Thursday, January 16, 2014

Yes, yes, I Know

So, I am stuck in Lodi.  Please don't sing the song; the construction site manager played it all for us recently.  I hate it now, and soon, I am sure I will loathe it.

Today, I am finishing I Shall Wear Midnight, and I am finding it so well written.  I have said before when I first read it, that Pratchett was wrapping things up and in his own way saying goodbye.  But at the same time it is continually witty, funny, poignant, and amazing.

Monday, January 06, 2014

Books I Read in 2013


So I was hoping to finish the Discworld series before then end of the year.

I came very close.

1.                  Making Money - Terry Pratchett - *****
2.                  Wintersmith - Terry Pratchett - ****
3.                  Going Postal - Terry Pratchett - *****
4.                  A Hat Full of Sky - Terry Pratchett - ****
5.                  Monstrous Regiment - Terry Pratchett - *****
6.                  The Wee Free Men - Terry Pratchett - ****
7.                  The Night Watch - Terry Pratchett - *****
9.                  The Last Hero - Terry Pratchett - ****
10.              Thief of Time - Terry Pratchett - *****
11.              The Truth - Terry Pratchett - *****
12.              The Fifth Elephant - Terry Pratchett - *****
13.              Carpe Jugulum - Terry Pratchett - *****
14.              The Last Continent - Terry Pratchett - ****
15.              Jingo - Terry Pratchett - *****
16.              Hogfather - Terry Pratchett - *****
17.              Feet of Clay - Terry Pratchett - *****
18.              Maskerade - Terry Pratchett - *****
19.              Interesting Times - Terry Pratchett - *****
20.              Soul Music - Terry Pratchett - ****
21.              Men At Arms - Terry Pratchett - *****
22.              Lord and Ladies - Terry Pratchett - *****
23.              Small Gods - Terry Pratchett - *****
24.              Witches Abroad - Terry Pratchett - *****
25.              Reaper Man - Terry Pratchett - *****
26.              Moving Pictures - Terry Pratchett - *****
27.              Eric - Terry Pratchett - ****
28.              Guards! Guards! - Terry Pratchett - *****
29.              Pyramids - Terry Pratchett - ****
30.              Wyrd Sisters - Terry Pratchett - *****
31.              Sourcery - Terry Pratchett - *****
32.              Mort - Terry Pratchett - *****
33.              Equal Rites - Terry Pratchett - *****
34.              The Light Fantastic - Terry Pratchett - *****
35.              The Colour of Magic - Terry Pratchett - *****
36.              Blood Song - Anthony Ryan - *****
37.              Zealot - Reza Aslan - ****
38.              Magic Rises - Ilona Andrews - ****
39.              Dad is Fat - Kim Gaffigan - ****
42.              Prophet of Bones - Ted Kosmatka - ****
46.              Impulse - Steven Gould - ****
47.              Shade - Steven Gould - ****
48.              Reflex - Steven Gould - ****
49.              Jumper - Steven Gould - *****
52.              Chapterhouse: Dune - Frank Herbert - ****
53.              Heretics of Dune - Frank Herbert - *****
54.              Frost Burned - Patricia Briggs - ****
57.              Ever After - Kim Harrison - ****
59.              God Emperor of Dune - Frank Herbert - ****
60.              The Kingdom - Mark Waid - ***
61.              Kingdom Come - Mark Waid & Alex Ross - *****
63.              Incorruptible - Mark Waid - ****
64.              Irredeemable - Mark Waid - ****
65.              Children of Dune - Frank Herbert - ****
67.              Justice - Jim Kreuger & Alex Ross - *****
69.              Dune Messiah - Frank Herbert - ****
77.              Miracleman - Alan Moore & Neil Gaiman - ****
79.              Dune - Frank Herbert - ****

Saturday, January 04, 2014

It's Almost Like New

So how long does it take to determine you have something really wrong with your computer?

A couple weeks before Christmas, I started having issues where my computer became very slow and started flipping back and forth between open applications.  Going off of John's issues, i thought it might be my power supply because I had some loose wires.  I finally ordered a replacement power supply (twice because the first one as a generic ended up not being able to supply enough power).

The new power supply works great, but I still had the problems.  So I did the last option as a PC owner.

I reformatted and re-installed windows.

I've been doing that since New Year's day, and I've almost got everything back to the way that I wanted it.

It certainly does help you clean out the programs you don't use anymore.

Thursday, January 02, 2014

A Clean Shaven Man

So, tomorrow I have my annual physical and respirator fit test in compliance with my HAZWOPER certification.

Because of the respirator fit test, I have to be clean shaven to ensure a snug fit.  This is essentially the only time that I am clean shaven.  Typically, I have a beard.  Except for the occasional Halloween, I only shave completely for this test.

New Year's Eve, Jennifer and I were in the San Francisco on Union Square, and I saw this store on the corner next to Macy's.

I believe had seen a store one of their stores in Las Vegas a few years ago when we were there for Christmas.  I was tempted at the time to try them out, but decided it was not the time.  This time I made an appointment.

This evening I went into San Francisco, and sat down for a complete shaving at the hands of another man.  This is the first time anyone other than myself has ever shaved my face.  My experience at The Art of Shaving was incredible.  Hot towels, essential oils, clay masque, and a fine shave.