Since you're on a Computer, Read about Operating Systems!

Once again, it takes me a while to post things on the blog. I guess part of it is I'm still trying to get things back to something resembling normal. Although I highly doubt what I used to know as normal will ever be my normal again. Of course, I could try and talk about politics again, but once I realized that popularity contest known as the Presidential election is now officially underway with Senator Cruz's announcement, my brain did an automatic 'check out'. So, I'll just talk about something I've been doing that's slightly less controversial. Computers and operating systems.

I have a number of older computers in the house. At least I judge them as older when you consider the operating systems found on them. As of January, I had one operating on Windows XP, three operating on Windows Vista, one operating on Windows 7, and one on Windows 8.1.

I'm the (un)official tech support for the house. When one family member has an issue with their machine, I get either a frantic phone call at work, or a 'dad, can you look at...?' when I'm at home. I'm not a 'techno geek' by any stretch of the imagination, but I would put my knowledge level at the 'knows just enough to be dangerous'.

My method of trouble shooting is encapsulated in the phrase (and I can't claim this as my original) 'Google is my friend.' I put the operating system and the error into the search, and more often than not I can find a fairly simple method of fixing it. It may involve going to the command prompt and putting some commands in, but it's not anything I would consider 'graduate' level.

I ran into a problem with one of the children's Vista machines. The recommended resolutions for the error listed were either playing with registry keys (moving into graduate level) or reinstalling the operating system. I just wasn't comfortable with the registry key instructions. Since I didn't have a spare system disk laying around, and I wasn't about to shell out the money required for said system disk, I stared looking into alternatives.

I would dare to say people are only familiar with the Windows family of operating systems for computers. Microsoft has made it so their systems are well known and fairly easy to use. They're not perfect (not by a long shot), and they do have a number of issues. One of the reasons Google works so well for finding out how to fix problems with Windows is because of the number of issues Windows has. I had been aware of 'the other side' of computer operating systems (known as Linux), and more specifically the distribution (OS) known as Ubuntu. I started looking at how easy Ubuntu or other Linux type systems would be to use and install. After some looking and asking around, I finally chose the Linux Mint system. You can read more about it here.

I have to admit, the system itself was easy to install, the hardware worked without any issues, and the installation even recognized a Windows operating system was on the computer and asked whether I wanted to install Mint alongside (dual boot – where you choose the operating system you go into every time you boot up the computer), or install over the Windows OS. For this situation, I needed to install over the Windows OS.

The next task I undertook was to update the Windows XP computer. Although I enjoyed XP, and thought it was one of the better Windows OS's, it is no longer supported by Microsoft. And considering the machine running it wouldn't have handled an upgrade to Windows 7 or 8 (I doubt it could even handle an upgrade to Vista) I decided to switch that one to Mint. It handled the switch OK, with one issue. The wireless network card was one of those that had proprietary drivers. Now what? I went back to Google. There was also a community I could look into as well. I found the necessary commands, and got that to work.

For my final trick, I decided to put two machines into a dual-boot configuration. One Vista machine (the one I work on) and the Windows 7 machine (which is the wife's. I don't think the eldest would let me touch the Windows 8 machine). I had to do some looking into some higher level tasks to prepare them (unallocating some hard drive space in particular), but there were no problems. Both computers boot up and run Linux faster than Windows, but Windows still runs with no new issues from having Linux installed.

To me, the operating system is simply a tool for people to use. If you're using your computer to access the internet, do email, and maybe some simple writing and work tasks, then in my opinion Linux Mint (and most other Linux distributions) is a viable alternative to Windows operating systems. It doesn't require a lot of RAM or hard drive space to run the OS itself, and perhaps most importantly, it's free for download and installation. If you have a lot of games, or do a lot of gaming, then it gets a bit more difficult but there are software packages that allow you to run Windows games. Not much else, but at least you can install your Windows games and play those. Not that this was a review, but if you ask me, having choices is always better.

End of the Garden Year 2013

 

     It actually happened around the 4th of October (that’s when the frost hit the plants), but I haven’t taken the time to sit down and assess the gardening this year.  But, I figure I can take the time now, after all the plants were pulled, the ground tilled (yes, I’m in at least good enough condition to till – with lots of breaks) and I can start thinking about next year.

     As far as the plants grown from seeds, they were overall a success.  We were able to get green beans, peas, and carrots to use as fresh vegetables or to can.  We still have some pints of canned green beans and there are still some peas in the freezer.  We didn’t get quite as much as I might have hoped or wanted, but it was better than getting nothing.

     The plants did not do quite as well.  The green peppers just did not ever get going.  I think it was probably their placement, as they didn’t get quite enough sun to truly produce fruit.  The weather may have also played a factor.  The tomatoes weren’t too bad, we were able to get some for salads, but I didn’t get them caged or staked and the two plants we had fell over.  They still continued to produce fruit after falling over, but I didn’t get them off the plant before the frost hit.  Lost some, but not too many. 

     The cucumbers did OK, we got a couple that we could use in salads, but not enough to consider pickling.  The zucchini did not do very well.  We only got one or two small fruit, and there were quite a few others that spoiled on the plant.  We didn’t get any squash either.  Again, that might have been placement, as I don’t think I gave the plants enough room to spread out.

     So, how am I going to fix this for next year?  I’m certainly not planning to cut down on plants, so the only choice in the matter was to expand.  I decided to mark out where I wanted the garden for next year and ‘busted’ the sod.  I didn’t have enough time or energy to rake the area out, but I’m hoping that will make it easier come next spring.  I’ll also try and have more assistance when I actually start preparing the area.

     The bottom line for this year:  It was a definite learning experience, and there were enough good results for me not to be discouraged.  Next spring I intend to be back at it with an even bigger plot to work with.

Wasn’t paying attention

 

 

And I just completely blew past post 100.  This will be post number 102.  Oh well, I guess it’s better late than never.  In honor of the occasion, I post a picture of me with a cabbage leaf on my head.  Why?  No reason, it just seemed like a good idea.  Per unanimous family vote, they say I look better with the beard and without the cabbage leaf.

There are some times I wondered if I would get to something like this.  Other times, well I just seemed to have a lot to say.  It took over four years to get to that magical number (February 2009 was the first post – and July 2013 is when number 100 occurred). 

Looking through the posts over the years, the topics have run the gamut from politics to religion and recipes to gardening.  Some personal items and some out in the public forum. 

One thing I’ve noticed though:  I still seem to have a little bit of a ‘censor’ when I put my posts out, it’s kept me from putting some of the more outrageous thoughts and ideas out there.  Oh well, if they can’t find it then they can’t prove it.

We’ll see if it takes another four plus years to get to number 200 (we’ll see how much fodder our betters give me).  Glad you’ve followed along so far, and look forward to the future.

First Cardiology appointment

 

Usually, when I talk about cardiology appointments, It’s in reference to my daughter.  She has hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), with multiple open heart procedures as well as catheterizations and other procedures under her belt.  This time the cardiology appointment in question is mine.  I was originally supposed to see a cardiologist much sooner than this last week, but they had scheduling issues, and because I said I was doing ok, more time than what is normal for new heart attack patients passed before I could get in.

The appointment itself went fine.  After getting the usual vital statistics, I was brought into a small room (this is a very large practice so there are a lot of patients and doctors involved).  The nurse got my list of medications, asked a few questions about my overall condition, verified my medications (I brought them in rather than try to remember each one), and then went to get the doctor.  The doctor came in and went through the history of what happened (with the heart attack, tests, and hospitalization) and how I have been since then. 

One question was about my medications.  In the hospital I had originally been on a vasodilator (opening of blood vessels) but was taken off because I was dizzy.  Since then, I continued to have dizziness issues and actually needed to reduced the dose of the beta blocker (helps keep the pulse rate down and increases efficiency of the heart), so we decided to go back on the vasodilator (brand name Imdur).  Starting with half dose for four days and then go to full dose as long as I can tolerate it.

The next point of discussion was what I had and hadn’t had done for tests.  Other than the ekgs, angiogram, and blood tests immediately related to the heart attack, I hadn’t had any other tests done.  So, now I get my blood drawn for tests related to medication and cholesterol in the next few weeks (not sure when that will be – question for this week), and I go in for an echocardiogram this next week.  Once those are done, I get to sit down with the cardiologist and discuss the results.  From there, I’ll continue seeing the cardiologist fairly frequently until I prove to be stable.

This was just another reminder that something significant happened to me.  There are times I feel like it was minor and insignificant, so maybe I need the reminders to help keep things in perspective.

Continuing down the garden path

 

Well, I’ve given up trying to comment on current events.  I’ve determined I’m either going to say something to offend everyone (shock the room as it were), or work myself into such a frenzy that it’s akin to wrestling a pig (we know how that goes).  So, I’m going to turn back to my continuing ‘experiment’ of the garden.

Right now, the peas appear to be on their last legs (most recent picking was only about a dozen or so pods), so I think we got all we’re going to get from them.  We were able to use them in some salads as well as to a couple of main dishes (stir fry).  We’ve got 3-4 meals worth frozen for later.  All in all, a decent showing.

What is really coming into play now are the green beans.  Here is a picture of the second and most recent picking (not a lot but looks like about 2 quarts worth if I can believe the line on the bowl):

So, what to do with those?  Can them, of course.  We picked up a pressure cooker/canner and some pint jars.  We got 4 pints (3 full and one 1/2 to 3/4 full) so far, and should be able to get some more as we go on. They definitely have potential.

What about the rest?  The carrots are continuing on, but I’m not completely sure how long I need to leave them in the ground – I remember leaving them till about labor day but that was when we were planting around memorial day.  These were planted at least a month earlier.  Tomatoes?  We seem to be getting some, and will have at least enough to accompany a meal, but not much else.  I think the pepper plants are just for show, as they don’t seem to be doing anything other than existing.  The cucumbers are starting to produce as well as the zucchini (why do I keep hearing the theme from ‘Jaws’ every time I mention zucchini?).

Of course I will give a final account once everything is in or done, but as of right now things are going at least as well if not better than I expected for a first year garden.

More adjustments

 

I do have some ideas moving around my head about current events, honest.  I think I just have to sit and write them down so they can be coherent.  The biggest thing rolling around my head is a growing sense of disappointment in my fellow man (the species not the gender, although sometimes it’s the gender too).  Ignorant, complacent, and way too quick to hurt others physically and mentally.  Anyway, that wasn’t the reason for my writing.  I have more adjustments to my new reality to talk about.

I finally had to get my medications adjusted.  My blood pressure was staying too high (130s and 140s over 80s and 90s), and when I’d rest (sitting or lying down) then my pulse would drop to the upper 50s.  I could tell something wasn’t quite right as I couldn’t stand up or bend over without dizzy spells.  So, a discussion with my regular doctor later, and I’ve added a med and cut the dose of another in half.  I’m doing better so far, but I’m sure there will be other adjustments that need to be made.

Being on a low sodium diet for over a month now, when I happen to eat something processed or, for lack of a better term ‘normal’ for an American diet, I cant’ help noticing how salty it tastes.  It really doesn’t take long for your tastes to adjust.  Even some things homemade are going to have to be adjusted going forward, if for no other reason than they are now too salty for me in taste to enjoy.

I am starting to be able to do more physically.  Which has been nice, since the peas are starting to come in and I am able to do pickings.  I can also continue to check plants and even pull a few weeds as necessary.  I do try to keep in mind that I’m not back to normal, but sometimes it’s difficult.  Mentally?  I’m not sure where I’m at.  Am I still trying to adjust, to deal with what has happened?  Has it not really sunk in?  Sometimes I wonder.

Recent reflections

 

Given recent events, I suppose I could take some time and comment on them and maybe even provide some witty commentary.  But I’m just too selfish, or self-centered at this point, so I’m going to write about my continuing recovery from my heart attack.  I’m still recovering physically, so where I am at now isn’t ‘normal’ for me yet (at least I hope).  There have been some recurring themes and ideas these past few weeks (it’s been almost four weeks), so here we go.

In order to better take care of myself and improving overall nutrition, I had to adjust what I eat.  Cholesterol, fats, and sodium must be taken into account and scrupulously watched.  When you have to do this, or if you just want to do this (it’s not a bad idea you know), one tool that is very useful is the nutrition labels on foods you buy.  At the same time, this tool is becoming somewhat of a thorn in my side.  A bane of my existence if you will.  There have been a number of times when I’ve had to stop myself and adjust what I would eat because of what the nutrition label said the food contained.  Either the sodium was too high, or something else was out of whack.  Now of course some of the biggest culprits are those items euphemistically labeled as ‘convenience foods’.  I tell you what, it’s certainly not a convenience to me to get my entire daily allowance of sodium and fat in a single sitting (I may be exaggerating, but only by half at best).

As I am still recovering, I am still having to remind myself that I am not yet whole.  My activities are still somewhat limited.  There have been a few occasions where I have had to stop what I was doing and sit down because I could tell the exertion was ‘too much’.  There is an element of frustration, as I feel like my body has ‘betrayed me’.  There are things I was able to do not that long ago, but I can’t at the moment because a ‘twinge’ or dizzy spell will come on and I need to stop.  I certainly hope this will go away soon, and it’s difficult to have to wait for that time to arrive.

As a final note, I have been personally overwhelmed to see and hear the amount of prayers, well wishes, and expressions of concern these past few weeks by friends and family.  There are times when you wonder whether your presence is noticed or has an effect on others.  This showed me I do have an effect and presence.

A difficult post

 

Admittedly, this is a difficult post for me to write.  Having just experienced it, I felt it necessary to put this down as a reminder and perhaps a cautionary tale.

The drama started officially on Sunday.  I say officially because when I look back, the warning signs of something about to happen were there.  I got the last ‘warning’ the day before, and if I had been paying attention I would have done something then.  But I could excuse them all away.  I was getting older, I was out of shape, and so forth.  The last one I really couldn’t excuse away, but I told myself I would be okay, and besides I didn’t have time to stop and deal with health issues.  Forces outside myself decided I didn’t get a vote in the matter.

Anyway, I woke up a 4 am to my chest hurting.  As I said before, this wasn’t the first time it had done this.  I could tell immediately the pain was different from previous times.  I was up and down for almost three hours, trying to get it to go away.  It wouldn’t.  Not when changing position, not when taking an antacid, not by drinking water.  I tried to deny what my fears were telling me, I was having a heart attack or some other cardiac issue.  I then tried to get ready for the day (going to church) and trying to say to myself ‘if it doesn’t stop by this point, then I’ll go in to get checked out’.  Finally, by 8:30 I couldn’t tolerate the discomfort or deny there was something significant going on.  I told my wife about the pain.  At that point I started having cold sweats and when she touched my hands they were cold and clammy.  The only question in her mind was ‘ambulance or drive ourselves in’.  We dropped our children off at church so they could be with friends afterwards and drove to the emergency room.  I could have called for an ambulance, but I was still fighting some denial about what was truly going on.

Once we arrived at the ER, the drama was sidelined for a moment by a small comedy of errors.  My given first name can be used for either gender, but for whatever reason, registration marked me down as ‘female’.  After a few questions and reassurances that I was what I said I was, we got the registration straightened out and settled in.  Then the tests and questions began.  As they went through my symptoms, the doctors and nurses couldn’t say for sure what was going on.  Cardiac issue?  Possibly.  There were other items to consider as well.  We do the first EKG.  Comes back ‘normal’.  OK, let’s do blood tests to confirm, but it’s probably not as bad as we were thinking.  So, in case it was stomach acid related, they gave me a strong antacid.  The antacid did nothing for the pain, so the fears were starting to return.  We started talking about whether this was angina and how I would go home that day and follow up with a cardiologist. 

Then, the blood tests came back.  Elevated enzymes showed I was having a heart attack.  They immediately started me on heparin (a blood thinner) and gave me a large dose of nitroglycerin under the tongue.  Almost as soon as it dissolved, my pain went away and I was relieved (at least the pain had stopped).  But, I had to make life interesting.  My blood pressure fell and I was starting to pass out.  In comes the crash cart, and out go the visitors (a priest from my church was there by this time).  Fortunately the cart was not needed, and my blood pressure returned to a somewhat normal number.  Then they did EKG number two with some of the leads on the back.  Still normal. 

At this point, they moved me to the Cardiac ICU and wait there for the catheterization team to arrive.  The doctors decided a heart catheterization was needed to determine the cause.  I couldn’t tell you if it was a short or long session, since I’ve never been on this side of it before.  I’ve been on the outside, waiting for the results to come through.  I was also trying to focus on that moment, being on the table and trying to regain some sense of ‘normal’. 

The results?  Two of my coronary arteries are narrowed about 40%.  The official diagnosis is ‘coronary artery disease’.  The narrowing is not so significant as to require surgical intervention like a stent or bypass.  At this point, we are going to try and deal with the situation through medication and see if that will ‘right the ship’.  The good news in all of this?  The current theory is I had a clot that partially blocked the coronary artery, the official term is ‘Non-ST segment Elevated Myocardial Infarction’ (NSTEMI).  That, and the fact I came in fairly early on in the process meant the damage to my heart was minimal.

So, after a two-day hospital stay (needed primarily to ensure I wasn’t having issues with my new medications), I am now home to deal with this new time in my life.  I have kidded with my wife for years that I was ‘indestructible’ and to a certain degree I think I believed it.  Now I have had this happen and I know my life can end at any time.  But with the right combination of diet, exercise, and medication, I can push that time off for quite a while.