Cats....

Holy crap, cats are an expensive proposition.  Our male tabby, Piper, decided that peeing was optional, and got all blocked up.  So what do they do?  They catheterize him, clear his system and flush his body with fluids.  Do you know how hard it is to catheterize a cat?  Do you know how expensive it is to catheterize a cat?  Then to keep him in medical care at a vet hospital?  We do...

It's a good thing we love our pets, because between the gourmet pet store foods, treats, fancy colors, litter that keeps the smell down they are expensive.  Though I suppose it's really only preparing us for kids.

They are the two sets of glowing eyes...

Fortunately there is stuff called pet insurance (or as I normally refer to it, vet insurance) which we will happily subscribe to now.  Good thing we really love our pets, even the cats.

Outdoors Work

I've been working really hard on my farmer tan. The last few days I've been outside stripping paint off the fences around the complex to help our condo building manager. It's just what the doctor ordered (I think, I didn't ask) because the sun, hard work (for a soft programmer like me), and satisfying results has really helped me feel better. I know I have lots more work to do around the house but so far this has really helped me get out of a slump. Apparently I'm doing such a good job that they figure I should drop off the condo board so that they could start paying me, not much, but as an appreciation of the effort put in.

So I'm getting a really good farmer tan, in fact I have a neck that is red as a lobster and a little sore.

I thought too I lost my phone today. Or that should say I was hoping I lost my phone today, as then I would have a really good excuse to buy a new one. Unfortunately I found it under the seat in the Jeep, which just happens to be a fairly typical place for it. Becky will be happy though as we have learned after a particularly busy day in the sun I can at times sleep right through the alarm, and not be at the hospital in time to pick her up. It only happened once, but she kindly reminds me to keep the phone by the bed now.

I was hoping to get a new iPhone, but the way Apple handled the reception issue turned me off. If Apple had said, "Oh, we F#@ed up" then I would say ok, it's a mistake, but all in all pretty good, but instead they said it's not our fault. I think maybe they are getting to big for their own britches, it was better when they had to try harder. That and I'm trying not to be too much of a fanboi of the company I used to mock... :-)

But now, it is time for me to get some real work (as in programming work) done.

-E

On My Own...

I'm on my own again, taking a much needed break before heading back to school in the fall. I put my everything into what I do, and sometimes that unfortunately leads to burnout. Big time burnout.

I've been finding it hard to sit in front of the computer, to concentrate and focus on the things I need to get done, fortunately everyone has been pretty understanding so far, and slowly I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. It's hard when you work so hard and feel totally under-appreciated. I'm not someone who can put half in, I put all or nothing, and since I can't put my all in anymore, I had to switch to nothing for awhile.

My only solace (or consolation, or last kick in the ass) is that my old job will be replaced by someone who will be paid at very least more than me, to maybe even 33% more. And I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that they won't be able to replace me, at least not in that price bracket. I've really got to learn to quit before it gets too late, I guess my loyalty and dedication can be both an asset and a critical flaw.

So now, I try and focus on life again, getting things in order, and going out to kick some ass. I know I can do it, I just got to get my feet under me. Fortunately I have a wife who is not only loving even though she can't always understand the stupid things I do, she will stick by me no matter what, even when I'm a horrible PITA. And that extends to a family who is always behind me, supporting us, and not saying I told you so when I didn't move on earlier.

All in all I think it'll be positive, I just need to get my focus and concentration back, and soon I'll be on top, ever better than before.

-E

Sharp Architecture: An ISessionStorage has not been configured

A silly thing that one might miss while trying to setup a Sharp Architecture database test causing this error:

TestCase 'Example.BasicCategoryDBTests.CanGetAll'
failed: SharpArch.Core.PreconditionException : An ISessionStorage has not been configured
C:\MyStuff\Projects\SharpArchGitHub\src\SharpArch\SharpArch.Core\DesignByContract.cs(62,0): at SharpArch.Core.Check.Require(Boolean assertion, String message)
C:\MyStuff\Projects\SharpArchGitHub\src\SharpArch\SharpArch.Data\NHibernate\NHibernateSession.cs(174,0): at SharpArch.Data.NHibernate.NHibernateSession.CurrentFor(String factoryKey)
C:\MyStuff\Projects\SharpArchGitHub\src\SharpArch\SharpArch.Data\NHibernate\Repository.cs(32,0): at SharpArch.Data.NHibernate.RepositoryWithTypedId`2.get_Session()
C:\MyStuff\Projects\SharpArchGitHub\src\SharpArch\SharpArch.Data\NHibernate\Repository.cs(52,0): at SharpArch.Data.NHibernate.RepositoryWithTypedId`2.GetAll()

Don't forget, like I did, to inherit from DatabaseRepositoryTestsBase. Apparently I'm liking the ease of Sharp Architecture so much I'm forgetting to code properly, or it could be that it's Friday?


Tumblr...

Blogger has suffered my non-posting for long enough, I may just move on to tumblr... http://arkitekt.tumblr.com/

Cheers,

Eric

Home Depot vs. Rona

I love shopping at home improvement stores. It's my toy store, there is not much I like better than perusing through aisles fittings, fixtures, and raw materials that are just waiting to be used for some project. Becky can attest, we will go to Home Depot and window shop (and no I don't mean shopping for windows!). Even Keira looks dejected when she sees that big orange sign, she knows we're going in and won't be coming back for awhile.

So why do I like Home Depot versus Rona? Why pick the orange over the blue? Pick the American chain over the Canadian chain? Well, it all comes down to their websites.

Home Depot's website is useful, it'll tell me what they have (for the few times I'm not sure they have what I need), with pictures, details, sizing, pricing and reviews. There website is easy to use, straight forward, doesn't ask me if I want to see the French versus English version, and gets me what I want quick. Rona's website? None of the above, they don't even list their products, or didn't until very recently. Say I want an Impact Driver (because if Mike Holmes has one, I need one!) Rona lists 9, Home Depot has a category just for the selection. So who am I going to choose?

And know what, it's not even just that, not only is Home Depot helpful on the web (and doesn't ask me for my Postal Code twice, or even once), but they tend to extend that quality into the store. I mean really, when you go into just about any big block store and ask for a 1/4 NPT nipple you are going to get snickers from all the 17 year old high school boys working there, but at least in Home Depot you can find someone to ask. I can't tell you how many times I've been in a Rona looking for 4-40 machine screws in a quantity with more than 8 per package and can't find anyone, not one helpful person. And yes, contrary to what you say, 4" ABS pipe can be used for more than plumbing, I'm sorry you can't imagine that far.

So I'm sad to say, even though I'm a proud Canadian, I'm going to keep shopping from the boys in Atlanta, and drive that extra mile past Rona.

Randomness

Just watched One Week. It was not a bad movie, definitely indie, and definitely that you won't forget within the next 3 hours. As per the movie, out of 10 I'd give it 7, which is in some way generous because there was geographical placement issues. If the big deal is to ride across Canada make sure that you at least get the highway shots right.

I'm lying here in bed, well Becky is busy playing with Picnik, it's really nice to have laptops. I'm feeling a little anxious, and mostly depressed. Which is always frustrating, considering there isn't really a good reason to feel depressed. But frankly, sometimes I feel misunderstood, mistaken, mistreated, well not so much mistreated, but I was trying for alliteration (I can't be serious for more than half a sentence). I need to find some balance, need to find some way of feeling fulfilled, not just half-filled. And I don't want to wait until I only have "one week."

I think that I have more creativity than I am letting out, and I don't know how that makes me feel. Partially, I feel frustrated because I feel constrained, partially kind of glad because I know how fickle creativity can be, and I don't know if I could be that creative every day. Mind you at the same time, maybe I need to be surrounding myself more with things that help me feel creative. I know that when I see the things other people build it helps me feel like I can build too, and maybe I need more of that every day. And maybe too I need some of the routine, and rituals that allow my mind to be free enough to be creative. It's tough because it's not like it is in a book, and if it was, I probably wouldn't believe it. I guess all part of the journey.

So, I need to get things a bit more straight, I need to see life as it is, and change what it isn't. I need to be strong on what I believe, and let other people see that too, and I need to focus on our life (because even though this post is about how I feel, Becky is so much part of me that it's the two of us - and I never needed to ask if I was in love, I always knew). I know this sounds a big angsty, but it's how I feel, and I just needed to get it out. Life all in all is positive, and I just need to keep a look out for those things. I know, I'm a natural cynic, pretty pessimistic, but I'm working on changing that, just like the fact that I drink coffee and listen to country (on occasion) and that someday I'll eat chinese food again and own a motorcycle, I do slowly change, so someday maybe I'll only see the positive.

Boy that was random :-)