It's Technical

The title of this question and answer on CNet made me smile.

The opportunity to provide both a potential smile and information I'm sure many people need, prompted me to share it here.

Cute question title.

Laziness

I wanted to post something but I don't really have anything to write and I'm tired. I was scanning the headlines on my personalized Google home page and came across this. I found it amusing and decided to copy my friend Jerry's strategy for a quick post by sharing somebody else's work.

Re-use. It's a computer thing.

Pre-Pixelated Clothing

Neglecting My Fans

Wow! It's been a week since my last post. Sorry to leave you all with nothing to read. I know how much you anticipate my words of wisdom.

Okay, stop laughing and/or rolling your eyes.

The last week has been pretty busy. I spent a lot of time working on updates to my project's budget. I had to provide input to a corporate review for my company's current fiscal year that started in February. As usual, I came to the rescue. My boss would normally take care of this, but he is leaving the company and doesn't really care. I volunteered to take over the job because it's more interesting than my normal stuff. He told me to use it as leverage on my salary review next year because it goes way above and beyond. Okay, I'll make a note of that.

I also had to work at the tax office last Saturday. It was my token Saturday of the season. I took one for the team. So, with all of that, I haven't been here.

The only worthwhile piece of information is that I watched the new Dr. Who series on the SciFi channel last Friday. It was very enjoyable. I recommend it.

Blind Or Color Blind?

I start work pretty early in the day. I'm usually at my desk by 6 AM. Today, I had some budget planning information to finish up for our division bookkeeper.

I was busily working away and finished up around 8 AM. I then proceeded to go get my first cup of coffee of the day (I was too focused to make it myself when I got here). As I was walking over to the coffee pot, I was thinking that the floor seemed slippery. I looked down and noticed that I wasn't wearing the shoes I thought I was wearing. Different sole, different traction.

I thought I was wearing black wing tips. I am actually wearing brown wing tips. This is one of the hazards of combining dumping my clothes on the floor next to my side of the bed and getting dressed in the dark. Drink and drive, dress in the dark. I think they rank about the same on the stupidity level scale. It's a lovely picture. I have black slacks, black socks, and brown shoes. Can you say "dork"? I knew you could.

The only thing that may save me is the burgundy shirt and tie I am also wearing. The particular shade of the shoes, shirt, and tie almost look like they go together. I think I'll just go with the "I meant to do this. Aren't I stylish?" approach. If I'm sincere enough, people might just buy it.

Those shoes sure looked black. At least they're the same color. Small victories.

Mmm Mmm Good

Recipe to increase the fun level of a party.

1 large box of lime Jello
2 cups boiling water
1 cup tequila
3/4 cup triple sec
1 splash of lime juice
3 ice cubes

Mix it all together at the appropriate times as specified on the Jello box.
Pour into 3/4 ounce condiment cups.
Chill for several hours.
Run a toothpick around the edge to loosen the Jello from the cup.
Slurp down the Jello.
Repeat (a lot).

Viva la Margarita!!

One little hint: Because the alcohol is in the Jello, it takes a little longer to metabolize. You may not feel any effects for a while. This could be a problem if you keep slurping down the Jello because you feel fine. Trust me on this.

Give them to your friends. They'll thank you and think you are a wonderful person.

No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

The neighbors two chihuahuas got out of their back yard this morning. Since they were at work I tried to get them back into the yard and block the hole they used to escape. Needless to say, it got ugly and I ended up giving one of them a hand sandwich. I didn't know little dogs had such big teeth. I don't know what happened to the dog, but I decided my time would be better spent stopping the bleeding instead of chasing the dog.

I spent some time fighting with my HMO trying to get an urgent care appointment because the co-pay to use the emergency room has been raised to the point where it's not worth it unless I am dying. When that didn't work, I went off to some errands while waiting for the HMO to call me back (Mrs. Dirpus had called member services on them). I just happened to be driving by the medical office and decided to stop in for a visit. I thought there might be some law that if I'm in their office, they have to treat me. I don't know if there is or not, but they patched me up, gave me a shot, and prescribed some antibiotics. Now I just need to make sure the dog's shots are current.

I should be fine. I probably won't be playing the guitar for a couple of weeks. Some people may see that as a blessing. :)

April Fool's Dry Run

I was going to post a practical joke today to see what kind of comments, if any, I would receive. Because this would have impacted Mrs. Dirpus, I told her what I was planning to do after I had drafted the post, but before I published it. Needless to say, since you're reading this instead, she wasn't too keen on the idea. One of her points was that she would end up having a conversation like this:

DW: It was a joke mom.
MIL: Why would he even joke about a thing like that?
DW: Because he's a guy.
MIL: Well it's not funny.
DW: I know mom.

So, to preserve the peace and tranquility of the Dirpus household, I will continue to formulate my April Fool's prank for this year. Most likely, the prank will be that there won't be a prank. I'll have to keep thinking of a way to have some fun with anybody out there actually reading this.

You won't know what and you won't know when, but it's sure to be juvenile.

Then again, maybe you will.

One Of Those Days

Did you ever have one of those days where you really don't want to do what you're supposed to be doing? I know, stupid question. Today is one of those days for me.

I am responsible for producing a monthly status report to give to our client showing how much we are billing them for the last month and what we did to earn that money. I inherited this task on a temporary basis when one our co-workers left for a new project. I was supposed to fill in until his replacement came on board and was up to speed. It's been a little over a year. His replacement started almost a year ago. She has a different skill set than our prior co-worker and will never be asked to do this job. I don't really mind doing this job, I get to play with spreadsheets and databases to generate the information.

Anyway...

I have seven business days from the beginning of the month to get this report out. It's due tomorrow, and I have zero motivation to wrap it up. Maybe I'll be better after lunch. Oh look, it's lunch time.

Girls...

Sheesh!

Lemming, Oscar® Lemming

I haven't had time to read much today, but I'm sure there are many blog posts about last night's Academy Awards® show. Here's another.

I wasn't really into the nominated movies this year. I think the only nominated film I saw was 'March of the Penguins'. We got the DVD last Christmas and watched the whole thing on Christmas Day. We watched the film, the documentary about making the film, and everything else on the disc. We all enjoyed it very much. I was happy to see it win. I will probably watch 'Walk the Line' when it comes out on home video or cable. I might see Capote on TV at some point in the future, if there is nothing else to watch. For the most part, I didn't really care who won or lost. Basically, I just watched the show as a standalone program.

I like Jon Stewart. I enjoy his style of comedy. He is one of the few performers that can make me laugh out loud on a regular basis. I was looking forward to seeing how his style would translate to the live stage of the Oscars®. I think the set piece at the beginning of the show where a host was introduced and declined to work was great. The part when it got to Jon Stewart in bed with Halle Berry and then George Clooney was hilarious. It also reminded me why I like George Clooney. He has a wonderful sense of dry and self deprecating humor.

Personally, I enjoyed Jon Stewart's performance and thought he did a good job of hosting the show. Unfortunately, it appeared the live audience didn't "get" him. Several times, he made comments that would have had the audience for his own show roaring, but the crowd last night was fairly quiet. I imagine he won't be asked back. That's too bad, because he is a funny man. He also seemed to keep the show closer to being on time than I can remember in past years.

Maybe the people in the audience just weren't used to his humor and will think it was funnier when they look back on it and have time to think about what he was saying. I've heard the saying 'If you have to draw a picture, it's not funny'. But, he was funny. I think it was the crowd. After all, they were, mostly, just actors.

The Same, But Different

I thought I had a dentist appointment this morning. I got up and managed to NOT automatically go to work. When I showed up at the dentist's office at 6:45 AM, the receptionist said they didn't have me on the books for today. when I told her it was on my calendar and I had received a reminder postcard from them, she thought that maybe they had made some mistake. She looked me up in the computer and told me "Nope, you're on the 13th." I said that I hadn't actually read the reminder postcard, I was just going by the date on my calendar. I checked my calendar again and the appointment is listed on the 1st and the 13th. The first must have just been a place holder for "early" March. At least I was able to make the receptionist feel good that she hadn't made a mistake.

Both dates started with a "1". 1, 13. They're almost identical, except for the 12 day difference. At least I had the time right.

Shoes and Socks

This is inspired by a friends blog and my responding comment.

There are things we do that we probably don't really think about very much. If we were asked, we would probably have an opinion. We may even find it hard to believe that someone might have a different opinion.

One of those topics popped up this morning when I was reading a friend's blog entry about putting on shoes and socks. The question was whether you put on both socks, then both shoes, or a sock and shoe on one foot at a time. She and her husband have different approaches.

I didn't even have to think about a response. I knew instantly what the correct answer was: One foot completely, then the other.

Just think of the wasted energy lifting a foot and crossing its associated leg over the other, putting on a sock then uncrossing the leg and putting the foot back on the floor. Then you have to do the same with the other leg and foot. Now, instead of being done, you have to repeat the whole process to put on your shoes. It's a total duplication of effort. Don't people know there's an energy crisis?

I suppose some could try using the excuse that it's their morning workout.

Discuss...