Razzlfrazzle!!!

It wasn't the CD-Rom Drive.

I replaced the CD burner with a new one and the Windows install bombed at the same percent again. So I replaced the hard drive again! Then it bombed again. At this point I was tired, hungry and frustrated beyond belief.

I removed one of the RAM sticks, and it bombed at 30%. So I swapped the sticks and Vwing! It installed. It was the ram the whole time. How evil!

Winblows through computer hell.

My objective was simple. Replace my dad's hard drive, and install a OEM copy of Windows XP Pro that I had purchased from Fry's. His computer is over 3 years old and thus the hard drive he had was forming bad sectors (at least it did just out right fail, but it was almost as bad since it hosed his email).

The hard drive was cake. Dell computers rock with thier hardware layout. They have the plastic guard rails that let you just pop a component out instead of having to unscrew it from the frame. Took all of 2 minutes to do that. w00t!

So with it all hooked up and air dusted off, I insert the Windows CD, and start the setup process. It gets to 80% copying setup files, and KABLOOEY!

"There was an error trying to copy file somethingoranother.dll. Would you like to retry, skip, or just give up you stupid mortal?"

So I hit retry. "Resistance if futile Error." WTF!?! So I skip. Next file, Error. Next File, Error. *Smashes head into desk repeatedly.

So I call for backup. Jaime shows up with another version of windows...the type of version that doesn't have boot files on it. So we do another trip back to his place and get his emergency boot disk, and another copy of windows. Third time's the charm right?

So with some russian boot disk drive letter swapping fun, I stop that nonsense and use the Windows Media Center edition of XP disk we brought (of course I figured my OEM CD key wasn't gonna work but I didn't care much at that point.

Copying setup files...........80% DING "Silly mortal, Tricks are for kids."

AAARRRGGG!!! So it wasn't the copy of windows. It was his CD ROM going nucking futs! By this point it as almost 9pm. I was tired, and here it is 4am which came all too quickly. Today I get to try again. I'll be putting in a new CD ROM (I think i'll go nuts and get him a DvD Burner mwa hahahaha!!!!)

Awesome weekend

Picked my roomie up from the airport. Did some photoshop work, and getting another web project going. Lots of fun!

I have to work sunday (which is technically today since its after midnight). Its only a 4 hour shift, and from what my coworkers tell me its non-stop busy. I like that. The day goes by faster when there's no downtime. Plus the calls I take are challenging. It's always something new, and often requires some real thought behind figuring out what these people are actually asking for LOL.

example: "Yah, I can't get my database to replicate (replication is a term used for Lotus Notes, since it uses a 'replicator' page for downloading databases to a local copy)."

"Okay, no problem, let me remote into your system and i'll take a look at your lotus notes databases."

"Okay"

Remote process completed

"Okay, i'm showing your lotus notes replicate just fine."

"Oh, its not in lotus notes. My synchronization for my other program isn't working."

"Uh, okay. Sorry, you said replicate, and I assumed lotus notes. And since you didn't say anything after I mentioned i'd look at your lotus notes, I figured that is what you were having a problem with."

"Oh, so that page that says replicator page is what you guys think of when we say replicating? I just call everything that. heh."

(Now mind you, I should have probed and asked what program they were having a problem with)

-=Next Call=-

"Yah i'm getting an error message with my email." (all of them use lotus notes for email, but what the hell right?)

"No problem. What program are you using for email?"

"What do you mean no problem? And what kind of stupid question is that? We all use Lotus notes!"

(troubleshooting commences while the user continues to let me know how stupid I am)

-=Next Call=-

"Yah i'm getting an error message when I try to download my email."

"No problem. Let me remote in." (clickity click click) "Your email seems to be replicating fine."

"Oh its not in lotus notes. I was talking about my outlook express program." (duh..of course you were.)

"I'm sorry, we don't support the use of that program. Per ...(interupted by babbling client)"

"What?! How the heck am I supposed to get my personal email then? This is redicul(interupted by annoyed support tech)."

"Per Security Policy you are not authorized to use that program. Your equipment is not for personal use, and is company provided. The use of non-standard programs is a violation of terms of use."

"Non-standard? It comes installed on the computer."

"Yes, and on the documentation you recieved that was placed inside the lid of the laptop it explains that the program was disabled and is not authorized. You had to do something to enable it again, which means you used non-standard unauthorized software to hack your company computer for personal use."

"But my manager gave me the program."

"So he's involved as well?"

"Um...how about you just remove it for me, and leave it at that."

"Sure thing. I'd be happy to remove all non-standard software from the laptop. I'll even back up your email for you so you can save it to disk and put it on a personal computer."

"Thanks!"

(I'm such a nice guy.)

Beta whore

So far i've gotten into 2 online beta's in the last week. Both very good games. So in response i've began updating my online gaming guild website.

Of course its been so long since i've used frontpage and photoshop that I had to brush back up on a few skillz the hard way hehe. It was fun killing everything a few times.

You can access my forums at http://www.ironalliance.com/forums

That is just in case the front end of my site dies horribly.

Paradox

I am taking my roomie to the airport this morning. Then I get to be in the apartment by myself for a week. Lots and lots to do though.

I'm at a loss as to what else to put here though. So I figured i'd just update this for the sake of updating. =)

How is your day going?

Something to think about...you decide how your day is going regardless of what has happened. My day is fantastic!!!

Cough of Doom

So annoying. I have this cough thing. I was doing "okay" (except the nausea, and breathing problems), but now this cold is getting on my nerves.

=( stupid transition of seasons.

On the road again.

Weeeeeeeeee. I'm moving again today. I'm excited. I get a bigger room for my stuff, and I get to be on a ethernet connection again instead of a wireless one.

Wireless wasn't bad, just something kept disconnecting me every 20-30 minutes and so gaming was a pain in the butt.

If any of you need computer work, or know somebody who does, i'm going to be starting a side business of servicing computers for people.

-Adware/spyware removal
-Virus removal/Antivirus checkup
-Performance Maintenance
-Desktop Design Requests
-Remote support

$150 for 3 months service, includes:
2 physical visits a month no charge (service fee is $35 after that)
10 Remote desktop connections ($10 for every 2 after that)

Advanced services are negotiable but are not included in the service package above.

Zoink!!

I graduated from the PSI basic seminar last night. Wonderful stuff. Lots of you guys showed up to support me, and that is awesome. Thank you!

Now what's next?

I'm moving this weekend. Man I love moving (not). Hehe..but its all good. With the ethernet connection i'll have available, I'll be able to mess with linux a bit more.

I'm a jerk.


This is not a cop out. Its just a cold hard fact I have recently faced more fully than I ever have. Its not an excuse, and I make no reasons for it. Because that would not be facing up to it. It would be accepting it instead of doing something about it.

Of course i'm apologetic, but that won't change the fact either. It is something I have to deal with. So I ask you guys this. As my friends, I ask that you don't stay silent. Call me on my stuff. Support me in wanting to change that aspect. When I spaz out, when I demand control, when I flake out and don't follow my word no matter how simple that promise was...say something. Don't remain silent. If you do this for me, I may get angry with you then, but I will thank you for it later.

I feel like there is no need for conversation.
some questions are better left, without reason.
I would rather reveal myself than my, situation.
Now and then I consider my hesitation.

The more the light shines through me, I pretend to close my eyes.
The more the dark consumes me, I pretend i'm burning...burning bright.

I wonder if the things I did, where just to be different.
To spare myself all the constant shame of my, existence.
I would surely redeem myself in my, desperation.
Here and now i'll express, My situation.

the more the light shines through me, I pretend to close my eyes.
the more the dark consumes me, I pretend i'm burning bright.
the more the light shines through me, I pretend to close my eyes.
the more the dark consumes me, I pretend i'm burning bright.

There's nothing ever wrong, but nothings ever right.
Such a cruel contradriction.
I know i've crossed the line. Its not easy to define.
I'm born to indecision.
There is always something new, some path i'm supposed to choose,
with no particular rhyme or reason.

the more the light shines through me, I pretend to close my eyes.
the more the dark consumes me, I pretend i'm burning bright.
the more the light shines through me, I pretend to close my eyes.
the more the dark consumes me, I pretend i'm burning...

I feel like there is no need for, conversation....

~Shinedown, burning bright

A rollercoaster built to crash

Its such an appropriate phrase. I've been fighting with a continuous migrain for 3 weeks now. The longest one i've had ever. Although its not always trying to kill me. Sometimes its just simmering on low, which just makes me sick to my stomach and kills my appetite while making me see spots if I get exposed to too much light. Joy.....dain bramage.

Job is going GREAT!!! I'm so blessed to have this job. Everything is happening so fast right now. I'll be filing bankrupcy soon. I got my dad to help me find a decent attourney for it. He should have something for me today.

I'm gonna be moving over the next 2 and a half weeks. I'll be allot closer to work....gas money savings$$$

I've been playing City of Heroes allot lately. I preorderd City of Villains. I'm going to be reorganizing and reforming my guild for the launch of it in November. So if any of you are interested goto www.ironalliance.com and check out my latest post.

Oh...and I took this quiz I found on Baby Eaters blog:

Welcome to the first level of hell.

Those were the words uttered to me at work today. My first day that is. I am not intimidated though. I've worked jobs like this before and realize, that liking or disliking this job is all in your choice and perception. You choose to hate it or like it (or even both).

Needless to say, the person who spoke this negative phrase generally has only negative things to say in general.

Grain of salt aside...I had a blast today. Lots of information to absorb. Got a gauge of my supervisors, and of course got the rundown of other people's opinions of them as well. Another point I tend to believe on people making things out to be allot worse than they really are.

One of my sup's has been labeled as a micromanaging stick up his butt kinda guy. I find that if you do your job well, those people tend to seem less like that too you. Mind you...a power trip is a power trip, and those people will still tend to put preasure on you, but even then, you attract less attention than the guy they are getting screamed at about by upper management because he/she didn't fill out a trouble ticket correctly, etc.

Got to "shadow" some calls (where I sit next to someone, and listen to their call through another headset, while making odd scribbles on a note sheet). Although there was a network outage so I didn't get to hear too much of regular troubleshooting, I did get to find out that the intellect of the users i'll be supporting is no smarter than any other job i've worked at.

"Yah, I heard that IVR message on the network being down, but can I connect to my email?"

Gotta love em.

WOLVERINE!!


Which X-Men Character Are You??
brought to you by Quizilla

yah..somehow I got caught up in doing "one of those quizes". Who would have thought? I figured myself more of a rogue.

You've been haxxed.

So there I was attempting to download a nice illegal copy of cuteftp so I could do some web work when low and behold I infected my laptop with a damn virus. =/

I feel like such a darn newb.

Just more proof that p2p programs are EVIL!!!!

No good deed shall go unpunished.

So I got there 20 minutes early. Gave me time to say hi to some friends and kinda relax a bit. Then I suddenly feel like i'm on an episode of the apprentice, because there were 3 interviewers. Except they were wearing street clothes, and generally gave off that "nerdly presence".

It was very enjoyable though. They would take turns bouncing questions off me and I did my best to answer them. Meanwhile the monkey in my head had upgraded himself to Lord Raiden, and was juggling lightning bolts around my brain.

So after the interview I ate lunch with Bill, and kicked back for a bit. Very kewl guy, now if only I could get him to hang out more often.

I begin leaving..off with the button up shirt and tie, and thankfully I was smart enough to wear a T-shirt underneath (cuz that's just nasty if you don't...sweaty manboob inprints are gross). Then I check my voicemail on my phone and they have a message for me already. I am asked to turn around and come back. BOING I GOT THE JOB!!! (yes...I said boing)

I am Jack's giddy inner bitch.

Lookin Sharp

I have an interview this morning that i'm getting ready for (as I post this). It's with Lilly Pharmaceuticals. Which is a client of my previous employer, and a great chance to get my foot back in the door.

I'm doing everything in my power to keep myself moving. I've had a migrain that has been hammering me off and on for 2 weeks now but the last 4 days have been the worst. Between losing my lunch a few times, and the constant dizziness i'm thinking that after my interview, I need to take a long needed trip to the doctors. If he tells me to "drink more water" i'm gonna stuff an Aquafina bottle up his ass. =/ (mentally of course since i'm not really violent)

Sorry if i've been a little deceptive to a few of you that i've kept my migrain from. I don't like letting people know when i'm in serious pain especially when someone's day is going good.

I'll do another post after my interview.

I haven't updated in...forever. So here is an update. I'm still working for a crappy deceptive company (although the job itself is fun).

I'm taking some time to focus on my goals for a bit, and even gonna see about getting some help to do so (you'd be amazed at the number of organizations out to help people help themselves).

"A pastinaca sum ego"

Bangs head on desk.

Things are so bad. I guess the phrase is,"It's all good." Financially though i'm squeaking by, and that annoys me to no end. So i'm probably going to pick up a part time job. This is going to kill what little time I had available to begin with though.

I dig my friends. I thought it out for awhile and realized that right now I have a handful of people I know are really my friends. And not just the "we'll be there for you" friends. But the "its 3am in the morning, you have to be up at 6am, but I need someone to talk to, and you are kewl with that" friends.

There is a saying i've heard a million times, and I want to hear it millions more,"You choose your day." and I guess the closest thing in latin to that would be Carpe Diem...Seize the day. When life has you by the balls, and you feel like screaming at someone for whatever reason...don't forget to smile first.

Oh...and Moo

Mom's B-day

My mother's birthday was today. Took her out to eat dinner. It was fun. Nothing really interesting going on. Just working, playing warcraft, and more working.

Somewhere in there I get sleep..I think.

Invasion of the privacy snatchers

Well it looks as if my cousin's myspace account was found. (I didn't know she had one..i'll have to add it to my links).

Now my mother is going ballistic, and over reacting (nothing new here..a little enlightenment tends to calm her down, but she's still really nosy hehe). I hope my cousin doesn't get even more regressed.

Start a War

I bought the new static-x album....me likey muey mocho. Check it out on their official website, etc.

In recent news, i've began playing Warcrack heavily again. I joined a guild called Silent Legion. I'm trying to fill their ranks with my friends. So if you are interested in joining, let me know.