Joshua Zamrycki's Weblog

I had a premonition this morning that I would hurt myself playing volleyball today.

I was on my way to work and found myself in a vivid daydream in which I was playing volleyball and I sprained my foot really badly and had to walk with crutches for a month. I even found myself writing the blog entry in my head, constructing how I would set the scene before I eventually arrived at the devastating reveal. It was already shaping up to be one of my wittier entries.

Anyway, I was out in the courtyard today at work, setting up the volleyball net for the regular Mon-Wed-Fri midday game, when I somehow pinched my finger in one of the giant metal poles. I instinctively recoiled and flung my finger into the safety of my mouth. It hurt like the devil. I just knew that when I took it out of my mouth it would be all pinched and purple. But it wasn't. Just a little bloody. I sucked it back to heath for a few minutes and then, feeling as if the jinxed bullet was dodged, went on to play some volleyball.

It was a beautiful day - not too hot, not too windy - and all the best players from work had shown up. I was having such a good time (and was playing so well!) that I completely forgot about the impending incapacitation - until about two-thirds of the way through the afternoon. I spiked a ball beautifully for a convincing point and somehow wrenched my back in the process. I muttered to myself, "I knew it!". It was just a tweak at the time and I played through the discomfort but, after we stopped playing and went for lunch, it started to tighten up. Ouch.

Lower back. Hurts. Can't bend down to tie my shoes. Or pick up Emily. Last time this happened it took three weeks to completely go away. Coulda been worse, though. Coulda been a sprained foot. Maybe you woulda got a wittier blog entry if it was.

Posted by Joshua Zamrycki at 9:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

It's been 10 days now that I ditched that bloated virus-magnet of an operating system, Winblows, and have been happily running a sleek new install of Ubuntu Linux. I had been thinking about making the switch for a long time but never got off my lazy butt to do anything about it. "I don't have time to learn a new operating system", "It can't be as easy to use as Windows", "Entering commands in the Terminal is too complicated", "Linux doesn't have the vast array of applications that I need to maintain my prolific level of productivity". All bullshit.

The straw that broke this camel's back was when my Windows install started acting funny. Again. About 10 minutes after a reboot the system would become unresponsive. Web pages wouldn't load, folders wouldn't open, and error messages began to pop up "randomly". No number of virus, malware, or adware scans turned up anything out of the ordinary. A few Google searches showed that I was not alone with this collection of symptoms but I couldn't find anyone who had solved the problem. I could reformat the hard drive and reinstall Windows. Again. But I saw this as my opportunity to escape my life of crime (how much would you pay for Windows + Office + Photoshop + Nero + Quicktime Pro + Dreamweaver?) and learn something new in the process. Now was the best time to switch to Linux.

I installed Ubuntu on a separate partition to maintain my Windows install (just in case) but am proud to say that I've only visited my Microsoft evil twin three times in the past week and a half - and that was only to consult how I had certain hardware and software configured. I am overjoyed with my "new" computer. It's fast and does absolutely everything I need it to do. I'm surfing the web, burning DVDs, creating spreadsheets, downloading media, playing games, editing photos, Skyping friends and family, syncing my Palm Pilot, listening to music, watching films, and fully enjoying the mind-opening experience!

The only obstacles I've encountered so far have been upping my screen resolution, getting my webcam microphone to work, and getting Linux write access for my Windows partition, but I'm a smarter person for having researched and solved these problems.

I won't lie to you: Linux is not for everyone. Afterall, Linix is NOT Windows <-- (I cannot recommend this article enough to anyone who is considering switching to Linux). Linux is a different operating system and has it's own learning curve. But that is to be expected. One shouldn't move from the United States to Spain and expect everyone to speak to them in English. But if you're either a basic computer user with humble needs or a power user who enjoys learning new things, download the Ubuntu CD installer and join the future.

Posted by Joshua Zamrycki at 9:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

After three too many mojitos at Val's stupendous surprise 30th birthday party last night, I was grossly unprepared for an audition that I was invited to today for a thriller film that will be shooting here in Barcelona in September. I don't know how they got my number but they called me a few days ago and asked if I was available to audition. Always up for a challenge, I happily agreed.

I finally got around to printing out the sides they had emailed me yesterday and had a few quick glances this morning, feebly attempting to memorize my lines in the three scenes I was supposed to prepare. Imagine my surprise when I found myself in front of the director, producer, casting agent, and a camera today and discovered that I knew all of my lines by heart and was delivering them rather convincingly (if I do say so myself). You never know for sure what the director is looking for or how close you match their vision for the role but, after a solid audition and a good connection with the director, I'm willing to say that... I nailed it!

It's sometimes better to leave an audition thinking that you really botched it because then you have no expectations and you can comfortably forget about it. But if you think you might have a chance at being cast, it's always in the back of your head and you find yourself checking your phone every few hours to see if they've called yet. I'm not holding my breath for this one but, like I said, I've got a good feeling. I'll let you know if/when they call.

Posted by Joshua Zamrycki at 8:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Our master plan is in action. We were in England for Christmas and we're going again next month (six month plan). We were in the US for Passover so, to even things out, we've booked another flight for this August! A week in New York and then a week in California. Yes, this is the good life.

But this was no simple purchase, my friends. Those who know me will vouch for the fact that I don't spend any more money than absolutely necessary. When I was in the market a DVD player for the living room, I made a two page spreadsheet listing every viable model, its features, and six different places where it was sold to compare prices. You should have seen the spreadsheet I made when I was putting together my last computer!

Anyway, this purchase was no different. There were too many variables to sort out in my head. And, coupled with the staggering amount of money we were dealing with here, another spreadsheet was in order.

Key variables:

• possible combinations of flights
• different airlines
• number of connecting flights
• total price
• duration of journey (flight + layover times)
• flight time of day

Being a good Zamrycki, I had originally placed the utmost importance on the total price. But then, remembering that we will be traveling with a fussy 11 month old, priority was quickly shifted to T.F.T. (Total Flight Time, or Total Fidget Time), time of day (sleeping babies are easier to deal with), and connecting flights (added hassle). So there weren't just variables to content with - there were weighted variables! Thank goodness I have a degree in mathematics. And I'm a geek.

Knowledge of this blog's reader demographics prohibits me from going into much detail regarding the selection process. Allow me to say that three different spreadsheets and an entire week of processing time were needed for this one. But I'm happy to say that, in the end, I am convinced that I got the absolute best combination of flights that meet our travel and economic needs. And I still got ripped off. And we'll still be flying for 32.5 hours (not including driving times). Oy. Here is a small sample from the last version of the spreadsheet:

Click here for the full-geek version

Posted by Joshua Zamrycki at 12:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)

Emily likes to point. She points at dogs and ceiling lights and elevator buttons and my left leg. Sometimes she follows the point all the way to the object and delicately touches the thing with her chubby little pointer finger. This is her favorite method of exploration: the pointer finger.

We have discovered that one of Emily's favorite pastimes is sitting next to an electrical outlet and pointing at it. She finds them fascinating and regularly probes the inside of said outlet with said pointer finger only pausing long enough to stick her finger in her mouth and then continue probing. We don't see how this type of behavior can lead to a happy ending.

This has brought about an interesting dilemma: how does one teach a nine month old a lesson? I've tried picking her up and leading her away from the outlet but, like a moth to a flame, she scurries right back. I've tried saying, "No!" in a forceful voice but this just makes her look at me for a second and smile before continuing doing whatever the heck she wants. Leading by example isn't working. I've even dabbled in corporal punishment - taking her hand and lightly slapping it while saying, "No", but this usually elicits celebratory clapping thus making me feel the intention was lost in the execution and I'm not ready to step up the violence just yet. Looks like we'll just have to be extra vigilant until she develops the ability to reason.

Posted by Joshua Zamrycki at 11:50 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

There's no need to clear your cache or trade in your RSS feeder. And no, you're not unobservant. You may have only just noticed Emily's Nine Month Birthday blog entry dated June 6, but the truth is that I only made it public yesterday (June 11). You see, the date listed on my blog is when I first created the entry. It has spent the past five days in "draft" status while I suffered from the world's nastiest sinus headache and couldn't bring myself to finish writing. So you're not crazy - or any crazier than you thought you were this time last week. Just go back and watch that birthday video again. Jan and I can't stop yelling, "BIRFDAY TODAY!".

Posted by Joshua Zamrycki at 9:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Happy nine month birthday, Emily.

She scurries around the house, chases Jan's flip-flops, scratches her ear, climbs up your leg, carries toys in her mouth, and growls. We no longer have a little girl. We have a terrier.

So, what other tricks has our little mutt learned this past month...

• Emily has learned how to point. She points at people she knows, food she wants, and trees with an odd number of leaves. We don't know what she means when she does it, but she particularly enjoys pointing at my left leg.
• Again, we don't know why she does it, but Emily has developed this endearing head turn. It's like what dogs do when they're curious about something. We like to think that she enlists this move whenever she feels like looking at the world from a different perspective. There is an ongoing investigation regarding this head turn and I look forward to publishing my findings in the near future.
• We decided that Emily was finally old enough to start sleeping on her stomach. We decided this right about the same time that she decided to start sleeping on her stomach. And what a difference it has made to her sleep pattern! Maybe it's a coincidence, but she is now falling asleep with less of a fight at night, goes back to sleep quicker if she ever wakes up, and sleeps for longer stretches without waking. And she's absolutely adorable lying snoring there like a little baby chalk outline.
• She's happy and she knows it - Emily has started clapping. She'll begin an impromptu round of applause whenever she is excited about something, sees someone else clapping, or is inspired by an instructional cry of "Hooray!".
• After suffering for months with a diet of mushed this and mashed that, Emily has put her foot down and started eating "real" food. There are some things that no longer need to be chopped up into child-size bits. Still with only her four front teeth as her chewing tools (but we fear more are on their way), Emily will happily sit down with a banana, some crusty French bread, or a savory rice cake and gum, chew, and suck her way to three square meals a day. Next month: baby back ribs.
• Yes, Emily enjoyed her first trip to the beach - frolicking around in the sand and dipping her tootsies in the Mediterranean - but her first trip to the playground is all she can talk about. That slide. Boy-o-boy does she love that slide.
• Move over Bobby McFerrin, Emily has got some of the freshest mouth sounds on the block. Smacking lips, kissy sounds, tongue pops, raspberries, growls, screeches, incoherent babbles, and the loveliest laugh you've ever heard.
• Crawling is nothing new for our little girl. She's been mobile for almost two months now. But up until only recently, Emily's idea of crawling was akin to a marine dragging his belly through a mud puddle under barbed wire. But in the past three weeks, she has gone from baby formula to Formula One. There is not an inch of the apartment that she hasn't explored, or doesn't explore on a daily basis! It's hard to get away from her now. You can usually hear her coming from a mile away: palms slapping against the hardwood floor accompanied by heavy breathing or growling. Stealth isn't her strong suit. But nothing is brighter than the smile on her face when she crawls down the hall and peeks around the corner to discover her daddy working in the office. It warms my heart.
• Maybe the most significant milestone of the month, as of two days ago Emily is now sleeping in her very own room. She used to crash in her crib beside our bed, but to celebrate/encourage her only waking up once or twice during the night for a feed, we took apart her crib and reassembled it in its new permanent location. And so far so good. She hasn't freaked out at her new surroundings at all. The only downside is that it's a little more of a pain to walk down the hall to see why she's upset rather than just sitting up in bed, but hey, it's a small price to pay for independence.

The pitter-patter of little feet.

The swings are next.

Posted by Joshua Zamrycki at 9:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I owe you all an apology. Well, not all of you. I owe an apology to Garry, Rebecca, Desmond, Amanda, Mom, and Phil.

You see, I upgraded my blogging software a couple of weeks ago to Movable Type 3.35. I just discovered that, in doing so, the junk filter for my blog comments was apparently modified and, as a result, all comments left on my blog since that time have gone directly into the trash.

And here I was getting sad and depressed at the thought of nobody leaving any comments for the past two weeks, which meant that nobody was reading my blog, which obviously meant that nobody cared about me. I was checking everyday to see when someone would check up on me. Sad, I know. I actually went so far as to call Rebecca "Mrs. Liar Pants" when she insisted that, in an attempt to make me feel better, she had left a comment a few days ago. I am sorry, Rebecca. Your pants are no longer on fire.

I have since adjusted the junk filter and recovered all of the mistakenly trashed comments from the aforementioned lovely people. Thanks for the feedback and I'm sorry I ever doubted you. I will be spending the next few days in an intensive self-affirmation course in an attempt to recover my once glorious self esteem.

Posted by Joshua Zamrycki at 12:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (6)