Things I’m hearing that are sparking my interest:
- Data is the new oil
- Quantified self
Month: May 2013
A disturbance in the force
As if millions of teenage boys suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced.
Actress Angelina Jolie has undergone a preventive double mastectomy, she revealed Tuesday in The New York Times.
[Source, Huffington Post, Double Mastectomy: Why Angelina Jolie Had Breast Removal Surgery]
Happy Mother’s Day!
In particular, I want to thank the love of my life, Cathy, for being such an awesome mother to our children! Additionally, I am so lucky to have been raised by a great, caring mother who made me a priority. I am fortunate to have a fantastic mother-in-law in our children lives. And I have a wonder grandmother who never misses a birthday. There have been so many other mother figures and mothers in my life and my children’s lives that I would have to type all day simply to recognize them all.
Happy Mother’s Day! This goes out to all. Mothers come in all forms, with or without child, regardless of gender, you are there for us!
Yard work…befuddles my children and pets
I finally bit the bullet and purchased a new lawnmower. My yard kills these things. It has been a looong time since we have cut our grass. The dogs are outside with me with the most perplexed looks on their faces. I can read their thoughts: "I don’t know what he’s doing… but it sure is going to make pooping easier."
The Excitement of Excrement
Seeing the first cat turd in a new liter box is almost as exciting as discovering your newborn’s first poopie in their diaper.
Help Me Internet, You’re Our Only Hope
An American Seating Envoy school desk sits in our dining room. Our children used to study here. As an authentic school desk, it had seen its fair amount of usage. Years of students leaning on the desk stressed the weld and bent the support. As Cathy refinished the wood and re-painted the metal, I searched for someone to straighten or replace the support and spot weld the broken joint. A friend stepped up, and offered to handle it for me. 
And then I never saw the desktop again…
His job changed. He quit coming to the coffee house where we shared more conversations. Then he quit answering my calls and text messages. 
I suspect that the desktop is history. So I turn to you, the people of the Internet!
Can you help me find a replacement desktop for an American Seating Co. Envoy desk from Grand Rapids, Michigan. I do not know the year of manufacture. The only identifying mark beside the manufacturer stamp is the number 17 stamped on the back. Do you know this desk? Do you have a resource to help me replace the top? Thank you Internet!
Pseudonyms are silly
Those of us in the bowels of the computer industry know the pursuit of anonymity is foolhardy. Then again, we are the ones who know how.
Please wash your feet
For the kitties!
Weekend Accomplishments
This weekend I juggled for Children’s Hospital at the Zoo. I completed a split rail fence along my driveway’s retaining wall. I provided tech support to old people. I celebrated a friend turning 50. I purchased the most expensive appliances imaginable and they still won’t match my socks or fold my shirts. I performed hours of basement archaeology. And I awoke Monday morning exhausted and tender.
Rain rain here to stay
What a beautiful rain we are having! My jungle in the back yard lush and almost glowing.
Star Wars Day!
It is always Home Depot’s Kids’ Workshop today and free comic book day.
Fence complete!
Big storm on the way so I awoke at 6:40 to work on completing the installation of a split rail fence along the retaining wall. It’s now complete! Trips to hardware stores? Zero! Completion time including cleanup? 9:40am. I have so much time left in this day I think I’ll remodel the kitchen!
Heavy Rains Coming?
What do you do? Get up at 6:40am and do yard work of course!
Revolution3 Triathlon in Knoxville May 5
This Sunday, May 5, a triathlon will happen in Knoxville which includes a $50,000 purse.
Competitors will swim up river from Volunteer Landing (evading the floating bodies at Calhoun’s) just past First Creek, turn around and swim down to Second Creek. From Second Creek they will bike to the Gay Street Bridge then to John Sevier Highway and back downtown (24 miles). The run will be along the Neyland Dr Greenway, through Tyson Park, continuing down Third Creek Greenway, all the way down Cherokee Blvd, and back ending at the World’s Fair Park.
See more at the rev3tri website.
Dad fail
I’m pretty sure I just sent one of my children to school without breakfast. She was so excited about her field trip that I think we both overlooked it.
