Well, I talked to the guys at the computer place today, and the back up worked. Whew...we still have pictures of the kids and our masters theses. We'll call that luck.
We've had a good couple of days. Busy - as always. My dad retires Friday after 29 years working at the same place, so we celebrated yesterday. His coworkers threw him quite the party. There were a lot of people there, both former and current employees, and quite a few of mom and dad's friends. Jeff and I had the kids there for most of the party, both of my brothers made it and dad enjoyed showing them - and maybe Ross, Steve and I - off.
It's strange to think that when my dad started this job, I wasn't even born yet! People just don't stick with one job these days. I think the last stats I read showed that the average person works/does 8 different careers in their life! Our generation jumps around and changes jobs so fast. Jeff has worked at 2 banks already in 6 years. I've done more than a few different things since graduating college. I taught, I worked as an interior designer, went back to cooking for a (very) short while and am now at the church. So really, to think of 29 years is really unreal for our generation.
I am proud of my dad. He's worked REALLY hard all these years. He stayed at the same place because it was best for his family. He pulled some pretty strange hours sometimes and was basically on call for as long as I can remember. But its really cool to see all that he accomplished. His building is gorgeous. He oversaw many, many, many remodels, moves, building changes and additions. Being at BCBSND yesterday, and observing how awesome the place looks, I felt really proud. Even more, though - was the number of people who came to wish him well. I feel pretty confident saying that he's earned and maintained a lot of respect of the years. I'm proud of him...
Now - I wonder what he'll do next :)
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Back-Up Plan
Bad luck on Wednesday leads to a long weekend. Every road to where I live is under construction. Last Wednesday, the workers hit the electrical lines (or something like that) and we lost power. The subsequent power outage fried our computer. We were unable to get a picture. I took it into Best Buy to the Geek Squad and was told that they could fix the power supply, but that it may not actually fix the whole problem. So, instead of spending over $200 on that, I opted for the $90 plan to save my entire Hard drive on a disk and we'll just transfer it all to the lap top we got a month ago.
Why a long weekend you may wonder. Answer: 7000+ pictures of our children over the past three years and NONE of them from the past 2 were backed up to a disk. Which means... if they can not back up the Hard Drive, we have no pictures of Lisa and very, very few of Alex. The guy told me that he was very confident that they'd be able to recover all the pics, but still - I am a wreck and just kicking myself. I had told myself THAT DAY that I need to get on the computer and back everything up to a disk. When I got home, too late. Pray that they will be successful. I am so worried about this.
AND - a reminder to all...back up your pictures and docs. It's not just the pictures - it was also all of our resumes, and our Masters work...including my 1/2 finished thesis. Also - did you know that one power surge can ruin your surge protector and if so, your computer is not covered? So, if you ever come home to a power outage, you should change your surge protector strip (according to the guy).
Let's all hope that our situation falls into that 84% success rate the Geek Squad has and NOT the 16% failure rate.
Grrrrr....
Why a long weekend you may wonder. Answer: 7000+ pictures of our children over the past three years and NONE of them from the past 2 were backed up to a disk. Which means... if they can not back up the Hard Drive, we have no pictures of Lisa and very, very few of Alex. The guy told me that he was very confident that they'd be able to recover all the pics, but still - I am a wreck and just kicking myself. I had told myself THAT DAY that I need to get on the computer and back everything up to a disk. When I got home, too late. Pray that they will be successful. I am so worried about this.
AND - a reminder to all...back up your pictures and docs. It's not just the pictures - it was also all of our resumes, and our Masters work...including my 1/2 finished thesis. Also - did you know that one power surge can ruin your surge protector and if so, your computer is not covered? So, if you ever come home to a power outage, you should change your surge protector strip (according to the guy).
Let's all hope that our situation falls into that 84% success rate the Geek Squad has and NOT the 16% failure rate.
Grrrrr....
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Proof that I am officially domesticated.
Last weekend, we put in a new door. Our patio doors on the North Side of the house leaked a lot, to the tune of about $100 more per month in heating costs. Summer 2007 we purchased two French doors, but of course, life happened and they never got installed. So - on my comp days (264 hours straight of work earns one a few days off, I guess) we decided to get one of the doors in. It was a long process, this being a 35 year old house. Nothing is really plumb, level, or square. Previous owners do things that make you scratch your head and go "what the ____ were they thinking." Doors have to be removed in teeny, tiny pieces.
But, the process was awesome. Jeff and I usually have a lot of help from dads when we tackle these projects, but we started this one on our own, and my brother came out to help - so we really feel good about ourselves - it's a feeling of accomplishment, the "I did that" thing.
Checking for level (above)
Teeny, tiny pieces (below)
What the _____ were they thinking. In this case, the old door was about 6 inches narrower than the opening and to cover the problem, they'd drywalled over the opening, which left us with a too narrow door as well... (above)
Finishing touches (below)
Today, Jeff and his dad finished trimming out the door and I'll stain tomorrow. It looks really nice, I'm pumped. Now, we just have to do the other door!
Of course, nothing ever goes as you plan. The same day we were working on the doors and feeling really good about that...the stove died. DIED! That's about $2000 we weren't counting on at all. But thanks to awesome credit scores and a good No Interest for 2 years deal at Sears, we were able to purchase new appliances. The stove is here, and I will say I'm actually pumped about this. I'd been looking forward to new appliances (read back to my MAY 07 posts from when we repainted the kitchen) and they kind of do complete the make over - but it still sucks to have to charge stuff. Anyway, here's the stove. My "freezer on the bottom" fridge should arrive next week...
Today, we spent outside cleaning the van and garage...LONG project. I have decided to no longer allow food/beverages in my vehicle. What a mess. Four hours I cleaned it, but other than stained carpet, it looks and smells new! And that feeling of cleaning is so good - rejuvenating. Jeff worked hard in the garage, and it's organized again - at least for the next few weeks!
And the very, very, very best part of the past week + for us --- Lucas' birthday party. He turned 4 while I was in Mexico (Aug. 3) and we celebrated with a party last Saturday - here's the birthday boy, one of the five of us and because it's my blog - one of he and I too :)
But, the process was awesome. Jeff and I usually have a lot of help from dads when we tackle these projects, but we started this one on our own, and my brother came out to help - so we really feel good about ourselves - it's a feeling of accomplishment, the "I did that" thing.
Checking for level (above)
Teeny, tiny pieces (below)
What the _____ were they thinking. In this case, the old door was about 6 inches narrower than the opening and to cover the problem, they'd drywalled over the opening, which left us with a too narrow door as well... (above)
Finishing touches (below)
Today, Jeff and his dad finished trimming out the door and I'll stain tomorrow. It looks really nice, I'm pumped. Now, we just have to do the other door!
Of course, nothing ever goes as you plan. The same day we were working on the doors and feeling really good about that...the stove died. DIED! That's about $2000 we weren't counting on at all. But thanks to awesome credit scores and a good No Interest for 2 years deal at Sears, we were able to purchase new appliances. The stove is here, and I will say I'm actually pumped about this. I'd been looking forward to new appliances (read back to my MAY 07 posts from when we repainted the kitchen) and they kind of do complete the make over - but it still sucks to have to charge stuff. Anyway, here's the stove. My "freezer on the bottom" fridge should arrive next week...
Today, we spent outside cleaning the van and garage...LONG project. I have decided to no longer allow food/beverages in my vehicle. What a mess. Four hours I cleaned it, but other than stained carpet, it looks and smells new! And that feeling of cleaning is so good - rejuvenating. Jeff worked hard in the garage, and it's organized again - at least for the next few weeks!
And the very, very, very best part of the past week + for us --- Lucas' birthday party. He turned 4 while I was in Mexico (Aug. 3) and we celebrated with a party last Saturday - here's the birthday boy, one of the five of us and because it's my blog - one of he and I too :)
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
No Irritation Tonight...
What is going through your mind right now?
Well, I am just happy that I haven't heard anyone ask that question of Michael Phelps :-)
Well, I am just happy that I haven't heard anyone ask that question of Michael Phelps :-)
Monday, August 11, 2008
Irritation
So Jeff and I have spent the last few evenings watching the Olympics. We are really into swimming (Go Michael Phelps!) and gymnastics. Track and field starts next week, and that's what Jeff is waiting for. It's been a lot of fun, actually - especially watching the swimmers break world records and seriously, we just watched a couple young men nail their high bar routines. I was actually cheering.
SO why the title. I get really irritated by the interviews. Really, how many more times do I have to listen to some idiot ask Michael Phelps "What is going through your mind right now?" Grrr. This questions drives me insane! Can't they come up with anything else? ANYTHING would be better than that question. Like "Was the pool cold when you dove in?" Or maybe "Did you see any algae on the bottom of the pool" or "What is it like to race against a fellow American." But no --- it's always "What is going through your mind right now?" What do they THINK he'll say? I think I'd answer that question with the question "I just won my umpteenth Gold Medal and that's the best you can come up with!?"
Sorry about the mini rant (Jeff and I are laughing as we write this, so it's all in good fun), but I think I will email NBC and ask them to please tell their reporters to come up with something a bit more interesting for the interviews!
Until then - Go USA gymnastics! Have a good night... we have to go check WUnderground and see if we're getting a flood.
SO why the title. I get really irritated by the interviews. Really, how many more times do I have to listen to some idiot ask Michael Phelps "What is going through your mind right now?" Grrr. This questions drives me insane! Can't they come up with anything else? ANYTHING would be better than that question. Like "Was the pool cold when you dove in?" Or maybe "Did you see any algae on the bottom of the pool" or "What is it like to race against a fellow American." But no --- it's always "What is going through your mind right now?" What do they THINK he'll say? I think I'd answer that question with the question "I just won my umpteenth Gold Medal and that's the best you can come up with!?"
Sorry about the mini rant (Jeff and I are laughing as we write this, so it's all in good fun), but I think I will email NBC and ask them to please tell their reporters to come up with something a bit more interesting for the interviews!
Until then - Go USA gymnastics! Have a good night... we have to go check WUnderground and see if we're getting a flood.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Mexico
Wow. It's been a few days since I returned, and I have been spending the days decompressing -- and trying to get some sleep. A lot of people have asked me how it was, and I am basically speechless. I can't really describe what happened (it would take too many PAGES) but I can say a few things.
1) I am blessed. I love my family, I love where I live, I have so much to be thankful for. Thank you Jesus!
2) Mission: Mexico changed my life. I don't know how, why or to what capacity, but I will go back with my kids from Atonement and continue to work in that area for the church. I am changed.
3) Mission work has allowed me to let go of some of the anxiety and fear I too often feel and stress about. I spend too much of life worrying. I need to stop worrying and instead thank God for everything I have and realize that my life is in His hands. Since returning, I have a new outlook on anxiety and life is too short to spend hyper analyzing and worrying about things.
1) I am blessed. I love my family, I love where I live, I have so much to be thankful for. Thank you Jesus!
2) Mission: Mexico changed my life. I don't know how, why or to what capacity, but I will go back with my kids from Atonement and continue to work in that area for the church. I am changed.
3) Mission work has allowed me to let go of some of the anxiety and fear I too often feel and stress about. I spend too much of life worrying. I need to stop worrying and instead thank God for everything I have and realize that my life is in His hands. Since returning, I have a new outlook on anxiety and life is too short to spend hyper analyzing and worrying about things.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
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