Use any version of Windows 7 free for 120 days

So the Geek is coming out today. I subscribe to a newsletter Windows Secrets and received the following artical. I thought it interesting and may have some interest for a few of my readers... (all 2 of the 7 of you!)

http://windowssecrets.com/comp/090820/

I am wanting to try the new Windows 7 as I have heard that it is far better than Vista ever was.

(Also just bookmarking for later use!)

Farmer In The Dell!

musicMagpie

I stumbled across a website that will buy your used CDs from you. Musicmagpie shows you the value of each by simply entering in the bar code off the CD.

I entered a few just for grins. The first two were one's that I recently purchased and they are only willing to give me about 4 pounds for them (that's $5.84 USD) I used this currency converter.

This Is The Time Where I Hate My Job

Just to cover my ass here, I will not say anything viable to or crucial to the company I work for. I mean no harm. I will make every effort to not say anything that is in violation of company policy.

I know that it has been months since I posted, but I have (no excuse) been really busy. I have finally got the job that I always wanted and I am actually really hating it right now.

Several hundred people have been laid off from the company I work for in the passed couple of months, and I have to be right in the middle of all of it. Now that I am in the IT Dept. (Computer Tech, Support Specialist, the "it" guy, the PC Geek.... what ever you want to call it) I have to be one of the ones that secures equipment when that person is "Let Go".

I am having a real hard time dealing with this since most of these people I have known for many years. I have become friends with these guys and know what their background consist of.

I know there were families that have newborns at home, were finally making there way back up out of the hole that they dug just to stay alive; to single dads that finally were able to provide insurance for there kids that were actually able to see the doctor for the first time without having to worry about the bill; the mother with 3 kids that got away from her abusive husband and started a life in a new home; a regular family that got excited about buying a new washer that actually cleaned their cloths, cut down on their electric bill and help save the environment....All of them just lost their jobs. All of them, might very well loose everything else...

I walk into the office and start taking apart equipment. I look at every one's faces and see nothing but fear. Scared, teary eyed zombies just stare in amazement. I carry out the the tin boxes that hold valuable information and all I can say is... nothing....nothing....

I walk back in to remove the remnants of cables and wires. Three women stand huddled, sobbing softly together. One women reaches up to the face of the other and wipes away a tear and says, " Just remember, God brought us to it he will bring you through it." I walk away with a tear in my eye...

Happy New Hallo-ThanksXmas Year!

I want one of these!

Finally Did It!

SandRidge Finally offered me the position as a Support Specialist! And I took it. I have never in my life been through such a process. Everything was all so formal, professional. I guess I am just used to the small town attitude of "Do you want a job?"... "Sure!"... "Then your hired."

I will start my new job on Nov. 24th. And, just to clerify something, I will NOT be moving to Oklahoma. I will work for the IT Department here in Fort Stockton. I may be traveling to OK a few times, but not to stay. This is gonna be fun and I look forward to it.

You know, I always have something to be so thankful for come this time of year, however, I just got little extra bonus this year!

Interview Update

This was a an experiance that I will never forget. First off we drove to Oklahoma City OK on the 24th of Sept. where Sandridge was nice enough to put us up in the Mariot Courtyard on the northwest side of town. After 8 hours of driving and almost getting us completely lost, which is very easily done when you are not familiar with any of the area, Shelly and the kids enjoyed the pool while I got ready for my interview.

The next morning I met with several members of the IT team at the Valience Bank next door to the hotel we were staying at. I really felt uncomfortable and underdressed. The hotel and the area was all business uper-class. Jeans and boots were presentable however I should have worn a tie. I was well accepted and warmly greeted by every person that made eye contact with me. As for the interview itself, though formal, it was more of a meet and greet type setting. Very few questions about the job, more so about getting to know my personality and if I would fit in to a close knit team. All the people I met with in the interviews were great. Very friendly! By the end of each interview I found myself very relaxed, even more comfident. I was actually just sitting there Bull Shittin with these people. This part is funny: Everyone of these people asked if I had flown in on the Coorperate Jet, and when I said No that I drove, their jaws almost hit the floor. I think I impressed them futher when I infomed them that I was on Vacation and traveling through. A nerve racking, yet awsome experience.

As of today, I still do not know if I got the position or not. There were several things that happened since. Besides going on the Kansas for Jay and Nichole's redneck wedding, we came back the next week and the Monday I was supposed to go back to work I found myself sick. Then on Tuesday ended up in the hospital with pnemonia, putting me out of work for a whole week, Yes I am doing great now so don't worry about that. Then I get back to work to find that the company decided to stack down (shut down) half the rigs, laying off a mess load of people temporarially, and putting the Lariat side of the company on a hiring freeze. If that was not frustrating enough I made contact with Human Resource concerning all of the above, and found out that everything was ok with the transfer and was still in the works, and not to worry about getting layed off, however, I would not have a definate answer on the position untill the end of next week.

Let me say this, when I spoke with HR about the pay, she infomed me that that was part of the reason for the delay in a final decision. I get anywhere from 30 to 50 hours overtime in a given week, so they had to come up with a salary that was comprable with my current income, since that amount of overtime in not included in the position requirements. You know what that means right? A LOT more money per hour AND way less work. (With her saying that, just makes me even more confident!)

So, after almost 6 months of waiting, I'm still waiting........ Will keep everyone up to date when I know something. I can't wait for all this to get settled one way or the other.

Carple tunnel

There is a couple of issues I have been faced with today, but I am going to focus on the positive.

I went back to the doctor to get another cortozone shot in my right hand and all he said was that the only fix would be a surgery. Im not ready yet so I said no. He gave me a shot in the palm of my hand just below my ring finger. This time he put the latacaine and decacan (thats not the right name but owell....) in the same injection and that that shit hurts... still does but the more I move my fingers and wrist the better it feels. (I am pecking at the keyboard to type this post with my right hand here)


I can move my fingers and whrist very well and I can't wait till tomorrow when I can lift my coffee cup in the mornin and not have a problem. (ok ok, I cannt wait to lift that 12oz piece of tin that contains something called "beer")

Tomorrow I will be doing great and will post more. hopefully it will only take me a few minutes to post next time !

Farting In Bed

This is a story about a couple who had been happily married for year. The only friction in their marriage was the husbands habit of farting loudly every morning when he awoke.

The noise would wake his wife and the smell would make her eyes water and make her gasp for air.

Every morning she would plead with him to stop ripping them off because it was making her sick. He told her he couldn't stop it and that it was perfectly natural. She told him to see a doctor she was concerned that one day he would blow his guts out.

The years went by and continued to rip them out. Then one Thanksgiving morning as she was preparing the turkey for dinner and he was upstairs sound asleep, she looked at the innards, neck gizzards, liver and the spare parts and a malicious thought came to her. She took the bowl and went upstairs where her husband was sound asleep and gently pulling the bed covers back, she pulled back the elastic waist band of his underpants and emptied the bowl of turkey guts into his shorts.

Some time later she heard her husband waken with his usual trumpeting which was followed by a blood curdling cream and the sound of frantic footsteps as he ran into the bathroom. The wife could hardly control herself as she rolled on the floor laughing, tears in her eyes! After years of torture she had got him back pretty good.

About twenty minutes later, her husband came downstairs in his blood stained underpants with a look of horror on his face. She bit her lip as she asked him what was the matter.

He said, " Honey, you were right. All these years you have warned me and I didn't listen to you"

"What do you mean?", asked the wife.

"Well, you always told me that one day I would end up farting my guts out. And today, it finally happened. But by the Grace of God, Some Vaseline and two fingers, I think I got most of them back in! "

Interview Update

I had my first of two, maybe three iterviews today with the IT Team at SandRidge Energy. An over the phone interview, that was just a nerving as actually meeting these people in person.

For the first time in my life I had an interview that consisted of more than 2 people. There were supposed to be 6, I think, that were in on the conversation.

As far as formal interviews this was only the second in my life that actually considered more infuses on what I had to say about myself and accomplishments than what my resume said.

After 30 minutes of answering general questions about what I have done and my accomplishments (giving me time for bragging rights included), I was informed that a person to person interview was a definite. I didn't mention salary since the interview contained several of the IT Team, but was informed by the interviewer that an immediate contact with HR would be about just that. Does that sound promising? I think so!


There was a negative that was stated a few times through the conversation that I didn't like to much. I was informed that it was important that my boss not be put in a bind due to a possible move of me to another department. OK, that could be a positive... just means there is someone else that could hold me back from getting out of the shop. That "someone else" is the one that I need to train to do my job which my boss has yet to find.

I have been very conservative on what the interview consisted of and responses I have made. I may very well have damaged my chance of getting the transfer by saying what I have but I am confident. If it does not work out than I am certain that there are far more chances out there.

Satisfied But Frustrated *part one*

I know that I haven't posted in a while but I have good reason.

I will start with the satisfied part first. About 2 months ago a hail storm hit town that did quite a bit of damage. It didn't break any windows but really put some dints in the paint on the house, the cars, broke branches off the trees which knocked over a brick pillar in the front corner of the yard, damaged vents on the roof and, well, caused a big mess. After calling the insurance company they came out and determined that we needed to fix everything that was damaged on the outside of the house. In order to utilize the EXTRA money that was given to us, I decided to contract some of the labor, then do most of it myself. I decided that I wanted to paint the entire house and trim before summers end. I've actually got almost 2 sides of it done in the passed month. That shows how fast this is going.

My big project is going to be the fence. I cannot get the stain that I want in town and have to order it. There is a national back order for 5 gallon buckets of ceder stain at every store I have gone to. At $80+ a 5gallon bucket and repeat customer you would think that they would bend over backwards to get you what you want....but not here..... go figure. ***Nicole, I need help here!***

You would never believe what a new coat of paint would do to make an old house look new and clean again!

Satisfied But Frustrated *part two*

As much as I hate too, I have to post about my Frustration: Work

Wait, THERE IS GOOD NEWS HERE FIRST: Interview for the IT Dept. on Tuesday!

I am not happy about how the shop foreman is handling things. Just today...


Ohh Hell, forget it; its not worth it.

Did I tell you that there is a positive here? I finally got an interview with......

The Sea

http://xkcd.com/

A Remebrance and An Explanation

I can not say anything more impressive than what My Dad posted on his Myspace Blog . You will now see one of the reasons why I admire the man that I am so proud to call my Dad!

A Remembrance and an Explanation Category: Life

Forty years ago this month, an 18 year old boy landed at the airport at Bien Hoa, Republic of Vietnam. He was filled with enthusiasm, the boldness of youth, and the stylized, glorified vision of war as presented by Hollywood. Two years later, a person with the same identity boarded a Boeing 727 at Cam Rahn Bay, Republic of Vietnam for the last time. He turned at the top of the stairs for one last look at the country he had learned to both love and hate. A country of paradox. On one hand, a beautiful country of lush green jungles filled with exotic animals and birds and beautiful flowers and a land of wonderful, gentle, loving people. On the other hand, a country torn by strife where destruction lurked around every corner in innumerable forms and fashions. A country where Death ruled supreme and the Reaper's blade dripped blood.

He enters the plane and finds a seat, surrounded by so many others like him. Gone is the boy, replaced by an old man aged far beyond the 20 years shown on his ID card. The once bright, wide eyes now hold a deep haunted look, forever dulled by the scenes of death and destruction that have passed before them. Never again will the world look the same to those eyes. Eyes that have seen the look of surprise on the face of a young Vietnamese that the man has just shot when he realizes that his life has been cut short, over before he can live it. Eyes that have seen that same look over and over on the face of enemies and far too many friends. Eyes that have looked on the anguished faces of people who have lost everything to the ravages of war and seen the deaths of innocents whose only fault was to be in Death's way when he cut his wide swath.

The man's hearing has become dulled by the sound of bullets and bombs, by the screams of the wounded as they begged for help, by the moans and cries of the dying when they feel Death's icy grip and know their time is over. Dulled too by the whispered last request of so many comrades to please tell their families that they loved them and were thinking of them at the end.

The man's feelings are dulled as well. Dulled by the searing pain of hot metal tearing into human flesh, a pain indescribable and known only to those that have felt it. Dulled by the feeling of hot blood from and enemy gushing over his hand holding the knife he used. Hands forever stained with the blood of friends held close and tight trying to stave off the inevitable. His sense of smell has forever been altered. Altered by the smell of cordite and napalm, by the smell od blood soaking into the groung, the smells of decomposition and burning flesh. Smells forever remembered because forgetting them is impossible.

man's mouth is filled with the taste of death. Don't think Death has a taste? Ask someone who has been to war and they will tell you it has a very real and very distinctive taste. All these things have changed the boy who landed that first time into the old man that boarded that last plane. Many times in the past have I gone looking for that 18 year old boy. Looking for his enthusiasm and bright outlook on life and for the future only to find that he has become lost forever and has passed into oblivion.

So, to all of you, if I appear moody, reclusive and a bit standoffish these days, it's because I'm in mourning. I mourn the loss of that innocent boy. A boy whose passing was only noted and marked by me for I alone knew he was gone. So, bear with me for a time please. The mourning will pass as it has so many times in the past and I will return to being the crusty old asshole you have all come to love, or hate as the case may be.

Although I will always regret the loss of the boy, I do not regret the man I have become. I have accepted that death is inevitable and comes to all of us, but I will always fight Death to the bitter end and cheat him whenever possible. I have seen far too much death in my time to let that Bastard win without a fight.

Balmorhea 2008

Each year we make a weekend trip to Balmorhea. Balmorhea is this little bitty town about 45 minutes west of Fort Stockton that has a man made lake

and a spring fed swimming pool, respectfuly on either side of it. We decided to stay in one of the cabins in the Balmorhea State Park.

It is absolutely beautiful this time of year and the mid-summers rain just keeps it that way.

Just outside the back door of the cabin is a creek full of fish, turtles (yes snakes too) and all the beauty that West Texas can provide.

The pool was Awsome! and lots of fun


Its always nice to have great friends and family to share your leisure time!

Mandy and Aaron, Ya'll are too much fun! Kaylee, Thanks for being such a great Best Friend!

I Got Over It! He He

I've been bitchy here the past couple of weeks but have done something about it! As I posted in the last post, finally got the denture work done that I needed ( I bet Shelly's glad about that).

The important thing is that I have actually done something about Getting Over Being Butt Hurt about the foreman's position I didn't get.

The meter tech position, I DID NOT get because I do not have experience. And that's OK! So I applied again with IT Department. I had the Human Resource Department call me Yesterday about it. All was good except I had to have my supervisors approval to transfer. All I could think through the conversation was "I'm Screwed, I'll never get out of this place". HR did say the reason for the approval was because they did not want a troubled employee to be transferred to another department just to be troubled in another. Very Understandable.

So I came home last night and got my balls out of Shelly's purse and sent my boss a text message that I needed to talk to him and it was important. He text back that he would make sure and find me on the floor as soon as he got there. (its really sad, but to get my boss to communicate with me at all now is through email or text when HE is available. In person is almost impossible.)

My boss approached me this morning, here is what I told him:

"I am going to come right out and say it. I have another shot at getting on with the IT department." In a stern, demanding voice I informed, "I am Not asking for your permission; they are requiring that you send HR the OK for me to transfer to another department. What I am asking of you is to send Mrs. [XXXX] the OK." The OK is meaning that I am not a troubled employee..... (all right, that's debatable sometime but....)

He did tell me that he could not hold me back and that he would have to find someone that I could train to do what I do and do it right. (I've actually been begging for help for a long time). After asking when they want the position filled and me telling him that I need the interview to find out, he stated, " I have to talk to my supervisors and let them know. They do know that I am short handed and I don't know what that's gonna do and ......"

So I've got to keep my balls for a while.

Kind of nice, even though the counter weight between the teeth that are gone and the
extra weight that I'm not used to, is throwing my equilibrium off...

3 Teeth Gone and 20+ To Go

After 2 long weeks on antibotics, on entire day of sevier pain, Lots of pain med, bad mood swings, and loss of 10 lbs from not eating.... my 3 bad teeth on the right top side of my mouth are GONE! Yee HAW!!!!!!!!

I had one tooth that was giving me fits, and the dentist said it was 2 including the wisdom tooth. I went back last week and he discovered that it was a third tooth that was giving me trouble. After putting me on a second week of antibiotics, he pulled all three and said that the one that the one that did not even bother me at all was the one causing all the infection and pain. NOW THEY ARE GONE!

I spent most of Sunday popping pain pills and in bed because the pain was so bad. Did not think that I was even going to live let alone keep my stomach in my body for all the pucking because of the pain. Told the Doc about it today and he said that with the pain pills that he prescribed, I should not lay down. Evidently it loses its effect after a short period of time on such an intense pain! Now the SOB tells me!!!!!

Owell, now the next step. A cleaning, assesment and X-Rays for a partial or even (I Hope) a full set of dentures.

Relief...Finally! May God bless everyone with healthy teeth and no tooth ache.
As Dad said, get dentures. If you've got to hurt in my mouth than you can get out and hurt in that bowl!

2008 4th of July

Last nights fireworks show was great here in Fort Stockton. Brenton had a ball watching what he called "Bubbles" untill he got tired. Tyla was ancious to pop off the few fireworks we had but was in agreement that we could just watch everyone else ALL the way around us. Some one in a Jeep behind us was playing patriotic music which was a nice touch. Even the guy a few cars over blaring his mexican music turned it off the let everyone hear what this guy was playing. A really great time for all of us. Have a great weekend!

Tyla's Birthday Party "Aloha"

For Tyla's Birthday party this year we decided to have a Luau. The festive leis, tiki torches, flowers everywhere and of course a big bunch of people.

Everything was set. We got the yard ready. Set out the torches, and put in small Chineese palm trees. I made up a mister of 1/4 " plastic tubing draped up in and around the big pecan tree to give some relief from the heat that was expected. It actually felt very tropical already and looked great. (and it still does, by the way) Then that morning, something very unexpected happened. I woke up to find a beautiful, fantastic, most prayed for thing that everyone had been begging for, for months... RAIN! It was so perfect! A steady and gentle down pour. I was just crushed.

I attempted to put the rest of the decorations up but the rain would not stop. Mom and Dad showed up and tried to help but had to make the decision to have most everything inside. Our very good friends and "Party Planners" finally got here. Susan and Shelly started on the cake and Mandy and Mom put out the decorations. Mom put Dad to work on making the ribs and Ronny went to get Tyla's big suprise. Then everyone started showing up. I'm not going to list everyone cause it would take me an hour just to do so; I lost count at about 30 people.

When the rain let up some we all went outside to play one of the many games that we had planned. Actually it was the only one we played, since the rain tossed our other ideas out the window. It was called the Cheeto head game. You get two teams together, put the team leader in a char. Put a shower cap covered with shaving cream on her head then have the other team-mates stand around her and throw Cheetos at her head. When each team is done, you count the cheetos and then the team that has the most on their head is the "Cheeto Head"

That was the biggest mess, but absolutely hillarous!

Time for cake and presents!

After begging for months and even wanting to spend her own money to get one, we gave Tyla her big suprise!

As always we have a great time, and these few pics do not do justice for all that happened. I am going to put all of them on flicker.com and in myspace pics so check it out! Thanks to everyone that made this so great!

Untill next year...

Carpel Tunnel Syndrome

I have had this Carpel Tunnel crap for a while now and am really getting fed up with it. I started out with just wearing a brace. It helped some but not really. Then the doctor put me on some medication (I forget what its called) to help with inflammation and pain. Since that didn't work, I went back for the next step, a cortisone shot.

After 45 minutes of sitting and thinking about how much its going to hurt, nervous sweat running down my forehead, the doctor finally came in. He explained that this was the last step before having to perform surgery. And now its time. I really hate shots so here goes..... They mix latacain with the cortisone, to help with the pain. I have to tell you that the shot was not bad but it did hurt. I could instantly feel a cool fuzzy feeling in my thumb then the rest of my fingers went to sleep. The cool fuzzy turned to warm tingle. The pain was really intense right at the spot of injection. There was instant relief, No Pain. I actually was not feeling much of my hand at all. The doctor put my hand in a fist and cupped his over it, rolling it back and forth. I could feel the medication flowing through my fingers, very wild sensation. My hand was real stiff for most of the day, but No pain!!!! Yesterday every joint hurt but not intensely. Today, I have very little pain. You know when you bump into something and you get that half second of pain, its very tolerable, but enough to say "ouch". It seems to be getting better each day! Just hope it lasts. The doctor said that it could last a week, a month or 6 months. One of the other doctors said she had 1 single injection and the inflammation never returned. A friend said that he had the cortisone shot in his knee and never had any problems with it after that. So lets see what happens. It's really nice to get rid of one of my nagging pains. Now if I could just get rid of this pain in my ass called "A Job" I would be even more happy..... and that is a new post coming up next. So stay tuned for the continuing saga of my pathetic life...... right here on your favorite blog Flight Of An Eagle.