Rodney's Personal Blog

I CAN PAINT!

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 02:45:22 GMT

So a while back I wrote about a paint job gone bad. After seeing the troubles the pros had painting the "red room" and hearing them say how hard it is to paint red I thought I'd give painting another try. I must say I did learn a thing or two watching the pros paint as well.

Like paint the trim first, then once dry tape the trim, do your cuts then roll on a coat. Now the pros don't actually use tape but I did :) I also replaced all the baseboards so I painted those and nailed them in place afterwards. Much easier to roll the paint to the floor and cover it with baseboard later!

So the spare bedroom is now painted, pictures hung and the bed will go in on Friday once our new bed arrives for the master bedroom. With a master bedroom that is 18' wide but 15' deep we had room for a king size bed :D

With that in place the only thing left (hopefully) is the hardwood floors, a dining room table and some yard work. Floors will get done when we can decide on a type of hardwood (I like Walnut, Lisa likes stained Birch). The dining room table is coming next week sometime and Nutri-Lawn is coming to get the lawn healthy again. It never seems to end but I am enjoying every bit of it!

Grow Your Limits

Sat, 12 Apr 2008 22:00:44 GMT

So maybe I can paint. It turns out the deep reds are the hardest colors to paint. Even the pros have troubles getting it just right spending almost three days to get the room right. There is still one small bedroom left that I will try myself at a later time.

I have learned that I could fill in for the Maytag man having installed a new built in dishwasher. It took a few hours but it worked the first time. I did cheat, aka read the install manual, but hey that is what it is there for right? I've also managed to replace the thermostat with a digital one. Being the geek I am of course it is a 7 day programmable LCD touch screen thermostat. It will save up to 30% in heating and cooling costs but it looks really cool too

One the paint has cured the next project is new baseboards in the bedroom and office and eventually the living room after I try my hand at hardwood floors!

If you follow me here you are probably wondering where the photos are. They are coming as soon as I unpack the camera

Know Your Limits

Tue, 01 Apr 2008 01:58:16 GMT

I am the kind of person who likes to think he can do it all. I learn fast, learn by watching and have always been pretty good with this approach. So we bought a house recently and we wanted to make it our own so to speak with a few minor renovations like...

- painting the interior
- replace the laminate with new hardwood
- replace some trim pieces
- build a deck
- fix some minor things

Not a huge list and most things I know I can do because I have done them in the past. Painting is not one of them but I've seen it done many times and figured it can't be that hard.

I am the kind of person who likes to think he can do it all. I am also the kind of person who knows when to fold them, knows when to walk away. I am not a painter. Yes I could get it done. Yes it would take some time but it would be satisfying knowing I did it myself. I am a reasonable person. We have hired a painter to get a few rooms painted in the new place. At least it will get done right, and get done in a reasonable time frame :)

Thanks 4 the Memories

Wed, 05 Mar 2008 15:08:12 GMT

It was a sad day today. Brett Favre, #4, starting QB for the Green Bay Packers for the last 253 straight games retired. All I can say is I am glad I made it to Green Bay this past season to see him play. http://www.packers.com/history/brett_favre_tribute/

http://flickr.com/photos/rbuike/tags/brettfavre/

19-NO

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 00:41:13 GMT

With my Packers out of the playoffs I normally couldn't cheer for the team that knocked them out. If the New York Giants would have been playing any other team besides the Patriots I wouldn't have been. But the cocky, brash Patriots, lead by the convicted cheater just turned me off the AFL team.

What a game! What an ending! What a bittersweet victory! And what an awesome t-shirt!

Go Pack Go!

Fri, 04 Jan 2008 18:06:04 GMT

13-3! Who woulda thought? Now I am a huge Packers fan and think that when Brett Favre is at QB you always have a chance. But 13-3? I didn't think that was going to happen but the entire team played incredibly well all season and are deserving to have won their division (for the 18th time I might add) and host a playoff game. Playoffs, Lambeau Field, the frozen tundra, Brett Favre, I just had to go.

FedEx just delivered my ticket for what is going to be an incredible weekend!

Not only is there a great game, but I also snagged tickets for the playoff pep rally the night before as well as the tailgate party at Brett Favre's Steakhouse before the game. This is the view (click on the photo to enlarge) from the seat of the last game I was at and I am in almost the exact same spot on the opposite corner in Lambeau Leap territory!

Go Pack Go!

Silverlight Snow

Sun, 16 Dec 2007 16:50:41 GMT

I've been using Silverlight for publishing my video lately as it is a much better option for a few reasons than Soapbox. I recorded this short video of the snow storm that hit the GTA on December 16th. If you don't have the Silverlight plug in installed just click on the box below and it will install automatically and then return to view the video. You can double click on the video to view full screen.

SNOW

Sun, 16 Dec 2007 16:36:51 GMT

Well it has been a long time since I saw a snow storm like this. Having been here for almost a year and a half I've gotten used to the weather pretty quickly. I mean -5C feels cold now and 1cm of snow seems like a lot. Nothing like a real winter storm to remind me of home :)

Usually when I can't see across the street it is fog, but this brings back memories. I think I will be working from home tomorrow!

Vegas Video

Sat, 08 Dec 2007 00:59:15 GMT

While in Vegas I did get a chance to take some video from the Bellagio water fountains as well as the Mandalay Bay Shark Reef.

Video: Bellagio Fountain Show

Video: Mandalay Bay Jellyfish

Video: Tiger Fish

Viva Las Vegas

Sat, 08 Dec 2007 00:56:18 GMT

Lisa and I headed to Las Vegas recently and spent a long four days touring the city and surrounding sites. We were so busy we didn't even get a chance to bet a single penny. Maybe that was a good thing because we got time to see some amazing sites.

Like the Hoover Dam...

...the Grand Canyon...

...and oh yeah, Las Vegas!

More pictures from our trip here --> http://flickr.com/photos/rbuike/collections/72157603347468159/

Travelling Man

Sat, 08 Dec 2007 00:49:02 GMT

Wow it has been a busy few weeks travel-wise. Four weeks on the road with the My TechNet Security Tour, a trip to Green Bay to see the Packers demolish the Minnesota Vikings, a short trip to Ottawa for some meetings and then off to Vegas for a week vacation. All that travel did get me over the Aeroplan Elite hurdle and now I can travel with a little extra convenience. Of course I did take pictures on my travels to Green Bay...

Brett Favre arriving the morning of the game ready to throw for 350+ yards and 3 TDs.

One of many hand offs to running back Ryan Grant.

Of course no trip would be complete without a stop at the Packers Hall of Fame...

...but the highlight was walking down the tunnel onto the field...

and touching the same plaque that the many players have touched running down that tunnel every Sunday.

You can see the rest of the pics from Green Bay here --> http://www.flickr.com/photos/rbuike/collections/72157603722838472/

My Favourites Places - Ottawa

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 02:28:14 GMT

A lot of what I blog about is now focused around the stuff Lisa and I do in Toronto and the surrounding areas. But I travel a lot across Canada and I have things that I love to do in every city I visit. I thought I put those down here so a) I don't forget about them and b) so you can check them out when you are in the area!

First stop Ottawa! There is a ton of stuff to do in Ottawa but a few must sees are... (I am leaving out the obvious ones like Parliment Hill etc...)

Byward Market - in the summer this place is hoping with tourists, street vendors and cool little shops and eateries. It is also home to a few of my favorite restaurants.
Nicolas Street Gaol - now a youth hostel they have tours of the place every evening. Be sure to check out the still fucntioning gallows!
Hog's Back Falls - in the Spring when the snow is melting these falls are very powerful and the surrounding park is a great place to relax.
Kettleman's Bagels - You have to have the Super House Special! Warm bagel, Montreal Smoked Meat, Swiss cheese and a special sweet mustard, MMMMMMMM!
Zak's Diner - In Byward Market they have fantastic burgers and the best milkshakes!
Oh So Good - the place to cap of an eveing with a great desert!

Check out my pictures of Ottawa at http://www.flickr.com/photos/rbuike/sets/72157594538144089/ and make sure you see the city once in your life. It is a great place to spend some time!

Traveling to the Holy Land

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 21:38:10 GMT

I know where I am going to be on November 11th, 2007. Section 103, Row 7, Seat 4, also know as Lambeau Leap territory. I'll be with 65,000+ of my closest friends watching Brett Favre lead the Green Bay Packers against division rivals the Minnesota Vikings. Lambeau Field, November, division matchup, should be a great game!

Sure I paid more than the $59 sticker price but it is going to be worth EVERY penny.

"Published" Photos

Wed, 10 Oct 2007 12:42:41 GMT

Every once in a while I get an email through Flickr asking for permissions to use a photo I have taken. Not being a professional, in fact far from it, I always jump at the chance to share one of my "masterpieces". It is pretty cool to see your photos in brochures like the 2007 Valleys and Vistas Guide (bottom right and left photos) and now this, the official site of the City of Niagara Falls. They liked this photo and posted it in their gallery.

http://www.niagarafalls.ca/about_niagara_falls/photo_gallery/index.asp#119

They have some other amazing photos up and it is definitely worth a look!

The Tacky Side of Niagara

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 03:11:55 GMT

As I mentioned in another post, Lisa and I headed back to Niagara and discovered the tacky side....

We also found a cool restaurant that featured a volcano, elephants and a thunderstorm that caused excitement every 22 minutes.

Butterflies, Butterflies and More Butterflies

Thu, 04 Oct 2007 03:05:20 GMT

Summer is over and although the weather is still nice, I am about to head out on the road for a month so Lisa and I decided to head down to the Niagara region to check out some things we saw the last time we were there. We stopped by the Butterfly Conservatory and checked out the over 30 different types they have flying around.

Of course I took many more pictures than I could post in this entry and you can see them all here http://flickr.com/photos/rbuike/sets/72157602220270759/

LZYADMN

Tue, 25 Sep 2007 12:46:11 GMT

The plates arrived and they look pretty sweet!

Perks

Mon, 24 Sep 2007 18:10:00 GMT

There are perks with every job and it is no different working at Microsoft. I only wish I was at home right now :)

End of Summer 2007

Sun, 23 Sep 2007 21:58:19 GMT

Summer is over but that means that Fall is arriving. One of the things I love about Autumn is apple season. Not having the ability to go apple picking before, Lisa and I headed out to pick ourselves some apples!

We picked 20 pounds worth of apples and 10 different varieties including Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, Macintosh, Lobo, Jona Gold, Jona Red, Empire and Mutzu and Tomlin Sweet. The weather was beautiful, 24C, the sun was hot and the apples were plentiful but you can tell it was the last day of summer.

Plowed fields, red, orange and yellow leaves. At least there is no snow :)

Canadian International Air Show Media Days

Fri, 31 Aug 2007 19:41:20 GMT

Part of my job is to look at how the real world uses Microsoft technologies to accomplish things such as, well, the Canadian International Air Show. Through www.on10.net I was able to secure some media passes to attend the pre-air show media days. There is a video coming shortly, but I have photos!!!

Day one was held at Pearson International Airport. Of course our very own Canadian Snowbirds were there.....

Landing for the first time ever on non-US soil (aircraft carriers are considered "soil") was the USAF F-22 Raptors.

And the monsterous C-17 transport, which I managed to get behind the controls of :)

Day two was held at the Toronto City Center Airport and highlighted the civilian stunt pilots. Patty Wagstaff was highlighted on Microsoft Flight Sim a few years ago and is a legend in flying circles.

Rick Volker is also a well-respected and accomplished aerobatic pilot. I got to go up in a chase plane to film him in action.

There are plenty more pictures from both days located here --> http://flickr.com/photos/rbuike/sets/72157601772065706/

Book List: Book List

Thu, 09 Aug 2007 02:12:41 GMT

Book List

Henrik Walther: How to Cheat at Configuring Exchange Server 2007 : Including Outlook Web, Mobile, and Voice Access
I was a technical reviewer on this latest book from fellow MSExchange.org author Henrik Walther. The book is very accurate technically, which made my job very easy, and in-depth covereing everything you need to know about Exchange 2007.

Custom List: Link List

Fri, 16 Feb 2007 01:35:45 GMT

Link List

Thelazyadmin
TheLazyadmin's Website
My Photo Gallery
My online photo gallery showing my likes, adventures and stuff that makes me laugh.