Archive for: January 2005

Ahhhhh, today is my birthday, I am 34.
This morning, Erin went to school for the first time! A 1½ AM session at QoM called “Going to School�. There are only five other kids in the class and she had a great time painting, counting and singing songs. Patrick went off to school at noon and I tried to Get Erin down for a nap. That was a no-go.

We are all going out for dinner and then on for some ice cream. Then back home and I have to take a quiz for class that should take about 30 minutes. I may settle in and either watch TV or try to finish my book. I know it’s pretty uneventful, but that’s what I get for being born in the dead of winter.

It cold, cold, cold outside! And there is also a foot of snow. I got done shoveling and Patrick and I went to the grocery store, not the greatest driving conditions, but it had to be done.

I got rid of a nasty bug on my computer this week. I sent the instructions to my friends in case they ever get this spy ware virus:
For the past few weeks I’ve had a nasty POP UP program running in C:Windows. I tried everything to get rid of it - Norton, Ad aware, etc. After a bunch of Norton sweeps I located a file called btgrab.dll. It was putting up “XLime” and “Optimizer” POP UPS when I used IE. Now, I don’t use IE, but Patty does (I use Firefox, but use IE when at Microsoft sites). Anyway, I tried to delete this bug, but Windows wouldn’t let me. I found a Newsgroup suggesting to:
1) Disable the System Restore — Control Panel > System > System Restore
2) Restart in Safe Mode
3) Delete any or all of the files (if they exist):

c:windows\btgrab.dll
c:windows\zserv.dll
c:windows\system32\tyavul.exe
4) Reboot in Normal Mode
5) Re-enable System Restore

I started my A+ Certification class this week. I think it’ll be a very fun and informative class. I also pick up a simple Networking book, so I can set something up while the class is going on. I plan on taking a Windows XP course in the summer. From there maybe a Cisco class.

I’m going to be putting a lot of comics (and non-comics) up for auction on eBay this week. I’m trying to make room for more Archives and Masterworks.

I fixed my treadmill this week. I’m so damn happy and frustrated at the same time. First of all, it’s been at a strange, incline even at level 0, since I got it professionally fixed a year ago. When ever I was done using it, I would always prop it back up and pit it into storage until the next time I would use it, I did this so the kids didn’t play with it and also so it wouldn’t get in their play area. Anyway, It would never prop up correctly, it was always a few inches higher in the upright position and therefore the security latch never fit. The other day I propped it up like I usually did and WHAM, the shock bar on the bottom snapped like a twig. I was very upset. I ordered a new bar $50 with shipping, but something I could easily fix. While I was looking at the broken piece, I decided to see if I could fix the incline. I did something that never occurred to me. I set the incline up as far as it could go and then back down again. It went flat! Which meant that the incline was et too high to begin with. So when I was running at Incline 3 it was really a 6! And Level 0 was really 3, so therefore it could never rest in a secure position.
See this is what Blogs are all about mindless dribble. But it makes me feel a whole lot better.

I started a new workout regiment. It consists of lots of crunches and walking/running on the treadmill. A few days in and I am really feeling the burn. I have to look good when I go to Florida in March, not to mention a new family photograph with everybody on Patty’s side of the family in May.

I also plan on being much more proactive with my tasks and schedules. Already this is paying off. With the help of Outlook 2003, I’m going to kick my own but to get things done. This also means spending less time on the computer (but that isn’t working so far in 2005). I want to read more books – at least one novel a month. I’m still working on “Angels and Demons� by Dan Brown.
I don’t spend too much time watching TV. “Smallville� and Desperate Housewives are the shows of choice, but I missed it tonight, “24� starts next week and along with “The Shield� in March. I’ll give “Law and Order: Trial by Jury� a shot when it comes out. I still catch the original L&O, I do like Dennis Farina. I am saddened by the death of Jerry Orbach, he will be missed. Speaking of “Trial by Jury� I saw that Candice Bergen is on board – but wait she is also going to be on Boston Legal. I think it may get confusing.

I also want to spend more time on my site. Some things are done others need finishing. But that may be difficult in it self, starting January 17 I’ll be taking a A+ Certification class to learn more about in intricacies of computers. I do know a lot, but there is so much more to learn. That’s a lot on my plate. And I didn’t even mention that I want to sell more of my stuff on eBay.

The snowstorm came and went today. In all we got about 5½ inches. I had the kids from down the street shovel the snow for me while I played with Erin and Patrick. Patrick’s schools were closed today and I have to say it was tough caring for both of them. They’re getting at that age were they start to fight with each other.

It’s time to go workout now, and watch the Mercedes Championship on ESPN. Golf is back and I couldn’t be happier.