Random randomness

[LordMortis]

Turned my work laptop on at 6:05 this morning, and it finally finished doing the major update (the one that requires 30 minutes, 4 restarts, and a partridge in a pear tree) at 6:32...when I had a webinar demo that started at 6:30. This is now the second time in a month that has happened.

I know nothing about IT, so I'll ask the smart folks here. Is it completely out of bounds to ask IT to give us a little heads-up when these sort of major updates are going happen? Something like a quick note that says "Hey, give yourself a little extra time next time you boot up?"

its not out of bounds, they should be giving you a grace period. critical patch available, you have 24 hours to install this patch which will require a reboot

I don't know what is in and out of bounds but our WSUS works for crap, so I update by audit in the flesh when I run updates I advise that they can work as normal and need to restart (not shut down and turn but restart) at lunch. Count on the process taking upwards of 30 minutes and call me if you have problems.

I plan to audit our SHA-2 patching for my remaining 7 machines next week. Not looking forward to that.

2nd time in a month for desktop is odd. Windows 10 gets the two big rollouts a year. The monthly patches are a little pain, but not 1/2 hour every month pain.

Also, I can't speak to how your group policy is controlled but I'd think if they aren't watching the patching, then you should be able to reboot at your leisure. If Windows 10 ever asks you to reboot, always wait until your downtime if it is an option.

[Rumpy]

You must loathe the Black Eyed Peas.

I'm not really familiar with them enough to hate them. Simply put, they're just not on my radar to the point that I wouldn't be able to recognize anything they've put out.

I still say it all depends. I love a live show when a good mixes their songs into medleys of other songs and then dance in and out of their own music. Speaking of Sloop John B, I love how MeFirst cover Sloop John B to a hook from the Ramones and then play it as if it's a Misfits song. I can even appreciate Eminem using pop music that has a rhythm that supports his rhyme.

And yet I also get the distaste for taking someones sound as if it were your own. It took me a while to accept bands like WolfMother or She Wants Revenge or Jet because what was first presented to me felt like theft of signature sounds and I was turned off. Hey this could be Black Sabbath or Joy Division or AC/DC but it's not and it's not as good and then my ability to appreciate them for what they are becomes tainted with my snap judgement.

Yep, signature sound is the key. It feels like they're taking someone else's sound rather than creating their own, and it both confuses me and annoys me.

[RunningMn9]

Ownership comes with the acquisition of value. Every dollar I pay that goes to principal is money that I can attempt to extract later. The PMI, Insurance, and taxes are lost, but that's generally less than half of the payment. And if the price goes up (sorry, LM) it's effectively an investment vehicle.

Money spent on rent has no potential of long-term benefit.

That's the theory anyway.

I've sent my mortgage company and town approximately $403,200 over the past 16 years that I have lived in this house. The house was almost new when I bought it, so all the major repairs (roof replacement, etc.) are still in front of me. I've probably spent maybe $10,000 on various repairs over that span (so not too bad actually). Throw in another $15,000 for the fence and pool. Let's call it $430,000 this house has cost me in actual money spent. That's about $2340 per month, every month, for 16 years.

Let's take a look at all that sweet value I've acquired...oh wait. The house has come down at least $70,000 in value since 2003. So that's another $70K in equity out the door, bringing us to $500K.

It is definitely true that if I can manage to stay here another 30 years, AND this area becomes super desirable (narrator: It won't), the house can be a source of significant equity. Since that is unlikely to happen - this was all a colossal financial mistake. And for 12 years, it was a mistake I couldn't even escape, as the mortgage was underwater by nearly $100K thanks to the implosion of the housing market in NJ which dropped the estimated value of the house by about 42% in less than 2 years. And I didn't even buy the house during the bubble. It was just getting started when we moved here.

In other words, it's been a terrible investment vehicle.

[LordMortis]

stuff

We've reversed ourselves based on experience. I thought my purchase was a terrible investment vehicle and did it anyway. You said most people should expect something crazy like a lifetime average of 12% a year. This was back in 2003/2004. I got absolutely raked over the coals in every way imaginable when it comes to equity but this crashed by property taxes. While I'll some big repairs to do and this house will never sell for anything more than slumlord renter value, I'm paying less than $200 a month in property taxes now. I probably paid a total of $200,000 rapidly paying down a $144,000 mortgage for the privilege. I figure I've been here for 192 months, so I'm looking at around $1350 a month and falling after taxes and insurance. I'm getting to the point where I'm hitting break even with being a renter of a reasonable apartment. If I didn't have animals for renting neighbors on ones side, I'd say the trade off of upkeep would be worth the trade off of never having experienced apartment living without having impossible people on the other side of a wall. I have maybe $40,000 in equity. I guess that puts me money ahead of apartment living, maybe. I fear my ground level is getting weird all these years after the city ripped out an Ash tree. I now have more standing water when it rains and my front step is pulling away from the house. That could get expensive in the years to come.

If I could do it all again, I'd still buy and lose at the time I did but I'd buy smaller and cheaper or maybe have shopped for a cheap condo with garage. Being a family of one all I need is my own laundry and an attached garage with remote. If a beast like that existed with no appreciable yard and a reasonable kitchen and full bath and it looked like it was going to be low maintenance, I'd be good.

[stessier]

Ownership comes with the acquisition of value. Every dollar I pay that goes to principal is money that I can attempt to extract later. The PMI, Insurance, and taxes are lost, but that's generally less than half of the payment. And if the price goes up (sorry, LM) it's effectively an investment vehicle.

Money spent on rent has no potential of long-term benefit.

That's the theory anyway.
...
In other words, it's been a terrible investment vehicle.

Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

I've owned 3 houses. The first I owned from 2004-2008. I broke even only because of my employer's relocation package - actually sold the house for 8.3% less than I paid for it.

Second house I owned from 2008-2013. I lost a ton - sold for 15% less than I paid for it. Fortunately all I lost was equity the sale price covered the remaining mortgage.

Third house I've owned 2013-present. We are in a very desirable part of town/school district. We are in a development and the same model/age house sold just down the street for 31% more than I paid for mine. Makes me want to move just to be able to say I finally made money owning a house.

[Smoove_B]

Owning a home has been the death of a thousand cuts for me - particularly because of the insane/poor decisions made by the prior home owner. If I knew where to send the infamous "f you - strong letter to follow" telegram, I would. We're about to find out if I made smart decisions for the upcoming resale. I reinvested in structural fixes, equipment upgrades and general maintenance. Also, who the FUCK paints a ceiling beige? F. This. House.

I suppose given a long enough time arc, any home could be an excellent return on investment. I didn't buy this house as an investment. Instead it was purchased because of how close it was to my MIL. She moved to Ohio two years later, so that was a super bonus excellent result.

Oh hey look, it's 10:40am -- time for a Scotch.

[GreenGoo]

Lol. The idea that a paint job is a major problem, particularly because of the colour chosen, is hilarious.

I fully support the idea that houses can be money pits and pains in the ass, but "my ceiling is beige, fuck that guy" is just too funny because of how inconsequential the "problem" is.

[Smoove_B]

Paint is not a major problem, no. It's a pain in the ass. Painting a ceiling beige is absurd. Ceilings are painted white, full fucking stop. Discovering your ceiling is actually beige after you paint he room white is bullshit. Deciding to wallpaper over naked sheet rock? Problem. Putting a new roof on your house but using the cheapest decking possible (while simultaneously paying for the most expensive shingles)? Bullshit. Residing the entire house but not putting in new windows at the same time? Bullshit.

[Trent Steel]

Owning a home has been the death of a thousand cuts for me - particularly because of the insane/poor decisions made by the prior home owner. If I knew where to send the infamous "f you - strong letter to follow" telegram, I would. We're about to find out if I made smart decisions for the upcoming resale. I reinvested in structural fixes, equipment upgrades and general maintenance. Also, who the FUCK paints a ceiling beige? F. This. House.

I suppose given a long enough time arc, any home could be an excellent return on investment. I didn't buy this house as an investment. Instead it was purchased because of how close it was to my MIL. She moved to Ohio two years later, so that was a super bonus excellent result.

Oh hey look, it's 10:40am -- time for a Scotch.

Oh wait... I also own a home.

[ImLawBoy]

Paint is not a major problem, no. It's a pain in the ass. Painting a ceiling beige is absurd. Ceilings are painted white, full fucking stop. Discovering your ceiling is actually beige after you paint he room white is bullshit.

It's apparently quite common to paint the ceiling something that is not quite true white - particularly if the walls are a bold color. Having a bright white ceiling against deeply colored walls can be too much of a clash. When we painted our bedroom, my wife chose a deep, bold red color. To prevent too much of a clash, we had them paint the ceiling white with just a hint of pink in it. It really did make a difference.

Of course, when I painted the walls neutral to get the house ready to sell, that pink tint really stood out in a bad way, meaning I had to paint the ceiling, too. I really hate painting ceilings.

[Zarathud]

Need a separate house thread.

A house and car are the assets you can benefit from while losing money.

[Anonymous Bosch]

Paint is not a major problem, no. It's a pain in the ass. Painting a ceiling beige is absurd. Ceilings are painted white, full fucking stop. Discovering your ceiling is actually beige after you paint he room white is bullshit. Deciding to wallpaper over naked sheet rock? Problem. Putting a new roof on your house but using the cheapest decking possible (while simultaneously paying for the most expensive shingles)? Bullshit. Residing the entire house but not putting in new windows at the same time? Bullshit.

On the bright side, a beige ceiling helps mask the canker of New Jersey.

[Z-Corn]

Oh hey look, it's 10:40am -- time for a Scotch.

On Tequila Friday? That's weird...

[gbasden]

Turned my work laptop on at 6:05 this morning, and it finally finished doing the major update (the one that requires 30 minutes, 4 restarts, and a partridge in a pear tree) at 6:32...when I had a webinar demo that started at 6:30. This is now the second time in a month that has happened.

I know nothing about IT, so I'll ask the smart folks here. Is it completely out of bounds to ask IT to give us a little heads-up when these sort of major updates are going happen? Something like a quick note that says "Hey, give yourself a little extra time next time you boot up?"

its not out of bounds, they should be giving you a grace period. critical patch available, you have 24 hours to install this patch which will require a reboot

If your company is managing your patches via SCCM or some other patch technology they should absolutely be able to control when that patch is pushed to you and give you a warning. That's standard for the companies I've worked for/at.

[Daehawk]

That high school's full Alien play.

[Smoove_B]

Oh hey look, it's 10:40am -- time for a Scotch.

On Tequila Friday? That's weird...

I thought Tequila Friday started at 5pm?

[coopasonic]

I thought Tequila Friday started at 5pm?

Days generally start at midnight.

[Smoove_B]

Someone notify the admins - Greengoo has gained access to coop's account.

[Z-Corn]

I thought Tequila Friday started at 5pm?

Days generally start at midnight.

THIS non-drinker even gets it!

[Z-Corn]

Oh hey look, it's 10:40am -- time for a Scotch.

On Tequila Friday? That's weird...

I thought Tequila Friday started at 5pm?

Pizza is served at 5pm. You wanna be drunk for pizza don't you?

[coopasonic]

Someone notify the admins - Greengoo has gained access to coop's account.

Ouch man.

j/k Goo.

[Daehawk]

Im starting to think me having to live past my wife's death is some form of torture for past wrongs Ive done.

[Default]

Im starting to think me having to live past my wife's death is some form of torture for past wrongs Ive done.

No, D, them's just the breaks. I was saying to my ex at my son's birthday dinner, that I don't expect to go past 75. This was modified this week when I found out that the girl that started the same day as I did, died last month. None of us will know when it's our time, and it's just going to be random. Your wrongs are in the past, and nothing you did deserves torture.

[dbt1949]

Im starting to think me having to live past my wife's death is some form of torture for past wrongs Ive done.

Do you really think your wife is looking down on you from heaven saying "I'm sure glad he thinks this way?"

[Daehawk]

That was mostly tongue in cheek. Just SO much stress and problems and worries. Im back on blood pressure medicine too because of it.

But as to your question...no. My wife would say live. Have fun. Life is short. But my life is no longer my life. Its a terrible thing to be alive for me and all the crap I have to go through day after day after day . And most of it is still not fixed. I could still lose our home over a shitty bit left on the house to pay. We were so close on so many things. If Id had $200 more than I do each month it would all be ok. But I dont so it isn't. Also pain. Lots of pain.

[RunningMn9]

You said most people should expect something crazy like a lifetime average of 12% a year.

Going back to some time in the late 1800s, the average annual return for real estate is something like 5%. However, real estate bubbles and limited time horizons can blow that out of the water in the (relative) short term.

[Daehawk]

Local news was a drunk driver lost control of his truck and plowed through a cemetery destroying some headstones. They were asking people who had family there what they thought. It hit me that if it was me Id like his vehicle taken and sold and the money used for repairs. And he should be out there helping with all that then caring for the entire things for many years to come.....on top of prison and fines of course. Im really sick of drunks behind the wheel.

[Daehawk]

Was watching a show on DVR tonight. It was Station 19. One of the shows me and my wife watched. On it tonight was a person's death. I was doing good and being calm through it all. But it wasn't the death that got me in the end...it was the voice over one of the characters spoke while her character was grieving....something like.....

"When a person dies their face is not there anymore. The touch of their hand is gone. The warmth you knew is lost. Their heartbeat disappears."

Something like that anyways. And it was that heartbeat part that broke me. My wife had heart troubles. Over many years she'd have me listen to her heart to see whats up when she felt off or sick from it. Instead of the normal bump bump Id hear like bump bumpbump ...bump bumpbump. her rhythm almost killed her a couple times. After her heart surgery I never heard a missed beat. It was always a perfect bump bump....bump bump and very strong.

So hearing those words reminded me of those times Id listen to her heart with my head on her chest. Hearing her life change from uncertainty to a great life. To see her smile when I told her how perfect it was. It reminded me of that night in that cold hospital room where it simply beat down and slowed to nothing. A rough thing.

I still have to FF on stuff where CPR is done along with hospital alarm sounds. But I wasn't expecting those words to hit me tonight.

[Daehawk]

Bout of insomnia has hit me. Seems to be a night of reflection and posting. And sad too tonight. Nothing new.

Turned on the tv to bore me and it hit me.

My first thought "If I was 20 years younger."

My second thought "If I was 20 years younger Id still be 30 damn years old!"

Lol. I am old. Also on the 9th Ill be 50. This is the first birthday since my 18th that Donna isn't with me. Knowing her she would have done something neat for my 50th.

[Daehawk]

Any way to track down old mutual funds with barely any info? I remember my father in law bought a few thousand dollars worth in the 1990s from his savings. But I only have his name to go on. I dont know who he bought them from, the ones he bought or his SS#. I wasn't involved. I just remember a guy coming out and my wife told me what he was doing. Bought it. SO Im thinking not likely.

[Isgrimnur]

Check with the state for abandoned property.

[Isgrimnur]

When the wheel falls off the lawnmower, that’s a good time to quit doing yard work for the day.

[Daehawk]

Gotta go downtown Chattanooga to get the papers for my surgery tomorrow. Going to be a weird or tough mentally drive. You go through tunnels to get there. I haven't been that far or through those tunnels since my wife died. Its a long drive. Without her with me its going to feel tons worse Im sure. The memories will hit me too as its where we went to doctors since about 1990. Without her with me I just dont know what Ill mentally be like tomorrow.

Next week is surgery. Again Ill be in a hospital with the smells, the sounds, and the bed like my wife was at the end. My last memories of her were those.

Going to be a tough couple weeks. As if the last 16 weren't .

[Unagi]

Its a long drive. Without her with me its going to feel tons worse Im sure. The memories will hit me too as its where we went to doctors since about 1990. Without her with me I just dont know what Ill mentally be like tomorrow.

I think this would be a really great time to reach out to your sister for some support.
Really. Call her now... Let her know. From what you have shared, she seems to care and want to help and I think she would, and it would be good for both of you.
Please, give her a call.

[dbt1949]

When the wheel falls off the lawnmower, that’s a good time to quit doing yard work for the day.

Ditto except it went flat (riding mower) and now I have to find someplace to put air into it. Tubeless so car air compressor can't do it.

[hitbyambulance]

mentioned eariler - i had a moderate concussion seven days ago from the bicycle accident. i'm returning to work tomorrow, but on a potential part-time basis for the next week (i have a doctor's note). i believe i can handle it - i just tend to get mentally fatigued easily. so if i'm done with working for the day, i'll leave.

[dbt1949]

Did you wear a helmet?

[hitbyambulance]

yup, dented it.

[Apollo]

When the wheel falls off the lawnmower, that’s a good time to quit doing yard work for the day.

Ditto except it went flat (riding mower) and now I have to find someplace to put air into it. Tubeless so car air compressor can't do it.

Try wrapping a bungee cord or even a belt around the circumference of the tire to squeeze it down onto the rim before putting air in. If you can just get a little bit of air in, the tire will seal to the wheel and you can pump it up no problem.

[dbt1949]

Thanks! I'll give her a try.