Today Abby, Angela, and I went to a birthday party for the one year old daughter of a co-worker of mine. Neha, a beautiful little girl, had the right idea and celebrated by sleeping through some of the festivities.
Here is a picture of her quite some time ago.
Neha during her first year.
I had the pleasure of putting together a picture DVD slideshow for the party and so I have access to this picture. It is a solid representation of her tender nature as well as her beautiful round face and deep brown eyes. I am sure Naresh wouldn’t mind.
Abby had a wonderful time especially enjoying the “Aslan’s”*, the water fountain, and the dancing. An eclectic mixture of traditional Indian music and modern hip-hop. There were many generations represented on the dance floor and Abby, who hadn’t napped all day was heartbroken when we had to leave. She is getting more and more expressive on the dance floor based on the tempo of the music. Fast, heavy beats get jumps and leg kicks ala Mary Poppins while crooning voices and dreamy melodies elicit swooping arm motions and an arched back and subtle flicks of her long, golden filaments of hair.

Angela, I, and others enjoyed the excellent Indian cuisine and watching the children frolic.

* Translation: the “Aslan’s” would be the 4 golden, pseudo-stone, lions that adorned the corners of the water fountain in the restaurant. Abby had to kiss each one and say her goodbye’s before we were allowed to leave.

Diving at Titlow, Tacoma

Tom, Dad, and I went diving today at Titlow in Tacoma. We are all still getting a lot of kinks worked out so besides the

  • leg cramps
  • weight
  • poor visibility
  • leaking BCD
  • current
  • effort

    • and

  • duration

We had as good of a time as we could. Dad didn’t actually get to go under because he was improperly weighted AND getting calf cramps. Either problem alone may not be a deal breaker but together? …not pleasant. Tom and I made a 21 minute dive thanks to starting with 2400 PSI in my tank and fighting unexpected current.
DESPITE all that, and to show just how cool diving wildlife can be these are the highlights of what we saw today.

The Octopus was not out like this but rather camped in his rock den. The eel didn’t come out but I had at least this good of a view of his face and some other section of his body. And the Nudibranch looked, well, pretty much just like that.
Pretty cool.

Coiner of Phrases

Young children need more recognition in dictionaries for coining phrases and words.
Having dinner last night of cucumbers with ranch dressing, ham rolls, and cheese. Abby cried out, when she noticed her ranch was missing.

Momma! Don’t forget my ranch dipping!

Ladies and Gentlemen, this family has a new word.

Don’t like Google Reader

Okay,
I don’t like the Google reader. It still has some growing up to do. I mostly don’t like the inability to quickly scan which sources have new postings.
Rather, I have to scroll through a myriad of sometimes uninteresting posts to get to the family ones I am most interested in.
The ability to scan is further hampered by a somewhat laggard interface.
Gotta like Google but I like Vienna better for reading RSS posts.
Sorry PeeCee’s, Mac OS X only.