January 2002:
1/04/02
1/15/02
1/22/02
1/30/02
1/31/02
June 2002:
6/11/02
6/12/02
6/17/02
August 2002:
8/30/02
September 2002:
9/06/02
9/09/02
9/10/02
9/16/02
9/20/02
9/22/02
October 2002:
10/16/02
10/20/02
1/04/02 - I finished the rendering of my first scene for my movie the other day. The bridge isn't all that detailed, but since it's meant to be a cartoon I really don't care. It dosn't have any sound yet.
I was also able to get my Video Capture software running right last night, (although a faster harddrive wouldn't hurt). I'm now capturing 29.97 Frames/sec, 320 X 240 Screen Size, True color, and 44.1 KHZ Sound. I capture it in MPEG1 and convert it to DIVX. The only problem is quality that good in DIVX can only be about an hour long to fit a Standard CD. I'll try to lower the frame rate and hope that won't knock the sound out of sync.
I tested it last night by recording a show on Discovery about the possiblities of "Animal Telepathy". I never knew the Horse Whisperer was a real man... Oh well. When I encoded it I resized the screen size to 480 X 360 and the file came out a little over a GIG, I'm just guessing that resizing it down will get it to the size I need, if not I can also down-mix the sound.
1/15/02 - I was so depressed yesterday afternoon. I got home for work and there was a huge empty spot next to the garage (I donated my truck Sunday night). I'll miss that truck. I kept planning on rebuilding it, but the plans just got too expensive.
Not much else has happened. I've been lazy with Visual Basic and haven't really messed with my movie either.
I have started up a new Dungeons & Dragons Campain with Phillip and friends. It's turning out to be pretty fun. I haven't played since high school. I've created my character in 3D for his site:
Alicia Clark
Human Ranger
Female (of course, the only one in the group)
Favors the Bow Staff as weapon
I got her a parrot in the last session, but it annoyed me (and almost got us killed), so I turned him loose and her got eaten by a bigger creature off in the mountains somewhere. I plan on getting a cat next and trying that out for a bit.
1/22/02 - Been "re-vamping" the site lately. I'm leaning towards a more Cartoony type of look. I figured that I have more than enough ready-made art to use when modeling the pages. So far I've only done the main page. I'm taking my time on the rest.
It turned out that Alicia's Parrot didn't get eaten in AD&D. Phillip's starting to use it as a bad, ongoing joke. Larry will pop up every now and then, see Alicia, and then freak out while trying to get away.
1/30/02 - When I get home I'm crawling down to the basement and staying there. I fear the person who'll have the strength to pull me out.
P.S. Larry got "taken out" last session. Jody took advantage of the moment and hit him from a distance in a tree.
1/31/02 - I've finished a new project (yet again). It's an audio recorder that can be programed like a VCR to start at a certain time and run for the amount of time you want it to. I haven't posted it yet because I want to "pretty it up" some.
I wrote it to record my favorite radio show in the morning (I hooked my radio up my Line-in on the PC). By the time I get home from work it's ready to listen to (plus I can write the whole show to CD if it's really good).
5/13/02 - I've been on "Web Page Sabatical" for a while. With yahoo changing it's web server setup lately I've decided to change my address. I'm still looking for a good space. I don't know what I'm willing to pay though (not much, I can tell you that).
My car's coming along nicely (slowly being restored/rebuilt), and I bought some weights on Friday (I plan on gaining a little bit more muscle mass).
That's all I'm going to write for now. I'll continue my search for a better home on the web.
5/14/02 - Well, I founded my own Dot-Com. REXSDEN.COM is my new home on the net. For only $9 a month.
6/11/02 - Things have been ok lately. I still put up with the ignorance of Zehnder (coworker) on a daily basis. Although lately a friend has been suffering from the chatterbox just as much. Concensus in the office appears to be that since I'm leaving she's finding someone else to focus her evil on.
I feel bad for Joe Englert, but I'll be damned if I'm staying here. If our supervisor were to take responsibility with her little pet then maybe things would improve. I keep remembering exactly what she said to me... "...I've had enough complaints about Jo, you need to find a way to deal with it yourself."
And people wonder why I'm so eager to get out.
Yesterday I got chewed for being "inconsiderate" because I heard that a manager was sick with cancer and I spoke up that I didn't know that (apparently she'd been sick for a few years, but since I don't check up on the health of my 140 school managers on a daily basis and nobody told me...). Joe Englert was standing next to me and was very surprised as to how our supervisor acted.
Between Jo and Mary he's just now starting to learn what he's in for.
But on a different note...
I had a Sunroof installed yesterday. I'm loving it! It's tinted (of course), and completely comes out also. I also got a portable Air Compressor (300 PSI MAX) so I don't have to spend 50 Cents each time I want to adjust my Air Shocks.
AD&D has been going ok. I don't remember if I mentioned or not but I created a new character (Rex, Were-Leopard) and he's proven to be a lot more fun than Alicia. He's Chaotic Neutral, which has lead to the occasional funny mishap.
Charlotte and I are doing ok. Although our wedding date has been boucing around so much it's making me dizzy. I feel like a liar to all my friends and family because she's making me change the year. I'm getting ready to just say "f**k it" and tell her to just let me know a week before our vows.
6/12/02 - Had some weird dreams last night. Some included Charlotte's best friend and in one I was trying to help some construction workers find coworkers trapped underwater during some kind on "freak flood". I didn't even eat before going to bed so I don't know what provoked those dreams.
I'm in the process of updating the Cavelier Project Page. I brought the majority of my records to work (I'm stuck at my desk all day) and I plan to split the one time-line into many small ones (Maintenance, Repairs, then Add-ons and Customization). I'll also get more pictures of the different parts of the project (bought equipment, parts added on...).
This is one of my petty accomplishments but I'll mention it anyway. As soon as I get around to recording the last episode I have on tape downstairs onto my computer and write it to CD I'll have the entire season of Zoids (the american version). All 26 Episodes.
It's pretty silly, but I'm proud of it.
The Hard Drive on my Laptop has been clicking pretty loud lately so I fear it's ending it's lifespan (I bought it used about a year back). Who knows... Maybe it has a ways to go yet, but I'd better backup all my important stuff just in case.
6/17/02 - To create a guestbook or not to. That is the question.
Who would post to it? I quite doubt I'd get anything at all in response.
8/30/02 - The new job's going ok. There's a lot of petty complaining around (not near as much as 1st shift, specially the drivers), but it'll all work out.
I updated the page online the other day for the first time in a month. Most of my "Boat" project is done (all I need now is the plug to connect the computer). I also got my home network back up and running.
The proxy server setup is different from before and works better. Now I don't have as much trouble sending info from the laptop to my main PC.
9/06/02 - It's about 4:00 AM here at work. It's been a long week despite the Labor Day weekend that kicked it off.
Work was pretty heavy except for Thursday, and an aquantence from Highschool pasted away in a car accident Wed. I didn't talk to him much, but everybody in my crew knew him and Rick has been dating his mother on and off for about 5-6 years now so that gets me involved. The boy was doing an undetermined high speed on a small curvy street without wearing a seatbelt. He'd only had his license for a month. Form your own opinion.
Charlotte's been upset lately because she regrets not treating him better, But she treated him a hell of a lot better than he treated others. Even Rick was a little "put-off" by his attitude (which was the cause for many of Cathy and his break-ups). I have stories, but now isn't the time for it.
How's his death affected me?... It's just made me revaluate life in general. Nothing I haven't done before when something like this has happened. Wed night I remember looking up at sun setting from the loading dock here at work and realizing that when it rose that morning poor Josh didn't know that he'd only be alive for half of that day. That just makes me think.
I'll be pretty busy today and tomorrow. I want to be with Charlotte when she goes to the viewing today and funeral tomorrow. Cathy wants her to sing at the funeral but Charlotte dosn't think she'd be able to hold up through it. I don't blame her, but it's understandable for Cathy not to be thinking completely straight right now.
The only updates to the site lately is the conclusion to the R/C Boat Project and a new Buddy and Guy Strip.
Wish me luck this weekend... I'll be completely out of my element. I might sound insensitive, but I have trouble showing emotions through writing.
9/09/02 - It's been a "sucky" weekend. I guess that can be expected.
Charlotte tried her best to sing at the funeral... It was very wrong of Cathy to ask that of her, whether her son's dead or not is no reason to publically embarass somebody with performing an act that difficult, knowing that Charlotte never has the strength to say "no".
I never knew how much Josh did for others in his spare time. I guess people never complain about the good stuff so I never heard about it. But I still believe it was wrong for someone with his emotional instability to have obtained a license.
Charlotte's being very distant lately... I've tried to comfort her the few ways know how and I feel as though I'm only annoying her. I left her a note telling how I feel and that I wish she'd talk it over with me. Knowing her I doubt she will.
So I've decided to keep my distance emotionally for a while until she comes to me to tell me what's on her mind. It's going to be very difficult. I love her so much.
9/10/02 - In my depressed mood I spent some money today. Bought some performance Sparkplug wires, 2 little blacklights, and some replacement Lug Nuts for Charlie (my car). Spent about $75 in all. Installing them helped me relax.
Charlotte talked to me a little this afternoon. I hate not being able to see her during the week. What she said to me is private, but I'll say that I feel a little better.
9/16/02 - It seems like I rarely write in here unless I'm upset about something.
I had a disturbing dream yesterday about someone who holds a special place in my heart. I had to sit by and slowly watch her die over the course of a year.
Charlotte's also having a hard time lately. Her father's been spending all his time with Cathy and Charlotte's been alone for nearly 2 weeks. He apparently has his priorities screwed up.
It seems that I can't help her at all. I think she's already getting tired of me trying.
9/20/02 - Had a better day today. Charlotte came over and spent a little time with me this afternoon. We're going to legally share the titles on our cars and I'll take the Convertible (Princess) so that I can pay the loan off for her. She'll take Charlie (which was hers originally). I'll then sell charlie when Princess is paid off so I can get a truck or Jeep.
Mom doesn't know and I'll wait to tell her till we switch everything over.
9/22/02 - We decided not to share the cars. I decided that the ragtop won't be safe in my neighborhood. Charlotte agreed.
It's been a long weekend. I'd rather not discuss it here. I'm tired now, but more so mentally than pyhsically.
I also saw an advertisement for a product called "The Tornado". It's a sliced up coffee can that redirects air going into the air-intake of your car or truck. It's supposed to increase horsepower and help your mileage. Guess how much it's being sold for?... 90 FREAK'N DOLLARS!!!
I'm going to make one from an old coffee can I found in the garage. We'll see if it works or not without spending a fortune. Even if it does work it still wouldn't be worth $90.
10/16/02 - Well, Charlotte's and my shared laptop finally broke down yesterday. It'd been overheating alot lately and the hard drive controller finally gave up, so I went out and got a new one today. It's twice as fast and has three times the memory. I like it because it can handle playing DivX videos.
Charlotte and I went to Deam Lake over the weekend and took some time off (although Charlotte brought alone her homework :-P ). I took some pictures and'll post them when I get around to it (prob when I post this entry).
10/20/02 - I've decided to stop writing this journal. Nobody ever reads it so why bother.
Goodbye.
