CarlFacer.com

So after looking at my blog it is very apparent that I’ve neglected my duties. As such, I have decided to start writing about my adventures with the Open Source Arduino platform (www.arduino.cc) and the vaporware projects I work on. 

Currently, I am working on interfacing my Arduino Decimillia to a Lantronix CoBox Micro to post to the new twitter account @141labs. So far I have been able to use code derived from Lady Ada (http://www.ladyada.net/make/eshield/examples.html) to talk between a terminal window attached to the arduino and a command window telnet’d into the lantronix device on a different computer. Not too bad, but I want more!

More information including schematics and code to follow at a later date.

One could probably come to a conclusion, based on the date of the previous post, that my life has become a little preoccupied with current events, and they would be right. Well, that or you could just call me lazy … your choice, but I’m sticking to my guns on this one. My Proof: Contest season is over , new career starting on October 1st, and the wedding is only 18 days away!

Unfortunately this September’s VHF contest with W2SZ/1 is sans pictures due to the immense amount of work that had to be completed with less-than-optimal staffing levels. I can truly say this was my second “Full Zed” in a row, and I will be looking forward to the same next year when the summit roads finally open to the public and the lodge is reopened for buisness. I filled in as 222 primary OP for the second contest in a row and spend a grand total of approximately 29.5 hours in the chair out of the 33 hours the contest lasted. Thanks to the Rig Blaster interface hooked up to “Ye Olde TS-830 IF Rig” my voice was saved considerably and I was able to use a CW skimming program to dig out a few contact which otherwise wouldn’t have been. It really made me decide that CW is not an option for any serious VHF contester, it’s an absolute necessity!

As of next Monday I will be leaving OCD for a new career in Digital Video with an unmentioned company. The transition is something I’ve been looking forward to since I accepted the job while on Mt. Greylock for the September VHF contest.  Let just say that the people are laid back, there is components all over the building, and I will finally be in a position that can’t be classified as “Mindless” …. Sweet!

The wedding is right around the corner with only 18 days to go, and we think we have most of our ducks in a row on this one. RuthAnne has been diligently working on the “Thank You” cards and is proving herself to be even more organized than I thought she ever would be! We will be taking a few dance classes so I don’t look like a complete bumbling idiot, or at least that’s what I hope. (Actually my idea that I suggested to RuthAnne, believe it or not) The bachelor and bachelorette parties we last weekend and we had a blast! BBQ and social time at our place for a few hours then we spilt into respective parties and went from there. Lesson learned: Laser tag rocks, watch out for Thanh driving go-karts, a 20 can bribe the karaoke DJ to get you out of singing a limp-wristed song, and some people have hilarious facial expressions when faced with headlights….. Enough said about that and no, there probably will not be any pictures in the gallery so you can save your time..

Next on CTV … Wedding followed by HOCKEY SEASON! Go Sabres! (And finally on MSGHD in Rochester! We finally get to put the HD plasma to good use, as well as the sound system!)

Another camping trip with the guys is in the books and there are plenty of pics this time around thanks to Todd. Certain highlights include:

• Climbing Cascade Mountain
• Boating on Schroon Lake (incl. skiing and tubing on 2 boats)
• Campfire and associated refreshments
• Kayaking (albeit barely before the storm)
• “Threading the needle” on a few storms per Justin
• Getting slammed by the 2nd hail storm (only minutes after the afformentioned quote from Justin)
• The traditional mini-golf excursion
• Lasagna in Glens Falls

Here are a few pictures from the trip taken by Todd. As always, click on the link to be taken to the full gallery!

Current Album: Guys Camping Trip - July 2008
Images:

Time to play catch up! Here are a few pictures from running electric to the shed behind the house using the DitchWitch. We also helped our neighbors to the North do the same thing. All-in-all a great way to spend a Saturday morning. Thanks to Bob for all the help!

Here are a few of the pictures. Click the link to be taken to the full collection in the gallery!

Current Album: Electric to the Shed
Images:

As noted by the date of my last post, things have been slightly hetic lately, but there is an announcement to be made. Let me introduce the newest member of our family: Maggie! She is a six-month-old Black Lab / Border Collie mix that we adopted from lollipop farm on Friday, May 9th and she is a riot! She loves to play, is eager to please, and has even more energy that I do (hard to believe, I know…)

Without further interruptions, here are a few pics!

Current Album: Maggie
Images:

With many thanks to Todd, Cyrus and Irena, we got a bunch accomplished on the basement today. The final wall of framing went up, the floor got prepped for painting, the electric is finished and most of the plumbing is done in the bathroom! After the help left, RuthAnne and I put up the first sheet of drywall and then called it a night. Lesson of the day: Trace and re-trace the hot and cold pipes to ensure that you do NOT flush your toilet with hot water (took me forever to sort that one out…) Here are a few pictures from the day!

Be sure to check out the full gallery at http://carlfacer.com/gallery/v/rowley/Work/2007/BathBase/

Stay tuned for more details from the homestead!!!

-Carl & RuthAnne

Ok, so I’ve been a little bit busy lately and haven’t had much time to update the site, but I wanted to throw a few pictures of the rover up on the main page. The full gallery can be seen by clicking here.

Enjoy!

Her are a few pictures of the car that I promised a while back. I also added a few modules to Word Press so that show up a little nicer. More to come later! As always, clicky = biggie!