Bugs Palace!

Well, after what I believe is 18+ years of working for ALNC computers, I have given my notice and as of Thursday June 30th, I have officially retired.

I met Randy and Lynda back when I was buying my first computer. I was 16 or so at the time and this is in the days when computers were in the +3000$ range. Most shops looked at me like a dumb kid and shrugged me off assuming I had no money. Truth was I had a pre-approved loan to buy a computer. Randy didn’t care how old I was. My money was as good as anyones and we worked out a deal on my very first PC. A DataTrain 460-T. It was a blazing fast intel 486DX4-100mhz, 8mb RAM, 1mb Video, 850MB Maxtor HDD, SoundBlaster 16, and a USR 14.4modem. I was in heaven. I debated if a modem was needed at the time, but Randy assured me that it was a good thing to have. He was right.

I spent every waking moment on this machine. That modem Randy recommended got me into BBS’es (think text-only internet, without the internet). I played online games and chatted with people from all over the 905 area. Eventually even started my own BBS called Bugs Palace. I learned to survive on 2-3 hours of sleep per night.

With my addiction for computers being strong, I found myself in and out of ALNC a bunch of times over the next 1-2 years getting help from Lynda over something I screwed up, buying upgrades, adding more space etc. The day I went to buy my DVD burner (Hp 9200i for the curious geeks); Randy caught me off guard and asked if I wanted to try working there. I was accepted as a Networking and Hardware student at Mohawk starting that September but really didn’t know much other then my tinkering on my trusty pc I bought from ALNC. I figured I want to be in computers, what better place to go!

I worked ‘part time’ (35-45 hours per week around my college schedule) my first three semesters of Mohawk and eventually did a full-time stint for 8 months for my co-op. I found my calling. I’m not one to brag, but I’m pretty good at this computer troubleshooting and hardware thing. After college I got a job working at a software company (I was ‘head-hunted’ by another ALNC employee to work with him). I was reluctant to go elsewhere, but did and learned a great deal there as well. I still couldn’t give up my time at ALNC so I dropped back to “part time”. So from 1998 until now I have worked a regular shift at ALNC without ever stepping away fully. Part time, full time, back to 2-4 nights a week. You name the schedule I’ve done it and I am the tech I am now because of it.

I learned more in the first 2 months at ALNC from Lynda/Randy than I learned during my entire time in college. The shifts I have spent working along side them have taught me skills in both computers and also how to deal with customers from every walk of life. They have been some of the best, most educational, challenging – yet entertaining times I’ve ever had. I will forever be thankful for the chance they took giving a green kid a job in their family store and helping me learn as I went. I know I wouldn’t be the tech I am now without their direction and patience. They treated me as family from day one. I have gotten to know nearly their entire family over the years and have stayed good friends with their children Katie, Cheri and Albert (and now grand-kid(s) too!)

I will always have a warm spot in my heart thinking about disk-copying shareware, eating panzerottis, listening to Boston far too loud after the mall had closed, re-arranging the store when Randy was away, and simply knowing I always have another family I can consider my own.

So Randy, Lynda and the rest of the Chapple crew, I love you guys! Thanks for everything!

Jamie

After some thinking, Dad decided the Jetta wasn’t going to work out for him as much as he hoped. He still needs a truck far too often not to have one. So the Jetta was sold (quickly I might add) and we took the proceeds from that and turned it into a super clean 2003 Ford F150. Truck is in ridicioulsy good shape. After a quick quirk (dead alternator) we’re hopeful it will give him years of service. Funny thing is after years not understanding why I lower my trucks, I think he wishes it was lower. Harder to throw that lawn mower up into the bed of a full size.

He’s not the only one with new wheels! With the Sonoma nearing its end of life with us and the Jetta going to it’s new owner, I needed to finally buy something that I can hold onto for a while. At the very least till Shannons jeep is paid of in 2 years. After some hunting around, I finally settled on a 2010 Subaru WRX. Previous owner spent some serious cash on the car. Full coilover suspension, sway bars and nearly every go-fast bolt on you can do for the car. All good quality parts with no cheap knock offs. Dynoed out the car puts down 300 horsepower at all 4 wheels and about 350lbs-ft of torque. It’s silly quick. Kids and I have dubbed the car Captain Rex – after our favorite clone trooper from Star Wars-Clone Wars. More information on the Subaru HERE.

Bikes doing pretty good still. Haven’t ridden nearly as much as i’d hoped by this point, but still getting on fairly regularily. The new handle bar setup is working out well. Love the look and feels very natural. With any luck I’ll be ordering my exhaust for it soon finishing this years plans for it. Can’t wait to hear it roar!

Jeep is also getting some love. With some help from a buddy of mine – Aaron- at 4 Wheel Parts in Burlington, we have a brand new set of 15×8″ wheels and and 33×12.50×15 tires sitting ready to get mounted to the jeep this weekend. Should finally sit the way Shannon wants it to, and get rid of those more then worn tires shes currently running.

During my holidays in the month of May I spent some time in my bedroom building a new closet and an overhead storage bulkhead/closest. One thing our house needs is more storage so with some help from Dad and Shannon we’ve got it nearly all built. Need to do a bit more wood work this week and we can finally hang the doors and paint and prime them. Going to be nice to get the bedroom out of construction mode.

Work has been absolute chaos the last couple weeks and looks to stay like this right till the end of the school year. So many projects coming to an end I’ve basically had to alot one day per school to try and get as much of the tasks ironed out as possible before the teaching staff starts their summer break. Once they go, hopefully the work will slow and it will be an easier summer. Can’t keep this pace going for much longer.

After some hard work and creative financing over the last year, Shannon and I are finally out from under the thumb of credit cards. Between the wedding, building the house, two mat-leaves and all sorts of other excuses we’ve always seemed to have a big CC debt sitting over our heads. I’m happy to say – we no longer do. Now time to see how big of a saving account we can build. Never really had one of them before 😉

Kids are growing like weeds. Joe is in the early stages of his second baseball season and Abby has started a sewing class that she is loving. Funny to see them have hobbies they are passionate about. Can’t wait to see what they get into next. Love you guys both so very much.

Speaking of which, TODAY is Joe’s 6th Birthday! Love you buddy! Have a great day!

Well, its been about 3 months since my last post…

I needed some time to get my head clear and hopefully get this race we call life back on track.

I never posted anything here, but March 30th was my 38th birthday. I have never been so grateful to grow a year older. Thirty-seven was not a good year for me. In fact, i’d say it was the worst year I’ve ever had. My Grandfather passed away, my freshly built truck was stolen, finances seemed to be getting away from me, chronic daily back and neck pain and a pile of other things which frankly I just need to leave in the past. There surely were glimmers of good, but the shitty stuff really has taken it’s tole on me. I’m still not sure I will ever fully recover. But I am trying. Every single day I am trying to make myself a better person, a better father, and a better husband.

Thankfully, so far, thirty-eight has been an improvement – but then that isn’t saying much.  I’m not going to go into any more details, or dwell on the previous year, but I will say that things are moving forward and so far, the destination seems promising.

Oh, and Lucy the cat did actually come home!