Sunday, May 9, 2010

Things are ramping up...

both in the things I've been able to sell from that earlier "garage sale" list 'o stuff and our Condo preparations for sale. We cruised around the neighborhood we'd like to build in and even Addie got a little excited about the property options available. The condo is looking empty/clean, but please don't go into the garage....
I'm getting closer and closer to finally being able to own a surround sound system, so maybe one day we won't have to watch everything with sub-titles. It'd be awesome, though, if the condo sold even before I have a chance to wire it up for a 5.1 system... cuz that'd just be awesome. Otherwise, I already have planed out where the speakers are going and the mounts that'll be used, the receiver/speakers, etc. Yah!

Our current floor-plan dream is to use one of Schuyler Built's... with a few tweaks and a whole lot more wiring. I'm thinking networking, speakers, control panels and so on... does that mean we'll have speakers in every room? oh no... but seriously, in this day and age, if you have the walls apart, wire for everything... cuz SOMEBODY will think its important to have networking in every room, or speakers, or....

Ok, Addie and I are setting up a mint.com account, so I'm outta here for now.

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Painting machines

... that's what Addie and I are! We've been painting like crazy, packing like crazy and just generally GOING crazy. Its been partly fun. All in the name of trying to get our condo ready for sale.

I got to walk through Matt's house in Oak Springs on Sunday. Awesome... absolutely awesome. I think Addie and I can really see ourselves in a home like that. Schuyler Built did a fantastic job of just making it a clean, polished, FINISHED home. The layout is fantastic, and I hope someone buys it soon! We'd like to be out a little bit more in the country, but sure as hell want that floor-plan! (with a few minor techno-geek adjustments)

Work at Vann's has kept me busy, as well as trying to sell some things for a business that no longer has need of said items. (No, not going out of business, just transitioning and not needing quite as many computers and odds/ends.)

Alright, that's enough outta me... I need to head back and help Addie finish up on the last (?) coat of paint in the bedroom! She's got NPR playing on her Touch and I can hear her giggling to whatever she's listening to.

~rob

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Because I'm now...

an Apple Certified Technical Coordinator.

To some people, it means something! :-P

One of the few people in the entire state of Montana to have that certification, according to Apple's site. I think the other guys that have it are all Vann's employees.

Monday, February 15, 2010

Electronic Goodies, Toys and Cool Stuff

Electronic Goodies and Things for Sale!

Let me know if you see anything you're interested in. Prices are negotiable, of course, but I've tried to research everything to make sure that the price reflects a semi-fair used market.

Rob

Sunday, January 17, 2010

For those of you who follow...

my wife you're already getting all the information you need about the house, so nothing on that here. *waves hand dramatically across your field of vision* This is not the blog you're looking for.

Other than that, though, I'm pricing out a bunch of stuff for a business friend of mine who's commissioned me to sell some of his older gear. There are some pretty sweet things in this pile 'o junk! Including a MacPro Quad that I'd love to get my hands on. Also a pro teleprompter and a very nice mic+shock mount. Oh, and a decent pair of Sennheiser headphones. Now if only I had 3k lieing around, right?

Our next goal is going to be paying off all our debts. We're seeing the light at the end of the tunnel in that regard.. its nice! Now if only I don't wreck any more 4wheelers, we'll be golden in just a few months!

I'm enjoying working at Vanns, and looking forward to heading out to Seattle for Apple Certification courses & tests! Can't wait to see where that's gonna take me.

ciao for now,
Rob

Monday, January 4, 2010

Apple Certification

I think traveling to Seattle is in my future! I'm being considered for apple training... starting with Snow Leopard Essentials and then moving on into networking with Snow Leopard. Its some pretty intense stuff. Three days of in-depth MAC training with a big test at the end that determines whether or not you just wasted 2.5k. I'm going to have to do some pre-studying, obviously! I've been using macs now for the last 6yrs, and by nature I'm a curious person who tries to break things and mess with stuff... so I sure HOPE I have a good basic knowledge that will carry me at least through the beginnings of the classes. I'm gonna try to get a training book so I can get started. One of the other big things this means for me, other than getting Apple Certification is that I'll be signing a contract to stay at Vann's for at least 18 months after completion of the courses. I've been trying to figure out what I'm gonna be doing.... Vann's has definitely been figuring hugely into "what do I want to do." In a definite way, this solidifies what's going on, and the direction we're heading as a family. The hope is to get this training, keep working at Vann's, bust my tail, get paid... and sell that Spokane house. Then the Bozeman condo. Then we'd like to buy a house.. and have a baby! (or two?)

Aaaaaand those are the plans. In a nut-shell. I'm a nut, and poor Addie will be retreating into a shell of safety and protection.

/rob

Friday, December 4, 2009

DirectTV

Anyone? I have a subscription that I'm about to have to pay the early termination cost to get out of... One of those, "Oh, I'm not going anywhere anytime soon, so SURE I'll sign a 2yr contract" type thoughts that I had pre-Addie. (Thankfully AT&T let me out of said thought pattern, withOUT paying the early termination fee) Anyway, I'm pretty sure I can transfer the account to someone, somewhere else.. and you'd even get $10 a month off of the subscription cost for the first 6 months! (I think there's a year left)

Let me know if you're interested, otherwise I'm going to call them in a couple days and just take the whack and close it down.


Oh, and I shot some SAWEEEET video of a normal-grade powerstrip blowing up in the Vann's warehouse. And the power management WE sell taking the hit just fine and doing exactly what its supposed to do. (kill the power) I'll have to get permission to post it anywhere public, but I'm going to start working on the edit next week. (Per request from the wife who wants to spend time with me this week, since I worked on my day off.) [Love ya babe!]

/rob