Blessed with every spiritual blessing

Tonight's reading: Ephesians 1-2

To the praise of His glory (1:3-14)

1. Elect: He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world
   
2. Adopted: having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself
   
3. Accepted: He made us accepted in the Beloved
   
4. Redeemed: In Him we have redemption through His blood
   
5. Forgiven: In Him we have ... the forgiveness of sins
   
6. Rich: We have ... the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence
   
7. Knowledge: having made known to us the mystery of His will
   
8. Inheritance: In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will
   
9. Saved: In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation
   
10. Sealed: in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession
    

God's sovereignty in salvation

1. (4) He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world
   
2. (5) predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ
   
3. (5) according to the good pleasure of His will
   
4. (9) according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself
   
5. (11) predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will
   
6. (19) the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power
   
7. (22) He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church
   

myFICO® Identity Theft Security Deluxe

Here is a great service (that I subsribe to):

Benefits:

1. Tracks your TransUnion credit report and more than 400 other data sources for signs of identity theft
   
2. Provides identity theft resolution help should you become a victim
   
3. Includes identity theft insurance coverage up to $25,000 from St. Paul Travelers
   

Overview

Why I use this service:

1. Quarterly reporting of my credit report
   
2. Quarterly reporting of my FICO score
   
3. Alerts for various parameters that I have set
   
4. Identity theft protection and insurance.
   

Very cool picture

A Spot in the Sun

Looks like a Nerf Ball.

Nerf Ball

Nerf Ball history

Not much of a day off

Kathee and I had the day off but ended up working until 12:30

Kathee made a nice breakfast for Roger, her and me: grits, eggs, toast, coffee & juice.

We both logged onto work and worked until 12:30 ... then

1. We drove out to Watertown and had lunch at "R & B's" (Rico's and Betty's ... daughter Kelly was our waitress.)
   
2. We saw a weasel cross the road in front of us on County Road 6 in Plymouth. It is 4 lane there and we were surprised that it made it all the way across. Kathee looked back as cars braked for it. We debated whether it was a weasel or a ferret but consulting pics on the Internet, I'm sure it was a weasel.
   
3. Then drove out to Winsted
   
4. Up to Albion where we found a small Evang Free Church. Albion is the same size as Plymouth ... 35 square miles. But only has a population of 1126! (Plymouth is over 60,000)
   
5. Then up to Annandale ... switched drivers
   
6. Back to Plymouth
   

I got home and logged back on ... I had 24 new emails and 8 voice messages. Had to resolve this and that mostly pertaining to changes set to install next Tuesday.

Finally wrapped things up at 5. Kathee made grilled cheese and tomato sandwiches (a Friday night tradition). I balanced the checkbook.

We finished Galations (5 & 6) tonight. Kathee is doing counted cross stitch and I am watching the Twins.

We had a good discussion on "(1) Bear one another’s burdens ... (5) For each one shall bear his own load."

Kindof like Proverbs 26:4-5 "4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you also be like him. Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes."

Metro Women's Center

I've been asked to serve on the board of the Metro Womens Center and I am deeply honored.

Tonight Colleen and Steve Tronson came by the house to talk with Kathee and me about this. Action will be taken on my nomination at the annual meeting in October.

Long today (even though we had the day "off")

1. We both worked until noon.
   
2. I was paged at 1:00 p.m.
   
3. Errands this afternoon: car wash, shopping for a wedding gift for my nephew, CompUsa, new towels purchased at a linen store
   
4. Worked again from 4 until 5
   
5. Guests at the house from 7:30 until 9:00
   
6. Logged back onto work again at 9:30
   

Roger is now on my company laptop reworking his resume for the job he applied for yesterday. He needs to have his resume to the hiring manager by noon tomorrow.

Kathee and I read Galatians 3 & 4 tonight. 3:1 "O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth"

I think we will really take off tomorrow.

Got the estimate on the Saturn bumper - $ 688.00

Vista demo

Our Microsoft rep, Jeff, demo'd Vista to us yesterday. Pizza at 11:30 and the Vista presentation began (I was 8 min late and almost all the pizza was gone!)

What I saw and learned:

1. Our company standard for Vista requires 2 Gig of real memory!
   
2. Will require 2 Ghrz dual core processor
   
3. For "Aero" features will require a 128 MB video card
   
4. Jeff said that Vista was a lot of "eye candy" and it did look nice.
   
5. There are all kinds of neat gadgets (clock, feeds, etc) that display on the desktop
   
6. Office 2007 was also demo'd
   

My view: I am skeptical of Microsoft's operating systems and hope to be a late adopter. I know that Vista is in my future at the company. My own plan is to replace my personal laptop next year with a Mac with OS/X (built on Unix). I continue to utilize Suse Linux on a Pentium desktop for home use (email, HTML, FTP, finances (Moneydance))

The pizza was good ... Vista, I'm not ready for it yet!

Working wirelessly at home in bathrobe

Ain't life great!

I am only working until noon. I am using the newly released company wireless utility for connection to the company network. I used it last night for the first time and it works great. We are set to roll this utility out to 72,000 workstations starting in October and concluding by Thanksgiving.

The WIFI utility:

1. Prohibits dual connectivity to a wired and wireless network (security)
   
2. Forces connection to VPN (virtual private network) via Rova (in 5 min) or wireless is disabled.
   

The wireless utility is my company's secure answer to wireless connectivity.

My company Lenovo Thinkpad feels half the weight of my personal three year old Dell laptop.

4 day weekend

Roger and I read Acts 23 tonight. Kathee and I read Galatians 1 & 2.

Paul of Tarsus

We have a 4 day weekend ahead but I did some work tonight and will work tomorrow from about 9:30 until noon (Kathee too). We both have our laptops home. Our objective is to be logged off by lunch time and do something (ride, shopping, etc). I probably will work Friday for a couple of hours too.

Roger applied for a part time job at Wells in Institutional Brokerage. It would free him up to go to school full time. Something to pray about.

Retrospective on the Lordship Controversy

15 Year Retrospective on the Lordship Controversy

Examine yourselves

2 Cor 13:5 "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified"

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Kathee and I finished 2 Corinthians tonight and this verse stood out from the three chapters that we read.

Seems to me that 2 Peter 1:10 "Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble" teaches the same principle.

Condi on Bubba

Condi on Bubba

I believe Condi!

Dick Morris on Bubba

"Clinton never took the 1993 attack on the World Trade Center sufficiently seriously. He never visited the site and his only public comment was to caution against “over-reaction.” In his pre-9/11 memoirs, George Stephanopoulos confirms that he and others on the staff saw it as a “failed bombing” and noted that it was far from topic A at the White House"

John MacArthur: Lordship Salvation

John MacArthur: An Introduction to Lordship Salvation

I personally do not like the term "Lordship Salvation" (I really see MacArthur's view as the Calvinist view of salvation!), but here is a good article.

The truly saved individual will be marked (not perfectly but observably over time) by following Christ. I allow that there may be some Lot-like individuals who are saved but not apparently saved.

But I marvel that Christians are so sure of the salvation of recently dearly departed loved ones who have no observable evidence of salvation except a baptism certificate or confirmation statement or card signed as a child indicating that they "invited Christ into their heart".

The one who is saved ... will follow Christ. It is a work of the Holy Spirit!

Ephesians 2:8-10 "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them."

It's like the old saying "no fruitage ... no root-age"!

John 15:1-8 "“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will[b] ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples."

What isn't taught in Bible College

Or at least I have not observed it taught in fundamental Bible colleges:

1. The truth about Romans 14 and tolerance among believers over differences over preferences. At Haddon Heights Baptist, when I was an Assistant Pastor and only preached 4 times a year (and only on Sunday nights) - I preached on Romans 14 and caught all kinds of HEAT! Sad! That church - then over 100 years old - had never been taught Romans 14!
   
2. That tithing is not a New Testament command
   
3. That drinking is not prohibited in the Bible
   
4. That the Christian life is meant to be lived without an organization imposing rules on the believer. (And most preachers graduate from a school with rules upon rules and carry that mentality to the church)
   
5. The role of a woman in marriage and the balance between true male leadership and love for his spouse.
   

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Tonight's Bible readings:

Kathee and me: 2 Cor 9 & 10

2 Cor 9:7, "So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver"


Roger, Kathee and me: Acts 20

Acts 20:7-12 "Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight. 8 There were many lamps in the upper room where they were gathered together. 9 And in a window sat a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep. He was overcome by sleep; and as Paul continued speaking, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. 10 But Paul went down, fell on him, and embracing him said, “Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him.” 11 Now when he had come up, had broken bread and eaten, and talked a long while, even till daybreak, he departed. 12 And they brought the young man in alive, and they were not a little comforted"

New Desktop Image on 43.4% of desktops

Status at end of day today:

Image	Count	Percent
2.23	24640	43.4%
2.22	9540	16.8%
2.21	8675	15.2%
2.20	13862	24.4%
Pre 2.20	112	0.2%
	56829

Target is to have all workstations at 2.23 release level by the end of October!

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1. I worked until 6:00 p.m.
   
2. Kathee worked until 7:00 and came home on the 7:10 bus
   

Exploding Diet Pepsi Bottle

I went down to the ING cafeteria on the 4th floor. Since I walk with two crutches picking up things (while I am standing) is a bit of a challenge. But I picked up (holding the bottle cap tightly between my thumb and index finger while gripping my left crutch) a 16 oz plastic (I'm glad it was plastic!) bottle of diet Pepsi.

In the checkout line, it slipped from my hand and landed on the bottle bottom on the tile. The bottle exploded open from the top spraying my pants, crutches, shirt, face and glasses.

It definitely was not a pleasant experience. I cleaned up the best I could in the rest room but still feel sticky. I can't wait to get home and shower (and also clean off my my crutches which are still sticky).

Kathee just emailed me to say she will be late ... so I will be sticky for an extra hour.

Adventures in Auto Insurance Claims

Geico informed me that there "is a problem" with the insurance with the owner and they (Geico) is not likely to pay the claim. (I am not blaming Geico! Sounds like the insured did not pay their insurance).

Allstate to the rescue: but I have to pay the $ 500. deductable.

I documented all in the accident report: The driver who hit my car from behind does not appear to have current Minnesota auto insurance (according to the Geico claims specialist)

Dr Crane: Pillsbury Bible College

Dr Crane of Pillsbury Baptist Bible College was the morning speaker at Fourth this morning.

We had as guests today: Chris (my nephew from Fort Worth), Eliot (Rachel's boyfriend), Rachel (home for the weekend), and Kristy (Rachel's roommate).

Roger (my Son) chatted with Dr Crane afterwards. They have in common that they both are Marines and both trained at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego. Dr Crane joined the Marines in 1952, Roger in 2001 (49 years apart!). Dr Crane asked Roger if the Quonset Huts are still there. They are ... but not used for recruit barracks anymore!

I mowed just the fronts (my yard and Mrs. Finke's) today as the backs are too wet.

Nephew Chris and Son Roger making Enchiladas for dinner tonight. Chris returns to Dallas tomorrow.

Minneapolis Site-Seeing

Kathee made breakfast for 8: My family (Roger, Rachel, Nathan, me, and herself), Chris, and Kathy and Roger.

What: Pancakes, juice, coffee, lingonberries. Kathee ran out of buckwheat mix and made a second batch from scratch.

Rachel and I went by the Plymouth police department to pick up the accident report form. I tried again to call the woman who hit our car but her cell phone does not work. I asked the police if it was a crime to not have insurance and he said it is a misdemeanor. If it turns out that their insurance has lapsed and that Geico will not pay, I am resolved to make sure charges are filed.

Kathee made a light lunch of fruit and cheese. Afterwards we:

1. Mill City Museum
   
2. The Guthrie
   

My legs were tired so Kathee and I returned home. Roger, Chris, Rachel, and Nathan are still site-seeing.

Kathee is making Cincinnati Chili and we are expecting all back to the house at 6 (including Brother).

Tomorrow: Church at 4th. We should have a full pew: Rachel, Chris (nephew), Kristy (Rachel's roommate), Kathee, Roger, and me!

Major Dick Winters on Leadership

From Beyond Band of Brothers: The War Memoirs of Major Dick Winters


"First and foremost, a leader should strive to be an individual of flawless character, technical competence, and moral courage" (p. 284)

"The Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia, has defined leadership in just two words via its motto: 'Follow me!'. Never ask your team to do something you wouldn't do yourself" (p. 286)

Minor Accident

My nephew Chris flew in from Dallas today and Rachel picked him up at the airport. On the way back to the house, Rachel's Saturn was hit from behind by a Ford Taurus on US Hwy 169 in Minnetonka.

If (really when!) you are in an accident, make sure you get the correct information. The back of one's insurance card has a list:

1. Driver's name and address
   
2. Auto owner's name and address
   
3. Auto owner's insurance policy
   
4. License plate number
   
5. Driver's driver's license number
   
6. Phone #'s, etc
   

Our situation today. Our rear bumper (2004 Saturn) is damaged (I'm guessing will have to be replaced!). The car at fault (our car was rear ended) is insured by Geico.

When I call Geico today they informed me that "there was a problem with the insurance" but the Geico claims agent would not elaborate. What this means, I do not know but I fear that I may have to pay the repair costs myself. I should know more this week.

Mankato trip

We took off yesterday and drove to Mankato in a cold driving rain. Rachel received a scholarship from GMAC and there was a scholarship reception at 4:30.

We arrived late at Rachel's apartment (about 4:35) and then did not make it to the reception until 4:55. The presentation and program did not begin until 5 so it wasn't a loss but the hor'devours were pretty much depleted.

After the presentation and program we went out to dinner at Neighbor's ... probably the only good restaurant in Mankato ... then drove home.

I hate driving in the rain ... and driving in the rain at night is even worse (at least it was not freezing rain!). Home at 9:05.

We had Scripture reading with Roger (Acts 19).


13-17 "Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17 This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified"

Seek ... Repent .. Believe

The Gospel in Acts 17:

1. so that they should seek the Lord (vs. 27)
   
2. God ... commands all men everywhere to repent (vs 30)
   
3. some men ... believed (vs 34)
   

Magic Typewriter Java Applet

Magic Typewriter Java Applet

Today I built a "News" page for my Release management website.

1. I researched all Desktop Connection news articles that I have written (and have not kept track of). They are on our Enterprise Field Operations website
   
2. I built a table in SQL Server: Headline, URL, News, Active_Flag, Ticker (plus a primary key called ID)
   
3. Cold Fusion populates the Applet code programmatically from the SQL Server table. Only the ones that have an active_flag =1 AND Ticker =1 go to the applet
   
4. Also on the same page, I have an archived list. All with an active_flag = 1 are displayed in a pull down form that brings up the news item in a new browser window.
   

1. One more business line - Wire Transfer Operations signed on for the upgrade
   
2. Another that put a hold on now go for 1400 workstations next Tuesday and Wednesday
   

The end of my day ... and a four day weekend ahead!

Steve Irwin Memorial

I watched the Steve Irwin Memorial service on the Discovery Channel tonight. Very good. I'm gonna miss him!

Steve Irwin Memorial

Lost in Translation

http://www.engrish.com

Assurance of the Resurrection

2 Corinthians 5:1-8 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, 3 if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. 4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.

The above is a portion from our Scripture reading tonight. This is my hope - to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord

News:

1. Kathee's coworker's home was destroyed by an F2 tornado Saturday. A tornado but no sirens
   
2. Cool today. About 49 degrees this morning. I walked 2 blocks outside from the parking garage to my building and it was cool (I only had a polo shirt on)
   
3. More progress on version upgrades.
   
   
   
   1. Today at 20,000 workstations of 57,000
      
   2. Signed up more for upgrades in September
      
   3. Cash Vault is going to take time. We are doing one vault October 8th. They are not going to commit to more unless this goes well.
      
   4. Card Services wants to do a pilot with approx 100 workstations before they commit. They have 2700 workstations.
      
   5. Deposit Risk Operations on board. 250 workstations
      
   6. Payment systems set to go with 900 workstations
      
   7. I made the same presentation to Wire Transfer Ops as I made to DRO but WTO has not bought in yet. Hope to have a commitment tomorrow.
      
   8. My PC "blue screened" twice today just after I used Cold Fusion to email .. once after emailing 250 ... once after emailing 200. Not sure why. Third time I processed mail I ran on remote CF server with no issues.
      
   
   

Josh Beer

Today was Josh Beer's last day at 4th Baptist. He and Anna are moving to Lancaster PA tomorrow.

Pastor preached on Phil 2:25-30 tonight;

25 Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need; 26 since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. 27 For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful. 29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem; 30 because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me.

Argument against violent conversion

From the Pope's comments the other day quoting Byzantine emperor Manuel II Paleologus

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached. ... God is not pleased by blood, and not acting reasonably is contrary to God's nature. Faith is born of the soul, not the body. Whoever would lead someone to faith needs the ability to speak well and to reason properly, without violence and threats... To convince a reasonable soul, one does not need a strong arm, or weapons of any kind, or any other means of threatening a person with death...."


Pope's speech

Homestead Mills

If you like pancakes you need to try the "Buckwheat Blend Pancake Mix" from Homestead Mills in Cook Minnesota.

We used to by this mix at Lund's in Plymouth, but they carry it no more. So now we order it directly from the husband and wife team that own Homestead Mills.

Today had some great fellowship with Pastor Bob Meredith of Emmaus Baptist. Topic was the website.

If you do any web work here are some helpful tools:

1. Edit Plus for HTML editing and
   
2. CuteFTP from Globescape
   
3. A good web hosting service is Truepath
   
4. How to Hide Your Email Address
   

Bob and I had lunch at "The Big Bowl" afterwards.

Now watching Notre Dame / Michigan football.

Nathan will be here for dinner tonight

the aroma of life leading to life

Bible reading: Kathee and I started 2 Corintians tonight: Some good verses and thoughts:

1. 1:3-4: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God
   
2. 1:8-9: For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life. Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead
   
3. 1:21-22, Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who also has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.
   
4. 2:15-16, For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. And who is sufficient for these things?
   

Work:

1. More signed on for image upgrade job. But one business line with distribution set to begin next week bailed today. Setback ... about 2000 systems
   
2. Set up three platform operations sites for manual onsite engineer updates of 60 systems.
   
3. Used local (on my Lenovo laptop) Cold Fusion server to send mail this afternoon. Does not time out like the IHS site.
   
4. Woman who was angry at me last week apologized today.
   
5. I just looked at last Friday's posting: This week I also:
   
   
   
   1. Wrote the WIFI Utility communication
      
   2. Wrote the Pointsec communication
      
   3. Wrote three FAQ's: Diskeeper, Upgrades, and Licensed Software. I have 22 FAQ's
      
   4. I estimate that I sent over 3000 emails this week.
      
   
   

Other: Meeting with Bob Meredith to discuss Emmaus Baptist website tomorrow.

Rachel got a job offer for after graduation.

Roger just home from work!

Thursday - Dinner with Pastor

Kathee and I met Pastor and Marie at the Macaroni Grill for dinner. Very nice. They came by the house for coffee and just left.

Work status: I have to get the current image upgrade out to 57,000 desktops by the end of October. This week I am at 19,000 or a little more than 30%.

Today I set up another 1500 to migrate to the new release. I used Cold Fusion and CFMAIL to send emails out to each. I added more personalization to the emails this time (in response to my mailing to weeks ago where people weren't sure if they should have received the email)

1. I added a box with the person's user name
   
2. with their system name (takes the form of DTCnnnxxxxnnn)
   
3. with their version (eg. 2.20, 2.21, etc). I am upgrading folk to 2.23
   
4. Also I upgraded my email message with additional content and a link to a 5 page PPT slide show. Also to my WFDC website with FAQs, tip of the day, and feedback forms.
   

I have an new email address just for this purpose. So I use this email for the sending (and that way my own email does not fill up)

The big push is on to get final groups on board. I have about 7-10 groups with large numbers of workstations that I have had little contact with. I'm guessing (will need to look tomorrow) that this represents 10,000 desktops.

Quiet at the house. Kathee reading the paper. Almost time for bed.

Annual Credit Report

Don't be fooled by the pay sites!

DON'T FALL FOR FREECREDITREPORT.COM

See links for the free annual credit report.

www.annualcreditreport.com

9/11/2001 Memories

Kathee and I road the bus that morning. A young man on the bus was listening to the radio and received the news. He announced "a plane has hit the World Trade Tower".

That day I had an important meeting with Mel Reis. I had just been reorganized into his organization. I walked over to the NOC from 111 Washington and when I arrived on LL3, there was a large group of people congregated in the Technical Conference Room.

It was about 8:50 a.m. I went into the conference room where CNN was on a large screen.

After my meeting with Mel, I walked back to 111 Washington. My office was on the 8th floor there. At about noon there was a voluntary evacuation of 111 Washington. Turns out the FBI is also in this building.

I did not evacuate that time. I called Kathee and we agreed to keep working.

At about 2:00 I was notified that there was now a mandatory evacuation of my building. When I arrived at the skyway level of 111 Washington there were FBI agents with machine guns.

Kathee and I met up outside and walked to the bus stop and caught the early bus home.

Roger was at Camp Pendleton CA for USMC combat training, but Rachel and Nathan were at the house when we arrived home.

Roger heard the news in an unusual way. He had cut his nose (combat training) and was with a Navy Corpman getting patched up. He received the news from this man. Later in the day a battalion commander - a Captain - gave Roger's platoon the news. It was not until Sunday when he had a day off that he was able to see still pictures of the tragedy.

Our world changed that day. War came to our shores. For my Mother she experienced as she was engaged to be married on the day we were attacked at Pearl Harbor.

Saturday ... rest and errands

I was really ready for this weekend

1. Kathee and I slept in until 8
   
2. Kathee's special buckwheat pancakes w lingonberries
   
3. We read the Star Tribune over coffee. I also read the Thursday USA Today which arrived one day late and which I did not read yesterday
   
4. To the Mall to get a new battery in my watch. I bought a lifetime watch replacement program about 7 years ago and used it again today. I looked at new watches but did not buy!
   
5. Kathee got gas for the mower and filled up the John Deere for me. I mowed our yard and Mrs. Finke's
   
6. We saw a doe and 2 fawn in our yard today. First time in 10 years that we have seen this
   
7. Roger at USMC reserves and we will not see him until tomorrow night
   
8. Tonight we plan to watch Then End of the Spear
   
9. Tomorrow ... church at 4th Baptist
   

End of week status at work

More business units have signed on for the image upgrade:

1. One business group with 7000 workstations
   
2. Another with 1000
   
3. Another with 300
   
4. More to go: One group having an application issue with a vendor product that needs to be remediated.
   

Next week I need to focus on user communications on:
* Our WIFI utility
* Pointsec
* Package retirement

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Roger has USMC reserves all weekend and we won't see him until Sunday night. Roger and I completed Acts 11 this week.

I am ready for the weekend

Three presentations today at work

I made three presentations today at work:

* To ATM Ops. They have 280 workstations that need upgrading. Got their buy in ... EZ.
* To Wholesale. They have about 500 workstations that need upgrading. Also got their buy in (in concept) but need to have another mtg to work out the date.
* To another much larger group that was more general. More work to do on this one.

Coffee with Scott at 9:15 ... always a highlight of the week.

Tomorrow is payday and Friday. But a busy day ahead

Acts 10

Roger, Kathee and I are going through the book of Acts 1 chapter at a time. Since Roger gets home from work late (8:00), then runs and eats, we normally do not do this until 10:00 at night.

Peter's message:

34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. 35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. 36 The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all— 37 that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. 39 And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they[e] killed by hanging on a tree. 40 Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42 And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. 43 To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”

Tuesday ... back to work

What a great weekend we had!

Last night we had John (Principal of our church school), his wife Cheryl, and their daughter Meg by for dinner. Great fellowship. Brother (Roger) and his wife Kathy joined us for dessert.

Kathee made:
* steak
* greek salad
* corn on the cobb
* red potatoes
* fancy bread from Lund's
* brownies with vanilla ice cream and raspberries

Roger marinated and grilled the steaks. Plus cleaned up the table, served ice cream and cleaned up the kitchen. What a fine Son I have!

Today Roger ran 3.7 miles. He is working in prep for his USMC PFT this weekend. I think he is ready.

Back to reality today. Boss was gone all last week so I brought him up to date on all activity. Hectic week ahead.

19 years ago today

I broke my neck on Labor Day 1987. I was 38. It was a beautiful day in Colorado. I had done errands all around the house. The only two I remember were repairing shutters on the 2nd floor and repairing my fence gate.

That afternoon we were at friends' and I was on a trampoline. I was flipped off as I was getting off the trampoline and I landed on my head.

I broke my neck at C-4/C-5. I was paralyzed. I don't remember much else but this is what I remember from that day.

1. I was on my face on the ground and one of the lenses from my glasses was over my mouth. I could not breath and I could not move
   
2. Someone rolled me over onto my back. My arms and hands were frozen stiff in my last move to protect myself.
   
3. I was "in and out". The reason why is that when the paramedics arrived my blood pressure was 60 over 0. I was blue and dying.
   
4. Oxygen! Paramedics arrived. One talked to me.
   
5. I prayed "into Thy hands I commend my spirit". I was ready to "go" and that that was it
   
6. Ride to Swedish Hospital. Mostly fade to black but I remember part of the ride
   
7. I woke up in a CAT scan tube and I moved my leg slightly. Someone said "don't move" ... fade to black
   

I woke up .. not sure when ... the next day I suppose. I was in intensive care. The next 6 days I have almost no memory of at all. I was heavily drugged.

Labor Day 2006

Saturday:

1. I mowed yard and Mrs. Finke's yard. Mrs Finke was having a yard sale so I only mowed her back yard.
   
2. Roger and Nathan trimmed the willows and cleaned out dead wood.
   
3. Rachel up for the St Fair
   
4. Kathee and I watched King Kong (2005) on DVD. Disappointing and long.
   

Sunday:

1. Worship at 4th Baptist. Message on John 19:30, "So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit."
   
2. Just finished lunch.
   
3. Reading & nap planned for this afternoon
   

Monday:

Monday will be the 19th anniversary of my breaking my neck in 1987. More tomorrow

Upgrade activity

My major project between now and October 30th is to get 40,000 workstations updated to our current XP SP2.

My biggest "customer" has 21,000 systems. They have a project manager for this activity. It's going slow because of bandwidth issues at small sites.

Customer # 2 has 8000 systems and has not bought into it yet. Still piloting.

Customer # 3 has 6000 systems and it is going well!

From there down the customers are smaller and it is difficult to identify the correct business contact.

This week I got two smaller ones going. One is 750 systems. I had two information sessions for this group. Only 10 attended. I published a communication for this group and set up the change requests. And I posted info for this group on a website.

The group I set up today has 1100 systems needing upgrade. I sent emails out to all with a communication and website updates. I used CFMAIL for the emails and had issues.

The server would "time out" at about 32 emails. Since I copy myself I knew that it stopped at 32. I modified my code so that with ever email (table row) that is successfully sent and mail flag is set to "1". Enabled me to restart whenever I needed. It still took me about 30 cycles to get all sent.

Diskeeper deployment starts next week and goes through 10/13. The two largest customers have not signed on yet.

Kathee is at a wedding tonight. 3 days off ahead.