deebeedee

Note to self: don’t mess with upgrades not pertinent to project at hand.

I was in the middle of creating a simple web database app when I fancied I should upgrade my MySQL a step up from what I had. It turns out that the upgrade didn’t go so smoothly so I was forced to initialize the database server, causing me to lose all my data stored in my databases. Now I’m finding that in order to move forward I need to install the Perl DBI module, which I’m sure will come in handy for future projects, but will more likely now lead to another set of cascading steps of upgrading other things, which is not what I want to do right now. I just want to get back to working on my database app! Aaarrghh…

Update: I avoided having to do all of that by just deleting the MySQL install and repeating the install process. So now I’ve got MySQL up and running (yay!), but now I have to repopulate my databases (boo).

I got a distressing call from my boss this evening about a robbery at our Palo Alto store. The manager of the store was the only one present during closing time when an armed robber forced his way in. He demanded that he be handed several Mac laptops. The robber put his gun down while helping himself to the laptops. The manager then grabbed the gun and a struggle ensued. The gun went off and the bullet grazed the manager’s head. The robber then ran off.

I just watched the news and was glad to find out that the manager was just released from the hospital. There is a manhunt for the suspect at this very moment.

Meanwhile, in unrelated news earlier today, a stampede erupts in Richmond, Virginia during a used iBook sale. Many people get hurt. The iBooks sold for $50 each.

Update (8:44 am, 08/17): Here are news articles (1, 2) on the robbery. The suspect is still at large.

Every Wednesday, in between dropping off son no. 2 at the sitter’s and waiting for son no. 1 to come home from school, I have a bit of free time. Today, I didn’t know whether to do some web work or do some yard work within that timeframe. The web work I had in mind involves bringing one of the old websites I maintain up to the standards set forth by the W3C. This means removing unnecessary nested tables, eliminating 1-pixel gif hacks, and ridding the code of any hint of divitis or classitis. Yard work on the other hand involves mowing the lawn, plucking weeds from the garden bed, snipping out-of-control rose stems, and sweeping away dried leaves. Doing these things pretty much brings our front yard up to the standards set forth by our neighborhood.

I ended up doing yard work. Just the thought of any more jeers and sneers from my more conscientious neighbors is unbearable. *looks around suspiciously as he takes off his tinfoil hat*

Found this mummified banana at an unoccupied cubicle at work today. It was underneath a bunch of papers. No wonder gnats were flying about the office several weeks ago.

As I sit here with a full plate as far as work goes, I read the 127th Psalm:

Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain,

Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain.

In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat - for he grants sleep to those he loves.

Before reading this I had an almost perverse delight in thinking of the kinds of things I can buy with the extra money I will make from this recent spate of freelance projects that have come. When in reality, this means long hours of work with minimal sleep — time away from home and the family. I must put things in perspective, acknowledging God as the true source of my blessing and even humbly accepting that without him, this type of work would not have come. And of course, as I do the work, I must strive to do my best, as working for the Lord, for he is the one I truly serve.