Monday, March 27, 2006

What a day...we just got back from the Mountain, having taken Jenny with us to hike the 2.5 mile Sweet Gum Trail. It is about 60 degrees, sunny and not more than a breath of wind...few clouds and a blue sky. It has been a real pretty early Spring day...but it didn't start out that way...

Last week, I had some trouble with my work laptop. It wouldn't shut down, then after I shut it down I tried to reboot it in the docking station and it did nothing. Outside the docking station it booted and loaded Windows, and all was well with the world. Well, this AM I went to the office and started the machine, got the splash screen for Windows 2000, logged in, and was presented with the dreaded "Blue Screen of Death" with those words that would bring even a Big man to his knees...Fatal System Error. Oh, My, Gosh!!!

I tried it several times, then remembered it did alright out of the docking station...so I removed it and got the BSD once again...I tried it a couple more times, but to no avail. Alas, I had no alternative but to drive into town and take it to the techs. And what did I all of a sudden suffer cold chills from? The realization that I had to deal with morning Atlanta traffic...I would rather take a beating than drive into town in the early morning rush hour traffic, let alone on Monday morning. But I silently prepped myself for the trip, got into the truck and hit the road. BD said not to worry as it was after 9AM and the traffic would be past tense already...BD hasn't lived long enough in Atlanta, nor has she had the pleasure of engaging in what is affectionately called in the ATL " a "Road Rave," something similar to those gatherings of Generation X young men and women, but instead of "raving" on the dance floor and throwing each other around, it's cars that do the "dancing" on I-75 and it is a sight to behold and an experience that has brought brave men to shed tears of fright. The experience of traveling 20 mph around the North and South loop between Marietta and the Chattahoochee River (Atlanta city limits), then in seconds accelerating as fast as Dale Earnhardt Jr at Bristol, all the while traveling inches from other cars bent on the same intention, front, back and both sides, traveling at 75 or 80 mph...it is like auto-pilot as there is only movement en masse...but I digress.

I got to Atlanta, finally found a place to park, and the techs spent an hour on it, got it to work, and sent me home...always a pleasure to spend the morning with 2 guys who live for the days that I do something to break my computer. They actually talk about me and what I might do next to cause it to become inop. That started about 10 years ago when I went to work for ED, and opted to work with computers, machines I had little knowledge of, each one of which sensed that lack of experience and took advantage of it by being balky to start up, run, shut down, or anything in between...these are in the days when our application for Title IV financial aid was run in DOS...but I digress.

I headed home, tried to get it to boot up, but before doing so in the docking station I started it off-line and backed up a bunch of my data files just in case. Then I put it in the station, booted it and it promptly displayed the BSD once again, along with the Fatal System Error message...I swear I heard it laughing softly. To make a long story short, and it was a long day what with the inability to work, the screens, the trip to Atlanta, I unplugged everything attached to the machine and booted it, then added the power cord, keyboard/mouse USB pin, then the printer USB pin, then the DSL cable. At last glance, about 2 hours ago, it was working just fine, somewhat slow, but working nonetheless. I hope it keeps going as I am not scheduled to get a replacement machine for nearly another year...but there was an "Oh My Gosh" moment to the good after my return home...BD and I made a sandwich for lunch, put on a sweatshirt, and sat on the back porch...not too cold for that, and sometimes, when least you expect it, particularly when you are recounting the misfortunate and grief suffered on your Monday morning attempt at work, Karma kind' a sneaks up on you, lightly taps you on the shoulder, in an effort to make amends, presents you with a sight, or sound, or sensation that more than makes up for what it handed you earlier...and there, soaring over the trees surrounding Lake Allatoona, was a Bald Eagle, hunting for his lunch while I ate mine (well, didn't really eat it for a little bit as I was breathlessly in awe at the sight)...BD went and got her binoculars and we watched him until he flew out of our little area...what a sight, what an experience...even in the midst of a less than promising start to your day, the beauty of this thing we call life jumps out at you and takes you by the shoulders...shakes you while whispering, "look, look...see what I brought you?" It was a moment, to be sure...rest of the day sucked, though, so I own Karma one...

Saturday, March 18, 2006

Thought I would catch everyone up on what is happening between the FAA and myself. I finally received a resonse to all the data I sent in last January. They felt they needed more information, so I had to ask my ophthalmologist for a detailed report on why I wear Toric (astigmatism) contact lenses, as well as a complete cardiovascular evaluation including a stress test that took me to 100% of my working heart rate. Took the test Friday just past, did just fine and the Doctor wrote it up and made copies of the EKG tracings so I could send it all in and make the March 30th deadline. He noted absolutely nothing negative, all aspects of the test was normal, including no indication of any arterial or vascular blockage and no indication of ischemia (that is what happened when I developed double vision). So, I am okay, and hopefully the FAA will see it that way too. I mailed it all back Friday afternoon and hopefully I should hear by mid April. I am getting antsy not flying, but have held off as I get so excited about it when I go that I am trying to keep my wits about me and not build up unrealistic hopes in case the FAA sees this whole thing differently.

I will let all know what happens as soon as I hear. Thanks for your thoughts!!

Got nice birthday cards from BDs sisters, too. And Sue sent me this Venetian Weather Bottle...as the pressure of the air mass surrounding the area changes, so too does the water level in the spout of the bottle...neat to watch!

I also got a book I have wanted from Bryan and Kim and wonderful cards and gift cards from BDs girls and her Mom! Quite the lucky fellow this year, I am I am!!...
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Got a very nice cherry wood Gentleman's Valet from my Sweetie for my Birthday...then, to add to the joy, she surprised me with an IPOD! Am I lucky or what! Beautifully done, finished in dark mahogany, it has 2 drawers, space on top (as you can see) and is a very attractive piece of furniture...I love it!