2015–Another Strange Trip

New Years Day is right around the corner. Due to my work schedule (I have to be up and dark thirty tomorrow morning), I will probably be well asleep by the time the evelator goes up the Space Needle…

When I comes to New Years Resolutions, I only have one this year: not to have any. If I need to improve, I ought to be doing it right away, not put it off till the next holiday. I also need not publicly state my resolutions. There are just some things that need to be kept to themselves.

Much happened this year:

• My employer put me on a fixed schedule. I don’t know how long it will last, but I will enjoy it while it lasts. Sometimes good things happen when you just show up. While I’ve tried transferring to a location that’s closer, that’s not going to happen. But I just have to make the best of what’s around. And what I have is a good thing.
• I got the Xfinity X1 operating system. This in an of itself was the subject of a few entries. But in the end, it works.
• I learned the hard way that if you go full time enroll in the company health care plan while you still can. Paying full price for health insurance is no fun.
• I went through 5 pairs of shoes. On at least more that one occaision, I had to call in sick because of foot problems. Not really diabetic related, but more because of ill-fitting shoes. I can find a good pair at Wally World for a cheap price, but they would only last for a month. Finally last September, I went to Famous Footwear and two pairs of not cheap shoes. And I haven’t had any probems since. And with two pairs, I can alternate between shoes if I get my feet wet.
• I tried my hand at applying for another job, and even got an interview lined up, only to have to cancel it due to aforementioned foot problems.
• Discretion is still the better part of valor. Some things I wanted to say here, but I held my peace.
• Working 12 and 15 days straight. But my former boss got to see Disneyland. And I realized I still like Mrs. Fields’ Cookies…

What am looking for this year:

• Enrolling in the company health insurance. For most of the past year, I was paying full price for a Bronze level plan. And in addition to the full price premiums, it took me over 6 months to pay off a 20 minute doctors check up. With my current employer, the gold level plan will cost less than what I was paying for Bronze. I’ve heard some gripe about the level of coverage provided, but then again, I’ve gone without coverage at all (no fin if you’re a type I diabetic).
• 2 weeks’ paid vacation. I only got 7 days’ vacation this year, because my promotion to full-time was in the middle of the fiscal year, so my vacation was pro-rated. All apologies to my former boss, but my vacation this year will be me sitting on my ass…
• Maybe the Mariners having a winning season….

Stuff I’m planning on this year:

• Picking one operating system for my computer and sticking with it. Which means Windows 10, most likely.
• Paying down my credit cards. Life in general is better when you’re debt levels are down…
• Cleaning my room. I have an easy chair in my room. Once upon a time, I used to sit in it. I need to take my chair back….

Yes 2015 was a strange trip. Were it anything other, though, and I would be seriously concerned. Here’s to 2016 being another strange trip…

Two last Christmas presents

I know I posted a week ago that I was done with my Christmas shopping. I was wrong.  Christmas Morning, my brother wanted me to check the Sprint account to see if his line was upgrade eligible. It was. He then was talking about going to Worst Buy to get on the iPhone for life plan. Unbeknownst to him, I went to the Sprint website, and ordered his iPhone 6s Plus, and set the appointment to pick it up. Abd be just got it today. With the iPhone for life plan, whenever a one comes out, he can go in and get it. It is a $23+ a month payment as we're leasing the phone. But he's happy, and I made sure he has enough memory (64 gB).

While I was out and abøøt today, I also found a copy of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (the Gene Wilder film). I was looking for it before Christmas, but I couldn't find it. I know who they're going to....

It is over….

Not Christmastime. I traditionally celebrate it through the New Year. I’m Old Skool. I don’t gear up mentally for Christmas untill about 12 days before, and then up to 12 days afterward, gradually winding down around New Years. The madness of Black Friday is a part of Thanksgiving (which lasts until the turkey runs out)…
But I digress. What’s over? My vacation. This week, I took a vacation day on Christmas Eve to allow for travel to the Big Bryant Family reunion (I carpool to my siblings on Christmas Day). And after Christmas Eve and Christmas day, I took another vacation day to recover (this was all planned out in September, and approved in December).
So for Christmas Eve, at the Big Bryant Family reunion, there was much food to be consumed. An aunt brought her seven layer dip (one year she didn’t, and I think she almost got disowned). There was the one cousin who’s forehead I have to polish for good luck. And lots of food. About 3 insulin shots’ worth…
Christmas morning, we went to a sisters house. There were cats (this sister is the designated Crazy Cat Lady, but Rufus and Princess Bernice didn’t mind the attention). And the hyperactive dogs in the backyard. All of whom were very happy to see me. And much food. And much leftovers that I’m still munching on…
For the first time since 1998, I actually put a present under the tree for my brother. I got him a gift card to Worst Buy, and a desk lamp. He got me a complete bedding set (2 set of sheets & pillowcases, and a comfortor). I think he wants me to make my bed. Christmas Eve at the Family reunion, we do it white elephant style. I put my present under the tree, drew my number and waited my turn. My turn came, and I got a serving tray. Which I traded to a cousin for hot cocoa set and a coffee mug. At my sisters, I got:

• 2 Target gift cards. This is what I usually get from my parents. Either this or Wally World. I don’t mind a bit. I can put these away, and get what I need later.
• A lego minifig. I haven’t touched legos in well over 25 years. I need to rectify that.
• My Festivus hat. Forget Christmas. Festivus is where it’s at. Though my brother insists on an actual Christmas tree, so no Festivus Pole. And this year, the only chance I got to Air the Grievances came in a Twitter troll of Brother Charles. Maybe next year. A donation has been made on your behalf to the Human Fund…
• Gloves. That are touchscreen compatible. They will come in handy.
• A copy of The League of Regrettable Superheroes: The Loot Crate Edition. I think I may have to sign up for Loot Crate. But that will have to wait for January’s finances to resolve themselve first.

For giving gifts this year, I cheated. Everybody got gift cards to Best Buy. Except my brother, who got the aforementioned lamp. And come Monday, he’s getting a shiny new iPhone 6 Plus.
I hope you enjoyed your Christmas/WinterPaganHoliday/DayOff/Festivus/Hanukkuh…. Just remember it’s not over yet. There’s still New Years….

Christmas morning has begun….

Christmas morning has begun. Not because we realized that Santa came last night (not really, more on that later). No, Christmas morning has begun because I have my coffee. And my insulin shot.
So, after the Big Bryant Family reunion last light in Olalla, we all went our separate ways. I hitched a ride home with a cousin. But late last night, as my father was cleaning up, he heard a burglar on the roof. He attempted to come in through the chimney. I was a rather tight fit, as the would-be crook was rather obese. So, while he was struggling with the chimney and the flue, my father did the only thing that you should do when somebody tries to enter your house on Christmas Eve through your chimney: Call the pollice. They responded. And by the time he finally got into the fireplace, they greeted him with guns drawn. Needless to say, he got the cuffs slapped on him and he got his ass hauled off to jail. He had a bag of goods with him, obviously stolen from all the other houses in the neighbourhood. And he kept saying “Ho, ho, ho”. Obviously he was also some sort of street pimp…
In an unrelated story, there were no presents underneath my tree this morning, and I hear my father had to call animal control this morning. Something about 8-9 reindeer on his roof….

So, if you’re wondering….

It’s raining outside. It is close to midnight on Christmas Eve. So your chances of getting toys tomorrow morning are in serious jeopardy. Mainly because Santa has to go on visual flight rules this year, since Rudolph no longer has a red nose.
On the bright side, Rudolph is now sober…

Off to Grandma's house....

On the bus to Grandma's for the big Christmas Eve family reunion. Pulled the tablet out, remembering that I still have data service on it that I hardly use....

So if I'm not online the next couple days of so, let me wish you and yours a merry Christmas. Or, if you're not into Christmas, a happy holiday, whatever it may be (many, if not most of the world's religions and /or cultures celebrate a winter holiday, abd it need not be Christmas ). Or if you're not celebrating any holiday, there's a good chance you have tomorrow off, so enjoy your day off. Failing that, then have a nice day...

It is finished!

I was out the door at 5 yesterday morning. At work by 7. Worked my 8 hour shift, and got out of there by 3:30. Then I went to the mall. The mall I chose s the Commons at Federal Way. Didn't get out of there until 6:30, but I can now say for sure that my Christmas shopping is done. All of it. And I even got a spare present in case there's a lady minute addition to the family reunion...

At last, it is finished. At least until next year. Most people don't realize that the most important part of guy's Christmas shopping is the procrastination. The closer to Christmas eve you do it, the more sporting an experience it becomes. And doing it before Black Friday is just plain unsportsmanlike...

Still the Worst. Customer. Service. Ever.

Technorati Tags: Comcast

You may have read about my issues with Comcast here and here. But I have now fixed my issues for good. Here’s how I did it:
After my last post on the matter, Comcast finally cancelled my home phone service. I still wasn’t thrilled with my service at the time, but it was somewhat bearable. I could live with it. I didn’t have a DVR in my room, but if I used the TV Remote Android app, I could have a DVR function. Fast forward to December 4 when a Comcast salesman came door-to-door. BTW, it is posted no soliciting/no trespassing at my apartment complex. I was at work at the time, but my brother was at home, and made it clearly known that it was my account, and I was the only one authorized to make any changes to it. This salesman made some entries on his iPad, ostensibly to update my address, and went on his way. I didn’t know anything was up until I came home from work, and saw his business card on my mail pile. I didn’t think anything of it until the following Saturday when I got an order confirmation emailed to me, regarding my ‘new’ order, along with installation fee. I hit the roof.
Needless to say, the next Monday, I went to the Federal Way cable store (given my previous experiences with the reps, perhaps this wasn’t the best of choices) and asked for the manager. And I was told he wasn’t there. So I left. I then reached out to Xfinity via Facebook, and finally got someone with more than two neurons. They had to do some research, but they discovered that my account had been closed and reopened (most likely the door-to-door sales moron had churned my account to make his commision). But in doing so, he knocked out the TV service in the living room, and took out what little DVR I had in my room. Fortunately, Comcast was able to recover my account. And they gave me a $100 bill credit (something possibly also to do with being billed for 4 months for phone service after I returned the equipment). Anyway, I still didn’t have any DVR whatsoever in my room, and it was finally decided to dispatch a tech to see what’s wrong.
And that was this morning. Cable guy came out. First thing I mentioned was the possibilty of a filter (something a friend of mine who is a Comcast installer mentioned). Tech checks out the Comcast box, and lo! there is a filter there that shouldn’t have been. So he took that out (had that not been there, I would’ve never had any of these problems with DVR issues to begin with. Then he troubleshot why my box wasn’t DVR’ing, and it turned out he just needed to reset it. With the filter taken out, I could’ve gone back to a satellite box, but I decided to keep my second master box, mainly for the voice operated remote. And the clock…
But my service is now working again. I’m happy with it. I’m definitely not happy with the trouble that Comcast put me through, though. If the first phone call I had placed was not routed to an offshore call center (or even if that first rep that I called spoke English), if the rep at the cable store had not given me the high-pressure sales pitch, orhad he not treated me like trash when I decided that I didn’t want home phone service. Or had they cancelled my home phone service when I returned my equipment, instead of telling to call the loyalty line (which, btw, when I did finally make the call, they were unable to do). It’s like what the tech said when he came to my house, if they just gave the customers what they wanted, instead of trying to sell them what they needed. Comcast has some very good services. But their downfall is their customer service….

So I was listening to real Christmas music last week…

So, last week, I was listening to Handel’s Messiah. Fired it up on the bus to work. And I fired it up again on the way home from work. By the time I got off the bus, it was over. I noticed that there were at least two drunks thrown off the bus. And I didn’t notice the drama at all, and I didn’t care.
Maybe I should listen to more classical music on the bus…

The weekend has begun….

It is Sunday now. The first day of my weekend. I have today and tomorrow off, then I work two days, then I have 3 days off (work is closed for Christmas day, and I’m taking vacation for Christmas Eve and the day after Christmas). While most full-time employess at my job are gettint 32+8 (meaning they’re working only 4 days this week and getting paid for Christmas, as it is a company holiday, and we’re closed that day. But I’m scheduled an extra day this week. I went to HR, and I was told that I’m one of the few who are scheduled for 40+8 this week. Ok. I can deal with this. I’ll just have to make do with the extra 8 hours’ pay in my next check. I can deal with it. It is nice to know that I’m that important to the workplace in the eyes of management. Though in my opinion there are others at work that are just as good as me, if not even better, and they’re not getting the same recongition…..
First thing’s first. Cable guy was out here at ten this morning. Long story short, I now have a working DVR with Xfinity X1. But there will be more on this later…
Next up be to watch Johnny Football get his ass handed to him by the Seahawks. Then there’s a Sunday Night game…
Tomorrow’s agenda will be to finish up Christmas shopping. And to bring the laptop up to my former employer and help him set up a couple of presents that he’s getting for his kids. And to finish mine. The big family reuinion we do out christmas gift white elephant style, but still, I want to out some effort into it…

Hello Friday

So there's this new Star Wars film opening this weekend. Apparently Luke Skywalker is defending Sto'Ko'Vor from Xur and the Ko'dan Armada....

Actually, I've never seen it, but I've seen the Wikipedia article on it, so what really happens is Luke Skywalker teams up with Elvis to save the galaxy from Major League Baseball and Rodan....

But seriously, I'll tell yoy how the movie ends:

The credits roll...

Hello World!

Windows Live Writer is dead. Long Live Open Live Writer. Window Live Writer will no longer be updated (last version was released in 2012). It is still in pre-beta, but it does support Google’s new authorization (which is also why Scribefire will no longer work, unless it is updated). THere are still bugs to work on, (like no speel check, or the ability to add catagories yet).

But it’s still a beginning….

Ok, so I started listening to real Christmas today....

I finally broke down. I finally fired up my mp3 player and put some Christmas on to play. No, this wasn't the Black Album. Though Enter Sandman is a necessity to keep my sanity after hearing The Little Drummer Boy and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer ad nauseum. There are a few other Christmas songs that I can tolerate and even like, though I'm intentionally limiting my exposure to them to keep it that way...

Anyway, I'm listening to Christmas Music. And religious music at that. I'm listening to The Messiah: A Sacred Oratorio. By a Mr. George Frederic Handel...

With about 10 day to go till Christmas...

With about 10 days to go till Christmas, I find myself listening to Christmas carols. I avoid them like the plague at work. I can only listen to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Riendeer and The Little Drummer Boy so many times before I go insane. But I find myself listening to them again. Not just any. But there are some that I can listen to without going insane.

I'm very much against the Christmas Creep. Many years ago, when I worked in the Malls, I saw the signs on Nordstrom that they wouldn't set the stores up for Christmas until after Thanksgiving. But I'm taking it a step further. I'm no longer even think about anything Christmas like until at the most 12 day before Christmas. So I will indulge myself in a Christmas carol once in a while.

Note: I did buy my copy of the Black Album during December, so it counts as Christmas....

So, I was watching TV last night....

So I was watching TV last night, and a new trailer came on for the new Independence Day movie, coming out this summer, I assume. My only question is will the aliens still be running pre-Mac OSX compatible hardware, and will Rico's Marauders protect up from Xur and the Ko'dan Armada?...

An experiment in just pushing the middle word in SwiftKey....

Hello World from the library and I will not be received by UPS or the shipper directly if you have any questions or concerns about the actual job and Bob has the loudest car horn and I will not be received by UPS or the shipper directly....

The preceeding is what happens when you just go with first word in SwiftKey Flow prediction....

Until further notice...

Since I have to use either the blogger website (which is not the WYSIWYG editor that Windows Live Writer was) or the blogger apps for Andriod, owing to Open Live Writer not yet having Blogger support, all spelling/grammar mistakes shall be left here intentionally.

Actually, I'll try to correct them. But, especially when using the Andriod apps, auto-cowreck is going to be an issue...

So there was a shooting in California recently...

I'm not post any links to the San Bernardino shootings. Violence is inherently evil. Even more so in the name of religion. What happened was a senseless act, perpetrated by a radicalised lone wolf, imo. I'm not really going to say what I think about it,  mainly because I've posted it before. But what I find just as disturbing has been sine of the responses. First of all is the blame all the Muslims response. The shooters were inspired by ISIL. People who would blame all the Muslims need to understand that the majority of ISIL's victims are Muslim themselves. There are those who would ban Muslim immigration and the refugees coming in from Syria. I've seen one post on Facebook try to pull a law out of context to make it seem that Islam is illegal, never minding that the 1st amendment to the constitution specifically guarantees freedom of religion. I may not agree with the faith that you practice, but I will defend your right to practice it.  I've seen enough anti-muslim posts on Facebook. I've permanently filtered a couple of people. Maybe I should start unfriending people, and reporting posts as hate speech. ...

I'm not trying to justify the shootings. But blaming all of Islam fit the actions of ISIL is like judging all of Christianity for the actions of the KKK or Westboro Baptist Church.

I guess it boils down to being the price of freedom. You have the right to free speech. It also means that people with different opinions can express them. You have the right to practice the faith of your choice. It also means that your neighbors can worship according to their conscience as well. I'm free. You're free. Our neighbors are free. We don't have to be the same. We just have to get along....

4 in a row...

The Seahawks are now 8-5. The Vikings got their heads handed to them last week. And the Ravens got the well-deserved beating this week as well. If the season ended right now, they'd be in the playoffs. Let's hope they keep it that way....

Taking a step back...

So, A couple of weeks ago, I posted that I was going to Windows 10. I have a confession to make. I went back to Windows 7. There are 4 reason: MechWarrior 4: Vengeance, MechWarrior 4: Black Knight, MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries, and MechWarrior 4: Mercenaries MekTek. I could get them to install into my WinXP vm on VMWare Player, but there were issues. Starting with the slowness of the graphics. Eventually, I will go to Windows 10. But I don't think I'm quite ready yet for that now.

BTW, this is why I haven't been posting anything of late....

So I was going to sign in....

Ok, apparently Google has decided not to let Windows Live Writer access blogger anymore. Apparently in the name of security. Anyway, Windows Live Writer will never work with OAuth 2.0, which is what Google is now using for login.

But there is hope on the horizon. It's called Open Live Writer. It is a work in progress. So far, I can't get it login to Blogger yet, but they say they will support it. Eventually. But for now, I'm writing this from Google Chrome...

Happy Holiday To All….

No real message here. Just a lame excuse to post One by Metallica. My favorite Christmas carol….