Aug 10, 2010 0

Hacked Blogs and Alien Themes

Categories:  as a SAHP

A couple of weeks ago, I repaired my hacked blogs with my bare hands.  It was fun to finally discover how to untangle some ropes that comes with web management.  All I made sure was that the contents are intact.  Of course I already lost a handful of hard written posts when I gave up last June.  Anyway, so after re-running my mini-sites in WP default theme, I was preparing to get on with restoring all the contents, at least for the sites that still has it.  Using FileZilla, I just couldn’t connect the existing folders from the cpanel files.  Something is wrong and needs some more fixing.  I have a busy day job and home life so I have reasons (more like excuses, actually) not to look into it yet.  But it’s bugging me for action.  Just today.

My husband who has been supportive of my projects offered some premium themes he purchased online.  This is cool because these I could not afford to buy for my own at the moment.  And the moment he told me that, I was ecstatic, excited and was kicking off to get started.  But as soon as I logged in to the panel and went  over the documentation… I was like.. “Oh no, I don’t get this”.  I thought it’s going to be easy-peasy.  It’s going to need a lot of reading and at least a basic understanding of CSS and PHP in order to come up with a decent web design.  I wished I studied Computer programming instead of Industrial Engineering.

Using the Thesis theme was like meeting an alien for me alright.  And matters about hosting, SQL and ports when put together may seem like the most complex task for day… these should not stop me from learning and reaching for my goals.  So here I go, I’ll better stop ranting and move.

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Jul 17, 2010 0

The Benefit of Self-Reliance

Categories:  Updates, as a SAHP

A number of my sites have been hacked for more than 5 times already.  It was exasperating each time because the only way I know how to solve the problem was to delete the entire WP application, re-install and start from scratch.   That means forgetting all about the content I have painstakingly written through the years.  I know it was too “newbish”.  But I married a geek who refused to do the hands-on for me all because he wanted me to learn on my own.  In fair judgment to my hub, he helped me in my first few hacking experiences and repaired my blogs.   But because I own and maintain quite a number of websites, he thought I should learn the ropes myself.

At the start of the year, he removed my sites from his hosting services and sent me a link over email on where to get a reseller account.  To be honest, I was annoyed by this act because I view this as a refusal to help his very own wife!  All the more when he said my sites just have too many support issues and he does not have time to handle any of it anymore.  Web hosting is not his business model.  Neither tech support. Please take note, I do not get those hosting for free.  I pay for each disk space and bandwidth.  So why in the world is he not helping me??!?  In the context of me being a start-up entrepreneur, I received and treated his act as something that came from someone not related to me.  Sort of like an unsuccessful business venture.  More than anything else, I want to respect his decision and shield our home life from work related issues.  So I tucked that aside and moved on.

On one of our “high joy” moments, I asked why is he doing this to me.  Why does he enjoy seeing me scream for help and do nothing until I figure things out.  He looked at me straight to the eye and said, “I want you to be self-reliant, to learn how to survive with or without my support.  I love you so much that I do not want to impair you”.  I understood his words but I didn’t know what to say.  Back then, I was not sure if I should thank him or what.

I have never really absorbed his point until my websites were hacked (for the nth time).  It took me days to figure it out.  I had to read tutorials, forum threads and all.  He’s here by my side just watching, ready to catch if I slip and wreck the entire database (LOL).  But he left me alone to analyze and locate errors.  Tonight I finally restored Eagirl.com including the theme I customized, yay!

The web application troubles I shared above is just one of the many things he pushes me to learn.  There are other aspects from finances to sanitary plumbing that I learn a lot about, too.

The tough love my husband has for me actually made me realize that I am capable of doing things other than minding the kids and the kitchen and running a project.  It pushed me to learn and apply it.  It equipped me with survival skills that we both are now confident that we will be able to feed “our flock” no matter what the world brings.  It might have been painful at first but I realize now that I should be thankful that he constantly brings out the best in me.

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Jul 10, 2010 0

A Quick Update

Categories:  Updates, as a SAHP

For friends who may be wondering what in the world is happening to deetsie, this post is for you.

As I write, I am in Davao City, Philippines to attend my best friend’s wedding.  So happy to be the matron of honor, I came over way ahead of time to host a bridal shower party the other night.  It was fun and I think everyone, especially the bride, had a great time.

As I write, my blogs are dead from hacking.  Just before I left for this trip, I got a message from Danica that my websites were hacked again!  If only I could get these guys arrested, I would.  I figured fixing it would take so much of my time so I opted to wait until the plane lands and I get a steady Internet connection.  Alas, my mom’s internet connection was not working and it took them 2 days to fix it.  It felt like forever as I am so used to breathing with oxygen and the Internet.

As I write, am reading tutorials on how to do manual upgrades and how to avoid getting hacked again.  I am such a newb… (i know my husband would agree).  I’ve been blogging for 4 years and I still can’t get away from those darn hackers… grrrrrr..

As I write, my Ea and Jethro are down with fever.  Both are asleep now so I have a moment to spare and write.  Ea’s temp is at 38.6 C while Jet’s getting 39.7 C.  Mom books would say this should be a cue to take them to the hospital, not to mention Davao is having dengue and malaria outbreaks.  But hey, I’m not a typical clueless mom.  I don’t know about other moms but I just know when to take the kids to the hosp and when it’s best to just hold and care for them at home.  I already gave Jet a soothing massage and sponge bath to bring the fever down.  Whew.

Oops, Jet’s awake now asking for mumma.  Ta tah!

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Dec 28, 2009 3

The Rewards of Staying Home With Your Kids

Categories:  as a SAHP

Working while Barney or Hi-5 is on is a normal daily event for me.  My little Ea watches kids’ shows on a monitor extended from my laptop which is just about an inch away from my work station.  Sometimes the noise around the house takes my focus away.   It’s difficult to tinker on the keyboards using a single hand most especially when one or both of my little ones are on board.  Sometimes I would want to take a few minutes break and just do nothing, think about nothing and hear nothing.   But what I have really realized is that the benefits of staying home with the kids far outweigh the inconvenience of having to hear all their whinging.  Being there when my children needs me is the best gift I could ever give especially now when they are still on their formative years.  Here’s why:

  • Learning is fun when kids have their parents as their teacher, playmate, dance partner and best friend.
  • Having their mama’s arms around them when they’re sick speeds up recovery.   Even if there are medical professionals for almost every body concerns, nothing beats the warmth of a mother’s touch.

I could list more until the sun sets but let me just stick to the best ones right now.  Although things could get tough at home when you can’t seem to get things done, I’m still loving every moment of it.

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