Posts (page 2)

So, the company that used to run my personal website has refused to allow the use of a style sheet.  He sited 'security concerns' and said that it can be used to run/install spyware on remote machines.  While I admit I'm no expert yet, I find it at least as plausible to say that the same could be done with javascript, which was already in place on my old site.  Plus, I could easily have built the CSS directives into the web pages themselves and circumvented his authority, but I've put a lot of time into the redesign, and frankly, doing so defeats the purpose of using CSS in the first place.  So instead, I've ordered a cheap-o refurb PC that's going to get Ubuntu server and I'll host it myself.  It will be good experience with a side of web design that I haven't been exposed to before, it will teach me another marketable skill, and then I can design to my little heart's content while singing the "screw you, gayhomes.net" tune I've just made up.

Bitter, party of one.

Yours will always be the arms I seek to comfort me
Yours will always be the eyes I search out for approval and encouragement
Yours will always be the shoulders that make the world go away
Yours will always be the love that makes the world a little less cruel and painful
And when I lay down to rest, yours will be the soul I look for first at the gates of Heaven.
Always, mom.  I love you.

It dawned on me that I left some loose ends when I received a message the other day from someone sympathizing with my displeasure over the CPAP. 

First, I'm now a real Mac Genius.  Certified and everything.  I still feel like I know nothing. /shrug  Retail hours SUCK HARD in a most unpleasant way.  Why did I do this to myself again?  Oh, right.  More money, less-ish stress.

Second, the CPAP is a miracle.  It took me time to find the right mask (and arguably, mind-set) to make it all work for me, but now that I have it, I pretty much can't sleep without it.  I ended up buying my own mask online because the evil RT wouldn't give me the one I wanted, but I chose wisely.  I call it my 'Three Stooges' mask because it goes up my nose slightly (like a pair of fingers) and over the top of my head.  From there, the hose rests along the headboard, out of the way, and leaves me free to roll over and sleep on my side as much as I like.  I had to jury-rig the flimsy clip that's supposed to hold the velcro straps in place with a twist tie, but that's been my only challenge with this mask.  The whole unit is whisper-quiet, more or less comfortable, and works with the way I sleep.  No more midnight choking-on-acid heartburn attacks, by the way.  BIG bonus.

Finally, I'm writing again.  Short stories this time, because I've never been able to discipline myself enough for a book, but perhaps in Asimov style, I'll weave them together somehow.  Wish me luck.

So tomorrow begins the week of at-home studying.  I have a full 40 hours of computer-based training (notice how I avoided the aconym CBT?) ahead of me.  We take an exam the day after we arrive in California, and we're "expected to pass it on the first try."  Fun.  Next week it's off to California.  I'm looking forward to it, but still not excited yet.

Rob's birthday was nice this year.  He got a collection of movies by Pedro Malvodovar, a book called "Final Exits" on the many ways people die, some cash/gift cards, and some accessories for the Wii.  He really appreciated the calls from everyone - even the ones he missed.  He doesn't make much of a stink about birthdays usually, but he took it personally when his grandmother commented that he was "almost thirty."  Yes, I'm laughing maniacally on the inside.

I wonder where I should go to start forties therapy...

So, my brother Adin sent me this link today.  It's a news story about a cat who lives at a hospice facility in RI and keeps people who are about to die company.

There are so many things wrong with this, I don't know where to begin.  Ok -- they say it brings some people comfort, and I suppose having a cat around a hospice clinic isn't much of an added health risk, but what about the patients?  If you were lucid, wouldn't you be terrified to see that cat lurking outside your door?  (Shoo! Bad kitty!  I'm not ready!!)  And what if the cat were to come in and perch on the bed while you were visiting dear ol' granny?  Would that not totally freak you out?  (Cat:  "Hey -- make it quick toots -- her plane's on the runway...")  Then there's the Stephen King factor -- creepy cat sneaks into room, then the patient dies.  Cat's Eye anyone?

I think this disproves the whole 'people with pets live longer' theory...

It was all at once intimidating, exciting, and educational.  (A bit like the first time one has sex, interestingly enough...)

I learned a lot.  It sucks having to give bad news to people whose equipment has died, and telling people they have to make appointments to ask their questions, but it comes with the territory I suppose.  To be fair, there were plenty of what I call 'light bulb' moments too -- those times where you're showing one person something and three people standing around waiting say "Wow! That's a neat trick!"

The repair shop was a blast too.  I learned a lot, helped a little, and got familiar with the flow of the system.  It was gratifying to see that the check in / check out system they use is very similar to the one I designed for my last job.

It helped that all the people I dealt with were great, funny, friendly folks.  Thanks in particular to Brian, Derek and Spence for making me feel like part of the team from the get-go.

QotD: Who is the very first friend you ever had?  Are you still in touch?

The first ones I can remember are Jay and Jennifer.  Jay lived in my neighborhood and went to my school, and we were best buddies until I left RI.  We do still talk from time to time.  Jennifer, on the other hand, lived far away and I only got to see her when she visited her grandparents, who lived two doors down.  I remember she and I would listen to Barry Manilow records in her grandparent's basement and dance to Copa Cabana.

It's a good thing I went to military school later on, or I might just be wearing a boa now and parading around mouthing the words to other people's songs. =P

And endings suck a bit too.

Friday was, in a word, painful.  Leaving behind so many great people is going to take time to get over.  We went camping over the weekend, which I thought would help keep my mind off things, but it didn't really work.  Instead, it gave me much too much time to reflect while I baked.  It was perfectly clear skies the whole time, and we both came back looking like boiled lobsters.  Oh well.

In any event, I start at the store this morning. To prepare I've been thumbing through things like the AppleCare agreement, the knowledgebase, and some books I have.  I expect most of this will be a waste of time, but it makes me feel like I'm doing something.

Wish me luck.

There are 2 updates to install.

X    The truck is finally taken care of.  Paid for, titled (in two states), tagged, insured, and Sirius is installed.  Now for the minor repairs...

X    I start with the Apple store the week after next.  It wasn't my plan to do so, but they want me to start ASAP so that training is all that much easier when they send me to California, which makes sense.  I was more than a little miffed that they changed the game on me in the last inning, but like the saying goes "When E.F. Hutton talks..."  wait... wrong quote... "When opportunity knocks..."

The next Mac Genius.  I got the job!  Rob and I are celebrating tonight.  I'm so psyched about working for Apple I could pop.

I also finally got a human being at the title company to send me the lien release for my truck.  With luck, I'll have it by Saturday.

Funny how things start going *right* for me while Mercury is in retrograde. =P