Our first boy changed from a crib to a toddler bed precisley 3 years ago. He was 2 3/4 at the time. It was a complete disaster. Our second boy changed from a crib to a toddler bed TODAY, and so far....knock on wood....it has been smooth sailing.
We went up north to stay at Boyne for the holiday week and came home and reluctantly decided to switch him at that time. I don't remember exactly why the time seemed right; it could have been that he was trying to climb out or b/c he was sleeping in a real bed on vaca and we decided he could handle it after that. Regarless, it was a complete nightmare. We would take him to bed and he would jump out of bed and come out of his room once or twice per minute for an hour each night. One of us would have to sit at the top of the steps (about 10 yards from his room) and constantly tell him to go back to bed and hurl all kinds of threats his way. It made the bedtime ritual a nightmare. It was horrible; I don't know what else to say.
Over the past week or so, our youngest has been talking about going to a "big boy bed." He is now about 3 2/3 and has never asked or tried to climb out, but we decdied it was time for him to graduate nonetheless (we've been delaying this day in fear of what was to come) . Up until now when he woke up, he would stand up in his crib and yell for us. Considering what we went through with the eldest, wifey told him when he wakes up in his big boy bed he should call for us just the same. We definitely do not want him coming out of his room like his brother did. So we put him down for his nap today, and he stayed in his room, but he did call for us for about 20 minutes before he fell asleep. And for bedtime, he went right to sleep (granted, we did go to a pool party all day and he was tired). It will be interesting to see what happens overnight and in the morning.
Perhaps this blog post is premature, but I am very optimistic that #2 will be much better for us (victory?) .It is based on us learning from experience and the fact that #2 is a MUCH easier child.
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Sunday, March 17, 2013
The best way to cook bacon
George Foreman electric grill, no question. It drains the grease, keeps the bacon strips lined up properly, eliminates the need to flip because it cooks on both sides, and cuts the cooking time in half because it cooks on both sides. After years of this technique, cooking bacon in a pan is painful.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Breaking Bad
Just started watching Breaking Bad. The premise of a chemistry teaching hooking up with his old junkie student to cook meth and become a kingpin is very appealing.
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Theatre Room, a Dream Come True
For years I've dreamed of a high def 100+ ince projector, enclosed in its own theatre room with amazing surround sound and subwoofers. Now, it is finally a reality.
We have nearly completed the basement finishing project whic includes a bedroom, bathroom, large open space, and a theatre room with 110 ince HD prjoctor and 8 speakers in the wall 7.1 surround sound.
We have nearly completed the basement finishing project whic includes a bedroom, bathroom, large open space, and a theatre room with 110 ince HD prjoctor and 8 speakers in the wall 7.1 surround sound.
Monday, January 7, 2013
HCG DIET
In Feb 2011, I hit a high weight of 208. Several years earlier, I had peaked at 213 but went on Atkins and stayed in the 190's for years. But 208 was getting out of control again, so wifey and I went on HCG with consultation from Dr Julie Twomoon.
The target is 20 pounds in 21 days. I did that in about 12 days. The HCG simply works. I followed the guidelines and didn't cheat. It is very hard - hungry all the time and desperate to snack on something.
Lately, I've been hovering around 194 for months now. However, after the holidays, I've peaked out at 199. So I decided to do a quick round of HCG (I had some drops left from last time), and lose a few lbs before we leave for Fla in 10 days. I figure I can drop a quick 10 or 15 and be in pretty good shape for a vacation binge.
In addition to losing all the weight, you eat all natural foods - no boxes, no frozen, no preservatives, no bread. This has the affect of cleansing your system big time. You take a shit like once every ten days because everything you eat is actually absorbed into your system. You also have huge amounts of energy and actually feel good - depsite such low calorie intake (500 calories per day). I think that's because you eliminate all the garbage and chemicals - garbage in, garbage out.
The biggest problem is no snacking. No cheez its, no goldfish = depression.
The target is 20 pounds in 21 days. I did that in about 12 days. The HCG simply works. I followed the guidelines and didn't cheat. It is very hard - hungry all the time and desperate to snack on something.
Lately, I've been hovering around 194 for months now. However, after the holidays, I've peaked out at 199. So I decided to do a quick round of HCG (I had some drops left from last time), and lose a few lbs before we leave for Fla in 10 days. I figure I can drop a quick 10 or 15 and be in pretty good shape for a vacation binge.
In addition to losing all the weight, you eat all natural foods - no boxes, no frozen, no preservatives, no bread. This has the affect of cleansing your system big time. You take a shit like once every ten days because everything you eat is actually absorbed into your system. You also have huge amounts of energy and actually feel good - depsite such low calorie intake (500 calories per day). I think that's because you eliminate all the garbage and chemicals - garbage in, garbage out.
The biggest problem is no snacking. No cheez its, no goldfish = depression.
Uverse Inept Service
Before I begin, it is important for you to understand these events are all real. Nothing is made up or exaggerated in any way.
We are finishing the basement and installing a theatre room with a projector, which requires a new cable box. At this point, the theatre is fully operational although some carpentry work is still required. Planning ahead as usual, I started investigating how to order a new uverse cable box for the room pretty early.
First I went online to see if I could order there. I logged in and saw that there was no upgrade fee for a new box and it would be a monthly $7. I added the received to my plan and went to checkout. But in the checkout, it said there was a one-time $49 upgrade for the box. Bullshit. I am not paying the $49 when on the previous screen it said free, no upgrade fee. I knew at this point I was going to have to call these effers if I wanted a free upgrade, and I was busy and didn't have the energy to fight their phone system, so I put the project on hold.
A couple days later I tried again from a different computer and got the same results. With time running out before the theatre install, I cleared some time to call them and order over the phone. I talked to a lady who seemed to know what she was doing and placed the order. I could choose from a wireless or wired box - both free upgrade and both $7/mo. She said something about how I could buy insurance in case I needed help with the install - NO. That was it. Done. this was two weeks ago.
Two days ago, Saturday, I received a text message from Uverse saying my "install" was scheduled for Tuesday and please reply to confirm or call 1-800 just shoot me to make a change. You can imagine my initial reaction when receiving this text, as I had forgotten that they never sent me the box ( I moved the box from another room into the basement). I immediately called the 1-800 number and navigated all the way to scheduling where I found out that office was closed on saturday. Hey, ATT, nice job sending out a text on a day where you know nobody can call back. So I decided to text them back and said, "I never scheduled an appt. I just ordered a new box. Please mail it to me. Please call me at 999999999. " One minute later I received a text from them saying "invalid response."
I was pissed, because I knew now I was headed right into the abyss - trying to call ATT and find an existing order, cancel it, and start a new one. How long was this going to take?
I had to drive to Toledo, so I figured an hour would be enough time to get the call done. Plus I had my bluetooth ear piece, so that helps. After 4 minutes I was routing to the correct person. After 13 minutes she finally found the order and put me on hold to go get a manager to cancel the order. After 28 minutes she said the order was finally canceled and now I need to put in a new order. It turns out if you order a wired box, there is MANDATORY home install guy in your house = half day off work. If you order a wireless box, they can ship it right to you. WTF. I would love to meet the guy who made it a rule that if you need a new cable box you MUST have a guy in your house. How much does it cost ATT to send one of their assholes to your house? How irritating it is to try and schedule one of those appointments? How pissed are you when they don't show up? Do they seriously think I am retarded and can't plug in the box into the wall for power and then from the box to the TV? Well, maybe not, because they have enough faith that I can hook up the wireless box to my WIFI. Honestly, I really just don't know man. Then, why the EFF did the first lady not tell me an appointment was required? She didn't even ask me if that day worked for me! Even the girl who was obviously retarded and was helping me for the past 31 minutes thought the rule was dumb and said so on the recorded line (I thought these goons were paid to tow the company line at all costs?)
Because I didn't want to have an install, I changed the order to wireless and figured I can figure it out on my own. She said I will have the new box in two days.
The call ended at 1pm.
Today at 4:03 pm I received an email from Uverse. The subject "your install just one day away."
Dude.
Today at 7pm, I received an automated call from Uverse to confirm my appointment for tomorrow.
Screw it. If they guy comes, he comes. Nobody will be here.
We are finishing the basement and installing a theatre room with a projector, which requires a new cable box. At this point, the theatre is fully operational although some carpentry work is still required. Planning ahead as usual, I started investigating how to order a new uverse cable box for the room pretty early.
First I went online to see if I could order there. I logged in and saw that there was no upgrade fee for a new box and it would be a monthly $7. I added the received to my plan and went to checkout. But in the checkout, it said there was a one-time $49 upgrade for the box. Bullshit. I am not paying the $49 when on the previous screen it said free, no upgrade fee. I knew at this point I was going to have to call these effers if I wanted a free upgrade, and I was busy and didn't have the energy to fight their phone system, so I put the project on hold.
A couple days later I tried again from a different computer and got the same results. With time running out before the theatre install, I cleared some time to call them and order over the phone. I talked to a lady who seemed to know what she was doing and placed the order. I could choose from a wireless or wired box - both free upgrade and both $7/mo. She said something about how I could buy insurance in case I needed help with the install - NO. That was it. Done. this was two weeks ago.
Two days ago, Saturday, I received a text message from Uverse saying my "install" was scheduled for Tuesday and please reply to confirm or call 1-800 just shoot me to make a change. You can imagine my initial reaction when receiving this text, as I had forgotten that they never sent me the box ( I moved the box from another room into the basement). I immediately called the 1-800 number and navigated all the way to scheduling where I found out that office was closed on saturday. Hey, ATT, nice job sending out a text on a day where you know nobody can call back. So I decided to text them back and said, "I never scheduled an appt. I just ordered a new box. Please mail it to me. Please call me at 999999999. " One minute later I received a text from them saying "invalid response."
I was pissed, because I knew now I was headed right into the abyss - trying to call ATT and find an existing order, cancel it, and start a new one. How long was this going to take?
I had to drive to Toledo, so I figured an hour would be enough time to get the call done. Plus I had my bluetooth ear piece, so that helps. After 4 minutes I was routing to the correct person. After 13 minutes she finally found the order and put me on hold to go get a manager to cancel the order. After 28 minutes she said the order was finally canceled and now I need to put in a new order. It turns out if you order a wired box, there is MANDATORY home install guy in your house = half day off work. If you order a wireless box, they can ship it right to you. WTF. I would love to meet the guy who made it a rule that if you need a new cable box you MUST have a guy in your house. How much does it cost ATT to send one of their assholes to your house? How irritating it is to try and schedule one of those appointments? How pissed are you when they don't show up? Do they seriously think I am retarded and can't plug in the box into the wall for power and then from the box to the TV? Well, maybe not, because they have enough faith that I can hook up the wireless box to my WIFI. Honestly, I really just don't know man. Then, why the EFF did the first lady not tell me an appointment was required? She didn't even ask me if that day worked for me! Even the girl who was obviously retarded and was helping me for the past 31 minutes thought the rule was dumb and said so on the recorded line (I thought these goons were paid to tow the company line at all costs?)
Because I didn't want to have an install, I changed the order to wireless and figured I can figure it out on my own. She said I will have the new box in two days.
The call ended at 1pm.
Today at 4:03 pm I received an email from Uverse. The subject "your install just one day away."
Dude.
Today at 7pm, I received an automated call from Uverse to confirm my appointment for tomorrow.
Screw it. If they guy comes, he comes. Nobody will be here.
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Iphone 5 - STOLEN!
The Setting
On Friday, I had an early breakfast meeting in Port Huron. It was snowing, 90 miles away, and I saw >5 cars in the ditch. On the drive home, I desperately needed to drop the kids off at the pool.
By the time I got back to work, I was in bad shape. I rushed in to the bathroom, did my business, pulled out my phone to play "words with friends," and left the bathroom - and my phone. About 20 minutes later, I realized I didn't have my phone. I called it, but it went straight to voicemail. Strange. I remembered the last time I had my phone was on the pot, so I hurried back to retrieve it. Gone.
Panicked, I came back to my desk, looked everywhere, called it again, logged in to icloud/find iphone, and it was not on the radar. Gone. Someone had taken it, and immediately removed the SIM card making it anonymous. Crushed.
Fortunately, I kept my old Iphone 4 and was able to activate it so at least I have a phone. But it sucks compared to the 5. Slower, slower, slower. Plus the home button sticks, which is incredibly frustrating.
Finally, I have a plan. I am going to bring my dad on to my plan, buy a new 5 under his phone number, then trade the 5 for the 4 so he is better off, I get the 5 and only need to pay $127 (special walmart price). Obviously, this is much better than paying $700 for a new phone or sticking with the old 4.
Lesson Learned: don't play words with friends in the shitter.
On Friday, I had an early breakfast meeting in Port Huron. It was snowing, 90 miles away, and I saw >5 cars in the ditch. On the drive home, I desperately needed to drop the kids off at the pool.
By the time I got back to work, I was in bad shape. I rushed in to the bathroom, did my business, pulled out my phone to play "words with friends," and left the bathroom - and my phone. About 20 minutes later, I realized I didn't have my phone. I called it, but it went straight to voicemail. Strange. I remembered the last time I had my phone was on the pot, so I hurried back to retrieve it. Gone.
Panicked, I came back to my desk, looked everywhere, called it again, logged in to icloud/find iphone, and it was not on the radar. Gone. Someone had taken it, and immediately removed the SIM card making it anonymous. Crushed.
Fortunately, I kept my old Iphone 4 and was able to activate it so at least I have a phone. But it sucks compared to the 5. Slower, slower, slower. Plus the home button sticks, which is incredibly frustrating.
Finally, I have a plan. I am going to bring my dad on to my plan, buy a new 5 under his phone number, then trade the 5 for the 4 so he is better off, I get the 5 and only need to pay $127 (special walmart price). Obviously, this is much better than paying $700 for a new phone or sticking with the old 4.
Lesson Learned: don't play words with friends in the shitter.
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