Steve Krug’s Don’t Make Me Think is one of my favs.  Its a quick read, makes total sense and gives you plenty of inspiration to  make your website better. 

Recently he gave a presentation at The Voices That Matter: Web Design Conference.  I wasn’t  there, but the slides were informative and pretty funny.

OKay so its been awhile since this blog has been updated.  Insert excuses of busy, tired etc.  But mostly because I was moving the blog over to a new server.  I have had a *nix box in my 2nd bedroom for 4+ years, John has pretty much taken over the room.  I close the door to *try* to ignore the gamer/movie decor and clutter.   Also with “hearing like a bat*” I could hear it chung away when trying to sleep.  And the machine was getting older.  

I thought about remote relo, but then a friend suggested for my very limited needs perhaps a VPS might work.  Checked it out, found one that is cheap, sharing with a buddy and has root access (some give a root-like access, rootish if you will but its not the same… liars).  So moved over all the data and started building it last week. Still not done, but got the blog back up.   

Also changed the DSL from fixed IP to a dynamic, but stayed with sonic.  Cheaper, faster, win win!

* I do have good hearing, and it really freaks John out who does not hear so well.  

Welcome to 2009!

The first few days of January is often a time of resolutions and at times impulsive and unrealistic expectations. But I feel pretty good about the ones we made in 2008.  Trip down memory lane…

Getting rid of debt was a major theme for the year while still having fun! So on that note, by December 31, 2008.

• Paid off the car loan!
• All wedding debt – gone
• All credit card debt – gone

Campus closes the last week of the year.  I have been on a lovely vacation!  During this time we visited the many festive family gatherings, perfected the science of naps and got a chance to see a lot of friends.  It was a good week!

•  John and I helped G&M clean up and organize their house, (FUN!).
• Friends came over for an xmas dinner.
• Went to a casino and listened to a pretty good Rolling Stones cover band.  Afterwards we went to a friends house and watched Contour.  Most of the actors were kick ass martial artists, and it was filmed low budget style in SF.  Good stuff.
• We still suck mightily on DDR but now we have 2 dance mats and attempt it together.  
• Tried some new recipies

One of John’s early xmas presents was the Wii Fit.  I had been looking for it for a few months and one day some online retailer had a few available.  I snapped it up and since then we have been using is well if not every day  .. a lot!  It has some great games you do on a balance board and it keeps track of your center of balance while you dodge soccer balls, do 1700 hula hoop circles or box with a giant pillar with arms.  It also has  yoga  with a trainer that walks you though all the poses. As you earn “fit credits” more yoga and other games are unlocked, encouraging you to do more.  

So Fate had a hand in this.

John and I offered to sell the FIL’s  truck.  He had bought it and then a few month later grew ill.  MIL just didn’t have the energy to deal with people that would naturally want to test drive., check out etc.   We knew it would get a better price here than in Stockton.  The fact it was a 2007 loaded with all these manly truck options with only 5k miles on it also seemed to make some people suspicious.  They would ask “Hey does it have (insert some truck lingo). Why does it only have 5 k on it?  Are you scamming me?” and I would respond as best I could.  Only got one scam phone call from a “broker” who couldn’t even name the type of vehicle.  

Anyway:

• We have this truck.
• I see this buffet on cl.
• Paul decides to look at truck.
• We all take truck on “test drive” to buffet location.
  • Paul brings unusual items such as a “tarp” and “rope” to secure buffet.
  • Buffet owner gives crazy crazy directions to home.
  • Really bad directions.
• John and Paul carry buffet to truck and home.
  • Down many wood and earthen stairs
  • In rain
• I now have bootiful buffet.
• Paul likes truck
  • Paul  had been talking about getting a truck the day before I mentioned truck to him.
• Paul buys truck.
• I discover later buffet has a key, how cool is that?