Server Uptime: Over 800 Days!
For those fellow nerds, this is a pretty good accomplishment:
top - 14:22:58 up 835 days, 14:17, 1 user, load average: 0.04, 0.04, 0.00
Uptime
Pretty impressive uptime on the server:
top - 22:24:29 up 738 days, 23:19, 1 user, load average: 0.00, 0.04, 0.01
Site Format Changed (Finally!)
Well friends, I’ve decided to update the site to a more picture friendly website considering that most of my posts now involve pictures of our family. I’ve got to iron out the archives pages, but that will come soon. There are also some other cool features with this template as well, but the old one had to definitely go. You can do searches by category at the top of the site if your interested in finding specific posts that suit your viewing pleasure. Otherwise you can simply use the search drop down at the top and search by a key word.
On a side note, I left Speakeasy last month due to a significant economic change there. The primary drivers are a change in business direction and I decided it was best to take an exit and continue to further my career elsewhere. Right now I’m interviewing and am being fairly selective about it as well as reviewing a couple of start up opportunities. For those of you that know me, that’s how I got started in internet/hosting years back.
Hope you are all well, expect much more frequent updates. I may even begin to blog about my experiences about working at a company like Speakeasy and going through the various milestones of the BestBuy acquisition and post acquisition. Until then, be well!
Site Updated
Well, I successfully updated the site without it breaking. Now I’m going to be dropping in a new site design, gallery, Google search features, etc. You’ll see a lot more posts here - got so much to tell and show!
Mike
Updating the site, It may break
Hi Friends - i’ll be updating the site to the latest wordpress platform as the one it’s currently on is WAY outdated. I’ve been holding off on a lot of posts, pictures, videos until I get the site updated. The reason being is that I’m not sure what’s going to break, work, etc - especially videos. If all goes to plan, should happen relatively quickly. If the site breaks, I’ll have to re-upload the old site.
Uptime
up 374 days, 23 min, 1 user, load average: 0.00, 0.00, 0.00
Previous was around 500-something days. Long ways to go still 
Welp, Time to update the Server
It’s been a long time. First the server was up for over 550 days. Now it’s been up for over 350 days. And this server is super-old as well, so I fear that it’s going to croak on me soon. I’ll be migrating to a new server and hopefully I won’t have any issues. I’m running FC3 so I should be ok in regards to newer hardware, etc. I’ll try and let everyone know when it happens.
Free FTP Client - FireFTP
If you are looking for a great FTP client, I’ve been using FireFTP which is a plugin to Mozilla’s FireFox browser. I had spent the last few months looking for a FTP client that would work with the Mac like I want it to. I had been using CuteFTP with my previous windows machine, but now that I’ve switched to OSX I wasn’t so sure. The tab feature is nice on FireFTP as it provides you a status as you browse other website.
Fast and easy, just like I like it (… not to mention FREE!).
Ok, Ok I Hear Ya; The Blue Swirl Is Gone
So if you’ve been a frequent visitor of this site over the past year and a half, you will have noticed the same static image set as the header of this website. Well, it’s finally gone! I’ve added several photos that rotates as you click… enjoy!
Uptime
up 585 days, 22:37, 1 user, load average: 0.03, 0.02, 0.00
Blogging Absence, But Kinda…
So, if you’ve been browsing this site over the past year and a half, you’ve noticed a bunch of articles. However, as of late I’ve been posting a lot of videos and pictures, but not a lot of real updates.
There’s been a lot going on with the family and myself as of late; especially with Ella growing, Jenn keeping our family in order, and myself with Speakeasy. The BestBuy acquisition has been good, but really keeping us busy up at work. I’ve been traveling a lot to Seattle and back. And Jenn and Ella are just bee-boppin’ like normal.
At any rate, I’ll be writing more. Updates on the family, life, and some articles like I used to do. Stay tuned for some more videos, too!
Uptime
up 509 days, 20:33, 1 user, load average: 0.03, 0.05, 0.01
So My Wife Wants to Blog…
I have been finding Jenn sifting through our friends’ blogs for a while now and I’ve been encouraging her to begin writing and posting her own pics… here on my blog. At first it’s “I don’t have the time” and now it’s “your URL is ‘itsmike’… and I’m not Mike!”
I try and reason with her - like how ‘itsmike.net’ is so unique that she should be proud of my wittiness (that didn’t work). Or how I’ve got some street cred by posting so many blogs (she doesn’t care). Or how a lot of our friends & family already come to this site (she hasn’t commented).
So I came up with some good domains for her (which may just forward to my site anyway). Here goes…
1) “oksoitsjenn.com”, or;
2) “oksoitsjenntoo.com”, or;
3) “itsmikeandnowjenn.com”
Don’t worry, this blog won’t go away, but I’m going to have to figure something out now. Eitherway, I’ll put it up on the server - which by the way has been up 436 days now
Comments… it’s a no-go
Heya folks. If you’ve been posting comments and awaiting for approval, then I’ve deleted them. Not by choice you see, but rather by the sheer volume of spam this blog has been receiving. I’m going to update the site soon (and hopefully not break it), but that’s going to take a few. How long is a few? Who knows… but I’ll let you know when it happens.
Uptime
Finally, the 1-year mark has been passed on the server.
up 389 days, 22:15, 1 user, load average: 0.00, 0.00, 0.00
Uptime
up 344 days, 21:43, 1 user, load average: 0.11, 0.03, 0.01
It’s Mike: 1-Year Anniversary
Well, exactly 1 year ago today I started writing and blogging on my own server! I’ve written 167 articles during that time frame and can say that I’ve really enjoyed keeping up with my blog. It initially started out to simply write about life, technology, and work, but grew to so much more. It ended up being more about articles on items that I’m passionate about (excluding work for obvious reasons) such as Technology, Internet, Athletics, as well as a lot about my family, pictures, and videos. So I guess I would classify my blog as more of a multimedia type experience given the videos, content, and pictures that I have published. I even had fun with some photoshop to spice things up a bit (sorry Ella, I love you though!)
I’m also amazed at all the folks that visit my site as well. While I obviously don’t get many comments (55 to date), I am often told by friends, family members, and colleagues that they visit my blog frequently. So many thanks to all of you that read it and have a glimpse of the different aspects of my life and family. We are truly blessed by it all and love sharing in our experiences.
To my Ella - You are truly a blessing in my life. Watching you grow over the past 14 months has been amazing. Words cannot express the joy that I have when I am around you and when you smile, talk, garble, yack, clap, hug, kiss, slap, and gaze at me. You are an inspiration to your Mother and I and we will always love you, teach you, care for you, be an example of God’s word to you, pray for you, and provide you the best life we are physically able to provide. You love it when I sing to you, play with you, walk and talk with you, kiss and hug on you, and read to you. Your smile, your cute little curls, and your big-blue eyes will always be forever burned in my mind.
To my Wife, Jennifer - Since the day that I met you I have loved you. You constantly amaze me with your patience, gratitude, warmth, desire for Christ, and being the best Mommy in the world. I truly could not succeed at life without you and know with out a doubt that you are in fact my soul mate. Your encouragement and voice are always on my mind, bringing peace to me daily. It’s been a joy and blessing to be married to you for 5 years, 6 months! You are my best friend, my companion, my love, by sweetheart, inspiration, and motivation in Christ. Words can’t begin to express my thanks and all I know to say is “Thank you for loving me”.
Uptime
up 320 days, 22:37, 1 user, load average: 0.15, 0.04, 0.01
The Secret So Secret That No One Knew About It…
So Jenn’s grandparents just had their 60th wedding anniversary, which was one of the best displays of Christ in a family as I have ever seen. From their Grandparents to all the family members involved (I estimated about 50 people) compassion, thoughtfulness, and Christ was truly the focal point throughout the entire event. The Neal family is very passionate about family and therefore was a big encouragement to me as I continue to raise mine.
So what’s the big secret that was oh so secret?
Well, you see they did a lot of recognitions for all the persons involved in making this happen, which by the way was a huge secret to Jenn’s grandparents. Jenn and family spent 2 months planning this thing and communicating with all family members - it was truly a big ordeal. However, no one recognized that I had a play in this too! You see, I created the space, storage, and website for building a slide show that was shown during the party. Yup, I helped! Oh well, there’s always next time.
Code name: secretftpupload (read: Secret FTP Upload)
No really, my feelings aren’t hurt - it was really nice getting to be a part of it all and enjoying the experience. Congrats Mimi & Papa!
Gmail: It’s a Must
Back last summer I wrote an article on Gmail and why you should use it. Because I’m a heavy email user that uses several email addresses for several reasons, I receive a lot of messages - whether that be from friends, family, colleagues, companies, etc. Because some folks I know don’t have the best mail practices and are constantly getting their inboxes owned by viruses, I want to reiterate why Gmail is one of the next best things in managing your mail.
Uptime
up 202 days, 22:08, 1 user, load average: 0.00, 0.00, 0.00