The Domino Effect

2009: Check

noreply@blogger.com (Greg) — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 18:16:00 +0000

Oh bother. Another year gone by. This one seemed to sneak up and pass through quickly.

It was exciting and frustrating all in one. Betsy and I did a lot of stuff this year, most notably having our house built. We also hosted a number of dinners and parties, spent time with friends and family, cooked a lot of meals, did more than our fair share of moving, got promoted, lost a friend and our grandpa, made new friends, welcomed little Selah into the family, went to the beach a lot, went to Seattle more than a few times and generally stayed very, very busy.

On Sunday, we topped the year out by buying a new car. We couldn't take driving our gas-guzzling truck around anymore, so we traded her in for a shiny, newer Toyota RAV4. Not really a sexy car, per se, but highly practical, cost efficient and fun to drive.

What does 2010 hold? Hmm. Hard to say. But, in the spirit of eschewing dumb traditions, I have opted to forgo any sort of "Resolution" planning in exchange for a motto:

Organize. Normalize. Make it Happen.

I know, sounds cheezy, but it's far from. The big, stressful purchases have been made. It's time now to make something of what we have into a system that works. THat's not to say it's not working now, but it feels chaotic and underutilized. So, that's where the Organize part comes in. Take all that chaos and make some sense of it.

Then, all of the things in our lives that seem to just be completely unpredictable and wacky - I'm getting those under control to - hence the "Normalize" part of the equation. It's time to turn the volume down on the crazy nights out and bring up the level of those quieter, sometimes very important things in life - like reading, school, etc.

Above all, in order to make any of this talk even have a chance at becoming a walk, the "Make it Happen" part is in order. Just a subtle reminder that all the best ideas and intentions must be procured to mean anything.

It's a nice way to bring in the new year without the dread of having self-committed to a long list of undesirable tasks to accomplish. I feel like I have a direction for myself, and the details will reveal themselves when the time is right.

So, out with the "Two-Thousands" and in with the "Twenties".

Right?

Gregster: Resolved

Ready, set, you're late!

noreply@blogger.com (Greg) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 20:09:00 +0000

Not enough sleep leads to shitty blog entries.

This shall be no exception.

A fun weekend was had by all. Sunday night, Bets' burned her index finger really good on some molten sugar (she made some lovely Peanut Brittle). That kept us up late tending to it. It didn't help that we just don't get tired on Sunday night the way that normal people do.

Running out of time on my self-imposed 1 hour lunch break. Lots to do today. Wednesday is the last day in the office for me until next year. Going out of town for a few days after the Holidays are done with. It should be fun this year - we're having most of the family over to our house for Christmas.

Gregsta'

I heart the Waffle Window.

noreply@blogger.com (Greg) — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 19:43:00 +0000

Breakfast this morning consisted of waffles with Nutella, whipped cream, pears and caramel from the critically acclaimed Waffle Window. OMG. SO FRICKEN GOOD! (Yes, I just used 'OMG' in a serious sentence on this blog. Wanna fight about it?)

Can we say 'Sugar Rush'? Yeah. That's me right now. Let's see what I'm doing right now:

1. Posting to Blog
2. Upgrading an SQL server at my office
3. Backing up files on my laptop
4. Sorting papers
5. Cleaning Glasses
6. Listening to Pandora (heavy metal, of course)
7. Updating iPhone apps & music

I should have waffles more often. Thank you, waffle window!!!

Gregster'

Unwashed Masses

noreply@blogger.com (Greg) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 18:33:00 +0000

Friday is finally here. I'm intently staring at the screen as if I'm writing code or a memo (and really, I prefer the code over the memo most of the time.) Nobody dares peek around at what I'm doing. I would snap them in two with my ninja skills.

Vacation starts next week on Thursday. Part of me wants to call in sick all week, seeing as I have topped out saving up sick leave (we're capped at 80 hours saved at a time).

Much has yet to be done on our Christmas planning and implementation project for 2009. It's a formidable project with an almost unattainable deadline.

Back to the REAL grind.

Gregsta'

Can't get it right

noreply@blogger.com (Greg) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:54:00 +0000

Today is challenging me to keep from tossing people out the window. Very specific people, but a substantial quantity of them.

I'm finding that my current challenge is somewhere between not caring and requiring that of which does not exist to get my job done in an efficient manner. Talk about rock and a hard place.

Christmas is coming and I'm taking almost 2 weeks off. Fuck, yeah.

That should give me time to start working on the ol' Resume and business endeavors that I have wanted to get off the ground for some time.

Lets hope that Facebook doesn't side track me as much as I think it will...

Gregsta'

Plowing the Mental field

noreply@blogger.com (Greg) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 05:03:00 +0000

I wonder sometimes what I would do without the Internet.

There are so many ways to waste time and avoid getting anything done. I'm looking at videos of different programs that "solve" all your computer needs. Dropbox, BumpTop, Launchy. God. Why didn't I think of these. All simple, easy to use, single purpose programs that completely eschew that which we IT people think is important.

Good times.

Gregsta'

Nut, cracker!

noreply@blogger.com (Greg) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 20:58:00 +0000

Last night was my Ballet devirginization. Yep, I went to see the Nutcracker with Betsy and a few close friends. It was pretty amazing to see what the super-traditional side of entertaining looks like. I so seldom expose myself to the arts these days, for fear of disappointment and lack of interest.

Man, you'd think I grew up all Emo as a child.

I'm guessing the stereotype of Male Ballet dancers being predominantly gay is likely true. Quite of a few of the guys up there looked to be about as gay as they get. Not that I care. Just an observation. Wanna fight about it?

The audience was all white. The only non-white people were on stage, and sparse at that. Lets face it, what self-respecting American minority would bother going to see the Nutcracker? It's about some rich white kids, a freak-show and a LDS induced dream. Yeah, I don't think that's going to appeal to a Korean family so much.

The snow and freezing rain that was forecast for Portland never materialized. I'm glad, quite frankly. I'll be fine with a little snow when it finally rears its ugly head. But the freezing rain and ice? It can just F' off.

Time for some Yuletide planning!

Gregsta'

Friday

noreply@blogger.com (Greg) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:35:00 +0000

Here we go. Friday!

Hmm. Nothing else to say. Very focused.

Gregsta': Out

It's Cold Outside

noreply@blogger.com (Greg) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 18:39:00 +0000

Here in the PacNW (that's slang for the Pacific Northwest), we've been seeing some cold temps lately - down into the teens during the day and night. Now anyone in a regularly cold climate will tell you that's nothing.

The difference is, as homes and transportation get more "efficient", their ability to withstand unseasonably cold (or hot) conditions fails miserably. Two examples this week in our new "Energy Efficient" home.

1. Our furnace is set to blow air really hard and as a result, the super efficient fire box can't get up to temperature. The manufacturer also claims this "extends the life" of the unit.

2. The pipe feeding one of the shower heads froze in the master shower. Apparently there is a pipe that's exposed in the attic right in front of an eve vent.

In both cases, the contractor is coming out to fix the problems and make it right.

Busses in Portland are squishing people closer and closer together (seats seem to be losing leg room) and creating a really uncomfortable ride for passengers in the winter. Lets face it - in the winter, we're bundled up and have quite a bit of insulation around us. As a result, we need more space to occupy on the bus. Not a problem on lightly traveled routes, but if you have to commute for work every day on a heavily utilized line, it can be aggravating as hell.

Working from home today. Lots to do.

Gregsta'

I don't enjoy complaining

noreply@blogger.com (Greg) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 01:40:00 +0000

You all must think by now that I look at complaining as some sort of regional past time that I partake in for pleasure. After all, the vast majority of drivel I regularly spew onto this site is nothing more than a complaint-a-thon.

Let's be honest and frank for a moment. I hate complaining. Pick yourself back up off the floor. I know it's hard to fathom. If given the choice between ranting about street kids vs. droning on about something positive and moderately cheery - I would choose the latter.

You see, there isn't much material that makes me happy short of the things I've already blown sunshine all over this website about. Life is good for me. Trouble is, happiness doesn't equal traffic. Self-deprecating content does. I'm at that point where I seriously consider making shit up just to sound interesting.

But that takes effort and a lack of self-respect. I'm not capable of the prior.

When I started the Domino Effect website many moons ago, I thought it would be a terrific outlet for all things Gregster. 24/7 me. Me. Me. Me. For all I knew, I could have been the next Randy Constan or Mark Gormley, though a lot less gay and creepy (respectively).

Instead, I've allowed it to become a dumping ground of mediocrity.

What, pray tell, will I dump here next? Some not-so-random comment about the day of the week? Perhaps another blip about the shitty or wonderful weather? What about some insight into things I hate about people downtown?

It's all been done. By me. Countless times. BORING.

I'm not here to proclaim the end of a mild mannered website bearing little content or relevance. Nope. It's not going to change any time soon. In fact, I suspect that over time, this here site is going to be even more neglected than the average child of a Walmart shopper.

In fact, I think the point of this post in it's entirety was to complain about my excessive complaining to myself and what little of an audience I've suckered into reading this crap.

A new, self-deprecating low. If that's not Irony, then Alanis Morrisette is a genius.

Or is it the other way around.

Fuck.

Gregsta'

Lurkey

noreply@blogger.com (Greg) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:43:00 +0000

Thanksgiving is coming. I'm stoked, quite frankly. An opportunity to not go to work, get paid for it and eat way too much food. Every week should have a day like that.

Gregsta'

Wine

noreply@blogger.com (Greg) — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 16:33:00 +0000

How can I describe to you the awesomeness of drinking wine last night? We'll start from the beginning.

3:30 rolled around and it was time for wine tasting at the office. Now, before you start thinking that this is what we do at my office all the time, let me just say that it's not. We are in fact a committee of people who are concerned with the quality of wine being served at our scaled-down holiday party this year.

Wine tasting normally would involve the disgusting practice of spitting out the wine. HA! Not at my office. Nope. The committee grabbed coffee mugs, water glasses - whatever they could find. It started out as a organized effort and degraded into, well, something that resembled a drunken free-for-all.

After the 9 bottles were downed and 6:00 rolled around, everyone started to disband.

Nearly 3 hours of office-approved drinking on the job.

That evening I had exactly zero complaints about my job.

Gregsta'

One Flew Over Thursday

noreply@blogger.com (Greg) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:49:00 +0000

Not much to report. The cat is still alive, despite it's attempts to dive under my feet. The Christmas decorations are starting to move forward from the back of the coat closet. The house is immaculately clean as always. We're watching more OPB. I am whomping up some strategies for going back to school and future business endeavors. New recipes are being developed almost daily. That's all, folks!

Greg

Toys, Grommit!

noreply@blogger.com (Greg) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 08:04:00 +0000

I'm sitting down in the family room on my little gutless wonder (Asus Eee PC). It's small and capable (mostly) of running what I need for most days. Firefox, Evernote, etc. I don't really require all the much from a computer most of the time. The exception, of course, is when I'm recording or editing video or music. That will start again soon enough.

We met up with some friends this evening after a nice dinner at VQ. The entertainment was some live music. I remember the days when I would go out for live music almost every night of the week. How times have changed. This may have been the first time I've been out to see bands in a year or more.

I'm tired. Time for bed.

Goodnight
Gregsta'

Thursday brought the quiet

noreply@blogger.com (Greg) — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:37:00 +0000

It's funny how much I can clear my mind when I'm not answering questions every 5 minutes.

I'm starting to get motivated again to focus some energy towards projects that I've had on the table for some time. The home office is finally workable and the day-job is, well, stable as can be expected.

Did you know that today is National Pet Your Pet Brick Day?

Gregsta': To the Brick Store...

Wednesday is fine

noreply@blogger.com (Greg) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:31:00 +0000

A thought came across my mind this morning.

Technology has been for years been marketed to small business as a business tool. Never has it been marketed as a robust, reliable and cost effective means to improve business. You are in fact the beta testers for software, hardware and processes as determined by the technology industry. There is a false sense of necessity for using technology as a management platform for our businesses. It has done nothing but contribute to the hyper-active mediocre business practices of today and the lining of the pockets of technology mega-corporation bank accounts.

Gregster

Tuesday is the day

noreply@blogger.com (Greg) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:57:00 +0000

I love waking up without the alarm. Bets has a new schedule at work, so we have a few days a week where yours truly doesn't have to be up at the butt-crack of dawn any more. How sweet is that?

The home office is nearly comlete. I still have a lot of mess to go through. About a years worth of filing and sorting still lurks. I can't wait to get it done. It will free me to do other things with my time. Like, finish projects I've offered to start.

Gregsta': On to the day job...

Good Morning

noreply@blogger.com (Greg) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 14:00:00 +0000

Here we are again. It's Saturday morning. Most people (myself included) would have slept in on the one day that the alarm doesn't roust you out of bed. Not today for me. Apparently I am rested enough to be up and alert and running numbers and doing research.

Damn my blind ambition.

In other news, this has been a strange week in news. Shootings at military bases and office complexes? The world is going mad. It had to happen eventually, right?

Gregsta'

Good Morning, Friday

noreply@blogger.com (Greg) — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:50:00 +0000

Well, aren't I just the relapsing neglectful blogger.

I hate the term, 'Blog', just so you know. Perhaps that feeds my neglectful, abusive behavior towards this site.

In the weeks to come, I'm going to move this site back to being a website and not a blog. You see, I have discovered the joys of wordpress. It's simple, doesn't depend on the bastages at Google and allows me far more control. Being a coder wannabe-hack, I can go in and tweak things to my little hearts content until I am satisfied with the results - or until I give up in frustration.

Tomorrow promises to be a fairly low-key sort of Haloween. We're leaving the porch light on and handing out candy to the kids in the neighborhood. I'm not sure what to expect, honestly.

There is a new joint entertainment site that Betsy and I are working on. I hope to reveal it in the next few weeks.

That is all for now.

Good day?

Gregsta'

When the fall arrives

noreply@blogger.com (Greg) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:42:00 +0000

The weather is changing. Rain, wind, clouds - all those things I'm not a fan of in the summer - are here to stay for a few months.

It moves me indoors and I become far more sedentary for one. Let's hope I can address that with our elliptical machine. It also makes me appreciate what I have. A strange thing happens when you're forced indoors for long periods of time - you look around and notice things more than you might otherwise.

It's blustery and icky out there, but inside is nice and calm.

Ahh. Well, I guess it's back to work for me!

Gregster'

'Simplify my Life' or 'I don't wanna!'

noreply@blogger.com (Greg) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 23:07:00 +0000

I'm starting to think that a lot of people hide behind the excuse of "I want to Simplify my life" to avoid doing things. Specifically, learning new things that challenge what they're used to doing, particularly when it's more complex.

Technology has brought forth the need to learn all sorts of new skills to handle what once were seemingly simple tasks. I don't necessarily condone the abuse of technology as a replacement for that of which we used to do manually (or some other difficult way), but it's certainly important to keep up with your competition.

That's right. You have competition. Personal competition: You against everyone else in the world. It might be career competition, breeding competition, attention competition - you get the idea - everything in life is a competition. Guess what? It's not fair. Are we past that part yet? You're not? May I suggest the following reading: Why am I stuck?

Whether you choose to compete or not will play a big role in your personal fate. But that's another blog.

The fact is, I see more people pushing back on learning a new skill and proclaiming something to be too complex or difficult.

Truth is, we've become complacent in our old country ways. For example: remember when you could run your home finances with just a checkbook, account register, roll of stamps, telephone and decent penmanship? Today - you don't need (and increasingly aren't allowed to use) ANY of that. Uh oh.

Yep. Things are changing. Not always for the better, but they are changing. You can sit around, whine about it or you can stand up and do something about it. No, not rage against the machine. That works just about as well as you should expect it to. I mean become educated about whats changed. Do you really want to be the pouting adult about how you don't want to learn the new Windows operating system or how you don't think automatic traction control shouldn't be mandatory in all new vehicles? At least educate yourself on the subject. That way, at least you can say with some authority (and "It's just too complex for me" is not authority - that's a cop-out) why you're not a fan.

You see, your responsibility to learn new things doesn't end when some old guy hands you a piece of paper after 4 years of learning worthless ancient history. Nope. That's when it just gets started.

Think about it. When you stepped out of college, what was the first thing you did (after the hangover)? That's right - you started looking for a job. If you are really ambitious, you may have started your own business (in that case, I doubt anything I'm saying here is new material to you). The amount of energy you undoubtedly poured into either branch easily out-did any late-night crammings or thesis papers in terms of it's ability to produce results. Real results. Not a worthless letter grade.

Now I'm sure there are a few of you wondering what the hell my problem is. That's fine. You don't have to agree with me. That's the beauty of the Internet/America.

Just make sure you've done your homework.

Gregster'

Take that tweet and shove it

noreply@blogger.com (Greg) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 16:17:00 +0000

I should have changed the channel quicker... {barf}

I accidentally turned to the Rachel Ray show the other day (home sick).

{ugh}

Not only was I disgusted by this show, but to top it all off, she had John Stamos (remember Full House?) as a guest.

{gurgle}

To top off this vomit induction program, after the interview, Stamos traipsed of stage, followed by a camera to a special area back stage for "Tweeting" and was typing on his cell phone as he was saying "I'm tweeting now.."

{oh god! here it comes!}

Thank God I had a paper bag close at hand. That was close.

Oh, follow me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/gregstergmo

{BARRRFFFF}

Gregsta'

Work from Home

noreply@blogger.com (Greg) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 18:42:00 +0000

Working from home is the best thing ever. I get more done, stay more focused and am so much less stressed than when I'm at the office. Of course, in order to work from home, I have to organize a lot beforehand, so it certainly takes a concerted effort on my part to make happen.

I have time to update this blog and finish materials for my discussion/classes I'm doing next week.

Yay!
Gregsta'

No Motivation

noreply@blogger.com (Greg) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 06:35:00 +0000

I can't sleep. It's been awhile since my last insomnia bout. It's particularly frustrating considering I went to bed around 1:00am last night thanks to a late night out with friends. What the hell is my problem? I'm completely deprived of sleep and I can't for the life of me get tired enough to fall asleep.

What's even more frustrating is that nothing is bothering me right now. My insomnia seems to be vanilla cookie induced.

Gregsta'

Friday

noreply@blogger.com (Greg) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 02:14:00 +0000

Windows 7: Installed.

Work: Done for today.

Lawn: Mowed.

Tree droppings: Raked

Gregsta': Headin' to Sushi!