April 2024 – snand.org

backup sump pump engaged

might not look great but fingers crossed this covers us next time. existing sump is a zoeller and it’s working fine except for that time the float valve stuck. originally I was going to replace it with a battery backup unit but I thought about it a little more and while a battery backup is a good idea, it wasn’t our primary issue.

so, I could have replaced the pump and crossed my fingers. instead I decided on a second, backup sump with a battery backup. this little plastic sump will be there, with a second float valve that kicks in if the first doesn’t. it’s even got an audible alarm that stays on if activated if so I’ll be able to hear right away if the primary pump fails again. I can easily replace it now if it continues to have issues but with two pumps plus battery backup now, it feels good being n+1.

now that that has been taken care of, I can keep going on the rest. drywall has been ordered and will be delivered this week. next up, floors (already have a plan for that though).

friday affirmation post.

it’s been a decent week, for my head anyway. I still bounce around wildly between panic and tranquility, sometimes in the same day. but this has been a good week for me in how I’m feeling professionally.

I’m pretty knowledgeable about a lot of things, I know what to do. I just don’t really know how to get these needed projects underway. I’ve been blaming myself for being inadequate at my job but this week I’ve been getting some of the needed direction and some coworkers are coming out of the woodwork to talk about their frustrations as well. I’m not complaining about work, frankly I LOVE working where I do, it’s without a doubt the best company I have ever worked for, but just because it’s a good place to work, doesn’t mean there isn’t difficulties here. I’m used to a different set of them though and so recalibration has been a challenge.

nothing particularly tangible I’m reacting to here, but it feels good that I’m not blaming myself for all my frustrations. and I do know that this just means that there’s still more work to do and more frustrations ahead of me but I don’t feel quite as alone anymore.

thanks work and co-workers for a good week. I’m so happy to be here to face these challenges as a team.

well, I am simply gobsmacked!

NASA’s Voyager 1 Resumes Sending Engineering Updates to Earth

I’ve been following the progress of one of humanities moat amazing achievements and for nearly 50 years it’s continued to add notches to the belt. now we’ve added a firmware fix/memory remapping nearly a light-day away. its stories like this that make me remember why I got into the thankless IT business. I mean, I’m not sending anything to space but it’s nice to at least understand the technobabble.

gotta get my golden record shirt out, think I’ll wear it tomorrow.

rtfm…

…and laugh and laugh and laugh.

Tesla Cybertruck turns into world’s most expensive brick after car wash

that’s right, the manual for the memewagon has a warning that says: “Do not wash in direct sunlight.”

if you bought one of these, you truly deserve it.

another productish day..

a little less steam today but I did manage to finish up the framing downstairs, I made a plan and got all the pieces for the electrical (decided on the super simple route). I also poked around snand a bit, got a few things updated and cleaned up (I think I fixed my SMB issues) and finally finished moving the vacation photos off the cameras.

now, if I could get the motivation to make a vacation post.

a productive day.

got the rebuild underway.

managed to frame the exercise room, undercounted 2×4’s so need another trip to the hardware store. still, progress is progress.

then I finally fixed my stupid laptop. it’s an Alienware, I got a good deal on a refurb but I just hate it. nice screen for sure, and it’s powerful, but it’s a toy, creaky, heavy, not the best Linux machine. it’s what I’ve got though and I don’t want spend money on a new one.

but at least it let me clear off my cameras. hopefully I can go through my photos and make a vacation update this weekend.

finally, Michele and I are getting together with friends later tonight. mmm, fancy Mexican?!?

what a day. feels like a weekend should. been a lump for far too long, does wonders for mental health to get stuff done.

I love this

https://listed.to/@juliettebernheisel/50912/github-is-not-open-source

found on lemmy.

I love this, just love it. I won’t comment on the content, I’ll let that stand on it’s own. what I love is the fact that this is a teenager, advocating for self hosting. I love that it’s from a reference frame that I never in a million years would have seen things. I particularly love that it’s exists, just to pass on knowledge that the author thought was worth sharing. so, juliette, whoever you are, keep it up, I love your attitude.

today’s old favorite

2 albums of perfection

this song comes up occasionally in my playlist and every time I remember how much I love it. then I remember how much I love Handsome Boy Modeling School and I listen to both albums for days.

now you do the same. or not, you do you.

update- didn’t follow the usual plan and next up is:

gonna be a good day

apple music, what are you doing to me? what is this, nostolgia day?

I’m back in my bedroom, watching northern exposure on my black and white TV.

goodbye Colorado :(

It’s been a great trip, better than I’d hoped even, but it’s time to head home. thanks Rainbows End for being a wonderful home away from home for the week. I hope we come back again soon.

Stanley Hotel ghost tour

took the Stanley Hotel ghost tour last night; not sure I’m a believer but I do love a good story. what a cool and historic hotel though, I honestly had no idea it was the same Stanley from the steamer cars. cool.

my favorite part was reading the old postcards sent from the hotel dating back to the 20’s at least. I found it incredible that these short messages pretty much read exactly like text messages do these days. I really wish I would have gotten some pictures.

we sure did enjoy the place though, I’ll have to do a vacation recap post when we’re home but I’ve gotta share a couple.

arrived just as dusk started to fall.

Leaving the Stanley Hotel — heading back to town

and we left in the spooky dark.

we’re heading to Denver so no time to post more, but I’ll start planning my recap.