Long Weekend of the Wrong Kind

This weekend should prove to be a long one as I have the HNO annual from 8am-5pm on Saturday and the again from 9-12 on Sunday. Follow that up with the LMHA annual on Monday. I have to decide if I want to continue with the secretary's position. Earlier I was thinking I want out but now I'm not sure. I have to make up my mind by Monday and this weekend will probably do it one way or the other.
LMHA appeared to be in turmoil but things have calmed somewhat and if the HNO meeting goes well I may hang in for another year. With Northwood commitments I have enough to do in my spare time but with the CPAP and the diet contributing to higher energy levels I may just take on the position one more time. I enjoy the work, the relationships and the organizing, being the go to guy in some cases where not having AA teams allows me to play Switzerland in the political wars of kids hockey. If nothing else they are an entertaining bunch.
The biggest concern for the other 6 members is losing AA teams due to a lack of kids. I gave the chair 1 idea, loser is the team on the bubble and he developed the idea. I threw in a points system, sort of a pain in the a** award. Points are awarded to an association whenever they bend or break the rules, get behind financially, miss deadlines etc. all divided by the number of teams in the association. The association with the most points is on the bubble if a team is lost. If that one gets voted in I'll be back for sure as I volunteered to administer and report on the whole thing. that would be a challenge.

New Gadget(s)

I have been looking for a good deal on a new phone and found one a few weeks back but just picked it up Monday. The Sony-Ericsson W810i does everything I want, cell phone, mp3 player, 2mpix digital camera, and a few options I didn't evn realize it had. An fm tuner, headphone with a switch for taking incoming calls, voice dialing and 1 gig of memory with a free 4 gigs on the way. Uploading music files is a snap though it takes a bit of time. The camera is not the best but it can take a simple snapshot or video for those times when I don't want to lug around the Olympus. The Dell sees the unit as just another usb mass storage device so I can even transfer files etc. It sure makes the walk home better as my Ipod shuffle has no control over how music is played and the 810i has full playlist views and can shuffle all tunes in memory or just play the album in original order. So far I love it. My new cell number is 472-2042.

Day 25

Input

• bagel
• grapefruit juice
• 4x500ml water
• 1 pk thinsations
• banana
• pasta and lite crustini

Output

• 30 min. walk home

Day 24

Input

• bagel
• grapefruit juice
• 4x500ml water
• 2 bananas
• salad, fish
• cereal snack

Output

• 5km on ex bike

Day 23

Input

• 2 pieces of toast
• orange juice
• 4x500ml water
• 1 pk thinsations
• ribs and wild rice
• banana

Output

• 40 min walk from work
• (bikes are ready to go)

Stanley Cup Prediction

Even though the Sens dropped game 1 I'm still picking them to bring the cup home to Canada. The scheduler and his magic have messed up again. They should have started Saturday. If the Ducks arena wasn't available they should have lost the home advantage.

Day 22

Input

• 2 pieces of toast
• orange juice
• 4x500ml water
• steamed pickerel, mashed potatoes, carrots & rice (Prospector)
• 2 buns, thanks for reminder WK
• 3 cups coffee

Monday Morning Weigh-in X-19

I missed my goal by 1 lb. but all in all I'm happy with the results as I didn't get to walk anywhere enough this week. The 5k session on x bike have made the real thing much more fun. Now if I could just get some air in the tires I can start riding to work when time won't allow walking.

Video Call with M&M

Sal and I just spent 40 minutes or so talking with Mike and Mel over Skype with the web cam on. That is so much better than email or messenging. They are still the same, laughing, fighting and kidding around. Mike took us on a walkaround the apartment. He has missed a few days work with the bad weather but should be back in a day or so. It sounds like AJ will be heading out that way soon, according to Mike he has a job with Jess Hansen at the hospital.

Day 21

Input

• 4 pieces of toast
• 3 cups of coffee
• 4x500ml water
• salmon steak, wild rice & salad with made from scratch maple-mustard dressing (made it all myself and it was hit, used the Angry Trout cookbook, even did the shopping/really enjoyed the process, wild rice is a bit daunting first time tho)

Output

• 30 min. yardwork
• 1 hr. bike/walk with Sid

Lake Mead

I made this flight on the 13th but haven't had time to process the pix. I left Boulder City and headed back over Lake Mead on my way to the Grand Canyon. I switched to an amphibious version of the Beaver.
This was my first flight with SP1 and it has improved performance of the software quite a but. I get better frame rates with higher settings.

Day 20

Input

• 2 pieces of toast
• grapefruit juice
• 3x500ml water
• hot dog (had to support FWA)
• cerreal snack
• 1 pk thinsations
• salad, 2 lite chicken fajita

Output

• 45 min. yard work

New (Old) Favourite

It seems Mike's love of the CSI series got him interested in the Who, especially the 'Who's Next' album. I found it in his old desk drawer today and quickly added it to my dedicated music hard drive. It is one of my favourite albums and even though it is 30+ years old it still rocks (released in '71). "Won't Get Fooled Again" is the song to listen to if you want to know what Pete and the boys are all about. They have gotten back together for (another) reunion but with original members Moon and Entwhistle having past away they'll never be the same. Check out the link for more info.

Day 19

Input

• bran muffin
• grapefruit juice
• banana
• 1 pk thinsations
• 5x500ml water
• pork roast, carrots, steamed rice
• cereal snack
• 2 glass. juice

Output

• 40 min. walk from work
• 30 min. bike ride to Charry

Day 18

Input

• 2 pieces of toast
• grapefruit juice
• 4x500ml water
• banana
• chicken breast and rice

Day 17

Input

• bran muffin
• grapefruit juice
• banana
• 5x500ml water
• 1 pk thinsations
• chicken parm pasta

Output

• 5km on exbike

Day 16

Input

• 2 pieces of toast
• grapefruit juice
• 5x500ml water
• salad, ribs, potatoes
• sm bowl cereal snack

Output

• 30 min walk with Brandyn, Sid and wagon
• 5km on ex bike

Day 15

Input

• 2 pieces of toast
• Viking omelette
• 4 cups of coffee
• 2x500ml water
• salmon chowder
• salmon steak, salad & wild rice

Output

• does browsing count?

Grand Marais

We decided to spend the day in the states so we gassed up the truck and headed south. The weather was less than perfect but we're not into sun tanning so it wasn't a big deterrent. We had brunch at the Blue Water and then browsed the shops, went out to Artists Point, up the highway to the closest wayside rest for some wandering on the beach, a few more shops (including both grocery stores) and then to the Angry Trout for an early supper. We headed for the casino where it took longer to park than Sal took to donate her $5. We arrived home and tried to watch a movie but between baseball phone calls, panicking hockey bingo managers, some family issues and Mike's post of plans to go to Cuba, the movie was only a temporary distraction. I guess it will all sort itself out but what was to be a relaxing day ended up being very nerve racking.

Monday Morning Weigh-In

After 2 weeks I'm now X-13. I feel great not only because I'm seeing results but because I'm feeling a difference in my energy level. I'm doing things instead of thinking about them over a tube of pringles. The blog idea is working because when I am tempted and actually feel like I'm letting you all down. Thanks for the continued support.

Day 14

Input

• 3 pieces of toast
• 2 cups coffee
• cereal snack
• bran muffin
• ribs, salad, potatoes
• 3x500ml water

Output

• 45 minutes yard work
• 5 km on ex bike

Day 13

Input
1 bran muffin
1 coffee
2x500ml water
2 thinsations
1 banana
steak, potato, corn & mushrooms

Day 12

Input

• 2 pieces toast and grapefruit juice
• 1 pk thinsations
• 4x500ml water
• cereal snack
• chipotle chicken salad (BostonPizza)
• french onion soup
• iced tea

Output

• 40 minute walk from Central Auto (bye bye Silver Ghost)
• 20 minute walk from Can Tire (hello Sal's new bike, thanks for the full trunk AJ)

Day 11

Input

• 2 pieces of toast
• grapefruit juice
• 4x500 ml water
• 2 pk thinsations
• 2 chicken breasts & pasta
  
• cereal snack
  

Output

• 45 min walk home from work

Day 10

Input

• 2 pieces of toast
• grapefruit juice
• 4x500 ml water
• banana
• 1 pk thinsations
• strawberries
• the big salald

Output

• 2x 45 min walk to/from work

Hoover Dam

I finally got a half hour to get out of Vegas. Leaving Nellis for the Hoover Dam was just a short hop and after three passes over the dam I touched down in Boulder City. It was good to get up even if I didn't have much time. The SP1 patch for FSX is due out this week. Hopefully the support for duo-cores will tack on some fps.

Day 9

Input

• 2 pieces of toast
• 3x500ml water
• banana
• lite mints
  
• 1 100 cal pk thinsations crackers
• meatloaf/peas/corn/taters
• popcorn
• 2 pickles

Output

• 5 min ride on bike (pedal broke)
• 10 min walk home

toughest day so far

Day 8

Input

• 2 pieces of toast
• small juice
• 4x500ml water
• banana
• meat load with mashed taters, corn and peas

Output

• 30 minute walk to Heather's

A Day With Ginko

Sunday was a busy one for Sal so I decided to visit Mom and Dad at camp. Brandyn tagged along and made the day one to remember. He sat in his seat and Sal gave him a candy and she always has him check how big it is before she lets him bite it up. Of course he asks me before we leave the parking lot "is it small yet".
Once we hit highway 61 I could see he was ready for a nap, so I asked him if he wanted to give me the candy and have a sleep and he did. On arrival he woke up and said somewhat groggily "camp!"
We went to the beach to throw some rocks in ol'Superior, the water is lower than I can ever remember it. We sat around the edge of the lawn and he was inquisitive about everything including some bugs that were no bigger than this . . Great Nanny had some small pebbles in her hand and showed them to him after naming them among other things, Pablo. She told him she was sad because she lost Pablo and he told her, "you no sad, you got me" They took a walk into the bush looking for bunnies, deer and moose and found a crocodile, pink I think he said.
For supper he ate pretty well and really enjoyed the pudding and whipped cream. He left half of it and when Dad and I cleaned up a bit it found the garbage. Of course he decided 30 minutes later to finish his pudding and was upset to find it gone. A piece of tort solved the problem.
Then has asked to go outside and then to see the tractors. Dad offered a ride but he declined until Nelson hopped on and showed him how. He shyly sat in front of Dad for a few laps around the yard.
He stayed on watch for moose and deer all the way back to the restaurant. He really likes Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon. If you know it he was looking all over for the helicopter he thought he heard in the intro but he found Rush's Caress of Steel boring on the way out as he slept through it.
It was a great day and fun to have him by myself and to be able to share with Mom and Dad.

Monday Morning Weigh-in

After one week I'm now X-7. I guess that's pretty good and I'm feeling better already.

Day 7

Input

• 3 pieces of toast & the crust of a 4th (thanks Ginko)
• 3 sm. coffee
• 3x500ml water
• Mom's cannoli
• salad
• toast
• pudding & whipped cream (lite)
• cereal snack

Output

• a day with Ginko but that's too much fun to count

Free Software Update

If Adobe Acrobat Reader slows down your system like it did mine there is a great alternative found in the PC Mag best free software link poster earlier. Acrobat reader 8.0 is great but huge, it constantly attempts to update itself and can be slow. Acrobat Reader weighs in at 157mb. Foxit Reader does everything the average user will ever need and is only 3.5mb, along with being much faster. Give it a try and then unload the heavyweight

Day 6

Input

• 2 pieces of toast with jam
  
• small juice
• 3x500ml water
• taco salad
• baked potato
• cereal snack

Output

• 45 min. yard work

Day 5

Input

• 2 pieces toast with jam
• small juice
• 3x500ml water
• banana
• chicken parm and pasta (thanks Sal)
  
• large juice
• cereal snack

Output

• 45 minute walk home from work

Satellite Pix of Minnesota Fire

Satellite imagery of the fire at Ham Lake in Northern Minnesota from the NASA Earth Observatory, with the smoke we're all smelling blowing in a bee line to Thunder Bay. Click the picture for a bigger look or here to see a full screen image.

Day 4

Input

• 2 pieces toast with jam
• small juice
• 3x500ml water
• banana
• leftover salmon, stuffed shell and chicken
• large juice
• cereal snack

Output

• 45 minute walk home from work

Day 3

Input

• 2 pieces of toast with jam, peanut butter w/o butter is pretty dry
• small glass of juice
• 3x500ml water
• 4 'lite' candies (not my idea)
• salmon filets
• baked fries
• large juice
• cereal snack

Output

• 20 minute bike ride (wobbly legs)

PC Mags List of Best FREE Software

Most of the free software I come across is actually found with 2 resources. PC Magazine will send out email daily that features any new free programs but there is a lot of tech industry news that might not be of interest. A list of the editor's favourites came through today and is quite extensive, click here for a look.
The other source also lists new and useful webpages. Appsource is also a PC Mag site so you may see the same thing more than once, click here for a link.

Third Round Predictions

I did pretty well getting 3 of 4 correct in round 2. For the conference finals I'll take the Ducks over the Wings, if the Ducks can get to Luongo they should have no trouble getting into Hasek's head. Detroit's defence will run out of gas along the way.
In the east I think The Senators are going to surprise everybody and put down the Sabres. The Sabres have not played as well as they did in the regular season and the Sens have gotten better as the playoffs go on.

Day 2

Input

• 2 pieces toast w/peanut butter
• sm. juice
• 3x500ml water
• stuffed shells, crescent roll
• juice
• cereal snack

Output

• 1/2 hour walk around neighbourhood

Wachovia Classic Round 1

A horrible start with a bogie on 1 and an OB on 4 for a +3 after 4 holes. An eagle on 6 and a bird on 7 got me back to even and then 3 more birds over the back 9 for a final 69. Have to hit the fairway a bit more often.

Day 1 X

Input

• small glass of juice
• 2 pieces of toast/hint of jam
• 3x500ml bottle of water
• bowl of grapes
• chicken, corn, stuffing, stuffed shells

Output

• 1/2 hour walk to Charry Park
  

Can I Embarass Myself Into Dieting?

Since I know there are a few people reading this occasionally I'm going to try and embarass myself into losing some weight. Starting Monday the 7th I will be posting what I consume and what I do to try and lose some weight. I'm not going to post my weight but just a big X.
X will be the starting point and hopefully it will soon be X-??lbs..

A New Tour

It seems that the PSGA has folded or something has happened to the fellow that ran the tour. No updates since mid-March. I've joined a new high tech tour that features dynamic scoring and instant updates through their own server. What I wouldn't have given to have a programmer on board back in the SSGA days. My first tournament at KISS tours will start tomorrow at Wagga Wagga, wish me luck.

OUCH!!! X4

AJ went for the removal of 1 wisdom tooth on Monday and ended up having all 4 yanked. For most people this is a lost week. Thanks to the help of Mom and his personal nurse Heather, he was out and about at 5pm the same day. Talk about a high pain threshold.
ps those aren't his teeth

Mechanic for Hire/At Least We Can Sleep

Brandyn was fixin' his bike with a plastic stick yesterday so we decided it was time to get him some tools. Seems Auntie Mel needed his services out in Calgary but he was nowhere to be found so she had to take her car to somebody who charged a small fortune for the work.
We were watching Nanny's favourite game show 'Deal or No Deal' late Saturday night and the contestant's husband was in Falujah Iraq with the US Marines. His mom and dad were in the audience and they linked via satellite so the husband could help play the game. His mom and dad were in tears almost the whole time. It made me think that the worries we have for Mike are nothing in comparison. How could you possibly go to sleep every night with a loved one in harms way? Somehow Calgary and the middle east just don't compare.

CAUTION!

Friday May 4, 2007

Beware Fake XP Re-Activation

What's worse than having to re-activate Windows XP? How about a fake re-activation that steals your credit card information! Takashi Katsuki, a Symantec researcher has posted a note about a rather devious Trojan that they're calling Kardphisher. It's no great shakes technically, but it has a very convincing appearance.

When you reboot an infested system you get a highly realistic-looking warning from "Microsoft Piracy Control". It states that someone else has used your activation code; to prove you're the legitimate owner you must re-activate and provide a credit card number. If you click "No, I will do it later", then boom! The system shuts down. But if you proceed you'll get another very realistic form asking for billing information. It even asks for the code printed on the back of your credit card. Suppose you do get suspicious and decide not to activate - your computer shuts down. Nasty!

According to Symantec, if you've kept your Norton AntiVirus definitions up to date you're not at risk. But if you do find this Trojan has weaseled onto your system, I'm not sure yet what you can do about it. Symantec's detailed removal instructions all involve performing specific tasks at your computer. If you can't start it up, you can't follow those instructions. I'm guessing that you can get away with entering fake billing information just so you can get access to the computer. But I'm not sure! Final advice from Katsuki - follow Fox Mulder's maxim and Trust No One. (Cue the X-Files theme...).