New feature added

In case you haven't noticed before, or you're using an RSS reader to read my blog updates, on the right side bar of my blog I've had a little widget that allows you to Instant Message me directly from the page.  

Now I've gone one step further and added a mini chatroom for everyone to post messages to.  I believe these messages are stored on the web so even if nobody is in the room, they can be seen by people joining the room later similar to a discussion board or forum.  I just thought I'd try it out for awhile so check it out & tell me what you think.  Is it worthwhile or should it be removed because it's pointless?  I'm interested in your opinions on this one.

You'll notice it will automatically assign you a guest name but you can change it by clicking on "edit nickname", how clever.  Looking forward to hearing from anyone that reads this.  Thanks, enjoy.

Growing Up

In finding old friends on Facebook it's hard not to reminisce about the times spent together during those days long ago from past periods of our lives.  Of course one of the first things we do when we discover a friend we haven't had communication with for quite some time is to attempt to make up for lost time and catch up with the current status of our lives since then.  

I find myself now communicating with people that I haven't seen in 10-15 years or so and it makes me think what's changed in my life over the last decade.  This is a good thing to because it reminds me that I celebrate my 10 year anniversarry with my wife this year and that while I haven't planned a single thing, I've got until May 1st to figure it out.

I think about the schooling I've done, the kids I've had, the places I've lived, the jobs I've had, and the friends I've made in the last 10 years.  As I recall these things with people that knew me during the earlier pre-marriage years, I still feel hesitant to accept a title my kids might bestow upon me as "grown up".  

When we were younger, we asked each other and thought about what you want to be when you grow up.  Part of me is still trying to figure that out.  I enjoy some of the benefits of "adulthood" like having a home & family of my own but there are times when I wish I could also enjoy some of the things I did when I was younger.  To some degree I haven't stopped some of those activities from my younger years like video games & cartoons but even those types of things have changed and decreased.  

Recently I had to have the discussion with my wife about "an allowance" for our kids if they accomplished certain household chores and what-not.  She initiated the conversation and I initially told her I didn't want to have that conversation because doing so meant that I had to take another step closer to assuming the role of an "adult" with "responsibilities" and making decisions for these young lives I'm in charge of.  Even though I'm 33, I'd like to believe that there's still a care free kid inside me and having this conversation mean admitting to myself that I am a grown-up and I am responsible.  

I never answered the question, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" with the answer, "I want to be a responsible adult with a wife, 3 kids, and a mortgage."  But now I find that it comes with the package called "The American Dream" and apparently I'm living it and I wouldn't change it for the world.  (Though I would like to travel with my family more.)     ;)

drutherford | Twitter Grader

drutherford | Twitter Grader
So I was graded 92 out of 100 on Twitter Grader.  Woo Hoo!
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Internet Hotel Amenities

First of all I want to say that I rarely stay in hotels. When I go on vacation someplace, it's usually somewhere where I can stay at one of the units that's part of Trendwest membership because I know what to expect as far as quality and because since I'm usually on vacation with my family, having a full kitchen & washer / dryer with dining room & living room along with separate bedrooms is very nice. However the few times I have stayed at a hotel, I'm usually too frugal to get anything more than a non-smoking room that's just going to be a bed for the night. I stayed at a couple different hotels on my road trip to & from Yellowstone last September and again it was on my way to or from one of the resorts I mentioned.

Having said that, staying at the less expensive hotels must have spoiled me. I guess I've come to expect certain things from hotels. I don't expect much, if there's a continental breakfast included in the morning, bonus. But even the less expensive hotels I stayed at had free internet like it was just as standard as water, electricity, & toilet paper. So I was unpleasantly suprised to find that places like the Hyatt or the Sheraton in downtown Seattle didn't offer such fancy things. Oh sure you can get it for a daily fee, but I'm not sure I understand how / why the smaller hotels I've stayed at can offer such a simple thing and the larger chains still charge for it even after the room rates they charge you.

For example, a sample room rate per night at the Sheraton where I'm staying is $140. A local hotel near my home has room rates ranging from $50-70. Now of course the quality of rooms is substantially different but I think I'd rather have a lower quality room with internet access than a higher quality room without. Heck, even the public library has free internet for its patrons.

Hear me now downtown city hotel chain establishments, it's time to step up and get with the program. You may be convenient as a downtown location for events and such, but if you're going to charge me an additional fee on top of the room rate you already charge me, so long as I have options, I'll be sleeping elsewhere.

15 Seconds of Fame

One of the videos I shot for a video project last year was selected for a clip for Vehix.com.  This particular clip just happens to be one that Mandy volunteered for.

2008 reflection

Taking a page from LaDawn's blog, I shall attempt to answer some questions that take a look back at the last year.  

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?

Got my Technicians Ham radio license then upgraded to General

2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I've never really hopped on this bandwagon and subscribed to this though I try to continue to learn new things, go to new places, and be better than I was before.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

My cousin Lynelle had her first baby.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

No, I think I would have remembered that.

5. Where did you travel?

Besides going to Seaside, Oregon and some camping trips, the big one was driving to Yellowstone National Park.

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?

More patience, understanding, positive attitude, and wisdom.  

7. What was your biggest personal achievement of the year?

Probably the answers to 1 and 5 above.

8. What was the best thing you bought?

My camera, Canon Xsi DSLR

9. Whose accomplishments merited celebration?

Sara for starting Kindergarten, Jennifer for reading many books, being a great speller, & loving math problems, and Anna for graduating from diapers to underwear.

10. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

I'm going to side with LaDawn on this one and reference many of the political ads.

11. Where did most of your money go?

I ask myself this all the time.  Mandy does the finances.

12. What song will always remind you of 2008?

I don't think I associate a specific song with a year.

13. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?

a) happier because we don't have to carry around a diaper bag

b) fatter despite my attempts

c) richer in some areas, poorer in others

14. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Exercising, eating better, and spending more time with my kids doing things they'll remember.

15. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Wasting time

16. What books did you read?

Non-Fiction this year: ARRL Book for Technicians License then ARRL Book for General License

17. Did you fall in love in 2008?

Every day all over again with my wife.

18. What was your favorite TV program?

Either Heros or Smallville

19. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Pandora.com

20. Who are the most interesting people you met this year?

New friends made in Seaside.

21. What did you want and get?

A new camera, The Nightmare Before Christmas and The Dark Knight DVDs.

22. What did you want and not get?

Some countertop speakers for the bathroom to play music when getting ready in the morning.  

23. What was your favorite film of this year?

Easily, The Dark Knight.  Now hereafter known as the favorite film of any year.

24. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

Turned 33 this past year and probably went to dinner somewhere.  Obviously it was extremely memorable.

25. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

I hate to keep going back to material things but having a gas grill would have made the summer more fun for grilling.  Hard to beat a nicely done steak.

26. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?

Sadly, probably Wal-Mart.

27. What kept you sane?

The breaks, the vacations, getting out & enjoying the world, enjoying life, and being able to look back and identify things I have accomplished.  Oh yeah, also video games and digital photography.

Microsoft, Not Cool

In a recent IM session with Akula...

Doug : Tell me, is Windows 7 a compelling upgrade so far?
Akula: Nope.
Akula: maybe if you're running XP.
Akula: But if Vista runs well for you, there are very few changes.
Akula: MS should give it away for free to Vista users
Doug : yeah, as an apology recompence
Akula: Vista, since SP1, is quite decent.
Akula: Pre SP1 it was horrible.
Doug : For all those people who say "I'm a PC", isn't a Mac really just a type of PC?
Akula: I don't get that campaign at all.
Akula: I'm a PC? It's likesaying, "I'm not cool"
Doug  : me either, and it's longer than most commercials too
Doug  : Yeah, it's getting to be like saying "I'm a PC" is synonymous with those people that say "I still use postage stamps", "I don't know how to set the time on my VCR (What's a DVR?)", "I only shop at brick & mortar stores", "I use 35mm film for everyday photos", "I play all my music from original cd's", "Velcro shoes are awesome."
Akula: LOL
Akula: Very true. You'd have a good blog post there.
Doug  : let it be done

Now tell me why a company ran by an excited, sweaty, bald man who apparently doesn't know anything more about Facebook than what he's been told, wouldn't be cool.