Like a rolling stone
Tonight was the night... Toronto hosted a concert for nearly 500,000 paying customers to prove to the world that SARS is under control. When all is said and done, the economic spin-off from this concert will probably be minimal. Those business owners that were naive enough to think the influx of people would spend any part of their day doing anything other than trying to get into the concert, trying to get a good vantage point, and trying to exit as quickly as possible afterward will be crying in their coffee come Thursday morning. I hadn't realized the Toronto TV stations would be broadcasting the concert in near-real-time. For those of us that did not flock to Downsview Park, we probably had the best view in the house.
Except for the energy and experience of being at a big-name concert, most people don't go to concerts for the music. I can't tell you the number of times I've been disappointed with "live" versions of songs, after being bowled over by the studio version. Of all the bands I've ever seen, I think Supertramp and Boston did the best job of recreating the feeling of the music you had actually come to hear. Judging from what I heard on TV, I would have to say I'm glad I didn't pay money to hear the Stones.
I was much more impressed with the performance of Rush, one of 15 acts that played today's concert. Their music was most like what I remember them sounding like. Anyway, a music critic I'm not, so I'll end here. From the news video, it seems the crowd was well-behaved, and I hope everyone who went came away feeling good about their investment of time and money.
I'm not an exciting person, but anything that crosses my mind that I care to share with the rest of the world will appear here.
Thursday, July 31, 2003
Tuesday, July 29, 2003
zzzzzz
Not much happening here (unless you count the headlines, which for days have been focused on the upcoming Rolling Stones concert). I've been tooling around writing some small utilities to help my colleagues and me with some of our more mundane duties. I'm a big believer in process automation. Other than that, I'm just looking forward to the weekend. I'll be home for the long holiday weekend.
I'll also be going home on three of the following four weekends... the last trip being my last trip.
Ah well, back to dullsville....
Not much happening here (unless you count the headlines, which for days have been focused on the upcoming Rolling Stones concert). I've been tooling around writing some small utilities to help my colleagues and me with some of our more mundane duties. I'm a big believer in process automation. Other than that, I'm just looking forward to the weekend. I'll be home for the long holiday weekend.
I'll also be going home on three of the following four weekends... the last trip being my last trip.
Ah well, back to dullsville....
Wednesday, July 23, 2003
Ex-Qusay-moi!
What a day! Some Iraqi civilian just became a multi-millionaire hitting the jackpot on the $15M + $15M reward for the brothers grim. I really do hope he's able to collect the reward. Otherwise, U.S. credibility will take a further hit. In the meantime, let's just savour the idea that two of Iraq's cruelest sons have seen their last sunrise.
What a day! Some Iraqi civilian just became a multi-millionaire hitting the jackpot on the $15M + $15M reward for the brothers grim. I really do hope he's able to collect the reward. Otherwise, U.S. credibility will take a further hit. In the meantime, let's just savour the idea that two of Iraq's cruelest sons have seen their last sunrise.
Tuesday, July 22, 2003
Nearly skunked!
The garbage collection schedule in this neighborhood changed at the beginning of July. It used to be that garbage and recycling pickups were on Friday. Now, recycling is done on Friday, and regular garbage is collected on Tuesday. The collection, which used to be done some time in the late morning or early afternoon, now appears to be done very early in the morning. I had missed the last collection due to this change in schedule, so I headed out a few minutes ago with my bags. When I got to the curb, I apparently startled an animal that had been foraging through the home-owner's trash. As it ran off, I could see, even in the darkness, the distinct white stripe on the raised tail. I'm so lucky and grateful that this little predator didn't think me enough of a threat to spray me on his way out.
The garbage collection schedule in this neighborhood changed at the beginning of July. It used to be that garbage and recycling pickups were on Friday. Now, recycling is done on Friday, and regular garbage is collected on Tuesday. The collection, which used to be done some time in the late morning or early afternoon, now appears to be done very early in the morning. I had missed the last collection due to this change in schedule, so I headed out a few minutes ago with my bags. When I got to the curb, I apparently startled an animal that had been foraging through the home-owner's trash. As it ran off, I could see, even in the darkness, the distinct white stripe on the raised tail. I'm so lucky and grateful that this little predator didn't think me enough of a threat to spray me on his way out.
When is a rhetorical question not a rhetorical question?
I watched Jay Leno tonight. Monday is Headline night, where Jay offers goofy headlines, stories, ads, etc. that have been sent in by alert readers. One of Jay's favourite categories is the "crime blotter" entries about bumbling criminals. Apparently, one such brain-dead moron was returning from an overseas trip, with a stash of illegal drugs among his possessions. As is customary on such a trip, the passengers were provided with Customs and Immigration forms while still enroute, to help them get through the customs process more efficiently. One of the questions on the form was: Are you transporting any illegal drugs or contraband? - a question that our intrepid would-be criminal answered truthfully.
So here's my question. Upon landing, could this person be arrested for smuggling? Think about it. Smuggling is a crime where someone transports goods over a border without properly declaring the goods. Since this person did not hide what he was doing, I don't think smuggling would be an appropriate charge. Perhaps there are still charges such as trafficking or simple possession that could be levied. But smuggling? I don't think so.
And another thing... whoever it was that decided such a question should be placed on the form in the first place... I wonder if he's getting the last laugh at all his colleagues that insisted no-one would ever be caught by that question!
I watched Jay Leno tonight. Monday is Headline night, where Jay offers goofy headlines, stories, ads, etc. that have been sent in by alert readers. One of Jay's favourite categories is the "crime blotter" entries about bumbling criminals. Apparently, one such brain-dead moron was returning from an overseas trip, with a stash of illegal drugs among his possessions. As is customary on such a trip, the passengers were provided with Customs and Immigration forms while still enroute, to help them get through the customs process more efficiently. One of the questions on the form was: Are you transporting any illegal drugs or contraband? - a question that our intrepid would-be criminal answered truthfully.
So here's my question. Upon landing, could this person be arrested for smuggling? Think about it. Smuggling is a crime where someone transports goods over a border without properly declaring the goods. Since this person did not hide what he was doing, I don't think smuggling would be an appropriate charge. Perhaps there are still charges such as trafficking or simple possession that could be levied. But smuggling? I don't think so.
And another thing... whoever it was that decided such a question should be placed on the form in the first place... I wonder if he's getting the last laugh at all his colleagues that insisted no-one would ever be caught by that question!
Sunday, July 20, 2003
Ahoy, matey
Have you run into any Pirates lately? If not, get your ass over to the local Cineplex and have a grand old time. Johnny Depp offers a spirited portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow, the greatest pirate to ever live, in Pirates of the Caribbean. He's an absolute hoot to watch. When I see him play roles like this, or Chocolat or Benny & Joon, I applaud his courage and talent. Thank god I allowed my wife to talk me into seeing this movie.
Have you run into any Pirates lately? If not, get your ass over to the local Cineplex and have a grand old time. Johnny Depp offers a spirited portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow, the greatest pirate to ever live, in Pirates of the Caribbean. He's an absolute hoot to watch. When I see him play roles like this, or Chocolat or Benny & Joon, I applaud his courage and talent. Thank god I allowed my wife to talk me into seeing this movie.
She's gone
As the weekend draws to a close, my wife has hit the road. Not being one to waste a trip, she leaves with a car-full of seldom-used furniture, computer equipment and other odds-and-ends that signals the official start of the "moving out" process. I will be making two more trips home (possibly three, if I decide to go home on the long weekend in August) before the final trip home at the end of August. Frankly, there isn't much that will be brought home between now and the last trip, unless I convince myself that I can live without the oldest of my currently-connected computers.
As the weekend draws to a close, my wife has hit the road. Not being one to waste a trip, she leaves with a car-full of seldom-used furniture, computer equipment and other odds-and-ends that signals the official start of the "moving out" process. I will be making two more trips home (possibly three, if I decide to go home on the long weekend in August) before the final trip home at the end of August. Frankly, there isn't much that will be brought home between now and the last trip, unless I convince myself that I can live without the oldest of my currently-connected computers.
Saturday, July 19, 2003
Meet the Neighbours
I live in a basement apartment. Sometimes, particularly on weekends, things can get pretty rowdy in the main house. There are two young adults in their 20s, and they like doing the kinds of things young adults do... including throwing parties. Also, these kids received a karaoke machine for Christmas. Being part oriental, they have enjoyed using this machine long beyond the typical new-toy fascination period.
This weekend, my wife is visiting me, and the parents of these kids are out of town. To say that the house is nearly falling down around me would be an understatement. It so happens that I'm pretty good at filtering out most of the noise. In fact, I can't sleep unless there is background noise. My wife, on the other hand, needs absolute quiet to sleep. I would venture that, were it not for the volume of the music upstairs, the tap-tap-tap of my keyboard would be enough to keep her awake (though she's a room away, behind a wall and closed door).
I've decided to wait until midnight before I make my presence known upstairs, and I will be very polite in asking for some silence. However, if the noise continues, my wife won't get any sleep, and will be a total mess tomorrow.
I live in a basement apartment. Sometimes, particularly on weekends, things can get pretty rowdy in the main house. There are two young adults in their 20s, and they like doing the kinds of things young adults do... including throwing parties. Also, these kids received a karaoke machine for Christmas. Being part oriental, they have enjoyed using this machine long beyond the typical new-toy fascination period.
This weekend, my wife is visiting me, and the parents of these kids are out of town. To say that the house is nearly falling down around me would be an understatement. It so happens that I'm pretty good at filtering out most of the noise. In fact, I can't sleep unless there is background noise. My wife, on the other hand, needs absolute quiet to sleep. I would venture that, were it not for the volume of the music upstairs, the tap-tap-tap of my keyboard would be enough to keep her awake (though she's a room away, behind a wall and closed door).
I've decided to wait until midnight before I make my presence known upstairs, and I will be very polite in asking for some silence. However, if the noise continues, my wife won't get any sleep, and will be a total mess tomorrow.
What a car!
My wife's new Rav4 is rad. She let me drive it for a while (either to make me jealous, or because she had just completed a long drive getting here). Nice car!
She was able to salvage the in-dash MP3 player from the "wreck", and had it installed in this vehicle. Drive it in good health, my love!
My wife's new Rav4 is rad. She let me drive it for a while (either to make me jealous, or because she had just completed a long drive getting here). Nice car!
She was able to salvage the in-dash MP3 player from the "wreck", and had it installed in this vehicle. Drive it in good health, my love!
Friday, July 18, 2003
More positive feedback
Yesterday, I had a frank talk with my boss. It involved details of the logistics involved with the move back home. I asked whether I would be able to take a PC home with me (until now, I had been talking about using my own PC to access the office network remotely, but there are limitations to what applications are available over the network). To my surprise, he told me I would be taking two computers with me... the one I am currently using, as well as a "test" machine onto which I can install and test various versions of our application.
In addition to my normal duties, I've kind of volunteered to be the "installation wizard". I have been creating some sophisticated script-based installation routines that can adapt to virtually any installation platform, and can install other helper applications when necessary (not just our own applications). Unfortunately, since this is being done after hours, and can only be tested during brief down-time at the office, my overall progress has been limited. By allowing me to take a test machine home with me, he's encouraging me to go ahead with my efforts.
With respect to "normal" work responsibilities, I have had to place most of my own assignments on hold while I worked on the monster project that consumed last week and much of this week. Once that was completed, I had to return to my own tasks. My boss had been concerned that I may have lost my train of thought, having been away from that task for so long. He needn't have worried. I'm very focused, and after finally being able to return full-time to my real assignment, I finished it off today. This will no doubt please him to no end, since we can now ship (and bill for) the new feature.
Yesterday, I had a frank talk with my boss. It involved details of the logistics involved with the move back home. I asked whether I would be able to take a PC home with me (until now, I had been talking about using my own PC to access the office network remotely, but there are limitations to what applications are available over the network). To my surprise, he told me I would be taking two computers with me... the one I am currently using, as well as a "test" machine onto which I can install and test various versions of our application.
In addition to my normal duties, I've kind of volunteered to be the "installation wizard". I have been creating some sophisticated script-based installation routines that can adapt to virtually any installation platform, and can install other helper applications when necessary (not just our own applications). Unfortunately, since this is being done after hours, and can only be tested during brief down-time at the office, my overall progress has been limited. By allowing me to take a test machine home with me, he's encouraging me to go ahead with my efforts.
With respect to "normal" work responsibilities, I have had to place most of my own assignments on hold while I worked on the monster project that consumed last week and much of this week. Once that was completed, I had to return to my own tasks. My boss had been concerned that I may have lost my train of thought, having been away from that task for so long. He needn't have worried. I'm very focused, and after finally being able to return full-time to my real assignment, I finished it off today. This will no doubt please him to no end, since we can now ship (and bill for) the new feature.
Wednesday, July 16, 2003
Danger!
I forgot to pack my meds when I left for work yesterday. I don't forget often (perhaps a half-dozen times in the three years I've been on them), although yesterday was still out of the ordinary. Normally, when I forget my meds, I only miss one of the two daily doses. After I get home, I remember to take the second dose with my last meal of the day. Yesterday, however, I ate my last meal prior to returning home from work. So, for the very first time, I went an entire day without medication.
I can't say I felt any different than any other day... no symptoms I can put a finger on. But something strange happened during the evening (I don't want to post details here) that made me decide to take a reading first thing this morning.
To say I was horrified would be a gross understatement. My reading was through the roof. An average reading from a "healthy" individual (using the U.S. scale) would be 60-120. Over 140, you're considered diabetic. I have had only one reading above 140 in over three years. This morning's reading was 193. That's going only 24 hours without meds.
Doctors talk about diabetes being the great silent killer... saying that most people live with diabetes for years before the symptoms get serious enough to recognize. The day I was first diagnosed, my doctor took a blood-sugar reading of 490. At that time, I had been exhibiting all the classic symptoms of the disease. Within days of starting my meds, the blood-sugar readings were back in the normal range (aren't drugs wonderful), and the only lingering "symptoms" I experienced were vision-related. Ironically, I needed to get new glasses because my vision had improved after starting on the meds.
Shortly after starting on my meds, my blood-sugar readings were consistently in the 70-90 range, with "eating binges" knocking me as high as 120. Now, my average readings are in the 90-120 range, with binges taking me to the high 130's. Yesterday was a binge day, and with no medication whatsoever to mitigate, I got a glimpse of what my life could turn into if I forget my meds and ignore sensible eating rules.
I'm going to get back to sensible eating once I am back home (though, with this warning, I will do something to improve my ways during the last six weeks in Toronto). I enjoy my life and my family's company too much to let this get me without a fight!
I forgot to pack my meds when I left for work yesterday. I don't forget often (perhaps a half-dozen times in the three years I've been on them), although yesterday was still out of the ordinary. Normally, when I forget my meds, I only miss one of the two daily doses. After I get home, I remember to take the second dose with my last meal of the day. Yesterday, however, I ate my last meal prior to returning home from work. So, for the very first time, I went an entire day without medication.
I can't say I felt any different than any other day... no symptoms I can put a finger on. But something strange happened during the evening (I don't want to post details here) that made me decide to take a reading first thing this morning.
To say I was horrified would be a gross understatement. My reading was through the roof. An average reading from a "healthy" individual (using the U.S. scale) would be 60-120. Over 140, you're considered diabetic. I have had only one reading above 140 in over three years. This morning's reading was 193. That's going only 24 hours without meds.
Doctors talk about diabetes being the great silent killer... saying that most people live with diabetes for years before the symptoms get serious enough to recognize. The day I was first diagnosed, my doctor took a blood-sugar reading of 490. At that time, I had been exhibiting all the classic symptoms of the disease. Within days of starting my meds, the blood-sugar readings were back in the normal range (aren't drugs wonderful), and the only lingering "symptoms" I experienced were vision-related. Ironically, I needed to get new glasses because my vision had improved after starting on the meds.
Shortly after starting on my meds, my blood-sugar readings were consistently in the 70-90 range, with "eating binges" knocking me as high as 120. Now, my average readings are in the 90-120 range, with binges taking me to the high 130's. Yesterday was a binge day, and with no medication whatsoever to mitigate, I got a glimpse of what my life could turn into if I forget my meds and ignore sensible eating rules.
I'm going to get back to sensible eating once I am back home (though, with this warning, I will do something to improve my ways during the last six weeks in Toronto). I enjoy my life and my family's company too much to let this get me without a fight!
Happy Camper
My wife is a happy camper. Yesterday, she took delivery of her new vehicle - just one day after financing was approved and Toyota got confirmation that they would be receiving a settlement cheque from the insurance company for the writeoff. I haven't heard my wife so giddy since... the last time I heard her voice. Yeah, I know, I think my wife is giddy all the time. But this time, she had a reason.
I, too, am a happy camper. Having had a chance to talk with the boss (after fixing the nasty problem, of course!), he offered assurances that my job was indeed safe - even after I vacate the office. Whether that sentiment continues after the end of August remains to be seen, but for now, I'm cautiously optimistic.
My wife is a happy camper. Yesterday, she took delivery of her new vehicle - just one day after financing was approved and Toyota got confirmation that they would be receiving a settlement cheque from the insurance company for the writeoff. I haven't heard my wife so giddy since... the last time I heard her voice. Yeah, I know, I think my wife is giddy all the time. But this time, she had a reason.
I, too, am a happy camper. Having had a chance to talk with the boss (after fixing the nasty problem, of course!), he offered assurances that my job was indeed safe - even after I vacate the office. Whether that sentiment continues after the end of August remains to be seen, but for now, I'm cautiously optimistic.
Monday, July 14, 2003
Finally!
The problem that had turned out to make last week so unbearable at work has been solved (I think). In an effort that should win me points with the boss on how effectively I can work from home, I sat down an hour ago to put a fresh brain to work on the problem. I believe it's been solved. After a comprehensive test, I think all the potential sources of error have been corrected. A few minutes ago, I was able to run our application against the new database, obtaining exactly the same results, and the same throughput as with the preferred database.
Thank god that's over with!
The problem that had turned out to make last week so unbearable at work has been solved (I think). In an effort that should win me points with the boss on how effectively I can work from home, I sat down an hour ago to put a fresh brain to work on the problem. I believe it's been solved. After a comprehensive test, I think all the potential sources of error have been corrected. A few minutes ago, I was able to run our application against the new database, obtaining exactly the same results, and the same throughput as with the preferred database.
Thank god that's over with!
There's a bad moon on the rise
A few weeks ago, I posted about Fleetwood Mac's new "Peace Keeper" song, and its similarity to another piece of music. As it turns out, although I wasn't the first to comment on this similarity, I was one of the first.
Today, looking through referral records to this blog, I found a recent visit from Bolt, Beranek & Newman Inc., based on a search "rip off of Paul Simon Kodachrome". My first instinct was "here comes the lawsuit". Imagine my surprise when it turned out that this is not a lawfirm, but rather the real inventor of the internet. Don't get me wrong though ... I still think this visit was research into a copyright infringement action-in-the-making.
A few weeks ago, I posted about Fleetwood Mac's new "Peace Keeper" song, and its similarity to another piece of music. As it turns out, although I wasn't the first to comment on this similarity, I was one of the first.
Today, looking through referral records to this blog, I found a recent visit from Bolt, Beranek & Newman Inc., based on a search "rip off of Paul Simon Kodachrome". My first instinct was "here comes the lawsuit". Imagine my surprise when it turned out that this is not a lawfirm, but rather the real inventor of the internet. Don't get me wrong though ... I still think this visit was research into a copyright infringement action-in-the-making.
Sunday, July 13, 2003
New Humour
I'll just thank Mike for this link. He credits everyone who needs to be mentioned, so I won't bother. I changed my mind. I will provide credits.
This new link will be added to the Comic Relief area on this page, as soon as I can figure out how to capture part of the video for a thumbnail.
Update:
I wasn't able to figure out how to "Print Screen" a streaming video file, so I ripped off an image from Google Images. The pictured table tennis player was apparently a child prodigy, playing from the age of three. Except for her love of table tennis, she has no other connection to the humourous video.
I'll just thank Mike for this link. He credits everyone who needs to be mentioned, so I won't bother. I changed my mind. I will provide credits.
This new link will be added to the Comic Relief area on this page, as soon as I can figure out how to capture part of the video for a thumbnail.
Update:
I wasn't able to figure out how to "Print Screen" a streaming video file, so I ripped off an image from Google Images. The pictured table tennis player was apparently a child prodigy, playing from the age of three. Except for her love of table tennis, she has no other connection to the humourous video.
Pet Peeve
At the risk of sounding stupid, there's a dyslexic thing I do with HTML tags that drives me batty. And I wish bloggar had the capability of stopping me in my tracks and calling me a twit before I actually posted my stuff.
Nearly every time I use the <i> tag, I seem to want to end it with a </b> tag. Needless to say, this causes runaway passages like this.
This paragraph is NOT supposed to be displayed in italics, but because I didn't finish off the italics properly from the paragraph above, I get run-on italics.
Obviously, this is not a really big issue, because as soon as I read my own blog post, I can see the error, and immediately return to the editor to fix it. It's just that the error is so annoying, I wish bloggar had a way of saying...
"Hey dumbo. Why are you putting a </b> tag in this post when you aren't currently in a BOLD passage???"
Maybe that's the reason they have a "Preview" tab in their editor!
At the risk of sounding stupid, there's a dyslexic thing I do with HTML tags that drives me batty. And I wish bloggar had the capability of stopping me in my tracks and calling me a twit before I actually posted my stuff.
Nearly every time I use the <i> tag, I seem to want to end it with a </b> tag. Needless to say, this causes runaway passages like this.
This paragraph is NOT supposed to be displayed in italics, but because I didn't finish off the italics properly from the paragraph above, I get run-on italics.
Obviously, this is not a really big issue, because as soon as I read my own blog post, I can see the error, and immediately return to the editor to fix it. It's just that the error is so annoying, I wish bloggar had a way of saying...
"Hey dumbo. Why are you putting a </b> tag in this post when you aren't currently in a BOLD passage???"
Maybe that's the reason they have a "Preview" tab in their editor!
Sneaky bastards
On my home computer, I use a raft of programs that are free for non-commercial use. When I can, if the program is truly something I can't live without, I make a small donation to the author. One program that I use infrequently, but is on my "essential" list is my FTP browser program. The program I use seems better at staying connected to my particular host than some of the other, better known programs. I think it's because my host has implemented some sort of security to attempt to defeat programs that stay connected to the FTP site. Anyway, as a registered user, I got a legitimate email the other day that an update was available for this program.
Before I rant too much, I want to say up-front that the problems I had with the update may be due to the fact that this program had previously been installed on the old computer before I transferred everything to the new computer - so there's a possibility that something related to the update process was incompatible between Windows Me and Windows XP. Nevertheless, when I attempted the online update, my working program stopped working. Selecting the "repair" option from the Application Installer didn't seem to help.
Finally, I had to completely uninstall the old version before installing the update.
And here's where the "sneaky" part comes in.
The new "update" is a time-limited version of the program. Whether it will stop functioning after 30 days remains to be seen. But I saw nothing in the release notes that indicated that this version was less capable than the version it replaced. If, at the end of 30 days, it stops functioning, I will either have to think about installing a different FTP client, or I will have to rely on the "original" version of the program, which is still installed on my old machine.
Either way, the choices suck.
On my home computer, I use a raft of programs that are free for non-commercial use. When I can, if the program is truly something I can't live without, I make a small donation to the author. One program that I use infrequently, but is on my "essential" list is my FTP browser program. The program I use seems better at staying connected to my particular host than some of the other, better known programs. I think it's because my host has implemented some sort of security to attempt to defeat programs that stay connected to the FTP site. Anyway, as a registered user, I got a legitimate email the other day that an update was available for this program.
Before I rant too much, I want to say up-front that the problems I had with the update may be due to the fact that this program had previously been installed on the old computer before I transferred everything to the new computer - so there's a possibility that something related to the update process was incompatible between Windows Me and Windows XP. Nevertheless, when I attempted the online update, my working program stopped working. Selecting the "repair" option from the Application Installer didn't seem to help.
Finally, I had to completely uninstall the old version before installing the update.
And here's where the "sneaky" part comes in.
The new "update" is a time-limited version of the program. Whether it will stop functioning after 30 days remains to be seen. But I saw nothing in the release notes that indicated that this version was less capable than the version it replaced. If, at the end of 30 days, it stops functioning, I will either have to think about installing a different FTP client, or I will have to rely on the "original" version of the program, which is still installed on my old machine.
Either way, the choices suck.
Saturday, July 12, 2003
TGIF
I don't think I've looked forward to a Friday as much in years. It was a tough week and for a while, I was a bit scared of losing my job. I think my case of nerves was due to a combination of things... taking on a new car lease and higher insurance premiums; having only six weeks left before saying goodbye to Toronto, and not being able to read my boss' mind as to how secure my job is once I leave town. Ordinarily, I'm confident in my abilities, and feel that I am easily re-employable. But with the economy continuing to be in the doldrums, my confidence isn't all it used to be.
I really enjoy my job, and am looking forward to being able to work from home. But if the company I work for experiences too many weeks like the one just finished, I fear for its long term survival. To be fair, the problems we faced this week have nothing to do with the company, its products, or the employees. We've just had a dickens of a time getting our application to work with a particular brand of database (a problem faced by many software application vendors), and one of our largest customers has made the decision to ditch their current database (one that works perfectly with our application) for this tempermental one. Good news has been difficult to come by, and both my boss and the client are getting very fed up with the resulting problems.
I had hoped that my wife would be visiting this weekend, but since she's driving a rental at the moment, she decided to delay the trip until next weekend. By then, she should have her new car.
I don't think I've looked forward to a Friday as much in years. It was a tough week and for a while, I was a bit scared of losing my job. I think my case of nerves was due to a combination of things... taking on a new car lease and higher insurance premiums; having only six weeks left before saying goodbye to Toronto, and not being able to read my boss' mind as to how secure my job is once I leave town. Ordinarily, I'm confident in my abilities, and feel that I am easily re-employable. But with the economy continuing to be in the doldrums, my confidence isn't all it used to be.
I really enjoy my job, and am looking forward to being able to work from home. But if the company I work for experiences too many weeks like the one just finished, I fear for its long term survival. To be fair, the problems we faced this week have nothing to do with the company, its products, or the employees. We've just had a dickens of a time getting our application to work with a particular brand of database (a problem faced by many software application vendors), and one of our largest customers has made the decision to ditch their current database (one that works perfectly with our application) for this tempermental one. Good news has been difficult to come by, and both my boss and the client are getting very fed up with the resulting problems.
I had hoped that my wife would be visiting this weekend, but since she's driving a rental at the moment, she decided to delay the trip until next weekend. By then, she should have her new car.
Thursday, July 10, 2003
Eventually, Toyota will get its act together and forward the paperwork needed to get the insurance settlement done. The insurance company, eager to pay off on the claim, has been waiting for Toyota to inform them of the remaining obligation on the lease. And until they do, my wife can't get her new vehicle. Patience is a virtue, I'm told, but my wife is in no mood to be patient.
Monday, July 07, 2003
The verdict's in
It's a writeoff! Nearly $12,000 damage on a $16,000 vehicle. Hard to believe that only the front end was damaged. But, I guess that's where all the expensive stuff is... the engine, coolant system, air conditioning, and airbags. Add to that the body damage, and it became way too expensive to fix.
So, my wife spent part of the day doing her final test drives. We had already tentatively decided on the next vehicle, subject to the financing being what we expected. When the dealer confirmed the numbers we had seen on the web, it was a done deal. In a few days, my wife will take delivery of her brand new Toyota RAV4.
It's a writeoff! Nearly $12,000 damage on a $16,000 vehicle. Hard to believe that only the front end was damaged. But, I guess that's where all the expensive stuff is... the engine, coolant system, air conditioning, and airbags. Add to that the body damage, and it became way too expensive to fix.
So, my wife spent part of the day doing her final test drives. We had already tentatively decided on the next vehicle, subject to the financing being what we expected. When the dealer confirmed the numbers we had seen on the web, it was a done deal. In a few days, my wife will take delivery of her brand new Toyota RAV4.
Sunday, July 06, 2003
Judgement Day
Tomorrow is apparently the day the adjuster will decide whether my wife gets a new vehicle, or gets to keep her current car. In our current financial situation, I'm not sure I like the idea of getting a new (more expensive) vehicle. But then again, she's the one that has to drive it, and do all the errands she does; and according to her, the Echo is simply not big enough to do everything. It is incredibly versatile for it's size, but its size is still a limitation. Still, if we have to give up the 50% increase in fuel efficiency we've grown accustomed to, that will be a bit of a pain in the wallet.
Tomorrow is apparently the day the adjuster will decide whether my wife gets a new vehicle, or gets to keep her current car. In our current financial situation, I'm not sure I like the idea of getting a new (more expensive) vehicle. But then again, she's the one that has to drive it, and do all the errands she does; and according to her, the Echo is simply not big enough to do everything. It is incredibly versatile for it's size, but its size is still a limitation. Still, if we have to give up the 50% increase in fuel efficiency we've grown accustomed to, that will be a bit of a pain in the wallet.
Saturday, July 05, 2003
It's Official
A couple of weeks ago, my step-daughter and her fiance finally set a wedding date. At the time, the date seemed pretty far off. I guess she must have thought so too, because I just found out this morning that the date has been moved forward by a whole year. It's still more than a year off, but at least it seems more realistic. She's having the time of her life, pouring through wedding magazines and burning up the phone lines to every female relative in the same area code to talk about dresses, and god-knows-what-else women talk about when they're planning a wedding.
This is a very special time for her, so I say... go have your fun!
A couple of weeks ago, my step-daughter and her fiance finally set a wedding date. At the time, the date seemed pretty far off. I guess she must have thought so too, because I just found out this morning that the date has been moved forward by a whole year. It's still more than a year off, but at least it seems more realistic. She's having the time of her life, pouring through wedding magazines and burning up the phone lines to every female relative in the same area code to talk about dresses, and god-knows-what-else women talk about when they're planning a wedding.
This is a very special time for her, so I say... go have your fun!
Friday, July 04, 2003
It ain't over til it's over
We've all heard countless jokes about insurance companies and their reluctance to come across with payment after a claim is made. Although it's too early to comment about the entire affair, I can say that the initial contact with the insurance company has been positive. An adjuster was due out today to look at the car. We're hoping it's a writeoff, so we won't have to deal with nagging problems after attempting major repairs. There was no delay in approving rental car accommodation, and there is a budget for rental that should suffice for a month (should such a long period be required to get the original vehicle back). The only down side is if the insurance company decides to write the car off. In such a case, we have only two days of car rental time to find a new vehicle. That's really too fast to make an informed decision.
We'll see how this plays out.
We've all heard countless jokes about insurance companies and their reluctance to come across with payment after a claim is made. Although it's too early to comment about the entire affair, I can say that the initial contact with the insurance company has been positive. An adjuster was due out today to look at the car. We're hoping it's a writeoff, so we won't have to deal with nagging problems after attempting major repairs. There was no delay in approving rental car accommodation, and there is a budget for rental that should suffice for a month (should such a long period be required to get the original vehicle back). The only down side is if the insurance company decides to write the car off. In such a case, we have only two days of car rental time to find a new vehicle. That's really too fast to make an informed decision.
We'll see how this plays out.
Thursday, July 03, 2003
Counting blessings
"Had it not been for the airbag, I would be talking to you about organ donation right now." With these sombre words from the attending physician, it became clear that our son's life had been spared tonight. What lesson he chooses to take from this experience, I cannot know. Nor can I even begin to imagine what it's like to be in such a situation. I am just so glad that there will be no lasting ill effects from the accident. I only hope that the other driver (who was broadsided) fared as well.
"Had it not been for the airbag, I would be talking to you about organ donation right now." With these sombre words from the attending physician, it became clear that our son's life had been spared tonight. What lesson he chooses to take from this experience, I cannot know. Nor can I even begin to imagine what it's like to be in such a situation. I am just so glad that there will be no lasting ill effects from the accident. I only hope that the other driver (who was broadsided) fared as well.
Wednesday, July 02, 2003
Crashing back to earth
My last post was about the just-finished long weekend, and how much fun I had with my family. As if to remind me that not all is good with the world, I got a phone call tonight from my wife. Our son was involved in an automobile accident. Although I don't have all the details, I can say he was charged. Thank goodness the airbags deployed, leaving our son with (hopefully) minor injuries. The jury is still out on that one, as he is waiting in the hospital emergency room to be examined even as I write this post. But he (and the other driver) both walked away from the accident, so that's good news!
The insurance burden of having a new driver on our vehicle was bad enough, even with a driver's certification discount. Now, all that is over. Statistics say that a single male, under age 25, is a very serious accident risk. Despite the best training and conservative driving technique, one simple mistake will now cost us plenty - for at least the next seven years. It's a hard lesson for a young adult to learn.
My last post was about the just-finished long weekend, and how much fun I had with my family. As if to remind me that not all is good with the world, I got a phone call tonight from my wife. Our son was involved in an automobile accident. Although I don't have all the details, I can say he was charged. Thank goodness the airbags deployed, leaving our son with (hopefully) minor injuries. The jury is still out on that one, as he is waiting in the hospital emergency room to be examined even as I write this post. But he (and the other driver) both walked away from the accident, so that's good news!
The insurance burden of having a new driver on our vehicle was bad enough, even with a driver's certification discount. Now, all that is over. Statistics say that a single male, under age 25, is a very serious accident risk. Despite the best training and conservative driving technique, one simple mistake will now cost us plenty - for at least the next seven years. It's a hard lesson for a young adult to learn.
The countdown has begun
I've just returned from a very long weekend with my family. It was wonderful. The best news is that my step-son seems to have come to some realization that I haven't been such a bad father after all. It started with the Father's Day card, but has progressed from there. We spent some really good quality time together this weekend, and I came away feeling like I'm truly appreciated as a father. It's a good feeling.
Except for one really hot day, the weather was tolerable over the weekend, which meant that I spent quite a while outdoors with my wife. She is a real water-baby, having a perpetual desire to be in the pool. During the weekend, I took the opportunity to join her for a refreshing swim. The water was a bit chilly (23C), but still enjoyable.
I really didn't want to go back to Toronto; not just because I was having such a good time, but also because I felt quite tired during the evening and dreaded the idea of driving home. I promised my wife that I would pull over for a nap if things got difficult. Well, they did get difficult, quite early in the trip. I stopped for a short (1-1/2 hour) nap after only 140km. Then, after an additional 100km, I stopped again; this time for a longer nap. When I woke up, it was already light enough to see my surroundings. I was concerned about being stuck in rush hour traffic for the remainder of the drive, but luckily, traffic remained reasonably light until about 1km before my highway exit point. Even so, things only slowed from 115kph to about 100kph, so that's not too bad.
By 6:45am I was home, and started catching up with email and such. I was a bit surprised that there was no feedback from my landlord. I had served formal notice to move at the end of August, and expected that a note might have been slipped under my door. We now stand at 61 days before my time in Toronto is done!
I've just returned from a very long weekend with my family. It was wonderful. The best news is that my step-son seems to have come to some realization that I haven't been such a bad father after all. It started with the Father's Day card, but has progressed from there. We spent some really good quality time together this weekend, and I came away feeling like I'm truly appreciated as a father. It's a good feeling.
Except for one really hot day, the weather was tolerable over the weekend, which meant that I spent quite a while outdoors with my wife. She is a real water-baby, having a perpetual desire to be in the pool. During the weekend, I took the opportunity to join her for a refreshing swim. The water was a bit chilly (23C), but still enjoyable.
I really didn't want to go back to Toronto; not just because I was having such a good time, but also because I felt quite tired during the evening and dreaded the idea of driving home. I promised my wife that I would pull over for a nap if things got difficult. Well, they did get difficult, quite early in the trip. I stopped for a short (1-1/2 hour) nap after only 140km. Then, after an additional 100km, I stopped again; this time for a longer nap. When I woke up, it was already light enough to see my surroundings. I was concerned about being stuck in rush hour traffic for the remainder of the drive, but luckily, traffic remained reasonably light until about 1km before my highway exit point. Even so, things only slowed from 115kph to about 100kph, so that's not too bad.
By 6:45am I was home, and started catching up with email and such. I was a bit surprised that there was no feedback from my landlord. I had served formal notice to move at the end of August, and expected that a note might have been slipped under my door. We now stand at 61 days before my time in Toronto is done!