January 2025 Update...
I was on Facebook long ago, so I wrote a quick script to pull most of that old content into this site.
I did not bring in any posts that had images, as they would be broken, so some content is missing. Some conversation threads are also hard to follow in this format. And some messages just cut off randomly.
Still, there is some amusing stuff in here.
And it was a pleasant afternoon reading through this all again many years later.
I stand by my decision to leave Facebook, and I think more people understand now what some of my reasons were. But it was good to see comments from old friends, and I may have to reach back out to people again.
Dave Armstrong :
Julia K. compared movie taste with Dave Armstrong.
Julia and Dave scored 54 (Casual buddies) on the Movie Compatibility Test. Compare Movie Taste with Dave >
Dave Armstrong :
is wondering if I should actually log in here more often.
Dave Armstrong :
is taking a week off of work, but not finding it very relaxing.
Dave Armstrong :
logged a new climb at Mt. Elbert, CO, USA
Dave Armstrong :
logged a new climb at Grays Peak, CO, USA
Dave Armstrong :
logged a new climb at Mt. Massive, CO, USA
Dave Armstrong :
logged a new climb at Mt. Evans, CO, USA
Dave Armstrong :
logged a new climb at Pikes Peak, CO, USA
Dave Armstrong :
logged a new climb at Mt. Democrat, CO, USA
Dave Armstrong :
is happy that he finally got a good night's sleep.
Dave Armstrong :
hopes for a lot less drama at work today.
Dave Armstrong :
somehow is home alone on a Friday night.
Dave Armstrong :
is contemplating trading his old jeep for a VW bus.
Dave Armstrong :
changed plans and bought Loretta a subaru.
Dave Armstrong :
'sParents just left after a 4 day visit.
Anne H. :
Hi there. Hope you are well. I'm keeping busy travelling the world (just like I always wanted)
Dave Armstrong :
is thankful it is friday. And drive-in movie season.
Dave Armstrong :
is actually getting things done this week.
Dave Armstrong :
is highly entertained by the implied drama of other people's status update. Probably more entertained than knowing the real stories would be.
Dave Armstrong :
is awake now.
Dave Armstrong :
is tired and in pain, but all is nevertheless well.
Dave Armstrong :
woot! for graduation and ordination. I know you've been working on this direction for a long time, so congrats.
Any insights on what will come next?
Bill B. :
Hey Dave- What's new? It's been almost 20 years...
Dave Armstrong :
is going to the ft. collins drive-in to watch some movies.
Dave Armstrong :
Well, in 20 years? Quite a few things... college, work, done a few internet startups, taken a year off to hike in the mountains, etc. But I've settled down into the typical married suburban life with 2 kids and an office job. At least for the next few years. Then I'll rebel again and do something different. What's new on your end?
Dave Armstrong :
may come to regret having only slept 3 hours last night.
Dave Armstrong :
is looking forward to a 4 day weekend coming up.
Dave Armstrong :
is working. allweekend apparently.
Dave Armstrong :
stuck in long meeting.... heelllp!!
Dave Armstrong :
's new backyard is 90% complete. And smells like sod.
Dave Armstrong :
just now caught up on sleep after running my daughter around the mountains.
Dave Armstrong :
's shirt pocket is full of sand. So is his hair. And eyes.
Dave Armstrong :
cannot believe that our dev servers are 32 bit, but prod and test are 64. Who sets things up like that?
Dave Armstrong :
fixed the server problems at work. Now need to fix them at home.
Michael G. :
Happy Birthday Dave! Reflecting back on your year, I hope it was the best year you've seen so far in life. I hope this coming year is even better for you.
Carpe Diem! ~ Seize the Day ~
Mike
Bill B. :
Happy Birthday, old man. Don Draper on "Ad Men" is 36 as well. That's the only thing both of you probably have in common.
Benjamin G. :
Happy Birthday Dave!
Rebekah P. :
Happy Birthday Dave!
Dave Armstrong :
thanks everyone for the birthday wishes. And is scared that I'm twice as old as I was the last time I saw some of you. eek.
Anne H. :
Happy Birthday a day late! Celebrate well.
Dave Armstrong :
rook the family to the air conditioned office for the day. But it is still HOT.
Dave Armstrong :
realizing just how out of practice he has gotten by not doing kung fu for years.
Dave Armstrong :
is pulling an all-nighter. Out of town customers leaving tomorrow. All bugs must be fixed by 8 AM.
Dave Armstrong :
has one more day of work before the long weekend. still havent seen any snipers on the rooftops downtown.
Dave Armstrong :
is going offline for 5 days.
Dave Armstrong :
is planning the road trip.
Dave Armstrong :
is so ready for the weekend. It is hard to be motived to work when there is only one week between a long weekend and a week of vacation.
Dave Armstrong :
averted a crisis at home.. by dumping the crisis at work onto someone else and fleeing. both now resolved. :)
Dave Armstrong :
is heading to his last day of work before vacation.
Dave Armstrong :
is heading out with the cousins so all the kids can play in a mob together at a playground.
Dave Armstrong :
is in Iowa. Heading slowly northeast.
Dave Armstrong :
is ahead of schedule - in Portage tonight, as the kids didn't want any more time in the car.
Dave Armstrong :
is home now. We cut the trip sahort due to melting children, but still had fun for most of it.
Dave Armstrong :
just realized that Fruity Booty isn't sold anymore.
• Spouserific -- OH NO!!
Dave Armstrong :
sez: Chipotle peppers, butter, garlic, milk, lime juice, green peppers and onions, thrown over pasta. fiery goodness.
Dave Armstrong :
must go back to work today.
Dave Armstrong :
reminds himself, "I like my job... I like my job... I like my job..."
Dave Armstrong :
has a much better wireless connection now that Loretta's Huge Heaps O' Yarn are no longer covering the wireless router.
• Spouserific -- ha. ha. ha. oo, sorry.....
Dave Armstrong :
is hopinh the yearly building evacuation drill happens at 2, so I dont have to go to a 2 hour meeting.
Dave Armstrong :
thinks his tendancy to get sick on the weekends instead of on work days is somewhat flawed.
• Rebekah P. -- Definitely flawed. Hope you feel better!
• Anne H. -- Very flawed indeed. I recommend an occasional "mental health" day be taken off work so you can play when healthy! Helps keep you from getting sick too. Feel better
Dave Armstrong :
is feeling better and had a nice kung fu workout tonight. Sadly, my son is teething and this evening might bite.
Dave Armstrong :
is heading off for a full day of kung fu classes and belt tests.
Dave Armstrong :
sez: 7 hours of kung fu is too much. It is just a hobby, right? I'm going to bed.
Dave Armstrong :
is setting up tehanu with a computer so she can do her educational stuff. a 2 year old with Ubuntu. woot.
Dave Armstrong :
Hey, good to find you again. I've been wondering for years how you have been doing...
Dave Armstrong :
nneds to start sleeping past 4 am. or at least be more productive when I do get up early.
Andrew L. :
Hey Dave, Very long time no see. Looks like you are doing well. I like your Mountain land pics. Its been quite a while since Mullen!
Dave Armstrong :
A very long time, yes. We're not doing bad at all out here...mostly dealing with toddlers, which you appear to be a few years past. How have things been for you?
Andrew L. :
Things are good, I do have one toddler. My oldest, Maisie is 9 and my youngest Audrey is 2. I've been living in Massachusetts since I left for college, but I do get home to Evergreen now and then.
Dave Armstrong :
just learned more than he wante dto know about all the reasons session_start() in PHP may fail under IIS.
Dave Armstrong :
is getting bids to repaint most of the main floor of our home.
Dave Armstrong :
got up at 4 AM and moved all our furniture into the middle of the room.
• Spouserific -- dave is the king.
• Robert U. -- Earthquake fears? Trying to trip up burglars? Nesting? *grin*
• Dave Armstrong -- Yes, tripping up burglars. Exactly. And the new paint colors on all the walls should throw them off, too. :)
Dave Armstrong :
has to go back to work next week. Hmph.
Dave Armstrong :
's 2 year old made it to 4 houses before saying, "I'm scared. Wanna go home."
Emily H. :
great thanks and you?
Julia V. :
Nowhere near a computer last night!
Dave Armstrong :
would like to read an intelligent analysis contrasting the speed and travel of sound and light through air vs. over fiber networks during teleconferences. :)
• Anne H. -- OK, you are a geek :) But then again, I've been playing with (uh, working on) a PowerPoint presentation all day
• Dave Armstrong -- Yep, a geek I am. This is what happens to me when I get stuck on 2 hour videoconferences. I do hope your PowerPoint isn't overfilled with bullet pointed lists. :P
Dave Armstrong :
is truly amazed that the election is over, but the hate some people have discovered in the last fews months continues to spew forth. Kinda sad, really.
Dave Armstrong :
slept in all the way til 5 AM.
Dave Armstrong :
is done practiing kung fu. Time to go back to bed and get more sleep before work.
Dave Armstrong :
should not have told Loretta how well Tehanu is sleeping these days. She crawled in bed with me and kicked me all night. (Tehanu, that is.)
Denise C. :
Glad to be here.... finally. Nice to meet your family. LOL
Dave Armstrong :
needs to spend some time catching up on emails and such things after kids fall asleep. I'm irresponsibly behind on some things.
Dave Armstrong :
sez: Email box caught up. Time to get some kung fu practice in, then grab some more sleep. This is turning into a routine.
Dave Armstrong :
thinks we need to dress up more often, but get photos of both Loretta and the resulting... reactions. Doesn't everyone wear a tuxedo, purple hair, and a tophat?
• Spouserific -- I AM bummed you didn't take pictures.
Dave Armstrong :
always thought that Dr. Suess books were short... but "one fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish" goes on forever...
• Julia D. -- I know...luckily it doesn't make sense, so if you skip some maybe no one will notice...
• Anne H. -- You were reading the wrong one. H. Hears A Who is the best ever - but maybe I'm biased :)
• Dave Armstrong -- I like the length to help put Tehanu to sleep, so I tend not to skip... And yes, Anne -- when the movie came out, I thought of you. :)
Dave Armstrong :
is going glass shopping today - need to find a local supplier.
• Rebekah P. -- What do you do with the glass?
• Dave Armstrong -- Fusing, Slumping, Casting... I'm actually just beginning, but my goal is to start doing glass sculptures, bodycasting, etc., as well as just making some plain old bowls and plates...
Dave Armstrong :
has a new kiln in his garage... now i just need to find time to set it up.
Dave Armstrong :
is doing the test fire of his kiln. If all goes well, actual artwork will commence tomorrow.
Dave Armstrong :
's glass is coming out nicely, but the kiln wash is sticking. I think i will try fiber paper instead.
Dave Armstrong :
's daughter called out from the bathroom, "Daddy! I made a present for you!" *cough cough*. Thanks, dear... you can keep it. :)
• Chris H. -- That's awesome!!
Dave Armstrong :
sez: Glass Project #1 is complete. #2 is in the kiln. Things are going well...
Dave Armstrong :
's son is cutting two molars, two eye teeth and going through a growth spurt all at the same time. Not a happy child.
• Chris H. -- Two words Southern Comfort. Rub some on his gums and some for you to take a shots of. That will stop that grwoth spurt in it's tracks. ;-)
Dave Armstrong :
got the last of the Christmas presents into the kiln.
• Rebekah P. -- Awesome! Do you have my address? ;o)
• Spouserific -- no but if you send it to his wife she will send you a christmas card. 8-)
• Dave Armstrong -- But, won't a christmas card melt if we put it in the kiln?
Dave Armstrong :
is wondering if Waffle House delivers?
Dave Armstrong :
has lived here for years, and never seen wind like this. Sustained 40mph at my house... with huge gusts that rattle the whole house.
Dave Armstrong :
gets to spend tomorrow in the mountains! 14ers in January! woo!
Dave Armstrong :
can see wildfires from my house: http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=107337&catid=339
Dave Armstrong :
is sitting in front of a fire with his family. (Yes, my computer is next to the fireplace)
• Spouserific -- whoot! I'm so happy!
Dave Armstrong :
thinks facebook is mocking me: "Bill B. beat your personal best score in Pathwords..." hmph. :)
Dave Armstrong :
got 2/3 of the basement ceiling in tonight.
• Bill B. -- What are you installing? Hanging ceiling? The bracket type with the tongue in groove?
• Dave Armstrong -- Heh. No. Making cloth ceilings from crazy cheap fabric on sale at the craft store. I'll take photos when we're all done. It is fairly silly, but makes the children happy to have a fuzzy purple ceiling in their playroom.
Dave Armstrong :
is still cleaning the basement. Found a cross-stich thing from my 5th grade teacher. Amazing the things hidden down there.
Mike M. :
Hey Dave... good to see/hear from you as well. I'm enjoying life... after Mullen, I headed to CSU, then to Europe for 5 years where I met Terri Sue and have been in Denver since 2000. Emma (5) and Aidan (2) keep us busy. What about you? What have you been up since our Mullen days?
Todd W. :
You have something from Mrs. Kornhorst. She may be my favorite teacher of all time. Wait, were you still at St. Matthew in 5th grade?
Disney G. :
Hey man, call me. You have been out of contact for months... how is going, still busy busy... You have to see what Im planing.
Dave Armstrong :
is evaluating PHP frameworks in hopes of doing some quick project work.
• Paul A.. -- PHP is so 2008. Use Python!
Dave Armstrong :
is evaluating PHP and Python frameworks in hopes of doing some quick project work.
Dave Armstrong :
is liking django. I can now write (very simple) web apps in Python without actually knowing python.
• Paul A.. -- It gets better. Python is just about the easiest language to learn, if you were so inclined. Once you get used to the whitespace rules, you can code Python at nearly the speed of thought.
• Dave Armstrong -- Yeah, so far it feels like writing in pseudocode...
• Paul A.. -- It does feel like that sometimes. In fact, many times I've set out to write pseudocode and wound up writing Python because it was just as easy.
Dave Armstrong :
is trying to force mod_python for 2.5 to work under 64 bit XP and Python 2.6. Anyone have a copy of mod_python.so from an XP install that is actually working?
Dave Armstrong :
is starting to get anxious for spring... I really want to hike a lot this year.
• Spouserific -- you just go hike then! Take the babies with you?
• Dave Armstrong -- Yep, that is the idea. :)
Travis E. :
Good here Dave. I hear things are well with you and your family. We have to catch up.
Dave Armstrong :
is trying to recall how old we were when we started going next door without our parents watching over us... because we have new neighbors with kids...
Dave Armstrong :
has been running Windows at home for a year. Been programming python for a week. So why do I type 'ls' instead of 'dir' once I open a command line now?
Dave Armstrong :
slaps self on the forehead. You know what was making my dev django server fail? The test http process from my IDE. Both wanted the same port.How silly is that??
Travis E. :
I used to travel out that way for work, but left for a new job that I dont travel at all now. We dont get out that way much. Last time out was about a year ago.
Dave Armstrong :
is awake after an unknown amount of sleep. I spent most of the night listening to my daughters breathing - not a healthy girl today.
• Paul A.. -- Cold? Flu?
• Dave Armstrong -- Cold. And doing much better now. Hopefully she'll sleep well tonight.
• Patricia E. -- Diffuse a little eucalyptus oil in the room with her and that will help a lot. It will also clean the air a bit. Yay essential oils!
Dave Armstrong :
stayed home sick today. but got better. then went out and got a yamaha zuma so I can stop borrowing Loretta's car.
Dave Armstrong :
is wondering if he could make a fortune selling this dried blueberry that looks like Darth Vader on eBay...
Dave Armstrong :
knows who is asleep out in Foona-Lagoona.
Dave Armstrong :
just scheduled a party for exactly 4:31:30 PM on Friday to celebrate the UNIX epoch time being 1234567890
• Anne H. -- OK, you are a geek :)
Dave Armstrong :
-- 7 miles in a snowstorm on a scooter.
Dave Armstrong :
-- does anyone else have children that insist that you play "Baa Baa Black Sheep" on a plastic slide whiistle while they sing along?
Dave Armstrong :
is 's daughter was so tired, she asked to be put to bed a 7 last night. I was so tired, I fell asleep next to her. Just woke up.
Dave Armstrong :
went scrounging for late-night programming food. Found a case of Hansen's soda stashed in the basement. woot!
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• Patricia E. -- That stuff is pretty tasty.
Dave Armstrong :
is watching the kids while Loretta spends the night at the school.
Dave Armstrong :
got the kids to bed by 7:45. Wrote code. Deployed code. Ate nachos.
• Patricia E. -- Mmmm. Nachos....
• Galen C. -- You fooled me. I was expecting you to say eat, breathe, sleep code. :)
Dave Armstrong :
's body ie either old... or that kick night was harder than it felt at the time.
• Patricia E. -- NEVER admit to getting old. lol
Jay S. :
So how aer you dude? Whats your Story hows life everything...
Steve P. :
Hi Dave.. What noise does a Pirate make? lol
Steve P. :
lol... The Master says "BoooooYa!!"
Dave Armstrong :
and Loretta just got back home. G'rents got the kids to sleep without us. 2 more days left before we have to return home.
Dave Armstrong :
discovered a fantastic way to practice takedowns - throw the wife into the pool.
• Spouserific -- *splash*
Jamie B. :
Hi glad to see that you found me. It's been a long time how are you doing?
Jamie B. :
Well I had a friend just tell me about this and helped me get on Facebook. It is alot of fun being able to find so many people. I am doing good.
I still work fulltime at the Nuring Home I just got promoted last year to Patient Accounts Coordinator so I supervise three the stress gets overwhelming during certain times of the month.
My kids are doing good, Chris is 17 a junior in h.s. and Kaitelyn will be 9 in july and she is in third grade. They definitly keep me busy with activities sports and so forth.
My parents are doing alright, my Dad has had some health issues the beggining of this year but, I think his cardio doctor has his medicine right now. I just hate it when I get the call that he is going to ER but, so far so good.
Jamie B. :
Oh, I looked at pictures of the kids they are so adorable!!
Dave Armstrong :
is staying home sick from church today. I think my kids gave me whatever bug they just got done with.
• Julia V. -- oh yeah, florida is full of parasites. be lucky if it's just a flu. ;)
Jamie B. :
That is cool that you do Kung Fu together. My son is in track, cross country and football. Then Kaitelyn's been in girl scouts, gymnastics and she wants to start swimming lessons. With having a boy and girl and being nine years apart makes it difficult to do things together. The best part is when Kaitleyn is in gymnastics then Chris and I usually lift weights, and run so we can all be in one place doing seperate things. But, yes lots of running..I'm glad the kids are healthy and active..and I know these years are going to fly by.
My parents actually got to visit with your mom and dad I think a couple of summers ago. And they got to see the boat. Did they sell it? That is really neat to be able to do that and now go on longer trips. I hope that someday down the line I can take trips. I would love to go to Australia, Paris and Hawii...just a few there are many more.
Dave Armstrong :
gets to spend the day fighting SharePoint.
Dave Armstrong :
is losing the fight... must keep going for 3 more hours...
• Spouserific -- go dave go!!
Jamie B. :
Yes, my parents had a good time talking and seeing them. It is just to bad that we all live to far apart..and we couldn't get the kids together and so forth. I did have trouble flying myself when I went to see my sister that time and it was a horrible landing..but, I got over the fear and I've been on three trips flying so far so good. I do not know if I would like to be going over the ocean. That part scares me to death..so if I will ever make it to those places I will defintly need to get over my fears....I do love to travel..I sometimes just get in the car and go and where ever I end up I end up..It is fun seeing all the little towns in WI...
Dave Armstrong :
is awake and happy to have a day of rest.
Jamie B. :
I still remember when we met and exhanged houses...that was fun..My kids we have taken to Iowa for the longest trip it was about eight hours..that was long enough to be in a car so I can totally relate to melt downs. I'm just glad they are into traveling..my daughter loves going on trips...and my son well he really isn't into flying either. He was so scared when we went to Florida...so I'm sure he probably will be traveling by car if he has a choice..
Dave Armstrong :
Just spent an hour in the sandbox with the kids.
Dave Armstrong :
Drive-ins open this Friday!!! Woo!
Dave Armstrong :
Note to Self: When sending email to Mark, type "Good Morning Mark", not "Good Marning Mork".
Dave Armstrong :
checked my notes from Friday to see what I need to do today: "Write Script to remove..." Hmm. I wonder what the rest of that was supposed to be?
Dave Armstrong :
Just spent 5 hours on bus... Tried to get to work. Bus got stuck. Give up. Walk off highway to nearest road. Hitchhike to nearest bus stop. Get on bus. Bus gets stuck. *sigh* Wait on bus 2 hours to get back to my part of town. Get off bus. Walk into neigh
Chris H. :
Disregard address has been located. It looks like Rocky Mountain Oysters for everyone.
Dave Armstrong :
Has three monitors running at home now. But contemplating making it 4.
Dave Armstrong :
3 Year old's Worst. Day. Ever. Literally woke up screaming because she wanted some lemonade. Gone downhill from there. Luckily, we love her a lot.
Dave Armstrong :
Spent time this weekend learning Python and Google's AppEngine. Wrote a basic To Do List application -- online at http://tdtracker.appspot.com. (Requires Google Login. Is VERY basic. But functional.)
1 person likes this
• Dan P. -- You should write iphone apps and make millions!
• Dave Armstrong -- That is quite a good idea. I may have to look into that...
Dave Armstrong :
http://code.google.com/appengine/docs/python/config/cron.html. This is significant. Trust me.
Dave Armstrong :
Just spent 15 minutes trying to figure out why my code keeps telling me it is Friday. I forgot. It IS Friday. This holiday thing is throwing me off.
• Galen C. -- If it had been 11:45pm you might have been even more confused when it switched to Saturday in the middle of your testing...:)
• Patricia E. -- The code, it lies. It's actually Tuesday.
Dave Armstrong :
Another Weekend, another mini-app on Google: http://budget-tracker.appspot.com Next weekend, enhanced to-do list with buckets, improved UI, and scheduled tasks.
Dave Armstrong :
Just Googled a SharePoint JavaScript function that is giving errors. Google returned me a page about symptoms of having a stroke.
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• Patricia E. -- that's just too funny
• Spouserific -- YO. Your program had a STROKE.
Dave Armstrong :
Tehanu just showed me a "kitty stance". Like a cat stance, but your front foot is completely lifted off the ground.
Dave Armstrong :
What was a nice simple UI 2 weeks ago on my to-do-list software... is now absolutely horrid with the feature set tripled. I don't even want to share the link for this weekend's work. (Same link as 2 weeks ago, though.) UI redesign is the goal for the next
Dave Armstrong :
Holy Cow. My Facebook home page is now 90% Brandon & Patricia and their quizzes.
• Patricia E. -- Nothing like wasting time with useless clicking! :D
• Dave Armstrong -- This is true. I tend to put my useless clicking into games. :)
• Jamie B. -- try word challenge that is a fun game
Dave Armstrong :
I did nothing on the computer this weekend. For a change. :)
Dave Armstrong :
TWIMC -- My cell phone is dead. The 3 of you who ever call won't be able to reach me. Try Loretta's cell instead.
• Bill B. -- Oh, come on... Today is the day that I was going to call and catch up on the last 20 years!
• Dave Armstrong -- Ha. Although maybe some day we will take a spin through the east and catch up with all you folk who have never escaped that part of the country. :)
Dave Armstrong :
Cell Phone Update - definitely fried. I am considering not replacing it. Being 100% gadget-free.
Dave Armstrong :
It is amazing how habits get ingrained into you. We don't have a dog... haven't had one since high school. The dog next door has been barking for 10 minutes. But just now, she barked like our dog used to. My body started to jump up to let her in. Very odd
• Robert H. T. -- My dog died years ago but often comes back to play in dreams... wonderful.
Dave Armstrong :
Sign #4 that dave is either turning into a grumpy old man, or into Kosh: When asked by a new programmer how to come up with estimates for projects, the response is now, "You are not ready."
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Dave Armstrong :
Sign #5 that Dave is a grumpy old programmer: "Some people ask good questions because they have insightful analysis going on in their head. But other people... they just don't get it."
Dave Armstrong :
Kung Fu practice software has been re-written to run under Google's cloud: http://kungfupractice.appspot.com
Julia D. :
Dave, your kids are adorable! I love these new pictures of them.
Dave Armstrong :
The kids played nicely with friends, letting Loretta and I actually do a kung fu class together. It was nice. She kicked me. She hit me. She threw me to the ground.
• Ian P. -- Boo yah. Too bad I couldn't have been there.
Dave Armstrong :
Didn't sleep well. Woke up so sore I can barely walk. But it is Friday in Springtime. So I'm off to climb a mountain.
• Spouserific -- This does not bode well. But I'm keeping happy thoughts and hoping you are having a great time!
Dave Armstrong :
I did manage to hike one of the tougher mountains in Boulder yesterday. Shoes sucked. Feet are so bruised that I am not walking well. But then I fixed my bug in the kung fu software this morning. So all is well.
Dave Armstrong :
Today, I got headbutted by a yak and had pho.
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• Michael G. -- You can't get any better than Pho! It'll clean out your guts and make you sweat from the inside out. Good stuff!
Dave Armstrong :
Rain killed the camping for the weekend, but we did spend a day at the Royal Gorge. Next weekend - Camping.
Dave Armstrong :
Am actually caught up on email at work for the first time since March.
• Jamie B. -- wow..and I thought I have alot of emails..
Dave Armstrong :
H. books are the most potent "put kids to sleep" books that we own.
• Jamie B. -- yep...they used to put kate asleep too.
• Spouserific -- TRUE DAT.
Dave Armstrong :
Weekend Battle: Dave vs. Juniper bushes. Dave Wins! ... now I need to figure out how to appropriately dispose of massive piles of branches.
• Jamie B. -- oh, boy...have a bonfire..
• Christopher G. -- One Word...Gin.
• Christopher G. -- Or Rum. I hear one bottle makes two MEEEEAAAN Rum and Cokes.... >:-)
Dave Armstrong :
2nd children learn quickly, apparently -- my 22 month old son can roller skate, speak (or mumble) in complete sentences, count to ten, and is 95% potty trained. His sister taught him most of it. She's a good teacher. I'm actually quite humbled by the lear
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Dave Armstrong :
Home sick today. My brain is obviously not working - I was trying to play a game while sitting here, and it only ran under IE. So I tried to paste the URL over to IE, and thought to myself... "But wait -- this is a .php page... PHP doesn't run under IE, d
• Bill B. -- It's the altitude. You need to come to New England to recompress the brain. Proven science.
Dave Armstrong :
Hmm. Maybe push-starting a motorcycle when I have a hip injury wasn't the wisest decision after all. But it didn't hurt. So I must be getting better, right?
Dave Armstrong :
Was just browsing the gaming reddit. Ran across 100+ comments about Joe. Almost all positive. Which is highly unusual for reddit. Joe rocks. There it is, Joe. I told you it'd be cool.
Dave Armstrong :
is fulfilling his obligation to post an occasional status update.
• Jamie B. -- hey nice to get the posting..
• Bill R. -- phew, we can all relax now :)
Dave Armstrong :
Loretta sez it is time for bed, if we are done skewering her brother. But good news - I got my triple monitor setup converted over to Ubuntu.
Dave Armstrong :
Tehanu sez: "When I jump towards you, roll over, then point up, then down, then roll back. Unless I spin my arm like this, then just point up and don't roll over, OK?" Playing with her is getting very complicated.
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Bill R. :
Have a great birthday Dave!
Marcia H. :
Happy Birthday, Dave!
Jamie B. :
Happy Birthday to you!!!
Anne H. :
Happy Birthday Dave!!
Ariell L. L. :
Happy Birthday, Dave.
Disney G. :
Happy Birthday dude!! have a great day with your love ones.
Paul N. :
Happy birthday, Dave!
Bill B. :
Happy happy, friend!
Jeff M. :
Happy B-day! Hope you were able to enjoy it.
Cheers!
Dave Armstrong :
Just about ready to take off on a road trip -- just me and the kids so Loretta can have her own vacation relaxing at home. It is kinda hot, so rather than go into the desert or across the midwest, we're headed north. Yellowstone, etc.
• Spouserific -- Loretta appreciates the fact that you are doing this!
Dave Armstrong :
Got the last room in small town in western wyoming. Went to bed without even trying to see if a side of the road motel like this has internet access. But they do! The kids have been fine, but they are ready for the driving to be done. 2? more hours this m
2 people like this
Dave Armstrong :
Loretta has joined us in Utah... and now we just need to figure out where we are headed next. And when...
Ariell L. L. :
I apparently was sleeping in whether I wanted to see you off or not. I did need the sleep. I am very glad you came to visit. I hope this visit didn't scare you from doing it again sometime. :)
Dave Armstrong :
We are home now. We spent some time last night in Arches, watching the sunset and looking at stars.
1 person likes this
• Amy W. -- did you get to see any of the meteors?
• Dave Armstrong -- We did see a few. We didn't actually know the shower was going on, otherwise we would have stayed out longer.
Dave Armstrong :
5 Step plan to major life changes: 1) Rejoice in potty-training the youngest child, sell all the cloth diapers, sell the baby gates, sell all the infant/baby stuff. 2) Find out that you have another one on the way. 3) Recover from the surprise and shock. 4) Find out it is twins!! 5) ?????
1 person likes this
Dave Armstrong :
It is very quiet and calm here this morning, with my daughter curled up in a blanket, sleeping near me. The rest of the family must be around here, somewhere, too, but I'm the only one awake.
Dave Armstrong :
If some folk have helmets strapped to their bikes, not wearing them while going 80+mph while weaving in and out of traffic... why did they buy a helmet in the first place, and what does it take before they feel a need to wear it?
• Anne H. -- So long as I don't have to pay for their medical care when they crash..... Motorcyclists and bicyclists who go on roads with out helmuts = organ donors
Dave Armstrong :
Might need to use Flash for the first time in years. So today I wrote a game with a bouncing cat head eating balloons. Tehanu likes it.
• Donna H. -- Awesome! Who wouldn't like that?
Dave Armstrong :
thinks that my wife is the GREATEST person in the whole wide world and our children are brilliant! I'm so glad I married her!! and I shouldn't leave windows open when I walk away from the computer! he he he!
2 people like this
Dave Armstrong :
Out 5 cubic yards of dirt finally are all in the garden. After 9 days, and significant help from neighbors... I feel a great relief. Now I just need to actually finish out the garden space.
1 person likes this
• Jamie B. -- that sounds like quite the project...you will have to post pics when your done..
• Spouserific -- Dave's the man!
• Christopher G. -- Dude, this sounds way too much like work.
Dave Armstrong :
My hippie wife, who eats organic food, homebirths our children, and rants and raves against not only the evils of high fructose corn syrup, but even rants about microwaves.... went out and bought a box of Cookie Crisp??
Kristine S. :
hey buddy wat's up? well u are not the skinny kid i remember anymore. lovely family! wat have u been up to? wat do u do for a living?
Dave Armstrong :
If you write a function to export to excel, but code it to not actually export... instead, it opens other windows that call other code that really do the export. And then name the function in that other window, "ExportToExcelReally()". Doesn't that tell you right there that you just coded a huge ugly hack? So Why? Why Why Why?
Mick H. :
N <üMick>
Dave Armstrong :
I gotta wonder what my 3 year old daughter is dreaming, when she sits bolt upright, yells, "I'm being reverent!", then plops back down and goes back to sleep.
6 people like this
• Donna H. -- I don't know a lot of 3 year olds who even know that word, even while awake. That's either funny or eerie.
• Galen C. -- wow that happens to me in High Priest meetings. ;)
• Christopher G. -- I gotta wonder where your 3 year old learned that "Reverent" is a verb...
Dave Armstrong :
Is contemplating career options. Staying where I am is a strong contender, so I feel OK saying this in public. But there is enough chaos at work and home that contemplation is in order.
Dave Armstrong :
Had a dream that we had a baby at 17 weeks. She was fine. Walking, talking, very intelligent for a newborn. Then a few hours later, we remembered to have the other. He couldn't talk yet, but did flips off the bed and went to look around the house.
2 people like this
• Spouserific -- I totally had a dream like this too! I drepmt they were way early but the labor was a breeze and they were so easy to take care of that we forgot to tell people we had them til about two days later.
• Christopher G. -- I hate these types of dreams - And love them at the same time. Weird.
Spouserific :
It appears you missed the tasty treat the cats left for you this morning- there is a dead cricket by your computer chair. Eat up!
• Dave Armstrong -- They must be trying to train me to hunt for my own meals.
Dave Armstrong :
Came home to a quiet house. Didn't see wife or kids anywhere. Finally found them all smashed up together, sleeping in the corner of our extra bed.
2 people like this
• Donna H. -- Too cute!
• Spouserific -- Smashed was right! "Stop squishing me" was the cry from almost everyone- right before we zonked!
• Dave Armstrong -- I did think of taking a picture. But it would not have been appropriate for public consumption anyway...
Dave Armstrong :
So my daughter comes home from kung fu, runs up to me and says, "Daddy! I missed You!.... Actually, I didn't miss you. I was just joking." ??
4 people like this
Dave Armstrong :
The drive home from dinner turned into a physics discussion on how the following objects fly: Helicopters, Airplanes, Ladybugs, and Birds.
Dave Armstrong :
Is it wrong that I use Google to navigate to reference materials on SharePoint's object model instead of the actual navigation on Microsoft's site?
1 person likes this
• Brandon E. -- No. That navigation blows. I've had to do it to help customers find .Net Framework fix info and it truly does SUCK. You're basically taking a Toyota and driving down a crappy road instead of taking a Yugo and driving down a crappy road.
• Galen C. -- Best practices implies that you use the best of breed from all technologies so you are justified in using Google if it represents the best dataset returned.
• Jamian Hoff G. -- ENGLISH!!!!!!!!
Dave Armstrong :
Does anyone have any expertise in solar hot water systems? We have an old one in our house that hasn't been running for 5 years - I want to either get it running or uninstall/sell it and recover that space from our basement...
Dave Armstrong :
Overheard from my kids' room -- T:'Hey, does this hurt?' *WHACK* K: *Scream in pain* T: 'I'm sorry! I'm sorry! It was an accident!'
7 people like this
• Christopher G. -- Typical Siblings.
• Jamie B. -- oh do I remember those days..
• JC M. -- hmmmm...maybe I should stick with one
Dave Armstrong :
I really like mornings like this -- snow-covered branches, everything covered in a peaceful layer of cold stuff. We don't get them often enough around here.
5 people like this
Denise C. :
NO kidding.... you go offline and I go into the hospital for surgery. LOL Hope all is well with you all. Talk hopefully soon.
• Dave Armstrong -- Do you use Skype at all? I'm re-organizing my office and our basement, and may set myself up with Skype in an attempt to keep in better touch with people.
• Denise C. -- nope. never heard of it.
• Dave Armstrong -- Well, when I get set up, I'll remind you. :) It is basically a free video/phone service over the net. We use it a lot to keep in touch with Loretta's brother.
Dave Armstrong :
I'm growing VERY weary of consultants who seem to be looking for ways to spread the company's cash around to their friends rather than actually solving business problems.
1 person likes this
Dave Armstrong :
Most people like variety in their music. I tend to just listen to the same CD forever. Been listening to Dar Williams for a month. Time to switch to a new CD for November.
1 person likes this
Dave Armstrong :
Can I just trade in my body for a new one? Seriously. I've been in pain for a year now. This is getting very old. Old enough that I am posting angsty statuses on Facebook. What is the world coming to?
• Alyssa G. -- Sighing and commiserating.
• Dan P. -- What's this whinning?
Dave Armstrong :
For all who have been distressed by my lack of a phone the past year ( Denise C. ), I now at least have Skype set up, so I can do video calls online. Skype ID: daloteka. Feel free to call.
Dave Armstrong :
Tehanu sez: "I shouldn't jump on glass, because it might break. And I might die. And you guys might cry. And then you might grow new babies..." NO! Stop. Just don't play near glass, k?
2 people like this
• Carrie L. -- funny!
• Sweetpea Marie -- but yous is already growin NEW babies!!! she didnt have to jump on glass for that...
Dave Armstrong :
I ask Loretta, "Are you mocking me on Facebook?" She replies, "YES. It's only getting started."
Dave Armstrong :
We had an ultrasound at our 20 week doctor appointment. Good news first -- we have a healthy baby boy arriving in the spring. For those who were keeping track of our expectation of twins, doing the math tells you the bad news. I'm trying to focus on the good.
1 person likes this
Julia D. :
Dave, I'll be sending positive thoughts to mom and baby during these next months...keep focusing on the good.
Denise C. :
Got my skype up.....
Denise C. :
Now when you get a chance let me know how it works please.
Dave Armstrong :
Closed beta invites in my email are good. But when they come in written in Comic Sans? And then proceed to talk about "cute graphics"? Umm... No.
• Dan P. -- Just think "sprites!"
Dave Armstrong :
I love that when our car splashes through a puddle, my 2 year old son tends to say, "Splash! Splash is Onomatopoeia!" (Yep, kids can learn anything.)
5 people like this
• Alyssa G. -- love it!
• Galen C. -- Wow!
Dave Armstrong :
Have I been coding too long when I know that I can google a function that I wrote many years ago, because I know it is posted on notes.net? I haven't had to re-write this function in 10 years. woo!
2 people like this
• Jamie B. -- that is awesome!!
Carrie L. :
this picture thing is driving me crazy but its all starting to come together !! Thank you so much for letting us into your home and taking these for us !! Darth Vader is still alive at our house !! ; )
• Dave Armstrong -- Not a problem. I enjoy doing it. :) Did you get the red-eye out of the ones you like, or do you need updated versions of some of them?
• Carrie L. -- no it seems to be taking it out, im experimenting with shutterfly so from what I can tell the red is out ... just not sure how to order the card I made but I will figure it out
Dave Armstrong :
Only in Microsoft-world do we 'upgrade' to the latest products... which are named after years in the past. (Office 2007, TFS 2008, etc.)
1 person likes this
• Denise C. -- R they really that different ea yr to need to update?
Dave Armstrong :
My body refuses to sleep past 4 AM this week. I may be just a tad stressed.
• Erik T. -- Don't be stressed. Sleep is a good thing. I know what you mean though. Another week and I can breathe again.
• Patricia E. -- A wee bit of lavender oil might help that. I do better when I feel stressed and I use a couple drops on that on my pulse points. :)
• Lyle H. -- Sleeping is overrated.
Dave Armstrong :
Kids are wandering the house singing, "This is Halloween! This is Halloween! Halloween! Halloween!"
3 people like this
• Bill R. -- sounds like a healthy household to me
• Denise C. -- Like that they r a few months short. When is christmas in ur house? ;)
Dave Armstrong :
In case I dont get online again for a bit -- Merry Christmas Everyone!
2 people like this
• Denise C. -- Same to u ....
• Erin Solomon H. -- Merry Christmas!
Mick H. :
Dave~ Only four stores that historically weren't meeting projects are closing. Unfortunately the Glenarm store had challenges with the finicky(sp?) mall traffice and the ebb and flow of the covention center. Only 8 stores in 43 years is a great track record and the rest of us are strong and healthy. Please let everyone know to stop by and thank those wonderful employees for all their passion and hard work. RIP Glenarm.
• Dave Armstrong -- Glad to hear that everyone else is well. My coworkers have definitely appreciated the folk down here, and they will be missed.
Mick H. :
Funny I put a (sp?) by finicky, but then spelled traffic wrong.
Dave Armstrong :
Which one of y'all's children taught my daughter to yell, "That's not fair!" at me, then walk away muttering, "You never listen to me..."
2 people like this
Dave Armstrong :
Just so everyone knows, I have not dropped off the face of the earth. I am just insanely busy these days. Should get better in a few weeks.
1 person likes this
• Alyssa G. -- Cool - was wondering where the Armstrong family went!
Dave Armstrong :
Listening to Dr. Demento songs while working. Need to go talk to someone, but good songs keep coming on!
2 people like this
• Anne H. -- They're coming to take you away - hee hee ha ha
• Sweetpea Marie -- lolol LOVE that show
Dave Armstrong :
OK, we're moving to the south side of town. Closing in an hour on a new place. And should be in our new home by the end of the weekend... just in time to get unpacked before the baby arrives...
4 people like this
Dave Armstrong :
We don't have internet til Wednesday. Luckily, of the dozen visible wireless networks 'round the new place, 2 are not secured.
1 person likes this
• Robert H. T. -- You can almost always count on the pink hairless apes to foolishly make a careless oversight somewhere. Makes project management interesting.
• Robert H. T. -- ...and being one myself doesn't help either. :O LOL
Dave Armstrong :
I need to secure our wireless network. But until I get around to it, I just renamed it to "WeStealYourPasswords".
10 people like this
• Julia V. -- good call. btw, i want to hear about your new place!
• Robbin T. -- At my mom's place there is one network that is not secure and they named it: WeWillHackYourComputerIfYouUseThis
• Beau B. -- The scary part is, you could actually do it to.
Dave Armstrong :
Somehow my computer turned into a radio. If I touch the volume knob on my speaker, it starts blasting some AM talk radio station. The volume knob has no effect on the actual volume, and it stops once I remove my finger.
3 people like this
Dave Armstrong :
Lotsa errors recently in SharePoint regarding file names that are too long. Maybe it was the document library with a folder called "Documents with long file names." Really? Ya Think?
1 person likes this
Dave Armstrong :
I just realized - Yes, I could put pineapple on a totino's pizza.
• Anne H. -- Come on, pineapple on pizza is just wrong!
Dave Armstrong :
Tehanu's "Guy walks into a bar" joke:
A girl walked into a bar. It hurt. A second girl walked into a bar. It was hilarious.
Dave Armstrong :
Had a nightmare -- Facebook had stopped warning you when you clicked a link to a Facebook app, thereby removing my opportunity to permanently block all apps.
Dave Armstrong :
Notice a wet spot on T's play dress after she went to the bathroom.
M:T, is that pee on your dress?
T:....No...
M: Then why is it wet?
T:.....because..... apple .... is falling?
Dave Armstrong :
The Wife has gone off the deep end and is thinking of a name for the new kid so bizarre that it would include an Underscore. I told her she was insane. I asked the kid, too. When I asked, he kicked her in the ribs really hard. Insane, we both say.
Dave Armstrong :
Visions of the future -- my 4 year old daughter went in her room, closed the door, turned on her music, and wants us all to leave her alone.
3 people like this
Dave Armstrong :
D (To K): When it warms up, we'll go outside and throw balls around...
T: NO! We can't do that! They might get eaten?
D: Who would eat the balls?
T: The snakes might come out and eat them.
D: We don't have snakes.
T: The snakes might come from far away to eat our balls, and then we wouldn't have that ball anymore. And that is why we will NEVER throw balls outside.
Dave Armstrong :
I have to travel for work for the first time in years. To Houston, of all places. For a week. At least it isn't summer.
1 person likes this
Dave Armstrong :
In the "Totally Random" Category:
T: Speaking of coconuts.... grape juice is much more funny.
Dave Armstrong :
T: Hey, Dad... Mom needs some Cute Chips. Can you get them for her?
D: "Cute Chips?"
T: Yes, Cute Chips.
D: What are Cute Chips?
T: They are white and soft and Mom needs them.
D: Q-Tips?
T: YEAH!!!
Dave Armstrong :
Recursive pattern design: When designing a new texture, use a brush that draws the texture currently being edited. Very funky results...
Dave Armstrong :
How do kids get sick so fast? She was fine at dinner, and screaming in discomfort at 7:00. At least they were both tired enough to go down to sleep relatively easily.
1 person likes this
• Julia D. -- And then she'll be fine by morning like nothing ever happened!
Dave Armstrong :
Packed for my trip. 5 Days in Houston coming right up...
• Spouserific -- DISLIKE.
• Christopher G. -- Make that a Hate - and worst of all, it's not even a dry hate!
Dave Armstrong :
Portal 2 just announced - time to start contemplating your own sequel...
Dave Armstrong :
Our kids are now on their way to Florida with my parents. 5 days with just Loretta and I at home. The first thing we did was to take a really long nap.
4 people like this
Dave Armstrong :
3rd bike ride this week. It is amazing how 3 years without riding can nullify all strength that used to exist in my legs.
1 person likes this
• Jamie B. -- it has been really nice here too in the 60's all week...I have went for walks everynight...love it..
• Ariell L. L. -- I so know what you mean.
• Spouserific -- Hey hey, you've done some riding in those three years......
Dave Armstrong :
My 2 year old son is mini-me in at least one sense - he stays up "reading" for a while before putting his book down and going to sleep.
1 person likes this
• Spouserific -- this is true. He is reading. right now.
• Carrie L. -- Yeah . . think i will send mine over so they can pick up some good habits !
• Sweetpea Marie -- awwww very COOL but then again, you guys did NAME them from BOOKS!!! how could they not grow to love them with fine examples like the two of you!!!
Julie F. :
Dave, what would be a good resource for me to figure out how databases work with websites?
• Dave Armstrong -- That is a fairly large topic. Do you know which database and programming language you will be working with? It is probably easier to point to resources specific to a particular set of technologies instead of something generic.
• Julie F. -- hmmm. Well, I'm kinda starting from the beginning. What programming language do you recommend starting with?
• Dave Armstrong -- Sorry for the delayed response. I'd start with PHP and MySQL - they are free, easy to set up (google XAMPP), and so prevalent that you can find TONS of information online for how-to type stuff. I have a PHP book specifically focusing on getting started with the language, and working with the database. I have to go find it, as I am not quite sure where it is. But you could borrow it...
• Julie F. -- That would be awesome.I found some tutorials from the w3 consortium that I've been going through. They've got PHP and SQL as well as html and some basic stuff.BTW, congratulations on the new baby!! It's been so long since we've seen each other I totally forgot you were expecting. Boys are crazy, and now you have two. Good luck with that!! How are Tahanu and Clesson adjusting to the new addition?
Dave Armstrong :
I don't care that it is a pink sippy cup with a Disney princess on it. It is on my nightstand, it has water in it, and I am thirsty. I'm drinking it.
7 people like this
• Robbin T. -- You are a brave brave man!
• Sweetpea Marie -- hahahahah I use to have that "GODZILLA the movie " cup holder on my nightstand to hold my water...whatever WORKS Bud!!!
Dave Armstrong :
Baby boy born at 5 AM this morning. All went well, everyone is healthy, happy, and home. More details to follow at a later time...
7 people like this
Dave Armstrong :
Baby Details: Erreth David Armstrong. 6lb15oz, mostly a calm baby, but he sure didn't sleep well the first night. L called him a "peanut", so T called him her "peanut brother", which has quickly devolved into a nickname of "Peanut Butter". He sometimes sounds like a tribble.
6 people like this
Julia D. :
Congratulations Dave! I'm glad everyone is doing well!
Dave Armstrong :
T: Can I have a small ring with a heart on it, like the one Mom has?
D: Like, a real ring? Not pretend?
T: Yes, for real.
D: Possibly... maybe the next time I get you a present.
T: OK but not my birthday present maybe just like a present like the one you gave my mom a cookie a present like that.
D: ?
Dave Armstrong :
Trying to decide whether to hand-dye fabric for curtains for the new house... or create digital designs and get them custom printed.
1 person likes this
Dave Armstrong :
Dude, Seriously. I don't have an email address or phone number for you. How am I supposed to invite you to go on adventures unless you get more active on here?
Dave Armstrong :
Denver IT Folks -- If anyone knows a K2 expert, my company is hiring one. Send me a message...
• Sweetpea Marie -- My friend Lisa has an IT degree . I told her hubby about yer post...
Amy A. :
Hi Dave! Long time, huh? Looks like you are in CO, and that's where I remember you moving so long ago. I read on this page that you just welcomed a new member to your family...Congrats! He shares a birthday w/my daughter.
• Dave Armstrong -- Hi! Good to hear from you...Yep, Colorado it is. I haven't been here the entire time, but it is the place that I think of as home, and I keep coming back. How old is your daughter? What are you up to these days?
• Amy A. -- Oops...made a mistake; took another look at your post and say your baby arrived on the 23rd. My little Maddie turned 6 years on the 22nd. I also have a 9 year old son, Collin. I think CO would be an awesome place to see..never been there. Saw the mountains when I visited UT a few years back and that was amazing. What have I been up to? Well, I am in WI, married, and work part-time as a social worker. Life has been good to me. Thanks for asking.
• Dave Armstrong -- Sounds like things are well for you -- that is great. Colorado is a nice place to visit and/or live. The mountains are certainly the reason I stay. ( Well, that and I cannot convince my wife that the Midwest is not a bad place to live.)
Dave Armstrong :
My kids gave me a haircut tonight! My wife fixed it.
5 people like this
• Sweetpea Marie -- *giggle*
Dave Armstrong :
Sleep deprivation is destroying my communication abilities. I am hearing myself sputter and stutter through sentences on conference calls, but just cannot get the words out. Luckily, most people are being understanding...
1 person likes this
Dave Armstrong :
K: Hello, Bad Daddy! You are a stinky boy!
T: Dad, did you even take a shower today?
Me: Yes. Yes, I did...
T: Well, you still are stinky.
Me: *blink*
Dave Armstrong :
Up way too late moving all my personal files to online storage. But I'm almost done...
Alyssa G. :
Hope all is well with your family, and the little one. Getting any rest?
• Dave Armstrong -- Not really. Things are getting better, though. We're doing OK most of the time. Just the occasional rough night...
• Alyssa G. -- Glad to hear you are hanging in there...
Dave Armstrong :
"Google disclosed Friday that its Street View cars had mistakenly collected data about the Web sites users were visiting on open wireless Internet networks." -- How exactly do you accidentally do this? Cameras don't need wifi access and network sniffers.
• Donna H. -- Google must use the same definition of "accidentally" as politicians and children.
Dave Armstrong :
Had to come into work to fix something. It is kinda fun walking through downtown in my pajamas while surrounded by young folk dressed up for the clubs.
5 people like this
Dave Armstrong :
Reading my old blog, and am pleased to see that my tech predictions from 2007 were, for the most part, absolutely correct.
2 people like this
• Carrie L. -- thats because your a very smart man!
• Dave Armstrong -- Michael - I am at a slight increase since 2007, so... yes, I think that is better than average. :)
• Dave Armstrong -- maybe not -- give it time... this blueray and streaming video stuff is SO just a fad.
Dave Armstrong :
Neighbor got evicted -- left behind some old macs. They were dumped on the lawn, rained on, hailed on, etc. And they booted right up!
3 people like this
Dave Armstrong :
Tip to distract toddlers when the parents are feeling down and just want a few minutes of peace and quiet: "Hey, could you guys go outside and find 4 short sticks for me?"
2 people like this
Dave Armstrong :
Syncopation is onomatopoeia.
1 person likes this
• Jenn O. -- What language are you speaking?
Sherri S. :
What does it mean when you were the only one who knew I wasn't moving back to this most incredibly hot and muggy place....?! ha
• Dave Armstrong -- I think it tmeans one of two things -- either I talk to you much more often than guys who live 1000 miles away... or you really are fleeing, and are madly backtracking on my Wall so I don't figure it out. ha.
• Sherri S. -- Well I've thought that I made it pretty clear that I will live in a box on the 16th Street Mall before I will live here (in MN) again. This humidity is completely unacceptable......! How's your holiday going so far? Any fun stuff yet?
• Dave Armstrong -- Not really. Going to do church today, and clean and work tomorrow.
Dave Armstrong :
Whoa -- since when does OpenOffice have the Oracle logo splashed all over its web site and installer?
• Craig V. -- Cancer metastasizes.
• Sherri S. -- nerd
Dave Armstrong :
T falls asleep at 5. So tired I cannot wake her up. K goes to bed at 8:30. K comes back down at 9. Stays up with L 'til 10. I try to sleep, but cannot. I finally get tired enough at 1. T comes down just as I go up. I try to sleep while she plays down here. She finally get tired 'round 3. And now K is back up and down here with her???
Dave Armstrong :
My trip next week : Denver -> Houston -> Carthage, TX -> Shreveport -> Houston -> Tulsa -> Okarche, OK -> Oklahoma City -> Houston -> Midland, TX -> Hobbs, NM -> Midland, TX -> Houston -> Denver. 10 presentations, 7 flights, 7 car trips, 4 days.
1 person likes this
Dave Armstrong :
Tonight's conversation --
D: T, are you tired yet?
T: No, I'm just annoying.
D: ...What do you mean by that?
T: My brother. He is just bugging me.
D: OK. Bedtime, then.
• Dan P. -- Love your brother. :)
• Sweetpea Marie -- hehhehehe
Dave Armstrong :
Oklahoma was a nicer place than I expected it to be. Nevertheless, I cut the trip off early to come home and help with a sick child. Kidney infections totally suck.
• Melissa W. -- Ack! Yes they do.
• Craig V. -- Ack!
• Pat Kelly M. -- Hope infection is gone...that stinks...
Delores A. :
Hope you have a super birthday, David!!
Brandon E. :
Happy birthday man!
Craig V. :
Happy Birthday!
Sherri S. :
Are you back in Colorado? Happy Birthday?
Chris H. :
Happy Birthday Dave!!
Patricia E. :
Happy Birthday!! Have lots of fun! :D
Ariell L. L. :
Happy Birthday Dave! Hopin' you're having a fabulous day!
Brandy W. :
Happy Birthday Dave! Hope everything is going well, but with that last post, I'm assuming things could be better! Which kid has the infection?
Jamie B. :
happy birthday to you hope everyone starts feeling better soon..
Anne H. :
Happy Birthday Dave. Hope the family is healthy soon
Alyssa G. :
Happy Bday Dave! Hope your kiddos are feeling better (or kiddo, that is).
Amy A. :
Happy Birthday, David! Enjoy your day.
Dana R. :
Happy Birthday Dave!
Claire S. :
Happy Birthday Dave! Hope the kiddo is feeling better.
Robbin T. :
Happee Birthday!
Carrie L. :
happy birthday to you! hope your day was an awesome one!
Sweetpea Marie :
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAVE!!!!!!!
Dave Armstrong :
OK, so I tried to actually swim for the first time since I was 12. I did 4 whole laps. I am not entering any triathlons any time soon.
3 people like this
• Jamie B. -- hey i went swimming yesterday and did some laps will agree w/ya...
• Sherri S. -- Well at least you didn't get pulled out by the lifeguard! (Right?)
Dave Armstrong :
Having someone spam your friends with your email address makes me question what the value is of even being online...
1 person likes this
• Julia V. -- yeah, what was that all about?! meh - i deleted before opening.
• Melissa W. -- Who does that?
Dave Armstrong :
My new communication style: Twice the words, half the content.
2 people like this
Sherri S. :
I need more space on my cube cabinets for all the cool drawings and notes I'm getting from Tehanu. She is ADORABLE! :)
Dave Armstrong :
My daughter came in to work, and left "notes" on everyone's cube -- scribbles on paper, really. Apparently she told everyone that she was writing down their to-do lists for the day. It mostly went over well.... mostly...
2 people like this
Dave Armstrong :
4 yr old daughter singing church songs == cute. Singing them loudly into my ear at 3 AM == not so cute. But finding out she is sleep-singing == cute again.
8 people like this
• Spouserific -- OH MY SO CUTE!!
• Sweetpea Marie -- awwwwwwwww
Dave Armstrong :
Downtown Denver smells like a campfire. My eyes are burning, too. And we aren't even all that close to the fire...
Dave Armstrong :
is the king of the earworm tonight. "Backing up, backing up"........... beh says the wife who is sitting at the puter.
Dave Armstrong :
My daughter just said, "Dad, you are 3603 pounds. Please come exercise with us?"
3 people like this
Sherri S. :
fraking dfunctionality!
BLARFNARG
Carrie L. :
How do the pictures look? did ya get some good ones?
• Dave Armstrong -- Hi! Yes, we did. I've had computer issues, though, so I haven't gotten them burned yet. I will do so tonight and either get the DVD up to you this weekend, or mail it so it gets there Mondayish...
• Carrie L. -- sweet ,,, we are really looking forward to checking them out... If I need to come to you let me know,,,, I work sat and sun 4 to 8
Carrie L. :
Received the CD.... thank you , there are a lot of good pictures on there ; ) )))
Dave Armstrong :
So I'm torn...
Dave Armstrong :
It only took 4.5 years for T to figure out that playing in the backyard is fun. Now they never come inside.
2 people like this
• Leanne L. -- pleases me MUCH
• Sweetpea Marie -- you guys have a GREAT back yard... that helps ALOT!!
Dave Armstrong :
I do not trust code documentation that is written in Comic Sans.
5 people like this
• Julia V. -- basically you should never trust anything written in comic sans.
• Galen C. -- It would be good if the programs would highlight buggy code with Comic Sans so it would be easy to find. :)
• Sherri S. -- It was probably written by Hitachi, and you should probably just step away from the keyboard and do something else. sheeesh.
Dave Armstrong :
Deep doctrinal question from a 4 year old: Will our resurrected bodies have boogers?
5 people like this
Dave Armstrong :
Totally serious question -- does anyone in the Denver area have a wheelchair that I could borrow for a few days or a week?
Julia V. :
DUDE. wtf. lunch. soon. next week. i'm working downtown through Oct so there's no excuse. i suppose i can wheel you.
• Dave Armstrong -- I hope to be walking by next week, but sure, lunch sounds great...
Sherri S. :
GOOD LUCK TODAY!!!
Dave Armstrong :
Out of surgery, and feeling much better. Might just be the drugs, but even after they wear off, I have high hopes for getting back to being healthy instead of broken.
9 people like this
Sherri S. :
Glad to read on your Facebook that you're okay. Sheesh. :-P
• Dave Armstrong -- I told you I could let you know on faceook. :P
• Sherri S. -- Nice. I feel special. :-P Double-You-Three is not good at letting anybody know what's up. Have a nice weekend.....
• Dave Armstrong -- He and loretta exchanged texts, but I doubt there was much detail involved...
• Sherri S. -- So did they fix it or just look at it?
• Dave Armstrong -- Fixed it!
Dave Armstrong :
I grow weary of the deceptive election ads and propaganda. So very simply -- if you don't understand something, vote "NO". Better to delay the passage of a good change than accidentally pass a bad one due to misunderstanding of what it actually will do.
5 people like this
• Darla L. -- Absolutely!
• Beau B. -- Good call, when are you running for office?
Dave Armstrong :
My son tells me that Mountain Dew "is for drinking while sitting on Mountains. And then if you fall, WAAAAHHHH!!! climbclmbclimbclimb! And then when we go hiking, we get Mountain Dew for you!"
1 person likes this
• Spouserific -- HI-LARIOUS. BTW any time we see dew in the store the kids point to it and say 'mountain dew! dad juice!'
• Dan P. -- Ha. You need to ask him about Red Bull next!
Dave Armstrong :
My daughter is in the snow with no coat, no gloves, no hat, and wearing sandals with no socks. She is making snowballs and catching snowflakes on her tongue.
6 people like this
• Julia D. -- That's awesome! This summer my daughter was watering the plants in a long sleeve shirt, pants and snow boots and it was over 90. Gotta love these kids!
• Sweetpea Marie -- she is a POLAR BEAR!! thru and thru
Dave Armstrong :
Spouserific, stop contact juggling the baby.
3 people like this
Dave Armstrong :
I was going to comment that my son's cassette player is so old school that it doesn't even have auto-reverse. But then I realized that some of you might mock me for critiquing the features on a cassette player in the first place.
• Spouserific -- I don't think old school is the best way to describe his tape player- cheap ass would be more like it.
• Beau B. -- Mock? No. Agree? Yes. I had a casette player with auto reverse, track seeking, mini subwoofers in the headphones, it was waterproof and impact resistant. How's that for a headphone critique?
Dave Armstrong :
Although this does not sound impressive, after surgery, back injuries, etc, it is at least a first step - I ran a quarter mile this morning.
12 people like this
Dave Armstrong :
My employer just won an award for the #2 best place to work in Denver. The team LOLed.
4 people like this
Sherri S. :
Seriously. Do you think I'll still be there when you go back...?
• Dave Armstrong -- Dude, it has been one day. How bad could one day be?
• Sherri S. -- My patience with our favorite user was very very thin today. She broke DIGP Prod, told me I needed to fix it, then she went home. Really?
Sherri S. :
We're going to start building the DEV farms tomorrow morning. Do you want to be involved? I can send the task list to your email....?
• Sherri S. -- Nevermind - I got Mr. Dash.....unless you want it.....but you're on vacation.......
• Dave Armstrong -- *blink blink**runs away to play with children*
• Sherri S. -- Perfect answer. :)
Sherri S. :
Yo - I just forwarded you the new "webmaster" job description. I think you may want to put the K-bosh on that toot-sweet. I have NO idea where she came up with that stuff......keep in mind what I told you the salary was gonna be.... (sorry to disturb you.)
• Dave Armstrong -- You say that as if I am in charge or something. :)
Dave Armstrong :
Quotes Taken out of Context #1: From Loretta -- "Seriously, Superman? Your underpants are the bane of my existence!"
4 people like this
• Spouserific -- it is true. I said this.
Dave Armstrong :
Our daughter has been sick all night.... she woke up with lots of (alleged) energy saying, "Yes, I'm fine. We don't have to cancel my birthday party!"
Once we actually cancelled it, she is now on the couch, with so little energy that she is asking me to pull her blanket back around her shoulders for her.
• Erin Solomon H. -- Happy early birthday! We hope you feel better soon.
• Ariell L. L. -- Tehanu is quite a character and I hope she feels better. Canceled birthdays are a sad thing to come to terms with.
• L. -- what a bummer...I hope she feels better soon.
• Sweetpea Marie -- aww poor baby... tell her Happy Birthday for me will ya
Dave Armstrong :
My kids believe that Lady Gaga is the best performer ever. Not that they have any clue who she is, but if she is a "Lady", she must be a princess, right? And our baby can say "Gaga", so that is cool, right?
5 people like this
• Spouserific -- Ha ha NO!
• Leanne L. -- Lady Gaga makes me gag. Sad part is, structurally she's quite a lovely creature. To bad she is such a creature.
• Dave Armstrong -- To tell the truth, I don't actually know anything about her either, so I can't say much one way or the other. I do find the thought process from the toddlers funny, though...
• Paul N. -- You are *so* lucky to not know much about her. She embodies pretty much everything I don't want my girls to be. She makes Madonna look like more like Pollyanna...
Dave Armstrong :
OK, so due to sickness, we have somewhat failed at actually cooking meals for our children for a couple days. So we ordered pizza. The 3 yr old and 5 yr old plowed through an entire large Domino's pizza by themselves. Think they were hungry?
2 people like this
• Sweetpea Marie -- hehhehehh
• Leanne L. -- you could have called for grandfolks bring in. We'd been happy to do it.
• Spouserific -- we didn't want to infect the grandparents. Or make them drive far in the snow. The pizza place was close with minimal interaction.
Dave Armstrong :
Just a reminder to all... This Year... it goes to 11.
8 people like this
• Jorene S. -- I'm old. Other than the new year, what exactly is "it"?
• Dave Armstrong -- It is actually a reference to this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuzpsO4ErOQ&feature=related
• Jorene S. -- Okay, gotcha! Thanks, SirD.
Dave Armstrong :
I just checked, out of curiosity - I have 22 friends on Facebook with whom I have had zero interaction beyond the initial friend request. I guess that is probably actually a good ratio, as I do interact with most of you at least once a year or so. :)
But it makes me wonder if I should scale that down to 0, just as part of my evolving disconnection/dis-illusion from/of the Internet...
2 people like this
• Bill R. -- Check out Pareto's Principle. And, oh yeah, good to see you. I purge my list in the spring usually.
• Catherine C. -- My aunt calls us "Facebook stalkers.". We enjoy keeping up with whatever our friends are doing but do not actively participate with posts! I'm glad to see you and your family are well! Things here are pretty good too -kids are getting too big too fast! Happy New Year! Cathy
• Christopher G. -- No! Stop! Don't!
• Dave Armstrong -- Glad to hear things are well, Cathy. And no worries... most of the "stalkers" make a comment at least once in a while, so I know that are out there, and you were not part of the 22. :)
• Marilyn D. -- Since I am a Senior I only have a certain amount of time where I can sit at the computer before I flop over or my body siezes up with arthritis. So I do minimal writing but I love reading about you and everyone else that has been a part of my life. I feel 'connected' to the "Social Network" A big thing for us 'ancients' Happy New Year to you and your family, Marilyn
• Marilyn D. -- I especially loved reading about how you packed up all your baby things as in "we are done" and then proceeded to find out ya'll were pregs. Blessings are ever expanding!
• Melanie D. -- So how do you check that? And does it check whether you actually interact with thei page or is it only if they ineract with yours?
• Dave Armstrong -- Marliyn, I'm glad you are out there, and completely understand how reading the updates takes precedence over writing... I am starting to head that way myself.Melanie, I don't know of a way to check automatically. I just read through my friend list, and in general, I recall who I have talked to. I did look at my message history, but I don't know of a way to check status comments, etc.
• Dan P. -- Wow, your numbers are much better than mine.
• Bill V. -- Jeeze....next thing you'll be telling us how disillusioned you are with Walmart too. :-)
• Jamie B. -- Yeah there are a few that I do not interact with either..!!
Bill T. :
Love your facebook photo. Looks like you're having the time of your life surrounded by all those little wriggly things!
What's you're favorite game that you place with the kids?
• Bill T. -- _play_ with the kids!
• Dave Armstrong -- We call it the "flipping game." Basically, they run and jump at me, and I flip them in the air and put them back on their feet. Tons of fun, and I;ve only been injured by them one time...
Sherri S. :
Get on it!! Fire that thing up! Sorry I can't help you guys.
Dave Armstrong :
Error encountered while coding this morning: "Nullable object must have a value."
I must have misunderstood what "nullable" means. Of course, this is also the codebase where someone re-defined the boolean data type to have 3 possible values.
3 people like this
• Bill V. -- Er...I guess that would be like...."true", "false" and...."maybe"?
• Robert U. -- Wow, how does that even happen?
• Brandy W. -- You lost me in the first sentence! :/
• Leanne L. -- In another language that would say "make sure lawnmower is not running before placing hands under machine.
• Sweetpea Marie -- that *SOUND* you just heard was my Brain POPPING!!!
• Beau B. -- I second that Marie.
Dave Armstrong :
70 hours worked last week. 85 this week. This is not a good trend.
• Sherri S. -- Boo.
• Jorene S. -- Life balance. Do as I say... Or you'll end up like me in the ER crashing.
• Leanne L. -- This too shall pass, just let the kids help you unwind, a good game of hop on pop helps.
Dave Armstrong :
I think I can automate one of my coworkers:
a) Make a dismissive statement like, :"Oh,that is so simple..."
b) Spout technical jargon, reference "patterns".
c) Pontificate.
Now if only he ever actually delivered any working code. He has had the same code checked out for 8 days, every day promising to have it done.
Yeah, my work is frustrating.
• Robert U. -- Wait a second...I don't work with you!
• Sherri S. -- I know you're talking about M.E., but I"m glad you're not talking about me. ha ha
Dave Armstrong :
Ad-hoc Code Solutioning: "If we do it this way, I don't need to change the database." "Yes, but if we do it THIS way, I don't need to change the UI".
Final decision == whatever has fewest lines of code to change.
2 people like this
• Robert H. T. -- Any net improvement to the user?
• Dave Armstrong -- net improvement to the user? What do you think we are? Project Managers? :P (Actually, yes, the fields save now, so that is something...)
• Amy A. -- Glad I don't do your job; didn't understand a word of what you said.
Sherri S. :
Yo - where are you? Lost in the backcountry?
Dave Armstrong :
Searching Loretta's studio for a DVD and an envelope to mail it -- found neither, but I did find a mini-Moon Pie, and a jar of Nutella.
2 people like this
• Jorene S. -- Giggling. Very cute, Dave.
• Bill V. -- Uh oh...you found the "secret stash". What other skeletons may be hiding in that sewing closet?
• Spouserific -- YOU ARE LOOKING IN THE WRONG PLACES IF YOU FOUND THOSE THINGS!!!!!
• Sweetpea Marie -- buuhhahahahah
• Sherri S. -- I didn't peg Loretta as a closet Moon Pie hoarder. Go Loretta! Dave stay away from her secret stashes. :)
• Lelia L. -- Oh man, moon pies....
• Beau B. -- HAHAHAHAHA! Dave if you still want to mail something you can send that jar of Nutella our way.
• Leanne L. -- Would you care to come up for supper? it'll be much better than nutella on a moon pie
• Dave Armstrong -- Dinner sounds lovely. I'm working til after 8 during the week, but Saturday/Sunday are more flexible...
• Leanne L. -- Care for Sunday? We've got Sister Missionaries and a Turkey for supper with most of the trimmings, could use the extra mouth
• Dave Armstrong -- Sunday works for me -- do you have a specific time set for dinner?
• Spouserific -- Beau, get yer own nutella. 8-P
• Beau B. -- Fine, I'll just pop over to the new gelato shop across the street from the school and get some nutella gelato. :P
• Leanne L. -- We Church 9-12, what tiime do you get out??
• Dave Armstrong -- Same -- 9-12.
• Leanne L. -- Let's plan supper at 1:30
• Dave Armstrong -- Sounds good...
Dave Armstrong :
Playing Chess with T, she put me in a position where I was forced to take her queen. I explained to her what she had done, and showed her what my choices were, and why I had to do it. She started crying, fell over onto the floor and said, "Daddy? I think I made a really bad mistake!"
5 people like this
• Carrie L. -- Awe bless her heart !!
• Sweetpea Marie -- what better place for such a amazing child to make mistakes..with her WONDERFUL DADDY!!!
Dave Armstrong :
T: Dad, I am thinkign of a number between one and a zillion.
Me: 845,312?
T: Lower.
Me: 462,384?
T: Lower.
Me: 113,896?
T: Lower
Me: 6?
T: YES!
11 people like this
• Spouserific -- Wasn't the opposite true earlier today? You: pick a number between one and ten. Her: a zillion?
• Sherri S. -- Hey! I'm gonna be working downtown again starting next Monday. I better see my favorite kids next time you have a family night...!!! I miss you guys!!
• Leanne L. -- Now I know I need to get you people an abacus
• Beau B. -- No Leanne, if you give Tehanu an abacus she will rule the world. Humanity will be enslaved and forced to wear cute hats.
Dave Armstrong :
For 2 years, I have been blocking every single application on Facebook so that I only see actual status updates made by all of you. But you cannot block these new polls, which is frustrating. I'm also starting to see comments that you all are making on your friends posts, even if it is not a mutual friend. That is more than a little scary. Is Facebook trying to drive people away?
• Jamie B. -- Yeah I noticed that too....it is scary what gets posted where and who can all see this!
• Amy A. -- I'll have to recheck my settings. But, from what you're saying, it's not possible to control all of it.
• David B. -- We can choose how much others see. I allow the friends of my friends to see my posts and updates, I'm comfortable with that. Look at your security setting and you can limit some of that.
• Charly B. -- Better Facebook fixes many problems. https://www.facebook.com/betterfb?ref=ts
Dave Armstrong :
Sometimes my 3 year old son is brilliant. Other times... Well, you decide:
K: Is it true that things that live in California can fly into space?
L: Like what?
K: Like... platypuses?
3 people like this
• Darrell H. -- Only if they have rocket packs. Everyone knows that.
• Beau B. -- Yes, the famous Duck-billed rocket-endowed platypus. I believe it is native to the high Sierra's.
• Sherri S. -- LMAO. Love that little Dragon kid.
• Lynn W. -- space? no. Surf? yes... everyone knows that me and Agent P surf until our hearts content.
• Lynn W. -- Is he watching Phineus and Pherb?
• Dave Armstrong -- Yes, he totally is. :)
• Lynn W. -- Then he is brilliant for stringing all those thoughts together. But alas, no... we don't all have our own rocket ships.
• Bill V. -- This is when you are required to fulfill your Daddy role...of propogating crazy ideas with no connection to reality......by assuring the little guy that indeed platypuses do indeed fly into space.
• Christopher G. -- The only problem is that Danville is in Kentucky - just South of Lexington. So Platypi in California Don't fly into space - only those in Kentucky. I suspect it has a great deal to do with the amount of alcohol in that state...
Dave Armstrong :
The secret to working from home without kids bothering you: Finish the space under the basement stairs, turn it into a little office, hide the door behind shelves. Kids think that I am downtown. Muahaha!
4 people like this
• Julia D. -- That's awesome!
• Jamie B. -- I remember playing underneath the stairs!!
• Sweetpea Marie -- too funny.now YOU are the boy in the coubord under the stairs!!
• Spouserific -- Seriouslym the only reason the kids found out he was home was he came out!
Dave Armstrong :
My kids are in the backyard, wrapped in blankets, chanting "Disgusting! Disgusting! Disgusting!"
1 person likes this
• Leanne L. -- are they commending on the weather?? I agree
Dave Armstrong :
PHO! Downtown! opening may 9th! It is about flippin' time!
2 people like this
• Spouserific -- WHOO!
• Sherri S. -- Thank goodness! No more drivin yer dummasss all the way to Federal. egads. ha ha!!
• Jeff M. -- Where? My PHO place closed down at 17th and California a few weeks ago and I'm looking to get my fix.
• Dave Armstrong -- At 16th & Welton, the NE corner. I just noticed the sign this morning, and there is a note on the door saying May 9th for the opening.
• Jeff M. -- Sweet! Thanks!
Dave Armstrong :
My children want me to tell my boss that I need to work from home EVERY day, so they can talk to me during the day. I told them to write a note to him and I would deliver it.
8 people like this
• Beau B. -- So sweet, Dana and I were just talking about how much we missed you guys.
• Travis E. -- careful they might do it...T
Dave Armstrong :
I could not find the original source, but according to NPR, the following statement was made by the Roman Catholic Church: "Faced with the death of a man, a Christian never rejoices, but reflects on the serious responsibility of everyone before God and man, and hopes and pledges that every event is not an opportunity for a further growth of hatred, but of peace."
8 people like this
• Steven D. -- many people are celebrating like its a football game.
• Amy A. -- Thanks for the post. I don't think this is cause for celebration in the streets as the media has portrayed is happening. It is not something to be taken lightly. I'm not sure how to express how I feel, except that I hope this acts makes the world a safer and more peaceful place.
Dave Armstrong :
My 3 yr old son woke up this morning, frowning and told me, "Dad, I'm having trouble sleeping." When I replied, "Dude, it is morning. The sun is up.", he got a huge surprised grin on his face and said, "I slept all night!"
5 people like this
• Sweetpea Marie -- Awwwwwwww you got some of the COOLEST Kids Dave.
• Leanne L. -- tell him he needs to teach Gma how to do that
Dave Armstrong :
There is something wrong when Facebook "Like" buttons start showing up on our corporate Intranet.
2 people like this
• Spouserific -- *twitch*
• Bill V. -- As in..."like" your new high deductible health benefits plan?
• Bill V. -- This leads to the question about whether this is like voting in a facist country. If you do NOT "like" something, or worse, you "dislike" something, are you branded a traitor to the company?
• Dave Armstrong -- Bill, you have no idea how accurate that comment really is.
Dave Armstrong :
My prior experience with MRIs was using them to wipe hard drives. Now that I have experienced their actual intended use, I totally understand why claustrophobic folk do not like them.
2 people like this
• Craig V. -- Not fun is it? I was fortunate that the last time I needed an MRI, I was brain-damaged, anemic, and only half-conscious. =D
• Bill V. -- I hear they are great for making things fly too...
Dave Armstrong :
I know where my children's loyalties lie - K told me to "Tell your boss to get outta there, then tell Sherri to come back, so we can go hang out with you guys at your work."
3 people like this
• Darrell H. -- ...and then your boss asked you not to bring your kids to work any more...
• Dave Armstrong -- He already did. Hence their desire for him to quit. ha.
• Sherri S. -- Love that little Dragon!! :)
Dave Armstrong :
तहाणु और मैं हिंदी बोलते हैं सीख रहे हैं
• Jamie B. -- Translation??
• Leanne L. -- Please
Dave Armstrong :
Dinner tonight was pizza, but with Sriracha instead of sauce, covered in lamb and ricotta.
• Sweetpea Marie -- whoa... someone has been watching "Food Network"
• Dave Armstrong -- Ha. We would if we had a TV. It totally matches our personality.
Dave Armstrong :
Our 15 month old son is starting to talk - but he doesn't quite have it right. When he is thirsty, he waves to you and says, "Hello!"
5 people like this
• Galen C. -- I do that too when I go to a restaurant. I say "Hello" and they put water on the table. Pretty cool!
Dave Armstrong :
If my wife does not start finding things to talk about other than chickens, I am going to cook them for dinner.
2 people like this
• Spouserific -- NOOOOOOO! NOT MY CHICKENS!!!!!!
• Spouserific -- I LURVE THEM!!!
• Spouserific -- um, so the baby is cute....
• Spouserific -- he just told me he wants to go 'play!'
• Sherri S. -- That reminds me - my and my brother got two live baby chicks for Easter when we were like 4 and 6. When they got big the neighbors took them to their grandparents farm. Several years later we were invited to dinner......... When I was about 25 my neighbor told me what we ate that night.... awwww!!
• Alyssa G. -- Everybody is talking about chickens these days :)
• Dana R. -- LOL!!!!
Dave Armstrong :
Every time I leave town for work, something at home breaks. Any guesses what it will be today?
• Sweetpea Marie -- Well the shelf and the sink have already had their turn so......how bout the DOORBELL
• Spouserific -- Doorbell was a mess when we moved in. I'm voting on the DRIER.
• Sweetpea Marie -- but with the heat we been having here it would be nice to hang the cloths outside and get that nice line dried sun smelll
• Spouserific -- While I can hang out clothes here in HR, it has to be a TEMPORARY clothes line. Also, don't give me more work. 8-)
• Sweetpea Marie -- lol temp cloths line... perment hooks... which can be used to hang a hammok for the kids...or a tent for the kids.. or a tether ball for the kids. lol
• Spouserific -- Though if I have chickens in my back yard AND a clothes line, I just need to be cooking pie in my bare feet too, eh? 8-)
• Bill T. -- My random guess: screen door.
• Kristine S. -- a/c its summertime.if it was winter i would go with furnace...
• Sherri S. -- I'm gonna vote (hope) for a small drip in the faucet, and not my sweet little Tinkerbell dragon girl...... Keep those kids in one piece thank you very much! :)
• Sherri S. -- ...and Loretta too. :)
• Spouserific -- I must say I am walking on EGSHELLS today. Almost had a heart attach just starting the car. *sigh*
• Amy A. -- That's a common theme around my house too. I have no mechanical abilities. Hopefully, you're wife does better with that than me.
• Leanne L. -- "I miss you..You have the keys to the tractor and the hippos in the pool again" Sent that card to DH YEARS ago
Dave Armstrong :
T yelled at K because he would not leave her alone in the bathroom. I told them that they were getting out of control, and needed to sit down for a few minutes. T responds, "But Dad, I AM sitting down!" Um. Yeah.
1 person likes this
• Julia D. -- Well, you can't argue with her logic!
Spouserific :
Do I need to wish you happy birthday here? 8-P
1 person likes this
• Dave Armstrong -- I keep forgetting. I saw the posts on here and was reminded. And my parents called and reminded me...
• Leanne L. -- You MIL is a space cadet. HB late
Sweetpea Marie :
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAVE!!!!!!
Melanie D. :
Happy Birthday.
Shafaque P. :
Happy Birthday :)
Dave Armstrong :
Thanks to everyone for all the birthday wishes!
• Jamie B. -- Happy belated birthday. Hope you had a good one!
• Julia D. -- Happy birthday Dave! I hope you had fun.
Imran S. :
Hi Dave, Belated happy birthday.
Sherri S. :
Oh yeah - you're birthday is the same as John's. Sorry I missed it this year!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY YESTERDAY!! :-p
Dave Armstrong :
I am now officially dome with my old employment, and next week begins full-time work on the new venture. Which means I'm re-arranging my home office today to better support full-time work instead of spare-time puttering.
9 people like this
• Darrell H. -- Whatcha doing?
• Julia V. -- no more dcp?
• Dave Armstrong -- No more DCP. :) I am joining a renewable energy startup that has done some awesome work already, and we're ramping up to do some major projects in South America.
• Robert U. -- Good luck!
• Jil U. -- Congrats! Sounds interesting. I am sure DCP will miss you.
• Craig V. -- Wow. I'm starting a new job as well in a couple of months.
• Dave Armstrong -- Craig, tell me more -- what is the new job?
• Craig V. -- Just moving my practice to MN. They done me wrong here, so I'm moving on.
• Bill T. -- Congratulations!
• Amy A. -- Good luck with your new venture!
Sherri S. :
SharePoint sux.
1 person likes this
Dave Armstrong :
Attention Colorado Peeps - The Northern Lights may be visible tonight from Denver. We are just on the edge of the predicted area where it is visible... This only happens once every few years. To see them, find a high-altitude location with no lights and a clear northern view. Look north near midnight...
4 people like this
• Spouserific -- Are we gonna try this?
• Dave Armstrong -- Maybe... we can always sleep in tomorrow.
• Darrell H. -- ...now that you don't have to go into the office?
• Amy A. -- It shouldn't be too hard to find high altitude there :)
• Jeff C. -- So did you see them?
• Dave Armstrong -- No, the cloud and rains deterred me, and I ended up just falling asleep instead. We did catch them about 5 years ago, but have not seen them since...
Dave Armstrong :
Conversation with T last night:
T: Sometimes I get scared at night, and grab a toy to make me feel better.
D: Do you know what else you could do?
T: Pray?
D: Yep.
T: Yeah, or I could just shoot my LASER BEAMS.
14 people like this
• Spouserific -- Well, yes.
• Galen C. -- There is that...
• Sweetpea Marie -- Awwwwww
• Benjamin G. -- Simply clicking "like" seems totally inadequate for how awesome I think this is.
• Beau B. -- You know, I think I want T on my zombie survival team.
Beau B. :
The library you donated has been a huge hit. Other students and parents have already started contributing new volumes. Thank you so much.
1 person likes this
Sherri S. :
Can't remember....did I tell you I got a call from one of my recruiters about a job at DeeeCeeePeee. She had a meeting with some dude named Bill Waddell. heh.
• Dave Armstrong -- Well, at least you know exactly what the job is. :)
Dave Armstrong :
My least favorite part of re-installing Windows is having to start IE just so I can go download Chrome.
4 people like this
• Melanie M. -- I know exactly what you mean, Haha! :D
Dave Armstrong :
My script ran successfully overnight, simulating 10 turbines, on 4 PMAs, attached to one project site, on one meter... 30 days of randomly generated data = 47,000 records. Now I have a good set of test data and can really start to pull things together.
3 people like this
• Jeff M. -- Mmm to power of good data.
• Sherri S. -- Nerd. It's the weekend. Jeezus. Go take some little dragons out to play for criminy sakes. :-p
• Mick H. -- In the old days we got our friends drunk, then gave them pens and paper to get random data. Here's to progress Dave!
• Rachel B. -- Yummy! I just love data!
• Darrell H. -- More data for the data god!
Dave Armstrong :
T comes running into my office and says, "Daddy! there is a yucky bird in the back yard, and it is dead, and the chickens are trying to eat it, and you need to come fix it."
6 people like this
• Imran S. -- Everytime if there is something critical..Dave is the single point of contact..LOL.
• Sherri S. -- I LOVE that kid! I need to see her again. Soon!! :)
• Bill V. -- Soooo....what's for dinner??
• Carrie L. -- Chickens are disscusting carnivores! !!!!!
Spouserific :
Dave is currently being treated to the Little Armstrong Spa. Treatments include a full rubdown with organic lotion, including the top of head, and a back massage with little feet.
Dave Armstrong :
Dave Armstrong :
My 18 month old son... he shoves his cheek against mine. Then moves back, looks at my 3 week old beard and says, "Owie." And he frowns. Then he lays in my lap, on his back, and proceeds to kick me in the face repeatedly saying, "Kick! Kick! Kick!"
2 people like this
• Julia D. -- That's code for daddy shave your beard.
• Galen C. -- Is he trying to kick the hair back into your face to smooth it out?
• Bill V. -- Your at the scratchy phase. Give it another 2-3 weeks and it'll be soft and furry and everyone will adapt to it. :-)
Dave Armstrong :
Fiber Optics now available in my neighborhood. Internet speeds will triple in exactly 6 days!
5 people like this
• Jamie B. -- Ok I need that for my neighborhood!
Dave Armstrong :
Being lazy and looking up a code example on Google becomes a lot less lazy when I find that the only example seems to be written in an out of print book, and not available online. That book is in the Castle Rock library, though. This isn't exactly the way google normally works.
2 people like this
• Bill T. -- Road trip!
• Galen C. -- I'm surprised Google hasn't linked to every photocopier in the world and just simply uploads each scanned document to the web. :)
Dave Armstrong :
Oh, wow. Signing onto instant messengers and old emails for the first time in years... there are a lot of old messages piled up.
Dave Armstrong :
After a full day of studying Brazilian topographic maps, I am afraid my dreams tonight will be full of squiggly blue river lines.
• Jeff C. -- Why in the world are you studying topographical maps of Brazil?
• Leanne L. -- full of piranahas?
• Dave Armstrong -- Jeff, I'm working on renewable energy projects in Brazil, and looking at which sites have the best potential.
• Spouserific -- um, could be worse?
• Dave Armstrong -- And yes. piranhas. They cannot eat hydro-kinetic turbines, right?
• Andrew K. -- Just got done reading about how the Columbia River was analyzed and conqured from an energy potential (largest drop of any river in north america) mainly for the Hanford site. Seems like you could build some algorithims for potential kinetic energy stored in a watershed based on elevation, width of the river, etc etc etc. (That is what they did only on paper). Cool stuff mmmmm algorithims ;-) I don't like piranhas.
• Dave Armstrong -- Yep, that is the general idea. NREL already has software that does the modelling for us.. we just need the data. We're also trying to target specific installation sizes, as their are varying tiers of regulation in Brazil, and we want to hit a tier that works from a business perspective... Fun stuff.
• Jeff C. -- Sounds like a fascinating project.
• Bill V. -- Were you able to get hold of the military maps? They are quite detailed.FYI, the piranha leaves a very clean bite. They are OK eating. Not great, just OK.
• Dave Armstrong -- Nope from the Brazilian military, but I did find old Soviet military maps. We are talking to various people in Brazil as well, so I should be getting even more data soon...
• Bill V. -- The maritime maps are also quite good. The big key with any maps of the rivers in that region is that the rivers are quite dynamic. Sand bars can move quickly. One week you go through just fine, next week you run aground on a sand bar in the same spot. So, maps are a base point for looking at general widths of river spots, etc.
• Dave Armstrong -- And we should be cool with that. Our turbines are portable. :)
Dave Armstrong :
Tehanu's 6 AM quote: "Dad, is this seriously 80s music?" -- "Yes." -- "Oh! I'm going to go get my dancing dress on!"
9 people like this
• Robert U. -- That may very well be the cutest thing ever:-)
Dave Armstrong :
Please not that I am posting your birthday greeting not only on 11/11/11, but also at exactly 11:11:11 MST. Happy birthday! Woo!
Dave Armstrong :
I started just by looking for a web service to pull sunrise/set times into my app. I ended up researching all the equations necessary to calculate the times directly in JavaScript.
4 people like this
• Sherri S. -- Of course you did. Would never expect anything else. ;) Have a Hippie Dragon Christmas! :)
• Andrew K. -- For what its worth - I've used this one in the past:http://www.earthtools.org/webservices.htm#sunTheres some other useful stuff on there too...
• Dave Armstrong -- Yep, I started there... but then dug into where they got their data from and found algorithms... and have already found a few pre-built JS libraries to do it.
• Andrew K. -- Nice!
Dave Armstrong :
After a comment from Tehanu at lunch, we just had to have "The Talk."... password security is a very important topic, and no... 'secret' is not OK as the password for her computer. We discussed using lowercase and uppercase letters, numbers, and to throw in a special character. We also discussed that web sites that tell you a maximum length for your password are probably not secure, as that means they are storing your password directly instead of hashing it. Tehanu is now totally on board with secure password selections.
4 people like this
Dave Armstrong :
Well, I almost made it 40 years without breaking a bone. At 39.5 years, a broken toe has ended my long streak of good luck.
5 people like this
• Carrie L. -- That has to hurt ; ( ,,,,,got your card in the mail,,,thank you, you have a beautiful family! !! <3 you all !!!!
• Lynn W. -- sucks... did you have to boot it?
• Dave Armstrong -- Lynn, Nope - we just taped it up. And I am trying to not to walk on it. Or, more accurately, when I need to walk, I am failing at walking, so I am just sitting still.
• Christopher G. -- Dude, I broke #1 at 31, and #2 at 33. Since then, everything's been breaking: disc in back, scale, the ankle I didn't make a mess of in a pickup football game in college (yeah, that one)...get used to it.
• Dave Armstrong -- Crud. I already walk with a cane due to my other problems. I'm really going to be in trouble if I live to be 80.
• Craig V. -- Welcome to the club. Remind us to teach you the secret handshake!
• Galen C. -- I haven't broken any bones yet at age 52. I don't count toes. :)
• Dave Armstrong -- Oh, cool. If toes do not count, I can keep on going!
• Anne H. -- Toes don't count, I've broken at least three. However, I've also broken my nose twice
Spouserific :
I have discoverd the secret ingredient that will make all Dave's food spicy yet amazing. GOCHUJANG. Korean fermented red pepper paste.
Dave Armstrong :
I made lunch today. Frog legs sauteed in garlic, lemongrass, chili oil and gochujang. I have no idea why no one else from my family wanted to have any.
3 people like this
• Galen C. -- Sounds fantastic!!
• Galen C. -- I wonder if Emergency Essentials has freeze dried frog legs. I should suggest it! :)
• Jamie B. -- my uncle and aunt likes frog legs and orders it whenever we go out to eat...I have not found the courage yet to try...but, I have tried sushi...and love it!
• Marc H. -- Sounds awesome!!!!!
• Anne H. -- Yummy!
Dave Armstrong :
So my daughter saw a picture of your kids on my news feed, and asked where they lived. When I told her Washington, DC, her immediate response: "That is where Wonder Woman lives!!!"
Dave Armstrong :
K was unloading the dishwasher... he dumped all the clean silverware into the sink along with all the dirty dishes. When Loretta asked him with disbelief, "WHAT are you DOING?" He looked around with a shocked (and priceless) look on his face and said.. "Oops. I did not notice that."
5 people like this
• Sherri S. -- I LOVE him. :)
Dave Armstrong :
Today's dinner: Mussels, Poblano Peppers, Mushrooms, Pineapple, Gochugang, Cilantro, and ginger. Followed by a dessert of gluten-free home-made little debbie snack cakes.
3 people like this
• Spouserific -- 8-)
• Andrew K. -- Mmmm poblanos. Bobby Flay uses pablanos like its salt and pepper (-:
Dave Armstrong :
Hey, who is still near NYC / CT?
It is highly likely that I am taking a 3 month contract in the area, starting Feb 6th. I just am waiting on the final contract to get signed. My family is staying behind in Denver, so while I know I will be spending some of my free time with Bill V., I would not mind catching up with other folk as well.
• Erin Solomon H. -- Hope that all works out for you guys! :-)
• Sherri S. -- OMG - the kids are going to allow this?
• Travis E. -- I'm in CT! Trav
• Dave Armstrong -- @Sherri - No, not really. But Skype will make it easier.
• Dave Armstrong -- @Travis - Cool. I'll be sure to let you know once I am town. I'll be in the city, but could take the train up on a weekend...
• Sherri S. -- Poor Lorettta...!
Dave Armstrong :
I don't think I drive very much. I last put gas in my car 4 months ago. I am down to half a tank now.
4 people like this
• Robert U. -- I worked from home for three years. Back in 2007 I only filled my car seven times. It was _glorious_!
• Dave Armstrong -- Exactly. And starting next week, I am in NYC for 3 months, so I definitely will not drive my car. (Actually, I am in Jersey City, but I am having a hard time saying that I will be in new Jersey for 3 months.)
• Robert U. -- I've heard that some parts of NJ are nice...just not the bits most people see!
• Dave Armstrong -- Yes, there are some awesome part of NJ. Once you get away from the city, it is actually a nice place. I'm as close to NYC as one can get without swimming in the Hudson river, though. Still, no driving! Trains for 3 months!
• Alison B. -- NJ? Really? Why??? I'm from there, so I can say that. : )
• Dave Armstrong -- Why? Well, mostly because my company is in a lull while we wait for projects to start, so I needed work for a couple months. And that is where the project happens to be...
• Jamie B. -- That is really cool...I still would like to make a trip to NYC to see gound zero...
• Dave Armstrong -- I'm going to be living just a couple train stops from there. I haven't yet decided how much I am going to partake in NYC vs. just relaxing at my apartment. But I'm sure I'll get out and do at least a few things...
• Jamie B. -- Someday I will get there...it's definitely on my bucket list lol...it's still hard to believe i will be in Maui in less than 25 days...looking forward to the trip except being over the ocean in a plane
Dave Armstrong :
I made the right decision to leave Denver a day early - the train I originally was scheduled to be on just now got to Chicago. Almost 2 days late.
• Dave Armstrong -- Sorry, 1 day late. Still, it would have been bay.
• Dave Armstrong -- bad.
• Spouserific -- WOW.
• Grant P. -- The ole Cali Zephyr, right? Mine was 3+ hours late last April.
• Dave Armstrong -- Yup. I was expecting a few hours... an entire day is a shock.
Dave Armstrong :
The Manhattan skyline seems to have a lot more LEDs in it than I remember from when I used to live near here. Or at least, I don't recall the Empire State Building looking like a giant Bug Zapper...
2 people like this
• Spouserific -- did they even HAVE led's last time you were there?
• Dave Armstrong -- I think the blue LED craze started in 2000ish... so yes. Ha. And I see 4 spires that are all blue LEDs, including the empire state building which is totally blue on top. But now I wonder if it is likethe DTC buildings, and they change colors on occasion.
Dave Armstrong :
So Loretta and I had a great weekend running around NYC. It was a little windy at times, but still a nice break from my work.
8 people like this
Dave Armstrong :
Last night, I got a phone call from a little girl at about 11:00 at night. I thought it was my daughter at first, but then she said, "Um, who is this?" I replied, "Dave. Who is this?" She said, "Oh! Sorry! Wrong number!"
• Andrew K. -- Dave - is that you Dave?
Dave Armstrong :
3 days since dental work means that tonight I can eat spicy food again! Shrimp and green sweet peppers and jamaican hot peppers and some random chili peppers that I coudl not identify, stir fried with garlic and ginger and green onions and topped off with some chili/oil/peanut mix with a handwritten korean label that I cannot read! I am eating it, and even my nostrils are burning and I love it!
3 people like this
• Spouserific -- Yes, the Jamaican peppers with a warning label.
• Dave Armstrong -- yeah, i did some searching - they are supposed the same heat as a habanero.
Dave Armstrong :
In some ways, visiting NYC is like going back in time by 10 years. People still use cash, and I walked by an actual music store in a mall, filled in CDs.
5 people like this
Spouserific :
Sooo, now a large black woman in NY was cat calling Dave from her truck. Apparently she called him 'BUTTAH.' a) I have a new pat name for Dave. b) Maybe I won't bust HER up.....
Dave Armstrong :
I normally skip the Facebook birthdays, but for you, a special exception, and a sincere wish that your day is not just happy, but freaking awesome!
Dave Armstrong :
I'm at the airport. Coming home. 2 months away from home is quite long enough.
4 people like this
• Stacy D. -- Sorry we missee
• Stacy D. -- Missed each other...I cannot type!
• Spouserific -- SHHHHHHhhhh, no one tell the kids! It will be a surprise.
Dave Armstrong :
Sometimes, my wife blunders on to my logged in facebook page..........
1 person likes this
• Dave Armstrong -- As in, horks my laptop when I am not looking and usurps my connection.
• Dave Armstrong -- Hm, and what accounts did the wife leaver logged in? Face P.nt Forum? Muhaha!
• Spouserific -- Hey!
• Spouserific -- Sides, you were asleep!
Dave Armstrong :
My cat tried eating a shrimp out of my food. Little did he know that the shrimp were cooked with poblanos, habaneros, and gochugang. Now he knows why no one else in this family eats my cooking.
11 people like this
• Beau B. -- Mmmm, i'm not sure what gochugang is but I have a feeling its right up my alley.
• Spouserific -- BEAU!! you should TOTALLY get some! I bet the POM has it!! Fermented chilli paste, do some googling so you see what the containers look like (Because they aren't always in english) and see what you can find!
Dave Armstrong :
I don't believe the Scoville scale. I can eat stuff that is, in theory, way hotter than jalapenos without breaking a sweat. (literally). But jalapenos, which in theory are a milder pepper, beat me down and defeat me almost every time. Why would that be?
1 person likes this
• Dave Armstrong -- Seriously, the room is spinning now. Maybe these were not jalapenos after all. What did I just eat??
• Spouserific -- I. Have. Not. Bought. You. ANY. jalapeños.
• Julia D. -- What are you doing eating jalapenos at 8am anyway? That's way too early for spice.
• Dave Armstrong -- I cook the same meal for every meal, peppers + seafood + pineapple + spice. I vary exactly what kinds of spice, peppers, and seafood, and sometime add mushrooms, onoin, or other veggies. My cooking is spicy, but does not have the greatest variety.
• Julia D. -- What do the kids think of this diet, or is this just for you?
• Robert U. -- No concerns about mercury from the seafood?
• Dave Armstrong -- Julia, this diet is just for me. I am mocked mercilessly from my immediate and extended family for my eating habits.
• Dave Armstrong -- Bob, well, I didn't have concerns until you mentioned it! I guess I should think about that. Coming up with a very standardized way of cooking and eating has helped me to lose some weight, and improved my health. I need to think about this now...
• Dave Armstrong -- OK, Bob, I researched... I think I am OK. The stuff I eat is the very bottom of the scale for mercury - shrimp, squid, octopus, clams, etc. My decision-making process on what to buy is based on whatever is cheapest at H-Mart, but I guess there is a strong correlation between cheapo frozen seafood and low mercury.
• Robert U. -- Well, that's good news!
Dave Armstrong :
Time for the annual post - Drive-in theaters open this weekend!
4 people like this
Dave Armstrong :
All, I'm continuing my slow disconnect from Facebook. For anyone who knows me because we have worked together, please connect with me on LinkedIn (dave@hikingdave.com). Friends/Family... we talk in Real Life, so I'm not seeing the value of Facebook. For old school friends... I haven't figured you guys out yet. I'm keeping Facebook pretty much just to not 'lose' you folk.
• Melanie M. -- Well what about me? :/
• Dave Armstrong -- Mel, you are a school friend. Kung fu school. :)
• Traci F. -- What about the Armstrong girls:)
• Dave Armstrong -- Well, Traci, we don't actually talk directly that much on Facebook anyway. I guess we just need to commit to visiting you guys in person more often.
• Melanie M. -- Haha, ok, you're right ;)
• Traci F. -- Great idea!! I can keep up with your family through Loretta's facebook. Good luck!!
• Stacy D. -- Shoot me your email so I have it going forward...I'll send you mine
• Mandy L. -- I drove you away in one week. Crap! :)
• Carrie L. -- You have to keep Facebook for your computer illiterate friends LIKE ME! !!!! ; ))
• Galen C. -- I'll add you to my LinkedIn
• Catherine C. -- Oh, no! I join with your friend , Carrie -what is LinkedIn?
• Michael G. -- Dave, It'd be great to keep in touch with you if you ever do decide to part ways with Facebook. I like it because it pulls back a little of that friend to friend contact while allowing me to give respect to families and married friends. I really like seeing my friends experience the cool things in life, success, kids, marriage.
• Julia D. -- Let me know what you decide for the old friends!
• Alyssa G. -- keep facebook to stay in touch with old school friends!!!
• Brandy W. -- Boo!
• Dave Armstrong -- No worries, if this is the only way I have to keep in touch, I'll stick around. For now. :)
• Dave Armstrong -- Oh, and, LinkedIn is a professional networking site - nowhere near as social as Facebook, but a decent way to keep up with people you have worked with and do not want to lose track of...
Dave Armstrong :
Happy Star Wars Day!
1 person likes this
• Spouserific -- I LOVE YOU MAN!
Dave Armstrong :
I just found all my kids, lined up single file in the storage room, each with 3 pencils, waiting their turn to sharpen their pencils. I asked if they were writing something, and K said, "No, we are just pretending that we are in school."
3 people like this
• Michael G. -- Ok, that's a sign that you need to feed them more Lucky Charms, Fruity Pebbles, or some other type of unhealthy breakfast cereal. They are way too healthy and focused! ;-)
• Dan P. -- Get out much?
Dave Armstrong :
My 2 year old has invented his own word -- "Grup". I have asked him many times if he really means another word, but he is insistent. "Grup." Apparently, it means something along the lines of "to playfully climb up on someone, crawl on them, maybe jump on them with the intent of mild injury to them". As used in a sentence - "Dad, I grup you now!"
2 people like this
• Alyssa G. -- it's a cross between 'grapple' and 'climb up you' - translated to i'm going to climb up you and grapple you to the floor'! Our kids do something simliar...
Spouserific :
I'm copying this from Dave
My 2 year old has invented his own word -- "Grup". I have asked him many times if he really means another word, but he is insistent. "Grup." Apparently, it means something along the lines of "to playfully climb up on someone, crawl on them, maybe jump on them with the intent of mild injury to them". As used in a sentence - "Dad, I grup you now!"
Dave Armstrong :
Something we do not get to do very often in Colorado -- make paper boats and race them down the street in the runoff after a long rain. But today we did!
4 people like this
• Bill R. -- Seems like you have your priorities in the right place.
Dave Armstrong :
After having this PC for 4 years, it was starting to act kinda funky. I uninstalled everything on the PC that came from "Microsoft Corp." It now is running like brand new!
1 person likes this
• Spouserific -- Hey, while you're at it, can I take a screwdriver to your waicom tablet?
Dave Armstrong :
Awesome parenting moment: Teaching my daughter how to save a file on her computer, to store something she has written. I tell her to give it a name, and she asks "Can it be anything?". I say yes. My son says, "We can call it banana." I say, well, yes, but you should give it a name that means something to you. He replies, quietly, "Banana DOES mean something, Dad..."
5 people like this
• Imran S. -- very nice
Dave Armstrong :
Loretta planted magical plants in the garden. Apparently this one single plant can produce french fries, tater tots, AND mashed potatoes!
4 people like this
• Alyssa G. -- I'll have to get one of those.
Dave Armstrong :
"Dad, look at our drawings" -- "Those are nice." -- "Yes, they are going to help us get minions" -- "How, exactly do drawings help you get minions?" -- "They help us think, and when we think, we get minions who follow us. See, those drawings are all of our plans. And all of our plans have POISON in them."
Yeah, my kids suddenly turned a little creepy.
5 people like this
• Dan P. -- Wow. I hope they didn't fix you breakfast for Father's Day!!!
Dave Armstrong :
So we lost an old friend last night, Todd W.. I am pretty bummed, and very regretful that I did not find time to see him when I was out east earlier this year. He was one of the kindest kids growing up, and I always enjoyed spending time with him. A 20 mile bike ride to work was therapeutic after hearing this news. Hopefully his family can also get the support they need and find peace through all of this...
• Spouserific -- aw dave, I'm sorry.
• Marc H. -- Omg Dave....what happened?
• Dave Armstrong -- From what I gather from reading posts on his wall, he had a heart attack a week ago, was in an induced coma since then. He passed away last night. I don't know any more details at this point...
• Marc H. -- K...I only get a chance to scan fb these days and didn't remember seeing anything...thoughts and prayers always
• Dave Armstrong -- Yep. Same here. And hey -- you stay healthy! Even if I rarely talk to you, I want us both to grow old and see each other...
• Marc H. -- Amen....this news really hit me like a ton of bricks...mortality wise....we started together bro...can't be over til we at least see each other again.
• Christopher G. -- Sorry to hear, Dave. Be well - you and yours are in our thoughts.
• Alyssa G. -- So sorry to hear, Dave.
• Amy A. -- Well said Dave...we all went our ways years ago, but I always think of my friends from St. Matt's like extended family. We spent do much time together, all our early and middle childhood years. Marc...it made me think of my own mortality too...turning 40 recently...it's kind of a change of perspective.
• Marc H. -- Yeah Amy....I hit 40 in just a few months....Dave and I are talking about trying to get us all together sometime soon....kind of a St Matt's reunion.....would be nice to reconnect face to face
• Jamie B. -- This is so said to hear this news. He was a very nice person and way to young to leave this world. I will keep his family in my prayers. I do agree that the friends I made from St Matts do feel like extended family. It would be awesome to get people together...hugs to you Dave...
• Dave Armstrong -- Amy, I am so glad to hear you say that. I always worry that I'm the odd one out for feeling such a bond with all of you, even thought many of us have not spoken in decades. I'm glad to know I am not alone.
• Dave Armstrong -- And yes, as Marc said, we're kicking around the idea of a get-together. I suppose gathering in Wisconsin would connect the most people. But we also may stage a mini-gathering in South Carolina in the very near future if I can find cheap tickets. :)
• Marc H. -- Dave you are totally not alone....I think we all feel the same way....it was an easier time that we all spent together...for so many years
• Jamie B. -- Time just seems to slip away and as I get older it seems like it really slips away faster and faster...I am trying really hard to set different priorities as I get older. Life is just way to short...
• Dave Armstrong -- I've been feeling the same way for a while now. I am not sure I can articulate it all in a short comment, but I definitely want to start spending my time in more meaningful ways.
• Jamie B. -- I know I made a promise to myself with turning 40 this year that I am changing my ways....and I agree a short comment can not begin to describe how I have felt lately. This post of Todd and a few other things that has happened recently to me makes me realize that my decision of change is a wise choice...
• Dave Armstrong -- This whole conversation makes me 100% sure that we need a gathering to get everyone together. Facebook comments don't begin to cover this kind of conversation. And I want to see every single person who has posted here, in person.
Dave Armstrong :
40th birthday party on July 28 -- who wants to come? Marc is coming! Anyone other Wausau folks able to travel out to hang out with us? Exact plans are TBD.
1 person likes this
• Jamie B. -- I wish I did not have a broken leg :(. Have a great 40th....
• Dave Armstrong -- Jamie, we'd totally welcome you even with a broken leg. :)
• Imran S. -- Wish you happy birthday in advance Dave Armstrong.I'd like to come...but I can't.::)
• Amy A. -- Hey Dave- We have our Pupp family reunion that weekend. Have fun! Forty isn't too bad; I went through that transition last week and still feel 17. Glad you and Marc H. will be able to reconnect.
• Dawn C. -- Wow!! I wish I could come out and see both of you! That would so much fun to catch up!! SOO ENVIOUS!!!
• Jamie B. -- I know it would be too difficult to travel....just riding to home to work I am in so much pain...I would like to make the trip eventually out there...
Spouserific :
So yes, it's true, Dave spend the morning in the ER. He was riding his bike to work, a 19 mile ride (he's been doing it for almost 2 weeks). He's only got about 1 mile on actual road, and about 40 ft of that is narrow road. Yes, guess where this is going. On the narrow part of the road this morning a driver came flying by. Dave moved to the side but must have hit some gravel because the next thing he knew his bike slid out from under him. His left shoulder is broken (pretty badly) and road rash on both elbows and his left knee. His left elbow and knee both have a pretty serious divot. He's gotten some medication but is still in a lot of pain. Some prayers would be nice.
Dave Armstrong :
Today's phrase is: Proximal Humerus Fracture.
I was already down one limb, so losing one more for a while is just life, right?
• Craig V. -- Ouch.
• Amy A. -- That's "perspective"
• Jamie B. -- Bummer...welcome to my world
Dave Armstrong :
Account Deletion in 10 days -- if you are still connected to me on Facebook, then 2 things are most likely true:
1) I care about keeping in touch with you.
2) I don't keep in touch with you except for Facebook.
Emails are welcome at dave@hikingdave.com. For the foreseeable future, email is going to be my only communication mechanism online. Call me old-fashioned. :)
This message will self destruct in 10 days.
4 people like this
• Amy A. -- Why don't you like FB? It is a quick way to stay connected with everyone. Just curious.
• Carrie L. -- If your old fashioned then you would send me a letter !!!!
• Imran S. -- It means, I won't be able to view all the beautiful pics of three cute childrens so often. my love to them.
• Dave Armstrong -- amy, i don't think i can summarize it easily. it is less about facebook and more about my personal philosophy on how i want technology to impact my life.
• Dave Armstrong -- carrie, we could also just have you over for dinner. :)
• Dave Armstrong -- Imran, this is true, but maybe I can introduce you to Spouserific -- she posts our kids quite a bit...
• Imran S. -- Thanks Dave Armstrong..they are so cute.
• Spouserific -- Hi Imran, I got all the picts of the kids!
• Imran S. -- Hi Loretta...thanks