Work, keeping busy

Posted on November 13, 2013 by kdarcy21

It has been really busy in the office the last couple of weeks.  I enjoy it.  The days zoom by in the blink of an eye.  Yesterday, it was 4:30 in the afternoon and I figured it was around 2.  Oh well.  Seem to need more time to get things done.

As I am sure you know, I work from home on Wednesday’s.   It is nice and I am sure my dogs like having me around.  I have a laptop at home and I connect via a VPN connection to the office, essentially makes it like my laptop is connected in the office.  My phone rings at home, I can use regular Outlook and all of the other apps that I normally use.

This is quite the change from my last job where this level of connectivity was not offered, or, at least it was not offered to “regular” IT people.  I am sure that some of the “higher” ups had the capability.  I guess I really didn’t need that access at that job.  I didn’t have anywhere near the same level of responsibility.  Now, if the network or a server goes down, it is my job to get it back up and running.  Mind you, I do have amazing assistance from people all over the company who are experts in their fields.

We had some server work to do this past weekend.  One of the hard drives in the array failed and when we put in the replacement, the system didn’t pick it up.  Not too good.  So, Dell shipped a replacement part and we scheduled a maintenance window for the Saturday night as the server would have to be shut down.  It took us about an hour, no issues.  So, we had a double whammy, the drive failed and the part that it connects to failed as well (don’t remember what the part is called).  I am sure that doesn’t happen all that often.

So, that over time will be paid out to me – 2.5 hours.  It won’t make that much of a difference on my pay I am sure.

Working on the ITAssist queue has been busy as well.  This is also good as it makes the day go by a tad quicker than when it is slow.  I will be working a lot of ITAssist shifts during the Christmas break.  The Calgary office is closed so I have gotten permission to work from home.

I still have a few hours of vacation time to use.  I might use it one of those days, not sure.

I am going to look at a new place to live tonight.  I am not really “looking”, but, if the place has what I want and need, I may make the move.  A co-worker put me onto a real estate agent who specializes in pet-friendly rentals.  It is a 2 bedroom in the Mount Royal area – VERY close to the office, within a short bike ride or a 25 minute walk – not too bad.

I will need to be able to move my washer/dryer for sure.  I just purchased it and I am not willing to sell taking a large loss.  I also don’t want carpeting.  Hardwood or laminate and tile or some other kitchen floor would be idea.  It is too hard to keep carpeting clean with two dogs.  I am not sure if it has a backyard, not a deal breaker as I am used to taking the dogs out regularly.  I would need a spot for a BBQ and a parking spot as well.  If I do move, I would be able to cancel my parking spot downtown, so that would save me $150 per month.  I wouldn’t need a bus pass either as I would either walk to ride to work – that would likely be good for me too.

So, before I’ve seen it, a brief wish list:

  1. hardwood or laminate flooring
  2. tile in the kitchen
  3. parking spot
  4. space for the washer/dryer
  5. backyard
  6. fireplace
  7. gas stove

That’s about it.  Only items 1, 3 & 4 are required.  No compromise on those ones.  I am sure there won’t be carpeting in the kitchen, although I have rented a place previously that did have it – very odd.  It was also a dusty rose colour.

So, wish me luck.  I am hoping I will like it.  As long as I take the dogs with me, they will like it to.

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A Four Day Weekend

Posted on November 10, 2013 by kdarcy21

I worked OT last week and took Friday off in lieu. I had a bunch of running around to do and got most of it done.  I planned on taking the dogs to the dog park but we didn’t make it.  I know, bad owner eh.

I purchased a new phone.  The LG Nexus 5.  What an amazing phone this is.  Being the “Google” phone, it will get updates immediately, not whenever the provider feels like making them available.  It is also unlocked, so, if I decide to go to another provider, I can move it easily. It is running the newest version of Android, 4.4, KitKat.  Thus far, I love it – amazing phone.  Had a few features that my Samsung Galaxy Note didn’t have and it is not so bulking either…  I can use it and it doesn’t cover the entire side of my head.

Saturday was a more relaxing day.   I did some more shopping (groceries and dog stuff), bought a skin for my new phone – there aren’t any cases for it yet. In the afternoon I drove to the North-West of the city to watch my little brother play soccer but they didn’t make it to the game.  Well, I got to tour that part of the city.

I had a nap in the afternoon.  I am training for the 2016 Nap Competition for the Olympics in Brazil.  I am going for Gold for Canada.

Today, I went to the Olympic Oval at the University of Calgary to watch some speed skating.  I had VIP passes.  The food and drink were amazing.  Thanks for Ricoh and Intact Insurance – Ricoh for giving me the tickets and Intact for hosting the event and the food.  Another nap this afternoon – I slept like the dead.  No plan for tonight – maybe a little TV, perhaps some football.

Tomorrow is Remembrance Day and a stat holiday in Alberta.  I am going to a service at the local Legion with a neighbour.  After that, we will go to the dog park then have a nap.  Not only am I getting ready for the Olympics, I am also getting ready for retirement.

All in all, it has been a great weekend.  Hope yours was good as well.

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A Driving Rant

Posted on November 8, 2013 by kdarcy21

For anyone who regularly reads my BLOG, you might have noticed that I will occasionally rant.  Today, for my second post, I am going to rant again.  I have likely even ranted about this before, I am not sure and I am too lazy to look or search my entries to see.  So, if you choose to read this and it turns out that it sounds familiar, don’t complain to me.  🙂

One – Drivers.  In Alberta.  Do I need to say more?  Perhaps I do, especially if you do not live in Alberta.  And, actually, I can’t really say Alberta, I can say Calgary and area – that is FOR SURE.

So, everyone pretty well knows that the regular speed limit on regular city streets is 50km.  Can we essentially agree on that?  Good.  In that case, riddle me this Batman – WHY do drivers insist on driving at 40km?  Why?  Why?  WHY?  It drives me nuts.

Now, today, I am not really in any sort of a hurry.  I am not working today so I really don’t have to be anywhere on any sort of schedule.  But still, come on people.

Two – An expansion on One…  People driving on the highway.  The speed limit on the highway, and by this I am referring to Deerfoot, QE2 is 100km  At points, the speed limit is actually 110km.  Why, in this case, do some drivers drive at 80km?  Really now, this is NOT SAFE.  Not at all.  Today, it was a little old man who could barely see over the freaking steering wheel.  I think there comes a point in everyone’s life when we have to admit to ourselves that perhaps, just perhaps, we should STOP DRIVING. You are going to a) get yourself killed and/or b) kill someone else.  This guy would likely be an a, because he was driving some sort of silly little car.  In a highway full of trucks and SUV’s, he’s dead meat.

Another complaint, this one more mild, so I will say Three – Driving at the speed limit on the highway.  I mean right at it.  It isn’t illegal, but come on.  Who drives at 100km in a 100km zone?  Well, in Alberta (again, Calgary and area) apparently EVERYONE does.  Or, perhaps not everyone, but 90% of the people.  In Ontario, although the speed limit is 100km, it is common practice to drive between 110 and 120 and you are considered “speeding” if you go over that 120 mark.  So, this is just a minor complaint since, as mentioned, it isn’t illegal.  But, people, if you DO want to drive at 100km in a 100km zone, do you have to do it in the passing lane and hold up traffic?  Although you might be content with driving along at that speed, I might want to ZOOM by you at 110, maybe even 115.  Imagine that?

So, in conclusion…  1) drive at 50 on regular roads, 2) if you are old and senile, get off the highways and take public transit and 3) if you insist on driving at the speed limit on the highway, don’t do it in the passing lane

That’s not too much to ask.  Is it?

2013-11-09 (Update) – As a follow-up, and I am sure that I have mentioned this as well, this will be number 4 – WHY does it take so long for people to accelerate when the light turns green?  I would think, and hope, that when you are driving you are actually paying attention.  Don’t text, don’t use your cell to make a call (unless you have Bluetooth), just drive.  Please.  Again, I will ask – that isn’t too much to hope for, is it?  🙂

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A new domain

Posted on November 8, 2013 by kdarcy21

I registered kevindarcy.ca for myself.  Take a look.  Type in http://kevindarcy.ca and see where you get to?  Well, since I am also cheap, if you happen to click on that link, you will see that it will take you back to my BLOG.  Where else would it go?

A long time ago, back in the mid 90’s, just when the Internet thing was getting off of the ground. I registered darcy.com.  It linked to a web site that I had at the time.  Blogging hadn’t been invented as yet.  Blog hosts weren’t around, likely hadn’t been thought of as yet. I use WordPress.com as my host.  It is pretty darn cheap, less than $20 per year for the domain registration (kdarcy21.com) and the hosting of this BLOG.  I added kevindarcy.ca for $12 a year and just directed it here.

Anyway, back to darcy.com.  I registered it and kept it for a couple of years and then was contacted by a company in Florida, Darcy Cosmetics or something like that – they wanted to buy the domain from me.  We negotiated and came up with an amount of $1500 USD, which, at the time was about $2000 CDN.  It was a fairly complicated matter back then to transfer a domain.  I went through the process and they sent me my cheque.

When .ca domains became available to anyone, I should have registered darcy.ca but I didn’t think of it.  For that matter, I should have registered a bunch of domains and then, to avoid a court fight, the companies could have simply paid me for the domains.  I could have been the first Internet millionaire.  Well, that didn’t happen – oh well.

So, darcy.com and darcy.ca are taken.  Taken, but not being used.  They are registered and up for sale.  Not sure how much, but, they aren’t worth that much to me so I have never even really looked into them.

I doubt that I will do too much with my second domain.  It will link to my primary domain, kdarcy21.com.  The kdarcy is likely obvious to you.  If it isn’t, well…  It is my first initial and my last name, sans the apostrophe.  The 21 is the number that I used during most of my coaching career.  When I first coached an all-star team and wore a regular uniform, I wanted #9 for John Olerud of the Toronto Blue Jays – I see that the Wiki article that I linked to has him in a Boston jersey – yick.  Anyway, he was and still is my favourite player.  Played first base and won the batting title back in the early 90’s when the Jays won back to back World Series.  So, I wanted to be #9.  Well, one of the players wanted to be 9 as well and although there is nothing wrong with a coach and player each wearing the same number, they didn’t have a 9 in my size.  Dang.  One of the other players suggested 21.  At the time, Roger Clemens (odd that they don’t have Clemens in a Red Sox jersey, rather a Yankees jersey, another yick) wore 21 for the Boston Red Sox.  This was before his shorty stint in Toronto, before his stint in New York and before it was revealed that he drugged himself up for most if not all of his career.  Oh well.  Anyway, the 21 stuck.  I was a 21 for the entire time that I coached in SCMBA and in NDBA. I coached for the Canadian Thunderbirds and didn’t have 21, but that’s ok.  My umpire number in Ontario was also changed to 21, ND21 to be specific.  That is where the 21 came from.  I have had license plates with the number 21 as well.  KRD21, 21KRD are two that I remember.  Out here, I had JEEP21, still do.  I guess I could use them, even though I don’t have a Jeep any longer.  Maybe I will swap them.  I am not even sure what my current plate is actually.

Anyway, a short story became a sort of a long post.

I am starting a 4 day weekend today, off today and Monday as well for Remembrance Day.  I have to go in on Saturday to do some server maintenance.  Otherwise, no real plans.  I do have to do some running around today but that’s ok.

Last night I went to a beer event at a liquor store in the south-east with a bunch of co-workers.  One of the guys was unable to go and gave me his ticket.  I am not much of a beer drinker myself, but I did have a few samples.  I liked one, a clear beer which tasted much more like a wine than beer – gotta find the name of that one.  There was some great food as well.  All in all, a good event.  I was a nice guy and gave two co-workers a lift home.

Anyway, enjoy your weekend, I am sure to enjoy my.  Later.  🙂

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What’s been happening?

Posted on November 6, 2013 by kdarcy21

Not a heck of a lot really.

I really enjoyed my two weeks away from the office.  It was relaxing, but, I was happy to get back to work.  My day trip to Banff was excellent.  It was late October and the weather was fantastic.  No snow at all and temps in the mid teens during the day.

Now I am back into the normal routine.  Glad to be back actually.

As I am sure I’ve mentioned, I am no longer taking public transit to work.  This is working out REALLY well.  My drive into the office takes 15-20 minutes, depending on traffic.  The walk from the garage to the office is anywhere between 9-12 minutes, it is 8 blocks.  For some reason, the east-west blocks are longer than the north-south blocks, or at least it seems that way.  Either way, the walk is pretty good.  I might not feel that way when the temps drop, but for now, all is well.

I went to the recent Stampeder game when the Stamps clinched home field advantage in the play-offs with a trip to the Western Final.  I am also attending the Western Final in a couple of weeks – not sure who the opponent is as yet though.  Hopefully it won’t be too cold.

We have been busy at work of late.  Some minor technical issues had to be taken care of.  Some OT needed to be worked.  I am off on Friday and then Monday is a stat holiday in Alberta for Remembrance Day.  Didn’t have that in Ontario.  Well, I sort of did being a government employee.  I think I will try to get to one of the services.

Nothing else really happening.  That is good I guess.  I am ready for a busy month of activities in December.  I am actually going to attend the work “holiday” party this year.  It is in a couple of weeks – I need to go and buy a suit for it – so, off to Moore’s I guess.  There is a dinner party for the Calgary East Conservative Association – soon to be called the Calgary Forest Lawn Association.  There is also the Big Brothers / Big Sisters Christmas Party.  I don’t think I have others to attend, guess I will see.

I will be working over the holidays but since the Calgary office is closed, I will be working from home.  That will be good and I am are the dogs will like having me around.  The office is closed between Christmas and New Years.  

No NYE plans as yet – it really isn’t and never has been a big event for me.  If something comes up, great.  If not, I am sure I will be sleeping before 2014 rolls around.

Well, off to work I go.

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Conservative Weekend

Posted on November 2, 2013 by kdarcy21

This weekend marks the 2013 Conservative Convention, conveniently hosted in Calgary.  I was going to register to be a delegate, but the price tag of the registration sort of threw me off.  It was up around the $500 mark.  That is a fair amount of coin to drop for a few days of meetings and other events.  Most of it is tax deductible, but I guess I decided it wasn’t worth laying out the money and then waiting until next Spring before getting my refund.

I did attend the Prime Minister’s Keynote speech on Friday evening.  It was busy, the hallways leading into the convention hall were packed.  Now, this crowd isn’t as bad as some, at the very least, we all have the same (or basically the same) political beliefs.  The speech was excellent and well received by the crowd of supporters.

I follow a few left leaning news services on Facebook, mostly for entertainment value.  I must say, for the first time, an article that I read by the Huff Post Canada was accurate and was written without the usual lean – typically, you have to read their articles with your head tilted.  Naturally, the left readers made their typical slamming comments against the PM – I suppose that I would have been disappointed had they not.  Same old, same old though.  What can one expect however?  They aren’t too bright, are they?  After all, the do blindly support Justin Trudeau and if you do that, well, sorry, you aren’t very bright.

The PM commented on the current Senate scandal although he did not mention the Senators by name.  Unless you live in a cave, you know who they are.  Despite what Liberals and NDP supporters might think, the Conservative base does not support what the 3 Conservative (or former Conservative) Senators did and we want them out.  Measures to do just that kept being blocked, so, we can hope that the Senate themselves do the right thing.  No, they have not had a hearing or trial and no, as far as I am aware, they have not been charged.  However, in saying that, if someone was to “steal” $100,000+ in inappropriate expense claims, I am pretty sure that their employer would, at the very least suspend those employees, if not fire them outright and that would happen LONG BEFORE they were charged.

He also made references to other Conservative achievements over the last two years and there have been many and mapped out the next two years.  All in all, a good night in the convention hall.

So, after the keynote had completed, it was off to Cowboys Casino.  Well, as a non-delegate, I was not allowed in.   That sort of sucked.  The people that I wanted to see came out to see me so that was good.  It was nice to touch base with some of my old political friends from Niagara.

Hopefully today, the last day of the convention will go well.  I heard about some wing-nut group planning on protesting over something – well, have fun with that.  Keep it clean and legal.

I am driving a friend back to the airport tomorrow morning after her whirlwind visit to the city.  That’ll conclude the convention activities for me.

 

 

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Baseball

Posted on October 31, 2013 by kdarcy21

Although the topic for today’s post is baseball, I will start with something else.  Do I do that often?  Not sure.  Don’t care, it’s my BLOG.

Today is halloween.  I don’t think I have ever gotten dressed up for work.  I am going to today and I will post a picture or two later.  What am I dressing as?  Well, nothing exciting.  I am not one to go and spend money on a costume.  As many of my readers may know, I am an amateur umpire for CABUA (Calgary Area Baseball Umpires Association) and have been umpiring for 16 odd years.  Until recently, it was only a  passing thing with me really, I was much more into coaching.  Since I have moved to Alberta, I have really started to enjoy it.  I think I will continue it moving forward, until that time when I decide to get back into coaching.

So, I plan to wear my full plate equipment and uniform to work today.  That would include plate shoes (essentially steel toed shoes), shin pads, chest protector, helmet, ball bags, everything.  Should be fun.

So, back to baseball, although, talking about umpiring is baseball related.

Last night was game 6 in the World Series between St. Louis and Boston with Boston leading 3-2 in the series.  For those of you who do not follow baseball, at all, it is a 7 game series.  I was pulling for St. Louis, not sure why.  Typically, I would pull for the AL team in all cases, other than if the Yankees are in it.

Despite me wanting St. Louis to win, Boston blew them out.  I had to zip out briefly to get a bag of munchies and dog food and was gone for 15 minutes and when I got back home, it was a 5-0 lead for the Sox.  I figured at that point the game was pretty well over – I was correct.

So, congratulations to Boston.  Well done.  In the 2012 season, they finished last and this year, the World Series.  Pretty damn good.

I am currently a Jays fan.  Actually, more accurately, I am a fan of baseball.  But, if singled out, I would say I pull for the Jays.  It has been a long 20 years since they won a World Series.  Actually, I don’t think they’ve made the play-offs since then.  So, now that I am no longer in Southern Ontario, I am giving them two more seasons to turn things around.

I don’t mean that they have to win the World Series in the next two years, they just need to do something positive in an effort towards making it there.  Despite all of the news that the Jays made last winter in signing players, I really didn’t think it would do much and it didn’t.  I don’t care for the current GM, AA.  He was “trained” by the previous GM and he was an idiot.  He NEEDS to go.  I hope the Jays realize this sooner rather than later because if they don’t, I doubt that they are going anywhere.

The Manager also needs to go.  He’s recycled.  He coached a few years ago and for some reason was re-hired.  He might be a good manager, not sure.  Not with this club anyway.

Some may say I am not a “real” Jays fan.  Well, I really have not followed any other team in my life.  It has always been the Jays.  But, two years is what I will give them.  Not that they will care.  Not that I really care.  I don’t watch a lot of baseball during the summer.  It can be a little boring.  I umpire enough baseball that I really don’t need to follow MLB until the play-offs.

Who will I follow after two years?  Who knows.  Lots of time to shop.

In closing, again, congrats to the Boston Red Sox.  Well played series.  Well done.

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Falling into place

Posted on October 30, 2013 by kdarcy21

I have been in Calgary for over 1.5 years now.  I have lived in the same place for that entire time.  I am finally getting things in order in my place.

Now, I have been unpacked since a few days after I moved in, I am not that bad.  But, little things weren’t done.

For example – I had connected my stereo receiver to the PVR/TV.  Why?  Not sure.  Just hadn’t.  I guess part of the reason is that Blondie must have gotten hungry and she ate the power cord for the sub.  She also ate a few of the speaker wires for the side speakers.

My ex-roomate got kicked out (and arrested, see http://kdarcy21.com/2012/07/08/calgarys-finest/ for details) and never came back for most of his crap.  I checked with CPS (Calgary Police Service) and after 4 months of not contacting me, his stuff became my stuff.  Anyway, I sorted through some of it and found a nice set of speakers – they are now connected to my receiver – great sound.  I also took a DVD player – low quality, but it’s ok.  Not sure what else I might have taken, most of it was junk.  Oh well.

So, anyway, my receiver is connected.  The DVD player is connected.  The living room is configured the way I like it.  I have increased to Telus Optik’s faster internet, works well.  I am getting the carpeting in the upstairs removed and laminate flooring installed – that will be WAY easier to keep clean than the carpeting is.

I got my washer serviced this morning, well, it was supposed to be this morning, was actually this afternoon.  That is now A-OK.

I still need to have my dining room chairs put together.  They were together when I left Ontario.  My brother in law disassembled them so that they would all fit into the trailer I rented.  Unfortunately, I did not see him disassemble them so I am not actually sure on putting them back together.  I am sure if I actually tried I could put them back together – I am not too handy, but, despite rumours to the contrary, I am not an idgit.

So, although this place isn’t perfect, it is pretty good.  I have a huge place, WAY more room than I need but it is good.  I am close to work.  Close to shopping and close to the main north-south highway.

I might, and I stress might, decide to rent one of my rooms out again.  If I do, I will have much more of a process before I rent it.  Rentals are in a pinch right now so I think I will have a lot of people looking at it.  We will see.  The additional money coming in would be nice.

 

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What happened to Fall?

Posted on October 27, 2013 by kdarcy21

Well, Calgary’s short Fall season appears to be pretty well over.  Today, the forecast was calling for up to 20cm of snow in the Calgary area.  Well, luckily it was off a bit – mind you, the day is not over as yet.

Thus far, we have a few centimeters of the white crap on the ground but the roads are too warm for it to stay around.  My vehicle is covered – guess I will bring out the brush tomorrow.  I doubt that we will get 20cm, but we will see.

I used to enjoy Fall.  Still do, but Fall is rather short around here.  It lasts for a month, maybe more.  We do have 4 seasons here.  Spring, for a couple of months, Summer – about a month long in total, maybe two and Fall, again, maybe two months.  That leaves us with at least 6 months of Winter.   Still love it though.

I received a call from the Big Brothers office on Friday afternoon wondering if I wanted tickets to go to the Saturday Stampeders game.  I said yes, for sure and headed to pick them up.  I did check with my little brother – his mom was out and he couldn’t get a hold of her.  Well, I figured it wouldn’t be an issue – it wasn’t.

So, off we went yesterday afternoon to McMahon Stadium.  We took the train, it was busy.  We arrived shortly after kick-off.  It was a good game.  Calgary ended up on top, 29-25 and secured home field advantage through the playoffs until the Grey Cup.  The train ride to the game was filled with Rider fans, telling us Stamps fans how their team was going to beat us up, etc.  The ride back was much quieter.  Guess the Rider fans had nothing to brag about.

I purchased two slices of pizza and two bottles of pop at the game.  Total?  Can you believe $19.50?  I couldn’t.  Sort of insane.  Oh well, what can you do?  If you want to eat at the game, I guess you have to pay the price.

It was a good afternoon.  Good game.  Good times all around.

I am glad that today’s weather held off – it wouldn’t have been as much fun.

 

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World Series

Posted on October 23, 2013 by kdarcy21

Tonight is game 1 of the World Series – in case you live in a cave or really don’t follow baseball, at all, it is the St. Louis Cardinals against the Boston Red Sox.

Traditionally, I always pull for the American League, unless the Yankees are playing in which case I would go for the National, this year, for some reason (not exactly sure why) I am going for St. Louis.

So, who ya got?

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