So I spent the weekend in Boston for a neat event semi related to work, but not really. Anyway, while wandering around last night I remembered seeing some of the places I’d seen four years ago when I went up in Spring of 2005 for a training class.
Anyway, I figured that when I’d get home I’d look through some of the photos of how I remember Boston and what I saw over the weekend. While doing so I went through my “picture archive†which spans back to early 2003 when I bought my first digital camera.
The first picture is gone – I’m guessing I took a picture of the inside of the lens cap. The second, third and fourth pictures though… all Mom. They’re all of Mom at Immanuel Bible Church, a community that she deeply loved and cared for.
So I figured, it’s been a while since my last South Park representation (April 2005), so it was time to come up with a little more professional and something that was a little more me. The previous representation was a little too playful
It’s that time of the month again where I start pondering what gadget I could buy that may increase my social networking and collaboration. And I’m thinking that a MacBook Pro would probably be too much for me. So really it’s a question of a MacBook, a MacBook, a MSI Wind, or an HP NetBook.
Right now I’m leaning toward an aluminum MacBook, but the choice is a hard one. My requirements are pretty much to have Office available (I already own a copy of Office for Mac 2008 Professional) and I own a copy of Enterprise for Home Use from my company for 2007. Outside of that, web browsing and the ability to write articles for my blogs as well as to be able to enjoy a crisp user interface.
So last week my e2c’s essentially became unsafe for use with the wiring coming out of one of the sides. So I decided to take the plunge and give myself a little pick me up with everything going on and bought a pair of new SE530s from a seller on eBay located up in NYC.
They were brand new, unopened, perfect condition and sound incredible. Not to belittle my e2cs, but these are seriously phenomenal and I’m not quite certain that I could go back unless forced to.
It’s quite nice to listen to the Moses Hogan Chorale and hear the basses rumbling in their solo section as well as the sopranos adding the icing on top of the melody. While I may not be an audiophile, music is in my soul and it resonates with these buds.
I knew that it was a matter of time before my head phones finally broke, but after two and a half years of heavy usage my Shure e2c head phones have developed a tear in the right headset wire. It’s not shorting out, but I guess I’d prefer not to take my chances since the wire is exposed
So what does this mean?
Option A: I suppose I could get them repaired right? Well, upon checking out Shure’s support policy because they’re greater than two years old, it’s $49 to get them repaired. For that cost, if I can find them on the market or on eBay, I would pay about $55, so it would basically be the same as buying a new pair. Oh and by the way, the e2c, they’re no longer being manufactured so it’s off to eBay to find them.
Option B: Go ahead and get my Christmas / Birthday gift that I’m giving myself a little early and order a pair of the SE530s off of eBay. Granted, you might call them a little overkill, but being an audiophile, I like my music to be pristine.
Option C: Give my iPod Touch to a friend of mine and no longer use headphones for when I’m listening to music.
What to do…
Now Playing: Switchfoot – The Beautiful Letdown – Meant To Live
If you’re a vigilant reader of XKCD.com, then you more than likely already saw this, but it cracks me up to no end…
For those of you that like to graph everything, if you’re in the SharePoint or asp.net world, I’d recommend Dundas Chart. If you’re into utilizing web based APIs, Google Charts is pretty cool.
Please note that the “Point” that our friendly XKCD author is speaking of is not the use of SharePoint, though I’m sure that SharePoint has also had it’s mix of throwing monkey wrenches in relationships
No honey, we’re not going to use the BCD to solve this problem, I’ll write the data connection manually using custom code that doesn’t match any other schema we have…
Just another Christmas in Northern Virginia with the Ushers… however this one was a little different. Â There were no stockings. Â No cookies or pies being baked. Â No grandiose feast of turkey or ham with all of the fixings. Â Today in fact, in many respects today seemed like just another weekend, except of course that all retail stores were closed.
If you’ve been reading this blog for a while or know anything about what’s actually going on in my life, then you know that my mom passed away on 11 November 2008 due to injuries suffered in a catastrophic car accident a month earlier in South Carolina.
It’s been difficult these past two months, figuring out how to talk to people, how to re-engage people, how to focus, how to protect myself emotionally, and how to feel joy again after having my mother ripped away from my life so unexpectedly.
In my 29 years of life I have witnessed friends go through the hardship of losing a parent, sibling or a loved one passing away… and I would feel sorry for them, not really understanding how they felt or how agonizing the pain was… feeling the anguish and sadness that they would no longer be around, but not having it hit home quite so closely.
I’m pretty certain that I understand now and I don’t like the pain and there’s really nothing that I can say can quench it. Â My prayers for all those that are hurting – I’m here for you if you need to talk.
My sister in law recommended reading When Life Is Changed Forever by Rick Taylor.  It’s scary how he’s able to identify several of the feelings that I’ve had over the past two months.  From the moments where I realize that I’m in denial and attempting to do things that will make me fleet from the pain rather than to face it directly and embrace it.Â
Nevertheless rather than rambling aimlessly… this Christmas day in 2008 I’ve spent mostly reading, reflecting, thinking, wandering, sipping on diet Coke… not the typical Christmas of gathering with family as in years past. Â There’s a deep emptiness that I cannot deny – and while some may say that I should have spent the day with family, I can only say that I need the time away to embrace the pain, refusing to cover up the pain. Â Besides, it’s somewhat difficult to gather together when your family is geographically spread across the mid-Atlantic states.Â
So my Christmas gift to you all is to share with the world the beautiful memorial service to honor mom with the world. Â Thanks to Vimeo.com for their hosting service. Â
So it’s late, but yet it’s early, and I decided I’d go pop over to Usherisms.com to see what’s going on in the lives of family and lo and behold, I’d been tagged. I shake my fist at Rachel for inspiring my sister-in-law for posting this  Nonetheless, unlike my sister-in-law, coming up with 8 TV shows that I watch is kinda hard… :-\
8 TV Shows I Watch
The Office – “I want people to be afraid of how much they love me…†Michael Scott, you are our hero, our leader and our inspiration.
The Simpsons – Yes, that’s right, I’m an American that enjoys the humor of Matt Groening.
Criminal Minds – Interesting perspectives on how screwed up some people are in the head.
8 Favorite Restaurants
Mike’s American Grill – It’s too bad that they don’t have their Chocolate Ho-Ho anymore, what a great dessert. On a regular day, their Tuna or Salmon salad is fab.
Houlihan’s – Chicken Nachos to start with, then the Buffalo Bleu Salad please
Champp’s – I’m a sucker for their barbecue chop salad. If you’re really eager for a dessert that will leave you quite satisfied, go for the Mile High Ice Cream Pie.
Aladdin’s Eatery – Great gyro wraps and their cheese cake is ridiculous.
Shooter McGee’s – Where else can you get a half priced burger on Monday nights or Ribs with such a sweet taste with such tender meat on Thursday nights?
Now Playing: The Benedictine Monks Of Santo Domingo De Silos – Chant – The Anniversary Edition – Traditor Autem-Benedictus – AntÃfona (Modo I) – Cántico
Christmas is coming but where is Jesus? Shhh now, we are not supposed to offend anyone! Dare we even say the “J” word as we celebrate our “Winter Holiday?” YES, YES, YES!! If we don’t tell anyone about Jesus’ birthday, no one else will. And there are people who need to hear the whole story. In fact, why not start by telling our own children?
Remember how Moses told the Israelites to tell their children about God’s commandments? In Deuteronomy 6, Moses tells the people to impress the commandments on your children, talk about them when you sit a home, and when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when you get up.
Let’s translate that verse for today, and tell our children about Jesus. Perhaps it would go something like this: Impress Jesus on your children, and talk about Jesus when you sit at home rewinding the video tape; when you drive your van full of little people to the grocery store or to the soccer practice; and when you lie down and when you get up (after having fallen asleep when you were lying down getting them to sleep!).
We may not see Jesus nestled in a manger scene in the mall, but reminders of Him are everywhere we look. So let’s look for reminders of Jesus and start talking about Him to our children.
How about the Christmas lights? The lights remind me of Jesus because He is the light of the world. (John 8:12) In fact, in heaven, the Lord God will provide our light. (Rev 22:5) Whenever we see Christmas lights, whether they are the beautiful ones on our trees, or the tacky ones around the corner or the dazzling ones at the mall, lights can be a special reminder to us of Jesus.
How many others can you find? When we look up at the stars on a cold clear night, we are reminded that it was a very, very bright and special star that led the wise men to Jesus. (Matt 2:21) When we hearChristmas carols in church or even at the mall, we are reminded that lots of angels sang when Jesus was born. (Luke 2:13-14) When we have a “family feast,” we are reminded that Jesus is the bread of life (John 6:35) and that someday we will have a special family feast with God and Jesus in heaven. (Rev 19:9) When we see Christmas trees, we are reminded that Jesus died on a tree to save us from our sins. (1 Peter 2:24) When we shop for presents to give to those we love, we are reminded that Jesus gave each of us a very special present – His life – because He loves us so much! (John 3:16)
There are lots of reminders of Jesus all around us. Can you see them? See how many others you and your family can find as you prepare to celebrate Jesus’ birthday.
So the Eggs arrived a few days ago and I have to say that they’re great. The Green Egg is pliable and yet still resilient when you’re squeezing it as hard as you can. Definitely noticed a different in strength after working with if for a day. More than that, working with the blue egg has been intense – it’s definitely got theft deterrence included – you could throw it at someone and it would hurt
The second, third and fourth pictures though… all Mom. They’re all of Mom at Immanuel Bible Church, a community that she deeply loved and cared for.
 by Rick Taylor.  It’s scary how he’s able to identify several of the feelings that I’ve had over the past two months.  From the moments where I realize that I’m in denial and attempting to do things that will make me fleet from the pain rather than to face it directly and embrace it.Â