The Progression of Time

Precious. Lost. Wasted. It's amazing how we describe time. Next Monday, Joshua starts Kindergarten -- his first, full day of school. As Val and I look at him, it's hard to believe that there was a time he was small enough to fit in the cradle of our arms. He's grown so much...of course, that's a good thing because he's suppose to grow. But where did the time go? Today it's Kindergarten. Tomorrow, I'll be hugging him goodbye as he leaves for college to pursue his life interests. And then it will be Caleb...and then Hannah. Someone once said that time is like a fire that consumes us. I think it's better to look at time as a friend that we journey with and along the way, there are good times and bad times, but regardless, we're better for the journey because of what time teaches us. So, you say, what have I learned so far? Don't waste the time you have...make it count. I don't always do that, I'll admit. Often times we don't say or do what we intend at the moments we intend and then we find ourselves regretting or wishing we had done it. I hope, as I reflect on this milestone in the life of our family, that I do better in the next 5 years than I have in the last 5. Can I be a better father? husband? person? Sure...we all can. No one's perfect after all. But what remains is...will I be? I hope so. I sure do hope so.

The City of Angels

This week I'm in Los Angeles visiting our facility here to do some maintenance, clean up and upgrading to the network. It's been a year since I've been here so it's in desperate need of some TLC (that's tender loving care, not a channel on TV). There's a part of me that likes LA; the weather is beautiful (it's been in the high 70's to low 80's this week with not a sliver of humidity), the scenery is pretty cool (I love the ocean -- it's one of God's greatest parts of creation), and I get away from the office for a few days to stretch my tech teeth and still have a little fun too. Could I live here, you say? Never in a million years. When you cram 3 and a half million people into a city (with more in the outskirts), that's just too much! Not to mention there's this "L.A." feel to everything that makes you ask, is it real? It's probably like living anywhere really -- you just have to accept the character of the place and learn to live within that framework if you want to stay sane. Nashville's no different in that respect. Just smaller. But I've been here since Tuesday and working like crazy trying to tie things up that need some attention. I have one more day and evening to accomplish what I need to before flying home on Saturday mid-day. And that is what makes the going away more sweet -- getting to come home to my family. Miss you and love you guys!

Mac-tel PCs

Several weeks ago, it was announced that Apple would begin using Intel CPUs in their Macs starting in 2006. As a PC enthusiast I am thrilled by this announcement. For years, the debate has raged -- which is better, Mac or PC. I think that is one of the stupidest debates and ranks right up there with "which is safer: airplane or car travel" and "how many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Pop"! Two words: WHO CARES! I, like so many others in the Tech industry, learned the basics of computers in the PC/Win-tel world. Back then the only opinion I had was an uninformed one that was one-sided because my knowledge of the world of technology was very, very limited. But now, some 10 years later, you'll find I pretty much have embraced all different system platforms because everyone has its place in the technological world we live in. Linux, Unix, Mac OS, Windows -- these are the big four. And truth be told, you can't simply rank those operating environments from one to four, least to greatest. Why? Because each one serves a purpose.

Now...having said that, allow me to step back and take a look at the bigger picture. Truth is, if it weren't for Unix and Mac, Windows wouldn't even exist. Windows, the brainchild of Microsoft founder and chief janitor, Bill Gates, has permeated the global community because Uncle Bill didn't just know software development, he knew marketing. He knew how to sell. Steve Jobs got caught up trying to create some euphoric digital universe with Apple and, while he had a superior product, failed miserably to sell it to the masses. Well, not miserably, but not "Microsoft" successfully. The development of the OS world has been fascinating if you've watched how it's unfolded in the past 20 years. DOS, Windows 3.1, Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows ME (all those who bought a copy when it came out take one step forward -- anyone? anyone?), Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows 2003, and soon to come -- Windows Vista (I hate that name -- sounds like I ought to be checking my e-mail while slightly high and sitting on a beach somewhere). Apple, Mac, OS7, OS8, OS9, and now OS X. (That list seems shorter...wonder why?) OK, so, what's the point. Point is, Mac is making one of the smartest moves it's ever made. Truth be told, back in the late 90's and early 2000's Mac claimed to be faster -- but it really wasn't...well, at least not always. But you put that same OS on an Intel chip/platform -- now you've got a fast OS. Mac has always been more stable than Windows primarily because it's based off a Unix kernel -- Unix is the MACDaddy of OS's! With minor exceptions, you can turn a Linux or Unix machine on and leave it and might never have to reboot it ever again -- the stability is staggering and one of the reasons why Mac fans (as well as Linux and Unix fans) for years have claimed superiority over Windows. And from that standpoint, it's true. But Linux, Unix, and Mac fail in one area -- the law of universality. Microsoft, love 'em or hate 'em, was driven by the concept that it would not only be user friendly, but it would be easy to obtain and, eventually, they would make every piece of software you would ever need! Just look at 'em -- server software, OS software, database software, browser software, e-mail software, anti-spyware software, office/productivity software, multimedia software and -- coming soon -- anti-virus software. But this granddaddy of decisions by Apple just makes me excited. We haven't really seen anything new come to the table in quite a few years from anyone. Oh, sure, there have been some spikes in the trends, but the last real change the world experienced in the bits and bytes race was probably the release of Windows 95.

So what does the future hold? Who knows...but stick around; I think it's about to get really, really interesting!

Speaking of Office Space...

We're having a yard sale this weekend. I feel sorry for Val as she's been working like a dog to keep this thing going for the last two days. My sister and her husband live right next door and we've all been attempting to get rid of a lot of the stuff we've accumulated in our married years (and some items beyond that point). We're selling clothes, toys, furniture, computer parts, and just general odds and ends. Heck, someone even offered to buy my old "beater" car and I didn't even have it out for sale officially -- but I'd sell it since I don't really use it much.

Any-hoo...one of the things we decided to sell was the computer desk I've been using for about the past year. I bought it a year ago when we moved into the house here but it was a cheap Wal-mart special and eventually it really didn't serve my purposes like I'd hoped. Plus Val didn't really like it all that much in the end so... We decided to go last weekend to Office Depot and buy a nice new desk. It was delivered Thursday. Unassembled. You want to know the 3 most hated words in the life of a Dad -- "Some Assembly Required". Most of the time it applies to toys or bikes or generally anything you buy your kids at Christmas-time that's bigger than a Hot Wheels toy car. This time, it's my toy. I got the Workcenter and Hutch on sale and it's really, really cool. My wife actually picked it out and she has a good eye for this kind of stuff. I mean she looks at the ad and then goes to the store and looks it up one side and down the other. Me? Most of the time I'd look at the ad and say, "can we just phone the order in and pick it up" without ever really seeing it. Then I'd get it home and hate it! But we went to see it after we saw the ad and I love it! Pretty much a guarantee that I'll have this thing for about 10 years. It's not solid wood, but it's solidly constructed.

Next, we have to go and get a new Entertainment Unit as we're selling that in the yard sale too. We've had a couple of bites on it the past two days, but no one's committed to buying it just yet. I'm hoping tomorrow, othewise I won't know what to do with it. Probably place an ad in the paper. We've thought about having a follow up Saturday only yard sale in late August or early Septemeber depending on what's left after this weekend. But we might just give it to goodwill or E-bay some of it...I don't know.

Most of this new furniture we're looking at is corner units of some sort. My new desk is and I really like how it fills the space. Val and I both hate wasted space -- but we both hate cluttered space too (when we can avoid it). The new entertainment unit will be a corner unit to because of where it needs to go...this old house doesn't have the greatest use of wall space I've ever seen. It was built in 1960 so, you know, old design. People weren't as obsessed with furniture beyond beds and sofas and tables as we are now.

Well, the new desk and hutch is up. Next stop is likely Lowes where Val saw a entertainment unit she thought she saw and liked...maybe tomorrow after the yard sale is over; who knows, we'll see.

Office Space

Bob: "Looks like you've been missing a lot of work lately."
Peter: "Well, I wouldn't exactly say I've been missing it, Bob."

That quote goes out to all those who work for those who care more about the bottom line than the employees who help them succeed.

Checking Out the Dean's List

My brother, Jason, recently published his own blog. J -- you started off great with the stuff on baseball and Ryno. I'm not as big a sports fan as Jason, but I'll never forget the '84 Cubs. I'm still convinced that's one of the best teams ever assembled in baseball history. I think I'll go home and admire my Ryne Sandberg baseball cards!

I'm going to put a link to Jason's blog below permanently when I have a few more minutes.

Also, next week, I'm going to be in California at our Los Angeles facility doing some work so I'll likely make several posts while I'm there to make up for my utter lack of postings lately (my work is getting ahead of my life -- ICK!). Later...