Taking the Plunge

So, years ago, I jumped off into the computer world.  I decided to go to school for architectural drafting.  I knew that computers were starting to make their way into the world in a big way and I knew that I would be spending years in front of one.  I was fortunate not to have to learn Windows 3.1.  I started with Windows 95 and it was a pretty friendly little OS if you didn't have to get serious with it.  Next came Windows 98 and that was a huge improvement, but you still had to reboot the thing every time you did anything important.  Then Microsoft tried this little thing called Windows ME.  It was a great speed improvement, but what a horrible horrible OS.  It wasn't long after poisoning millions of computers with ME that Microsoft released the ever famous Windows XP.  Microsoft almost screwed up with Windows XP.  They almost made it their last ever OS.  From 2000 to 2008, this was what was available.  8 years w/o a new release.  That is ancient in technology years.  If something lasts 7 years in the IT world, it is a miracle and it is considered a classic.  If you want your OS to last that long, it better be amazing, and XP is NOT amazing.  Finally Microsoft released the much anticipated, newly written from scratch (supposedly) Windows Vista.  CHOKE!!!!!  This was the same kind of deal as Windows ME.  They wanted to get it out there and it was over due, but it was again, poisonous.  You had to have the latest and greatest hardware to even get it to run right.  So, finally, a year later, Microsoft got it right.  FINALLY!  After almost 15 years, we have an OS that is worth using.  Stable, fast, beautiful, friendly, and just fun to use!  So, guess what I did?

I WENT AND BOUGHT A MAC!  WHY OH WHY?!?!?!

Well, I'll admit that I am biased towards Windows.  I know it, I can almost always fix it, and it goes on anything.  I can build my PC's very cheap and it's just easy to have around.  But about 6 years ago, Wheat Belt's IT guy introduced Mac's to the rest of the company and I.  He worked on me and worked on me.  I just laughed and said no way would I spend that much money on a computer.  Ridiculous!!  Well, this many years later, that guy is the GM of the company and the new IT guy and I are in charge of manning the IT department.  There are two Mac Servers running and we need to know how to run them.  Well, WB buys the new IT guy a MacBook Pro.  He starts using it and learning it and next thing I know, this guy owns and iMac at home too.  Sells his PC.  Then starts raving about his Mac.  I was like, riiiiight, not going to do it.  Well, as the weeks go buy and I'm trying to do some things on the servers at work, I am finding out that I could really use a Mac.  Then I go to the FileMaker conference and learn that FileMaker was designed on a Mac and owned by Apple.  My training materials are all written for the Mac and while this software runs on a PC, the materials are all dictated and illustrated for a Mac.  GREAT!  Now I have a choice to make.  I can either suffer for who knows how long with a PC or I can go buy one and just finally learn to use it.  I finally found two justifications.  1: I really wanted a laptop for traveling and just ease of use around the house, instead of hiding out in the basement to use a computer. 2: Since WB couldn't really justify buying me one, I could buy one and use it at work so I didn't have to bug the others to use their MacBooks.  Finally, I took the plunge.  I bought me a 15" MacBook Pro.  This thing is amazing.  I'm learning the OS and they have so many cool useful little tools that are included that just make things easier.  Maybe this stuff is available for Windows, but just like Microsoft does with all their software, you have to buy it, or find it.  It's not just included.  I'm still not a die hard, don't get me wrong, but I'm learning and enjoying my laptop.

It's not as pretty as a lot of those Windows based laptops that you can find, but this thing is functional.  And something about having a metal laptop...well, that's just cool!  And Apple's trackpads that they put on their laptops...this thing is great.  I would rather use it than a mouse!  Never thought I'd say that.  

So, there it is.  An expensive decision and still not crazy about the $$ I spent, but if this thing in fact lasts as long as all the "critics" say, well I'm sure in  6 years, I'll be happy I bought this.  =)

Miss Me?

Wow, I thought I would actually have time to post and suddenly I realize I haven't put anything up for quite some time.

Here's a quick update. I went to San Diego, CA for a FileMaker Developer Conference, a.k.a. DevCon, with a co-worker, Jeff Dickinson. Jeff is our new IT Specialist at work and between the two of us, we're trying to learn some new database software that is very versatile. Anyway, we had a blast, not only at the conference but visiting sunny San Diego. I could seriously be a beach bum there. The most amazing weather and the locals kept saying, "It's like this all year long!" I kept saying, "Shut up and stop rubbing it in!" :) Well, not really, but I really could live there.
So, with that, here are some pictures.

These first pictures are of the Sheraton Marina. The conference was here and we also stayed here. FileMaker reserved 100% of the hotel and anyone and everyone we met up with in the hotel was either an employee or there for the conference. That was pretty cool! A very nice hotel too!

These next pictures are just from some of the scenery from right there around the hotel.

The vegetation is amazing.  All of the plants look fake because they have big, thick rubbery leaves and the bark on the trees looks like cement or plaster.  I came to the conclusion that this is necessary to handle the salt and moisture.

We also went to the beach!  That was fun.  Got to see a jelly fish up close and dolphins jumping.  I didn't get pics of the dolphins, but I did get a good pic of some see weed.  That there guy holding it is my co-worker Jeff.

Well, I need to go for now!  I will post up more San Diego Pictures later.  =0  I may post mass quantities on Facebook just cause you can upload quicker there.  =)

Have a great day!!

Argh

So sorry this is growing stale already! Work and life are nippin' at my heals. I've been spending my evenings doing some FileMaker database software training, getting ready for my trip to San Diego. I promise more later. I hope I remember to take a camera to Diego and get some good pics. Not only of the scenery, but of the bikinis...uh, I mean conference too! :)

Sifting Through the Dust

So, after firing this crazy blog back up, I decided I am actually going to have to think of something to write. I've got no pictures yet...hmm, I may have to put in a little request for my birthday and see if I can't get me my own digital camera. Anyway, back to stuff to write about. So, I was sitting here pondering what to post. I thought back to the saying "in the corner of my mind". I decided to sift through the dust and see what was stashed away in there. I spent near 1/2 an hour searching. I do believe I'm in trouble. Hard as I looked, there was nothing there. It puzzled me to think that I couldn't even find one thing. Of course, it's Monday so it took me a little while longer to figure it out. It's actually pretty simple, but sometimes the hardest things to see are the things in plain sight. You see, my mind has no corners. Nope!! Ever seen someones head up close? All edges are rounded! I was excited cause I thought I was missing something, but instead, everything I'm looking for is right there in the mix of things and easy to find. Course, now I've spent so much time figuring this all out that I don't have time to write anything about anything. Guess you'll have to check back in a couple days!

Who Found This

I'm not posting any invites to this page. I just want to see who finds this blog! I'm considering returning to the blogging world as it takes much more thought and is far more thought provoking than Faceplant...er, Facebook!

I'll be honest, I don't agree with what a lot of God fearing people post on the internet. I do not think that Facebook should be used for it so therefore I remove a lot of people from my friends list due to this, and I also avoid a lot of invites.

So, welcome back to blogging! I encourage anyone who finds this page to spend a little less time blabbing incoherent, senseless, useless information on Facebook and start a blog. You can put a lot of thought into some things and let your inner self break out. You can post pictures and comments and provoke a lot of conversation and it will be much more profitable. Therefore, if you find this, add me to your list and post a comment with your blog page and I will link it too.

Have a great day!!