Airport Not Always Connecting to Preferred Wireless Network

I love my mac… and I love my shiny new wireless home network. But each morning, when I turn on and log into my computer, I get a little pop-up: "None of your preferred [wireless] networks are available. Please choose another network". So I find my home network in the list of available networks. I choose it, type in my snazzy password, check the box that says "remember this as a preferred network". And dive into my morning.

But then tomorrow comes, and I'm back at square one. It's nothing big — but I can't really start my day until I'm online, so it's a bit of a hassle. So yesterday I turn to my friend Google: "mac not connecting automatically to a preferred network", I type. And voila! There's a wonderful thread over at the Mac Rumors Forums: Airport Not Always Connecting to Preferred Wireless Network. I don't know who JSweeny is… but their response was a day-maker:

1. Move “System Preferences.app” back to “Applications\”.
2. Delete all instances of “Preferred Networks” in “Network Preferences”.
3. Delete all “Airport network password” instances in “Keychain Access”.
4. Restart your Mac.
5. Add/Join applicable preferred network using the Airport pulldown menu or in Network Preferences (as if for the first time). Use “Advanced” in “Network Preferences” to confirm the existence of your preferred network and the correct settings. Use “Keychain Access” to confirm the existence of the applicable “Airport network password” instance and the correct settings.
6. Restart your Mac. The OS should now find your preferred network and join it on its own.

Problem solved.

Man, I love the internet!

Race Against Dallas

So, it looks like my buddy (and neighbor) Dallas is going to redecorate his condo. And he's on-track to starting and finishing the project before Christmas.

We'll see how that goes…

But it's lit a fire under me.

You see, I've lived here for two years, slowly (glacially, really) getting my place to a point where I could have an open house. My big hang-up right now is finding someone who can build a small wall (know anyone that fits the bill? let me know!). I'm in a race, now. I'm aiming to have my open house the same time Dallas has his re-open house.

Anyway… I wanted to — in the spirit of friendly competition — let everyone know that Dallas is having a garage sale. Online.

Lazy Web: Personal Services

I lived in Provo for a little more than 12 years. And over the course of that time, I collected quite a little menagerie of "people"... folks and companies that I relied upon to make my life easier or better or both. But now that I've moved to Salt Lake City, I'm people-less. So I need a little help... your help... who are your people?


Bank

I'm a firm believer in credit unions... I like that credit unions tend to reinvest in my community. So when I was in Provo, I used Utah Community Credit Union (UCCU). They were alright — sometimes even amazing. If there had been no credit union, or a bad one, I would have gone with Central Bank which is a Provo-born-and-bred bank of superlative quality, and a charm all its own. But now I'm in Salt Lake City... and I live right down town ( 300 W 300 S )... and I need a financial institution that has a presence there for deposits and withdrawals. Now, I'm guessing I could make deposits via the ATM network, but I've not tested that one yet. I want a bank that I can be proud of, that has an amazing web services portfolio, and is all-around good. Ideas?


Full-service Gas Station

Oh man I miss Gatenby's — that little green-and-white service station across Provo River from DI and across State Street from Macey's. Tony, Bret, and good old Bob. They washed my windows, filled-up the tank, topped-off the fluids, and saved my life once or twice with unsolicited (and free!) advice. They were so good, they got Boxing Day gifts... and though I've found Craig's service station (900 S 1300 E) — which is full-service — I'm not impressed by the staff, which seem largely apathetic. And they don't always remember to wash my windows. Please tell me there someone else...


Cobbler

I purchased both pairs of my Allen Edmund shoes from Village Shoemaker (Orem Center Street @ State), and had them shined and conditioned there every other week for almost 8 years... but now I need someone up here.


Tailor

I like to have my clothes tailored, and in Provo, I used Two Tiny Tailors (in University Mall — the only reason I ever went to that horrible place). They were so busy, good grief... but they did great work. Who do you use?


Barber

I know, I know... I have no hair. But that's not entirely true, I just keep it tightly shorn... and every Friday for years I've gone to Reid Francom at the BYU barber shop for a clipping... and when he started working in Draper on Fridays, I convinced him to drop by my home on his way up there. And even now I drive down to Draper each Friday (I'm heading there in an hour) to have a cut at the 9 to 9 barber shop on 123rd South, by the fire station. But I'd rather find someone downtown, as Reid is only there on Fridays, which means if I forget or get delayed, I'm stuck waiting a whole week.


Maid

So, for the last six years, I've had a maid... nothing fancy, just two hours a week to scrub the place down, vacuum, and do the windows... I mostly used friends who were short on cash, but didn't mind putting in a little work (I pay $12.50/hr). I think I'd like to do the same up here, but haven't found anyone yet.


Yeah... I think that's it.

Oh, wait: a mender.

In Provo, there's The Mending Shed — and they're absolutely amazing at fixing any small appliance! Any suggestions for a similar outfit up here?



ADDENDUM

Realized, re-reading this, that I missed a few important "people": dentist, personal physician, chiropractor, message therapist.

Dentist

I've been using Dr Corbin Matthews down in Provo, and he is wonderful — and his assistants are pain-free... but the two-hour commute is really making visits less and less likely. Who do you use? ... laser-assisted exams a must.


Personal Physician

Dr Berry of Cascade Family Medicine is amazing — he listens, he appreciates input, he's personable, and he's fairly priced (office visit is $30 without insurance)... but he's also way down in Orem. I prefer DOs to MDs, but I'm not hard-set against them. Berry's an MD, after all.


Chiropractor

I've had great chiropractors and scary ones... my last one was all herky-jerky, and I was certain he was going to rip my head from my spine one of these days. I don't want that... who pops your back?


Massage Therapist

I had a long-term message therapist about 10 years back... but when she left the industry, I didn't find anyone to replace her. And while it's a luxury, it's one I'm reconsidering — even if it's just a monthly visit. I think it would be nice... and relaxing.

Lazy Web: Do you know any handy men?

Hey, everyone: as you know, I've just purchased a great place downtown (SLC), and I'm trying to do a little fix-up before moving in. We've painted the walls and refinished the floor... now I'm looking for what I assume will be three different contractors: I need an electrician (lighting, and moving some outlets around), a carpenter (for building an interior wall with a window), and a finishing carpenter (for crafting some modest built-in book shelves).

Do you know anyone that you'd recommend? They're three very small jobs... and I'd prefer to have everything done before moving in — though that isn't absolutely necessary.

Let me know!