The drive back!

The drive back to Grand Junction! I'm not looking forward to this.

Drive 5 hours through the tunnel, over Vail Pass, to Grand Junction, transfer the kids, drive 5 hours back to Denver!

I looked at the Utah forecast and there is no snow. At least my kids will be safe for the rest of the drive home.

It was worth it!

Happy Thanksgiving with my kids!

I have had the best Thanksgiving Weekend! I was very fortunate to have my four kids over to spend the holiday with. My kids live in Utah with their mom. We did the transfer in Grand Junction last Wednesday and now Sunday we have to do the return trip / transfer.

We had my four kids, and our two step sons. We missed Heather and her spouse, Jon. Not bad. Six kids out of seven and their Grandma Gayle (my mom) over for Thanksgiving Dinner!


I am in Heaven when I spend time with my kids! I wonder if their mom appreciates the time she gets with them. I am thankful for so much! I am thankful for my wife, Merial for everything she does to allow me extra time to spend with them. Today (Saturday) I spent time with Gina and Wesley. We went to the IMAX theater and watched Alaska. We kicked around Denver for awhile. It was tons of fun just to be together!

I have a lot to be thankful for this year! Even though we're not the traditional type family, we're a family!

In memory of the worlds greatest Manager! Joe Ziegler

I first met Joe Ziegler when I answered an ad on Craigslist for a Novell Experienced Engineer for Technical Support. I called the number and Joe answered and we talked. From the first time I spoke with Joe I knew this guy was golden! I talked with Joe a couple of times! He drew me in with a great warmth and character. He practically offered me the job without meeting me. He kept saying, "What's it going to take to get you to work here". I didn't even know it was with Alternative Technology, Inc. I had done a couple of consulting jobs for Alternative Technology through my work with Digeteks.

I came in and this big huge guy came out to greet me! Not just big in stature, but a guy with the biggest heart I've ever met! I had a chance to not only talk with Joe, but talk to some of the techs and they said great things about Joe - "The best manager ever!" I was convinced! Joe hired me! It was because of Joe's management style that I came to Alternative Technology! First of all I gave Joe grief from time to time! I don't know why now, but it took me awhile to settle back into a Tech Support Role, since I had been doing escalation work, field support work, and consulting work for so long. I guess that's why I tried Joe's patience! Joe was just awesome with me though! He never gave up on me and was always easy to talk with. He made me feel like I was a valued member of the team. He said, "Bucky, You're my Superstar!".

It was just about a month ago when I made my final decision to stay at Alternative Technology. I was so happy to have that discussion with Joe. He gave me a huge thumbs up! He said, "Bucky - you made the right decision. You're my Superstar! I have to say that one of the biggest decision makers to stay at Alternative Technology was because I had the world's greatest manager!
... and now Joe Ziegler is gone.

What have I learned from Joe?

Joe had such a way with interacting with people! He had such warmth, such an golden sunshiny aura around him! He always smiled! Even when he was stern he was warm! I want to be a little like Joe. I want to treat people like Joe did. I want to say, "Today is the single best day of my life"! , ... every day! - Like Joe!

I want to take my job seriously, and have lots of fun doing it! ... Like Joe!

I want to be able to have respect from my friends and co-workers, even if I do dumb things like sing "I'm a little teapot short and stout"... Like Joe!

I want to have love in my heart for my fellow brothers and sisters who I interact with every day! ... Like Joe!

Joe! I'm not sure how religious you were, but you had a way of reflecting God's love through your normal every day way! You were one in a million! I will miss you!

You were the worlds greatest Manager!

In memory, Joseph Ziegler
http://www.mem.com/Story.aspx?ID=2716356

Happy 150th Birthday Denver!

Happy Birthday Denver, Colorado! 150 Years!
Get out and celebrate!

Click here to find out more about Denver 150 Years

http://www.denver.org/150/home.html

DENVER - To celebrate the city's 150th anniversary, four of the top attractions in Denver are holding a free day Saturday.

Link

http://www.9news.com/rss/article.aspx?storyid=104320

DENVER - Trying to fill a room with artifacts commemorating a city's 150 year history is no easy task, but Colorado's Historical Society did just that.

Link to Video

My Boss, Joe passed away today.

Today we received extremely shocking news. My Boss and my friend, Joe Ziegler, passed away due to a heart attack.

Most of my team had gone home but were alerted by upper management.

Man! He's the reason I came to work here at Alternative Technology. This sucks!
Joe was the man! He was so cool, so awesome! A great manager! I knew the first time I talked to him on the phone that he was a fantastic manager, a great guy! Yep. He's the main reason I came here.

I know this is going to pull our team together. Man this is tough!

- Bucky

Space Shuttle Mission STS-126

Ever since I was a kid I have been fascinated with the NASA Missions. Last Friday was the launch of Space Shuttle mission STS-126.

Live screen shots from NASA TV

Follow the mission on NASA TV
Link to NASA STS-126
Link to space.com

Here is the main purpose of their mission:
Veteran space flier Navy Capt. Christopher J. Ferguson will command the STS-126 mission aboard Endeavour to deliver equipment to the International Space Station that will enable larger crews to reside aboard the complex. Air Force Lt. Col. Eric A. Boe will serve as the pilot. The mission specialists are Navy Capt. Stephen G. Bowen, Army Lt. Col. Robert S. Kimbrough, Navy Capt. Heidemarie M. Stefanyshyn-Piper and NASA astronauts Donald R. Pettit and Sandra H. Magnus. Magnus will remain on the station, replacing Expedition 17/18 Flight Engineer Gregory E. Chamitoff, who returns to Earth with the STS-126 crew. Magnus will serve as a flight engineer and NASA science officer for Expedition 18. Magnus will return to Earth on shuttle mission STS-119.

Endeavour will carry a reusable logistics module that will hold supplies and equipment, including additional crew quarters, additional exercise equipment, equipment for the regenerative life support system and spare hardware. STS-126 is the 27th shuttle mission to the International Space Station.

Puppy Cam taking the Internet by storm

This puppy cam is really taking the Internet by storm.
This story is was on NBC Nightly News:

Nov. 14: When a San Francisco couple set up a puppy cam to watch over their dog's six puppies, one thing led to another--and now they're on network television. NBC's Brian Williams reports. (Nightly News)

Link Here

Puppy Cam: Too Cute!

I had to post this because it's very very cute!
PuppyCam!

More Info

Neighbor Election Sign Competition

Last week we came home and noticed our next door neighbor had their Obama sign out on the front yard. My wife and I are supporting McCain, but hey... everyone has the right to express their opinion.

So.. I came home from work one night.. it wasn't hard to notice multiple signs on our yard. I called my wife and she wasn't aware of how these signs got there. Well, come to find out our stepson had somehow "acquired" the signs and placed them on our front yard. I'm not asking where he got them.

Not to be outdone our next door neighbor grabbed the spotlight and shined it on his sign.

I wonder what the neighbors think...

2008 Election Day

Live Results for Election Day 2008

See latest stories on Yahoo! News

In Red Hat RH300 Training this week

I'm in Red Hat RH300 Training this week. This is a very rapid, fast, paced class for advanced Linux users! So far so good!
RH300

Hopefully I'll be a RHCE or at least a RHCT by the end of the week.
RHCE - Red Hat Certified Engineer
RHCT - Red Hat Certified Technician

November 3, 2008

Vote 2008 - Political Dashboard

I predict Obama's our next President of the United States. However I voted for McCain.

Based on latest Polls:

Yahoo Electoral Map

NPR Electoral Map

CNN Election Center 2008

Yahoo Election 2008