August 2008 Archives

Ok --

So on my trip across the country, I realized something; well, I realized a whole hell of a lot -- but I'm only gonna talk about this right now. I realized that I'm a creative guy sitting in the middle of what a lot of people would consider a pretty good life, and I'm whining that I have nothing to do and nowhere to go. Well boo hoo.

You know, when I was in my 20s, recovering from the madness of my teens, I really had something to say -- I wanted people to care, I wanted people to stop hurting each other and start loving each other... seriously. I had all that warm in my heart, all the need to be heard, and all that wicked PASSION that still takes me over the wall whenever someone that I love needs me...

My brain drove me, and well, I was into it. It was like breathing after being under 100 feet of water, coming out of that garbage ... all of the sudden, I wasn't just able to be understood -- I was able to do things that others couldn't... but there was a price...

I was pissed off. Seriously pissed off at just about everybody and everything.

You probably don't know this (I'm working on the assumption that there's about 10 people who might read this), but I've been hurt by just about every sector of life and society at one point or another...

I went to boarding school, filled with the most elite families and kids in America, and was physically and emotionally beaten for my troubles. I escaped that, turned to the "bottom classes" for solace and had my soul held ransom by people who just saw me as a dollar sign. In between, the average Joe would just stare at me and wonder what the hell was wrong with me, and the average Jane would cross the street to avoid me because well -- I was pissed off.

Ok ... so boo hoo -- like I said. But the point of all that is that I realized to myself just how key it is to LOVE -- because that's the only thing that kept me alive. So, at that point, I'm figuring just about everybody in the world knows what LOVE is, and I'm just looking for a way to write something, to say something, to be a part of the big celebration of capital L - Love. Boy was I wrong.

Well, in my time from there to here, I learned that people want Love, but fear each other. That's it. Say that out loud. People want Love, but fear each other. That's all I've got.

The journey to here included me realizing that I wasn't about to be a starving writer, and I wasn't about to be a starving shrink -- so if I wanted to write, I'd have to become independently wealthy or something ... so I could be free to write what I want, when I want, where I want, about whatever the hell I want and not fear reprisals.

I needed my voice to be free ... I needed to write from the heart without a single care -- so I could get a statement out there and everybody'd know I'm not just another dick selling love and pretending it's Love.

Wanna know something funny?

I almost missed the last turn ... I almost forgot what the hell I was doing it all for... how I got here. S'funny, isn't it? Life is what happens while you're making plans, as John Lennon put it.

Well, step #1 is getting my words limber again ... and that, my friend (someone I love) -- is what I realized on my trip across the country ... that the time has come for me to turn on my creative again ... to get my noise going ... and say something... so that's what I'm doing here -- and gonna try to keep doing.

I'm starting by staying up late, primarily because I like it, I'm more creative at 1am, and nobody can tell me I can't... and just spew words into posts...

Maybe I'll even talk about Love ... since I'm alive because Love saved me.

***UPDATE: Please see my comment and step 11 about logging into the site to make the script work -- should solve those "Runtime" errors that people are having***

Here's the scenario:

You have a phone with Verizon, and you have 1,000 contacts in your address book. Perhaps you've had a previous Verizon phone, but you've never backed up your contacts from that phone -- but you DO have your contacts on your computer and want to get them into your phone. I'm here to tell you that YES, it can be done, I promise. What this does is turn your Firefox web browser into an input robot that fills out the stupid little manual input forms on Verizon automatically, over and over, using a CSV file as the input source.

Here are the steps:

1. First, you need to activate Verizon's Backup Service -- this allows you to download contacts FROM (yes from) your phone, as well as MANUALLY type in contacts TO your phone (don't panic, just keep reading)
   
2. You'll need to make a text file list of your contacts or address book. It must be saved in CSV (comma separated values) format. I found that Address Book Exporter does the best job of creating a file -- but it's tab-delimited, so you need to import it into something like Excel and then re-save it. Windows people need to get from their address book to CSV on their own.
   
3. Now, for the magic. You'll need to use Firefox Web Browser. Now, go to Add-ons in Firefox and search for "iMacros" ... this will get you the Add-on by iOpus. Huzzah! Install that.
   
4. Now, open the side window that iMacros offers. You'll see a list of "sample" scripts. Pick one, doesn't matter which, right click it and rename it "Verizon Auto Phone Import.iim"
   
5. Now, with that script selected, click the "Edit" tab at the bottom, and click the button "Edit Macro"
   
6. Highlight the entire screen that pops up and delete the contents. Then put the following text in:
   
   

   
   
   '=======Start here, cut this line=========
   
   VERSION BUILD=3700331       
   
   'Uses a Windows script to submit several datasets to a website, e. g. for filling an online database
   
   'Adapted from original sample code -- now logs into Verizon Backup Assistant and imports a spreadsheet
   
   
   TAB T=1     
   
   TAB CLOSEALLOTHERS  
   
   URL GOTO=https://backupassistant.vzw.com/mb/do/privileged/addressbook/prepare?skininfo=110
   
   
   
   ' Specify input file (if !COL variables are used, IIM automatically assume a CSV format of the input file
   
   'CSV = Comma Separated Values in each line of the file
   
   CMDLINE !DATASOURCE addressbookforverizon.csv
   
   'Number of columns in the CSV file. This must be accurate!
   
   '====================
   
   ' SET THIS TO THE NUMBER OF COLUMNS IN YOUR CSV FILE
   
   '====================
   
   SET !DATASOURCE_COLUMNS 13
   
   'Increase the current position in the file with each loop 
   
   SET !DATASOURCE_LINE {{!LOOP}}
   
   ' Fill web form   
   
   'Click the "Add Contact" Link
   
   TAG POS=1 TYPE=A ATTR=TXT:AddContact
   
   '===============================================
   
   ' EDIT THE FOLLOWING LINES ONLY IF YOU HAVE TO
   
   ' Change the "COL" values to correspond to your CSV file.  For example, if 
   
   ' the first COLUMN of your CSV is Last Name, and the second COLUMN is First Name
   
   ' then change the first line to end with {{!COL2}}
   
   ' and the second line to {{!COL1}}
   
   '===============================================
   
   TAG POS=1 TYPE=INPUT:TEXT ATTR=NAME:firstName CONTENT={{!COL1}}
   
   TAG POS=1 TYPE=INPUT:TEXT ATTR=NAME:lastName CONTENT={{!COL2}}
   
   TAG POS=1 TYPE=INPUT:TEXT ATTR=NAME:mobile CONTENT={{!COL9}}
   
   TAG POS=1 TYPE=INPUT:TEXT ATTR=NAME:mobile2 CONTENT={{!COL10}}
   
   TAG POS=1 TYPE=INPUT:TEXT ATTR=NAME:home CONTENT={{!COL7}}
   
   TAG POS=1 TYPE=INPUT:TEXT ATTR=NAME:work CONTENT={{!COL6}}
   
   TAG POS=1 TYPE=INPUT:TEXT ATTR=NAME:fax CONTENT={{!COL11}}
   
   TAG POS=1 TYPE=INPUT:TEXT ATTR=NAME:email CONTENT={{!COL3}}
   
   TAG POS=1 TYPE=INPUT:TEXT ATTR=NAME:email2 CONTENT={{!COL4}}
   
   TAG POS=1 TYPE=INPUT:IMAGE FORM=NAME:contactForm ATTR=NAME:_save_&&SRC:https://backupassistant.vzw.com/mb/images/skin.110/buttons/save.gif
   
   '========= end here, cut this line ======================
   
   

   WARNING!!! The last line of code in that included text is very long and ends in "save.gif" ... you should probably copy the script code from the source of this webpage, rather than from the display page, which might be cut off
   

7. Now, you need to understand that your CSV may not line up its columns like mine -- so you may need to edit the script. First, find the place where you edit the number of columns and change that to the number of columns that have data in your spreadsheet. Next, edit the last lines so each field lines up with the right column.

   So, for example, if your CSV is Last Name, First Name ... then you'll need to change the "firstname" line to end with {{!COL2}}, and change the "lastname" to {{!COL1}} and so on.

8. NOW ... save the file and click the "Options" button in the iOpus window
   
9. Click "Paths" and make note of where Datasources are saved. In your Finder or File Explorer, save your CSV into that directory -- but save it with the name "addressbookforverizon.csv" in that directory.
   
10. My advice would be to test this with a 1 or 2 line CSV file first, to ensure that all the data is going into the right fields. Once you've seen it working -- put in the real file with 1,000 contacts in it.
    
11. UPDATE: Before you run the script, you need to be manually logged into Verizon's site -- this script WILL NOT log in for you (that would be bad). So first, go to http://backupassistant.vzw.com and log in -- that's all, doesn't matter what screen you're on after that, just log in.
    
12. Ok, ready? Click the "Play" tab, and click "Play (Loop)" -- you might need to set the Max value to your line count in the CSV file (e.g. 1000) -- now watch the robot upload data into your Verizon account.
    
13. Once it's complete, go to the applet on your phone, select update -- and presto -- you now have 1,000 contacts ON YOUR VERIZON PHONE
    

We all went to King's Dominion Amusement Park in Ashland (totally a good idea if you're ever in the area).

I had slept in because I was sick, so Kathy and the kids headed out first. By the time I got there, Angie wanted to go off and do the big rollercoasters and rides -- so, since I was a little weak, I headed off with Nate.

Nate was really fond of the Flying Eagle, which is basically just a ride where you swing around gently on chains, the thing you're sitting in has a big metal "sail" and you fly up and down.

This is what it looked like (opens a popup)

...now, having had such a grand success -- Nate really thought it'd be a great idea to get on the Rollercoaster -- you know, the one I mention in the video -- the Hurler

(I promise you, though this may disappoint a few people, I do not hurl).

We head to the thing -- and get into the all-metal cars. Please remember that -- they're all metal cars, no cushions, no protection -- and well, it shakes you around a little. (opens a popup)

Wow -- we've done a LOT since the last post -- we've been busy having fun, learning things, traveling less ... now THIS is a trip across America :)

Before we move on...
Here's a few pictures of what we did before we got to Williamsburg.

The best part was getting to the beach!!!! Angie and Nate played in the sand and swam a lot, which was awesome -- I swam with them in the ocean, but you're not gonna get to see that, it's ugly.

We all had an amazing time!!!

Williamsburg (cont'd)

We entered the city by foot in the morning, because the buses took somewhere between a million years and forever. But before we headed out, we rented Nate a most excellent costume:

...and we entered Williamsburg in time for Gen. George Washington's address to the people about the war (we were embroiled in the Revolutionary War that first day, accursed Brits seeking to destroy our freedom!)

We took a moment to visit the working Episcopal Church (home to Washington, Jefferson, and all the Burgesses of the era (w00t for my denomination))...

...and then we had lunch or something.

Now, one of the benefits of renting the costume for Nate is that he got specialized military training!

So, at 2pm on the dot (and in the heat), we headed for the Guard House right next to the Battery in town -- and Nate received his specialized Militia Training with all the other young soldiers who had signed up for a rented costume:

Young Man Awaiting His Military Duty

Here's the Motley Crew that joined up that day

Now tell me -- which of these kids is standing at attention?

You bring it, King George, we're ready

Yorktown Battlefield
On the way out of Williamsburg, we headed to Yorktown. For those of you without a history bone in your brain, Yorktown is where we effectively won the war and gained our functional Independence. Washington lead the allied troops (America and France) against Gen. Cornwallis (aka Darth Vader to the kids and me), trapped him in Yorktown and extracted surrender, thus breaking the back of the British Army occupation and gaining us our Liberty (huzzah!)

Here are Nate and Angie staring over a bunker at the battlefield:

Nate then marched the battlement for good measure and we were done:

So, we've traveled quite a bit, taken a LOT of pictures, and are now in Virginia. We just swam in the Atlantic Ocean, so operationally, we've crossed the country.

So we got to North Carolina and visited old family friends in Hendersonville. I was really ambivalent about staying with ANYBODY at their home, but getting there, I learned how wrong I was. It was a really nice break from the hotel madness, and we had a really sweet time getting caught up (last time Nate and their youngest son, Jasper, saw each other, they were both 1.

We got a chance to go to Church on Sunday, and heard a very valuable message about "Don't Worry" (and yes, it even had the Bobby McFarrin music). I realized that one of the reasons that I was getting tweaked was because I was worrying about a lot of stupid stuff (my phone, the past, the future, etc.) -- so that's actually helped a lot.

Then we headed off to Chapel Hill, NC, saw one of my oldest friends, Linda, and her husband -- who's also a dear close friend (but not as far back). We had a nice time, stayed in their wonderful house (wow, beautiful), visited the business they owned (a printing company) -- it was really cool. Linda's also Nate's Godmother. It was SO WONDERFUL seeing them!!!

They suggested we visited Hillsboro, NC, which is FILLED with history. We got there, but sadly, many of the places were closed. But no worries -- dad's a nut! So we visited the visitor's center, which was the headquarters for General Hampton during the Civil War, and started talking about that. Then the people there pointed out that the Revolutionary history of Hillsboro was richer -- with General Cornwallis of the redcoats actually occupying the town and using those buildings over there (closed) as his headquarters.

So, the nutty part is that I then shifted gears and started explaining to Angie and Nate about how it would be if we were alive then. It'd start with me, my father-in-law, his brother and a few other family members complaining about this tax that the king was imposing on us. Then we decide to do something about it -- and go burn the tax-collector's barn. So they retaliate with soldiers, and before you know it, we're battling REAL soldiers! Nate was captivated and wanted to learn more about the Revolutionary war (see below for more (we headed to Williamsburg)).

Today, we headed to Virginia Beach, Virginia, and saw Angie's Godmother, Christie. She's a wonderful person -- but I didn't get much chance to visit -- I was fighting a minor cold and was a little worn out, sadly.

It was really great to have a chance to get to the beach, the kids loved it and I spent a lot of time with them in the water teaching Angie how to catch a wave for body-surfing. Nate wasn't really into body surfing, but he enjoyed "fighting" the waves, complete with arguing with the sea, throwing sand, and beating the waves over and over -- it was awesome and lots of fun. It was a kind of battle ... I think he won.

We all agreed with Christie that we want to come back again, we love beaches on the Atlantic!!!

We then headed to Colonial Williamsburg!!!

We signed up for our first event this evening - it was actual TRAINING to be a SOLDIER!!! Nate thought it was awesome, Angie thought it was cool -- we thought it was great -- they shot muskets, they taught us to march, taught us some more stuff and there were huge fires for light -- and wow, it was awesome.

What a great transition for the Revolutionary War stuff!!! So Nate's stoked, we're all excited, and tomorrow is the day that focuses on the time between 1776 to 1781 (that would be the Revolutionary War, you dolt :) )

We're stoked -- Williamsburg seems cool. The kids love that people stay in character. We bumped into a friendly (and probably tired) man walking down the street at about 9:30pm on the way home -- and while chatting with him, Nate tested the "in character" theory by asking if there was a vending machine nearby (with a HUGE grin on his face).

"Machine? What sort of machine are you speaking of?"
"A vending machine..."
"What does it do, this machine? Is it bigger than you? What do you do with it?"
I nudged Nate and told him to say that he put money in it...

The man replied, "YOU have money?"

The kids thought this was great -- we're going back in time!

One other thing happened during our training. We all lined up in two rows, there were probably about 100 people. The First Sargeant commanded some other Sargeants to split the company into two platoons. They happened to split our line right between me and Nate; so Kathy, Angie and I were in one platoon and Nate was in the other.

I quietly raised my hand, stayed in character and asked, "Sargeant, our seven year old son is in the other platoon."

He cracked a grin, and said of course my son could join our platoon.

Later, he told me that in the ten years he'd been there -- he'd never had someone ask a question from the ranks. So we're a FIRST! Huzzah! Tomorrow we enter the Revolutionary War.