As part of setting our house up for stuff going on here, we’ve moved all of our media gear around.  I’m pretty stoked with how things have turned out.  I wanted things to be clean and simple in the living room where the new “home theater” would be.  My brother suggested a Harmony remote that works via RF.   The receiver, DVR, DVD player and new Media Center Extender all live in the closet upstairs from the TV.  The remote controls the devices up there just fine.  The wires are run in the walls and it looks great.  We got a new “sound bar” which simulates surround sound.  It sounds great and I’ll have some more fun dialing that in with the receiver in the coming weeks.  The Media Center Extender has been the most fun though.  It basically allows me to view pictures, listen to MP3s, or watch any videos that are stored on my PC or external hard drive on the TV.  It took me a LONG while and LOT of frustration to get the configuration right.  There were permissions issues and it turns out that the extender creates its own user profile on the PC.  I got it dialed in with the help of a couple of user forums.  I’m amazed that I can even watch live HDTV which is received over the air on an antennae on the PC and then sent via wi-fi to the extender.  The best part is access to all the thousands of photos and MP3s on the network storage.  Here’s what it looks like. 

I spent hours updating file names and adding details to “comments” and “subject” for our vacation pictures.  Hours.  I was working in Digital Image Suite, which is like a consumer version of something like PhotoShop- though much less powerful.  Anyway- Imagine my surprise (anger) when I realize that the metadata in Digital Image Suite is somehow not the same metadata that comes up in Windows Live Photo Gallery!  Windows Live Photo Gallery is the program that makes it easy to connect your photos to your online stuff.  I like it for that.  Digital Image Suite works much better for fixing things like exposure, cropping, stitching etc.  Wouldn’t you think they’d play nice together since they’re both Microsoft products?  Maybe it’s something I’ve done, but I’ve waited days now and the updates I made to metadata in DIS did diss me.  The photo updates- like cropping and editing etc- did show up in Windows Live Photo Gallery.   I really don’t get it. 

Maybe it’s time to give in to the monopoly that is Adobe and buy PhotoShop.  (smile)

I’m also having fun with Live Mesh.  After figuring out what I can count on Digital Image Suite to do and not do, I starting making my metadata updates in Windows Live Gallery.  I made that complicated by sharing the folder that the pictures is in through Mesh and updating metadata from two machines at different times.  It’s taking ages to get them in sync.  I’ll be ready for another vacation before these are posted…

Just after Santa delivered a Nintendo DS to me at the end of last year, I visited a game store and inquired about a crossword puzzle game for it.  J and me like to do crosswords together on my tablet pc and I thought this would be a very cool thing to have for the DS.  Surprisingly, one didn’t exist then.  This past weekend I saw an add for one in the paper and went and purchased it on a break from drum lessons.  It’s pretty cool.  I think we’ll have fun passing some of our bus time on our upcoming vacation. 

A year or so ago I picked up J’s copy of The Not So Big Life.  I read the first couple of chapters and then, ironically, got too busy or lost focus or something and quit reading it.  I found the title on the library site for audiobooks and thought I’d give it another try.  I started listening to it while running on the treadmill, monitoring my heart rate, watching NFL recaps on TV, and stressing about work during a short lunch break.  Here’s the description from Amazon so you can see why that’s funny:

Product Description
Have you ever found yourself asking, “How did my life get so out of control?” Or wondering if this bigger life you have created is actually a better life?
Most of us have lives that are as cluttered with unwanted obligations as our attics are cluttered with things. The bigger-is-better idea that triggered the explosion of McMansions has spilled over to give us McLives–leaving us with chaotic, overcommitted schedules and no time to do what we want to do.
In The Not So Big Life, architect Sarah Susanka expands her revolutionary philosophy on inhabiting space to show us how to better inhabit our lives. Through simple exercises and inspiring stories, Susanka reveals that all we need to do is make small shifts in our day–subtle movements that open our minds as if we were opening windows to let in fresh air. The result: We quickly discover that we have all the space and time we need for the things in our lives that really matter. These small changes can yield great rewards. In her elegant, clear style, Susanka convinces us that less is truly more–much more.

I like the ideas in the book and it’s neat to have the experience of living with an architect to go along with it. We’ll see if I make it through it this time. 

One of my running buddy’s calls my shoe inserts bionical or something like that.  He says that they must be the reason that running comes so easy for me and that it’s really unfair to the rest of the world that I run with them.  Recently, I visited a podiatrist who told me that they should be replaced every 3 years or so.  The ones I had been using were somewhere around 10 years old.  How can that be an unfair advantage?  Anyway, I now have some brand new orthotics.  My first run with them was not so good.  They hurt my feet while I was running.  My back hurt a lot the next day.  My legs were sore in different ways than normal too.  I’ve since run several more times and my body has adjusted to them.  They feel great and I wear them all the time.  I guess my unfair advantage is back. 

I’ve been listening to Eragon on my Zune the last few days.  How cool is it to be able to “check out” digital audio books and down load them from the library?  Overdrive and Seattle public library work well together.  I had heard a lot of people complaining about how Zune didn’t handle this very well before the latest update.  I had never tried and so I didn’t know what I was missing.  Similar to how Zune introduced me to podcasts and video podcasts- I’m hooked on audio books now.  It’s fun to listen while I’m running at the club or riding a bus to work.  I’ve only downloaded a few books, but would love to hear some suggestions if you have any.  I listened to a Spanish language learning book while putting away some miles on the treadmill the other day.  I’m trying to learn some basics for our Mexico trip coming up.  I got some funny looks from people nearby when I tried to order a cerveza.  I’m really enjoying Eragon too.  I may have to check out the movie after I’ve finished the book. 

I know- another post.  But this one is quick.  I installed the latest Windows Live Beta applications this past Friday. Yes- I use this stuff.  If you’re interested:  http://download.live.com/

There is a new messenger and the Windows Live Mail has some nice updates. I use Live Mail for my personal e-mail and also for reading RSS feeds.   I’m glad they’ve added calendar and hope they can catch up with the cool stuff google has going on in that world. 

I’m still trying to figure out which program I should use to keep my picture library tidy.  I had fun playing with Windows Live Photo Gallery, but there are some limitations with the editing that can be done and I wasn’t very impressed with the auto correct for exposure and color.  It’s funny to me that MS used to make Digital Image Suite, have discontinued it because they are building the functionality into Windows, but the functionality doesn’t work as well.  I like my out dated copy of digital image suite, but I guess I’m on my way to purchasing and learning photoshop…  There are some fun features in Windows Live Gallery though.  One more thing about photos- have you seen this photosynth thing?  I tried one- a silly collection of photos of my backyard.  It’s pretty cool. 

I was excited to see that there is a new version of Movie Maker too.  I’ve only spent a few minutes in it so far, but it’s changed quite a bit.  I couldn’t figure it out after being familiar with the old one.  I’ll have to re-learn. 

Lastly, I’m happy with the changes they’ve made to Windows Live Writer.  I’ve got it set up to easily blog to either of my sites.  It works so easily.  I dig it. 

I’m sure there’s more to discover.  Check it out. 

Juliet found some frames on discount a while back and we decided it’d be cool to get some prints of some flower close ups for them.  I had no idea how hard it would be to buy prints of square pictures.  Hardly any sites offer anything outside of the standard shapes and sizes.  I ended up cropping the pictures before I uploaded them then printing on 11 X 17 paper with Shutterfly.  They did a good job.  Here are the pictures I had printed:

And here’s an idea of how they look on the wall:

The photo doesn’t do them much justice, but you get the idea.  Juliet did an awesome job of putting fancy mats around them.  They look pro.  I rarely ever get prints made of photos, so I’m happy with how they turned out. 

I don’t plan to convince anyone that they should trade in their iPod for a Zune.  I also don’t expect my post will have much weight with people since I work for MS.  I do have to say though that I’ve been having a LOT of fun with the new Zune functionality.  How cool is it to be able to scroll through new releases over wi-fi, stream tunes to try them out, then add them to my music collection- all without my PC anywhere around.  I’ve only tried the buy from FM thing to see if I could make it work.  I don’t listen to the radio much.  It’s getting some good reviews too. 

NY Times even had some nice things to say:  A New Zune for Serious Music Fans  “Yet for hard-core music lovers, it’s a gem. The Zune blows the iPod off the map in music discovery and downloading.”  Not that they were all for the Zune, but it’s nice to see some credit given for some cool new stuff. 

Gizmodo’s review goes into more of the details of what the software does and how it works with the device.  There are several new fun things.  I know you are all just itching to read some geeky articles.  I want another Zune- maybe the big new one :)

To all three of my loyal readers- I apologize for not posting much here as of late.  I’ve posted more often – though still not very often- at a new blog my wife and I put together to share our story of adoption.  Yep- we’re adopting.  It’s very exciting. 

As in five minutes and forty eight seconds.  That's how fast I ran 1 mile this morning!  I hit the track with a friend who also wanted to see how fast they could run a mile.  We were both inspired after seeing the women's marathon in the Olympics.  We figure if they can run 26 consecutive five and a half minute miles- we ought to be able to run one sub six mile.  My friend ran a 6:11, so we'll go back and work on speed in a few weeks again.  As a bonus, I found a 20 dollar bill while walking back to my car, so we went to Top Pot Donuts to reward ourselves.  Yum. 

I broke the screen on my phone.  I'm not sure how.  I just took it out of my pocket and this is what it looked like.  It sucks not having my tricked out phone.  I didn't realize how much I depend on it.  I don't want to buy another phone yet since my contract is not up and I'd have to pay full price- plus I've got this one tricked out in a way that I can't with other phones.  So I'm going to replace the screen.  Luckily, a friend sent me his Dash that he no longer uses and someone at work offered to to the switch for my on Tuesday.  I think I can make it 'til Tuesday without knowing who is calling, without being able to get text messages, without being able to read my e-mail on the bus, without being able to play bubble breaker, etc etc....

The weather has been cold, but Juliet has been motivated to work on the P-Patch.  Check out the difference a few months make:

March

June

I need to get some better pictures.  We also have eaten radishes and - just yesterday- some nice salad.

I got some new cymbals for my electronic drums.  These are the ones I use for teaching.  These are SO much better than the ones I had before.  1- they trigger much more accurately.  The old ones would often not trigger and would sometimes double trigger.  These are much more sensitive and real feeling.  2- they look cooler.  The pictures don't really do them justice.  They have this funky greenish glow on the edges when the light catches them right.  And- I got a great deal on them.  The folks at Pintech have an upgrade program.  I got the upgrade discount plus another discount because these supposedly have scratches. 

I really can't complain.  I take the bus to work.  I don't even have to pay for the bus.  I have a kick ass bus commute where I only have to wait through about 3 stops and is mostly freeway.  I usually get to and from work in less than half an hour.  Today's commute sucked.  I now have two options for taking the bus to work.  I missed the first bus because I dropped my card key without realizing it while running toward the bus stop in the pouring rain.  I quickly found it and took another bus a short time later.  I was drenched with rain and sweat when I got on the stuffy bus.  Heading home this afternoon was also bad bus karma.  Busses have been getting more and more crowded, but something must have happened to the bus before the one I took home.  This thing was JAM packed when it got to my stop where about 15 of us crammed our way on.  I mean it was scary packed on this bus.  We were standing 3 across where there's room for one.  Don't you think those of us who've been riding the bus since gas prices were still below 2.00 should get preferential treatment?  I should get to sit and I should get some space - right? 

51.83 you ask?  That's the amount that I paid to fill up my little veedub tonight.  Yeah.  Bus commuting is not so bad. I get to read and watch podcasts and not stress out with driving in traffic....

I got a teaser for the Zune Pass while doing some testing at MS.  After the testing was done I was bummed to no longer have the music I had downloaded during it.  I decided to try out the real world of Zune Pass and pay the 15 bucks a month for the subscription.  In years past, I have bought a few albums a year.  With the subscription though, I've downloaded dozens of albums that have come out just this year.  I'm more into music these last few weeks than I've been since I was in school- maybe ever.  I've listened to all my 80s favorites that I'd likely never go find CDs for.  I've tried out many bands old and new and downloaded the ones I liked.  I've added specific songs to my Zune for drum lessons.  I've been having a lot of fun. 

There are some legitimate complaints about Zune Pass.  For one, there is music that is not available as part of the subscription and there is music that is not available through Zune for purchase even.  As I understand it, this is because of a mess of licensing issues.  Having gone to school for music and understanding something about the music business, I've always tried to avoid stealing music or even excessive sharing of CDs.  I want the musicians I like to make money.  I don't completely understand how the 15 bucks I pay a month gets distributed to record companies and artists, but I hope it's at least as fair as CD sales.  I signed up for 3 months.  The way things are going now I'll renew before my subscription ends.  It's a different way of paying for music for sure.  Is it worth it to have "all you can eat" music but only for as long as you keep paying?  Would you rather have fewer CDs for the money but know you'll have them forever.  Is the realization that you'll no longer have the music once you stop paying enough to keep you from trying it? 

Juliet and I finally got to see the movie Once this past weekend.  (The public library will eventually get you just about any movie or book you want :))  It had been recommended by several people to us.  It was good.  I recommend it.  There's a great scene where they are in a music store after hours and play together for the first time.  It does a nice job of capturing the magic that's felt when there's a connection through music. 

It was also very cool to recognize places we'd been in Dublin.  See it. 

My sister Cindy and her friend Ed were in town this weekend.  We had lots of fun playing tourist with them.  They brought fantastic weather with them!  They not only did some tourist stuff with us, but spent hours Contra dancing at the Folklife Festival. 

I've posted more pictures here. 

I posted the pictures in the pictures section of this site too since I decided I don't like the viewing options of the link above.