Month: February 2007

Now That’s An Upgrade

Thank you Tampax, for providing me with that line 🙂

Anyway, we finally converted to a LCD monitor.  Not just any though, as we went all out with a 19″ widescreen.

 

It’s a Sceptre DVI model, with a 8ms response time (I guess that’s good?)

I am downright amazed at the difference in size and quality.  Working with many video applications, screen size is everything, and this gives me that and then some.  The window loaded on the screen is the maximum size we had on our 17″ CRT monitor, big difference.

I also upgraded our speakers as our old ones were attached to the monitor and had no stands.  I decided to go with Logitech on this one even though I had my doubts.  I’ve never had much luck with their products.  I must say I’m sold on this one though.  The model X-230 2.1 speakers are excellent!  They have the best rating on newegg, and the best part was the price, a mere $35.

These speakers are so good, I personally think they rival my truck’s stereo, which cost a grand!

We also upgraded our internet connectivity.  After 7 months on dialup we switched back to DSL.  It’s like a drug, once you have it, you can’t stand not having it.  This time it’s with a different provider Smithville Telephone/Bluemarble, I was one of their first DSL customers back in 2000.  It’s twice the speed of our old DSL at 1.5Mb/s, but double the price.

The only weird thing is that since we used my wife’s IU credentials, we have to actually “connect” to the DSL.  I had never used this type of connection before, but it’s a VPN (Virtual Private Network.)  When I picked up the equipment and signed the paperwork nobody informed me of this.  I actually had to call tech support about why we weren’t connecting.  That’s when I found out and fixed it quickly.

Doing Our Part

After becoming a homeowner, one thing became very clear to me.  We all need to do what we can to save our energy use.  One reason we decided to purchase an all electric home.  Thus, no confusion or systems to worry about.  I have issues with gas appliances as one of my close family members was almost killed by a gas leak.  Most electric in this area is produced by coal or natural gas.  So I use natural gas, just differently than others.

With a 33 year old home most, if not all items need updated to todays standards for efficiency.  We have replaced many items which help, and are in the process of replacing the largest energy hog, our heat pump.  If you’re unfamiliar with a heat pump, it’s simply an air conditioner that also works in reverse.  Contrary to popular belief, there is heat in the coldest air.  Utilizing that heat is the trick.

Our first sign was our electric bill.  In a 2 month period, our bill increased by almost $100, no the rates didn’t increase, our usage did.  We installed an expensive programmable thermostat almost immediately after moving in, and I have to say it has helped.  We have it set very low.  For example during “day” hours it is set for 64 degrees, and we bump it up a little bit in the evening to 67.  This is the heat only mind you.  We have it set for the upper 70’s for cooling.

After deciding to “price” replacements, I also did some research on heat pumps.  As you would imagine, many advancements have been made in 30+ years.  To my surprise, the “upper end” heat pumps are actually energy star compliant!  A few even claim to use as much energy as a refrigerator.  Our estimates came in between $4000 and up to $12000!  Ouch…

Our old system isn’t broken, but on the verge.  It’s installation is a sham at best, and it uses more energy than needed.  Those are the only factors I need to say replace.

After weighing all of our options, we have decided to go with a Trane system.  We found out that our existing system is essentially a Trane, and the company has an excellent reputation.  They are also one of the leaders in heat pump technology.

Our unit, the XL14i is energy star compliant!  We will also be purchasing an air filtration system that rivals systems I have seen in the pharmaceutical industry (it filters out 99.98% of particles 3 microns and larger!)  The icing on the cake is the air handler, it has 12 speeds!  It is not the best, but it is what we can do.  Preliminary estimates say this unit is at least 50% more efficient than our current unit.

Due to it’s efficient use of energy, we will be recieving a tax credit and a credit from our electric company.  Thanks.

If you don’t know, you can receive tax credits for many things you might be doing to your home right now.  For instance, if you’re re-insulating your home, you can receive a tax credit for up to $300 for the cost of the insulation!  All of this information and much more is available at the Energy Star website.

We are also using compact florescent lights as much as possible, and other little things that help.

To quote Star Trek, “The Needs of The Many Outweigh The Needs of the Few.”  If we look at this when it comes to energy conservation, our world can become a much, much better place.

 

The Indian Connection

I previously wrote about how I am trying to get my hands on a piece of John Mellencamp artwork, and how I adore Cherokee indian art.

I purchased my first piece of Indian art way back in 1996.  I had it framed a few years ago.  It’s a beautiful print from Cherokee artist Ben Adair Shoemaker.
Someone very special read that post, Shoemaker’s grandaughter.  The strange part is that she is applying to come to the IU school of law!  I just might end up with some more interesting pieces from this fine artist.

Still no luck on the Mellencamp front, but I’ll keep plugging away.

This Is Costing Me What?

Since I am now running LML Video Services like a business and not my personal piggy bank, I am trying to reduce some of my ongoing costs as much as possible.

This has become very frustrating, especially with DVDs.  It seems as if the cost has risen by 50% since the last time I purchased any.

So if any of you out there know where to get some high quality “Inkjet Printable” DVD+R’s, please let me know.  I currently use Verbatim, as they have shown through many tests to be playable in many brands and types of DVD players.

The only other area of cost savings that I can find are DVD cases and paper goods (case inserts, shipping supplies, etc.).  Any good ideas would be appreciated greatly.

I have also started using QuickBooks.  I have the simple start version, which is all I need.  It makes things much easier than my old system which was just excel spreadsheets for check registers and invoice/reciept templates.  Now I can track all of my costs, income and customers.  It’s awesome!

The next step:  Eliminate using PayPal.  The bigger question is if a small guy like me can afford to.

Just Another Manic Monday

Oh wait, it’s Tuesday right now.  Anyways, Monday wasn’t a good day for the magic man.  About 5:30am I began feeling dizzy and lightheaded.  A sure sign that a seizure was coming on.  Not good for someone who is constantly driving equipment costing between 100 and 200k!

I decided to lay down, but where?  This is a dirty, grimy shop with nothing comfortable in sight.  So I clocked out and headed for my truck.  CJ said he would wake me in an hour or so.

I must say the nap really helped out, for a while.

As soon as I got home, I started having horrible stomach cramps.  I knew what was coming, and I didn’t like it.  I ended up praying to the porcelain god for over 2 hours.

Once I got to sleep, the phone began to ring.  Sometimes I heard it, sometimes I didn’t.  I’m a very heavy sleeper.  In the end I had 14 missed calls on my cell, and 13 messages on the answering machine.

Mostly my wife.

Good Neighbors, Bad Friends?

Today my wife accidentally drove her car into the ditch on one side of our driveway while returning from running some errands.  We received another 4 inches or so yesterday, which made it hard to spot exactly where the driveway is.

Her first instinct was to come wake me to get her out.  So I went to assess the situation.  Before we could get back to the car – our driveway is about 150 ft. long, both of our neighbors were there.

I thought the angle in which her car was at was too great to simply push the car out, so I went back to the house to get my log chain and my 4×4. 

Before I could get back to the scene, Rachel was out and coming straight at me.  My neighbors banded together and rocked her car out.

They are good neighbors.  Always helpful in a time of need, and always there to talk about whatever subject is in mind.

There is a dark side though, as my one neighbor (a former contractor) is somewhat pushy and nosy when it comes to anything we do to our place.  I understand he may have a lifetime of experience with these things, but I am no dummy.  He is pressuring us to convert our total electric house to gas.  I am mainly against this due to reasons which are hard to explain.  The main point is that it’s my home, not his!

Here Comes The Digital Bride

After transferring many peoples’ wedding videos to DVD, I have decided to create a package specifically designed for that purpose.

This package combines your wedding video with your wedding pictures (up to 100).  The best part is the price.  Normally this package would cost $34.90!  Since I’m not in the business to make money, you save 30%!  The price you ask?  A mere $24.95!

So stroll on over to LML Video Services and take a look!

This includes many extras you would not receive if you purchased them seperate too, such as a data disc, custom everything, and music for the slideshow and menus.

If your getting married, I can even help with the production of your wedding DVD.  Just contact me for more info.

The Date Draws Near

My lovely daughter, will more than likely be moving away from me in around 3 months.

When I was first told of this, I took it in stride.  Now is a different story.  Since I have to work on the weekends (when I generally have my daughter) I don’t get to spend the quality time I used to with her.  That’s all she really wants.

2 of the nights I work, I am alone.  I’m all alone right now.  I could be washing a tractor or trailer, but I’m not.  I’m contemplating my life right now.

I don’t know how much I could go on about how I’m pissed off at the “system.”  My hands are tied when it comes to anything regarding keeping her here.  I try to think of myself as a good parent, but I have my self doubts.

Through what my daughter tells me, the environment she has at home is not kind to her.  She thrives on attention and participating in creative endavors.  I like to call her my “little helper.”  She enjoys helping me around the house.  She even helped me with demolition of my garage.  It makes her feel like she’s a part of something, that’s one thing she doesn’t feel when she’s at home.  She just feels in the way.

I was raised in a similar situation and I really feel for her. 

She had a cat named “Polkadots,” her stepdad didn’t like Polkadots, so he went out a bought a dog to scare her away.  Which worked.  This theme seems to run it’s course through every aspect of my daughters life lately.

I’m not trying to blame here, nothing I say or do will change the end result.  Ever since I met her stepdad, I think he felt threatened by me.  Until he left for basic training, I couldn’t even talk with my daughters’ mom alone.  Now he will just have an inflated ego because he’s in the army.

Part of me feels that she would be better off to stay with us until her stepdad and mom get the big picture.  When you have children, your wants and some of your needs become secondary to theirs.  I don’t want to start that argument though.

I hope our upcoming vacation to Disney World will show Taylor that she is loved, and will always be loved by her daddy and Rachel.  I am starting to work on a present to give to her before she leaves.

This is hurting me worse than any thing I can imagine.  Compounded by the problem that I cannot fix it, I can only deal with it. 

2007, A Growing Year?

I am hoping to continue LML Video Services‘ growth this year.  The major problem is trying to figure out how.

I took the first step by making it an actual business, and start a business checking account.  I also have a UPS account now.  I am trying to account for all financial items as well, as I used to use money from the business for what seemed right at the time.  I am looking into using Quickbooks, but it’s somewhat expensive.

One problem is visibility.  I don’t have a whole lot.  When I have some free time, I hope to write a nice email to one of the reporters in the local newspaper.  I try to do business locally when I can, but I do work with online clientele as well.  If any one out there knows how to raise your visibility with little or no money, please let me know!

I know this business will not bloom overnight, but it would be nice to actually make enough to live off of in 10 years or so.  I think this is the best option for me as I have never had a good experience working for someone else.

I have been a self taught wiz when it comes to technology related items since I was a teenager.  I actually had some excellent programming skillz until Windoze 2k came out, that changed everything.

As my wife sometimes thinks, I’m married to the computer, I just have an on going affair with her.

I do love u babe (do-do, do-do) 🙂

The Never Ending Story…

This week I rewired one circuit in the garage.  Now I only have one more to go.  After that I will just need to redo the plumbing, cover everything, and we will have a new garage!

One item that is a hard, very hard decision is regarding our heat pump.  It is original to the house (33 years).  It is not efficient and quite loud at startup (I think the bearings in the blower motor are going out.)  Most people I’ve spoken with are shocked that it has lasted this long.

After receiving out electric bill, we were quite flabbergasted!  We keep our thermostat very low (between 64º and 67º).  It was $50 more than last months bill.  This brought up the discussion that we might be throwing a lot of money away due to this old heat pump that hasn’t been maintained very well.

I have contacted a few HVAC contractors in the area regarding replacement.  All of them say they need a look at our home to “size it up.”  Which seems fishy to me, I’m just wanting a price range.  So I have 4 people coming next week.

One piece of good news is about the efficiency of newer heat pumps.  One contractor told me that certain models are energy star rated, which I love to hear.  He also told me that those models use the same energy as a refrigerator.  It seems crazy to me, but I like it.  He said depending on the model we purchase, we could save anywhere from $600 to $2700 a year on energy costs alone!!!

I want a geothermal system, but it seems as if regular systems have caught up to them in efficiency.  I was told they are generally double the cost, and use the same amount of energy.

When we bought the house, we were hoping it would just go out, so our home warrantee would cover the costs of replacing it.  I think it will be a good investment in the end.  I just know it will be very hard for Rachel to spend this kind of money on this.  I’ve been told of some great financing options, so we’ll see I guess.