Mikes Blog

Well got back from vacation last sunday night much later than I wanted to, but due to unforeseen circumstances with the vehicle I had borrowed we ended up leaving it in Jackson, MS, and renting an Explorer to get back with. Much to my surprise the person I borrowed it from was not upset, and was VERY apologetic about the situation. We found a way to get it back. For several days my neighbor and I put our heads together in trying to figure out how to get it back and what to do about the problems. We ended up having an auto transport pick up the Van and it should be here hopefully by next monday or tuesday. We will see. That really was the only terrible part about the vacation. Driving in a van that was overheating, in a part of the country that is VERY hot this time of year and VERY humid. Undoubtedly that caused a bit of tension in the air with everybody involved. Short tempers, verbal snaps, and small outbursts. But I think everybody at the end realized what was going on, and just really wanted to get home so as to relax and take a breath. I don’t believe any harm was done. And if there was hopefully time heals. But anyway on to happier subjects.

The vacation itself was wonderful. The new Iphones proved to be invaluable many times. First starting on the way down to Gulf Shores. We ordered a pizza to go, and had it delivered as we pulled into the drive. Second as research tools to find different areas around that we wanted to see, and to locate ourselves when the GPS unit I had borrowed from a friend got us lost, or tried to drive us into the ocean. Then finally to find auto parts stores and repair shops when the Van broke down. We really were constantly using the Iphone and the tools it provided, as well as some apps we were able to download on the fly to help us out in a time of need. To be really honest because of the tools available on the Iphone I actually found it easier to find things on the Iphone then trying to google them on my laptop. So I am VERY happy with our Iphone’s.

The house we stayed in was extremely nice. For some reason I never got a picture of it. But I will next time we are down. It was also very nice to be able to finally get to know my in-law siblings better and spend time with them. For some time I have felt disconnected with them, and unable to connect with them on an adult level. But the vacation helped that and I don’t feel like such a stranger anymore. It was really nice to sit on the back deck after the kids had fallen asleep and just knock back a few brews and converse with them. I really feel like I got to know them all a lot better, and hopefully they got to know Mary and I a lot better also. Other than just really looking at her as the little sister, and me as the guy who married her.

I only went swimming once while we down there. Mainly because it seemed like we were constantly running around and doing things. Which I hope next time we go, to not have to be gone so much running and shopping and just be able to sit, relax, and kickback. Poor Tony on the first day burned the hell out of himself. To the point to where we was in a bit of pain for a good portion of the vacation. What a trooper though he kept going. I know if I had those blisters I wouldn’t have wanted to do anything but lay in bed, and not allow ANYTHING to touch me.

I have to say I was a bit worried about how much the all the children where going to annoy me. And really they didn’t. I had fun with them, and found a lot of Joy in just watching them, and teasing them every now and then. They are good kids. As all kids they can get to be to much. But that is what being a kid is all about. I especially enjoyed Nate, Georges youngest. He was a trip. I swear he is a two year old version of Mathew McCantstaysober. I kept trying to get him to say “ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT, ALL RIIIGGHT” He finally did on one of the final days there. I also had him convinced I could take his brain out, and put it back it whenever I wanted. It was really cute.

People have asked me what we did. And besides going to New Orleans Friday and Saturday, we really didn’t do a whole lot. I know I drank A LOT of beer. Ate to much, smoked to much, and slept to much. But what is a vacation supposed to be? Right? We did however make it around to a few Art Gallery’s. To look at some of the local art. We bought a few pieces we are very proud of. AND to much Mary’s and I suprise she was asked to go back to Gulf Shores and be a featured Artist for an art show at a local Design/Art studio after showing them some of her work on her Iphone. As well as another Gallery said she would be very happy to purchase some of Mary’s work in order to be placed in her Gallery for sale. So it was a rather productive vacation as well. However I don’t think Mary had ever intended for that to happen. It was a very nice suprise and I believe gave Mary the confidence boost she needed to finally show off her work more and maybe even sell a few pieces. I am so very proud of her. I admire all her talent. I wish I had something I can sink my teeth into like that.

We did go on a Dolphin cruise. It was okay. It was more a leisurely boat ride that you got to see a few Dolphins and drink a bunch of beer on. We officially paid more than we have ever paid for a meal in New Orleans. Here is a picture of the check. Yes that total is real. Believe me we had NO idea we had racked up a bill like that until it got there. Thank god for credit cards. However it was a great meal. And for Mary and I it was really cool to eat the first restaurant we ate at in New Orleans on our Honeymoon.

Oh! We saw possibly the largest Moth I have EVER seen in my life! It was like straight from the Jurassic period. Picture below. We saw this at a Gas Station on our way down to Gulf Shores. I just happened to spot it as I was throwing away some trash. If anybody knows what this actually is I would love to know. Otherwise I am going to continue thinking it traveled through a time warp somewhere.

Okay well I have had a couple of days with my Iphone to play with it and find some great apps. I have to say I LOVE IT! A couple of my favorite apps so far is Shazam. This app is great if you don’t know a song on the radio and you really want the song. You basically start it up, it listens and identifies the Song, Album, and Artist for you.

Another great app I found is GoSkyWatch. This one is really cool in that it uses the GPS in the phone to locate you in the world. Then using the accelerometer if you point the Iphone at a star or planet it will tell you what it is, and move the screen to what you are pointing at. VERY COOL!!

That is just two of the apps I am using. I can go forever on some of the great apps I have found. But anyways. I love the phone itself. It is great. One complaint. The battery life is terrible. But in a device this small. With all the power it has got to be using I can understand. So make sure you ALWAYS have a means to charge with you that is handy. I can pretty much tell you, that a person that actually uses their Iphone to the extent it can be used will have to charge everynight and atleast a refresh charge sometime during the day. So far this weekend that is what I have been averaging. And to be honest I have only made three calls on it. The rest of its usage has been taking down apps, playing with it, sending and receiving emails, taking pictures, playing with the GPS and satellite imagery, etc and etc.

The camera on it is also possibly the best camera I have seen on a phone. I do wish it had a atleast a little bit of a digital zoom. If its there I have not figured out how to use it yet.

I can honestly say it is hard to believe that there is any other way aside for the things I mentioned to improve the phone itself. But I know apple, and they will find a way. And I have heard of another phone that is supposed to be the Iphone killer. Coming from sprint. But I cannot remember the name. I am sure one of you will know it and can comment on it. But I am a small Apple Fanboy and anytime I can support Apple I will. So I see myself being a Iphone user for a good LONG LONG time. And hopefully going through several more future generations.

Just a few more days and the Iphone will be here. I realized yesterday that I just happened to request a Personal Holiday on that day. So I am going to go sit my ass at the local AT&T Store around 5am and get both Mary and I an Iphone. She wants the 16GB White(Ielitist), I only want the 8GB for myself. As I probably wont put much music on it, if any at all. Mostly apps and such for me. I have my XM and I am good with that. I may put some music on it here and there. But I dont see storing my Library on it. Especially since I have the HTPC.

Mostly I think I will be using the GPS functions for it and Homework Tracking App I found for it. Plus I am sure I will find many more uses for it as time goes on. We are going to cancel our Land Line as we really only use it for DirectTV. That will hurt a bit, but they really only use the Land line for PPV purchases.

Very excited yes I am. At first I wasn’t sure if I was going to get one or not. But the more I looked at the plans, and since we are paying for one anyways. It just seems to make sense to make the jump.

As the title says. Its been a bad week for both my computers. First last monday my bluetooth mouse for the HTPC stopped working. So instead of getting another mouse I went ahead and ordered the Logitech DiNovo BT Keyboard.

I like it quite a bit. However I have a couple of small issues that I hope in the next generation of the keyboard they fix. Number one is the mousepad. Its a little small. But considering the size of the keyboard itself. I can understand the choice. The scroll features on the mouse work well. I have to adjust the sensativity to get it just right for me. The second issue. Is the touch sensative volume control. You should be able to touch it at the volume you want and the computer should raise it to that volume. And when you start at the bottom of the scale and move your finger up the slider it should fully adjust. Instead you have to move your finger up the slider several times to get it to go to full volume. But I tend to keep the computer at about 50% volume then adjust the Reciever to raise or lower the volume. So really its not that big of a deal. Otherwise, the rest of the features are nice and work great. I am really impressed with it. I do like that its rechargable so no more changing batteries. But I am happy to have my HTPC back and running. It really sucks trying to control your computer strickly with the keyboard only.

My other computer. Which is a 15″ Apple Powerbook. Also went down. Well not really down. My power adapter broke off inside the jack. I tried to retrieve it out using some dentist tools. But couldn’t. So I had the bright idea of possibly being able to push it out fromt he back side. I just have to crack it open and do a bit of operation. Well to get to that particular board, I ended up completely taking about my PB. And I still couldn’t get that little sucker out. So I have ordered a new DC board for it from Powerbookmedic. And have my friend Tony trying to locate a small cable for me at work. He works for Apple. So hopefully he can retrieve one from one of the Mac Guru’s. I was thinking however, since I have it completely taken apart. About running to Jeff City Auto getting some automotive sandpaper of a fine grit, with some new paint and possibly painting the case a nice gunmetal color, or Cobalt Blue. The only thing is I have to take apart the display also to paint it. And I am not sure how comfortable I am with that. I have a repair manual for it. That walks you step by step taking it apart. But with so many small pieces and messing with the display I dont want to permanently destroy my Laptop. As I cant afford a new one just yet. But while I am int here I can hopefully fix the Apple logo that doesn’t light up on it. So I dont know. I may. I am going to think about it.

Other life updates. One of my Best friends wife came into town with their daughter. It is great to see them. Sady is one cute girl. She looks like Cody’s mother and Sara his wife. She has the same underbite Cody has. And she is going to be a big girl. I dont think fat. She will just be tall like her father. She is going to be a knock out. I can tell. Cody you better keep an eye on that girl. And Johnathen you better take good care of your sister. With them comming into town while Cody is out to sea. (He is a Navy man) They brought their entire CD collection. So I am taking the opportunity to drop it into the HTPC. Amazingly with their CD’s I have doubled if not tripled my collection. And I have still really only used about 30% of the drive. And I was a afraid a 750gb wouldn’t be large enough.

We had a good fourth. I hope everyone else did also. Didn’t really do a whole lot. Spent friday over at Mary’s parents then came home. We didn’t go watch the Annual display. We were pretty tired and really just sorta felt like going home. So that is what we did. Saturday we had a great time up and Amy’s and Tony’s for thier annual tradition of Fireworks and BBQ. It was a great time had by all. Lots of good beer, food, and friendship. We had a great time. I payed for my eating habits from friday and Saturday all day sunday. But hey sometimes you have to take the bad with the good. My asshole will settle down in a couple of days. I am telling ya, you really dont know how valuable your ass is until it doesn’t work right.

I have also lost 30lbs. I weighed myself on the Vets scale when we had to take one of the doggies in last week. I was really excited. I am feeling better. But I still have a ways to go. IF I can get back to around 200lbs I am going to be happy. Then the challenge will be staying there.

Other than that there really is nothing else going on. We are getting prepared for vacation. I am really looking forward to it. Its going to be very miserably hot. But we will be on the beach. And like in a previous post. I am really looking forward to a couple of late nights Bob Marley. It has been so long. And I dont have to worry about random testing for a long while. So I am going to endulge a little. Honestly its been so long for me. That the family will prolly find me passed out on the beach some morning. But hey. We are on vacation. Right?

Well thats it for now.