Well, I have finally joined the MacBook cult. After ordering and receiving two broken Dell's (one had a bad video card and the other a bad network card) and not getting any sympathy from Dell for it, I have vowed to never buy from Dell again (which means my organization will never buy from them again since being the IT guy is part of my ever-expanding job description).
So, I looked at HP, Lenovo, and Mac and finally decided on a MacBook. I have purchased the regular MacBook with a 2.4 ghz processor and 4 GB of ram. It is smaller than my 15" Dell, but I think I am going to like being able to carry it more places more easily.
The new Mac OS (Leopard) comes with a utility called Boot Camp. Boot Camp allows you to easily partition part of your hard drive for another OS and to run another OS on your MacBook. So, since I have a few applications that I use that I must use on Windows (accounting package and medical billing package), I installed Windows XP in a Boot Camp partition. So, I can either boot to Leopard or XP. This is a great feature, but what I really need is the ability to access Windows while in Leopard. So, I have also purchased Parallels (actually I haven't purchased it yet, I am still in the trial period). Parallels essentially creates a virtual machine in a window within Leopard. The new version of Parallels allows you to use your Boot Camp version as the virtual machine. So, now I can either boot directly to XP or Leopard OR I can access XP from within Leopard.
I am still trying to figure out all of the different nuances of this configuration, but so far I love it. I am also trying to get used to the Mac OS and having only one button to click. And I am trying to figure out how to share documents between my Office 2007 setup in XP and my Office 2008 for the Mac in Leopard. So, anyone out there with advice or other ways to make this configuration work better for me, please let me know.
So, I am not a total MacBook convert, but I am now living more in the Mac world and only visit XP out of necessity.
"Hi I am a PC AND a Mac"
-Robert
PS- Anyone have tips on how to move Outlook 2007 .pst files into Entourage 2008?
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Monday, June 09, 2008
Golf (and BEER)
This past weekend I went to Myrtle Beach with a group of 27 other guys for a golf trip. This was the 7th annual golf trip, but this was my first time to attend. The trip was started 7 years ago by some fraternity brothers from VA Tech. They started with 5 people the first year and have reached 28 this year by adding friends and co-workers over the years. My friend Steve invited me this year.
So, we left on Thursday morning with 2 cars with 7 people headed to Legends Golf Resort in Myrtle Beach. We arrived around 2 pm and immediately began a round. This was the "practice round" and was not included in the group package but almost everyone played. I think we had 5 or 6 foursomes. Being the practice round there were no set rules for this round. My foursome played "wolf". I shot a 112 and finished 9 beers. It was about 105 degrees.
After the round we checked into the condos at the resort. We had 7 condos. 4 guys to a condo. Each condo had 2 bedrooms and 2 baths. Each bedroom had 2 queen beds. We ate dinner at the Pub in the resort. Great burger (not that it mattered because I was so hungry).
The official "group" rounds began on Friday AM. Tee times started at 7 AM. We all headed to the clubhouse and ate the included breakfast buffet and then headed towards the course. This round everyone played with their condo roommates and each person was required to keep their individual score so most groups played "wolf". I shot a 105 and finished 6 beers (it was early). Temperature started at 85 degrees and by the end of the round it was 100 degrees.
The scores from the first round were then used to seed 7 teams for the second round of golf so that the teams would be somewhat even. So a quick bite to eat at the clubhouse and then we started the second round with the seeded teams. Format for this round was Captains Choice with mandatory beer shotgun holes on #4 and #17. Also if anyone in the group didn't hit it past the ladies tees then everyone on the team would have to do a shotgun. The entire team must finish a case of beer before the round is over. Must use each person's drive 3 times. And each team was allowed 3 mulligans but taking the mulligan required taking a shot (Beam for a tee shot, Captain Morgan for a fairway shot, and Jose Cuervo for a putt).
My team was a perfectly matched team. Our A and B players both shot 90 on the first round and our C and D(me) player both shot 105 on the first round. Our rankings in the 28 were A-7, B-8, C-21, D-22. We were a perfect team for a best ball tourney and it worked out for us. We finished 7 under and won the round.
The final round was played on Saturday with tee times starting at noon. In this round everyone had been drafted to either one team or the other (2 teams). Each foursome was made up of 2 players from each team. So, the foursomes decided what formats to play and then which ever pair in each group won would then get a point to the team they were on. The team with the most points won and got their names engraved on the "Donkey Cup". Again, my pair won my foursome and my team also won. Similar rules to the previous round about mandatory shotguns on holes and mandatory shotguns for not passing the ladies tees. I lost count of how many beers I had during this round.
So, that was my weekend. Lots of guys being stupid. Lots of beer. Oh yeah and we played some golf too...
So, we left on Thursday morning with 2 cars with 7 people headed to Legends Golf Resort in Myrtle Beach. We arrived around 2 pm and immediately began a round. This was the "practice round" and was not included in the group package but almost everyone played. I think we had 5 or 6 foursomes. Being the practice round there were no set rules for this round. My foursome played "wolf". I shot a 112 and finished 9 beers. It was about 105 degrees.
After the round we checked into the condos at the resort. We had 7 condos. 4 guys to a condo. Each condo had 2 bedrooms and 2 baths. Each bedroom had 2 queen beds. We ate dinner at the Pub in the resort. Great burger (not that it mattered because I was so hungry).
The official "group" rounds began on Friday AM. Tee times started at 7 AM. We all headed to the clubhouse and ate the included breakfast buffet and then headed towards the course. This round everyone played with their condo roommates and each person was required to keep their individual score so most groups played "wolf". I shot a 105 and finished 6 beers (it was early). Temperature started at 85 degrees and by the end of the round it was 100 degrees.
The scores from the first round were then used to seed 7 teams for the second round of golf so that the teams would be somewhat even. So a quick bite to eat at the clubhouse and then we started the second round with the seeded teams. Format for this round was Captains Choice with mandatory beer shotgun holes on #4 and #17. Also if anyone in the group didn't hit it past the ladies tees then everyone on the team would have to do a shotgun. The entire team must finish a case of beer before the round is over. Must use each person's drive 3 times. And each team was allowed 3 mulligans but taking the mulligan required taking a shot (Beam for a tee shot, Captain Morgan for a fairway shot, and Jose Cuervo for a putt).
My team was a perfectly matched team. Our A and B players both shot 90 on the first round and our C and D(me) player both shot 105 on the first round. Our rankings in the 28 were A-7, B-8, C-21, D-22. We were a perfect team for a best ball tourney and it worked out for us. We finished 7 under and won the round.
The final round was played on Saturday with tee times starting at noon. In this round everyone had been drafted to either one team or the other (2 teams). Each foursome was made up of 2 players from each team. So, the foursomes decided what formats to play and then which ever pair in each group won would then get a point to the team they were on. The team with the most points won and got their names engraved on the "Donkey Cup". Again, my pair won my foursome and my team also won. Similar rules to the previous round about mandatory shotguns on holes and mandatory shotguns for not passing the ladies tees. I lost count of how many beers I had during this round.
So, that was my weekend. Lots of guys being stupid. Lots of beer. Oh yeah and we played some golf too...
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Movies (and BEER)!
Yeah, I know I have been a slacker updating this blog. 2 years ago when I was updating my blog all the time I was doing it because I had nothing better to do at work. However now I actually like my job and stay busy (for most of every day). So, you are just going to have to be patient with me as I try and get back into this routine (and try to find time to do it).
Morgan and I have been really busy since my last post and I have thought several times "I should blog about this". There was the weekend in Memphis (highlight was ribs from Rendezvous and the piano bar Silkys). There was Morgan's birthday (yes she has joined the 30s club). There was moving my brother into my house (he doesn't have a job yet so he is living with us). But, what I really want to share is my experience at the Movie Tavern.
The Movie Tavern is a new movie theater near our house in the Northlake Mall area. Morgan and I went to see the new Indiana Jones movie. I dont' want to spend a lot of time talking about that movie because I think people built it up in their heads too much and so they were disappointed. However, if you watch it right after watching any of the other Indy movies then you will quickly realize that it is exactly on par with the other movies. I enjoyed it.
We also went to see the Sex and the City movie. Okay, I know you are thinking to yourself, "This guy is a big wimp if he went to see this movie. I should take his 'Man Card' away!". You are probably right and I would say the same thing about any of you men out there reading this. However, let me defend myself with two very important points:
1- I am leaving tomorrow (Thursday) for a golf trip with 27 other guys (From what I can tell from what the friend who invited me has told me about this trip the golfing is just an excuse to go act like college frat students again. I will post about this trip when I get back) so going to the movie was a preemptive way of avoiding the guilt of leaving my wife home alone while I was off being stupid.
2- They serve BEER at the Movie Tavern!
Point 2 is the important thing here. You see the Movie Tavern is a great concept. Why didn't I think this up. It works like this; it is a movie theater that also has food and BEER. SIMPLE!
First of all the ticket prices are cheaper than anywhere. It is $7 to see a movie. If someone can find a cheaper new movie ticket price in the ATL area I would like to know about it. Since I am a cheapskate they get me with the ticket prices. Then you walk in and they have a snack bar like any other theater; candy and popcorn and soft drinks. BUT WAIT, they have burgers and pizza and cheese dip and chicken wraps and french fries and BEER! So, you order what you want and they give you one of those table flags (like you get at Jason's Deli) and you go into your movie theater.
Once in the theater you will see that every row of comfortable and reclining chairs has a long table in front of it for your food. As you watch the previews and gulp your "tanker-sized" beer (more on this below) the wait staff delivers your food to you. The food prices are reasonable; $4-8 for an entree (ie. burger and fries). And the beer is reasonable; $3 for a domestic or $4 for an import.
But wait, there is more. They also have the "TANKER". It is a 38oz glass mug that you can purchase for $9 (that doesn't include the beer) and then you can fill the tanker with whatever domestic draft beer you want for $7. You get to keep the mug (you bought it for $9) and you can bring it back with you every time you come and refill it for $7. The only way to beat this price is to head back to the Plains for $5 pitchers...
So, as you can see the Movie Tavern is my new favorite place to go to the movies. I will even go see stupid chick flicks at this theater because I can eat cheese dip and drink beer (and score brownie points with the wife)!
Peace and Cheese Dip,
-Homer
Morgan and I have been really busy since my last post and I have thought several times "I should blog about this". There was the weekend in Memphis (highlight was ribs from Rendezvous and the piano bar Silkys). There was Morgan's birthday (yes she has joined the 30s club). There was moving my brother into my house (he doesn't have a job yet so he is living with us). But, what I really want to share is my experience at the Movie Tavern.
The Movie Tavern is a new movie theater near our house in the Northlake Mall area. Morgan and I went to see the new Indiana Jones movie. I dont' want to spend a lot of time talking about that movie because I think people built it up in their heads too much and so they were disappointed. However, if you watch it right after watching any of the other Indy movies then you will quickly realize that it is exactly on par with the other movies. I enjoyed it.
We also went to see the Sex and the City movie. Okay, I know you are thinking to yourself, "This guy is a big wimp if he went to see this movie. I should take his 'Man Card' away!". You are probably right and I would say the same thing about any of you men out there reading this. However, let me defend myself with two very important points:
1- I am leaving tomorrow (Thursday) for a golf trip with 27 other guys (From what I can tell from what the friend who invited me has told me about this trip the golfing is just an excuse to go act like college frat students again. I will post about this trip when I get back) so going to the movie was a preemptive way of avoiding the guilt of leaving my wife home alone while I was off being stupid.
2- They serve BEER at the Movie Tavern!
Point 2 is the important thing here. You see the Movie Tavern is a great concept. Why didn't I think this up. It works like this; it is a movie theater that also has food and BEER. SIMPLE!
First of all the ticket prices are cheaper than anywhere. It is $7 to see a movie. If someone can find a cheaper new movie ticket price in the ATL area I would like to know about it. Since I am a cheapskate they get me with the ticket prices. Then you walk in and they have a snack bar like any other theater; candy and popcorn and soft drinks. BUT WAIT, they have burgers and pizza and cheese dip and chicken wraps and french fries and BEER! So, you order what you want and they give you one of those table flags (like you get at Jason's Deli) and you go into your movie theater.
Once in the theater you will see that every row of comfortable and reclining chairs has a long table in front of it for your food. As you watch the previews and gulp your "tanker-sized" beer (more on this below) the wait staff delivers your food to you. The food prices are reasonable; $4-8 for an entree (ie. burger and fries). And the beer is reasonable; $3 for a domestic or $4 for an import.
But wait, there is more. They also have the "TANKER". It is a 38oz glass mug that you can purchase for $9 (that doesn't include the beer) and then you can fill the tanker with whatever domestic draft beer you want for $7. You get to keep the mug (you bought it for $9) and you can bring it back with you every time you come and refill it for $7. The only way to beat this price is to head back to the Plains for $5 pitchers...
So, as you can see the Movie Tavern is my new favorite place to go to the movies. I will even go see stupid chick flicks at this theater because I can eat cheese dip and drink beer (and score brownie points with the wife)!
Peace and Cheese Dip,
-Homer
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