Holi-daize

Morning train: 33% full
Evening train: 5% full

I'm one of only four people on my half of the car. These trains can carry about 75 people in that much space. It's odd working on a day like this. I do find it rewarding when you can get ahead and make progress on projects without all the interruptions of a normal day.

Humidifier

My humidifier stopped adding moisture to the house. I didn't know why. It sounded like it was running, but when the house humidity fell below 20% I knew something was up. The water pad was the issue, that's what. Can you tell which one is new and which one is the fossil?

You see, a standard whole house humidifier works much like the ones that you sit on your bedroom dresser or the floor of your apartment, it's just connected directly into the output of the furnace. When the humidistat calls for moisture, a little valve opens releasing water onto this water pad (pictured above) which acts like a sponge. The water trickles down it vertically like a water fall. Then a fan kicks in and blows air through the pad evaporating the water into the outbound air flow of your duct work. It's just that simple. If the water pad has scale buildup (from the contents left behind when water evaporates [like calcium, iron, etc]) then it stops holding onto water and you have no water to evaporate. These need to be replaced a couple times a year.

UPDATE: After replacing this part, I still think I have some issues. It might be the solenoid (the valve that opens to allow water to flow). That's a pricier item. I have more work to do.

New system

After watching Schindler's List and reading this article, I am no longer in favor of the 20 years in prison these bastards will serve, but rather some sort of very rough labor with little rest or food for 5 years.
http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/2008/11/3-charged-in-death-of-store-employee.html

Facebook

I joined Facebook today; much to my hesitation. Why? It's like buying into a new TV show. Will it last? Do I have time for this? I have to say, the "connect with classmates" feature is pretty cool. There are names on there I have not spoken or heard since 1995. What a blast from the past. My family members are on there and it seems that I was the only one of us that was out of touch. Guess what? I'm in touch now...in addition to my web site and blog.

Expecting

Great news! My sister Suzy announced the news to the extended family at her daughter's 3rd birthday party this weekend so I feel I can share it with the world now. She and her husband are expecting their second child. Her due date is late April. The whole family is excited and, let's be honest, she is 17 weeks prego and could not suck in the belly any more to hide it! I'm excited to be an uncle again.

Schindler's List

What a thoroughly disgusting movie. While I loved the story line, I could not separate myself from its reality and the fact that some individuals deny that its events ever happened. Six million Jews were put to death. That's about the population of the greater Chicago area; gone. Horrible.

The movie was separated onto two DVDs which divided the rising action and climax nicely from the falling action and the Dénouement. I can see why this movie won 7 Oscars. It's hard to see Liam Neeson as anyone other than Qui-Gon Jinn...

Neon Moon

I find myself listening to Brooks -n- Dunn "Neon Moon" over and over again. I cannot get enough of this Hillbilly power ballad...particularly after a night of drinking.

Three Orange Whips

Our team went to the Berghoff for drinks after work tonight. Our manager was in town from Omaha, so it was overdue. As the night went on, we decided it was time to throw down a few shots. I suggested we have Goldschlager. Everyone agreed. As we were ordering the shots, the bartender took the opportunity to work in the old, "Orange whip? Orange whip? Three orange whips." It was nice. I asked her if everyone "gets" that Blues Brothers reference. She said that we would be surprised how many people don't get it. The phrase has a cult following with my team so we find that hard to believe.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRp8GrXffhA

Backpacks

I love my current backpack, but it's starting to wear on me and does not fit all my needs any longer. I'm looking seriously at this one; what do you think?
http://www.ebags.com/the_north_face/box_shot_limited_time_offer/product_detail/index.cfm?modelid=109316

Snowfall

I awoke this morning to see the first visible signs of overnight snowfall. I knew it was flurrying last night; I experienced it as I took our trash and recyclables to the curb. I just didn't expect anything to stick. Sure enough, my front steps were covered with a thin film of snow and ice making it difficult to walk down and other non-ground objects had accumulation as well (cars, garbage cans, tree limbs).

Here's what concerns me; I took my snow blower in for some maintenance on 10/21 and I still don't have it back. They say it is because the parts were late to arrive. Here I was, thinking I was way ahead of the game when I took it in when it was still 50+ degrees. Now I'm concerned I won't have it back in time for out first big snowfall. The service manager thought I was out early, too. Hopefully, I'll get the call today to come pick it up.

Flash

Ever since we bought the Canon EOS 20D three years ago, I've been desperating pining for an external flash. The problem is that they are pretty expensive and have limited use (they are not needed outdoors, etc). With Thanksgiving, Amanda's 1st birthday and Christmas coming up, I thought now was the time. I went with the Canon 430EX II and used an AmEx gift card to buy it. It's the second generation of Canon's mid-tier flash unit and we're very excited about the bump in our low-light photography! Some of its output may show up here.
http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ModelInfoAct&fcategoryid=141&modelid=17302

'Tis the season

For the first time in what seems like forever, Katie and I went to Oak Brook Center two days in a row (or anywhere on a Sat/Sun combo). On Saturday, we wanted to hit up the Christkindlmarket for lunch and then we made a return trip on Sunday to do more shopping because we have such a short span of time away from the house with Amanda in tow. On Saturday, we did not notice any Christmas music playing in the shops or the mall walkways. On Sunday, it was evident that a switch have have been turned and it was "the most wonderful time of the year" everywhere. Don't get me wrong, I loves me some Christmas music, but it seems it is encroaching more and more each year. WLIT 93.9 FM started playing Christmas music on November 1st this year. I thought we had to get through one holiday to appreciate the next (Thanksgiving, then Christmas, then New Years). I blame the marketing companies and those that want to take Christ out of Christmas and make it a secular celebration.

Little feet

Can you tell we have a little lady living with us?

Designed to Sell

One week from today, our Designed to Sell episode airs again; it's been in reruns for 2 years now. Why am I excited? It's going to run for the first time in HD on HGTV! I think that's worth cheering about.

Miami Vice

I just finished watching Miami Vice. What a disappointment. I could barely understand most of the English spoken; not because it was slang or whatever, but because the audio was either poor or Colin Farrell could not cover up his accept properly. It's an interesting situation when Jamie Foxx is the easiest to understand actor in a movie.

Acoustics aside, the plot was pretty bad. I could barely follow what was what. On top of all that, the theme song was never played. That's just sad. I give it a generous two stars. It's also a long movie at two hours, 19 minutes.

Child + Pets

Amanda's digging the cats, but the feeling is not mutual. Each time she approaches them, they tolerate her for a sum of about 8 seconds and then get up and walk away. She's not fast enough to keep up with them yet. When she is, they better find some good hiding spots.

11 months

Five budding teeth, four crawling limbs, three family members, two-hour naps and a partridge in a pear tree.

Politics brings out the worst in me

Is the election over? Do we have a new president? It's a miracle I participate in the democratic privilidge of voting because I hate everything associated with politicians, their empty promises and what it all represents.

At work, we have a group of people at voted for Obama and have now stooped to brow-beating Palin because they heard that in some interview she didn't know this or that about NAFTA... Who f-ing cares? Sarah Palin lost; the "people" have spoken. Is there a need to prove over and over again that she may or may not have been qualified for VP (what other VP has been so researched and hammered on?) or the right move for McCain's campaign?

I just got in a verbal throwdown with four colleagues because they would not shut up about bashing Palin. I just had enough. I stood up and asked if the election were over and asked them to talk about something else. It was not a discussion, it was character-bashing. Get over it, move on. Crap; I'm still heated up over it.

I should have just kept my mouth shut and sat there. But, you know me, I have to speak my damn mind. When am I going to learn?

Full-night's sleep

It must be weeks since we have been able to report this...all family members slept clear through the night last night. It's nothing short of glorious. I always thought that I would awake more refreshed; I'm really in no better place this morning waiting for my train.

Queen to Full

The full bed has arrived from my sister. Our house is "full" once again. No back pain from that move; yardwork however...that's another story altogether.