I am still pretty frustrated, though. What a pain in the ass. I thought the hard part about getting a bike would be convincing Courtney.
That was the easiest.
Listening to: Spank my Booty (Reprise) - Lords of Acid - Our Little Secret (03:53)
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
Adjusting
My mood is brightening, slowly.
I am still pretty frustrated, though. What a pain in the ass. I thought the hard part about getting a bike would be convincing Courtney.
That was the easiest.
I am still pretty frustrated, though. What a pain in the ass. I thought the hard part about getting a bike would be convincing Courtney.
That was the easiest.
Crushing Disappointment
That's what I felt today at lunch. I went to Ron Turner to put a deposit on the bike, so they wouldn't sell it before the starter checks got here.
On Friday, the bike was third in the row. When I walked in, I was a little freaked out, because there was a gap in the row of bikes. Then I saw the black bike, it was fifth in the row. No problem, they just moved it.
Until I got close, and saw that the black bike was an R1, not my R6. They sold the R6 on Saturday. The only day they have been open since I was in there on Friday.
If I had more confidence in Ed St John(mortgage broker), I would have put a deposit down on Friday. I was worried that he was wrong about something, and the loan wouldn't come in, and then I would have been out $500.
As a friendly warning, I am in a piss poor mood now.
God damn it.
On Friday, the bike was third in the row. When I walked in, I was a little freaked out, because there was a gap in the row of bikes. Then I saw the black bike, it was fifth in the row. No problem, they just moved it.
Until I got close, and saw that the black bike was an R1, not my R6. They sold the R6 on Saturday. The only day they have been open since I was in there on Friday.
If I had more confidence in Ed St John(mortgage broker), I would have put a deposit down on Friday. I was worried that he was wrong about something, and the loan wouldn't come in, and then I would have been out $500.
As a friendly warning, I am in a piss poor mood now.
God damn it.
Listening to: This Kiss - Faith Hill - There You'll Be: The Best of Faith Hill [Bonus Track] (03:18)
Monday, April 25, 2005
Today's Frustration
This home equity thing is just full of frustration.
I am kinda glad that it took a long time to close, because that let me learn that I could have a new bike, and gave me the time to search for a good used one, and come up empty. It's still somewhat frustrating, though. I could have performed the same search with a check in my wallet.
Today, we closed on the deal. The closing was smooth, only took like 18 minutes or so, and about 15 signatures from me and like 3 from Courtney. No biggie, and the lady doing the close was very nice, although she looked kinda wierd.
During the closing, we find out that if we close/pay off the HELOC before 3 years is up, we have to pay citi back for the closing costs that they are paying right now. That would have been nice to know before the closing.
At one point, Ed told me that there was a federally-mandated three day wait before the loan company could issue funds. About a week ago, Ed called me and asked if we would need any money the day of closing, and I told him I just needed a couple of starter checks. Because he called me and asked this particular question, I thought his earlier statement that there was a three day wait had been incorrect. At the closing, we found out that the original statement was correct, we aren't going to have starter checks until 4 days have gone by. Another frustration.
So, tomorrow, I am going to Ron Turner when they open, and put a deposit on my bike. I called like 5 other Yamaha dealers, and none of them have a black 2005 R6, and all but one said it would be July before they could get me the bike. One guy in Camden County, Ga said he could get one in a week or two, but I think he was full of crap.
Looks like I'll be buying the bike from Ron Turner, and hopefully picking it up by this weekend. That kinda sucks, but not too bad. I was really expecting something like this, so I was trying not to get too excited.
I have to call the MSF course back and find out when I can come and retake the driving test. At least I will get to ride my bike to the test, if I so choose, since I got my permit today.
Have I mentioned how much I love Yellowcard? I totally dig their music. The way they blend punk music with a violin is awesome!
I am kinda glad that it took a long time to close, because that let me learn that I could have a new bike, and gave me the time to search for a good used one, and come up empty. It's still somewhat frustrating, though. I could have performed the same search with a check in my wallet.
Today, we closed on the deal. The closing was smooth, only took like 18 minutes or so, and about 15 signatures from me and like 3 from Courtney. No biggie, and the lady doing the close was very nice, although she looked kinda wierd.
During the closing, we find out that if we close/pay off the HELOC before 3 years is up, we have to pay citi back for the closing costs that they are paying right now. That would have been nice to know before the closing.
At one point, Ed told me that there was a federally-mandated three day wait before the loan company could issue funds. About a week ago, Ed called me and asked if we would need any money the day of closing, and I told him I just needed a couple of starter checks. Because he called me and asked this particular question, I thought his earlier statement that there was a three day wait had been incorrect. At the closing, we found out that the original statement was correct, we aren't going to have starter checks until 4 days have gone by. Another frustration.
So, tomorrow, I am going to Ron Turner when they open, and put a deposit on my bike. I called like 5 other Yamaha dealers, and none of them have a black 2005 R6, and all but one said it would be July before they could get me the bike. One guy in Camden County, Ga said he could get one in a week or two, but I think he was full of crap.
Looks like I'll be buying the bike from Ron Turner, and hopefully picking it up by this weekend. That kinda sucks, but not too bad. I was really expecting something like this, so I was trying not to get too excited.
I have to call the MSF course back and find out when I can come and retake the driving test. At least I will get to ride my bike to the test, if I so choose, since I got my permit today.
Have I mentioned how much I love Yellowcard? I totally dig their music. The way they blend punk music with a violin is awesome!
Listening to: Back Home - Yellowcard - Ocean Avenue (03:55)
Passed!
I took the written test for a motorcycle permit today, and passed with flying colors. I didn't even have to answer all the questions, because even if I missed every one remaining, I would have passed.
Geek that I am, I noticed a bug in their testing program; it asked me the same question twice. I imagine that there is a pool of questions that the test program randomly chooses from. The devs didn't correctly solve the problem of making sure that the random question hadn't been asked during that test session.
No skin off my nose, though, made it easier to pass. I got the same question right twice, and got credit for both.
Oh yeah, one other thing; my total time in the DMV was just about 1 hour, and that was waiting in line to get signed up for the test, taking the test, and waiting in line to get my temp cycle permit.
Geek that I am, I noticed a bug in their testing program; it asked me the same question twice. I imagine that there is a pool of questions that the test program randomly chooses from. The devs didn't correctly solve the problem of making sure that the random question hadn't been asked during that test session.
No skin off my nose, though, made it easier to pass. I got the same question right twice, and got credit for both.
Oh yeah, one other thing; my total time in the DMV was just about 1 hour, and that was waiting in line to get signed up for the test, taking the test, and waiting in line to get my temp cycle permit.
Listening to: California Dreamin' - The Mamas & the Papas - Forrest Gump [Original Soundtrack] Disc 1 (02:41)
Friday, April 22, 2005
Is this guy full of crap?
There is a dealership in Camden County, Ga where the guy says he can order me a black 2005 R6, for $1000 cheaper than I can get one on the showroom floor here in Jax.
The only problem is that I have talked to four other dealers, and they all said they couldn't get a black R6, or that it would be 2-4 months before they got another one. This guy in Georgia says he can get it in 1-2 wks, max.
Is he full of crap? Seems unlikely that this ONE dealership can get a bike that no one else within 100 miles can get. I don't want to pass on the bike that is here, ready to take home, and then find out that the guy can't really get the bike, and this one that is here gets sold. Then I am out the bike until at least the middle of summer. That is a lot of lost riding time.
A thousand bucks is still a thousand bucks.
What to do?
The only problem is that I have talked to four other dealers, and they all said they couldn't get a black R6, or that it would be 2-4 months before they got another one. This guy in Georgia says he can get it in 1-2 wks, max.
Is he full of crap? Seems unlikely that this ONE dealership can get a bike that no one else within 100 miles can get. I don't want to pass on the bike that is here, ready to take home, and then find out that the guy can't really get the bike, and this one that is here gets sold. Then I am out the bike until at least the middle of summer. That is a lot of lost riding time.
A thousand bucks is still a thousand bucks.
What to do?
Exciting times at work
If you can buy into the party line(which I do), then there are some exciting, good times ahead for me at work. The biggest complaint of my software development career so far is the lack of defined process for the Software Development Life Cycle(SDLC as my boss calls it).
James(boss) is planning to implement some changes to our software development process. We are going to have actual procedures in place to gather requirements and develop the scope of a project before we begin it. So far, that is a pipe dream in all of my dev jobs.
I hope the hype becomes reality.
James(boss) is planning to implement some changes to our software development process. We are going to have actual procedures in place to gather requirements and develop the scope of a project before we begin it. So far, that is a pipe dream in all of my dev jobs.
I hope the hype becomes reality.
Listening to: Bled_For_Days - Static-X - Wisconsin Death Trip (03:47)
Tuesday is the day!
I am starting to get really excited. I am going to have my bike on Tuesday.
Yay!!
Yay!!
Almost got my helmet paid for
I sold an old stereo to one of my coworkers today. Made a cool $150.00. Not bad, considering the radio was $325 like 4 years ago. Since my helmet is going to be $199, I just about got my helmet paid for today.
Rock on.
Rock on.
Poor phone book entry
There is an entry in the yellow pages here in Jax that says there is a welding supply store down the road from my work. I went down there, to check it out and see what kind of stuff they sell there. I may need to get some magnetic clamps to help with my trailer welding, so I wanted to see what was available.
The store is co-located with Tulsa Welding School, so I figured I could ask them about their classes as well.
TWS' shortest class is 3 months, Mon-Fri, 9-5, and costs $7000. The only other course of study is 7 months, and is like $11,000. So much for the idea of taking a two or three day class to get started in welding.
The Lincoln Welding store that was listed in the phone book is really one guy, who is there a couple of hours a day, and only sells wholesale. Why was this guy listed in the yellow pages under welding supply - retail?
What a waste of time. And it was particularly frustrating because it took me three days to get down there to check out the store, so I felt like I had wasted three days thinking about that store. Frustrating.
The store is co-located with Tulsa Welding School, so I figured I could ask them about their classes as well.
TWS' shortest class is 3 months, Mon-Fri, 9-5, and costs $7000. The only other course of study is 7 months, and is like $11,000. So much for the idea of taking a two or three day class to get started in welding.
The Lincoln Welding store that was listed in the phone book is really one guy, who is there a couple of hours a day, and only sells wholesale. Why was this guy listed in the yellow pages under welding supply - retail?
What a waste of time. And it was particularly frustrating because it took me three days to get down there to check out the store, so I felt like I had wasted three days thinking about that store. Frustrating.
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
R6 research#1
Ron Turner cycles gave me a quote on the R6. $10,000 plus some change out the door, and they are offering a 15% discount on gear(helmet, jacket, gloves, framesliders). I am going to call around and see if anyone else in town or nearby has a better deal.
If anyone has a friend or some other contact at a cycle dealer in town, please let me know.
I love this song.
If anyone has a friend or some other contact at a cycle dealer in town, please let me know.
I love this song.
Listening to: View From Heaven - Yellowcard - Ocean Avenue (03:22)
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
I'm mended now
I am no longer torn. I went to see the yellow bike yesterday. Let me just say that I am glad it was in Jacksonville. Had I driven several hours to see that bike, I would have been quite pissed off.
It wasn't so much that the guy wasn't there when we got there, even though I was right on time for our scheduled appointment. It wasn't so much that the guy's girlfriend(who was wearing a wedding band) didn't invite us in while we waited. It wasn't so much that the guy had wrecked the bike, but hadn't mentioned that during our phone conversations. It wasn't even the fact that the guy admitted that second gear was slipping.
It was really the combination. Crappy paint, scratched forks, hole-in-the-muffler fast, mechanical defects, and rude. No thanks, dude. I'll go for another bike.
I still haven't decided if I want to get a new bike or not. I think I will keep checking for a used one for a week or two, and if I can't find one or decide I want a new one, I'll go see a dealer.
It wasn't so much that the guy wasn't there when we got there, even though I was right on time for our scheduled appointment. It wasn't so much that the guy's girlfriend(who was wearing a wedding band) didn't invite us in while we waited. It wasn't so much that the guy had wrecked the bike, but hadn't mentioned that during our phone conversations. It wasn't even the fact that the guy admitted that second gear was slipping.
It was really the combination. Crappy paint, scratched forks, hole-in-the-muffler fast, mechanical defects, and rude. No thanks, dude. I'll go for another bike.
I still haven't decided if I want to get a new bike or not. I think I will keep checking for a used one for a week or two, and if I can't find one or decide I want a new one, I'll go see a dealer.
Monday, April 18, 2005
I am freakin TORN
I thought my bike decision was made already. Courtney threw a wrench in it, though. Originally, it was this bike:
2003 Suzuki GSXR 600
Now she has to go and tell me that I can have a new bike if I want one. This bike is the coolest bike around. This bike, in 2004, was one of the reasons I got all hot about getting a bike. Here's a pic:
2005 Yamaha R6
What the hell do I do now?
2003 Suzuki GSXR 600
Now she has to go and tell me that I can have a new bike if I want one. This bike is the coolest bike around. This bike, in 2004, was one of the reasons I got all hot about getting a bike. Here's a pic:
2005 Yamaha R6
What the hell do I do now?
Listening to: Fingerlickin' Good - Lords of Acid - Our Little Secret (03:46)
Managed Code Controversy
Normally, I don't get involved in these types of debates. I have my opinion about the .NET Framework, and about which languages to use during development, but I tend to keep those opinions to myself.
I read a couple of articles today that I felt the burning desire to comment on.
Here is the first article, written by a guy named Mark Russinovich: http://www.sysinternals.com/blog/
Here is a response, written by Ken Henderson: http://blogs.msdn.com/khen1234
I don't know who either of those guys are, but I believe that Ken Henderson has to be an MS employee to have a blog at blogs.msdn.com(but I'm not sure).
I think Ken pretty accurately describes the fallacies inherent in Mark's arguments, but I think he missed a REALLY BIG point.
Notepad.exe was written by Microsoft. The program has been through at least 4 versions(win95/NT/2000/XP). Microsoft has a bunch of really, really talented developers, who work on their projects full time, and have to pass rigorous standards for quality(despite what the media would have you believe).
Notepad has been updated and optimized by the best(arguably) developers in the world for at least TEN years. I would expect that an app that has been around for 10 years would be incredibly streamlined and as efficient as possible. Every developer that touches an app should remove some running time, and add some efficiency into the code.
Compare that to the .NET version of Notepad that Mark was evaluating. It was written by one guy, Muhammad M.M Soliman, as an example app, to demonstrate how easy it is in .NET to create an application that does something.
It is ludicrous to compare a 10+ year old production app produced by the most successful software development company in the world to an app written in a day or two last year by an unheard-of single developer. I don't know how good of a developer Mr. Soliman is, and I don't mean to disparage his abilities, but I can almost guarantee that he is less skilled than the team(s) of developers at MS working on Notepad.
For Mr. Russinovich, if you want to spout off about how .NET is the end of the development world, at least compare apps that are comparable. You cannot compare a string to a number and get meaningful results, and you cannot compare MS's Notepad to Mr. Soliman's Notepad-like application. The poor choice of comparison invalidates your entire article, and removes any credibility for the points you were trying to make.
To truly describe the difference between .NET and native code, you would have to write a program in a native language(prob C++), and you would have to write the same app in .NET(prob C#). Then you would have eliminated variables such as programmer ability and application maturity. Only than can you accurately compare .NET and native applications.
I read a couple of articles today that I felt the burning desire to comment on.
Here is the first article, written by a guy named Mark Russinovich: http://www.sysinternals.com/blog/
Here is a response, written by Ken Henderson: http://blogs.msdn.com/khen1234
I don't know who either of those guys are, but I believe that Ken Henderson has to be an MS employee to have a blog at blogs.msdn.com(but I'm not sure).
I think Ken pretty accurately describes the fallacies inherent in Mark's arguments, but I think he missed a REALLY BIG point.
Notepad.exe was written by Microsoft. The program has been through at least 4 versions(win95/NT/2000/XP). Microsoft has a bunch of really, really talented developers, who work on their projects full time, and have to pass rigorous standards for quality(despite what the media would have you believe).
Notepad has been updated and optimized by the best(arguably) developers in the world for at least TEN years. I would expect that an app that has been around for 10 years would be incredibly streamlined and as efficient as possible. Every developer that touches an app should remove some running time, and add some efficiency into the code.
Compare that to the .NET version of Notepad that Mark was evaluating. It was written by one guy, Muhammad M.M Soliman, as an example app, to demonstrate how easy it is in .NET to create an application that does something.
It is ludicrous to compare a 10+ year old production app produced by the most successful software development company in the world to an app written in a day or two last year by an unheard-of single developer. I don't know how good of a developer Mr. Soliman is, and I don't mean to disparage his abilities, but I can almost guarantee that he is less skilled than the team(s) of developers at MS working on Notepad.
For Mr. Russinovich, if you want to spout off about how .NET is the end of the development world, at least compare apps that are comparable. You cannot compare a string to a number and get meaningful results, and you cannot compare MS's Notepad to Mr. Soliman's Notepad-like application. The poor choice of comparison invalidates your entire article, and removes any credibility for the points you were trying to make.
To truly describe the difference between .NET and native code, you would have to write a program in a native language(prob C++), and you would have to write the same app in .NET(prob C#). Then you would have eliminated variables such as programmer ability and application maturity. Only than can you accurately compare .NET and native applications.
Listening to: You Won - Keith Urban - Golden Road (05:21)
Friday, April 15, 2005
Dissapointing start to the day
[text of an email sent to the McD's complaint address]This morning, after waking early with my 3 month old daughter, I decided that I deserved a treat, and headed to the McDonald's on Baymeadows on the way to work for a delicious bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit.
The drive thru was a little slow, but no matter, in just a few minutes, I would have that wonderful cheesy biscuit to enjoy once I got to work, and give me a great start to my day.
The employees were all friendly and smiling, making the experience even better. I got my food and drink, and headed to work.
When I got to work to eat, my mouth was literally watering at the thought of that biscuit's buttery goodness.
Imagine my disappointment when I opened my bag and found that I had a bagel instead of a biscuit. I thought to myself: 'It's okay, they were probably just out of biscuits, I will just suffer in silence'. Once I unwrapped the bagel, though, I found that not only did I have a bagel instead of the wonderful McD's biscuit, but I was given a ham and egg bagel.
Since I was already at work, I cannot return to the restaurant today to get the correct meal. I would like you to provide me with a free breakfast combo meal, to replace the missing bacon, egg and cheese biscuit.
The drive thru was a little slow, but no matter, in just a few minutes, I would have that wonderful cheesy biscuit to enjoy once I got to work, and give me a great start to my day.
The employees were all friendly and smiling, making the experience even better. I got my food and drink, and headed to work.
When I got to work to eat, my mouth was literally watering at the thought of that biscuit's buttery goodness.
Imagine my disappointment when I opened my bag and found that I had a bagel instead of a biscuit. I thought to myself: 'It's okay, they were probably just out of biscuits, I will just suffer in silence'. Once I unwrapped the bagel, though, I found that not only did I have a bagel instead of the wonderful McD's biscuit, but I was given a ham and egg bagel.
Since I was already at work, I cannot return to the restaurant today to get the correct meal. I would like you to provide me with a free breakfast combo meal, to replace the missing bacon, egg and cheese biscuit.
Thursday, April 14, 2005
Hey babe
The music made me think of you. I love ya
Listening to: Love You Out Loud - Rascal Flatts - Melt (Advance) (03:06)
Got Her
Cullen: I have some mail for you.
Cullen: It's your express ticket reservation
Courtney: huh?
Cullen: your express ticket to hell
Cullen: it came today
Courtney: you so funny
Courtney: twit
Cullen: that was a good one, huh?
Courtney: yep, you got me
Cullen: It's your express ticket reservation
Courtney: huh?
Cullen: your express ticket to hell
Cullen: it came today
Courtney: you so funny
Courtney: twit
Cullen: that was a good one, huh?
Courtney: yep, you got me
Listening to: Wisconsin_Death_Trip - Static-X - Wisconsin Death Trip (03:11)
Good luck, Steve
My boss, Steve, just got a call from his very pregnant wife, and left to take her to the hospital. I hope this isn't a false alarm(they had one with the last baby), and I hope everything goes okay.
Listening to: Two-Seater - Bowling for Soup - A Hangover You Don't Deserve (03:55)
New architecture for WebApps
I decided to rework the web apps backend. I had originally written the app as a straight web app, with no OOD. Recently, after getting frustrated at having to open a browser, log in, wait for pages to load, select a page, and type values, I decided that I was going to rework the app some.
I decided to put all the functionality of the webapp into a webservice, and make the web app just call the webservice. I also decided to create objects that represent the different items that can be added, and use those objects to perform inserts & updates, instead of just passing text values.
With the new architecture, I am going to be able to design a desktop app that accesses the same functionality. For V1, I am going to just set up the desktop app to add items. V1.5 will have modify abilities added in.
I decided to put all the functionality of the webapp into a webservice, and make the web app just call the webservice. I also decided to create objects that represent the different items that can be added, and use those objects to perform inserts & updates, instead of just passing text values.
With the new architecture, I am going to be able to design a desktop app that accesses the same functionality. For V1, I am going to just set up the desktop app to add items. V1.5 will have modify abilities added in.
Listening to: You and Me and the Bottle Makes Three Tonight (Baby) - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy (03:34)
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
Another one bites the dust
Tiffany has been attacked by the yard. Poor kid. She took a running jump right into a big bush of the stingers.
I am going to get this yard cleaned up as soon as Courtney can take care of Mik for a weekend. I have decided to kill off the weeds, and then till the yard, then kill the weeds again, and then put down sod in the whole front yard.
Sorry Tiff.
I am going to get this yard cleaned up as soon as Courtney can take care of Mik for a weekend. I have decided to kill off the weeds, and then till the yard, then kill the weeds again, and then put down sod in the whole front yard.
Sorry Tiff.
SourceGear Customer Service
SourceGear has the best customer service ever! I had a minor problem with my Vault server, so I posted to their support forum. After posting, I did a couple of coding tasks that were waiting for me, and checked back like 20 minutes later.
I had a response, and it was the right response, and the problem is now fixed. Thank you, Eric Sink, for creating such a great company and great product.
I had a response, and it was the right response, and the problem is now fixed. Thank you, Eric Sink, for creating such a great company and great product.
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