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ad_exiaAll right; so clearly, despite promises to the contrary, I have still been terrible about updating. So here I am, yet again trying to remedy that, with an update!
I suppose, going in chronological order, last week was the definition of busy. I made some progress, but it's more of the one step forward, two steps back variety. I finally had a dialogue with the CIAO help desk about the fact that I would like to use my two-versions-old software to get X-ray fluxes, and can they please tell me how to do this with my old version, since they changed their online help pages with the new version release? I did receive instructions on how to do this with the old version, though it was highly recommended that I upgrade if possible for the updated instrument calibrations. Yes, I know, but upon emailing the Astronomy IT guys, I was told they can't get to the issue for four weeks. That is way too long. So I start to go about doing it with the old version... and find out that I still need an updated script that - you guessed it - I don't think the IT guys can get to for the aforementioned month. So, um. I tried to install CIAO on trip to no avail; I'm going to try to install it on Exia (the laptop) tomorrow and see how well that goes.
Speaking of the laptop... I think it's starting to die, for real. Over the course of the past few months, one of the two chargers has died, I have (accidentally!) broken off the tip of a pair of headphones in the jack (there is no way to get that out), and now, as of about a week ago, the laptop will not charge the battery. I have ruled out battery, charger, and software issues, which leaves a hardware issue that is just not worth fixing. I mean, this thing is a PowerBook G4 from, like, 2003, and it's not even mine, it's Vicki's. So now I have a portable desktop (in that it needs to be plugged in everywhere I go), and I am seriously - very seriously - considering just buying the laptop I was planning to get when I graduated anyway now. Because I could really use one now, and I don't think there are going to be any major enough advancements in the next four months to make waiting worth it. I've waffled over Mac vs PC for a while now, but as of right now I think I'm leaning toward the Mac, especially if I am going to be using it for work (and possibly work in the future, as well). I know I can dual-boot a PC, but that just seems like more trouble than it's worth when I can navigate my way through a Mac pretty well by now. Besides, I'll still have the two Windows machines I currently have, they're not going anywhere.
The real question is, what do I name it? Do I keep up with the Gundam names, or do I branch off? THIS IS ALMOST AS IMPORTANT A DECISION AS BUYING THE THING, FOR REALS.
Anyway. Moving on; speaking of spending large chunks of money, I ended up replacing the tires on my car yesterday. My front left tire was having issues holding air, no matter how much I seemed to put in it, so I took it in to Pep Boys and they confirmed that it was pretty much flat and needed replacing. I figured, if I'm going to replace one, I might as well replace them all, because all my tires were getting up there and this was just the first one to go. Thankfully, the price wasn't too bad - $411 total; they were having a buy three, get one free sale. Actually, what happened was the tires they were originally going to give me (which would have come out to $411 with the rebate) weren't in stock, so he gave me the tires they did have in stock but reduced the price to what I would have paid for the other tires, which I really appreciated. I actually quite like this Pep Boys, they've always done well by me. Unlike Jiffy Lube - I am officially done with them, I'm going somewhere else for my oil changes from now on.
BUT, on the plus side? With new tires, the alignment issue on my car is fixed! IT GOES STRAIGHT NOW~ That is so exciting you have no idea. XD
In any case, all of this makes me realize how ready I am to start making more money, whether that sounds awful or not. But things like new tires and cats getting their teeth out and new computers and new contacts (which I need) are really wiping me out a couple hundred dollars at a time. I am still crossing my fingers that I will get a postdoc somewhere and not have to scramble for another job, but I'll do whatever it takes, I suppose, when the time comes. I should be hearing back soon, I'm hoping, though whenever I check the Astronomy Rumor Mill the jobs I've applied for either aren't on there or they are still annoyingly blank (then again, no news may be good news...). I'm hoping by the end of February to know where I'll be come July, because my lease is up August 1st and I need to know where I'm going before then!
In completely unrelated news, I finally saw the season finale of Tower Prep a few days ago, and I am really, really hoping it gets renewed. Not only did it end on a cliffhanger, but I was really starting to enjoy it, even more than Unnatural History. I wasn't sure where the show would go if they achieved their "goal" in the first season (being intentionally vague so maybe more of you will watch it!), but now I see that there is plenty of story to explore, and I want to know where it'll go! Come on, Cartoon Network, YOU CAN RENEW THIS SHOW. I think it did well in ratings, and was received pretty well among the critics? Go go, Morgan & Wong!
And finally, Nathan and I discovered that the new restaurant in town, Ghengis Grill, IS JUST LIKE FIRE & ICE. I am soooo stoked, it was delicious and I want my family to come visit me now so I can take them there before I move. We also watched The Emperor's New Grove, which was, as always, awesomely entertaining. So yay for that~
All righty, I think that's just about where things stand at the moment, and I'd say I'll try to update more again, but that's either a lie or it isn't, and we'll see which it is in the coming days, I suppose~
I suppose, going in chronological order, last week was the definition of busy. I made some progress, but it's more of the one step forward, two steps back variety. I finally had a dialogue with the CIAO help desk about the fact that I would like to use my two-versions-old software to get X-ray fluxes, and can they please tell me how to do this with my old version, since they changed their online help pages with the new version release? I did receive instructions on how to do this with the old version, though it was highly recommended that I upgrade if possible for the updated instrument calibrations. Yes, I know, but upon emailing the Astronomy IT guys, I was told they can't get to the issue for four weeks. That is way too long. So I start to go about doing it with the old version... and find out that I still need an updated script that - you guessed it - I don't think the IT guys can get to for the aforementioned month. So, um. I tried to install CIAO on trip to no avail; I'm going to try to install it on Exia (the laptop) tomorrow and see how well that goes.
Speaking of the laptop... I think it's starting to die, for real. Over the course of the past few months, one of the two chargers has died, I have (accidentally!) broken off the tip of a pair of headphones in the jack (there is no way to get that out), and now, as of about a week ago, the laptop will not charge the battery. I have ruled out battery, charger, and software issues, which leaves a hardware issue that is just not worth fixing. I mean, this thing is a PowerBook G4 from, like, 2003, and it's not even mine, it's Vicki's. So now I have a portable desktop (in that it needs to be plugged in everywhere I go), and I am seriously - very seriously - considering just buying the laptop I was planning to get when I graduated anyway now. Because I could really use one now, and I don't think there are going to be any major enough advancements in the next four months to make waiting worth it. I've waffled over Mac vs PC for a while now, but as of right now I think I'm leaning toward the Mac, especially if I am going to be using it for work (and possibly work in the future, as well). I know I can dual-boot a PC, but that just seems like more trouble than it's worth when I can navigate my way through a Mac pretty well by now. Besides, I'll still have the two Windows machines I currently have, they're not going anywhere.
The real question is, what do I name it? Do I keep up with the Gundam names, or do I branch off? THIS IS ALMOST AS IMPORTANT A DECISION AS BUYING THE THING, FOR REALS.
Anyway. Moving on; speaking of spending large chunks of money, I ended up replacing the tires on my car yesterday. My front left tire was having issues holding air, no matter how much I seemed to put in it, so I took it in to Pep Boys and they confirmed that it was pretty much flat and needed replacing. I figured, if I'm going to replace one, I might as well replace them all, because all my tires were getting up there and this was just the first one to go. Thankfully, the price wasn't too bad - $411 total; they were having a buy three, get one free sale. Actually, what happened was the tires they were originally going to give me (which would have come out to $411 with the rebate) weren't in stock, so he gave me the tires they did have in stock but reduced the price to what I would have paid for the other tires, which I really appreciated. I actually quite like this Pep Boys, they've always done well by me. Unlike Jiffy Lube - I am officially done with them, I'm going somewhere else for my oil changes from now on.
BUT, on the plus side? With new tires, the alignment issue on my car is fixed! IT GOES STRAIGHT NOW~ That is so exciting you have no idea. XD
In any case, all of this makes me realize how ready I am to start making more money, whether that sounds awful or not. But things like new tires and cats getting their teeth out and new computers and new contacts (which I need) are really wiping me out a couple hundred dollars at a time. I am still crossing my fingers that I will get a postdoc somewhere and not have to scramble for another job, but I'll do whatever it takes, I suppose, when the time comes. I should be hearing back soon, I'm hoping, though whenever I check the Astronomy Rumor Mill the jobs I've applied for either aren't on there or they are still annoyingly blank (then again, no news may be good news...). I'm hoping by the end of February to know where I'll be come July, because my lease is up August 1st and I need to know where I'm going before then!
In completely unrelated news, I finally saw the season finale of Tower Prep a few days ago, and I am really, really hoping it gets renewed. Not only did it end on a cliffhanger, but I was really starting to enjoy it, even more than Unnatural History. I wasn't sure where the show would go if they achieved their "goal" in the first season (being intentionally vague so maybe more of you will watch it!), but now I see that there is plenty of story to explore, and I want to know where it'll go! Come on, Cartoon Network, YOU CAN RENEW THIS SHOW. I think it did well in ratings, and was received pretty well among the critics? Go go, Morgan & Wong!
And finally, Nathan and I discovered that the new restaurant in town, Ghengis Grill, IS JUST LIKE FIRE & ICE. I am soooo stoked, it was delicious and I want my family to come visit me now so I can take them there before I move. We also watched The Emperor's New Grove, which was, as always, awesomely entertaining. So yay for that~
All righty, I think that's just about where things stand at the moment, and I'd say I'll try to update more again, but that's either a lie or it isn't, and we'll see which it is in the coming days, I suppose~
