Cut Cable = Dead Website

This is what a main line of fiber optic cable looks like when it's been cut by an unaware construction crew: Unfortunately, this cable was what connected my webhost's servers to the Internet. This is part of the backbone of the Internet. Here is the page at my web host with the full story and more pictures. This kind of stuff happens - I understand. I just wish it would happen at a time when I haven't just told 700 people (at least) about www.jimandchris.com and the weblog. I also have a lot of other stuff hosted there, like the membership database for an organization I webmaster for. They don't use it a lot except for recording attendance after their monthly meetings. This month's meeting was ... you guessed it ... yesterday. It also means that all email for jimandchris.com was off today. And, my seminar on Blogging is tomorrow. Whew! I'm sooooo glad it's back up. Actually, I am so glad that I won't even complain about it being down today. That didn't sound like complaining above did it? Actually, I feel really sorry for the owners of the webhost ... can you imagine?

Exercise while RVing and Rain

Yesterday was our 2-seminar day. We got off to a great start by getting up early and attending the 'Morning Exercise' seminar. We were planning to go again this morning, but we're a little late - it starts in 5 minutes (7am) and it's pouring rain outside. hmmmm - always some excuse not to exercise huh? The rain also prevented us from seeing the entertainment last night - The Ricky Nelson Legacy Tour. As we were driving over it started to rain and we saw hundreds of people walking *back*. After we got home, it really poured and lightning and thunder. ooops ... Jim is saying 'c'mon, let's go exercise ... ok more later ... We did it. And here's photo proof:

RV Dreamin'

Since we've been working with Coach Connect/Road Connect and the WiFi in RV parks industry for 3 years now, we're starting to think it's 'old hat' and everyone knows all they need to know and can use WiFi anytime they want. So, imagine our surprise when over 400 people show up for our WiFi seminar today. That's a dream come true to have that many people interested in what we have to say. And, they stayed till the end too. Of course, Jim was really interested in Tom Petty's racecar in the back of the room! But there's another reason I named this post 'RV Dreamin' and that's because of a web-based radio station that we've recently discovered called RV Dream Radio. As a 'everything about RVing radio station, they are covering the FMCA convention here in Charlotte/Concord and they interviewed us tonight! I'll post a detailed link on how to listen to the interview as soon as I get to hear it. That is, if we sound ok. :-)

Setup Day

The motorhomes are movin' in. And, they did end up moving us to the infield after all. Pretty cool. We're right next to the entrance and a very short walk to the Information Center where we'll be running the WiFi hotspot for Road Connect (aka Coach Connect). Click on the image below for a larger version - I put 3 photos together for this one. Jim spent part of the day setting up the WiFi hotspot. There were already people waiting in line to use it. It's an interesting location - we're in the garages for the racetrack. Luckily the weather has turned a little cooler, so they have the garage doors open and there's a breeze. The electricity is available from cables hanging down from the ceiling. A little unusual, but everything is working great. We also walked around and checked out the room where we're giving our first seminar. Looks like it's all set up. The FMCA has been doing this for lots of years. They have their act together. While Jim was setting up the WiFi hotspot, I had time to work a little more on my tutorial videos. I uploaded a couple new ones on 'How to make a Blog'. Check it out at http://www.campgroundcomputerheroes.com/tutorials.htm.

Greetings from the FMCA Convention

We're here. We're parked. Along with at least a couple thousand other motorhomes. And, it doesn't start till tomorrow. We're in lot V, street 6 if anyone wants to come visit.

  The location is the Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte/Concord, NC. Normally you see race cars here. Some RVers are attending this rally just because they're Nascar fans and they wanted the chance to get a closeup view of the track. I'm not a Nascar fan, but I gotta admit it is interesting to see the track. I'd love to get a photo of a motorhome taking a lap! But, I think it would fall over while driving the sloped turns. We were hoping to get parked in the infield, but we didn't get so lucky. It's not far though. I'll take pictures today. We got a call yesterday from FedEx. They had a package to deliver for us here at the convention and he needed some more details on where exactly to leave it. While we were talking, he said, "There must be something about RVs going on here." :-) 

  We have electricity this time - we made sure of that because we expect it to be hot and we have to leave Odie alone most of the day. If you've never been to a big rally, it's interesting how they can provide electricity. Just take a big field, put portable generators in trailers, and run big cables to outlet stands/portable pedestals.

  But, there's no water or sewer hookups. We'll be here for 6 nights so we need to conserve and use facilities outside of the motorhome whenever possible. Here's Odie guarding the door for Jim. 

  So - we're off today to get setup for the Coach Connect/Road Connect Internet Cafe. This is the Wi-Fi hotspot in the Information Center. That's where we'll be all week except when we're giving our seminars. Here's our list of seminars: Get Away, Stay Connected with Wi-Fi Monday 9:30 am to 10:45 Seminar 4 Practice Safe Computing Tuesday 9:45 am to11 Seminar 1 Managing Digital Photos with Picasa Tuesday 11:30 am to 12:45 Seminar 1 Get Away, Stay Connected with Wi-Fi Wednesday 9:45 am to 11 Seminar 3 Every RVer Needs a Blog Thursday 8:00 am to 9:15 Seminar 3