Twev1701.net

Make It So

Trev — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 07:29:47 +0000

I’m weak.

It’s been years since I have played an MMORPG (Massive Multiple Online Role Playing Game) and I swore that the next one I would play would be the ever postponed ‘Stargate Worlds’.

I’m weak.

While it is true that there have been many an MMORPG that has come out since I stopped playing WoW (World of Warcraft) that I have been interested in, I have been strong. I have stayed true and held my convictions.

I’m weak. They know my weaknesses.

So what happened a few days ago? I started playing a new MMORPG. One that I had held out playing for all of 3 weeks after it came out. But it called to me. It whispered into my ear at night. I knew exactly what to say and what I wanted to hear. It got inside my head and I was helpless.

Captain Trevor Shafer

U.S.S. Daniel Jackson

Yes, I am playing ‘Star Trek Online’ and loving every minute of it. And yes, that is indeed my ship, the U.S.S. Daniel Jackson.

I am weak and I make no excuses for it. But to put everything into context, I have been a Star Trek fan for almost all of my life. I remember staying up with my father late on Saturday nights as a small kid and watching the Original Series (Kirk, Spock, McCoy…) on our local PBS station. Then, when I was around 13 or so, I turned into what most people would call a Star Trek nerd. I still am to this day. I am the guy who knows all the useless trivia, both on screen and behind the scenes. I’m the guy that can receite dialogue while watching the episode. I am the guy who goes to Star Trek Conventions (and was a dealer there for a few years). And yes, I am THAT GUY who owns and wears on occasion, a Starfleet Uniform.

And for those wondering what my wife has to think about all of this? She’s totally cool with it. She has know virtually from day one how much I love Star Trek. Online, I have been going by the handle ‘Twev1701′ since 1994. Even though she was bit frightened the first time she came over to my home by the sheer volume of Star Trek stuf I have, she was cool with it and never asked me once to give any of it up. She was even cool enough to let me and my guys wear Starfleet Communicators (Next Generation style) on our tuxedos in our wedding!

Me and My Bride

Me and My Guys

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In The Crosshairs

Trev — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 06:01:28 +0000

We’re in the corsshairs of a nasty storm that is due to show its face around here in about 12 hours. It’s supposed to start around 8am this morning with some light snow, and then some really heavy snow by this afternoon. By this evening, it should be a full-on snow storm with 25-35mph winds. Right now they are calling for 10-15 inches of snow.

Do I have work today? Yes. Will I be calling off? No. Since I took off Tuesday because Jackson was sick I really need to go in. So, unless it’s absolutely treacherous out there tomorrow at 1pm, I will be going in for my shift at 2pm. In all honesty, I don’t mind. It should be a nice easy night given that most people will probably call off and there will be little to no customers.

That is, assuming that we do get hit with this big storm. As always, I am a pessimist on the outside, and a little kid on the inside wishing for snowmageddon.

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Walk With Loki 2/19/10

Trev — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 04:15:59 +0000

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Ok…So I Was Wrong

Trev — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 17:49:14 +0000

At the time of the picture (12pm) we had 6.5″ on the ground and it’s still coming down.

No related posts.

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Looks Snow Good

Trev — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 18:30:56 +0000

So as of this writing, the Nation Weather Service is saying we’re looking at 6-12 inches of snow, starting tonight, the heaviest coming tomorrow afternoon. My prediction still holds true that we’re going to see less than 3 inches from this storm. I still think a dusting is 100 possible, but if we are to get more snow, my money is on 2-3 inches. Nothing fantastic, just like this whole winter has been snow wise thus far.

Thinking on the other end argument, if we do happen to get what they are saying, and if in fact the heaviest snow is to arrive tomorrow afternoon, this might make my work situation somewhat difficult. You see, I work from 2pm-10pm tomorrow. Granted, I am only a short 13 minute drive away from work, but time and distance have nothing to do in this equation. It’s all about the amount of snow and the willingness of the road crews to keep our street clean. Snow + no plow = me staying home. That’s about as simple as it can get.

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Nor’easter…Not’likely

Trev — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:29:44 +0000

The National Weather Service (professional guessers) has issued a Winter Storm Watch for us here in the snow deprived northeast. It reads as follows:

Issued by The National Weather Service
Binghamton, NY
10:02 am EST, Mon., Feb. 8, 2010

… WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING…

A WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING.

A SNOWSTORM IS POSSIBLE FOR A LARGE PART OF SOUTH CENTRAL NEW YORK AND NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA… FROM LATE TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. SNOW IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN LATE TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING… AND LAST THROUGH WEDNESDAY… TAPERING TO SNOW SHOWERS WEDNESDAY NIGHT. THE SNOW COULD BECOME HEAVY AT TIMES… ESPECIALLY DURING THE DAY WEDNESDAY. THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR AT LEAST 7 INCHES OF SNOW… FROM SOUTH CENTRAL NEW YORK TO NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…

A WINTER STORM WATCH IS IN EFFECT BECAUSE HEAVY SNOW IS A POSSIBILITY… BUT NOT A CERTAINTY. AT THIS TIME… THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 7 INCHES OR MORE. TRAVEL CONDITIONS COULD BECOME HAZARDOUS… SO IT IS IMPORTANT TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS AND STATEMENTS IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO TRAVEL IN THE WATCH AREA LATE TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY.

&&

More Information

… A WINTER STORM MAY IMPACT THE REGION LATE TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY…

.LOW PRESSURE IS EXPECTED TO ORGANIZE INTO A MAJOR WINTER STORM… AS IT TRACKS FROM NORTH CAROLINA TO THE NEW JERSEY COAST TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY. THIS STORM WILL SPREAD SNOW INTO CENTRAL NEW YORK AND NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA LATE TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT. THE SNOW COULD BECOME HEAVY AT TIMES WEDNESDAY… ESPECIALLY IN SOUTH CENTRAL NEW YORK AND NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA. THE STORM WILL MOVE OUT TO SEA BY WEDNESDAY NIGHT… TAPERING THE STEADIER SNOW TO SNOW SHOWERS.

Since we have pretty much been screwed out of every snow storm to hit the east coast this year, I am not putting much faith into this storm to give us the snow I desperately want. My bet is that we may end up with a dusting. Ironically, if we go get the 7 or more inches they’re talking about, I will either have to A) Go to work since I am so close, thus being forced to shovel both before AND after work or B) Will be snowed from my alley not being plowed and will be forced to stay home and miss a day’s pay. The only happy medium will be my prediction, which is a dusting.

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Let’s See How This Plays Out

Trev — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:07:05 +0000

I am off today and tomorrow from work. I’m not feeling he best, and Jess is trying to get me to go to the doctor. It’s not that I hate going to the doctor, but in my opinion, if I am going to be paying $25 to see the doctor, I’d better damn near death. I took a nice hot shower the morning and expelled all kinds nastiness from my sinus cavity and lungs. Surprisingly, I feel a lot better now. Let’s see how this works out.

I am on the phone with my wife right now who is actually on her way home early today. This kinda works towards my plan for the day. I plan on cleaning the house and taking care of Jackson until about 1pm or so, and then hopefully Jess can take over and I can maybe do a few things I want to do today.

Remember when having a day off meant sleeping until noon and playing video games all day?

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So Much For My Plans

Trev — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 05:25:32 +0000

I was hoping to stay up for a bit and play some games tonight, but it seems that my body is telling me to get some sleep instead. This really sucks since I was looking forward to playing some games. On the flip side of that coin, I did get a chance to play with my son for a few hours, and watch ‘Zombieland’ with my niece.

I’ve got to work this weekend, but then am rewarded with Monday and Tuesday off. Granted, my wife will be in school both days, but that’s okay since we will have this coming weekend off together.

Since this weekend is Valentine’s Day and we’re poor, we’re going to do something different this year. Since I never got a chance to make my New Year’s turkey dinner because of a nasty case of food poisoning, we are going to make said dinner for Valentine’s Day. Thats a win/win in my book. The supplies for dinner will be cheaper than going out, we won’t have to wait for a table somewhere and be subject to bad service, and best of all, we can stay at home with our little man. Near perfection if you ask me.

As for the big store I promised you yesterday. There really is none. All I was going to talk about was my day yesterday, which I really should have yesterday because I am too tired to today. To sum it up, the day sucked, but then ended on a good note. Done. Finished. Fin.

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I’ve Got A Great Story To Tell You

Trev — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 03:50:20 +0000

But it’s going to have to wait until tomorrow after work. Right now, I am going to bed with my wife. Related posts:End Of A Great Weekend This weekend was a rarity – one that was both... Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin. Related posts:

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Not Quite The Same

Trev — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 04:15:14 +0000

Last week on the eve of the big Apple announcement of their new tablet dubbed the ‘iPad’, I was reading everyone’s Tweets and speculative posts about what it would be and about how they couldn’t wait to get one. Then as the day finally arrived, I tried to be excited. As people talked about stopping what they were doing to watch the key note address, to follow the live blogs, and to hang on every bit of information that leaked out of that convention center, I realized that I didn’t care. I was actually happy to be going to work all night so I wouldn’t have to listen to all the banter on the internet about a new product that wouldn’t even be available for a few months. As much as I wanted to be excited and know everything about it, I found myself caring less and less about it. This got me wondering why. I am a tech guy. Always have been. I’ve always tried to be on the bleeding edge of technology and always wanted the new, shiny toys when they came out. After mulling all this over in my mind for a few days, I have come to one very logical conclusion: I am not the guy I was 5 years ago.

I know that’s very redundant, but hear me out on this one. Five years ago I was a die hard PC guy. I was living by myself, had been for almost 3 years at that point, and I was dating this chick I met online who lived 90 minutes away from me and was going to school another 90 minutes away from me. I had no cares and the world was my oyster. If I wanted something, I would go out and buy it. Staying up until 5am on the computer playing games or doing some coding was the norm. I was not management at work and was simply another employee. Life was good.

Five years later I am a happily married man, a new father, and sole provider for my family. I am a manager at work and have many responsibilities. Instead of a ‘fun’ car, I drive a car that is paid off in full and is very economical for what I need it to do. I work hard for what I have and haven’t used credit in almost 4 years. As for the 4am gaming sessions, I am lucky to stay up past 2 am nowadays. Rather than coming home to play a game or to do some coding, I rush home to see my wife and to play with my son. There are entire days now where the only computers I touch are our Linux terminals at work to check stock and email. I haven’t built a PC for myself in close to 7 years. My main computer is now a Macintosh which is 2 years old, and yet, still feels new to me. I’ve slowed my way of life. I’ve shifted my priorities. Rather than droll over the latest tech and blow money on something new and shiny, I’d rather take my wife out for a nice little meal, and go buy my son some new clothes or a new toy.

Does this change who I am? Sure. But only to those who cannot accept change and the natural progression of life. Do I miss owning my own computer company. No. The thought of working on a virus infested PC literally turns my stomach. Not many people know this, but I almost lost my wife due to the number of hours I was putting into my computer business along with working my full time job. The worst part about it was that I saw no $$ from the business as I was putting every last dime back into the business. My wife never made me choose between her or the business. She never had to. That’s why I love her so much. I knew what choice to make to make things right.

There’s a line from an old hacker movie that goes, “We dont care about anything unless it’s on a hard drive.” At one time in my life, that was very true. Nowadays, I gladly turn my back to my computer to spend time with my family.

Today’s technology will be obsolete in a matter of months. Family is never obsolete.

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