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GRAFFITI -- December 14, 2009 thru December 20, 2009

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Welcome to Orb Graffiti, a place for me to write daily about life and computers. Contrary to popular belief, the two are not interchangeable.     About eMail - I publish email sometimes. If you send me an email and you want privacy or anonymity, please say so clearly at the beginning of your message.



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MONDAY    Tues    Wed    Thu    Fri    Sat    Sun   
December 14, 2009

No Post.

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Mon    TUESDAY    Wed    Thu    Fri    Sat    Sun   
December 15, 2009

2132 - Hey, that's interesting. The dashboard computer on my Prius consistently reports that I'm doing a little over 2 miles per gallon better than I really am. That's weird. Is it doing that just to make me feel better? When it's cold and wet, I'm getting a true 42 - 46 MPG, and when it's dry and a bit warmer, I'm rolling in at around 48 or 49 MPG. None of those numbers are to be sneezed at, but the dash lies. I wonder if it predicts weather, too? (/mad grin)

Back at the elliptical tonight, where I whacked about 465 calories off, according to the, errr, dashboard. Waitaminnit. I'm sensing a theme, here. Well, I don't have enough of a baseline to report on yet. How's that for waffling? Or baconing? In other good news, I heard from my old friend Albert today. Hey, Albert! It sounds like he's doing well, and that's a happy thing.

There. I've finished a bit of remote work, and I think it's time to unwind a bit. Last final of the year in two days, btw. Ciao!

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Mon    Tues    WEDNESDAY    Thu    Fri    Sat    Sun   
December 16, 2009

1917 - Studying. About done, actually: I just wanted to read up on a few of the guidelines to ensure that I didn't deeply trip over my own feet in tomorrow's WRTG 101 final. The good news is that Paper 4 is now graded, an 'A' there, so I'm fairly on track for an overall 'A' in that course. And I managed to nail an 'A' to the wall for Computer Architecture as well. That one was a bit iffy; I was more challenged in that course than I expected. I was pleased to have an excellent instructor, Richard Daumit. I can heartily recommend him if you have one of his courses in your future. Those kind readers keeping score might note that this is the only the second instructor I've had occasion to laud since starting at UMUC. The first was Dawn Smith, back in September of 2008, and I'll be in another of her classes this Spring.

However, while Spring (the school session) starts for me in just four weeks, Spring (the season) is a long way off. The ten day forecast leads me to expect highs in the 30's and lows in the 20's all through. And though you and I both know it's a lie at this great distance, the likelihood of rain/snow for Christmas day is currently pegged at 60%. That's a hell of a thing, this far off. I don't believe a word of it.

Now, suppertime. Ciao!

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Mon    Tues    Wed    THURSDAY    Fri    Sat    Sun   
December 17, 2009

No post.... took a final.

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Mon    Tues    Wed    Thu    FRIDAY    Sat    Sun   
December 18, 2009

No post..... unwinding.

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Mon    Tues    Wed    Thu    Fri    SATURDAY    Sun   
December 19, 2009

Overnight snow in Bowie
Overnight snow in Bowie

0747 - And now, wound up again. I was shovelling out back at 0645, clearing a path and a couple of spots for the dogs. Just in time, too: as I trudged in, Molly excitedly wanted out. At least I got her off the deck ... Yeah, we've got a winter storm going on. It was upgraded by the weather service from Winter Storm Warning last night to Blizzard Warning. We had 6" of snow overnight (a bit more than the 3" prognosticated). Two feet aren't unlikely before this is over tomorrow morning. Wow! We haven't had this much snow at one drop in a number of years.

Today I'll finish clearing the fabric room, and perhaps get a start on the sewing room if things go well. Ciao!

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Mon    Tues    Wed    Thu    Fri    Sat    SUNDAY  
December 20, 2009

More house snow in Bowie
More house snow in Bowie
More tree snow in Bowie
More tree snow in Bowie

1611 - Oh, hey. The snow stopped falling overnight. Blue skies and temps in the low 30's when the sun is on hand. So I shoveled a bit in back, and quite a bit more in front (including using the snow thrower on the sidewalks up and down a ways), and that's that, other than the 18 30 inches of snow left everwhere else. I'm going to peg it as 18" for the purposes of calling it the equivalent 1.5" of rain, but there's thin spots, and places well over two feet deep on the yard and the deck. It was a light, drifty sort of snow, as you can see from the way it's piled up in front of the windows above the porch. It's too deep for either dog to go expeditioning around the back yard ... Well, too deep for Lucy by far, and Molly isn't happy about it. They'll be unhappier Christmas Day, when we're due for freezing rain. Yay, ice! Not!


Our condolences to the families and units of the fallen, this and every week.

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Visit the rest of the DAYNOTES GANG, a collection of bright minds and sharp wits. Really, I don't know why they tolerate me <grin>. My personal inspiration for these pages is Dr. Jerry Pournelle. I am also indebted to Bob Thompson and Tom Syroid for their patience, guidance and feedback. Of course, I am sustained by and beholden to my lovely wife, Marcia. You can find her online too, at http://www.dutchgirl.net/. Thanks for dropping by.

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