Ben Benner’s Blog

… a whole lot of bread and php!

I have not blogged in a while. It is not due to a lack of stuff to talk about. But more so that ever nagging lack of time to write. There are many out there that would aptly (justly and most likely with righteous fervor) say that I need to MAKE the time. To which I have but one simple answer (excuse).

I cannot make anymore time.

I have managed to find time to practice some new bread recipes (which in the grand scheme of things doesn’t take nearly as much time as some might think), I have written several small applications (in php) for side projects, been assisting with some home renovations and to boot attempting to keep my stress level (and sanity in check).

Work has changed up quite a bit in the last 60 days, I am no longer the VP of Product Development, I am also the VP of Product Management and Development. Thirteen little letters added to my title have added at this point countless hours at the office after the normal quitting time. I say countless because well I am salaried, so at some point counting them all up is too aggravating.

I don’t want to paint a picture that I am there until midnight or anything, but I do believe the latest I have been at the office has been about 10pm, and if memory serves I got into the office early that day and more or less clocked a 12 hour day.

It is the age-old tale of “Doing more with less”, there was some re-organization and I got a title change and once again have staff (the Jaduka development team reports directly to me). I was immediately tasked with hiring two new developers to work on some web applications. Can’t go into the details just yet, but when we launch I will make sure to post some more information.

The search took some time, but I managed to find some good additions to the team. We threw them into the deep end and we are about 3 weeks into their first project. Things are moving along well, but we have had quite a few other projects creep up in October that were not originally planned for, these projects are customer related, so that means that it is NEW business. And new business is always a GOOD thing.

I had gotten into the habit for the last few weeks of once or twice a week bringing bread into the office. I haven’t done that yet this week, but I think I will be able to line that up for Friday. I have done some experimenting.

There is of course my Sans Raisin Bread, my Gingerbread squared (Gingerbread bread) and my Great Pumpkin bread. The last batch of Great Pumpkin I think turned out very well, everyone in the office felt the second batch was better than the first. The secret was to add a second can of pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling, ‘raw’ canned pumpkin). There was also my attempt at Log Cabin bread, which just didn’t have enough maple syrup flavor, not quite sure how to overcome that without having to put like 2-3 cups of maple syrup in, which keep in mind is A LOT of maple syrup. (talking about the real stuff, not that corn syrup junk)

I enjoy bringing in bread and getting feedback from folks on the taste, texture, etc. I also enjoy stealing what I think are the best two pieces for myself. I am not sure what will be next on the list for bread. I will likely make something ‘boring’ like buttermilk bread, but it is an old standby at this point. I use the buttermilk recipe as the base for most of my experiments.

We cleaned out the garage this past Sunday. If you have to clean out a garage or are planning any sort of home renovation project that will produce any significant amount of construction waste/debris, I highly recommend that you see if your can use TheBagster (www.thebagster.com), we used it to get rid of all the junk (mostly construction waste/debris) that had accumulated in the garage after the various other projects that we had done.

Last night I hung a new ceiling fan in Gina’s office. I also installed new closet doors and a bi-fold door in the hallway entrance to the laundry room. I did the demo(lition) and room prep for Gina’s office, clearing out the old carpet and baseboards.

John installed the laminate flooring the other weekend and put in the new base boards. Gina caulked everything and painted the trim, spackled some spots in the drywall. It has been quite a little renovation of Gina’s office.

We hit up IKEA and she got herself a new desk and some new wall hangings. Everything isn’t quite  back together yet, I think that is on the agenda for tomorrow night.

This evening I came home, wrote up some specifications, got my laptop rigged up to run the code for the latest web project we are doing at work and poked around in the repository to see how the guys have been doing.

On Monday I fly out to Reston, VA to attend a user conference (tradeshow) that is hosted by Appian, a company that Jaduka is partnered with. I will be out there to demonstrate our integration and discuss with the attendees how we can help improve the efficiency of their Appian installations with Jaduka’s services.

It has been a VERY, VERY busy October, thus far.

I really want to try and knock out a batch of Pumpernickel, but I think that will need to wait until I get back from my trip next week.

Oh, did I mention that I also managed to catch that cold that has been going around Austin (particularly our office)?

Well, I need to get to bed I am supposed to be into the office early tomorrow as to help ensure that I can leave at a decent time.

Laterz

bdbenner work bread, floors, garage, PHP, programming, renovation, the bagster, thebagster, travel, work

My wife has recently become addicted to technology, one might go so far as to call her a TechnoSnob. I just got off the phone with Gina a few minutes ago, she is in Florida for the next few days on vacation with her mom and a few of her cousins. They are all in town for Bubba’s wedding, one of her cousins from Lansing who has since moved to the Florida (somewhere in the Ormond Beach Area).

Well, apparently there is no Wi-Fi in the vicinity of their hotel. Gina told me that she was not able to find any available networks when she booted up her macbook earlier.

NO INTERWEBS!!!!

Whatever is she to do?

Apparently, the correct course of action is to text me and ask for locations that are nearby that have wifi access. I found a couple of places, the one that actually looks pretty neat is 15 miles north. I didn’t bother to send her the link for the BeachHouse Beanery. Maybe if she gets online and reads this post, she might think about heading 15 miles north for some wifi and coffee on the beach.

The only time that I have ever really been without access to hi-speed Internet access was up at the cottage and well I kind of found a way around that as well.

Back to the grind.

Laterz

UPDATE: I was looking over the hotel website and it says “We also offer our guests a lobby business center with complimentary high speed internet access.” I read this as them offering wi-fi in the lobby, it could just mean they offer a computer that is hooked to the Internet. I have yet to hear from Gina as to what form the “complimentary high speed Internet access” comes as.

bdbenner Technology, gina, travel, vacation florida, gina, travel, vacation, wifi

Well technically day 3 for me, or 4 depending upon when you start the timer.

But it is day 2 of the conference.

I gave my first public presentation yesterday. I think it went pretty well, I had a couple of people ask for my contact information after I was done, so I am pretty sure that offsets the fact that a couple of people got up and left while I was talking.

I am not taking it personal, I think the conference session was a bit vague and they probably were expecting different information about Serena’s mashup exchange.

I also tried to keep the presentation from being a commercial for Jaduka. I had a slide in there that described Jaduka and NetworkIP, the regular sort of we do 15 billion phonecalls a year and have a database of over 780 860 Million user accounts, etc. I glossed over that and made a joke about how it was a slide that marketing required.

I glossed over the slide, because I overheard a few folks in the audience complaining about attending a couple of sessions that were commercials and did not contain useful information. In football terms, I believe that is called an ‘audible’. At the next Serena even I am pretty sure we will be able to give a detailed presentation of a Serena-Jaduka mashup.

I have been having an enjoyable time meeting and talking with the Serena executives, staff and various Serena Partners.

Back to the keynote.

Laterz

bdbenner travel, work conference, san jose, serena, travel, work

My flight leaves at 3pm this afternoon. I will be out in San Jose for most of the week attending and presenting at the <Tag> conference. I am looking forward to meeting the folks from Serena.

Back to packing and what not.

I have a couple of half finished posts that I will try to complete after I settle into the hotel.

Laterz

bdbenner travel, work san jose, serena, travel, work

I am going to be heading out to Dallas here shortly. However, this is just a quick day trip.

I will try to do a real post when I get back home tonight.

Laterz

bdbenner travel dallas, travel

And I don’t have any real plans.

I need to get the house straightened up, finish doing some laundry and what not.

I just got the call that my new glasses are ready, my prescription changed a little, like -.25 or something in each eye. I was almost talked into getting these black plastic frames with little skulls on the sides. However, I think that would only work if I was in a band or was back in college.

I am debating about what to do with my current glasses. I could keep them as a spare pair, or I could get new lenses (tinted) put in them for about $70. Because, I would really like to have a pair of sun glasses again, though I am quite used to being blinded when I go outside.

The Corolla needed an oil change so I dropped it off this morning. However, a couple of days ago the engine started to sound really LOUD, at first I thought maybe it was just because it needed an oil change, but the volume was significantly higher than just a rough idle.

I could smell just a wee bit of exhaust fume from when you open the hood, so after some searching on the Internet and Jeremy hearing it too, I am convinced it is something to do with the exhaust assembly in the engine area. I am really hoping that it is just something that has come loose. But more likely something has a hole in it.

Which makes me think that a 14 year old car back in Michigan would like be on at least it’s second muffler and likely it’s third one. I have never replaced a muffler on it and the car was only 4 years old when I bought it so it is unlikely that was replaced back then either.

I am awaiting the call from Brake Specialists to let me know how much it is going to cost.

In the meantime I am installing Asterisk 1.4 for a work project. Fun, Fun I love installing from source.

(I really mean that, btw)

Back to the grind.

Laterz

bdbenner Cars, corolla, travel, work Cars, gina, travel, work

Gina is in the Philippines, so I haven’t been sleeping too well. Several reasons why.

1. With no curfew, I find myself staying up later than usual.

2. The dogs go nuts with every little noise and usually wake me up in the middle of the night.

3. Cuz I miss her. (I just heard someone say ‘awwww’)

I have neglected my blogging.

I should have drank another red bull and headed down to this networking party that Jeremy is at tonight. But I have to save my strength for the networking party on Saturday. I hope I don’t miss anything too cool at the party tonight, but I definitely need to get some sleep tonight.

I had a maintenance window last night that had me up late and tomorrow morning at 8am I have a conference call with some folks in UK or somewhere in Europe. Good times, good times.

Well, I wanted to do a little update before going and passing out.

Laterz

bdbenner travel blogging, gina, jeremy, travel

We arrived home at approx 8pm last night, this was about two and a half hours earlier than my original estimate. My original estimate was off for two reasons.

1. I didn’t know exactly how far away Memphis was from Little Rock.

2. Gina is speedy.

We got to Memphis at a decent time the other night and stayed in a swanky La Quinta. The decor was much more modern and had a mix of carpet and what appeared to be hardwood floors in the room.

I was very proud of Emma Lou, this entire trip she managed not to have any accidents in the hotel rooms. In the past she would immediately christen the room.

We made pretty decent time along the way from Lansing to Memphis. There was this one stop for gas where I thought we might not make it out. The area was a backdrop for an ’80s slasher film. We pull up and there is a seedy, run-down looking motel (a couple of the doors had plywood over it). There was only one other car getting gas and there were some crazy looking clerks in the gas-station store.

Also, I have to mention that the bathroom was possibly the WORST I have ever had the unfortunate pleasure of using. I mean, when I first walked in the stench hit me in the face. I wonder if the place has ever really been cleaned, let alone just a quick cleaning recently.

There were flies, mind you no windows in this restroom. I mean we have stopped at highway rest stops that have flies (or bees) due to the fact that they don’t have A/C and the windows are open. No windows in this bathroom.

Anyway, I got out of there after scrubbing my hands very well (luckily the soap dispenser was completely full). I used my foot to open the door (which had a level handle instead of a round one).

“What about the ‘Burrs within 60 seconds’ ?” you ask.

We got home, let the dogs out into the backyard, unpacked the car. And when we let the dogs back in, they had burrs in their fur. Which means that they immediately managed to run though the few burr plants that have cropped up in the backyard while we have been gone (one or two were likely there before we left, behind the shed).

Emma, Buddy and Curly all have burrs. I will be mowing the backyard today and weed wacking behind the shed. I am also going to powerwash the deck, its a bit dirty.

As long as I don’t have to go into the office on Monday (pretty sure I won’t have to), I will be taking some time that day to replace some fence boards.

I need to get my bag unpacked and get settled in a little.

Laterz

bdbenner Dogs, travel, vacation la quinta, summer 2008, summer vacation, travel, vacation 2008

Now, some of you may or may not know this term. I just learned it myself, from my father-in-law.

It is the hole or break in the bad weather (or clouds) that gets folks to think that the weather is finally shaping up and is going to be just fabulous, therefore they get their swimsuits on, they load up the boats or jet-skis and head out onto the lake. Then it hits you, the clouds roll in and most likely the rain starts.

Ummm, so we were all packed up (I mean the car was completely loaded and we were like five minutes from loading dogs) and then it got sunny and the weather turned nice, so very nice.

You guessed it, we stayed another day. I even got the silver floating lounging blow up thing and was in the water, I borrowed the anchor and tied to the lounging thing (don’t worry Tom I returned it to the boat when I was done, right were I found it).

However, the weather was only nice for about an hour or so, then it started to get cloudy and about five minutes after that, it started to rain, about 10 minutes after that it started with the thunder and lightning.

Major suck.

The storms blew threw after about two hours, resulting in only a mostly cloudy situation. We went back out onto the dock and hung out for a bit. I was too cold (seeing as my shirt and shorts were still wet from lounging in the lake earlier. Gina on the other hand stayed out there for several hours.

We had dinner at The Club in Central Lake, they have by far the best burger I have had in Michigan (there are a couple of contenders down in Texas for Best Burger Ever).

I woke up and let the dogs out and found the lake covered in a pea-soup like fog. An hour later the fog had burned off, the sun was shining and there was not a cloud in the sky, the lake was crystal clear and calm. Gina jumped in and had a quick swim and began the debate on whether or not we were going to stay up north just one more day.

I told her we should probably head down state today and remember the lake being beautiful rather than staying and possibly being sucker holed again, though I am sure with our luck it was gorgeous all day long.

Well, we are back in the Lansing area. We have done our shopping for MSU gear and had the chance to  hang out with Joe Kursch at Buddies in Okemos (or whatever town is out near the Meridian Mall).

Tomorrow morning we are having breakfast with my mom and then lunch with my pops down in Pleasant Ridge (near Detroit).

I need to wrap this up and get to bed, morning is going to come too early and breakfast is at 8:30.

Laterz

bdbenner travel, vacation summer 2008, travel, vacation, vacation 2008, weather

After breakfast I took a “30 minute nap” (it is in quotes because in real world time it lasted about two and a half hours), I woke up to find Gina outside sunning herself. The weather had turned out to be quite nice. It was still a little chilly but had gone from being mostly cloudy to just slightly cloudy, so in the sun it was quite nice.

I managed to get a wee bit sun burned, even though I had sprayed myself with some SPF 30 misting sun screen. I suspect that I did not spray enough on.

I sat out there for about three hours or so, we listened to the radio and read books. I am just about done with Seth Godin’s Meatball Sundae. There was probably another hour left of sun, but both Gina and I were feeling a little crispy, therefore we decided to head into town for dinner.

Gina wanted Pizza from Short’s Brewing Company, the Pizza was good. I had the Bellaire Brown, which in the past has tasted really good to me, this time around it was a little bit harder to finish the pint, I think I should have gone with their Chocolate Stout.

Gina checked her email and had a pint of their Locals Light. From what I overheard Short’s is doing really well, apparently they have started distributing their beer to restaurants and they are expanding their operations from 7 barrels to 30 barrels.

We had been hoping today would be nice. However, it is looking like it will actually be a windier day than yesterday. The wind opened up one of the screen doors to the cottage.

We are packing up and are definitely going to head down state today, though the sun is tempting us even now breaking through the clouds, urging us to stay one more day here at the cottage by the lake.

I am going to grab a slice of leftover pizza and start packing up.

Laterz

bdbenner travel, vacation bellaire, short's brewing company, summer, summer 208, summer vacation, travel, vacation