AmishGeek.com

The personal blog of an old-fashioned geek

You are here: Home / 2006 / Archives for February 2006

Archives for February 2006

So, Funny Story!

February 20, 2006 by Aaron

Last Thursday, I was registered to go to a Microsoft training seminar for Registered Partners.  My business is a Microsoft Registered Partner.  So I woke up at 6am on Thursday, and hit the road by 7am to make the long trek from Duluth Minnesota to Madison Wisconsin (6hr drive).    The conference started at 1pm.

Well the 2.5hrs to Eau Claire Wisconsin went well, but when I hit Eau Claire, it started to snow.  The snow then proceeded to turn into a blizzard with limited visibility.  This of course brought back memories of driving through Wisconsin over new years during a snow storm (when I went into the ditch and totalled my car).  And here I was, driving my brand new car that I hadn’t yet fully learned how it handled in snowy conditions.

Thankfully the hand of God was upon me and I made it to Madison safely, and by 1pm!  As I pulled into the Alliant Energy Center, I saw on the big billboard in big blaring letters: “Microsoft Seminar CANCELLED”.  Oh great!  I drove 6 hours through a blizzard for nothing!  So I called up a friend who used google to give me directions to the nearest Panera Bread so I could at least use their free Wi-Fi internet access to try to get some work done.  I also stopped by Best Buy and picked up Microsoft Streets & Trips with GPS for my laptop.  I hung around Madison for 4-5 hours and left around 6pm.  I wanted to wait and see if the storm would subside.  Nope, it got worse!

By the time I left, there was 8-10 inches on the ground, the roads were not plowed, so I was driving around town in at least 6 inches of snow, thankfully my car is like a tank in the snow with its nice winter snow tires.

The drive back to Duluth was long and tiring.  A 360 mile trip at 45mph with limited visibility.  Every few miles I would see someone in the ditch.  By the time I made it back to Eau Claire, it was around 9:30pm, I used my Mapping software with GPS to find a restaraunt, I didn’t want to eat McDonalds again, and didn’t feel like getting out into the storm to ask for directions.  The GPS navigated me right to a Fazolis Italian Restaraunt.

I got back to Duluth around 11:30pm, and went to my office to check my email.  And that is when I found out that I had a meeting at 10am in the Twin Cities (Minneapolis / St.Paul).  So I had to get up early again on Friday and drive to the cities to meet with a potential client.  Luckily the meeting went well and I closed the deal and now have another web-design contract.  So I guess it was worth it.

Just too much driving and getting up early this past week.

Growth is what it’s all about!

February 6, 2006 by Aaron

I’m excited!  Business has really been picking up steam the past few weeks/months.  It may not seem like it, but I have quite a bit of work coming in, and now I just need to buckle down and do it.  However, I have a lot on my plate aside from projects.

Current projects (both for clients and in house):

  • Website Development for Client A
  • Consulting for Client A: Setting up Video Conferencing Server
  • Custom Programming project for Client B (Massive project)
  • Website Development for Client B
  • Consulting for Client B: Configuration of Cisco Routers for offsite locations
  • Hosting for Client B: Setup & Configuration for 2 Dedicated servers
  • Proposal For Clients B & C: RADIUS Server
  • Consulting for Client C: Remote configuration of Routers/Switches
  • Hosting/Consulting for Client D: Installation of Mailman Mailing List Manager
  • In-House Projects
  • Continue Development for Blovi.com
  • Redesign/Development for Utaria.net
  • Redesign/Development for Nerfix.net
  • Redesign/Development for ServerCrossing.com
  • Redesign/Development for YouResell.com
  • Develop Script for ServerTrax.com
  • Configure MS SmallBusinessServer 2003 for In-House Use
  • Configure MS Exchange 2003 for In-House Use
  • Configure MS CRM for In-House Use
  • Locate and move to bigger/newer office location
  • Hire a Fantastic web programmer (PHP/MySQL)

Wow, I thought my list was a lot smaller until I actually created it!  I guess I really need to get that MS CRM installed with Exchange so I can get these tasks organized and start taking care of them.

Luckily for the consulting ones, I have a fantabulous System Administrator who is more than worth his weight in gold.  So I don’t have to worry as much about those projects, since he’s already working on them.  Now to just find more help for the development projects, and find a new office location.

Zoom Zoom

February 2, 2006 by Aaron

Well, for those that don’t know already, I got a new car recently.  I got a 1997 Saab 900SE Turbo.  She’s a fun ride.

For the longest time, I’ve always told myself that I wouldn’t become a ‘ricer’ and mod out my car.  And to this day, I still tell myself that.  However, I can’t help but think about the performance mods I can do to my car.  I’ve been reading up on my car in some Saab forums, and there is quite a bit I can do to tune my engine better, get more horsepower, and more boost off the turbo.

As it sits, my car can do 130mph easily (book says it can do 143mph), I haven’t pushed her to her limits just yet.  And this is all with the stock 185hp engine.  I can get a nordic kit and upgrade the engine a bit and can get 270hp out of her.  Boy would that be sweet!

So for now, I promise that I will not degrade my car with a wing, or vinyl stickers, or a huge fart tip arse cannon.  Any modifications I do will be for performance.  The only thing I might consider for ‘looks’ is going with Viggen bumpers, or getting a Saab Body kit for it.  But that will come after the engine tune up.

Blogroll

  • Duluth DJ
  • Minneapolis Photo Booth Rental
  • Buy a Photo Booth

Categories

  • Bar/Bat Mitzvah
  • Business
  • Class Reunion
  • Client Love
  • Current Events
  • DJ Gear
  • DJ Gigs
  • DJ Training
  • Featured
  • Funny
  • Gaming
  • Gear Review
  • Geek Tech
  • General
  • Misc DJ Banter
  • News
  • Personal
  • Rants
  • Resources
  • Saab
  • School Dance
  • Signature MC
  • Uncategorized
  • Videos
  • Weddings
  • Work

Archives

  • March 2020
  • October 2019
  • January 2019
  • April 2018
  • January 2018
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • October 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • September 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • October 2010
  • June 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • October 2008
  • September 2007
  • May 2007
  • February 2007
  • December 2006
  • November 2006
  • October 2006
  • September 2006
  • August 2006
  • July 2006
  • June 2006
  • February 2006
  • January 2006
  • December 2005
  • November 2005
  • September 2005
  • August 2005
  • July 2005
  • June 2005
  • May 2005
  • April 2005
  • March 2005
  • February 2005
  • August 2004
  • July 2004
  • June 2004
  • May 2004
  • April 2004
  • March 2004
  • February 2004
  • January 2004
  • December 2003
  • November 2003
  • October 2003
  • September 2003
  • July 2003
  • June 2003

Copyright © 2023 · Magazine Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in