When is a blog not a blog?
What do you call a collection of dated postings, written by a single person, which expresses opinions, informs readers, and offers insightful advice. Many might call it a blog. There's one such site which I visit almost daily, yet for some reason, I access it via a dedicated link on my desktop. It's called Joel on Software. Why it hasn't been included in my list of blogs is, frankly, beyond me. Today, it gets added to my list of good sites to visit. Is it a blog? You decide. Is it interesting? For the right audience, definitely!
Saturday, December 03, 2005
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Going home
It's a good day today. My mother-in-law received her pacemaker yesterday, and is scheduled to go home today. Except for a little residual pain, she's feeling fine, and her ticker now keeps better time than my wall clock. My daughter was released from the hospital days ago, but is still visitng the hospital daily to provide love and nutrition for her young son. He should be going home sometime soon, having done quite well in the neo-natal unit of the hospital.
I also want to acknowledge the many packages of clothing and other supplies that have been donated by family members, both mine and my wife's. These gifts are much appreciated by my daughter and her husband.
It's a good day today. My mother-in-law received her pacemaker yesterday, and is scheduled to go home today. Except for a little residual pain, she's feeling fine, and her ticker now keeps better time than my wall clock. My daughter was released from the hospital days ago, but is still visitng the hospital daily to provide love and nutrition for her young son. He should be going home sometime soon, having done quite well in the neo-natal unit of the hospital.
I also want to acknowledge the many packages of clothing and other supplies that have been donated by family members, both mine and my wife's. These gifts are much appreciated by my daughter and her husband.
Saturday, November 26, 2005
Setting the pace
The doctors have decided that my mother-in-law will be getting a pacemaker. It is scheduled to be inserted on Monday or Tuesday. My wife is naturally a bit concerned, but we all think it's better to have the procedure done before there is a "real" emergency. The only complaint we had is that the doctors had been saying all day Friday that they were going to be delivering "good news" before the end of the day.
Perception is everything... as far as my mother-in-law was concerned, "good news" meant she would merely be sent home with a change in medication. The doctors, however, meant the "good news" was that she was a good candidate for the surgery. Oh well, at least we've gotten that cleared up!
The doctors have decided that my mother-in-law will be getting a pacemaker. It is scheduled to be inserted on Monday or Tuesday. My wife is naturally a bit concerned, but we all think it's better to have the procedure done before there is a "real" emergency. The only complaint we had is that the doctors had been saying all day Friday that they were going to be delivering "good news" before the end of the day.
Perception is everything... as far as my mother-in-law was concerned, "good news" meant she would merely be sent home with a change in medication. The doctors, however, meant the "good news" was that she was a good candidate for the surgery. Oh well, at least we've gotten that cleared up!
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Like a good neighbour...
I got a call a few minutes ago. It was from the manager of the complex where my mother-in-law lives. It seems the neighbours had voiced some concerns that they had not seen or heard from my mother-in-law for a few days, and they wanted to make sure she was alright. Things like this restore my faith in the human race.
I got a call a few minutes ago. It was from the manager of the complex where my mother-in-law lives. It seems the neighbours had voiced some concerns that they had not seen or heard from my mother-in-law for a few days, and they wanted to make sure she was alright. Things like this restore my faith in the human race.
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
How many birthdays tomorrow?
November 23rd is the day traditionally reserved for contacting my cousin about his birthday. We're the same age, with him being a few months older than I am. We grew up together, so he's pretty close to my heart. I have two grandchildren, both born on February 2nd. Both were born five weeks premature. My third grandchild is due around Christmas day. His soon-to-be mother just went into labour today - approximately five weeks early. The odds of him being born on the 23rd are probably better than 50%, as far as I'm concerned.
How cool would that be?
And how cool would it be to have grandma (my mother-in-law), my wife, her daughter, and possibly my step-daughter's new-born son, all in the same hospital on the same day.
It's shaping up to be just another boring Wednesday!
November 23rd is the day traditionally reserved for contacting my cousin about his birthday. We're the same age, with him being a few months older than I am. We grew up together, so he's pretty close to my heart. I have two grandchildren, both born on February 2nd. Both were born five weeks premature. My third grandchild is due around Christmas day. His soon-to-be mother just went into labour today - approximately five weeks early. The odds of him being born on the 23rd are probably better than 50%, as far as I'm concerned.
How cool would that be?
And how cool would it be to have grandma (my mother-in-law), my wife, her daughter, and possibly my step-daughter's new-born son, all in the same hospital on the same day.
It's shaping up to be just another boring Wednesday!
Not the best of days
Yesterday, my mother-in-law had an EKG on the advice of her doctor. She's been suffering from general fatigue and her GP had noticed a slow and erratic heartbeat. The EKG was scheduled to take half an hour, but before the test was even finished, technicians at the hospital had decided that things were going poorly, and my mother-in-law was sent to the emergency department. She has been placed on a heart monitor, and doctors are adjusting her heart medication to see what will happen. Consensus at this point is that she will need to have a pacemaker inserted, and surgery will probably be scheduled for some time in the next few days.
Meanwhile, there is a shortage of beds at the hospital. She spent last night sleeping in a cubicle in the ER. Rumour is that the man in the next cubicle has been there for several days. Except for the lack of solid walls and a TV, she is, at least, in a private area. If she had been placed in a room, it's likely it would have been in a ward, with three other roommates. This way, she's within a few feet of the main ER nurse's station and lots of doctors.
I hope all goes well with her, since she's relatively young, and my wife is certainly not ready to face a life-and-death situation with her mother.
Yesterday, my mother-in-law had an EKG on the advice of her doctor. She's been suffering from general fatigue and her GP had noticed a slow and erratic heartbeat. The EKG was scheduled to take half an hour, but before the test was even finished, technicians at the hospital had decided that things were going poorly, and my mother-in-law was sent to the emergency department. She has been placed on a heart monitor, and doctors are adjusting her heart medication to see what will happen. Consensus at this point is that she will need to have a pacemaker inserted, and surgery will probably be scheduled for some time in the next few days.
Meanwhile, there is a shortage of beds at the hospital. She spent last night sleeping in a cubicle in the ER. Rumour is that the man in the next cubicle has been there for several days. Except for the lack of solid walls and a TV, she is, at least, in a private area. If she had been placed in a room, it's likely it would have been in a ward, with three other roommates. This way, she's within a few feet of the main ER nurse's station and lots of doctors.
I hope all goes well with her, since she's relatively young, and my wife is certainly not ready to face a life-and-death situation with her mother.
Saturday, November 12, 2005
A note from our sponsor
Today, I was asked whether I design web sites. The short answer is NO. Website design is more than just stitching together some HTML and placing it on the web. I have no artistic eye, and absolutely no artistic capability (except when it comes to code design and user interface). But colour and form are just not in my vocabulary.
Still, I told my friend that I would blog about a topic near to his heart, in lieu of actually creating a website for the purpose. The synagogue I attend is about to celebrate its centennial. Some say it's even older than that, but the consensus is that it has reached its 100'th year (though it's current location is not the original building).
I've been asked to announce that anyone who was a member of the Shaarey Zedek congregation in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, and who would like to contribute stories and/or photographs depicting events or other gatherings from their time in the shul should contact the centennial committee chairman at 1-800-442-8190.
We now return to our regularly scheduled programme.
Today, I was asked whether I design web sites. The short answer is NO. Website design is more than just stitching together some HTML and placing it on the web. I have no artistic eye, and absolutely no artistic capability (except when it comes to code design and user interface). But colour and form are just not in my vocabulary.
Still, I told my friend that I would blog about a topic near to his heart, in lieu of actually creating a website for the purpose. The synagogue I attend is about to celebrate its centennial. Some say it's even older than that, but the consensus is that it has reached its 100'th year (though it's current location is not the original building).
I've been asked to announce that anyone who was a member of the Shaarey Zedek congregation in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, and who would like to contribute stories and/or photographs depicting events or other gatherings from their time in the shul should contact the centennial committee chairman at 1-800-442-8190.
We now return to our regularly scheduled programme.
Monday, November 07, 2005
Speaking of technology...
I'm so pumped about the revival of the computer, I have been thinking of ways I can take advantage of its resurrection. Primarily, it will be used to demo software that I create. And it will be an excellent way to prove to prospective clients that my software will run on virtually any vintage PC - even really old ones with a slow processor!
On the other hand, I'll need to be careful about how much "junk" I load it with, since I just discovered that the hard drive in this puppy is smaller than the one on my tiny MP3 player!
I'm so pumped about the revival of the computer, I have been thinking of ways I can take advantage of its resurrection. Primarily, it will be used to demo software that I create. And it will be an excellent way to prove to prospective clients that my software will run on virtually any vintage PC - even really old ones with a slow processor!
On the other hand, I'll need to be careful about how much "junk" I load it with, since I just discovered that the hard drive in this puppy is smaller than the one on my tiny MP3 player!
Power to the people
The battery arrived in today's mail, and first impressions are definitely positive. The self-test button on the battery showed an initial 50% charge - which was verified when the battery was placed in the laptop and the power management software indicated a 49% charge. Just a short while later, the battery is showing a full charge and for the first time in years, the laptop is capable of running without a power cord.
It may sound like nothing much, but the decision to order the battery was difficult to make. First, the original battery was so dead, it wouldn't even respond to the self-test button, despite having been "recharged" for more than 24 hours, and despite showing an 89% charge on the power management software status screen. Second, I had no way to know if the internal battery charging circuit in the computer was still working, given what I was seeing with the original battery. Last, and certainly not least, was the fact that the computer was so old to begin with. There was some question whether there was any point making it functional again as a portable unit.
Now that the computer is running successfully under battery power, proving that the battery and the internal charger are fully operational, I feel much better about the decision, and will be using the computer much more than I had been.
The battery arrived in today's mail, and first impressions are definitely positive. The self-test button on the battery showed an initial 50% charge - which was verified when the battery was placed in the laptop and the power management software indicated a 49% charge. Just a short while later, the battery is showing a full charge and for the first time in years, the laptop is capable of running without a power cord.
It may sound like nothing much, but the decision to order the battery was difficult to make. First, the original battery was so dead, it wouldn't even respond to the self-test button, despite having been "recharged" for more than 24 hours, and despite showing an 89% charge on the power management software status screen. Second, I had no way to know if the internal battery charging circuit in the computer was still working, given what I was seeing with the original battery. Last, and certainly not least, was the fact that the computer was so old to begin with. There was some question whether there was any point making it functional again as a portable unit.
Now that the computer is running successfully under battery power, proving that the battery and the internal charger are fully operational, I feel much better about the decision, and will be using the computer much more than I had been.
Friday, November 04, 2005
I've (almost) got the power
I took a chance today, and I'll let you know later whether it will pay off. A few years ago, I worked as a consultant for a large IT services firm. They provided me with a laptop, and when I left their employment, I assumed they would want their equipment back. Despite my sending several emails offering to return it, they never followed up, so I eventually wound up keeping it.
The machine is probably seven or eight years old, so it's not exactly up to date, but it is portable, and better than nothing. However, a few years ago, the battery wore out and it has only worked properly when powered by the AC power source. I've considered buying a new battery for quite some time, but today, I took the plunge and plunked my money down on a no-name replacement battery I found on eBay.
It's the first time I've purchased anything from eBay, so I hope I don't get scammed. The seller had an excellent profile, and from the feedback, I could see that he has sold this item before to many people. At less than one third of the price from the manufacturer, I just couldn't say no. If it turns out to not work, I'll send it back for a replacement. If it works for only a short time, well then, I guess I'll have learned something. But for now, I am optimistic that my experience will be positive.
I'll keep you posted.
I took a chance today, and I'll let you know later whether it will pay off. A few years ago, I worked as a consultant for a large IT services firm. They provided me with a laptop, and when I left their employment, I assumed they would want their equipment back. Despite my sending several emails offering to return it, they never followed up, so I eventually wound up keeping it.
The machine is probably seven or eight years old, so it's not exactly up to date, but it is portable, and better than nothing. However, a few years ago, the battery wore out and it has only worked properly when powered by the AC power source. I've considered buying a new battery for quite some time, but today, I took the plunge and plunked my money down on a no-name replacement battery I found on eBay.
It's the first time I've purchased anything from eBay, so I hope I don't get scammed. The seller had an excellent profile, and from the feedback, I could see that he has sold this item before to many people. At less than one third of the price from the manufacturer, I just couldn't say no. If it turns out to not work, I'll send it back for a replacement. If it works for only a short time, well then, I guess I'll have learned something. But for now, I am optimistic that my experience will be positive.
I'll keep you posted.
Sunday, October 30, 2005
Movin' on up
This weblog, for me, is like an online diary. I had never kept a "diary" in the traditional sense prior to starting this. In the early days, I thought it was important how many people visited the site on a daily basis, and I was obsessive about trying to find ways to get more people to stop here. One day, a few years back, someone with a real presence in the world of blogging had honoured my tiny corner of the universe with the "Site of the Day" designation, and my numbers soared artifically high for a short while. But, on the average, fewer than a dozen or so people actually stop here on a regular basis and I no longer feel the need to entertain anyone.
So, what's the point of this post - following on the heels of only a very few in the past weeks...
One of the original "bloggers" - certainly the one whose site I've admired most over the years - has called it quits. Not because of anything sinister (like the blog wars of several years ago, where some good people were scared away due to insensitivity from others), but simply because she's run out of things to say. Her long-held desire to become an author has finally gained enough strength to force her to take action, and her weblog - which has taken so much time and energy to maintain - will be the project that is directly affected by her change in priorities.
"A Small Victory", as her site was known, was always a place where I could go to read well-crafted stories and passionate political commentary. In recent months, the political commentary began to disappear, and so did my interest in her site. In an attempt to become less controversial, she had lost the spark that had kept me coming back. I kept hoping she would change her mind and get back into the fray. But it was not to be, and this week, she pulled the plug.
I'll miss her, but I know she'll be happy in her new endeavours, and that's really what life is all about. So, goodbye, Michelle. It was a blast while it lasted.
This weblog, for me, is like an online diary. I had never kept a "diary" in the traditional sense prior to starting this. In the early days, I thought it was important how many people visited the site on a daily basis, and I was obsessive about trying to find ways to get more people to stop here. One day, a few years back, someone with a real presence in the world of blogging had honoured my tiny corner of the universe with the "Site of the Day" designation, and my numbers soared artifically high for a short while. But, on the average, fewer than a dozen or so people actually stop here on a regular basis and I no longer feel the need to entertain anyone.
So, what's the point of this post - following on the heels of only a very few in the past weeks...
One of the original "bloggers" - certainly the one whose site I've admired most over the years - has called it quits. Not because of anything sinister (like the blog wars of several years ago, where some good people were scared away due to insensitivity from others), but simply because she's run out of things to say. Her long-held desire to become an author has finally gained enough strength to force her to take action, and her weblog - which has taken so much time and energy to maintain - will be the project that is directly affected by her change in priorities.
"A Small Victory", as her site was known, was always a place where I could go to read well-crafted stories and passionate political commentary. In recent months, the political commentary began to disappear, and so did my interest in her site. In an attempt to become less controversial, she had lost the spark that had kept me coming back. I kept hoping she would change her mind and get back into the fray. But it was not to be, and this week, she pulled the plug.
I'll miss her, but I know she'll be happy in her new endeavours, and that's really what life is all about. So, goodbye, Michelle. It was a blast while it lasted.
Thursday, October 27, 2005
Not much happening
Nothing much has changed... I'm still unemployed, still working hard to improve my stress issues, and still plugging away at my project. I've been updating my website fairly regularly, and plan to make some changes during the off-season. Here's hoping I make some money when the new season starts.
Nothing much has changed... I'm still unemployed, still working hard to improve my stress issues, and still plugging away at my project. I've been updating my website fairly regularly, and plan to make some changes during the off-season. Here's hoping I make some money when the new season starts.
Tuesday, October 11, 2005
Thanksgiving weekend
I'm so thankful that I had the opportunity to see all my children this past weekend. They're not always able to come back home for the holidays, due to the demands of their various jobs. But this weekend, I got lucky and had the opportunity to spend time with them all. I'm so proud of how well they are maturing - and having the opportunity to celebrate my son's birthday was a real treat.
As they grew up and went their own ways, their mother had doubts at times about how well she had raised them. To see them now, she can be proud of the wonderful job she did. I'm so lucky to have such a wonderful family - where everyone is healthy, and for the most part, satisified with their direction in life. What more could a man wish for!
I'm so thankful that I had the opportunity to see all my children this past weekend. They're not always able to come back home for the holidays, due to the demands of their various jobs. But this weekend, I got lucky and had the opportunity to spend time with them all. I'm so proud of how well they are maturing - and having the opportunity to celebrate my son's birthday was a real treat.
As they grew up and went their own ways, their mother had doubts at times about how well she had raised them. To see them now, she can be proud of the wonderful job she did. I'm so lucky to have such a wonderful family - where everyone is healthy, and for the most part, satisified with their direction in life. What more could a man wish for!
Monday, October 03, 2005
I've been VOIP'd
Our local cable company recently started offering telephone service using the same cable as the internet uses. I had been considering getting VOIP service from VONAGE or Packet8. There were always reasons for holding back. With the local cable company now offering the service, all my concerns were put to rest. We'll now be paying about $45 for telephone service (including unlimited long distance and the five most-used calling features). That's down from the $60+ we had been paying, and WAY DOWN from the $90+ when I was regularly calling my out of town employer. Now, even if I get a new telecommuting job, those calls will be free!
It's been installed less than an hour, and I'm already in love with the caller ID feature and clear voice signal.
Edited to add
So, I'm on the phone talking with my daughter (it's the third call since getting the service) when the internet goes down. The phone goes dead right in my ear. Just a bit disconcerting. Hopefully, this is not some kind of omen.
Our local cable company recently started offering telephone service using the same cable as the internet uses. I had been considering getting VOIP service from VONAGE or Packet8. There were always reasons for holding back. With the local cable company now offering the service, all my concerns were put to rest. We'll now be paying about $45 for telephone service (including unlimited long distance and the five most-used calling features). That's down from the $60+ we had been paying, and WAY DOWN from the $90+ when I was regularly calling my out of town employer. Now, even if I get a new telecommuting job, those calls will be free!
It's been installed less than an hour, and I'm already in love with the caller ID feature and clear voice signal.
Edited to add
So, I'm on the phone talking with my daughter (it's the third call since getting the service) when the internet goes down. The phone goes dead right in my ear. Just a bit disconcerting. Hopefully, this is not some kind of omen.
Friday, September 30, 2005
Looking for good news?
Sorry I haven't been posting often. There hasn't been much "good" news to talk about, and I'm acutely aware that very few people get any pleasure reading the daily whinings of someone down on their luck.
So, today, I offer a bit of good news. My kids are coming from out of town to join us for the Canadian Thanksgiving holiday weekend. It will be great to see them for the first time since before Labour Day.
In other news, my baseball project is showing promising results. After extensive testing and validation, I decided there wasn't enough time left in the current season to launch a commercial service. I will continue working on automation processes during the off-season and hope to be able to go live early next season.
Sorry I haven't been posting often. There hasn't been much "good" news to talk about, and I'm acutely aware that very few people get any pleasure reading the daily whinings of someone down on their luck.
So, today, I offer a bit of good news. My kids are coming from out of town to join us for the Canadian Thanksgiving holiday weekend. It will be great to see them for the first time since before Labour Day.
In other news, my baseball project is showing promising results. After extensive testing and validation, I decided there wasn't enough time left in the current season to launch a commercial service. I will continue working on automation processes during the off-season and hope to be able to go live early next season.
Friday, September 16, 2005
Somebody's having a birthday!
This Sunday, my wife will be celebrating a birthday. I'm looking forward to the day, because it will give me something very positive to focus on. She does so much on a daily basis to buoy my spirits and I don't tell her enough how special she is. So, have a wonderful birthday, honey!
This Sunday, my wife will be celebrating a birthday. I'm looking forward to the day, because it will give me something very positive to focus on. She does so much on a daily basis to buoy my spirits and I don't tell her enough how special she is. So, have a wonderful birthday, honey!
Sunday, September 04, 2005
Fuck stress!
I'm under a lot of stress. I've been angry alot lately (lately being a relative term), and it's taking its toll. Being without work sucks big time. Not only do I lose my stream of income, but being a traditional male, the feeling is somewhat emasculating. There have been very few positions advertised in my field, and to make things worse, I'm seeing administrative job postings (with educational requirements of a highschool diploma) that are paying more than some IT positions.
Friday, I reached the breaking point, quite literally. I was sitting at my desk, working on something or other, when I forgot everything. I remembered my name and my wife's name, but that's about it. Kids names were gone, as were the names of our beloved dogs. I couldn't remember any telephone numbers - couldn't even remember where my wife puts the phone book. The episode lasted less than ten minutes, and recovery came slowly. I drove myself to emergency, and was surprised that the hospital staff considered my condition serious enough to see me within an hour of my arrival (waits of more than 3-5 hours are common in Canadian emergency rooms).
Long story short ... I was told I probably suffered a mini-stroke, and I've been given an appointment to see a neurologist this coming week.
Well, that's my life. How is everyone else doing?
I'm under a lot of stress. I've been angry alot lately (lately being a relative term), and it's taking its toll. Being without work sucks big time. Not only do I lose my stream of income, but being a traditional male, the feeling is somewhat emasculating. There have been very few positions advertised in my field, and to make things worse, I'm seeing administrative job postings (with educational requirements of a highschool diploma) that are paying more than some IT positions.
Friday, I reached the breaking point, quite literally. I was sitting at my desk, working on something or other, when I forgot everything. I remembered my name and my wife's name, but that's about it. Kids names were gone, as were the names of our beloved dogs. I couldn't remember any telephone numbers - couldn't even remember where my wife puts the phone book. The episode lasted less than ten minutes, and recovery came slowly. I drove myself to emergency, and was surprised that the hospital staff considered my condition serious enough to see me within an hour of my arrival (waits of more than 3-5 hours are common in Canadian emergency rooms).
Long story short ... I was told I probably suffered a mini-stroke, and I've been given an appointment to see a neurologist this coming week.
Well, that's my life. How is everyone else doing?