I realize that currently I am the only one actually reading this blog, but that’s ok.  This blog is mainly for me.

I had hoped to use this blog as a way to track and release my thoughts.  What happened is that I got very overwhelmed with work and personal issues.  I wound up barely having time to sleep, much less any extra activities like blogging.  I got very stressed, to the point it was making me mentally and physically sick.

I now realize that writing here “could” have helped me to release and relax.  I will try to keep it up, but with two little boys now it is even harder.

I am trying to get my act together at home.  We are doing some things that should help us get into a healthy rhythm.  I have vowed to quit smoking by this weekend (we will see if I can do it this time).  We have started planning out meals two weeks at a time to assist with budgeting and eating healthier.  I am also trying to get a grip on our wasteful spending habits (anyone got any ideas let me know). Finally I am struggling to get a hold on my job. I am setting limits and boundaries for working times while attempting to be more organized and diligent about what I do work on.

I will detail each of these in the next few days, but I am up for any ideas anyone may have.  I have searched the Internets and (mostly) found only advice that is idealistic not realistic.  So I believe that I will have to come up with something on my own that truly fits my family.

I will start writting again starting January 1.

Pros:

• So far I have found that this app is pretty useful.  It’s fast and works as advertised.
• It’s free through September 22.

Cons:

• I wish I could access the folder of images taken with the iPhone to transfer off the phone, or the ones I upload so I could use them in other apps.
• I have had a few problems viewing videos that have been uploaded, but that may just be the formats I used.
• It’s only free through September 22.

Long time between updates. Long story, maybe I will tell it later. I am back now. I know y’all missed me .

I will begin posting regularly again tomorrow, but just wanted to let whoever know that i am still here.

Ok, this is funny in its own sad way.

Heres hoping that Little Geek v2 is “released” ontime.  He is due the last week of December

Daddy's Little Tax Deduction

On Wednesday, Little Geek’s baby sitter / day care person was sick and since I had taken the day off it was just me and him.

Due to the type of work I do, I rarely get to spend a lot of quality time with my family (even though I work from home most of the time). I believe that because of this, my family and extended family (to some extent) do not think I am completely competent of taking care of Little Geek on my own.

Well, well, well we showed them didn’t we Little Geek.

1. I managed to feed him without any excessive fussing, life threatening accidents, or clean up requiring professionals
2. I somehow worked out how to dress him, and his shirt and shorts matched thank you
3. We worked out an, acceptable for all parties involved, nap schedule
4. We tackled the diaper changing like seasoned pros (not so much as one crippling gagging fit)
5. We worked together to get the diaper bag stocked, all necessary Little Geek equipment loaded into the Geeky Van, and on the road with nary an issue
6. We made the trip to Geeky Momma’s workplace, had lunch, went to the store, and made it home safely… again without any professional help
7. While he napped I got some much needed housework done (still suffering the after effects from that lazy streak on Monday)
8. AND managed to prepare dinner all before Geeky Momma got home (ok, so I ordered pizza and a stromboli… so shoot me)

We had a fun day all in all, and spent some quality time together. It was nice being just a Dad for a day.

—–

Obligatory pics of Little Geek (that there is a good looking fella (he looks just like me… no really…))

Hey! No paparazzi allowed here! This is a private affair.

I said NO paparazzi pal! Especially one with just an iPhone… Get a real camera dude!

Oh fine, but all I am going to do is sit here and chill out whilst totally ignoring your iPhone toting arse.

Ok the following ones at the store were actually taken on Sunday, but so what.

Who is that handsome devil in that window there?

Hey, he has a Mickey just like mine… hmm…

Maybe he wants to join us…

This (free version) is a good time waster.  The 2D drag, rotate, and double tap interface works well.

I am a sucker for anything Drizzt Do’Urden so when there isn’t much else to read, I read one of the series about him. I am currently reading The Orc King (again) while waiting for The Pirate King to be released.

Some other reading I am catching up on.

The Cleric Quintet

Old yes, but I believe this is an often underrated series from R. A. Salvatore

• Canticle
• In Sylvan Shadows
• Night Masks
• The Fallen Fortress
• The Chaos Curse

Still waiting on The Solomon Key from Dan Brown (for several years now) and it is rumored to be released sometime between this fall and mid next year.

I started reading Rules of Deception by Christopher Reich, but couldn’t really get into it.  I think it is a good book based on review, but the writing style is so different from other books I read (constant jumping back and forth) that I just haven’t got into its rhythm.

If you have any other reading suggestions for me, please leave a comment.

It turns out i am using this a lot for post ideas, kinda like a notebook.  I like being mobile.

Digg – BREAKING: Google Chrome Just Launched.

Ok, I am and will always be a sucker for anything shinny and new.  Software is no exception (including bleeding edge mess your junk up pre-beta software). I had to try this out.

I, not unlike many geeks, spent a good part of the day monitoring http://gears.google.com/chrome/ and waiting for it not to redirect to Google’s homepage.

When I finally did see something that indicated I could download the soon to be “best browser EVAR – according to 75.92% of Diggers” then I had to deal with the site crashing both Firefox and IE. Seriously, they both would allow me to read the EULA and click “Accept and Install” but would then lock up hard and only ending the process would bring it back.

I then decided to give it a rest for a bit, reboot, and come back later.

Once it finally allowed me to install it, from a different URL http://www.google.com/chrome/, I must say I was thoroughly underwhelmed. I have got to remember to set my expectations lower and not base them off of Digg comments when it comes to stuff like this.

So here are my simple first impression Pros and Cons (I will save the more technical stuff for later).

Pros:

• Quick loading application
• Clean user interface for the most part (looks much better on Vista than XP due to the lack of candy blue window “chrome”)
• Developer tools: Element inspector, JavaScript Console, JavaScript Debugger, Task Manager
• Incognito feature built in – neat, but not new

Cons:

• Move Along, nothing new here (you can get most of these with Firefox and IE Addons)
• No Extensions (yet)
• For the sites I visit (Digg is a major one), I don’t see much “real” improvement in speed
• I still get to watch the comments on Digg slowly paint, as always
• Some sites seem to be slower
• The configuration options are sparse (again I know its beta)
• I don’t particularly like the “status bar when it chooses” feature. I want to be able to turn it on or off.
• I want/need the option to double click the tab to close it.
• Some options need a lot more polish

I know that Google is trying to change the way people use browsers and that also means the “normal” or “standard” options that other browsers currently have, but I want some of those options where I expect them to be.

Yes, I realize that this is beta stuff I am looking at, but they wanted users to look at, review, complain about, and praise it. So I did.

I will hold any lasting impressions until after I see what they do with the larger response to this beta. Good start, long way to go.  For now, give it a whirl and see what You think.