Alderin.com

It is ALMOST annoying how the WordPress updates never give me a problem. I even moved it between servers and all that broke was my comments, and that was due to a little glitch with the permalinks… which also broke the link to the JavaScript pages (which I just found out and I am working on now, but since WP needed upgrading, I thought I’d do that first).
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Which is to say, we survived, and I’m pretty sure we ended up doing very well in the standings. Trouble with sail races is the system they use to determine the standings… well, I won’t attempt to explain it because I’m not too clear on it myself. Short version: we have to wait a couple days for the committee to determine the standings.
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I just found a very cool tool that lets you build your own custom Linux “Live CD” ISO and download it. The cool thing about Live CDs is that the operating system runs from the CD and doesn’t touch the harddrive (unless you tell it to) so you can run Linux on your friend’s machine and mess with data on your thumbdrive, even print on their printer, and when you are done there isn’t a trace of you having logged in.
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Well, of course, I procrastinated on several “chores” on Saturday. I didn’t mean to, but I got stuck reading an online story that I had started a few months ago, and just sorta forgot to check for updates. It’s complete now, and in the Stories category on the right: “No Man an Island”. Good story, though I had to force myself through a mental wall and take it as sci-fi/fantasy in order to enjoy it. But that’s just me, and I did enjoy it enough that the effort was worth it.
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I casually mentioned (ok, fine, I complained) that I didn’t have any recent comments. I knew part of it was that the blog went down at the same time I was trying to pack to “deploy” to California for three months. I didn’t know that the comments were BROKEN after I got the blog back up.

Fixed now.

*HUGS*

I know like half a dozen people at work, and nobody else anywhere nearby.  I’m living like a bachelor in a million dollar house, access to a 40 foot sailboat and a Porsche (though no driving it, house rules), a pool and a hot tub, a thriving garden (all the tomatoes I can eat, and then some), a workshop with a lathe (made a chess piece and a cup)…

Not bored.  Just lonely.

I hate to admit it, but I am quite skilled at talking to myself, rehearsing possible conversations and science fiction conversations, “writing” fanfic daydreams out loud (if I sit down to actually write this down, the tap runs dry (yes, even with a voice recorder)).  But it is just not the same as talking to someone.

Blogging is closer, but still less of a conversation and more of a report.  No offense to my readers meant at all, but I miss the comments and replying to them, too.

I guess I am just feeling cut off and alone, by time and distance.  With so much good cool fun stuff happening in my life, it’s a little frustrating to have this unpleasant undercurrent.  Seems nocturnal.  Maybe I’ll just start going straight to bed at sunset.

*HUGS* (I mean that, and I want some, too)

Today I planned nothing, relaxed, and very nearly succeeded in my plans. If you don’t count the weeding, watering, re-standing tomatoes, skimming the pool, emptying cat boxes, and watching the Sci-Fi channel, I did succeed.

While relaxing in the (freshly skimmed) hot tub section of the pool, watching the sky slowly turn from blue to spotted black, it occurred to me that I was content. It is something I haven’t been in a very long time. Sure, I’ve been happy, I’ve been elated, I’ve been blissful and I’ve even been satisfied, but content is the feeling I had today. I feel like I am finally both in a position that I fit well in, and getting paid what I should be getting paid.

The only piece of the puzzle missing is those to share it with.

I have a pretty full day planned tomorrow, and a bunch of things I’d like to get done this week. Partly to keep my mind occupied on things other than who to talk to, and partly because now I have some of the means to move forward with plans which have sat for so long on the back burner it isn’t even funny.

*HUGS*

I’m a bit less stressed now after three days of new job. Still a lot to learn, but the things that I was afraid of that could have killed the fun haven’t reared their heads. Those being: feeling completely over my head; not getting along with supervisor/manager; major personal communications breakdown; and my clumsiness causing an unforgettably embarrassing event.

Only the last one still has any possibility of attack now, unless there is a major upheaval of management change (a thing that is much more rare here than in normal corporations). So I’m better. I’m working in a position that is a good fit for my skills and personality, I’m fitting in with the workplace, I’m able to actually help people! With computers! AND GET PAID FOR IT!

The feeling is similar to having been wandering around in the woods, no map, no clue where to go or what to do next, and finding a well marked path (leading gently downhill with no tripping stones or erosion to twist ankles). Very nice.

Except for the still being alone part.

My cousin casually told me to just start dating. Like that’s the easiest thing to do. I guess just being open to possibilities doesn’t make anything happen.

Sailing is a blast, by the way. Went on a sail race yesterday, up and down (or down then up, not sure) a finger off of the San Francisco Bay. ( Here ) We were almost to the finish, attempting to execute the last jibe, when the wind shifted and forced a tack in the wrong direction. Having lost speed, we had no helm control, and the current was pushing us toward a docked boat. At the last moment, we got the engine started and turned away from certain financial hardship, sacrificing the race (being disqualified by using an engine, it is, after all, a SAIL race). I still don’t quite understand the racing standings and scoring, but we did get one point for starting the race, which is better than those who did not participate.

Sailing is also much more physically demanding than I had expected. Landbound sailwatchers only see the pretty triangles slowly traipsing across the water. First hand, tacking with a Genoa jib is not easy, not quiet, not quite safe, and totally fun.

Anyway, I’ve got laundry to do, harvesting to help with, and if I can manage before my whole system shuts down, I want to add to my JavaScript lessons.

*HUGS*

No, my blog dropping off the face of the Internet had nothing to do with my running around like a whirlwind getting what I needed to get done, done.  Somehow, somewhere, somebody (I’m pretty sure) did something to my webserver that made Apache die every time a php script was run.  Now, I know I didn’t do the change, and I certainly didn’t authorize a change, and if a change was going to be made that might effect a site like that tests should have been done and repairs should have been made and NONE of that work should have fallen on my shoulders, especially when I didn’t ask for whatever change it was that caused all this in the first place.

So, instead of blogging about the happy+sad, instead of blogging about the whirlwind pack and cram family time into a handful of days, instead of actually having enough time to make my home Linux box accessible before I run across the country, I had to attempt to fix the server.  After a few hours of attempting to fix configurations and research and download patches, I gave up.

That’s right.  I gave up on that server and that host.  I bought a new VPS, from my personal funds, for my personal sites, with no connection to the webhosting business I was running on that host.  I’m done with trying to run that business.

Between last night and today, I’ve managed to get the blog transferred and back online, along with everything that needs to run behind it like a firewall, Apache, PHP, MySQL, Perl, and a handful of utility scripts and programs that make running those easier.  Next is to get my other domain Solarinfinity.net up and running.  Then I plan to install a mailserver, and maybe some other things that I’ve been missing.

Couldn’t start work today because I couldn’t get a TB test both administered and read in time with the flying to and from the East coast.  I got it administered Sunday morning, and they can read it Tuesday morning or Wednesday morning.  Since I’ll be working in a hospital, they will not allow me to work without this test being done, so I’m off today but that means a day less pay.  The sooner I can get in and start, the better.

I love the fresh tomatoes from my mom’s garden.  Since they aren’t a commercial variety, their skin isn’t so tough and their flavor is very nice.  Don’t even need salt.

I left one of my prescriptions in Florida, and they won’t re-fill it here because it is too soon, so instead of getting it today, I have to wait for it to come in the mail.  Even if they can overnight it, both my spice are at work until after FedUPS is closed tonight, so it will be at the earliest Wednesday and more likely Thursday.  Grr.

I’m glad I didn’t check any bags, because the second connection I had to make between Jax and San Jose was in Phoenix.  My plane was just touching down as my next flight was boarding, and the gates were about a quarter mile apart.  I arrived at the necessary gate AS they were closing the door.  They let me on anyway, but I am completely certain that if I had checked bags they would not have made it on that flight.

Gotta fix the server clock, too.  Just noticed.

So, I’m back online.  Back in control.  Let me know if anything breaks that you notice, I’ll see if it is something I can fix.

*HUGS*

So I joked with people at work that I was only 75% sure that I was going to come back from California.  Being that I was half joking, that left a 12.5% chance I’d stay, but that was if I found at job… that’s a 1 in 10 chance at even getting an interview, and it turned out a 1 in 5 chance of being hired… leaves a 0.25% chance…

But I got an interview and was offered a job at (not kidding) THREE TIMES my current salary, AND it is in (basically) technical support, which is the perfect balance between my natural customer service skills and my long lived love of technology.

But here’s the braindump: ANOTHER cross-country move, Florida to California, kids start school, it’s only three month contract (with a 10 out of 12 hired full time), … <short circuit> … <long tone>.

Obviously I accepted the job and I’m jumping through all the hoops of going back to Jax for a couple days, and then get back to California for work on Monday.

<blink>

Yes, this coming Monday.

Fun!

L8R

*HUGS*