That seems like an awfully long time...

I really haven’t been updating this blog as much as I should. I promise I’ll work on it. I was working with some files on a server at work this week and ran into this rather odd time estimate. I didn’t really want to wait for almost 1500 days so I let it run overnight. It reminded me of how long it’s been since I have updated this blog. It’s time to start posting here again. I have several subjects in mind so keep an eye out for some rather diverse posts soon (hopefully)!

Yesterday afternoon we had a rather unexpected visitor.  A large tornado touched down about two miles from home and moved quickly past. It hit Southeast Raleigh and then moved on to the northeast. The tornado was so close that I could hear it out on the front porch. That was not a sound I ever care to hear again. We were very fortunate that we received no damage from the passing storm. Many of our neighbors a few miles away were not so fortunate.

Since we have all been wearing pedometers (and exercising this year) this would be an excellent time for fellowship. You can pick up around 4,500 steps or so as well as enjoy some time outside with your peers.  The Information Technology Office would like to invite everyone to meet up with us at the Conference Office at 4:45 PM on Wednesday April 6th, 2011.  We will leave from the front of the building at 5 PM and walk twice around the block (map of the route below).  Twice around this loop is approximately 3.5 miles.  You should budget about an hour to complete the track if you are walking.  It’s a little further than a 5k but what’s a few tenths of a mile amongst friends?

Walking With WordPress 5k Route

Some things to note:

• We will be taking a group photograph before we leave.
• You do not have to walk with us during the event but you do have to move at least 3.1 miles on that day.
• Even if you are exercising elsewhere please consider showing up for the group photo.
• You can perform any type of exercise as long as you complete the 5k.  You can run on a treadmill, bike indoors or outdoors, swim laps, run or jog or walk as long as you hit the mileage requirement.  If you decide to exercise elsewhere be sure to let me know so I can keep track of how many people are participating.
• ALL are welcome!  I’m sure there will be enough adults to help watch any children that want to participate.
• You do not have to walk with the group around the track.  If you choose to run or bike the track we will happily wave as you lap us.  Photographic evidence of your exercise and/or a description of your individual exercise would make the blog very happy.
• Rain out day will be Friday April 8th.
• We need a volunteer time keeper to hand out times as people finish the course.  I am currently accepting applications for this position.  Please send references and salary requirements to me directly.

If you plan to attend please fill out this registration form:

https://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dEJlRC12em9SSlAzc212Z0FVQ3B3eVE6MQ

You can find out more here: http://en.blog.wordpress.com/2011/03/29/automattic%E2%80%99s-worldwide-wp-5k/.

A more intimidating name could hardly be imagined...

Multiple routers providing internet access.

We run a pretty wide range of hardware in the News Room.  You can see anything from Linux netbooks to Mac and Windows laptops.  We also support an e-mail station of several Ubuntu 10.04 workstations. Throw in about 15-20 employees, several wireless networks, 2,000 attendees and one large facility and you have a complex project!

George Speake and Derek Leek work together on a project.

This year the set-up time took about as long as I expected it would.  The nice thing we have this year that we have not had in previous years is an extra day to prepare.  Now that I have most of the major work finished tomorrow should be a fairly light day.  I’m hoping to catch up on some e-mail and continue coordinating vendors for the building move in two weeks.  We’ll see how it goes though.  As of right now all systems are green!

We gathered today to dedicate the entire building as well as the Sam Dixon Meeting Room and Chapel.  Our main meeting room serves a dual purpose and it was named after one of our clergy members who perished in the Haiti earthquake.  Unfortunately I missed most of the actual ceremony itself.  We had a power blink in the building during the service that disturbed our alarm system.  I spent a good bit of time straightening that out.  Everything new is bound to have a few kinks, right?  After spending a great deal of the last six months working on this building today it finally felt like it was finished.  It’s good to get to this point.  No time to rest on our accomplishments though, annual conference is next week and the building move is in two weeks!

Driveway signage

Cross and flame over building entrance

H/T: Goodnight, Raleigh

Peek-A-Boo!

The family and I visited the Museum of Life and Science in Durham today to participate in their Dinosaur Trail Preview.  The trail officially opens up on July 25th, but is now open for members and special guests.

A few days ago the museum posted an invitation on their Twitter feed for all bloggers and tweeple to come by for a special sneak peek.  For a few hours this afternoon people were walking around the trail snapping photos and updating their twitter feeds, facebook pages and flickr accounts.  It was a lot of fun seeing some familiar names and placing them with faces.  My children had a blast.  Some parts of the trail were still under construction but the majority of the big exhibits were ready.  We can’t wait to come back again when the trail is completely open!

Here are some of the pictures we took during the trip:

Dinosaur Trail Preview