2020-04-23:

Fri:

The work continues. We did not, however, get the promised plug in and won't get it until maybe tuesday? He wasn't sure. So we carried on.
I did more testing of the various features in the new software, had a meeting about a bug I had written, and helped reproducing it. Had some problems updating one machine, it didn't want to reboot. Even from the printer itself when I hit reboot it just sat there. Had to manually power it down, start the upgrade again, and that did it. We had gotten a special build of a few models to fix the (to re-fix?) card login issue so I was mainly doing that. As it was all set up it went pretty well.

Went to the store, more people wore masks than didn't, despite it not being needed until after today. You go, society! You go! Got what I needed, didn't even have to wait today, and that was that. Saw my parents, and came back here.

Got both my covid relief check and my tax refund so maybe this year I won't get bugged again and again by them for unspecified information they already have.

Put stuff away, was trying to fix some bugs in the battlerunner but it needs more work. What was I thinking??? I think I have a solution to my current problem though. I was waiting for game to begin but Jon got in late, so it wasn't 6:30 or 7:00 or even 8:00 which is fine, less game means less I have to plan for later.

I must have been doing something right, we didn't stop until 12:30. They got their next hook, they can hang out until the meeting with the the world leaders, and then see about heading back... into spaaaaaccceeeeee.

Sat:
Much was done in the morning. I deposited my one check that I had remotely. I did the dishes and cleaned a bit. I gave up on the plant I found and tossed it in the bin. Which I drilled holes in so it gets air, water, and drainage. I did all three, of course. I put the code changes in and they seem to work. I say seem to because every time I think it's okay I go to use it and it's not. That's what happens when coders test their own code. (not naming any company names)

Installed the game Sean wants us to play next, as I can get it for free because it's a 2 player game and he has a copy.

And it was only 1:00. I admit I got up at 10:00 or I would have been earlier.

Then I finished up playing Shantae, and had Dad over. We finished up Dr Who. Didn't do the breakout game with Sean, he said it was too late.

Sun:
Put the comics into the database first thing, figured I would get it out of the way as I hadn't done it last week.

Checked sites.

Played some arcade games, haven't done that in forever. I am really bad at Galaga but at least it doesn't cost me quarters anymore. Actually with electricity costs and amortizing the cost of the parts to make the cabinet, do you think it costs me more than a quarter? I suppose at least part of that cost will go down as the per game cost is averaged out over time so only the electric costs matter in the end.

Moved some shows and movies around on my drives. Yes, it was a fairly boring day, thanks for asking. But it needed to be done.

Wrote chapter 4. It wasn't until that night that I solidified what I wanted chapter 5 to be. More dream stuff, I was getting ready for bed and thought "what about something with the Mana tree?" I think it'll work out perfectly.

Watched some movies.

Two calls, the lady with the dead keyboard got a new machine (stupidly, instead of having me get her a refurb unit but whatever) so I'll go over there tomorrow and get it set up. And another call about a clogged printer head. People, stop buying inkjet printers!

Mon:
Started the morning with the color table test. It looked just as bad as the previous test so it wasn't the printer I did it on.
Then I did another card test on a little machine, which was fine.

After lunch I worked on the new blackboard box I got when Kevin picked up the printouts from the morning. The code isn't supposed to be in until the 28th at least but you know me, hope springs eternal and all that. Also looked at the other two projects that are coming, as I had the build loaded already. No good, nothing is in. Ah well, I tried.

Did the easiest to do test on the color table machine, just to say I had done it another time. Honestly I think we've got this stuff tested but until something new comes in, may as well get more coverage on it.

Went to the lady's house to set up the new machine. Got stuck for 2 hours changing the "permissions" on 250,000+ google chrome files. Finally figured out a way to do the copy without that, (after like an hour) but of course it still had to copy all those files that I later threw in the trash. I'll have to make up a little script that does a better job using the command than just "copy everything."

So I didn't get home until 7:00. Ate a quick dinner. One call, a guy with a few questions, I gave what help I could. I can tell you what to do but you're the one that has to do it.

And called the guy with the iPad as the power adapter came, he'll come to get everything tomorrow.

Checked sites, got ready for bed, and was just in time for the 8:30 thing with the others.

So yeah, it was a good day. Until it wasn't. I know exactly what I want the next chapter to be too, not going to get a chance to do it until Wednesday though, if we still do the breakout game tomorrow. Ah well.

Tues:
So today was my one day to do USDA, got a new build which is still not complete apparently the voice part wasn't built right by the company they are licensing that from. But at least I was able to verify some things were fixed, though of course more things popped up.

Christina took over one of my requests, it was "everybody ask Robert to do something" day. Kevin wanted printouts from 3 different models to see what the blue looked like. Don wanted some user guide stuff looked over. (3 of them) He also wanted the new build of VersaLink checked to see if the one feature was in there now. And Joe wanted the new NEATS card code looked at. I'm only one person you know?

So I did the reading, sent back feedback, Christina took the NEATs card, so tomorrow I'll have another USDA meeting and then move (back) to the versalink.

Windy out today.

Came back home, at 5:00 the guy came for the iPad and router, have fun with that. Checked sites, ate dinner.

Wed:
Ugh, there was all kinds of snow on the ground, and apparently a fair share of accidents on the road, despite the fact very few should be out there.
I got to work just fine, the parking lot was fairly icy. Rainbow Brite, get on the case already! What, did Stormy win this year?

Had the meeting with USDA, just going over my bugs and what should be fixed for later.
Then just kept plugging away. Got through two models for the card test, printed the blue logo so someone else could look at tomorrow, tried to catch a bird that had somehow gotten inside the lab??!!! and helped Christina a little on the test she was doing.

So yeah, pretty boring today. Sorry.

Came back here, checked sites, the usual again, got ready for bed in case Sean wanted A Way Out.
Did more writing, finally. At least a few sentences, as Sean was ready right after that. We finished the game!

Thurs:
Mostly more of the same today. Finished up another card test in the morning, supposedly we're getting the final build of that software tomorrow so I guess I'll just spot check it on maybe 2-3 models and call it done.

We got the new plug in, as expected it didn't work, and both cards failed differently. But at least it was a quick test.

Worked on the blue printouts with Jen, she suggested a V3 driver not V4 (yes, windows machines can have two "classes" of drivers because they make good decisions) and the graininess of the one printout went away. Neat. The PDF still prints too light which is weird.

Checked the servers for updates.

Got the news that FX will be shutting down for 3 weeks. Aren't you a little late for that? Well, anyway, there go final builds of things I guess. There was really only one major problem anyway which is too bad, it could have gone out as it was, pretty much.

Had the meeting, and then went to water the plants. Saw the bird again, still kicking, over by the big windows wondering why they could see the outside but not go outside. Tried to throw something over it but it wouldn't let me get anywhere near enough. Sorry little one, if you had trusted me a little you could have gone back outside. Poor thing will die of thirst at this rate.

Came back home, one call, someone who can't get their machine started. From the sounds of it, their monitor backlight has gone, as the monitor seems to turn on but doesn't show a picture. So I have to go over there. Oh well.

Also talked to the lady from yesterday, just doing a few things to a Mac. No big deal. Got ready for tomorrow, what new and exciting challenges will it bring?

Then did the new content in Borderlands with Sean and Mizzy.

Future time! Shopping and gas tomorrow, and of course seeing my parents who normally would be in Pennsylvania right now. Then we'll do Sean's game, more space combat? Yay?

Then of course whatever I can come up with over the weekend. It might get up to 55 on Saturday! So warm.

One week of April left, hope it's been as good to you as your personal situation allows. See you all next week!