Holiday Bingo

Holiday Bingo was this past Sunday. It was the third time we've held the event and, as always, it was a success. There was lots of laughter and fun. I didn't take many photos because I was busying watching the Packer game, managing three bingo boards, holding my daughter, eating food, and laughing. Although, here are the pictures I did take:

Prior to Bingo!

Awww!

From left to right, my card, daughter's card, and wife's card

She was pretty tired when we left

Learning

Many years ago, I played around with HTML. I even built some webpages that I was pretty proud of. Sadly, those pages are long gone now. Once I got a job, I also stopped exploring HTML and have now forgotten most of what I learned.

Today, my job is changing. New responsibilities are actually requiring this past knowledge. Thanks to some co-workers and friends, I have found some good resources for re-learning some HTML. Although, I'm struck by how much has changed in 15 years.

I feel caught off-guard about how quickly my job went from not requiring this skillset to needing it. I feel a bit guilty that I didn't keep current on HTML. I'm unsettled because I went from feeling confident about my work day-after-day to feeling like I'm inefficient at what I do. I've heard it said that people get promoted to the level of their own incompetence. Have I reached mine?

I don't write that last paragraph for pity and I'm sorry for any readers that might take it that way. Honestly, it is more of an observation of age. I can remember training an older co-worker to upload photos to an FTP site or explaining Facebook to someone who is still leary of using a computer. In each of those cases, there was a bit of frustration from these people. Was it frustration of trying to learn something new or were the concepts so foreign they were frustrated by how much time has passed? Either case, I understand the frustration better than ever.

I acknowledge these feelings, but I can't stay focused on them. This is the world we live in and I need to update my skillsets. While it would be nice to have formal training, one of the greatest things about the Internet is the free knowledge it provides. So, I move on, I learn, I train, and one day I will feel confident again about walking into work.

FYI, I've written this post in an HTML editor instead of using Blogger's easy WYSIWYG editor. Sometimes you just have to jump right in.

VVVVVV

I finished this game last night. I wanted to high-five my wife and daughter, but they were asleep.

If you like a challenge, but haven't played VVVVVV, I highly recommend this game.  It may not look like much, but it has more game-play then some games you find on store shelves. Cute, fun, hard, and a level editor.

Trying to catch a breath

With a title like the one above, a reader might assume this post is about how busy I am with a new child, potential new home, and trying to make ends meet. Sorry, but I'm going for something more literal.

My current cubicle state

This is what you would see if you walked to my desk. Every fall-to-winter transition I get a cough that leads into other illnesses. I start wheezing and my breathing becomes very shallow. I have a case of (very mild) asthma. Most of the time I'm rarely bothered by it except around this time of year.

It is moments like these when you start to ponder your life decisions. I have cold-air triggered asthma and I choose to live in Wisconsin.

Speaking of my netbook...

While my battery life hasn't been great, Computron (nickname of my netbook) has been having a great time trying on different operating systems.

Windows XP is loaded, but I've been seeking out the best flavor of Ubuntu Linux for my netbook. So far, Computron has hosted: Jolicloud, Ubuntu, Ubuntu Netbook Remix, Xubuntu, and Lubuntu.  While I've had good experiences with all, I'm still trying to find a lightweight-yet-still-attractive version of linux. Lightweight because I'm using a netbook and attractive because I like something pretty to look at.

I almost lost hope that I'd find that perfect linux combo, but thankfully I came across Bodhi Linux. The minimum system requirements to run are 300 mhz i386 processor, 128 mb of Ram, and 1.5 of hard drive space. As for looks, well just check out their Desktop of the Week.

Maybe I'm just in that new OS newlywed stage and overlooking some faults, but it takes about 32 seconds from when I push the power button on Computron to logging in. Windows takes about 3 minutes.  The OS runs fast and because it is still based on Ubuntu, it is easy to use; a combination not always easy to find.

Not nearly as useful

I get it.  Most people don't like netbooks.  I might be one of a few that actually really like these tiny machines.  I, truly, love my Gateway LT21. Although, if someone shows interest into my netbook and wants to know more, I usually say, "Just an FYI, this isn't a real computer."

When I bought my little machine, it advertised 10 hours of battery life.  That is a long time to surf without needing access to a power teet. While the machine only got about 7 hours, it was nothing I was going to complain about. I had never had a machine that lasted that long on a single charge.

Sadly, now I only get a half-hour.  A netbook that only last 30 minutes loses all the benefits of being a netbook.  At that point, it becomes an underpowered laptop that has to be connected to the wall at all times.  Completely ruining anything that makes it awesome.

So, anyone want to get me this?

http://goo.gl/bLCtz

Jam session

This morning, Pearl Jam's "Daughter" played over the radio which was fitting since I was playing with Amelia (more so because she is literally my daughter, and hopefully not because of the song lyrics). Amelia was holding my hands for balance as she attempted to stand. I started singing along as I do with any Pearl Jam song and Amelia smiled and bounced to the music. I moved her arms in a way to make it look like she was dancing. Granted, she looked like me when I dance (without holding someone's hands), but Amelia was enjoying the motion. Once the guitar solo came on, I stopped the dancing and moved her arms so that she looked like she was playing guitar.

My baby's first air guitar.

Proud father.

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What's the last good book you read?

Hopefully comic books count, because the last good book I've read is The Walking Dead. Say what you will about the show, but the comic run (which is still going) is fantastic.

Ask me anything