If you read any part of this blog, you know I’m a fan of Saab.  So it follows that I’ve been tracking the progress of the migration of Saab from it’s former part company GM to it’s new foster parent Spyker.  The deal finally happened in late January of 2010.  I have mixed feelings about it.  Perhaps I’m viewing it in too much black & white.  When the announcement came that GM is parting out the brand Saab, I was sad & angry, and assumed this was the end.  I’m not going to go into all the details, but suffice to say, I have a slightly off-to-the-side view of how things may (hopefully not) go in the coming years.  It could be a great thing.  This could be a terrific new genesis for Saab.

However, if you’ve been exposed to enough Roald Dahl, zombia and Twilight Zone as I have, you may also form the thought that when someone wishes for something, the wish comes at a price.  I cite the popular example of someone wishing their deceased loved one were still alive, only for their loved one to come back alive, but in maggot-riddled, axe-wielding form.  I understand this may be blowing things out of proportion (maggots can’t eat through metal car bodies) and that one possible hole is that Saab never really ‘died’ persay.  Of course, hard core fans would argue that Saab died, or at least sold their soul to the devil, when GM set foot on Swedish soil, but that’s a post for another time.

So I end with this.  As a long time loyal fan hoping to purchase more of these fine, unique, automobiles in the future, and someone who is familiar with the roller coaster of change/emotion, I patiently wait to see what child comes forth from this, and how Spyker will manage their new brethren.  I pray they can keep the maggots at bay.

Amusing Rant Time, here in Daddy’s Demented Dome.  As the years drag on at my workplace, I have seen our IT Helpdesk get outsourced to India.  It’s a source of great amusement matched only by frustration & grief they cause.  All of the stereotypes of the Indian (dot not feather) Help Desk are true, I’m sad to say.  My most recent encounter, while very high on the amusement factor, I feel I must share.

The story starts out something like me noticing random popups on my screen.  I thought nothing of the first few, but as they didn’t stop I became concerned.  I know that my IT group is supposed to push new anti-virus definitions/updates automatically, so no user intervention is required.  Just for giggles, I checked the date on my definitions.

July 12, 2009.

Well, that just can’t be right, since the one I have at home does it every day, and another machine does almost every hour.  So before I run the scan I try to do an update, but can’t because that’s locked out…Admin only.  OK, I’ll just check to see if these are the most recent definitions then.

Briing, Brrring.  12 minutes of hold music later I get to chat with “Mary”.

Me-Hi there. Can you tell me what date my virus definitions should be at?
IT Helpdesk for large Fortune 500 company-Certainly sir, I can help you with that.
(wait about a minute)
IT Helpdesk for large Fortune 500 company-Your virus definitions are updated automatically, so you have the latest virus definitions already on your PC. Is there something else I can help you with?
Me-I understand that VD are pushed to me, I just want to know what they should be right now.
IT Helpdesk for large Fortune 500 company-Of course. I am happy to check on that for you.
(wait about a minute)
IT Helpdesk for large Fortune 500 company-Your PC has the latest VD since they are downloaded automatically. No user intervention is needed.
Me-Thank you. My VD are from July. They are very old, I suspect that they are not the most current. Please tell me what they should be. If July is the most current, that’s fine, but I just want to confirm that.
IT Helpdesk for large Fortune 500 company-I do not understand sir. Your VD are automatically updated so you have the latest ones.

I had to pull the phone away from my ear and practice my deep breathing. OK, I wasn’t getting the information I wanted. Even though I was 99% certain I was right, and 99% certain the information was available to “Mary”. She was a pro, and was sticking to her script. Let’s see…

Me-Please tell me where I can find updates to the software.

Long story short, that finally worked, and after a few differently phrased attempt, she directed me to a website I can pull a VD file from. Lo & behold it updated me to that very day. The whole experience cost me emotional trauma, and 31 minutes of my workday, but the people around me had a fun show, and always enjoy my calls to IT.

I was letting the girls help replace the furnace filter.  What.  Doesn’t your 4 year old know how to replace a furnace filter?  Anyway, we have this weird mutant furnace that has a non-standard filter size, so it needs about an inch lopped off in order to fit.  So, I conversationally quiz them.

Me: “Are these 2 filters the same size?”
Random Girl: “Nooooo, Daaaaddeee!” (read with obvious “You’re trying to fool us aren’t you”)
Me: “Oh. You’re right. What can we do to make them the same size?”
Lessa, staring off into The Great Beyond: “We have to find a biiiiiiig monster to come and pull it (the smaller one) bigger!” (read as: what other possible way would there be?)
Me: “I see. I don’t have one of those right now though. They all went to take a bath. Is there another way we can get them to be the same size? Maybe something we can do to the big one?”
Random Girl: Both thinking very hard, possibly about the question at hand, possibly about the color of the wallpaper say: “Nope!”
Me: Sigh. “What if we cut it?”
Random Girl: “Can we watch TV now?”

So. I should mention that their brainpower was at an all time low and the hamster upstairs was running on fumes. It was last push before bedtime. So 2 minutes later, after I had almost hacked through the incredibly sharp metal grating, Lessa walks by & says “Daddy, why are you cutting that?” It’s hard to not openly weep.

They’re so cute.  They’re so antagonizing.  So strong willed.  So passionate.  So stubborn.

So 4-year old daughter of ours.

Trying to get back on the blog train.  Let’s ease in with some happy happy joy joy pictures.  Heavy posts to come, mos def.  A few happy pics help average out the atmosphere though.

I have no idea why this particular exercise was so hard, but i finally figured out how to give Facebook an automatic, short, notification of a blog post.  Posting it here for posterity.

First, installed a plugin called Post Notification, which can send a configurable email with (most important) a configurable subject.  I had to hack the code a bit to get it to recognize the post title.

I added the email address that’s used to email status updates to FB, and I was good to go.  I learned a lot in the process, but this seems like a singular solution I had to come up with on my own.  Weird.

Friday’s 1st ballet class (and for once they WEREN’T the ones refusing to participate!)

Nothing like an in-your-face “F— Y–” to brighten your day!

On a different note, I just wanted everyone to know that yes, we’re here.  Yes, we’re doing what needs to be done.  We’re working, eating, sleeping, going to school, etc. etc. etc.  And Yes, we’re struggling, and trying to support one another.  No, the blog isn’t down any longer – we are just sorting through our own minds and haven’t gotten to any writing.

This is a test to see if subscribers are getting the post notifications.  If you are, please let me know.