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    Out of the Inferno, Through Purgatory and on to Paradise…


    2015 - 08.14

    I’m finally starting to feel different and no longer still feeling echoes of my stint at my previous place of work. I actually feel detached from it now. It’s been a month since I resigned, and my sleeping has changed dramatically, my mood has been constantly elevated, and I’ve at no point felt a drifting towards another depressive patch. My health overall is improving. I’ve lost weight (not more than about 3 kg) but feeling that another kilo or two may not be unrealistic, and I’ve not had to try hard for that to happen. I’m reducing my sugar intake steadily although I’m not completely avoiding it yet. I’m certainly eating more healthy options than I was four months ago on a consistent basis. Not that my eating was unhealthy by any huge measure. But I’m changing some of what I eat and changing how I eat it. So far it’s all been for the better. I don’t see the Anti-Depressants going away soon but I’m certainly feeling more benefits from them than I was over the last six months.

    To sum up the work and health side of things up at the moment, less money but better quality of life. I know that without work for a period of time longer than a few months that will be difficult to maintain however that’s not the intention. The goal was always to be getting out of what was holding me back. Nothing more.

    The Furbags are very happy to have me home constantly at the present, although I’ve applied for two jobs so far in the last two weeks. Both jobs have been ones that I really couldn’t justify NOT applying for given that they were both in Ballarat. I hadn’t wanted to go looking for work for another month or so, but I figured either of these jobs couldn’t be up & running within 4 weeks anyway. I’m certainly not going to ignore good opportunities, just because they come up quick. I think the Furbags will have me home for a while yet. They’re getting plenty of “pat overdose” at the moment. They’re also keeping me happy and amused. I’ve been rigging up some cardboard boxes for them to play with during the week and it’s been hilarious watching them try to sneak into one after the other one has wandered off for a snack.

    It’s been nearly a week, and the new DNS servers are performing well. I’ve fixed a couple of configuration issues that I’d forgotten to check on the other servers with Static configurations and the network is the snappiest it’s ever been. I’ve also handed the servers a bit and cleaned up the firewall rules now that a few old activities are no longer happening. All in all very please. I’ve purchased another NAS as I’ve been very happy with the current one and need to provided some better Disaster Recovery options for the photography business side of things.

    I’ve scraped enough extra cash up to invest in a carbon fibre legged tripod for the trekking for the outdoor shooting. My gear has been getting heavier to carry over the last year on the treks out. I opted for another Manfrotto Tripod. It’s a tricky balance between sturdiness and stability; compactness & weight being the counterbalance. I opted for the X Pro 3 way head as against the alternative 496RC2. I’ve tried a couple of friend’s “Ball Heads”, and confess to not finding them my preferred mode. It is probably me, but I find it easier to deal along each axis individually, than wrestle with the weight of the camera & Lens while trying to position a “Ball Head”. I’ve yet to take it on a trek out, only having received it today, but since shoots have been scarce for a month and a half, I sense a few shoots coming up over the next week or two: life outside of Photography has been rather busy and full of change.

    Sweet Sweet Desert Island…


    2015 - 08.05

    Three weeks ago I resigned my previous role. Overall I’ve seen a dramatic increase in my level of happiness and a commensurate decrease in my level of Depression through the last 3 weeks. Since I made that decision of getting out of my previous workplace’s negative environment, I’ve had a steady path onward to increasingly better feelings. I’ve started to enjoy activities again that previously were simply numb attempts at trying to feel better. Clearly it was the best choice I could have made. Nothing else was moving forward anymore.

    In fact I was losing ground again slowly but surely. At least so it seemed for the most part. Then when least expected but most needed: Epiphany! In an Ocean of Despair appears a place to drop anchor, take on Fresh Water and Sustenance. A Desert Island to Rejuvenate my Soul.

    Since then most things have fallen into place in a very positive manner. Financially things couldn’t be much better considering I’m not a man of savings. But preparation, good friends and the truth has meant that I’ve been able to position myself to begin weathering the storm at least starting with a good supply of hope and positivity. Already I’ve put in for one role, although it’s a bit early, it did seem one of those things where I needed to be willing to do what was required. Results will unfold in time. Nothing has to happen tomorrow.

    The Furbags are eating and so am I, and on a daily basis that’s what’s important right now.

    Fresh as a Polar Breeze…


    2015 - 07.12

    Well I finally feel as if I’m going to get some traction again. The increase in my AD dose is helping considerably. It’s allowing me to “feel positive” and re-evaluate some choices. A couple of decisions about what to do with some boat anchors in regard to my Depression have been made and now I am able to put some action into enacting those decisions.

    It’s currently bitterly cold outside, 2.4˚C with an apparent temperature of -1.7˚C but the world looks and feels fresh! Even the Furbags are “crisp” 🙂

    Life with Furbags…


    2015 - 06.19

    This can’t be normal.

    It’s 01:00, approximately 3.8˚C (apparent temperature is -0.8˚), I’m naked, running about the house with a long cobweb brush, empty plastic milk container, turning lights on & off inside & out. The Back Door is wide open with freezing air rolling in like fog.

    I’m trying to coax a bat back outside because a certain Furbag (Chemoux) has bought it in and I can’t go back to sleep without getting it outside. Tiggakat & Chemoux think it’s a great laugh, they’re joining in on the “fun” chasing each other about the house.

    I am batsh*t crazy!

    Virtually Transitioning…


    2015 - 04.12

    So as it stands, the Furbags and I have spent most of the weekend around home and keeping warm.

    I took the opportunity to do a couple of things in the study I’ve been waiting for some “significant” reason to make the time to do. Rebuilt a lot of the virtual environments on VMware. I bought a copy of Fusion for the iMac, then decided I liked it so much I could make use of the “Pro” version. The additional features, at least a lot of them were worth having it seemed to me. I’ve been a supporter of Virtualbox for many years, and was quite happy with it most of the time, but every so often it’s bitten me in the arse in some way or another. The Server environment is still sitting on Virtualbox, but perhaps not for much longer. There’s need for some adjustments and that may just entail using VMware for the next incarnation.

    As much as I’ve been a fan of Virtualbox with it’s consistency across platforms, even to the point of using it over HyperV in my work environment, things have started to creep in that have left me wondering whether it was time to look at other options. So far I don’t feel I’ve lost anything, and gained quite a bit.

    “Enfant Terrible”…


    2015 - 03.21

    Clearly Chemoux is catching birds too. She brought one in at about 06:00 that was the size of a mouse. Just like her “aunt” she likes to show off the hunting skills but not hand over the prey. Still bloody dark! How do they do it?

    Morning Fun…


    2014 - 12.08

    Why do Tiggakats always decided to bring you gifts before you’re going to work?

    Furbag Summary…


    2014 - 11.21

    Well Chemoux’s been here three weeks now and it’s all working out better than I could have hoped in this short time. Tigga and Chemoux were literally playing at wrestling on the bed all over me while I was trying to sleep the other night. Then they’d go “plop” landing on the floor, race around upstairs, and rolling all over the bed again. Awesome but inconvenient at that time!

    I’ve also noted: two cats equals twice as many lizards on the floor, and twice as much cat fur everywhere including the desk and computer screen! Still I couldn’t be happier with how Chemoux has fitted in and how well Tigga has accepted her to Darriwell Territory.

    Packages, Packages, Everywhere Packages…


    2014 - 11.06

    Well ALL the Bookdepository orders have shipped, the Garmin Oregon 600t Handheld GPS arrived today and also the Impala Blue Cat Deterrents. So Chemoux is going to be pushing for the outside world now. Unfortunately I’ve not yet broached the subject of her arrival with Bob & Jan. No dodging it any longer I guess. Seems like a job for Friday!

    Soon to be Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum…


    2014 - 11.02

    Less than 48 hours since Chemoux joined the Darriwell Clan, but things are looking reasonably positive. She seems to be very keen on Tiggakat, and in return is being warmed towards. There is an uneasy but promising play routine starting to grow between them and I’m very positive for the medium to long term. Chemoux does seem to be picking the same sort of places to sit, sleep etc. Rather than causing a lot of angst, it seems to be working the other way. Additionally I think the wet weather is a positive factor for the weekend as Tiggakat has to deal with Chemoux being here for good.