A New (Old) Theme

by

I got tired of the really narrow post area on this site so I ditched the stock theme provided by Typepad that I was using. I reverted back to an older theme I was using, and tweaked the color pallet a bit. I hope it makes for a better presentation. I am still looking at other custom themes that I might use if I upgrade my account to allow me to really edit the way the site looks. It turns out I can only do that on the high end package Typepad offers.

Just one of the things I am tinkering on this lazy Sunday afternoon.

Technorati Tags: , ,

To Love & Hate a Treo

by

I have had a had a Treo phone since the Treo 270 came out for T-Mobile several years ago. Since then I have gone through several 270’s on and off for almost 2 years, then used a Treo 600 with T-Mobile for around a year. After that I upgraded to the 650, and then switched to a Verizon Treo 700P. I recently switched to the Cingular Treo 680. It is obvious by the number of devices I have had that I like the Treo. I like it because it is the best smart phone around. That doesn’t mean however that it is perfect. It is far from perfect. No one has made a better smart phone yet, but the Treo has huge issues. On some days I am ready to throw out my 680. It just freezes for no reason in any application. Then it starts up again and the UI goes somewhere I don’t want it to go since I was busy continuing to move the nav buttons around or type when it freezes. So annoying. The 680 also has a habit of just rebooting once a day or so. The 700P was allot better at not crashing or randomly rebooting, but the 650 did it almost every day.

Sometimes I don’t know why I put up with it? Then I remember the cool things I can do with it such as distinctive ringtones, wireless email, call recordings, etc. I just wish something came out that was stable, and consistently worked. As good as the 680 is, it isn’t that product yet. I got so frustrated recently that I thought that maybe the Windows Mobile 750 would be better. Then I came to my senses.

For now I will suffer live with what I have, but I am always keeping my eye on any device that will improve the situation. I am beginning to think nothing will come out since I have stuck with the Treo line for years. Maybe if I get a Blackberry at the new job I will just use that? it has allot less apps and functionality but my old Blackberry’s never crashed…

Technorati Tags: , , , ,

Uncle Sam’s Money

by

I got my tax’s done the other day. I originally had an appointment next week but since I am starting a new job I needed to reschedule. This is the first time in a while that I paid to have the tax’s done. I used to do them myself online, but after going to this place I am glad I went. I am extremely happy with my return. Now the only question is what toy can I buy with the refund and still have money to put away into savings?

Sort of Lazy Day

by

Not much going on at work again today. I got in around noon. Then went to lunch with Rob and James. We hit the outback. It was good. Then I went back and cleaned up my office a bit. I then went out and had my Mac Mini’s memory upgraded. Since Jay and I upgraded my old one I could probably get through the upgrade myself but I read that the new Intel Mini’s are even harder to upgrade since you have to remove the drives to access the memory slot. For the $50 they charged to do the install it was worth it. Only took like 30 minutes for the whole thing.

After the upgrade I went back to the office and carried a bunch of my remaining stuff home. Man, you can accumulate allot of crap over 5+ years somewhere.

Google Maps Rocks

by

I love the web based version of google maps. it is a fun tool to use. I can spend time just looking at locations satellite photos, or actually use the system to find locations. Since I live and work in Manhattan I don’t normally need directions to and from someplace. What I do need is to just see were some address is on a map. The satilite photos do that perfectly for me.

The really fantastic part about Google Maps is the new mobile version. I downloaded the Palm Version onto my Treo 680 (and previously my 700P). It is great when actually out and about and you are trying to find a location. Today it saved the day for me when I had some time to kill before lunch with friends. The only problem was it is freezing out and I am uptown on the west side no where near were I normally am. Out comes my Treo. I tell Google maps were I am and it shows me on the map. Then I say find a business, and tell it starbucks. I figured I could get a hot chocolate and maybe browse the web while I waited for my friends. Within seconds Google Maps told me there was a starbucks only a block away from my current location. I was out of the cold in no time. That is technology working for me!!!

Technorati Tags: , ,

Half Day With The Family

by

I took the afternoon and went out to my parents. I wanted to see them since I don’t normally spend enough time with them, and I had an other things I needed to do in their neighborhood. I needed to hit my safe deposit box and get my ID (Social Security Card) so I can have it for my W-2 paper work when I start my new job next week.

Since it was my sisters birthday yesterday we ended up going back towards her place for dinner. We picked up Morgan and Zack from the Nanny and meet my sister at the restaurant. We had a good dinner. Morgan was behaving most of the time and was being friendly. I like it when I get hugs and kisses without having to ask for them. Zack just doesn’t like to sit still. He is so funny and my mom is right he has such a personality.

Overall a good day. My only problem is that even without having to get up early for work I still couldn’t sleep. This is now 3 weeks and counting were I am having sleeping issues. With all the stress related to work, the job search, and now waiting to start a new job I am not surprised. I just thought after I gave my notice and I had a job lined up I would be able to sleep a bit better. I haven’t been. I think I am just anxious to get to my last day, and then actually start my new position. There are lots of unknowns around starting a new job, so I guess I am still stressing about that. Only 7 more days to go and hopefully I can sleep well.

And The Band Played On

by

That is what they said of the band on the titanic as the ship sank. I cannot fathom why. I understand the logic that people use when trying to explain it, but it still doesn’t make sense to me. I bring that up because I get the same feeling when I think about my current employer. It seems like people are delusional about how things are. Moral is fine I heard someone in a key position say. I guess he was in the band, because 5 people giving notice in less than two weeks time out of an office of 60 doesn’t give the air of great moral.

I wish them luck. Maybe I am over reacting, but all my friends and people I trust don’t seem to think so.

Yesterday

by

My exit interview was interesting. I spoke my mind, and HR took it all in. Surprisingly (or not) I hear that my feelings are not only my own. I know the guys in my group feel the same way, but it appears that others that have left may have eluded to similar issues.

Yesterday afternoon turned out pretty much like I thought it would. Jayson ended up coming with me to see Jeff. I ended up seeing Jeff, David, Nick, Jeffery, and others. It was weird to see so many people who used to work at Jeff’s company return to it. I think Lefty and I are the only ones that haven’t returned. David, Jeff, Jay and I went to Pete’s Tavern for lunch. It was nice to catch up with them.

Plan for the Day

by

My exit interview is in a little while. I am not leaving for over a week, but I was hoping to get some time off next week so I am doing it now. After that I am off to lunch with an old friend (and old boss) Jeff. I am going to meet him down by his office. It is usually too long between when we get together so I am looking forward to lunch.

Other than those plans, I am not sure what the day has in store for me yet.

The Brewery

by

After work yesterday a few of us headed over to the brewery in Union Square for some drinks and food. We meet up with John, Mickey, and Tom and had an overall good evening. John is trying to convince most of us to goto a poker tournament on super bowl sunday out on the island. I am still skeptical about the trip. Originally the buy in was high and I am not a fan of traveling way out onto the island if I can avoid it. I am waiting to see what the buy in will be for real before I make a decision.

Even-though I only had 2 drinks (in my defense they were rather large mixed drinks, but I know I am a light weight when it comes to drinking) I was pretty buzzed last night. I had my typical after drinking restless sleeping last night. I set my alarm for later than normal but still got up around my regular time since I was not able to sleep well most of the night.