Subsonic is sweet!!!!!

Last week I discovered a streaming audio program called Subsonic. When installed on your computer it runs in the background as a service and allows streaming access to whatever music content you tell it to. It has a sweet HTML interface that is fully customizable. As an admin you can create as many account for your friends and family as you want. The program is set up to use port 80 on the server it's on, so I set up my router to direct any traffic coming in on 80 to that server. So now I have access to it anywhere that I have internet access. I just open a browser and type zurliene4.gotdns.com and it takes me directly to my homepage.

For anyone else reading this who may want to access my music collection remotely, simply leave me a comment on this blog or email me. I'll set you up an account and email the info.

There is also a WAP version that can be accessed using your mobile phone. Once I email you your account information, simply type in zurliene4.gotdns.com:8080/subsonic/wap and then enter your account info. Download the application and have fun playing all of my music on your phone.

Let me know what you think. My family and I have completely gotten rid of iTunes and Rhythmbox and now only use Subsonic.

Glasses

I had to schedule an eye appointment today for Miriana. She has been complaining for about 2 weeks that she is having a hard time seeing the whiteboard at school. I didn't get glasses until 5th grade and I think Audra was about the same. Miri will be 8 years old in June. I was really hoping the kids wouldn't have the myopia, but I guess it's genetic. Thanks Dad.

So I guess we'll find out on Saturday if she really does need to get glasses. Like all kids, she is excited about wearing glasses and doesn't understand what a pain in the ass they can be. Anyway, if she needs them, she needs them.

I just hope she never develops the floaters in her eyes like I have, they can be very distracting, especially when when I'm looking at something white.

Chiro-quack-tics

I went to see a Chiropractor today, to see what he could do about a pain I have had between my shoulder blades for about 10 years. It comes and goes but when it flames up bad there can be a knot the size of a cigar. Anyway, he says that he can fix it for me. He took x-rays and also did an eval on the rest of my spine. Apparently I have lost 15-20 degrees of motion in my neck due to this back issue. I had never noticed until he showed me that I could turn my head quite a bit farther one way than the other. He also said that my right leg was over an inch shorter than the left, weird...

I scheduled to go in again next Monday and have him read the x-rays and do a first adjustment. I guess we'll see. I never considered a Chiropractor until I got the free assessment from this guy. It seems like he really knows what he's talking about, plus my insurance covers like 12 visits. So I guess I'll go 12 times.

Don't know what to do about Jill

The Assistant Principal called yesterday again. Apparently he thought he had made it abundantly clear to Jillian that she was to voluntarily quit band and start attending a tutor for math for the hour she would normally be in band. She has just continued going to band class and has not seen the tutor once.

I am not really sure at this point what to do about her. She is a bright girl, but is completely unmotivated. We have tried everything...believe me. The last time he called, she said she would do anything she had to in order to be able to stay in band, but when I talked with her last night it didn't even seem to bother her that he has forced her out of band. She said it bothered her, but I could tell in her reaction that it really didn't.

So I am at the end of my rope. She has no discipline, no sense of urgency, and no motivation in her life. How do you instill that in someone? I told her last night that there is a real possibility that she will be repeating the 6th grade, which means that all of her friends will be a year ahead of her. Even that barely garnered a significant reaction.

So, I am seriously considering asking the school to hold her back no matter what. She has proven over and over that she lacks the maturity to be in the 6th grade (middle school), so maybe she needs to do it again. I just don't know.

I told her that I am not expecting to have this conversation again, and she agreed that she would really try harder, but I am dubious.

Any suggestions? Please?

I'm still alive.

I haven't had much to say this past week. It seems like I have been really busy, but when I think back I can't really tell you with what. We heard yesterday that we are approved for the refi loan on the house and should be closing in the next week or so. That's exciting because it will give us the cushion we need and allow us to do some of the projects around the house that got put on hold when Audra quit her job.

That's pretty much it. Boring blog day. Damn, my blog is starting to resemble ridehorsey...

American Idol

I don't know if any of you follow Idol or not, but last night I was really surprised that they sent home Jamar. In my opinion he was better than many of the contestants that they kept. I mean come on, they kept Nick/Norman, Tatiana, and Joanna who couldn't ever remember her lyrics.

Anyway, the show is always full of surprises like that. Last year I was shocked as hell when America voted off Michael Johns, as he was much better than most.

I have Jasmine Murray and Danny Gokey pegged for the top ten, if he can get over his buddy Jamar being booted. Also, there is some overrated talent like the blind guy, Scott MacIntyre. His voice is only so-so.

Looks like it will be a fairly interesting year.

Tax Season

Well, I finally got everything I needed in order to file our taxes last night. Even with Audra quiting her job in August we still made $3k more this year than last. The bad news is that it put us just barely into a higher tax bracket. So this year instead of getting back $3k+ we will be getting a refund of $1400. Oh well, I guess I can't complain, I mean we are doing fine and all.

We are also still waiting to hear if we are approved for our Refinance on the house. We bought the house 2 1/2 years ago for $125k and had it appraised a week ago at $160k. If all goes right the loan will be a fixed rate of 5.5% on $154k with a Cash-out of $24k. This will go into the bank and be used to finally do some of the Home improvement projects we've been wanting to do. Cross your fingers for us, we need to get some of these projects done.

Had the Flu yesterday

I had some kind of bug yesterday. Don't know what it was except that I had no energy and all my muscles and joints hurt. Didn't check to see if I had a fever, but I assume I did. Anyway, I called into work at 6am and promptly went back to bed. I slept until almost 11am. That's how I know I was fighting something. Otherwise I could never sleep that long.

I feel better today, although I still feel sort of weak. Oh well, if it doesn't kill you...

The Day The Earth Stood Still

If you have never watched this movie, do. I have always assumed it was just a cheesy low-budget SciFi movie from the 50's, but it's so much better than that. I haven't yet seen the new one with "Ted" in it, but there is no way that it can live up to this masterpiece. Seriously, check it out, you will not be disappointed.

Anyone want some kittens?

About 4 years ago we adopted 2 little orange tabby kittens from the shelter. They were to brothers from the same litter and were about 8 weeks old. Anyway, we got to see the mother before we decided to adopt them and should have realized at that point how big these guys were going to be. Their mother was about 15-16lbs and fluffy orange. Sawyer is about 18-19lbs and Jack is just under that. We also have another inside cat, a little Tortoise shell colored female that I call "Baby Girl". She is full grown at just under 5lbs. What a interesting thing to see these near-Lions cower in the presence of her. She is feisty and gets what she wants with them. In return they play with her and groom her. It's so cool. Anyway, those are just the inside cats.

Outside we have Charlie, an absolutely beautiful snow white male with bright blue eyes. He really is striking to look at, and weighs in at around 10lbs or so. Charlie used to be an inside cat, but after we got him fixed he took to peeing on my beer fridge, and we can't have that now can we. Anyway, he's always been kind of a stand offish loner, so he does just fine outside.

Last but not least is our other outside cat Marshmallow. She started hanging around our house last year after we put Charlie outside. She kind of took him under her wing and showed him how to survive outside. I have personally seen her take on other cats and whoop ass to protect Charlie. She is a beautiful cat with gray stripes and white boots and weighs about 10-12lbs. She also happens to be a fantastic commodity as she is an excellent hunter. Last spring she killed 6 or more moles around the neighborhood.

Anyway, about 2 weeks ago I noticed that Marshy was looking like she was gaining weight, which was weird since we haven't started feeding them more food or anything. A quick feel of her belly confirmed that she was full of little kitties. I don't know how many kittens she's got in there, but, as of last night they are kicking and moving like crazy. I built her a little birthing box for the porch and we lined the whole thing with old towels. I don't know exactly how far along she is right now, but, it can't be too long.

I'll update you on how many she has and the colors when they come. Please let me know if you want a good mouser, as any leftovers will be donated to the shelter. If her kittens are anything like Marshmallow they will be kid friendly and have excellent loyalty and hunting instincts. Just let me know.

Old SciFi Movies

Lately I have watched several old SciFi movies just for the hell of it. Most of them have been pretty bad and a few I haven't even made it all the way through. However, yesterday i watched On The Beach, a post nuclear war (1964) film. This film has Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner, Fred Astaire, and Anthony Perkins in it and I must say I was impressed.

The Northern Hemisphere of the Earth is devastated by Nuclear fallout, however Australia is so far unaffected. They discover that the fallout radiation is making it's way to Australia, slowly but surely on the winds, and they only have about 5 months before they all succumb to radiation poisoning. Despite the dark subject, this movie was fantastic. It was a very interesting look at how Nuclear war was viewed back then, and shows an air of nobility to the human race that I think we have lost. The characters bravely face there fates, instead of cowering in underground bunkers as we so often see in the movies. Check it out if you get a chance. It will make you think. Also, the acting was impeccable.