Friday, November 30, 2012

Furnace Failure

Over the past weekend we had a small issue with our furnace.  The furnace had gone out overnight so that when I woke up Sunday morning and it was only 60° in the house.  This has happened before, and because of the issue we had with the air conditioner over the summer, I know the furnace is old and needs to be replaced.  It has happened before ( a couple of times last year, maybe a couple of times the year before that I can recall) and usually when it does happen, I just need to go reset it by flipping the breaker off and then back on.  So I did it and about 30 seconds later, the furnace was going. 

Unfortunately, it happened again on Sunday night/Monday morning.  When I got up to get ready for work, I went downstairs and reset it again with the breaker, and put calling someone to come take a look at the furnace on my list of things to do.  I was busy at work all day Monday and didn't get a chance to call, and since the furnace was running I thought no problem, I'll call as soon as I have a chance.  So Tuesday morning when I got up for work it was down to 59° in the family room, and I could tell as soon as I got out of bed.  Luckily, it reset again as soon as I flipped the breaker off and back on, but I made sure that I called Tuesday morning to have someone come out and check things out.  Luckily the place I called was able to send someone out right away.  When they guy looked at the furnace he apparently knew right away things were not good.  The verdict is that we need a new furnace.  I am pretty sure that when we moved in the paperwork we had said it was installed new in 1991, which then puts it at almost 22 years old.  The service guy said he could replace some part that it needed right away so that it wouldn't keep going out, but it would need to be replaced. 

So now we have things scheduled to have the furnace and A/C replaced in a couple of weeks.  Even the small repair he did isn't perfect as we could see the thermostat showed the furnace was on and running but there was no warm air blowing out, and when I went downstairs to check on it, it wasn't running.  But after a bit of flipping switched on and off, it kicked in.  So I guess we are getting lucky.  I look at it like at least we can keep it going until they can get it replaced.  It wouldn't have been very good if it had just up and died and left us without heat at all.

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Fall Concert

I almost forgot, Alison had her Fall concert for school about two weeks ago.  It was really a fun program.  It is one thing that I think her music teacher does a lot better than the music teacher from Riverside did (no offense to the Riverside music teacher).  This years program was an old time radio show.  Since Alison is on the chorus, she sang a lot more than just her class would have done alone.  Then again, there are probably less than 10 kids in 5th grade who are not also in the chorus, so it was essentially all of the 5th grade anyway.

I would have posted the video clips but the clips are each about 15-20 minutes long.  Maybe I'll post one later.  They show was circa 1943, and even included commercials that they would have played at the time.  And the songs they did were also the songs that they would have played on the radio in 1943.  Alison even got a little solo part in Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy. 

UPDATE:  Sadly, I just checked and my videos are too large.  In order to upload them to Vimeo, I'll need to do some editing to cut them down.  I'll try and find some time over the weekend, so check back.

Water Main Break

On Monday Kris got home from work and had a big surprise waiting for her.  There had been a water main break across the street from our house.  The village utility workers had been there and had it fixed by the time she got home, but the street in front of the house was covered with water and mud, which then got into the driveway.  As soon as she got in she had to flush all the pipes in the house. 

The guy across the street has the approach to his house all dug up.  They actually filled the hole and paved over it with blacktop instead of concrete.  That would be driving me insane, not to mention the fact that the grass would have been all dug up around it as well.  Luckily it didn't burst in front of our house.

Happy Anniversary

On this day 21 years ago, I had gone out to a bar with my roommates for the night.  We used to go to one particular bar on North avenue in Milwaukee called Judges.  There wasn't a whole lot to do there.  They had a couple of TVs and played my kind of music, but not much else.  So we were there watching basketball and playing darts.  That night my friends and I were throwing darts and a couple of girls wanted to play the winners on the board (which was me and my friend). 

In between watching the basketball game that was on and going to get pitchers of beer, these girls were cheating when our backs were turned.  We ended up losing the game, which was something that was very uncharacteristic for us, especially losing to a couple of girls.  And that was one reason we knew we had been cheated.

Well, those girls ended up hanging out with us for the night and because one of them had a drink dumped on her jacket, I let her wear my UWM Rugby jacket home.  As most people know, that girl is now my wife.  She'll tell you that we were just that bad at darts, but don't believe her.  We were cheated.  But on this day 21 years ago we started our journey together, sort of.  It took me a month to get her to agree to go out with me, but I landed her.  And it never would have happened if we hadn't run into each other on this day in 1991.

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Corrupt USB Drive

I had a very long day today between getting the lights up outside and working on the computer.  I had picked out a few possible pictures for our Christmas card this year and was sitting down with Kris to pick out which one we would use.  She asked about whether we had a picture of the girls together from the first day of school.  I did, but I had put it onto a USB drive for storage, as I have with all of our photos from about the last 5 or 6 years at least.  So I got it out, plugged it into my laptop, and a message pops up saying that the drive is not formatted, do I want to format it now?  Well, I know for sure what happens when you reformat something, so I knew things weren't good.

I unplugged it and plugged it into Kris' desktop.  I got the same message.  I tried it in the kids' computer down iin the basement and the same message popped up.  When I checked the properties of the drive, it said there was 0 data written on it.  I knew that wasn't right because I had just transferred pictures to is about two weeks earlier.  So I knew there was still data on there, I just needed to figure out how to get it.

This was the start of a massive migraine for the day.  After about half an hour of googling for some sort of lead on where to begin, I had found some free programs that "guaranteed" to recover your data from a corrupted USB drive.  I ended up installing a couple and trying them out.  So while they were scanning, I went outside to get the lights set up.  Like I said, this was the start of a tremendous headache.  I think it was because I had two years worth of photos on that USB drive, and I was freaking out that I was going to lose them.  I had that happen a few years ago when I was transferring photos to CDs, and I deleted the originals thinking I had copied them to a CD for storage.  Well I either missed some and thought I copied them, or I thought I had a duplicate CD and threw it out.  Either way, I lost about 4 months worth of pictures, which included mother's day.  Kris wasn't happy at all.  So now I had three times as many pictures possibly on the chopping block.

After a break of a half an hour, some lunch and a handful of painkillers I came back to work on the USB drive.  Unfortunately, the "guaranteed" programs got me absolutely nothing.  So I started some more research.  After another hour, I managed to find another program that said it could get the data off of a corrupted USB drive.  This one however was a DOS program, and the reviewer said that many people felt intimidated by the DOS based program so they just skipped using it, but the reviewer went on to say it was the best one he had found.  So I gave it a try, and 2 minutes after installing it, I was watching the progress window listing the number of files recovered.  I let out a huge sigh of relief because I was getting my data back.  The program I got to do it was free, so maybe I'll throw the author a bone and donate $10 or something to him.  It's worth at least that to get all of our memories back.

Kris suggested that maybe wee should subscribe to Carbonite, or one of those other data backup services.  Again, with my luck in losing things (having computers crash and losing data) it might not be a bad "insurance policy".  I think I might look into it next week when I have a few minutes.

EDIT: It just dawned on me that I should list the name of the program in case anyone comes across this while looking for how to retrieve data from a corrupted drive.  I used a program called TestDisk and PhotoRecovery from a company called CG Security.  You can download it here.  I highly recommend it.

A Cat's Christmas

So, as long as I am on the topic of the Christmas tree, we have already had a couple of incidents with Samson and the tree this weekend.  He has gone under the tree and been swatting at some of the ornaments.  Luckily each time he has gone after them someone was sitting in the family room to chase him away.  I am worried that he will get a little mischievous while we are gone at work and end up knocking the tree over, or at the very least, knocking off some of the more fragile ornaments. 

It's strange because last year we didn't have these kinds of problems with Samson.  Yeah, he liked laying under the tree on the skirt, but he didn't try playing with the ornaments, at least not like he has so far this year.  I actually saw him lunge up into the tree after something.  Whether it was playing with the lights, or an ornament, I don't know, but we can't let him keep doing it.  Maybe we just need to get him more toys or something to keep his attention away from the tree.

Ready for Christmas

Every year, the day after Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the Christmas season obviously, but it also means getting our Christmas stuff out.  Usually it is the only time I have to get the tree up and decorated because as anyone who knows me realizes that with the number of lights I put on our tree, it take me at least a day to get it up and the lights strung, and then another half a day the get the ornaments on.  This year, I was planning on moving the tree to the front of the family room in front of the big window.  However, with the shape of the room and the arrangement of the furniture, it just isn't conducive for placing the tree there. 

Maybe next year if we get some new furniture and rearrange the set up, we can move it to the front of the room.  The problem now is the same as it has been the last couple of years.  The tree is too close to the thermostat so that with the number of lights I have on the tree (2000 this year) the extra heat generated causes the temp in the room to rise so that the heat doesn't go on at night.  That makes for a cold upstairs for sleeping, so we'll have to keep the lights off for a while later at night.  Mybe I need to star t looking at getting some LED lights for the tree next year.  The problem is that with the cost of a string of LEDs it'll cost about $200-$250 just for lights.

I finished putting up the few lights we have for outside today, so as it stands, I think we're all set as far as decorations go for Christmas this year.  Maybe I'll keep looking as we are out for better lights.  The ones we have now are getting old and I think will need to be replaced next year, so if I come across something that isn't to horribly expensive I'll get it and stock it for next year.

Thanksgiving

We had a very fun Thanksgiving this year.  After going to spend some time with Kris's dad at his apartment, we drove up to have Thanksgiving dinner with my Aunt and her family, which was nice since we never get to see them even though they only live 20 minutes away.  It was a little bit hectic with children and dogs and cooking etc. all going on, but we still managed to be able to visit.  The funny thing was it ended up being a lot like the Thanksgivings I remember as a child with my grandparents.  There was the card table in the corner for the kids, and unfortunately, one of my adult cousins  was stuck at the kiddie table.  It was sort of like a bad joke, I felt bad for her.

At the end of the night as we were getting ready to go, my youngest cousin ended up splitting open his forehead.  I'm not quite sure how it happened, but it got pretty hectic with everyone scrambling.  Kris and I joked that it was a good thing there were two doctors in the house.  Luckily it wasn't all that awful.  My aunt ended up getting the bleeding to stop and I think she was planning on just derma-bonding it closed, so it should be ok.  I am hoping that we stay in better touch, but that will remain to be seen.  With our busy schedules as well as hers, it sounds good to say we will, but who knows.

Chips in the Car

Even as recently as about two years ago, I used to be fanatical about keeping my cars washed.  However, in the last couple of years, I haven't had time to hand wash the cars on a regular basis and I have resorted to taking them to automatic washes.  However, since I have done this, I haven't been giving the cars the once over like I should.  The result is that I have found a few chips in the paint of my car. 

There is one in the hood, most likely from a stone or some other sort of road debris.  But I have a couple of chips and scrapes/scratches on the passenger side door and fender, in the exact spots that would line up with a car door.  This, to me, is the ultimate in being rude/inconsiderate.  I mean how much of an a-hole do you need to be to just let your car door fly open into the car next to you?  So now, as much as I hate to do it, I am going to need to take it in to get the spots fixed, because with winter coming, and all the road salt that gets used here, it is just inviting rust to start, since the spots are down to the base metal underneath.  This is something I just have no tolerance for.

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Winter Ready

I think that we are finally winter ready after last weekend, at least for the most part.  I actually had to end up cutting my grass on Sunday.  I think this is the latest in the year that I have ever had to cut it.  I cut it more in six weeks in October & November than I did in all of August and September.  I dropped the mower deck a notch this time though so even if it grows a little more before the final killing frost I shouldn’t need to cut it again.

I also got the patio furniture put away and the grill covered, and I also was able to patch up the big cracks in the concrete from the hot weather over the summer.  I just hope that the driveway stays together over the winter.  I am not quite ready to rip it up and have it replaced just yet.

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Teacher Conferences

We had Sarah’s teacher conferences a couple of weeks ago at the high school.  It was quite interesting meeting her teachers since we couldn’t make the open house in September.  I was pleasantly surprised to hear that Sarah has taken quite an interest in science and math classes.  I suppose that’s because those were the subjects that always interested me.  And I think her teachers in those classes are very enthusiastic about the material they teach.  That also makes a huge difference.

We also found out that Sarah is going to be eligible to take AP courses in her junior year.  That would be a big plus for her I think, especially if she ends up going to a state college/university.  When I went to UWM, the biggest waste of time (and one of the reasons I didn’t get my degree from there) was the first two years of general classes that had absolutely nothing to do with your major.  If Sarah can get those out of the way in HS, and get college credit for them, she can start right in on classes that will help toward he major, and that will put her in better shape in the long run in terms of graduating on schedule.

But enough of that, the main thing is that she is getting an A- average right now, which is a good thing and her teachers all say she is keeping up with her work just fine.  So for now the worry level is low for Kris and me.

Alison's teacher conference was about a week earlier than Sarah's.  It was actually in October which just shows how far behind I am in keeping things updated.  We met with Alison's teacher and went over her work so far and just like always, we received glowing reviews.  Alison came along to help her teacher present some of her work so we could see what she has been doing.  Her teacher said that she is all set to start middle school, which I guess is what we are shooting for in 5th grade, right?

Monday, November 19, 2012

2012 Indian Invite

Last weekend, we kicked off the competitive cheerleading season with the Menomonee Falls Indian Invite.  This year was Alison's first year with the Jr. Indians squad and Sarah's first JV competition.

The Jr. Indian routine was the same as the one they worked on for Jr. Indians night at the football game this past season.  So it wasn't much new.  In fact, it is usually the same, or just about the same every year since Sarah started.  But I think it was exciting for Alison to actually perform at a competition even if it was only an exhibition performance.




I was more curious about how Sarah's team would do.  Last year's JV squad was very good and many of them are now on the Varsity team.  I actually don;t think there are any seniors on this year's Varsity squad.  But Kris and I were both pleasantly surprised at how well they performed.  I wasn't wild about the music for their routine, and luckily we couldn't really hear it because the sound system in the gym was so poor.  I don't know if there was a problem with the sound itself, or if their system is just that bad and needs to be replaced.  There were a couple other parents who said the same thing, so at least I know it wasn't just me.


Saturday, November 3, 2012

Halloween 2012

Halloween 2012 has come and gone.  I think Alison wants to go trick or treating one more year.  That was what Sarah did, even though she went when she was in 8th grade, but that was just sort of a last minute thing, and she didn't go around the neighborhood, it was just a few houses with friends as they were walking back to one of her friends' houses.

This year the time was shortened from 5:30-7:30.  It was a rush getting home from work and helping Kris get Alison ready.  In fact, this year, Alison didn't want Kris and I to take her, so instead, Sarah served as her chaperone.  She left at about 5:50, and was back here around 7:00.  She went as "Morticia Adams".  I think that was the costume Sarah used when she was in 5th grade.  I could go back and look, but I'm too lazy.


So I stayed home and with Kris and handed out candy to kids.  I was surprised that there really weren't that many kids.  We had a big push for about a 35-40 minutes, and once we got to 7:00 we didn't have any more trick or treaters.  We also had a couple of little kids ask if Sarah was home.  I had no idea who they were, and Sarah obviously didn't either.  We even had one of Sarah's teachers stop by with his son and ask if she was home (it's no big surprise though, because he lives right down the street).  And this year, I don't think we had quite as many older kids as we have had in the past.  Does that mean that we are getting old and all the kids are moving out of the neighborhood?  hmmmm.... 


 This was Alison's booty for the night.  Not bad for about and hour's work.

And of course, it wouldn't be a good Halloween without getting compliments on my jack o'lanterns.  I counted six compliments from parents and at least three or four kids who were impressed enough to say "wow, cool pumpkins".  I even spent a couple of minutes talking pumpkin carving and preservation with one guy, giving him tips on how to make them last without drying out.  I guess that makes me quite a nerd.

The New Phone

Last week we finally went and got Sarah her new phone, an HTC One.  I was a little bummed to see that of the choices I had, there were only a couple non-smart phone choices.  It would have been fine if not for the extra $$$ to get a data plan.  Then again, Sarah was always coming up with $20-$30 in data charges each month for whatever reason, so now I guess we're covered.

That leaves me as the only one without a smart phone.  I can upgrade mine in a couple of months so I might look at one then.  I really want to get one that I can use to double as an electronic organizer so I can get rid of the Day Timer I currently use.  But like I said, that won't be for a couple of months yet.  And who knows, by the time that I can upgrade, they'll be a couple of models removed from whatever the current models are now, and I am sure more expensive.