Link: http://www.ronniejamesdio.com/

'cause I'm the sun, I'm the sun,
I can move, I can run,
But you'll never stop me burning

Come down with fire
Lift my spirit higher
Someone's screaming my name
Come and make me holy again

Well, I finally used my new welding/metalworking skills to create something useful ( for me anyways ). Total cost for the whole project was about $60 ($30 for the bucket seat from Pick-N-Pull and $30 for the plastic caps for the square tube - all the steel was scrap I had laying around). The chair was modeled after the Playseat Gaming Chair, but cost me a whole bunch less - plus I can say I built it myself!

Seat is fully adjustable, as are the steering wheel mount and pedal spacing. The steering wheel mount and pedal can also be completely removed, leaving a nice comfy bucket seat for playing non-racing games or watching movies.

Not bad for a weekends worth of work.

Since my 180 day demo of Server 2008 was about to expire, it was time to rebuild my home server. Though all my websites (currently) run on Linux virtual machines, I actually host the VM's on a Windows Server - mainly because I find Microsoft Virtual Server much easier to manage than VMWare, plus it has a better price (free). The problem is the host OS, Microsoft Server 2008, costs more than $750 with 10 CALs - wayyyy too much for me. I could have re-installed the Server 2008 demo, but having done that a couple times already, I wanted something a bit more permanent.

While Googling around, looking at different server solutions, I stumbled upon a little known Microsoft product that looked like it would work perfectly for my needs - Windows Home Server. So I downloaded the demo and tried it out. Though it's an 120 day demo, I was so impressed with this product that I purchased it after only running the demo for a little over a week.

With all the marketing muscle power that Microsoft has - I'm at a total loss why this software is relatively unheard of. Here are some of the features that it provides:

• Media Server: Digital memories and media stored and organized in a central location
• Backup Software: Home computers backed up daily, automatically
• Data Recovery: Simple restore of lost files or even entire hard drive contents
• Document Management: Complete access to files from both inside and outside the home
• Remote Access: A secure and personalized website address for sharing photos and home videos
• Add-ins: Easily add storage space and new software capabilities

This OS is based on a stripped down version of Windows Small Business Server 2003, but is much easier to install and maintain than the full blown server package. Plus, at $95 vs $1200 (for 10 users), it's a hell of a lot cheaper.

I have started a write-up on the complete installation process which you can read here.

Just past her 4 month birthday and Lily is having a bunch of fun surprises.

She's started lifting her head and her butt off the ground, not quite mobile yet, but getting close.	She was given a perfect bill of health at her 4 month checkup and her doctor said she could start eating solid food - yay! So far she has tried rice, carrots, bananas and blueberry jam - yummy!!!
She likes to sit and watch everybody do their daily thing...	... but forget her too long, and she'll let you know she's there
She also likes playing with her big sister.

Oh, yea... she started cutting her first teeth, both top and bottom at the same time.

Lily Rae Jeannette was born last night (05/05/09) at 6:08pm (after 30 hours of labor). She weighs 6.6 lbs and is about 18 - 19 inches long (I don't have exact length yet). Both Jonianne and the baby are doing great.

We went into the hospital, to induce labor, at 7:00am Monday morning. After fighting labor pains for a little over 12 hours, Jonianne got an epidural around 11pm on Monday, but had to get another one around 1am Tue morning because she was only feeling it on one side of her body. The baby was kinda stressing whenever Jonianne was having contractions (we found out after she was born, it was because her umbilical cord was very short - barely 12" long) so they were thinking they were going to have to do a C-section.

They scheduled the operation for 4pm on Tuesday but we had a GREAT nurse/midwife helping Jonianne and when 4pm came around Jonni was 90% effaced and at 9cm dilation so between her and Jonianne they were able to talk the DR into waiting another couple hours. The nurses came to check Jonianne at 6 and this time her cervix was completely gone and she was starting to feel the contractions again. As they got all the DR's in the room Jonianne gave a a few good pushes and Lily popped right out.

She was a little slow learning how to breath on her own so they took her to the nursery for an hour or two to monitor her and put her on oxygen, but she is great now.

Jonianne is doing awesome and is VERY happy that she didn't have to do a C. Mother and baby have to stay in the hospital for 24 hours but will be home this evening.