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To enhance stability we’ve installed a clustered database on our SAP R/3 4.7 (6.20) system. There are two fast pieces of hardware running duplicate instances of the Oracle database. Whenever a change is made to one, its reflected in the other. Half the application servers connect to one database server and half the application servers connect to the other database server. The idea is if we ever lose one database server, the application servers will automatically reconnect to the other database server.

In theory its a very slick system.

In practice, its almost a very slick system. We’re having huge problems today with the buffers on the application servers not sharing very well. That is, if a change is made on one application server, its not being propagated to the others. But only for very small and specific bits of data, not everything. Its been brutal trying to track down the issues.

Last night for about 20 minutes people couldn’t login and then inexplicably, they could! I can’t find much in the way of error messages to work with and the descriptions are so vague that its not helpful. I stayed up from about 00:00 to 1am. Then I got another call at 3:15am that our batch jobs weren’t running. I worked for a couple of hours on that one and I think there’s a problem with buffering a table that controls the operation mode switch. I found an obscure OSS note about buffering a table called BTCOMSDL.

Its suspicious that buffering was implicated in this error, too. I don’t know if there’s a connection — it could just be coincidental.

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I went to Galyans Sporting Goods today to see what they had for fishing gear and holy crap do they have a lot of gear! I knew that fishing was big business in the US (along with NASCAR) and I think I’ve discovered the face of the industry! Maybe a third of their top floor is devoted to fishing. I was amazed.

And, frankly, overwhelmed.

Now I don’t know what I want at all. I did see a nice kiddie combination pack that had a nice collection of lures and sinkers and bobbers. As for me, I have no idea now. I know I want to go freshwater fishing, but I don’t know what kind of fish I should be going after or what kind of equipment I should get.

It wasn’t cheap either and it made me start questioning the wisdom of getting involved in this sport. * A rod/reel combination looks like it shouldn’t set me back more than $50 - maybe a little more. * A small tackle box * variety of hooks * variety of sinkers * some bobbers * some artificial lures * pliers * fillet knife * forceps? (there were many kinds so it looks like there must be a good use for them) * leaders (do I need these? probably not many)

Anwyay, when I started looking at the long list I wasn’t prepared for where it was all going. I haven’t owned any of my own fishing gear before. When I was a child, my father would hand me a rod and taught me how to get the worm on there and everything. When I got older my buddy, Brian would always have a spare rod and tackle for me.

That’s what I need now. I need someone to take me fishing and bring all the gear. But instead it looks like I’ll be going solo. If anyone has any suggestions on gear or on things I should not fail to get, please let me know.

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1. The blood pressure medication seems to be working out fine. I’m always wary of prescription medications. In a way, no matter what their purpose, I always feel like I’m doing something illicit. I know that nobody is going to go out and forge a prescription for atenelol, but it still feels like I’m doing something that somehow not right. I’m also always concerned about side effects. Naturally I would prefer as few as possible, but the irrational worrier in me always wonders if I’m going to grow a third eyeball in the middle of my forehead. In any case, I’m happy to report no side effects thus far.

2. In fact, I’ve gone four consecutive days with getting up earlier than usual to ride the stationary bike. Last Friday and this morning I got up at 5:30am to ride this exercise bike for 30 minutes. On Saturday I got up at 6:30am and on Sunday 7:30am. So far this morning was the most difficult. Its very hard, when I’m snuggled up all cozy in bed to force myself to do something as unpleasant as exercising. That’s the primary reason that I’ve made a conscious decision to keep the exercise light. I don’t want it to turn in to something painful and something I will dread even more. For instance, when I look at aerobics or running or weight lifting I see a certain amount of pain. And at another point in my life I hope I won’t mind some discomfort from muscle strain, but right now I am trying to establish a habit and I think for at least the next couple of weeks I will consider it a “win” if I can just continue to exercise. I’ve also managed to exercise two evenings out of the last three. That’s hardly even a pattern, much less a “habit”; but its the direction in which I want to go.

3. On Sunday it was supposed to rain all day. Sometimes with thunder and sometimes without, but they forecast rain all day. So I planned accordingly. Therefore, we received not a single drop all day long. Matt No-yes, meteorologist at New England Cable News, sucks eggs. Nonetheless, we still managed to get over to the Long Hill estate. Its not a “formal” garden but it has wonderfully designed and landscaped gardens. It has a wide range of flowers and flowering trees. Liz and I were very impressed. I think I’ll arrange for a babysitter and take her out there for a picnic dinner sometime in the near future. We also saw Shrek 2. I wasn’t impressed, but the kids seemed to like it. The only seats we could get for the 11:50am show were in the SECOND row. Holy cow, was it hard to watch that. Liz felt ill on the way home, but was cured after a short lie-down. Later I got out and finally had the opportunity to give the lawnmower its spring tune-up, which consists of a new spark plug, new oil, new air filter and fresh gasoline. I have to admit that it started up pretty well. Even though I went very slow and methodically I think I will have to do it again very soon to get the “free radicals”. I cleaned up the backyard and threw out a bunch of stuff from the store room. I have a lot of work to do in the backyard and not enough time.

4. My new purchase! I’ve bought a 2004 Massachusetts fishing license! I spent $29 smackers on it. Now I need to buy a rod and reel and some tackle. Its also my intention to get a “junior” rod/reel as well. I’ve already decided that I don’t mind taking one of the older kids with me, but I’m not comfortable with more than one yet. All three of the older kids are excited about going fishing and I will take them all, but I think I’d also like to try it out solo a few times first. The reel I grew up on was the kind with a button for your thumb. Someone here said that was called “spin-casting” I think. In fact, this link (http://www.fishing-equipment-tips.com/spin-casting-reels.html) describes the type exactly and explains why I used it. Well, the last few times I’ve been fishing — years ago — I used a reel that had a wire guide that had to be reset between casts. I have come to find out this is called a “spinning reel” (http://www.fishing-equipment-tips.com/spinning-reels.html) and its the one I prefer. It feels better in my hand and I think it offers more control. I’m looking forward to some quiet time for myself.

More to come later…

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Today, the weather is gorgeous. I just went out for lunch and kept the top down the whole time! Its 68 degrees out and very sunny! I had to run a couple of errands and purposely took the long way because it was so great out. When I got back to work someone I know was talking about convertibles and how he thought he needed one.

I told him that, to be honest, my Sebring isn’t a very well-made car. The parts don’t fit together as well as I would like and there are a number of cheapo shortcuts they took that irk me. but you can put the top down and that really does make up for a lot. Liz was also asking me recently if I liked the Sebring better than my Stratus (which was accidentally demolished).

Although the Stratus was a better made car, I do like being able to put the top down a lot and for that reason alone I would rank the Sebring higher than the Stratus.

Tonight is T-Ball. All the kids usually come to these. I can sometimes watch the game — if Grace doesn’t come. If Grace comes then I don’t see anything of the ball game. I’ll let you know how today’s game goes.

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Chloe got to perform in her dance recital.  It was a very big deal… that seemed to go on for quite a long time.  We were out very late with her — until 10 o’clock, I think.  But she was very good.  well-behaved.  She was so excited about performing in front of people.

We finally got to Long Hill.  It was a good trip.  Then we saw Shrek II.  It wasn’t as good as the first, but nonetheless a fine movie.

I got the grass mowed.

I took Ben to his soccer game where he tried very hard again.  Gabriel had to go to Richie’s birthday party at Painters’ Pride instead.  Chloe missed t-ball because she had to get her hair “done” for the dance recital.  Liz was very very busy as well.

I better git.

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I got a good email from the director thanking me for my help in researching his presentation. He included my immediate boss and a couple of other people. It felt good to get public appreciation for a job well-done.

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For several years I did not donate blood. For a long time both the Red Cross and Mass General Hospital wouldn’t take blood from a person who had lived in western Europe within the last 15 years. In the last year or so, I think, they’ve loosened their restrictions and I’m able to donate again. The Mass General bloodmobile shows up here at work a few times a year and I always try and get down there for a few minutes to make my donation.

I’m O positive and CMV negative, so my blood can be given to anyone and its free of cytomegalovirus. I’m not making that word up at all! Its a real word! Anyway, this makes my blood particularly safe to give to people whose immune systems have been compromised.

I went to give blood today and they asked if I had any dental work done recently. Since I had my teeth cleaned yesterday I made sure to mention it. It was an 11:30am appointment so they wouldn’t let me give blood this morning. As I understand it, the cleaning results in bacteria being introduced to the blood stream. They’re making me wait until 1pm.

Fine.

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Soccer went well last night. Kind of. They lost, but the worked really hard at losing! And that counts for a lot, I think. I mean, if they lost because my guys weren’t trying, then I would be disappointed. Instead this is a case of a superior team walloping a team with fewer skills. I think the final score was 5 to 2.

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I had to get one of the directors a bunch of numbers, charts and graphs to support the conclusion he wanted to make with the president of the company.

He needs them by the end of the day, but I had a dentist appointment today at 11:30am and a doctor’s appointment at 4pm. I also have a meeting at 2pm, so I think I have maybe two hours to put this presentation together or face doing it tonight after 8pm. In any case, the dentist appointment we very well. “Deb”, my hygenist, is very very nice and super gentle. She and the dentist were both very happy with how my teeth and gums were doing. I was starting to wonder if they were receding again, but the dentist seems to think that with regular cleanings there won’t be any need for any more of that awful scaling.

Back to work!

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Its going to be an unpleasant day of good health. I have to go to the dentist today at 11:30am. I haven’t been great about flossing and I think it will make my gums bleed. My hygienist is pretty good about not beating me up for that sort of thing, but the dentist is a little less forgiving. Still, its something I know is good for me and something I know I should do, despite the unpleasantness of the process. In the long run its in my own best interest.

I also have to go to the doctor’s office at 4pm. I was told a couple of years ago that my blood pressure was on the high-side of normal and that I should start taking medication to lower my blood pressure. I nix’ed that idea and said that I would rather control my blood pressure by losing weight. 2 years later I’m 15lbs heavier and I assume my blood pressure is no better. So, again, although I know this is going to be an unpleasant visit its something I know I should do. Its in my own best interest, but I really don’t want to go. They’re going to give me a hard time for having a BMI around 36 and they’re going to make me start taking medication I don’t want to be on. I just have to keep telling myself that this is good for me.

Maybe it will focus my mind on doing more to control my weight.

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