5 Miles

So, this is what we did for supper Saturday night.

The boys LOVED it.

W (5.75yr):  What is 10 plus 10?

A(3.5yr): 2?

W: no

A: 5

W: no

A: 7

W: No, count to 10 and then count 10 more.

A: 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 — 61?

W: No, 10 plus 10 is 20.

A: Oh, right!

Reason #10 – Most Of Your Accomplishments Are Invisible

The computer guy never hears anyone tell him, "I just want to let you know … everything is working fine!"

The reality is that people call the computer guy when something is wrong. As a computer guy, if you work really hard to make everything work the way that it should, and things work fine, then people believe you don't do anything. Everything you manage to get working correctly or do perfectly will forever remain unnoticed by computer users. They'll only ever notice that you do anything when something isn't working correctly, and you are called upon to fix it.

Reason #9 – Every Conversation You Have Is Roughly The Same

When the computer guy dares to mention what he does for a living, the typical response is, "I have a question about my home computer…"

Or when the computer guy first hears about a widespread problem within the computer network he's responsible for, he can barely begin to assess the problem before a dozen other people call to report the same problem.

Or when the computer guy explains a certain process on a computer to a user who is incapable of retaining the process, he will inevitably need to reinstruct the user of this same process — indefinitely.

Reason #8 – You're An Expert Of Bleeding-Edge Technology Products, Aren't You?

The computer guy often finds himself in situations where someone is asking him for advice on a pending investment of the technological variety.

"I heard about (some hardware or software product) that can do (something desirable) for me. I brought you these (advertisements/reviews/printouts) because I wanted your recommendation. Which would you buy?"

Although the inquiring person sincerely trusts the computer guy's judgment over their own, in almost every instance the real objective of these meetings is to ensure their own immunity from making a risky purchase. If it turns out to be a bad investment, and they cannot get (the hardware or software product) to do (anything desirable), then you will be their personal scapegoat — "But honey, the computer guy said I should buy it!"

Reason #7 – Your Talents Are Forcibly Undervalued

Thanks to the constantly declining price of new computers, the computer guy cannot charge labor sums without a dispute. If he asks to be paid what he is worth, he will likely be met with the "why not buy new?" argument.

That is, desktop computers are always getting smaller, faster, and cheaper. It's possible to purchase a new desktop computer for under $400. If the computer guy spends five hours fixing a computer and wants $100/hour for his time, his customer will be outraged, exclaiming "I didn't even spend this much to BUY the computer, why should I pay this much just to FIX it?"

Reason #6 – You're Never Allowed A Moment's Peace

The computer guy is so prone to interruption that he rarely finds an opportunity to work on his own problems.

This is because:

1. Computers never sleep.
2. Computer problems aren't scheduled.
3. Every problem takes time to diagnose.
4. The computer guy can only give one problem his full attention.
5. Each user believes their problem deserves attention now

Consequently, the computer guy has a 24/7 obligation to keep critical computer systems running, while simultaneously juggling everyone's problems. He'll often need to forfeit any opportunities to tend to his own needs for the sake of others — because at any moment, of any day, he can be interrupted by someone who wants to make their problem his problem.

Reason #5 – People Ask You To Perform Miracles

The computer guy is often mistaken for someone who possesses the combined skills of an old priest and a young priest. I'll sum this up easily by example:

"No, I really can't recover any files from your thumb drive, even if you did find it after it passed through your dog."

Reason #4 – Your Assumed "All-Knowing" Status Sets You Up To Let People Down

There is no common understanding that there are smaller divisions within the computer industry, and that the computer guy cannot be an expert in all areas. What makes things worse, is when the computer guy attempts to explain this to someone asking for help, the person will often believe that the computer guy is withholding the desired knowledge to avoid having to help.

This is somewhat related to the next reason:

Reason #3 – You Possess Unlimited Responsibility

The computer guy is expected to solve problems. It is difficult to determine the boundaries of that expectation.

Some of the oddest things that I've been asked to do include:

1. Use pirated software to undelete important company files.
2. Create an Intranet, after explaining I didn't know how to.
3. Teach someone how to hide their pornography collection.

Solving problems can range from replacing batteries in a wireless keyboard to investigating why the entire building loses power at the same time every morning. Resolutions can necessitate weaving a 50-foot cable through a drop ceiling, or wriggling under a house on your belly to add an electrical outlet.

Reasons #4 and #3 boil down to this: no matter how often you want to play the role of a hero, there will always be circumstances that test the limits of your ability to be one. It's difficult to judge when helping someone means doing something immoral, and it's even harder to admit you are unable to solve someone's problem — and chances are, that someone will view you as incompetent because you were unable to help them.

Reason #2 – A Life Of Alienation

People only talk to the computer guy when they need him to fix something. Also, when the computer guy approaches a user, they'll hop up out of their chair under the presumption that he's there to fix something — as if it would never be expected that he only wants to strike up a conversation.

The fact that the computer guy never gets a moment's peace can also practically force him to withdraw into solitude. His co-workers don't understand that he doesn't want to hear about their computer problems during his lunch hour — he does that every other hour of the day. That's why the computer guy eats lunch alone with his door closed, or goes out to eat every day — not because he's unfriendly, but because he needs to escape the incessant interruptions.

Reason #1 – You Have No Identity

It's an awful experience when the computer guy shows up at a neighbor's doorstep with a plate of Christmas cookies, only to have the child who answered the door call out, "Mom, the computer guy is here!" He begs for an identity that is not directly associated with computers, but "the computer guy" label walks ahead of him — it simply cannot be avoided. I was given a name and I'd love to be addressed by it.

So, yesterday I was putting a train/alphebet puzzle together with Alex. It is a long puzzle with the letters of the alphabet and pictures that go along with the letters.

Alex was doing a great job with telling me what the pictures where: apple, banana, cat, dog, etc. Finally we get to the letter Y. The picture listed with Y are balls of yarn. I said “what is that picture Alex”

He looked at it and said “Grammalo”

“Yup, thats what it is, isn’t it!”

Learned Tonight:
(He’s says “Here go” and then “bonk” while he’s showing his moves)

Between the time outs and the racing, I think we are raising a redneck.

Yesterday we let will stay up from his nap to watch the Colts v. Chargers game. It was the first game back for Marvin Harrison so we were pointing him out to the Tort. We mentioned that he was the number 88.

In trying to determine where he was on the field the Tort asked, “Which car is the number 88?”

Good thing the Daytona 500 is only 34 days, 5hours and 52 minutes away.

Yes, all you NFP people can read this post!!!!

Last night The Tort wanted me to read him a story out of his "red" bible story book.  We have a red one and a white one.  The red one came with a cd that Tina has been allowing him to listen to while "resting" at nap time. 

When he went to get the story book he sat on the futon and was searching through the pages.  He said "Daddy, I want you to read me the story about the 'rubbers.'" Not quite sure what he meant I took the book and him into the living room where there was more light. (Note to future guests, the light in our guest/play room has replaced the light in our bed room which was used to replace the light in the living room which decided to break in half.) So, we went to the living room and I started flipping through the pages. 

Again he says "I want the story about the rubbers."  I begin to figure out what he is asking for and I ask, "You mean the story about the robbers?"

"No, the story about the rubbers."  I flip to the Good Samaritan story and he says, "Yeah that one.  The one about the rubbers."  I of course reply, "No, this is about Robbers." He says, "No Daddy, it is about rubbers." Okay, I am a little confused.  I don't recall contraceptives being a part of the story and since he hasn't been to his Catholic Aunt's for 2 weeks yet, I was quite sure she hasn't taught him that the Jew was beat up because the Robbers where Catholic and the Jew used contraceptives. 

So, I asked him, "Where did you hear them called Rubbers?"  He said, "The man on the CD."  

It clicked!

The book is an Usborne book.  It is written and published in the UK.  Therefore, when the record the cd they use a UKainian, or sometimes they are called Brits, or the British, or people from Great Britian.  That is why they are "Rubbers." The Jew was beat up by a band of "rubbers."  Not a "rubber" band mind you, that would just be silly.

So, after I learned that I attempted to read the story in a British accent which I determined was probably more Irish then British and probably not that Irish anyway.  But, I called them rubbers and that is all he cared about.

I ran my first 5k today.  It was at Northview Christian Life's Hillfest.  They kick off the festivities with a 5k run at 9:30am. 

I decided a few months ago that I would run this 5k as a training run to guage my progress prior to the 5k that I am training for at Taylor's Homecoming 5k.  My goal for Taylor's 5k is 22 minutes.  This will allow me to "qualify" for seeding in the Indianapolis Mini-Marathon in May.  This morning I was discussing with my boss and running partner that my ultimate target would be 22(7:00/m) minutes, however, I would be happy running it in 23:10(7:30/m).  If you check out my running page you will see that I ran it in 22:40(7:18/m).  Unfortunately, the Nike+ I use isn't vary accurate and it claims I only ran 3.01 miles.  IT LIES!!!  It was 3.1m(5k).  Basically, I exceeded my satisfactory goal and feel that my ultimage goal is in reach 6 weeks from now.

SIL – Hope to see you running again soon.  Wanna run the Taylor 5k with me?