Something else I had on the checklist can now be marked off: get pictures made.
We had family and individual portraits done this weekend. They won’t be in until September, but they’ll be nice. We’ll have several with all three of us, some with just me and Jim (engagement pics), some with just Jim and Jessie, some with just me and Jessie, some with just Jessie, and a couple of just me (at Jim’s insistence).
We agreed on a pretty large package, there will be plenty enough pictures for all family and friends who want some and even Jim’s ex who will want the pics of Jessie. We’ll even get a portrait of the three of us as part of the package. It’s funny, when we were comparing packages I was already sold on it, but the lady was pitching the sale as it could be a wedding or anniversary gift, that kind of thing, hehe.
Anyways, it will be nice to have some updated pictures of us to be able to add here to the site, and to have on my desk at work. Part of me wonders though why my folks have never asked for any?
I often get lost in thought while I’m driving. It’s a very bad habit I admit, but it’s bound to happen — in the shower and while I’m driving are often when I have my best ideas.
I was replaying my recent doctor’s visit in my head, going over the symptoms I discussed with my doctor. Going back to previous migraines, comparing them to the ones I have had in the past. I was trying to think of anything that I may have neglected to mention to my doctor … anything that would need to be brought up during my next appointment.
I looked up at the van in front of me. It was nothing special. Red. Older model. Three men inside. It had earlier cut me off and I remember thinking something along the lines of “No blinker, no manners!”
I had just noticed that it had a pink ribbon magnet on the back. I thought that was kind of touching and smiled. I looked over and noticed that there was a bumper sticker next to it.
I love reading bumper stickers.
It said “Save the TATA’s!!” and had another pink ribbon beside it.
That struck me as so funny that I cackled out loud. I know the lady in the lane next to me thought I was a little off my rocker. It’s such a “typical guy thing” to say, but in a sweet context.
It also reminded me of a recent conversation with a friend of mine … for privacy’s sake, I’ll call her “Jill”…
Jill and I were talking about charity work and discussing some upcoming projects. I’ve got a couple in the works and was showing her one that was linked on my website. She saw the Boobiethon button and asked me about it. I went to the site and showed her a few pages of previous years’ entries and casually mentioned that I was thinking of entering this year with a few of my friends.
You’d think I had just announced that I was leaving to go be a real estate broker in Antarctica.
Jill: Nicki, you CAN’T be serious!
Me: Why not?
Jill: Be reasonable, you’re a grown woman now. This is not Girls Gone Wild!
Me: Oh come on, Jill, they’re just boobs. This is for a good cause. Besides, you don’t actually SEE the whole BOOB anyway, give me a fuckin’ break. There are no faces to identify people by so the only way people know it’s me is if I *TELL THEM* which I’m not!
Jill: I won’t speak to you anymore if you do this.
Me: Now YOU’RE the one who’s not being reasonable.
Jill: I mean it.
Me: Ok.
Jill: I MEAN IT!
So guess who hasn’t spoken to me since? ;P Oh well … we weren’t close or anything, but I do think it’s kind of funny.
I woke up about 30 minutes before the alarm was due to go off with an all-too-familiar piercing, excruciating pain on the right side of my head. I had another one of my headaches. I had made it a whole week using the Topamax as a migraine preventive. I got up and got ready and popped one of the Axerts that my doctor gave me “just in case” and cautiously awaited the “loopy” side effects.
Nothing.
I had a brief moment where I was a little light headed and that was it — and it lasted all of 5 seconds. So I was a little late for work and I am still in a bit of pain. Not as much as I was when I first awoke, but when I was driving to work all I could think was, “Dear God, please let me make it in before I throw up.”
I’ve spoken a little about it here, but hadn’t really expanded as much as I’d like. I must admit that I’ve advanced farther on my own than the O’Reilly or Sam’s books had covered. (Yay me! ) I’m not near as far as I need to be yet, but not bad for only a coupla months’ work, I think.
Anyways, a few of you had asked me where and how to get started with SharePoint and I thought I’d share a few things I’ve found:
Free SharePoint hosts
AppTix - Free trial, 30 days. 25 MB storage, 25 users. You get your choice of SharePoint 2003 (Version 2.0) or 2007 (Version 3.0). Note: You must upgrade to a pay account or move to another host BEFORE your 30 day trial is up! (This is what I’m currently using.)
Frontpages - 5 MB storage, 5 users. No credit card required. SharePoint version is 2007 only.
Microsoft Office Live - Choose the free option for a “starter” account to play around with. 500 MB storage, 25 user accounts. Note: You can register a domain, but this will require a credit card and a small fee. SharePoint version is 2007 only.
I’m sure there are a few more out there, but those are the ones that I’ve been playing with myself. Feel free to add to this list in the comments below!
Resources
There are a TON of websites out there, but these are the ones that I run to the most when I have a question, or need to hack something up and can’t find the answer inside one of my books:
I have put this off far longer than I had wanted. Originally, I had planned to write this a few hours after finishing reading the Deathly Hallows, but time ran out on me and then things piled up. As it stands, I am currently penning this in a meeting and will type it up later in my blog! (That makes fine use of all these meetings that I have to sit in, I must say!!)
Forgive me as my thoughts will meander a bit, but I think for the most part my points will come across just the same.
SPOILER ALERT: If you have not yet read the last Harry Potter book and do not want to know what happens, proceed no further!
The Leak and The Casualties
Looking back, I’m glad that I was able to avoid the leaked spoiler circulating in various areas on the internet. However, the spoiler itself was a bit misleading in that it was not only one character that died in this book. This final chapter in the Harry Potter saga covered the end of the war between followers of He Who Must Not Be Named and those who chose to stand up and fight. Among those who were lost, the ones who come foremost to my mind are: Hedwig the owl, Dobby the free elf, Mad-eye Moody, Colin McCreevy, Severus Snape, Remus and Tonks Lupin, and last but certainly not least, Fred Weasley.
Many people naturally speculated that Harry would fall and at one point in the book, I found myself believing that as well. Harry learns that for Voldemort to be vanquished, they both must die. He prepares himself for his demise and sacrifices himself to save the world from this great terrible evil. (sound familiar?) This act of self-sacrifice allows Harry a moment to reflect and confer with Dumbledore, to discover truths which he already knew but needed sorting out and putting together in order to better fight. He awakens to find he is not dead after all and defeats Voldemort once and for all.
Snape’s Vindication
One of things I really enjoyed about this final volume was seeing Severus Snape’s name “cleared†in the virtual sense. Found dying of a bite from Voldemort’s snake, Harry is given a few strands of Snape’s memories, divulging his childhood friendship and lengthy history (and obsession) with Lily, Harry’s mother. He also learns of a mishap that dooms Dumbledore, and Snape’s promise to kill him so that young Draco Malfoy won’t have to. Harry learns that all of the “evils†that Snape has done have been for a good cause.
Similarities
Something else that struck me as peculiar … when Harry and Hermione were wandering around in the wilderness with a Horcrux that must worn around the neck, which brought the wearer terrible fears and loathsome feelings, and they despaired and often wondered when they would see their home and loved ones again … sound familiar? (Lord of the Rings, anyone?)
Tied Up
For the most part, I think Ms. Rowling tied up most of the loose ends pretty well. Harry and Ginny of course end up together, marry, and have kids. Ron and Hermione do the same. There was no mention of George, however, so I am left wondering about him. (What about the joke shop? Will he continue to develop new products? Too bad he doesn’t make radar detectors ;P)
Neville became the Hogwarts Herbology professor — no surprise there, but there is no mention of who he marries (if at all?). There has been speculation of he and Luna Lovegood, but I think Luna and Dean end up together. But that is not confirmed either. And what became of Bill and Fleur? Or Charlie Weasley?
Not a Great Wizard
Last but not least, I think what stuck out most about this story was that it finally became clear that Harry had long been assumed to be a “great wizard†due to his mysterious past and “you know whoâ€, but this book proves this to be untrue in a sense. Yes, his spell-casting could be characterized as predictable, but not without its merits. He has his strengths and in areas where he has weaknesses he is blessed to have help in friends and loved ones to help out when needed. Harry is at last shown to have a strong and moral character, something that both does and doesn’t make him remarkable – and something that every hero should have.
) I’m not near as far as I need to be yet, but not bad for only a coupla months’ work, I think. 
