Big Decisions and Big Milestones

Last week was pretty trying on me. I was trying to come to a conclusion on whether or not I should drop my Calculus class. After a day or so, I finally decided to drop it. in the days that followed I could feel my stress level decreasing exponentially. I was able to focus on my work and my family for a change. It has been wonderful.

Speaking of wonderful, my wife and I celebrated our 18 year wedding anniversary on Saturday. I am truly thankful that she had decided that I was worthy enough to be her husband and even more thankful that she may still think so. She is the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to me. She gives me a lot of crap about stuff but she is my best friend and I know where she is coming from, most of the time. We also realized that the next day we were celebrating the day in which the amount of time we have been married was more than the time we were not. I would not want it any other way.

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The Bet Picture Ever

This was taken before my sister-in-laws wedding began. The photographer was going around taking all kinds of pictures. This one sorta just happened with a little bit of direction. I can’t stop looking at it. These are 3 of the 4 things that keep me going. I wish my oldest was in it but she was busy getting ready at the time.

UStream reacts? Maybe

After writing my post and tweeting and plurking about it, UStream started working when I played back the show. I don’t know if I had anything to do with it or not. I check all my settings, tried to get it to work in my different browsers and nothing worked. Well it’s working at the moment so I have calmed down but I am very nearly looking for a replacement, just in case.

Venting through social media, results?

From the Hauler to the Track came out of an experiment that I did with UStream.TV a while back when I tried to broadcast from home with very little equipment and it has been a source of entertainment for me ever since. We broadcast the show on Sunday nights at 9pm Central and I usually will watch/listen to the recorded version on Monday for a good laugh at myself and see how thing went. Well, this morning seems to be different. I have been trying to listen to it and several recorded shows that I like that occur when I can’t get to them. It is really frustrating to watch the show without audio. I have sent 2 tweets to @UstreamTV today and i hope maybe to get an answer. If this is an issue like twitter had I know of several other sights that can do what UStream does. I like the service, it is relatively reliable, and has not really given us too much difficulties. If I can’t hear the audio on anything other than live shows then I am out and taking as many people as I can with me because that is just crap.

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Social Networking and working

I am telling you the distraction are mounting. It is so easy to be in contact with so many people in so many ways it can be hard to turn it off. I am getting to the point of overload. it is definitely time for me to take a look and scale back or combine as much as possible. i love having the great conversations with all these people around the world and learning from them and trying to help them as well. It is really like being in a worldwide small town. Getting some work done now after finishing this and my sandwich.

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Congrats to Katrina and Noey

This past weekend is one that I will not soon forget. It has finally come to pass, my sister-in-law got married. I am so happy that she has found a man that she can spend her life with. We got to spend time with the extended family and had a good time at the reception. All my kids were in the wedding party and things went well, they looked great. Having known Katrina since she was 10 years old, it is like my own little sister has gotten married. I don’t know if she reads this but if she does I just want her to know that we love her and are very happy for her. She has dealt with her share of crap and deserves to have a chance to get things right.

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Exciting Times and Gratitude.

Boy, things got exciting over the last few days. it all started when we, the guys at From the Hauler to the Track, started looking it getting a domain of our own in order for the show to grow. We didn’t jump into anything after looking into it which turns out working for the best. I set up a free wordpress.com blog in order to mess around with it and try figure out what we are going to evolve into. I told Chris at Nosebleed that I was doing it since he hosts our audio for the show and distributed it for us and I contribute to the blog. I did not, in anyway, want to turn my back on him. He offered to bring www.fromthehaulertothetrack.com to life. And now it lives.

I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to be associated with the group of guys at Nosebleed. They are a fun group to listen to and have great insights from the fans perspective. If you are tired of hearing the stuffed shirts and talking heads at ESPN or Fox or Sporting News radio, you really should check out what we have to offer.

Summer School

Starting tonight my continued adventure through the gauntlet that is a Mechanical Engineering Degree, begins again. Monday and Wednesday nights for the next 11 weeks will be full of frustration, headaches, homework, and a lack of sleep. Is it all worth it? I hope so.

Random Friday Scattered Brain Dump

I am not really sure what it is that I want to write about but I just know I want to write so I will do a list, people love lists:

1. The Daily Nosebleed is so great. It gives me the sports fix early in the day without giving me tired head.
2. Twitter is greatness.
3. My kids wore me out pretty good last night. I don’t know exactly what it was that they were doing to bug me but it made my hair hurt.
4. Getting new software to make your job easier is like making yourself highly efficient or expendable, whichever  is your point of view.
5. Multi-tasking needs to be scaled back.
6. Golf is good for the soul.
7. My wife is hot!!!
8. Why do you get tired after working but by the time you get home you are full of energy?
9. IT guys get paid to watch stuff install? Nice racket.
10. Why am I following more people from Philly than anywhere else?

Have a great weekend everybody. Let’s Go Red Wings !!!!!

This Internet thing is changing my life.

When I originally went back to school around 1996 I was studying Application Programming and Web Development. I had no idea of what would be going on now. I had an inclination that all the applications would be web based. Now look at what is going on from your point of view 10 years ago.

If I was to tell you that you would be in contact with virtually everybody you know instantly in 140 characters or less via the internet, cellphone, email, or what every else. Would you believe that you could post a rant about how much things have change by using an application that is solely on the web (TADA!!!) You can create a video program and have an audience from all over the world from your house, in your PJ’s, for free. You could download your choice of audio or video programs at will.

I am not trying to say that I could see it coming. I am trying to say that in this time anything is possible. We have 4 computers in my house. My wife and I chat through email. I have “met” people from all over the world and can carry on a “conversation” by several means. Skype - my goodness, that is changing the way I look at things almost wholesale. I can be almost anywhere at anytime. It is just making the world smaller and opportunities greater. I encourage anyone to get involve, just use moderation. It can be overwhelming the amount of things you can do, so do what you like and remember to back away if you get to wrapped up in it. My life is changing because of it, some good and some bad but mostly good.