Author: gfox (old content)

Company Slowed

I got a notice the other day that VMI had posted it’s latest financials. It was just last year at this time I posted about this very topic. I still keep in contact with some people from the company, so I sort of know what is going on. Rather I know what isn’t going on.

I checked out their latest statement.

Since inception through December 31, 2008, we incurred aggregate net losses of $50.2 million.

Not any better than last year, but perhaps they have slowed down the burn enough.

We have moved our focus from the development of our product and we are now in a position to focus on the sales of our product and we believe that we will continue to incur losses until we generate sufficient revenues to cover all of our operating expenses.

No new features. Hmm, stagnant product? After all those hours of effort, I still hold out some hope that they can make it. Unfortunately all the wrong people will benefit if VMI makes a few sales.

Recycled Calls

People don’t seem to think sometimes.

At work I am getting a lot of calls for someone named David. Collection agencies, ICBC, and more.

After asking for David, I have started saying that he no longer has this number. Last week I had someone ask if I knew his new number or where he was.

Sorry, but no. Phone numbers get recycled. They don’t stay with an address. Just because I now have a phone number that someone else had, doesn’t mean I know that person.

This happened with our home number as well. We kept getting calls from charities, doctor’s offices, and utility companies asking for Norah Ross. It took a few years before the calls finally stopped.

Of course collections agencies get this kind of answer all the time and just keep calling and calling.

Fun Playing

What an awesome weekend. Lots of fun was had, and lots got done.

Friday night half the fam was feeling under the weather so we ordered pizza instead of cooking.

Saturday everyone was feeling better. Sprout had his first playedate ever. A boy from his old daycare came over for a little over an hour. Then Saturday night we had some friends over for dinner.

Today was a gorgeous day. Sunny and warm. We started off the morning with a trip to Beacon Hill Park and the petting zoo, followed by some time at the playground. We got home in time for Beet’s nap, and while that was happening I got out for a road ride. I couldn’t get over how many people were out doing stuff in the sun. Playing at playgrounds and parks, working in their yards, riding bikes, etc. It was neat to see that.

While Sox was out for a bit I played with Sprout, then did some work around the house. Finally after dinner and bath time I relaxed with a little TV watching.

Excellent weekend.

Here is the map of my ride. Not the greatest route, but it was good to get out for an hour.


Aphro Sleeping

Dear Aphro:

You are a cat, and I am a human. When I am sleeping on the bed, I don’t mind if you want to curl up next to me. I actually like how warm you can make the bed feel.

What I do mind is you sleeping between my knees. Don’t do that. When I wake up it is hard to roll over with you there.

Plus, when I want you to move at 3 in the morning, I’d appreciate it if you just moved, then curled up again. I certainly don’t appreciate being hissed at while you give me the evil eye. I don’t like being smacked with claws, and I hate it when you scamper around the bed. It’s my bed and I am trying to sleep. I don’t care if it inconveniences you or upsets you.

This has been going on for too long. Keep it up and I may seriously entertain the idea of moving you to the basement.

Sincerely

Greg

Pillow Foam

When Sox and I first moved in together I was still using the pillow I used when I was in high school. It was treating me right, but it was getting pretty old. It was also a foam pillow that was supposed to be a single piece, but had came apart into two pieces.

Sox was wanting a new pillow as well, so we bought some moderately priced down pillows. Again this treated me right for a while. Some feathers started working their way out of the pillow and were poking me which was not comfortable.

A few months ago I started waking up with a sore neck, and a sore ear. The pillow had to go. Sox had a pillow from when she had a sore back so I gave that a go. It was a Tempur-Pedic memory foam pillow that had a funny shape.

Again this was treating me right for a while, but again I am waking up in the morning with a sore neck. Plus this pillow makes it hard to sleep on my back. This pillow is more firm than any other I have used, and it is taller as well. This is fine for when I am sleeping on my side, but bad for any other position.

Now I am trying to figure out what to try next. I don’t want to spend tons of money on pillows, but I also want to get a good night sleep, and not wake up sore.

Incident Ring

I got a voicemail at work today from Sox. There was an incident at home today, and our son dropped Sox’s wedding ring into the sink, and it went down the drain. It was an accident, and Sprout was very, very apologetic.

I headed home pretty quickly to retrieve the ring before anything could happen to it. Sox had locked the bathroom door so no little hands could add water to the situation.

I stopped at Rona to pick up a pipe wrench. I knew that I didn’t have anything that would fit the situation.

At home the job seemed pretty simple. Adjust wrench to the correct size, apply to nut, turn nut, remove trap, retrieve ring. Step three is where it went bad.

Whomever tightened the nut last time must have been strong since I could not budge it a bit. Either that, or everything was corroded tight. The whole drain pipe assembly was moving around, so I held it as tight as I could. Then the pipe ripped in half like it was a paper tube.

Crap.

Good news was that I recovered the ring, bad news is that I now need a plumber. Thankfully we know one.