My laptop has been out of commission since the morning of Thanksgiving. I was using Comodo Internet Security as my firewall/anti-virus program. The problem is that there were things that is wasn’t catching (I really need to stay off torrent sites) so I decided to change to ZoneAlarm. I always liked Zone Alarm, but it caused things to run really slow. So I installed ZoneAlarm and then uninstalled Comodo. That apparently was a mistake somehow, because all of a sudden I could not connect to my wireless router. Luckily both PCs still worked, but after three days of googling my situation, I was unable to find a fix. I reset all kinds of settings, deleted files, etc. but nothing worked. So finally, on Sunday, I started copying files using a flash drive and putting them on Kris’s PC, and then wiped out the hard drive of the laptop and reinstalled Windows. After an hour or so I was back up and running. The problem was trying to remember all the settings I had on Vista and where all the menus were/are for customizing things.
I will still be reinstalling my software for the next few days, slowly but surely. But at least I am able to post blog entries and get my email again.
I still wonder though about my firewall & anti-virus programs. Right now I am using the Windows firewall and the MS Internet Security, whatever it is called. But I how good is it? I mean, viruses are written for Windows and MS programs, so how safe and effective can they be? If anyone knows of a good FW and anti-virus program, email me and let me know.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Teacher Conferences
The Falls public schools had off last week, which means that we had teacher conferences (end of the trimester). Sarah is getting all A’s averaging from 93 to 99 in her classes. All of her teachers said she is a joy to have in class and does outstanding work. Kris and I were very happy to hear that. But we also found out that she is a chatterbox at times in class and needs to work on that. Plus, she goes overboard on getting her homework done, sometimes taking as much as 4 hours a night to complete it. I hate to tell her to take it easy because she is getting such good scores (it must be working right?) But I also want her to enjoy her free time a bit. I think it has more to do with her losing focus and letting her mind (and her feet when she's home) wander when she is doing her homework.
We also received a great report on Ali. Her teacher said she is one of the leaders in her class and that she can count on Ali to help her and the younger kids in the class when she needs it. The only thing we heard about her was the same as S.E., sometimes she is a little chatty when she should be listening. But her reading skills and writing skills are way above average. I think that coming up in the next couple of months we (and by we I mean Ali and myself) will be working on her math facts.
I am so happy that my girls are doing so well in school!
We also received a great report on Ali. Her teacher said she is one of the leaders in her class and that she can count on Ali to help her and the younger kids in the class when she needs it. The only thing we heard about her was the same as S.E., sometimes she is a little chatty when she should be listening. But her reading skills and writing skills are way above average. I think that coming up in the next couple of months we (and by we I mean Ali and myself) will be working on her math facts.
I am so happy that my girls are doing so well in school!
FINALLY!!!
I quit using Incredimail about a month ago. I decided the hassles I had with it weren’t worth it and there was zero tech support from Incredimail, so I decided to go back to the tried and true Mozilla Thunderbird. It is a simple, easy to use program and with all the add-ons available, it can be customized quite nicely. However, the one thing that I wasn’t able to do was import my messages that I had saved in Incredimail, until now. After a day or so of googling and searching message boards, I was able to finally find a fix. There is a, mbox import-export xpi file that you can install that will import all eml messages. NICE! If anyone else is reading this who has the same problem, here is the link.
I am finally up and running Thunderbird and completely done with Incredimail. Good Riddance!
I am finally up and running Thunderbird and completely done with Incredimail. Good Riddance!
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Four Hours I Won't Get Back
Last weekend was Sarah's first dance team (pom pons) competition here in the Falls. It was a day long invitational for cheer and poms. Since the Falls was hosting, Sarah had to be there early. We got there a little after 12:00 after finding our Christmas tree. Sarah, we were told, was supposed to perform a little after 1:00. Unfortunately they were running behind. We ended up getting to see about 5 or 6 cheer teams do their stunts etc.
I was wondering what was taking so long. There was about five minutes in between teams performing and then once everyone was done, there was maybe a 20 minute wait while the judges tallied every team's score. Really???!!!! There was so much wasted time in between performances they could have very easily been back on schedule. Then in between cheer and poms there was about another 20-30 minutes while all the cheer teams and parents cleared out.
Sarah came on about an hour behind (maybe a little less, it's hard to remember since it was so mind numbingly long in between performances). They did a pretty good job I thought, but the wait was torture. There were some other really good squads I have to say, but is that how I really would have wanted to spend three and a half hours on a Saturday????
The good thing about this competition is that it was local. Sarah has another one coming up in Watertown where we won't have the luxury of being able to just show up. We'll have to get there and stay there all day. Oh, and the best part was that it cost me $5 ($13 for Me, Kris, and Alison) to watch it. I hope that someone upstairs was watching and plans on letting me have an extra four hours down the line about 30 or so years from now.
I was wondering what was taking so long. There was about five minutes in between teams performing and then once everyone was done, there was maybe a 20 minute wait while the judges tallied every team's score. Really???!!!! There was so much wasted time in between performances they could have very easily been back on schedule. Then in between cheer and poms there was about another 20-30 minutes while all the cheer teams and parents cleared out.
Sarah came on about an hour behind (maybe a little less, it's hard to remember since it was so mind numbingly long in between performances). They did a pretty good job I thought, but the wait was torture. There were some other really good squads I have to say, but is that how I really would have wanted to spend three and a half hours on a Saturday????
The good thing about this competition is that it was local. Sarah has another one coming up in Watertown where we won't have the luxury of being able to just show up. We'll have to get there and stay there all day. Oh, and the best part was that it cost me $5 ($13 for Me, Kris, and Alison) to watch it. I hope that someone upstairs was watching and plans on letting me have an extra four hours down the line about 30 or so years from now.
New Christmas Tree
Kris and I went out shopping for a new Christmas tree yesterday. After last year, we just couldn't save the tree for another year. The top was broken as well as a bunch of the sockets for the branches. So we drove to a few stores looking to get a new one. The problem is that I HATED every one we looked at. The one or two that I did like were pre-lit trees, which I don't want. I end up putting on enough lights to heat the room (depending on how I am feeling, 1800-2500 lights). The unlit ones just look cheap, and the color of the needles looks unnatural.
We ended up settling on one that has some pine cones and red berries mingled within the boughs. Also, it is a little wider than I wanted. I was hoping to find one that was 44" in diameter due to our space contraints. We ended up settling on one that is 54". Hopefully it won't cause any problems going up. I am also hoping this tree lasts for a while.
We ended up settling on one that has some pine cones and red berries mingled within the boughs. Also, it is a little wider than I wanted. I was hoping to find one that was 44" in diameter due to our space contraints. We ended up settling on one that is 54". Hopefully it won't cause any problems going up. I am also hoping this tree lasts for a while.
No More Indians
Well, the Falls lost the state championship football game 7-0. Tough break. But what is even more disappointing is finding out that that the Falls is going to be losing its nickname next year. Rumor has it that the Falls will no longer be called "The Indians" and will be changing its name to "The Falcons" next year.
Apparently the old principal at the High School was fighting for years to keep the name. A few years ago they changed the logo from an Indian Head to an "F" with a couple of feathers. It was a compromise to the morons who were demanding the change out of respect for the First Nation tribes. Now that principal has retired and word is that the new principal at the HS is doing everything he can to change the name.
First off, the name Indians was in honor of the Menomonee tribe, who lived in the area originally, and for whom the Menomonee River is named (which cuts through the NE corner of the village). If we have to change the name of the HS mascot then why not the name of the village as well? It is completely ridiculous. Secondly, why should we have to knuckle under to the wants of one clown who is running the school? My guess is that if you asked the residents of the falls, you would get about 75%-25% in favor of keeping Indians, and in my opinion that is all that matters.
I was told that the reason for the switch to "Falcons" is so that the school can keep the F logo with the feathers. I would like to offer a different scenario. It is being done so that the school doesn't have to spend thousands of dollars to change letterhead, business cards, merchandise, etc. I saw it happen when Marquette changed it's name from Warriors. I seem to recall the word million being tossed about when the cost of the change of updating all the materials such as letterhead was discussed. While I'm sure that it wouldn't be quite as much to change a HS mascot name, it is still going to have a cost, one that is entirely unnecessary. And in this day of the crappy economy, we don't need to be soaking joe taxpayer anymore just to satisfy some moroon who think it might be offensive to call your team The Indians.
If the name does change, I will be doing my best to be an a$$ at all games I attend. Sort of like at Marquette games when the students still chant We are Warriors.
Apparently the old principal at the High School was fighting for years to keep the name. A few years ago they changed the logo from an Indian Head to an "F" with a couple of feathers. It was a compromise to the morons who were demanding the change out of respect for the First Nation tribes. Now that principal has retired and word is that the new principal at the HS is doing everything he can to change the name.
First off, the name Indians was in honor of the Menomonee tribe, who lived in the area originally, and for whom the Menomonee River is named (which cuts through the NE corner of the village). If we have to change the name of the HS mascot then why not the name of the village as well? It is completely ridiculous. Secondly, why should we have to knuckle under to the wants of one clown who is running the school? My guess is that if you asked the residents of the falls, you would get about 75%-25% in favor of keeping Indians, and in my opinion that is all that matters.
I was told that the reason for the switch to "Falcons" is so that the school can keep the F logo with the feathers. I would like to offer a different scenario. It is being done so that the school doesn't have to spend thousands of dollars to change letterhead, business cards, merchandise, etc. I saw it happen when Marquette changed it's name from Warriors. I seem to recall the word million being tossed about when the cost of the change of updating all the materials such as letterhead was discussed. While I'm sure that it wouldn't be quite as much to change a HS mascot name, it is still going to have a cost, one that is entirely unnecessary. And in this day of the crappy economy, we don't need to be soaking joe taxpayer anymore just to satisfy some moroon who think it might be offensive to call your team The Indians.
If the name does change, I will be doing my best to be an a$$ at all games I attend. Sort of like at Marquette games when the students still chant We are Warriors.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Breech in the Hull
As I was cleaning up from working outside Sunday I happened to be moving some things around in the basement when I happened to look up near the gas meter. I saw a clump of leaves and grass that looked like a nest sitting under the front corner of the house. It was covered in cobwebs so I figured that it was old, but I looked around the foundation for holes and didn’t see anything. There was obviously something that was living in there at some time in the past 6 months or so. I went outside and shone a flashlight under the siding and asked Sarah to watch for light coming through into the basement and as soon as I got to the corner she yelled. I crawled down to take a look and there was a small hole about an inch in diameter right at the corner of the house. So I took to filling the gap with expandable crack filler from the outside and I will try to get the inside patched with concrete filler.
It’s a good thing we have a cat or we may have had mice running all over the house by now (insert laugh). Actually I think it may have been the chipmunks that we caught this past summer since I saw them going into holes under the porch.
It’s a good thing we have a cat or we may have had mice running all over the house by now (insert laugh). Actually I think it may have been the chipmunks that we caught this past summer since I saw them going into holes under the porch.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Painting
I was lucky enough to be able to get the doorways painted on Sunday. The forecast called for mid 50s and partly sunny. Well, that didn’t happen. I don’t know if it broke the 50 mark. I was worried that the paint wouldn’t dry, or it would dry but because of the temperature I’ll be having peeling problems within a year or so. But the primer was dry in about 3-4 hours (or at least dry enough to be able to put on the top coat) so I was able to get both doorways painted. Now it really makes the doors look crummy so I know what one of my next projects is going to be. I also needed to replace the caulk around our two front windows. Unfortunately I only got to one of them. The good thing though, is that I was in by 4:45 so I got to see some of the Packers game this week.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Bad Drivers
Kris and I were driving out to the place where Alison was at for her friend's birthday party today and I got a late start. I was figuring on 20 minutes to get there (out in Sussex) and I was cleaning up paint chips and putting things away before leaving, so by the time we hit the road, it was 3:41, 19 minutes until the party was supposed to be over. So as we pull out, I figure I will just go a few mph over the limit and we'll get there in plenty of time. After all it is all two lane, country road driving. Well I end up getting stuck behind some clown who is doing about 2 mph BELOW the speed limit. I ended up taking the first turn and taking a different route. We ended up getting there with a couple of minutes to spare. Then after we got home and Sarah left for the football game, we took Ali with to the grocery store. We were driving home some stupid lady decides to do a U-turn as I am pulling out, but then she decides to stop in the opening in the median because there is a car coming, even though there are two full lanes. Turns out the woman is talking on her cell phone as well as working a cigarette, both of which are obviously more important to her than driving her car. Man, I try to be patient but sometimes I wonder how the state of WI decides who gets a driver's license.
Still Lots to Do
Well I didn't get as much done today as I had hoped. I managed to scrape & sand the stoops, but that was it. Alison had to go to a birthday party so driving her to and from it kind of put a kink in the plans. I'm all prepped, so I guess first thing tomorrow I'll get the primer on. Sarah is up in Oshkosh with a friend right now watching the Falls-Appleton North semifinal football game. As I am typing this there is just under 2:00 to go in the fourth quarter and the Falls is up 10-0. Looks like we'll be heading to Camp Randall next week to take on Marquette again. Maybe we'll go, who knows. It isn't often your team makes it to the State Championship game.
Winterizing
It looks like this weekend is going to be the last semi-good weekend of the year, so I'll be outside getting everything winterized. I have to check the caulking around the windows and I wanted to scrap and re-paint the door stoops. Hopefully I can get it all done before it rains.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Need a Christmas Tree
So what has been happening? Well in the two weeks since I have updated things, I have been working like a dog, putting in long hours. It could be worse though, I could have no job to put in the long hours at right? It is frustrating though knowing that there are things that we are doing now that I had suggested two years ago and was poo-poohed. Hopefully since the shake up in the management structure we'll see a little more action. the good thing is that I am getting more projects to work on and less butt time at my desk, which I like. But it also doesn't keep me from having to do all the paperwork stuff, I just have to fit it into the daily schedule.
This weekend, Kris is working and I will have a bunch of things to get done around the house. Hopefully I can finish off the list. One of the main things is to go get a Christmas tree. Last year, our tree broke when I was putting it together, a bunch of the holders for the branches broke. So at the end of the season, I just tossed it, so now we are treeless. It is going to be hard to find a tree that is big enough for all our ornaments and will hold all my lights. Last year's total was (I think) 1900? I should go look up my entry on putting the tree up last year and see what I said.
This weekend, Kris is working and I will have a bunch of things to get done around the house. Hopefully I can finish off the list. One of the main things is to go get a Christmas tree. Last year, our tree broke when I was putting it together, a bunch of the holders for the branches broke. So at the end of the season, I just tossed it, so now we are treeless. It is going to be hard to find a tree that is big enough for all our ornaments and will hold all my lights. Last year's total was (I think) 1900? I should go look up my entry on putting the tree up last year and see what I said.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Trick or Treat
Ali had fun with her first excursion trick or treating by herself. In fact, when we got home she insisted on handing out the candy to all the other kids who came to the door.
Then after she finished eating her dinner and in between handing out candy, she decided to take an inventory of her loot:
We only lasted about an hour. We made it up and down three streets before Ali got too cold. Two years ago it was in the low 30's, then last year we decided to go to Disney for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween where it was in the upper 30's/low 40's, and last night it was in the upper 30's. Someone tell me when this global warming stuff is supposed to happen.
We'll find out shortly how Sarah's night went since she was going to a friends for trick or treating and a Halloween Party sleepover.
Then after she finished eating her dinner and in between handing out candy, she decided to take an inventory of her loot:
We only lasted about an hour. We made it up and down three streets before Ali got too cold. Two years ago it was in the low 30's, then last year we decided to go to Disney for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween where it was in the upper 30's/low 40's, and last night it was in the upper 30's. Someone tell me when this global warming stuff is supposed to happen.We'll find out shortly how Sarah's night went since she was going to a friends for trick or treating and a Halloween Party sleepover.
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