Reality Me

Blog

  • More cord cutting

    I did it. I committed to being a Comcast customer for the next 2 years. $109.95 per month set in stone. 50Mbps down/ 10Mpbs up. Unlimited. $200 installation fee; $150 rebate. And yes, if I terminate in less than 24 months, I’m on the hook for 75% of the remainder. So if 6 months remain when I cancel, I’d owe $495.

    Negatives? No television whatsoever. Positives? No more data cap.

    My overage charges alone in July were $110.

    Now, saying, “I’m going to pay $2638.80 for two years of Internet connectivity” sounds ludicrous. Add in Netflix roughly $20 a month. $3118.80 and Hulu ($7.99/mth) $3310.56. And now add cellphone service: $12,358,56. So, if my family wanted to cut out all entertainment and phone services, in two years, I could take them on one of the cheaper Disney vacations. Or, we could skip Disney and stay current with The Walking Dead.

  • Why did they put Doug in a padded room?

    Because "The type or namespace name ‘ScriptManager’ does not exist in the namespace ‘System.Web.UI’ (are you missing an assembly reference?)"

  • Genuine Dad

    I played catch with my son with a football and discussed proper kicking technique. I leveled up as a dad today.

  • Simply Pleasures

    Nothing is quite as amusing as joking with the cashier about the year supply of discount condoms in your purchase.

  • How to program effectively

    Coding is so much better when it includes wine or beer.

  • Trapped in Knoxville

    And then there was that one time I drove to the airport with nothing but the clothes on my back intent to leave…and the airport was closed.

  • A need to be numb

    There’s a point in the night
    A choice to be made
    Power through
    Or give up the fight

    When the time comes
    The brain turns foggy
    And hides distracting thoughts
    Creativity flows

    But hesitate
    If you slow
    The fog turns solid
    Hit a wall

    Pass out now
    Or pass out then
    Both a loss
    Neither a win

    There’s a point in the night
    A choice to be made
    Sacrifice the wee hours
    And give up the day

    Whatever decision
    The clock ticks
    The night comes
    You fade away.

  • For Labor Day, I labored

    When we have three day weekends, I like to take a personal day to try to have a 4 day weekend to work around the house on all that I neglect due to work and volunteer obligations and to be with my family. More often than not, this translates to working on the computer to earn extra money. Today was no different. Despite the beautiful weather, I did no yardwork. I made no clubhouse repairs. I washed no cars. Instead I programmed, rather troubleshot a non-functioning program with little success.

    ToolsI did take a few minutes to repair the door knob on our front door. It had become so loose that it failed to open the door. Fixing it you would think would be a couple twists of a screwdriver. But symbolic of all things in my life, it was not so simple and required an allen wrench (technically ‘key’), flashlight (technically iphone), phillips head screwdriver, and a pry bar.

    As darkness falls, the stress of the quantity of unfinished planning for scouts, paperwork for other things, unsent communiques, failed budgeting, and misplaced dreams for this 4 day weekend are trumped only by the snarling and nattering of my overdone children and wife. At this exact moment, my aching back would like nothing more than a beer and to lounge in front of the television. Instead, some vitamin I, some coffee, and headphones with loud music will power me into the night. "Alexa, play cyberpunk."

  • The Final Boom’s Day

    I went to the very first Boom’s Day and the next four after that. I committed to myself that I’d go to everyone but after that 5th event, I quit going. Tonight is supposedly the last Boom’s Day. I think it’s a guerrilla marketing effort to raise attendance. Nonetheless, I chose to keep the family home, not fight the crowds, and work on the house and a client’s website. A great deal of yard work was completed. So much more remains. If I had the means, I’d take a year off just to work on my home and family. It’s now dinner time. I head out to park the car and the front door complains, refusing to open if the handle is pressed down instead of raised up. I can fix it. I will fix it. The door knob is a metaphor for my life under constant repair. But I can fix it. I will fix it. I want to accomplish so much more. So much more than has been done. Nonetheless, I am content.

  • The day thus far

    This Sunday of Labor Day weekend thus far: I’ve cursed Microsoft extensively as I fight an ASP.NET solution. I’ve repaired the weedeater and taken my ire out on the lawn. I’ve also decided the last Booms Day will have to happen without my family.

  • What do you do in the morning?

    It’s Saturday morning on a three day holiday weekend. What am I doing? Cooking Sunday night’s dinner, of course.

  • The good and the bad

    The good: The wife and neighbors may rejoice. The carburetor has been rebuilt and the mower is working!
    The bad: Now I have to start working on the yard again.

    The good: I fixed the Keurig.
    The bad: It broke again.

    The good: Took a day off to work on the house.
    The bad: Spent the day programming for a client.

    The good: It is Labor Day weekend.
    The bad: This is the last Boom’s Day.

  • Pro Life Tip

    Jeans split in the crotch? Wear blue underwear!

  • Inside the life of a programmer

    Some days require the environment be just right for productivity. Today, I need a darkened room, incense burning, attire that doesn’t include button down anything, bare feet, herbal tea, and very, very loud cyberpunk music. Instead, I am in Cubeville. Florescent lights burn through my eyes searing my brain. The glare is so harsh. A din of conversations float over cube walls as ambient noise but not soothing as white noise, oceans, or rain. Interruptions are imminent. Such is the live of a programmer.

  • Deep Thoughts

    Agony is needing to win the lottery and not being able to afford the ticket.