New Phone - Successful Synching

I got the new phone today. Spent an hour figuring what was the best new plan. Couldn't move any data over so maybe the problem was the phone itself. Got home - wouldn't synch. Figured out I don't have the latest version of the synching software. Downloaded and installed it. Got everything synched.

Hoping for pictures tonight of Lasagna making with Agent W and Gaius Derf.

Blog Block

I've had at least 4 really good posts in my head over the last week and none of them have made it as far as my even having opened up blogger :(

I think the fact that three of them were cooking related and I'm not picture enabled at the moment had a lot to do with it.

But I'm going out to get a new phone tomorrow so hopefully that problem will be resolved.

That Big L on the Map Would be New Mexico

If you happened to be up around 7 AM Mountain (6 Pacific, 7 Central, 8 Eastern, 7:38 Erie County,PA time) and were looking at the Weather Channel site you would have noticed this big ole L on the U.S. map on the lower part of the map with a blob of white and pink around it.

That would be New Mexico where we are having snow today. People think of us as Phoenix but we are a lot higher in altitude. The further north you get the more mountainous it is and the more likely to have snow.

But at least here in Albuquerque we have a pretty good attitude toward. We just stay inside until it melts. Usually that's within 4 to 6 hours of the end of a storm. I'm glad no one is flying in to see us today.

Waving the White Flag

In my latest attempt to get my cell phone/PDA to sync again with my computer, I followed the advice of the T-Mobile technicians and went the Microsoft's website for Windows Mobile where I found reams and reams of information including suggestions for fixing synching problems...all of which I had already tried.

What I did not find was any, and I mean any, way of communicating with them directly. No phone number, email contact, help inquiry form, nothing, nada.

So I spent an hour or so researching new smart phones.

In spite of my having truly put in the effort to try and fix this problem, I'm going to have to punt and get a new device.

Not happy.

Cell Phone Woes

There's fabulous sunset tonight that I'd love to share with you. I'm going to be cooking this totally from scratch kick ass Asian Crab Salad that I'd love to show you pictures of.

But I can't

Because I still can't get my phone to sync with my computer. Today, I finally got time to call T-Mobile. Great guy (thanks Freddie). We tried a bunch of stuff. He confirmed a bunch of stuff I did earlier was correct. The net...it's not my synching software and its not the device. It has to be the Windows Mobile software on the phone. So I need to go to Microsoft and see if I can find the answer there.

Mike in St. Louis, why aren't you in my neighborhood to fix my IT problems? I'd cook for you and ply you with good wine.

Or maybe the dark side will take over and I'll just by another device (noooooooooo)

The Effect of Circumstances on Experience

It is a well known phenomenon that our perception of enjoyment is influenced by the circumstances we are in. I was reminded of this drinking a beer today.

What were the circumstances?

I am just short or meeting my quota for frequent flier status on both of the airlines I fly on regularly. DREADFUL! To combat this, I organized a few days of intense flying. Today after meetings in the morning I did a flight and back from Albuquerque to Denver. That only took the afternoon. And now I'm catching a flight to Monterey California where I will do a meeting before coming back on Thu. And I will cap it off with jog back and forth to Phoenix on Sunday. All requirements taken care of.

So both the flights I'm on to and from Denver are really, really hot. I need to grab a bite to eat in Albuquerque and get a sandwich with a beer. Nice big frosty beer. It's been a long day (first meeting started at 7). Hot airplane cabins filled with people. Man that beer (Newcastle for those who care) was GOOOOD!

Was it better than any other Newcastle I've ever had? Don't know but it was great today.

Busy, Busy, Busy

I've been a bad blogger. Work has picked up substantially (which is a very, very, very good thing...think $'s coming in...very good, yes, very good) so I'm into the 10-12 hour a day routine. No complaints on my end after a very slow period but it doesn't leave a lot of time for blogging.

On top of that my cell phone will no longer connect to my computer so I can download pictures. There goes all the cooking demos with pictures which is my usual means of dealing with blog block (picture is worth a thousand words right!). This is too bad because I've done some interesting cooking recently.

Hopefully, as we move into the holiday weeks, I will have a bit more time.

It's That Time of the Year

No, no, no. Not the Holiday Season. What were you thinking.

IT'S ROAD KILL SEASON!

We know this because we got a communique from Agent W that once again Aimee the Huntress has started off the season by putting the Suzuki of Mass Destruction into overdrive with three kills already to her credit! Two possums and chipmunk to date.

The de-I Roadkill Challenge gives all of you who wish to turn your autos into vehicles of extinction a chance to confirm our position as the apex predator in the ecosystem (at least until we extinct ourselves). The Roadkill season goes from November to March. Who ever succeeds in dispatching of the most non-sentient life forms in the course of their normal driving patterns (no off road driving executions are accepted) is the winner.

The reward for the winner is a dinner based entirely on the kills of the winner. Last year we feasted on venison, raccoon stew, and squirrel pie.

Ladies and Gentlemen - start your engines.