Rottweilers Ate My Laptop

Rottweilers. Computers. Cameras. World Domination. Not necessarily in that order.

Rottweilers.
Computers. Cameras.
World Domination.
Not necessarily in that order.

Disruption in the routine

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The July 2009 NaBloPoMo theme is “routine”

The new target date for Freya’s first Rally Obedience trial is now set in stone. Okay, maybe that’s a bit dramatic, but I did mail in our entry last week for a UKC trial on July 25. So I definitely need to take a little time tomorrow to set up a training routine for the next three weeks. I’ll be trying to fit in any available run-throughs, fun matches, and drop-in classes. With the freakish weather that we’ve had lately, I also want to have both an outdoor plan and an indoor plan each day for home practice sessions. There’s not much space to practice in the house, but there are still a number of exercises that don’t need much space to practice: call front and finish, 270° and 360° left and right turns, spirals, sits, and downs.

I was going to start today, but the Fourth of July caused a huge disruption in our routine. I complained the other day about jagoffs who insisted on starting the holiday fireworks days ahead of time. I am not un-American, and I usually do not get overly bent out of shape about noisy celebrations until midnight or later. But my normally quiet neighborhood sounds like a war zone tonight. People are blowing off fireworks that are loud enough to set off car alarms, which they have, a half dozen times since nightfall. I’ve heard quarter-stick and maybe even half-stick sized “booms” tonight. Nothing that loud is legal in Chicago.

It’s almost midnight and there are still fireworks going off. The air is still thick with smoke. I am asthmatic, although it barely bothers me these days: except on New Year’s Eve and the Fourth of July. I really don’t want to go out there and breathe that stuff, and I wouldn’t, except that the dogs have to go out before bedtime. I don’t really want them breathing that stuff either, but they definitely need a potty break. Neither of the dogs is actively fearful of fireworks, but Axel feels he needs to protect me from whoever is shooting at us. That gets a little stressful for both of us.

Needless to say, the early evening hours when we would normally train outside were not particularly conducive to learning or practicing today. I really hope the neighborhood jagoffs have used up all of their fireworks. Since it’s still the weekend, I’m concerned that their inconsiderate jagoff selves will choose to continue blowing off fireworks for one more day. None of them seems to have blown off a finger or set their own garages on fire, so karma hasn’t come around yet either.

I’m doing something I never do, and am hoping for rain and lots of it. I didn’t get my wish tonight, and it’s not looking good for tomorrow.

(NaBloPoMo | July ’09: 4 of 31 | 75% Challenge: 161 of 274)

Fireworks and jagoffs

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I grew up in a time and place where fireworks were completely legal, and considered essential to many ethnic and non-ethnic celebrations. My paternal grandfather supposedly knew pyrotechnics, how to make the fireworks and how to get the different colors and effects, but it was not something any of his sons picked up on.

As an adult, I still enjoy a quality aerial display. One memory that sticks with me (good thing, too, it’s something I could never have photographed) was of a July 4 many years ago. I was riding my motorcycle, heading home from the Chain o’ Lakes to the north side of Chicago. I left as darkness was falling, which was not the safest time to leave, but it turned out to be the most spectacular time that day as I saw part of just about every fireworks display in every town between Fox Lake and Chicago as I headed home.

What I do not like is the jagoffs who insist on blowing off fireworks starting three or four days before, and continuing to three or four days after New Year’s Day or the Fourth of July. What I hate even more is the even bigger jagoffs who try to scare kids or animals with said fireworks. It’s been 15 years, and I still get mad when I think of one of our neighbors who purposely lit off a firecracker to scare our 4-month old Rottweiler puppy. His life really hasn’t gone well in the years since then, and you know what, karma is a bitch, isn’t it?

I feel lucky that none of our past or present dogs or cats are seriously frightened of fireworks. Even that puppy got over it quickly and she grew up to be one of the most rock-steady dogs I’ve ever had. The ones who are slightly afraid are fine as long as we don’t make them come out from under the bed against their will. Freya and Axel are convinced we are at war and that they must defend our home and yard from incoming attacks. Needless to say, they spend a lot of time indoors until the “war” is over. Thanks, guys, but I wish you would listen to the part about “there is no war here.”

It’s still only the second, and some of the neighborhood jagoffs are already blowing stuff up. I know it’s wrong, but I really am hoping something bad happens to them. I will not feel sorry for any of them who get burned or blow off one or two digits, and I just hope no innocent bystanders get hurt in the process.

(NaBloPoMo | July ’09: 2 of 31 | 75% Challenge: 159 of 274)

Applause where it’s deserved

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During the time I was moving my business and personal domains to WiredTree, I mentioned several times how impressed I was with their excellent customer service and technical support. I moved the business domain first, and Monday was the one-month anniversary of the move. Everything has gone quite well this month, with only minor move-related issues that were taken care of almost as soon as I hit “Enter” on the support ticket request.

I was still surprised and pleased to receive a follow-up email from WiredTree customer service manager Joe Doss, checking to make sure that all was in fact going well, reminding me of the different support options, and inviting my general feedback.

I continue to be totally impressed with WiredTree, am very happy to have a great hosting company like this local to me in Chicago, and am feeling very good about my decision to have both my business and personal VPSs there.

I want to say a good word for my former web host, Web.com. I ended up there by way of HostPro being sold to Interland being sold to Web.com. You can see that could have been a recipe for disaster, although honestly I never had the issues with Interland that some of the bad reviews during that time would have predicted. In fact, my overall experience was quite good, with local American 24/7 tech support, available by either ticket or phone, throughout all of the moves. I did not leave because I was dissatisfied with customer service or tech support. Rather, the ownership changes had ultimately resulted in a move away from VPS support, and my aging server was not able to be updated to 21st century standards.

I had a rather frustrating experience while cancelling, though. I cancelled on my billing day and the customer service person who handled the call would not cancel the charge for the coming month. When the automated follow-up email arrived, I expressed my displeasure that the charge was not waived since the cancellation was made on the billing day by a long-time customer who had never missed a payment. Within less than 24 hours, I had a call and an email stating they would reverse the charge. When the credit did not show up online, a customer support supervisor took responsibility for walking the credit through the system and making sure it went through properly. All ended well. I would be happy to continue to recommend them to anyone who needs shared personal or commerce hosting.

So that’s my good customer service story for two companies. Just wish I had more of them!

(NaBloPoMo | June ‘09: 17 of 30 | 75% Challenge: 144 of 274)

A little bit o’ ranting, a little bit o’ Rotts, a little bit o’ blog

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The Rottweilers are somewhat perkier than they were yesterday. I had Freya skip breakfast and her obedience class due to her digestive upset, but by afternoon she seemed to be feeling better. She was definitely eager to eat her dinner, bland though it was. Everyone’s ears look better and there’s no scratching and very little head flapping, so perhaps there is no infection, just dirt and waxy buildup.

Unfortunately, they had no outlet for the increased perkiness and energy and general evil, as it rained for most of the day. Again. Yes, AGAIN.

I’m only happy when it rains
I feel good when things are going wrong
I only listen to the sad, sad songs
I’m only happy when it rains
     —Garbage

Ummm. Sorry. Not in agreement. I’m all for a sad song now and again, but I am pretty damn tired of all the rain we’ve been getting, and the total lack of warm weather. I don’t like the super hot humid days that a Chicago summer can bring, but it would be nice to see a tiny bit of global warming in the area.

Since it was an indoor type of day until late afternoon, I took the opportunity to update my underused photo gallery from Gallery 1 to Gallery 2. I think I’m ready to work on organizing the many photos that now reside only on CDs, DVDs or my computer. I’m not quite so ready to work on scanning the many photos that have still never made the jump from old school prints to digital. That’s going to be a major task.

I really have to spend some time tonight and tomorrow and finally catch up on the rest of the magazine stuff, including an ad for Axel. In fact, I’m going to go and do that right now. See you tomorrow!

(NaBloPoMo | June ‘09: 13 of 30 | 75% Challenge: 140 of 274)

So tell me, web sorta-designer person…

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Why exactly do you use a free Flash intro on your website?

Maybe you think that I shouldn’t be asking this, since I’ve already admitted in earlier blog posts that I am a crappy web designer despite being responsible for the care and feeding of a few websites, and that Flash has kicked my ass hard on quite a few occasions.

I still want to hear your answer, though, Mr. or Ms. Web Sorta-Wanna-Be-A-Designer Person. I want to know why you think it is good to have some other company’s or designer’s name plastered all over the first thing that viewers to your site will see. Unless you took it off, which makes you the big giant scumbag in most cases when it comes to “free” stuff.

What exactly does a free Flash intro add to your website? The customization options on almost all of them are very minimal. Dozens of other people are using the same one, because it is free. How does it make you unique? No one thinks you did it yourself, either. Plus some of us are simply annoyed by it. I really want to know how it adds value to your website.

I actually like good Flash navigation, movies, games and occasionally even gratuitous eye candy, when it’s original and executed well. Emphasis on “good” and “original.” But I truly am clueless about the free and unoriginal stuff that’s just slapped on for no good reason I can see.

(NaBloPoMo | May ‘09: 28 of 31 | 75% Challenge: 124 of 274)