Go Hoppa...go Hoppa...it's your birfday...it's your birfday

41 years old today!  How bout this cake?!?!

Mrs. H loves me...what can I say?  The Vols haven't given us much to cheer about, but you gotta love your team.  Even when they suck.  The cake was awesome!  Did everything but play "Rocky Top."

God bless and geek on!

Well, in two (2) weeks...

Almost 1200 hits on the website!!!!!!  We've had the hit counter on the site for two weeks today, and at last view (a couple of minutes ago) SwinTech Designs had amassed 1165 hits!  I'm pretty excited about this.  The Google Adwords campaign is getting one to two clicks per day, and I think that's good, for starters.  Still haven't had that one gamer that says, "Hey - now that's my kinda mo-sheen!  I'll take it!" but I am hopeful that with the Christmas shopping season around the corner, followed by income tax refund season, perhaps that gamer (and more just like them) will reveal themselves and give us a shout.  I can't help but think, all it'll take is two to three sales of our machines, then these gamers' friends are gonna come over to their house, see the macked-out PC they're playing on, and ask, "Where'd you get that?"  They'll say, "It's a SwinTech.  You can order 'em on this website."  They'll get the addy, and visit and order, too!  Such is my hope and prayer.

Anyhow, I'll be making a few changes to the site, adding some info about motherboards (I think gamers would be interested), and adding some more designs Mrs. H and I have been working on.  Hey, if any of my geek brethren have any ideas for builds, I'd love the suggestions!  I'll even nickname them after you!  So, keep looking and watching for new stuff and changes and lemme know what you think, k?  Thanks to everyone for your support and kind words!  I really appreciate all of you.

God bless, geek on, and game on with a SwinTech!

(shameless, ain't I?  LOL)

Although not quite complete...the website is "live"

Just to let everyone who reads this mostly mindless drivel know. SwinTech Designs is now LIVE!!!!!! Still hafta get the merchant account thangy going so I can directly accept credit cards on the site, but I can accept payments through PayPal, so more content will be added (probably almost constantly) than what's there, etc. but my dreamchild has been officially born!!!!! I am so tickled that all my geek friends and colleagues have given their seal of approval on my design, and what content I've placed on the site thus far. You guys, seriously, it means a lot to me that you think what I did is pretty kewl. To my wonderful wife, thank you for understanding the work I've put into this so far, and hopefully, in the coming months...as I work even harder to try and make this dream come to life, thank you for being my biggest source of support and encouragement. I love you so much! As I have said to most of you, if this thing supplements our income, I'll be happy and satisfied. My dream is...this thing blows up big enough that within the next year, I'll be offering you (my friends and colleagues) all jobs with our company.

SwinTech Designs. Built BY gamers FOR gamers. Let's just see what happens.

God bless and geek on!

this one speaks for itself...music Monday--Rock Out!!!

Saw this on Mrs. H's Facebook page!  If this doesn't brighten even the crappiest of days...you should really think about checking your pulse.



Awesome!!!!!!

God bless and geek on!

phone fix and LAN party

Headed to Felecia's for the LAN party! Me, Mrs. H, and our friend Heather are in Tupelo and sittin on DR! On another note, these Motorola Backflip phones are great, except one thing...rebooting while texting. This annoying occurence happened daily until I found a forum on Motorola's site. Seems I wasn't alone with this issue. Someone on that thread posted a fix, though. Cutting a business card to fit under the battery completely corrects the problem! Motorola, though, unlike some companies (see HP post) responded to people complaining about the issue throughout the thread. They even asked for volunteers who had found success with the biz card fix to send in their phones for them to analyze, and they'd give them a replacement. There's only a paper thin piece of metal between the keyboard and battery, and when certain keys (in the middle mostly) are pushed, the battery loses connection with the contacts, and the phone reboots. Biz card inbetween keeps this from happening. How do I know? Just made this post from my Backflip...no reboots.

God bless, geek on, and let's kill some GW critters!

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Knee injury getting better...via rooster!

Hey all!

Have been a bit quiet for a while. Sorry. Lots to do. Lots on my mind. Anyway, the knee has still been bothering me some, so at the last ortho visit, the doc recommended trying something called Suparts (forgive spelling) injection therapy. This is apparently something they make from rooster comb! Weird, right?! It is supposed to act as a "filler" in the knee joint, and help it heal and relieve pain on its own, with no cortisone or pain killer of any kind actually in it. I have a fellow drink slinger friend of mine, who had similar knee problems/surgery and had to do these treatments as well. It's a five injection treatment...one each week for five weeks. Have had two of the five now, and I am already feeling the difference, it seems. Not bothering me much at all yesterday or today. So, hopefully, by the end of treatment, I'll not need the occasional (yeah, right) Lortab to keep functioning at work. LOL.

On another note, I've been working again on my website/e-store idea. I've got a nice design made, and some content. Still lots to do, and some financing the project issues to deal with, but hopefully, very soon, my idea shall be given life. It will be a site/store devoted to the marketing and sale of high-end gaming computers. It's "big draw" will be, I think, a special line of LAN party type, very portable, yet powerful, machines designed for people like us who get together with our PCs and rock out on some serious gaming. Anyway, it's an idea that I'm proud of, and look forward to seeing what it'll do. When it launches, I'll post it here, and ask Dock over at Cybersouth to do the same, if he doesn't mind. Be on the lookout for SwinTech Designs...coming soon to the world wide web.

God bless and geek on!

HP...you no look so good to me

Ok, client brings me a laptop. Nice looking, HP dv7-1245dx (for specifics). Blank screen, seems to be running, but nothing on screen. LEDs near the caps lock and number lock keys flash four times, stop, flash four times, etc. Upon further investigation, this four flash code indicates video card failure. Uh-oh...motherboard replacement. Upon even further investigation, at an HP website forum, mind you, I find many, many folks with the same problem. Various complaints, ranging from HP saying they'll fix it for $390-$500 (after the bloomin' laptop was maybe $700 to start with), to some vowing never to buy HP products again for the above mentioned reason. This video problem apparently stems from the motherboards themselves, which were built by nVidia. Class action lawsuit dictated that nVidia was liable and had to foot the bill to replace the motherboards...for a time...which is now over. Man, just doesn't say much for a company I thought was a fairly stand-up outfit.

Now, my poor client, whom I have to call and tell this to, has this as a "best case scenario". The cheapest replacement mobo from a reputable place is gonna cost him $150 and about $200 for me to replace it. That's $350, folks. And that's the best option! Doubt the repair will be happening. Looks like he may have himself a $700 paperweight or doorstop.

Think I'll buy Toshiba next time...

God bless and geek on (hopefully NOT on an HP laptop)

something for inspiration to Dragons and anyone else...

Hey, I was preparing our church bulletins for this week and found this to include. Thought I'd share it here as well. I read Dock's post about the origin of our guild, the Kudzu Dragons, and thought this inspirational message was in sync with our guild as well as fuel for everyday life. Hope you enjoy this as I did:

Centuries ago, when a mapmaker would run out of the known world before he ran out of parchment, he often would sketch a dragon at the edge of the scroll. This was intended to be a sign to the explorer that he was entering unknown territory at his own risk.

Many explorers, however, did not perceive the dragon as a mapmaker’s warning sign, but rather, as a prophecy. They foresaw disaster and doom beyond the “known worlds” they traversed. Their fear kept them from pushing on to discover new lands and peoples.
Other, more adventuresome travelers saw the dragon as a sign of opportunity, the doorway to a new territory worth exploring.

Each of us has a mental map that contains the information we use for guidance as we explore each new day. Like the maps of long ago, our mental maps have edges to them, and sometimes those edges seemed to be marked by dragons, or fears. At times, our fears may be valid. But at other times, our fear may keep us from discovering more of this world, or more about other people – including ourselves. Don’t let fear keep you from all that God desires for you to explore and to know!

And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
– Matthew 14:28,29

Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.

God bless and geek on!

Auntie Em! Uncle Henry! It's a twister! It's a twister!

Okay, okay. Nuff drama. I have an apparent Apple Nazi afoot (see previous post). Hopefully, this dude/dudette will accept the fact that I didn't put anything on his/her iPhone nor iPad on purpose, and was just giving him/her a hard time. On the other hand, maybe they need to get their iPanties out of a bunch and lighten up a bit. LOL. Oh, well...can't please everybody. Particularly iFolks. They're nothing if their not loyal, though. I'd be steamed too, if my brand spankin new iPhone 4 kept dropping calls because of the way I naturally held the phone, only to have the head iDouchebags tell me it was my fault...not a design flaw. And the iPad? Please. They made it bigger, and changed one letter (the "o" and the "a" for you Apple guys). It's a gigantic iPod! Whoopie.

Anyway...Music Monday:



Jim, that's for you. Thanks for lettin me borrow that SRV boxed set. Will get it back to ya soon.

God bless and geek on!

a pic from the phone

tryin this out. new Blogger app for Android for uploading pics.

God bless and geek on!

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Thursday...hmmm...how about this?

I know it's Thursday, and Mondays are supposed to be for music.  However, I submit this truly wonderful song and video for your approval.  Inspiring...just inspiring!




ROFL!!!!!!!  Love it!

God bless and geek on!

Apology for frustration

Well, how do I say it?  I'm sorry.  To all those at the LAN party the other night (Memorial Day weekend) who witnessed my frustration over pc malfunction, I apologize.  It wasn't just my computer "freeze ups" that got to me.  Although, that did tick me off.  My ongoing problem with my voice dropping on Teamspeak is apparently not due to my internet service, router or modem settings, but somehow with my machine itself.  I'm trying an updated driveer for the onboard sound, though I've done that before to no avail.  Look, I haven't been able to get in the game in a month to play, and all I wanted was to join all my friends, guildmates, and buddies for some serious game play.  I looked forward to it.  I was just itchin' to bust some heads and split some wigs with you guys.  I thoroughly enjoyed the food, fellowship, and fun had while we ate, talked, and joked about.  By the time we actually sat down to play, however, four hours after arriving, is when my computer decided to completely crap out.  So, it was after 10pm, we were an hour away from home, needed to go, and I hadn't even gotten to play at all.  The extent of my Guild Wars fun was meeting in Lion's Arch and dancing.  So, now you may know why I felt frustrated.  Still, like I said, we enjoyed the get together, and seeing everyone.  It was nice to finally meet JK face-to-face, great as always to see Em, Charlie, Shannon, Jim, Felecia, Dock, and Rob and his son.  Maybe next time, huh?

God bless and geek on!

Memorial Day is more than cookouts and fun

I just want to take a moment to say something about Memorial Day.  Most don't remember this as anything more than a long weekend off work, cookouts, buying hordes and multitudes of unnecessary groceries, and imbibing some frosty adult beverages.  Friends, there's a reason we can enjoy ALL these things.  The men and women who serve, have served, and have fallen serving our nation's armed forces.  Let's all try to remember that this holiday weekend.  On a personal note from my wife, Mrs. Hoppa, and I:  To all who serve this nation's military now...to all who haved served in the past and gotten to come home...and especially those who gave the ultimate sacrifice, their lives, in service to this country...We humbly thank you.  We owe our very way of life to you.

To those we're close to, or have been close to:  Mrs. H's dad, Donald...My stepdad, Don...Dock, our friend...Jake, son of a friend, David...Brandon, a guy I work around, and probably so many others that I can't think of (and I apologize for not being able to), a mere thank you doesn't seem like near enough.  You've all defended our freedoms, our way of life, and kept us safe.  So many things we take for granted as we enjoy them, we owe to the sacrifice that you made.  I ask God's most bountiful blessings upon each one of you, and all your military brethren.  Thank you so much.

Gearing up for the big LAN party shindig down at Felecia's.  Was a real blast last time and we're looking forward to this one as well.  And everyone...the DIP is coming!  Gotta go get the stuff for Mrs. H's marvelous concoction of culinary delight in a bit.  It'll be great to see everybody again!  And those we haven't officially met, we look forward to meeting you!

God bless.  Everyone be safe this weekend.  Designate a driver if needed. Don't be stupid...
and GEEK ON!

Knee's getting there...thanks!

Talked to Dock the other day, and he told me that not only he, but all my friends and guildmates were asking about the knee surgery, how it went, and my condition afterwards.  Wow, thanks to all of you.  It means a lot to me that all you guys were concerned.  Well, the surgery went well.  The doc said it wasn't as bad as he thought it might be, but the tear and something about an indention (I assume in the cartilage) needed to be repaired, and was.  It's a week later and it's getting easier every day it seems.  I'm on light duty at Coca Cola, which means other than ordering/selling for my stores, I'm basically a waste of perfectly good skin.  LOL.  Gotta go back to the doc on Thursday for the follow up.  I've been a good little Hoppa, and been doing the exercising I'm supposed to to rehab the knee, and trying not to take the pain meds so much.  At first, they were pretty necessary.  Now, not quite so much.  Still do a lot of walking at work, so one in the morning and one about 1:00 to 2:00 in the afternoon seems to work out about right.  I ice the knee down in the evening, to help with swelling, which is not as bad as it was either.  Think I've got some fluid still there, but I think the swelling from having surgery is starting to diminish.  Got three small holes with two stitches each, and am extremely thankful it was orthroscopic surgery, not "filet your knee" surgery.  LOL again.  Mrs. H has been taking extremely good care of me.  Thank you, baby.  I love you so much.

But, I'm getting better.  Just take a little more time to get back to full jedi strength.  Thanks again so much for the well wishes and concern.  Hopefully I'll get a chance to play Guild Wars soon.  This kitchen remodel and then knee surgery has really been time consuming, but both will be worth it.  Got a bit more painting to do, after I get another quart of paint, but then should be done and happy with the results.  I think it looks great.  Just gotta finish the top shelf of a screen-door pantry, and crown molding all the way around the room with paint.

God bless and geek on!

Flood 2010...OMG!

Hey gang, just thought some pics were in order from about town in Corinth, MS.  I've never seen this much rain in that short of time in my entire life.  So, here are some swiped from Facebook folks...

This is under the Hwy 72 overpass by Corinth Color Center:

This one is by Russell's Steak House on Hwy 72:

This is the front of Kmart on Hwy 72:

This, OMG, is the INSIDE of Kmart:

and this is Linden Street sorta behind the Coke plant:

Unbelievable, isn't it?

God bless, geek on, and please pray for those who fell victim to the flooding.

MRI = Noisy

People who say they sleep during an MRI scan hafta be completely full of crap.  Even with the same type of noise suppression headphones probably used on the deck of an aircraft carrier, these contraptions still are way too noisy to sleep through twenty minutes of their racket!  Anyhow, got it done today and now...again...I wait.  I'll find out next Wednesday what this thangy showed, and then schedule the surgery I suppose.  Wish this had been playing through the headphones...



Maybe I could've at least jammed a bit amongst the bangin', buzzin', knockin', and clickin'...LOL.

Another great exerpt from CMT Crossroads, featuring Jimmy Buffet and Zac Brown Band.  Had a different song on the old blog, but this one's kewl, too.

God bless and geek on!

The "S" word

Well, heard the one thing I did NOT wanna hear this morning at the orthopedist's office.  Surgery.  Apparently, I have torn cartilage (forgive spelling) in my knee.  So, now I'm going for an MRI scan on Thursday morning, back to the doc next Wednesday to probably confirm the diagnosis, and then schedule the surgery to fix it.  It could be worse, though.  This will be an orthroscopic surgery done outpatient style, and providing I can do some kind of "light duty" thangy, I should be back to work in a few days.  Doc said, "If we do it on Friday, you can go back on Monday, providing it's light duty."  So, hopefully, this will prove to be the case.  Hopefully, my employer won't be a douche and let me do almost what I normally do.  That should suffice for "light duty."  Anyway....will roll with this punch, try to rehab knee quickly, and not hyper-whine about it.  Thanks again for the concern and well wishes.  Hopefully the computer jobs will continue to bless me as well.

I need to kill some Charr or something....LOL.

God bless and geek on!

Anniversary!!!!

Well, as luck would have it, Mrs. Hoppa and I have been married for 12 years today!  Man, it's hard to believe that I found someone who would put up with me that long!  LOL.  I think she needs to be nominated for sainthood.  Baby, these 12 years (and the 3 prior to us getting married) have been the best time of my life.  You have shown me the true meaning of love, to give it, and receive it, and to never forget where it came from.  You are my inspiration for everything I do, and everything I want to become.  I love you so much.  Happy Anniversary!

On another note, when I arrived for my othopedic visit, on Thursday, I was informed that the doctor had cancelled all his clinic appointments for the day and they'd hafta reschedule me.  Needless to say, I was a bit ticked off.  I had been dreading this for a week, and now I have to dread it until Monday at 8:45am.  So, I'll hopefully know what's up with the knee tomorrow.  Maybe it won't be too terrible.  Thanks for the concern, well wishes, and prayers.  Hope everyone's had a great weekend.  I've been working my fanny off trying to finish the kitchen remodel.  Getting close, though.  Will post some pics maybe.

God bless and geek on!

K. Maybe this will be mo' betta.

Hey!  New digs!  No js-kit, haloscan, echo, or whatever they're calling themselves this week in the comments area.  Just Blogger's default comments.  Like this much better.  Tried ridding myself of the other bad juju through all means available to no avail.  So, I killed the old blog-a-roo, and started over.  Ahh...still has that new blog smell.  LOL.

I've gotta go to the orthopedic doc tomorrow about my knee.  Sucks.  Hope I haven't messed something up real good.  Maybe just tendonitis.  We'll see.

Gonna have some tech stuff in the next few days.  I was pretty proud of myself, after fixing the problem with our 2002 Trailblazer.  When you cut the A/C on, it would kill the motor when idling.  After some research (the internet is a wonderful thing), found a forum about it, the solution, took the throttle body off the car and cleaned it, and PRESTO! no more problem.  You must understand, I can build a computer from scratch...but I know precisely SQUAT about internal combustion engines of any sort.  Especially now that THEY have their OWN computers!  So, obviously, the church lady superior dance was in order.

Oh, yeah.  In case this was ever in debate.  Wal-Mart sucks!  'nuff said.

God bless and geek on!

And now for something completely different...

Well, didn't like the old blog, so I am making a new one.   More to follow...

God bless and geek on!