Me, Myself, and I

Heading to Hogwarts

2012-02-21T00:30:00.001-06:00

Tickets ordered. Hotel booked. Food bought. Excitement level: high.

Katie and I are heading to Hogwarts at Universal Studios Orlando: Islands of Adventure in about 16 hours. This is going to be fun, and a much needed (and deserved) vacation for my loving wife.

See y'all at the end of the week!

Grand 2011 Finale

2012-01-05T06:45:00.004-06:00

It's 6:40 am, I've been up since 5:30 with fever and am waiting for the doctor's office to open so I can make an appointment. I figured "what the hell, I may as well update the blog!"

So, the rest of 2011 was pretty great. After dropping my two classes, I all but excelled in my remaining databases class. I learned a lot that I was able to pretty much immediately make use of at my job. When the class was over, I calculated my grade (we were given X out of Y scores instead of grades), and I made an 88. Not too shabby!

The holidays went well. We hosted Thanksgiving this year, and had 14 people at our house! That may not sound like a lot, but when you cram them all into a couple of rooms, you find out real fast just how many people 14 can be. Then we went to our usual host of Christmas parties and had a lot of fun. Concerning gifts, I got a few cools things, some really nice shirts and ties, but probably the coolest thing I got was a Tablut board. Tablut is also known as Viking's Chess, and is, to put it lightly, and awesome two player strategy board game, much like chess. I won't go into the details, but you can check it out for yourself. (You'll do better to search for "tablut".)

New Year's Eve was pretty laid back. Katie had to be at work really early on the 1st, so we called it an early night. Still got to shoot off some fireworks first, though.

So, the big question: how did I do on my year of no drinking? To be honest, really well! I made it the whole year, and really don't have that big of a desire to really drink any more. I'm sure I'll still have the occasional beer with friends (maybe), but my life has definitely improved and I'm extremely happy for that. Many thanks to my wife, without whom I wouldn't be the man I am.

Anyway, I think that's good for now. 'Til next time...

Garage sale, dropped classes, and darts

2011-11-16T16:12:00.001-06:00

Well, about halfway through my Stanford studies, I have decided to drop two of the three courses I was taking. The main reason is that I just don't find myself having enough time, and the extra work was causing me extra stress which I don't want or need. I've decided to stick with the databases course, since it directly involves my daily job. I just had my midterm and got a 72. Not great; definitely not what I was hoping for, but still passing.

I'm trying to find more time for things I enjoy lately, specifically video games (on the iPad mostly) and making music. I really want to get back to producing some dubstep and writing/recording some raps again. Also, if I can get myself a decent double-kick pedal, I'd really like to get back into drumming.

In home news, we had a garage sale that went really well. We sold some stuff we didn't want/need anymore, got some money, cleared out some space in our house, and donated what we didn't sell. In the process we really cleaned up our garage, which is nice. There's actually room to work in there now, and I finally have my pegboard of tools arranged and organized. Also, now that the garage is open, we have the dart board hung and in use again! I'm really excited about that. Katie's even getting better; she beat me at cricket again the other day! I'm going to have to keep an eye on that. Anyway, if you want to throw some darts, as the kids say these days, holla atcha boy! ^_^

Going back to music, I decided to give the new iTunes Match a go. $25/year ain't bad, and I'd call it worth it so far. I haven't had any of the issues others are claiming (user error/ignorance is always a possible factor), and most of the music I expected to be matched was, with an acceptable few exceptions. If you don't know what iTunes Match is, Google search it.

Other than that, things have been fairly normal. Thanksgiving is coming up, so that should be fun.

That's it for now.

'Til next time...

Back to school! Er, sort of...

2011-11-01T14:53:00.003-05:00

See? SEE?! I'm *not* dead. (Yet.)

Anyway, figured it was time for another quick update, since I've actually got stuff to say! First off, I want to congratulate my friends Mike and Audrey on the birth of their beautiful baby girl! I can't promise I won't spoil her. ~_^

Second, a quick update on my year of no candy, soda, or alcohol. I've had a *little* candy and soda, not very much, over the year, but have completely stayed away from drinking. It honestly hasn't been as bad as I expected. There's only been a couple of times when I've thought to myself "I could really use a beer right now", but even those were few and far between. The year is almost up, and so far I'm on track to make my goal. I'm pretty excited about that, I must say.

Also, Katie and I went on a cruise. It was a lot of fun! Her sister became engaged (which was the point of the cruise in the first place) and we got to have a nice, long vacation away. I probably won't go on another cruise anytime soon, but it's definitely an experience I'm glad I've had. We stopped at Progreso and Cozumel and did some kayaking, driving of dune buggies, site seeing, and shopping. It was very relaxing and I think we both needed it.

Finally, I'm back in school! Well, sort of. Stanford is trying an experiment where they have opened three of their courses, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and databases, to the public, online, for free. You don't get any actual credit for the courses, but you get to take Stanford courses for free and receive a completion certificate and notes on how well you did at the end. I'm going all out and taking all three. So far its a lot of work, but I'm really enjoying it, even when I'm stressed and can't figure out the answers! So, here's to hoping I can stick with it and finish the courses, hopefully with good grades.

Anyway, I think that's all for now. 'Til next time!

Breaking the Radio Silence

2011-06-09T16:58:00.003-05:00

Alrighty. Its been a while, so here's the low-down, the run down, the dealio, the... er... *cough*cough* Anyway....

So I'm in month 6 of no alcohol. Still going strong, though I'll admit there have been times when I find myself thinking "man, a beer would be nice right now", especially after things like mowing the lawn. However, all in all I'm going strong, and I'm confident that 2011 will remain alcohol-free for me. Perhaps I'll unlock a life achievement. Wonder how many points it'll be worth...

Work is going well. Working on a really big project that stresses me out sometimes, but Katie keeps me cool, calm, and collected.

I've been watching Babylon 5 as of late, and HOW CRAP how did I not watch that show before?! it's *awesome*! I'm almost half-way through the fourth season so far; one and a half seasons to go, plus movies.

Other than that, its been life as usual. Work, eat, sleep, clean the house, lawn work (with help sometimes), and occasionally play video games (usually on my iPhone). Katie and I will be going on a cruise with some family members at the end of August, so that should be fun.

Oh! I almost forgot! Katie and I got a new kitten: little Jane Austen. She's just a little thing: 2 months old, 3 lbs. Cute as hell, too. I don't really have a picture of her to post, but if you come visit you can see her yourself! :-D

Anyway, I suppose that's all for now. Babylon 5 is calling....

2011 Experiment Update 1

2011-02-10T19:59:00.002-06:00

Well, we're about a month and a half into the year, and things are going well! I haven't had any beer or candy and very little junk food so far. Katie and I have been eating better, too. I've actually been cooking real food: steaks and other fresh meats, real steamed vegetables (limited canned vegetables), and I've even been eating some fruit as of late!

I'd forgotten how much run "real" cooking can be! I even made some (rather delicious) homemade stuffed mushrooms just on a whim, no recipe! I was originally just going to oil/salt/pepper them and bake them that way, but last minute decided to do stuffed instead.

I haven't done so well on the exercise part, but I'll be honest: that's because of this damn cold weather. Cold and I don't get along. I'm not very active in the cold. I know that's just an excuse, but its a good one, damnit. I *will* continue doing more exercise when it warms up a bit, especially now that I've got a working Wii Fit board again and found the golf swing analyzer on Wii Fit Plus!

As far as getting to be earlier, well, that's hit and miss. Even when I do get to bed earlier, I'm still not asleep until after 11:30pm at the earliest. My iPhone is partially to blame for that, though. Nighttime/bedtime has sort of become a winding down time for me to read ebooks or play games on my phone (which is mostly how I play video games these days). I know that its bad for sleep to be looking at a screen like that right before bed (because of the blue light we associate with "waking hours"). However, I really don't have much issue getting to sleep when I do put the phone away. Now whether or not I get *good* sleep is a whole 'nother matter.

Long story short: lately I haven't gotten great sleep, but not terrible either except for a few bad nightmares.

All in all, its been a good year so far. I hope it continues to be. This is the first time I've specifically remained conscious of this and made an effort to maintain. We'll see what the rest of the year brings.

New Year's Experiment

2011-01-08T18:33:00.002-06:00

Well, its 2011. A whole new year for a whole new life. This is year is going to be quite different than last. I'm going to be living in my own house for an entire year for the first time. I get to include mortgage tax documents when I file my taxes this year. I get to turn 28 for the first time. It's going to be an exciting time.

Now, I'm not one to make New Year's resolutions. This year is no exception. However, I am going to be conducting what I'm calling a New Year's experiment. I've had some real ups and downs in my depression the past year, though I will admit that all in all I'm definitely better than a decade ago. However, I've decided that for my own health and sake, as well as for the sake of myself and my family (e.g. Katie and I), I'm really going to actively try to keep myself out of states and situations that would augment my depression.

That said, here's the plan in bullet form:

- No alcohol during 2011
- No candy during 2011 (this does not include baked-goods)
- No soda during 2011 (I'd already given up caffeine, but this includes root beer, sprite, etc.)
- Eat better (less quick/easy/bad-for-you foods, more "real" foods)
- Morning exercise 4-5 times per week (something like Wii Fit on Monday and Wednesday, Tai Chi on Tuesday and Thursday, then Wii Fit with running Friday.... just a possible schedule)

So far I'm doing good on the first three. I'm completely failed on the last one. The fourth is so-so.

On top of this I'm really going to try to get better sleep by trying to understand why I don't necessarily sleep well and study habits that promote my best sleep. I'm also going to try and go to church more and maybe even try to get to some KC meetings.

I'm really serious about this. I honestly think that my future depends upon this, in at some percentage. Any and all support is welcome, and if you see me getting off track, feel free to give me a friendly (emphasis on the friendly) nudge back in the right direction.

So, without further ado, here goes 2011...

How I Beat QWOP

2010-12-12T12:08:00.002-06:00

Check it out here.

Christmas, Revelations, and Nightmares

2010-12-12T12:07:00.003-06:00

My New Musical Love Affair

2010-11-10T22:16:00.002-06:00

Well, anyone who knows me well knows that lately I've had a new music obsession: the genre of electronic music known as dubstep. Damn, this music is awesome.

For anyone who doesn't know what dubstep is, its a type of electronic music (some would say techno, though that's not really correct) that characteristically has a very rough, syncopated, "dirty" sound. Its known to be heavy on the base and is very rhythmic at times in an almost pulsing manner. Its hard to describe, but when you hear it you understand.

I've found an online stream of dubstep, hosted at dubstep.fm that I highly recommend. Also, I've discovered a new website called SoundCloud where people can upload their own music to be shared with the world. If you search for "dubstep", there are *plenty* of songs to check out.

While I'm still learning the different bands, groups, djs, etc., there is one dubstep artist that really stands out: Bar 9. Definitely check them out. Also, if you're on SoundCloud, look for "ghosts'n'stuff (nero remix)" and "wartech - the rattlesnake". These are two of my favorite songs so far.

I love music, that's no secret to anyone. I love seeing the progression of music over time. In the days of Lady Gaga and Ke$ha, I'm glad to see that somewhere people are really putting effort into making good, unique music (emphasis on the "good" part).

P.S. While you're on SoundCloud feel free to check out my music. I have links to it on my main website, but for the lazy you can search for "echosa", "lifeless blessed" and "the nonchalants". They are all following each other on the site, so if you find one you can link to the others easily. I have put up descriptions for most of the songs or sets to give a little background. *end shameless self plug*

Confessions of a Busy Man

2010-10-25T09:34:00.004-05:00

So, um... hi! How have you been? I've been, er, well...

Ok, look. I know I said I'd post. I know I haven't been posting. It's just that, well, I've been busy, see? Whenever I thought about posting, something would come up. Then I would forget about it later, and, I mean, you know how it goes.

It's just.... look, it's not you. It's me. Okay? But I realize now, and I want to try and be better. I promise I'll try to post more often. I promise I try to keep you updated. I promise I'll try to keep these promises. But I can't promise I will. I mean, after all, I'm only human right? People make mistakes.

Just, please don't leave me. Don't forget about me. I'll post something of substance soon. For now, look at this.

What is best in life?

2010-07-09T16:37:00.000-05:00

I've recently come to a realization: the key to motivation is motive. That statement may seem quite a bit redundant and trite, but I feel it has worthwhile merit. I've found myself back in an all-too-familiar circumstance. I have many goals: large and small, short- and long-term, fleeting and enduring, entertaining and educational, etc. An incomplete sample of my list of goals is as follows:

- There are many video games I would like to play/complete.
- There are many books/comics/stories I would like to read.
- There are many videos/films/shows I would like to watch.
- There is much music I would like to hear.
- I would like to become a better musician for multiple instruments.
- I want to learn more about construction and house repair.
- I want to learn more about electrical maintenance and installation.
- I want to learn more about vehicle repair and maintenance.
- I want to learn more about gardening.
- There are several languages I would like to learn.
- I would like to be come more familiar with literature, cinema, and the like.
- I would like to increase my vocabulary.
- I would like to improve my memory.
- I would like to improve my attention span and retention.
- I would like to increase my overall knowledge/intelligence.
- I would like to relearn/remember things I've learned in the past (i.e. advanced math, history, science, etc).
- There are many musical projects I would like to produce/complete.
- I would like to learn more programming languages.
- I would like to actually use the learned programming languages.
- There are game ideas I would like to develop.
- There are video ideas I would like to explore/produce.
- I would like to become healthier and, even more so, stronger.

I could go on, but I think this gets the point across. You'll notice, looking over the list, that the items are very vague and broad. Naturally, this means that within each of these goals, there are many "sub-goals" which makes the actual itemized list of discrete goals quite long and cumbersome, and in some cases (such as video games) infinite, as the list continues to grow with time and new releases.

Some of these are goals are more easily met than others, and the key, I think, is motive. If I really have motivation to do something, its usually because I have some motive beyond just getting it done. For instance, if I play a video game just to play it so that I can talk about it, be familiar with it, whatever, I'm usually not very motivated. If I play the game because its fun and I enjoy it, well, that's another matter. I have a "real" motive, so I am motivated, hence my opening realization.

The problem, then, is how and when I realize my goals. Time may be a man-made, abstract concept, but that doesn't negate the fact that what time we have is limited. Is it possible for me to do everything I want to do? Do I have to sacrifice everything else to do so? Do I have to sacrifice some goals for the sake of completing others?

The latter question leads to even more. How do I pick which items I want to complete? What's more important, entertainment or education? Should I stick with discrete goals, such as relearning certain math concepts or learning a new language, which which can be completed within a time frame? Should I do the opposite and keep playing video games, some of which have no discrete end at all (i.e. online multiplayer games) and thus take up an unknown, possibly infinite amount of time? Do I finish old projects, or discard them for new ones?

Even deeper in the mix, once desired goals are chosen, more questions arise. How do I ensure I can complete my goals in as efficient a manner as possible? Should I set schedules that in the past I've been known to disregard (i.e. video games Monday nights, read Tuesday nights, Wednesdays work out for an hour, then watch movies, etc)? Should I just do what I feel like doing at the time, since that is likely where my concentration (and motivation) will be?

By this point in my analysis (which, mind you, I've gone through many times) I start to feel a bit defeated. Should I just throw my list of goals away and just do whatever, whenever, without the promise of completion or reward? Should I just pick one or two goals and concentrate fully on their completion?

Then the real fun begins. I start thinking about all the time I wasted in going through this analysis over and over again. I find myself revising my goals, reorganizing and prioritizing them, then trying to change my ways to fit the new structure, which of course, eventually changes again. This gets me analysing my analysis, which usually gets me nowhere, and either frustrates me, starts the process over again, or both.

So, my main point: what is best in life? What should we spend our time doing? Mind you, I spend my work time doing work stuff, and I try to spend time with Katie when I can. These are points which are pretty much set in stone, and limit "my time" further (though without complaint or resentment). When I do have "my time", though, how should I spend it?

Ironcially (or maybe not, I should check the definition again), when I begin to feel defeated (and especially when I begin to feel stressed or depressed) my main method of correction is to sleep. While this does help to make me feel better, sleeping is the antithesis of meeting goals and Getting Things Done, unless you count death, but that doesn't really count as it is (mostly) out of our control.

So tell me, dearest readers: how do you handle multiple goals and their management?

Video tour of our first house!

2010-05-20T10:11:00.002-05:00

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

Closing time, rap debut, and bunnies!

2010-04-27T01:03:00.002-05:00

This week's vlog! YouTube link.

My Nerdcore Rap Debut!

2010-04-25T16:21:00.001-05:00

Well, I finally did it. I've joined the world of nerdcore rap! You can find information at my website here.

"The Lost Symbol" and 3D Dragons

2010-04-22T09:12:00.001-05:00

Click the title to view the video.

vlog - Houses and movies and kitties, oh my!

2010-04-13T10:57:00.003-05:00

I'm uploading the videos at a larger size now, which makes them no longer fit this blog. Therefore, future vlogs will have to be watched at YouTube. So, here's the YouTube link (opens up a new tab or window). You can also click on the title of this post to get there. Enjoy!

New vlog!

2010-03-26T02:11:00.003-05:00

Holy cow, its been almost a year since my last vlog! So much for weekly updates... Anyway, I'm going to try to get back onto a regular vlog scheduler (as well as a regular blog schedule), so for starters, here's a new one:

There's no business like snow business...

2010-02-23T21:33:00.002-06:00

Well, it happened. We got a couple of inches of thick show. In Texas. At the end of February. I don't have any pictures, but its true. I was there. Despite my dislike for snow, I will admit that it was quite a beautiful change in scenery.

Crystal wasn't quite sure about it. I thought, being an arctic dog, she'd take to it like white on rice. Not so much. She sniffed at it, pawed at it a bit, and tried to eat it. That was about it. Also, as white as Crystal looks, next to the snow she didn't. Either she's really not as white as she seems, or she needs a bath.

Probably both.

In other news I don't have to be at work until 10 in the morning tomorrow, so that's a bonus. I guess snow is good for something.

The search continues...

2010-02-10T20:59:00.002-06:00

Well, our house search continues. We have a lender and a realtor, both of which are really nice to work with, so all we need to do is find our house! Hopefully we can find it before the end of April, so keep us in your prayers. Things look pretty hopeful so far, though, which is good!

In other news, I haven't been sleeping well lately. This year so far I think I've counted 3 (maybe 4) good nights sleep. There are days when I can barely keep my eyes open at work. Maybe its the stress from house shopping, maybe I'm getting sick. All I know is that my head won't shut up. I have all sort of thoughts and ideas floating around, the music has been louder and more insistent lately, and even though I'm tired, when it comes time to go to bed I just can't get to sleep or don't feel like sleeping. Its weird and annoying.

Anyway, lent is coming up on the 17th. Any suggestions for things to give up or take on?

My Kingdom for a House

2010-01-17T12:33:00.002-06:00

Well, the time has finally come. Katie and I are looking at houses to buy. We're quite excited about this. Ideally, we would like to buy before the end of April so that we can make use of the tax credit that's available. This is a big step for us, one of few new experiences left in our married adult lives. Pretty much once we buy a house, Katie finishes school, and we have kids that'll be it! Everything after that will just be repeats (except for grandkids, but it is *way* to early to even begin thinking about that).

Other than making use of the tax credit before it expires, our other main reasons for getting a house are:

Fenced-in back yard for Crystal

Able to have as many (or as few) pets as we want without having to pay extra

Not sharing walls with neighbors

Not rent anymore (it's time to own!)

Not having to deal with specific maintenance crews or businesses

Anyway, we are looking to stay in the same city/area that we are in now so if anyone knows any good realtors and/or lenders for first time home buyers let us know, and keep your fingers crossed for us!

Happy New Year! (Plans and Resolutions)

2010-01-03T12:12:00.003-06:00

Happy New Year everyone! It's 2010. Not much different from 2009. Yet.

I figured I'd share with you all my plans and resolutions for the year. Starting with the latter, here are my resolutions for 2010:

Wii Fit - daily or at least 4-5 times per week

Ride my bike more (even if just around the block)

Be more active with the Knights of Columbus

As for my plans for the year, first and foremost, Katie and I hope to get a house this year while the tax credit is still available. This is major, and we're really excited about it. I just hope we can find a nice house that we like within our price range and also before the tax credit expires. Is that too much to hope? I pray not.

I'm also going to be getting a new TV this year. I'm not sure when, but I am. My hope is to get one before we buy and move into a house, mostly because my current TV is very heavy and I really don't want to have to move it again. It has served me well these past 11 years, but I won't be upset to see it replaced.

I also plan to get better at programming. This, really, is indefinitely continuous, but I really want to focus on certain areas of programming in which I lack both knowledge and practice.

Other than that, 2010 is pretty much going to be no different than before. Work, eat, sleep, clean, repeat, with a bit of fun in there every now and then. 2010, thy name is Continuation of the Adult-Life Grind.

Happy New Year everyone!

Pre-Christmas Update and Exciting News!

2009-12-17T17:21:00.003-06:00

Well, Christmas is quickly approaching. In all the business that comes before Christmas, quite a bit has been going on around the ol' household.

First, and most recent, Katie and I bought a new car! Well, not technically new: it's a 2007, but it's new to us! We got a Hyundai Tucson and we love it. Katie's old Toyota finally sold so we went to CarMax yesterday and are the proud new owners of a new family car! This is our first *major* purchase as a married couple and we are really excited about it. Plus its nice having a nice second vehicle that we can drive instead of my gas-guzzling Dodge.

I will say that I'm quite impressed with CarMax and with our salesman. He was not pushy in the least and there was no haggling. The price we paid was less than Blue Book value and everything was either yes or no. Want the car? Yes or no. Want the extended warrantee? Yes or no. Want the GAP insurance? Yes or no. Done.

Speaking of big purchases, Katie and I are beginning to look at houses, so keep your eyes peeled and your fingers crossed for us!

Katie and I are almost done with Christmas shopping. We pretty much just have a few last minute things to get, nothing really major. We do have our tree up and decorated, and we were surprised to see how many people in our neighborhood put up decorations outside of their house. It's really nice and we are going to find a night to go driving and look at all the lights and decorations.

Other than that, work is going well and I still love my job. I don't see that changing, which is a good thing since Katie and I are really starting to hit "responsible adult" territory, what with buying and selling cars and shopping for houses.

Until next time, Merry Christmas, and if I don't post between now and then, Happy New Year!

One More KISS...

2009-12-08T09:27:00.004-06:00

My wife and I went to see KISS in Houston this past weekend. It was my second time to see them live and her first. To put it simply: it was *incredible*!

For a bunch of older guys, they can still move in those platform boots! The show was awesome. They only played two songs from their new album (I expected four or five) and the rest was classics. They didn't play anything from Psycho Circus, which I found odd but can understand why, since their going for a more classic sound and show.

All of the old stunts were there. Gene spit blood, blew fire, and flew up and played/sang from the rafters. Paul was very interactive with the audience and even played and sang a song form a platform in the middle of the seating area. Eric Singer (in place of Peter Criss) did an excellent job drumming, had an excellent drum solo on a rotating platform, and watching him throughout the show, did some cool stick flips and tricks quite a bit. Most impressive to me, though, was Tommy Thayer in place of Ace Frehley. Not only did the look and sound like Ace, he did an excellent job portraying him the way he walked around on stage and played. He even did Ace's solo with rockets. I didn't see his guitar smoke, but the stage was certainly smokey enough that I could have missed it.

The show was absolutely fantastic. Set list was choice, sound was great, and the crowd loved it. I was a bit upset to see people so against the new songs though. I even saw people specifically sit down and remain quiet while KISS was playing their two new songs. C'mon people, its still KISS and it still rocks hard!

The other act at the show was Buckcherry, a band both Katie and I enjoy and have seen live multiple times now, mostly at Buzzfest. They were good, but seemed a bit off. They just didn't have the energy they normally have, especially the lead singer. Katie suspects he was sick, and she could be right. He wasn't quite holding notes like he usually does and wasn't quite as active on stage as normal. They still put on a good show, but definitely not their best. That's not a complaint or a detriment to them, simply an observation, and I still really like them.

Anyway, it was awesome. If you've never seen KISS live, even if you don't necessarily like their music, I really recommend going (even if its the cheapest tickets you can find). It's definitely an experience.

Rock on, KISS Army! Rock on, KISS!

Thanksgiving

2009-11-27T07:19:00.002-06:00

First off, let me say that I am doing alright after the loss of my grandmother. I'm still sad, sure, but I'm going to be alright, and I'm definitely handling this loss a lot better than I have handled things in the past (the credit for which I give to my wife). Thank you, again, to all of you who gave us thoughts, prayers, cards, phone calls, etc.

Yesterday was Thanksgiving, and I have to say, it was quite wonderful, despite the obvious absence. My sister made some AWESOME dressing that was about as close to Grannie's as I've ever had, and there was plenty of other foods to be eaten ("and, yea, did they eat, and they were happy, and it was good". - The Book of Thanksgiving, 3:21). It was definitely nice to have my brother back around, and my cousin, who had surprised us by being pregnant, then surprised us again with news that it was twins, informed us that she is, in fact, pregnant with triplets! Careful what you wish for, eh? Seriously though, they're happy and I'm very happy for them!

As it was Thanksgiving, I figured I'd mention some of the things for which I am very grateful.

Katie (first, foremost, and *the* most)
My family (of course)
My friends (most of them, anyway ^_^)
My townhouse (despite crappy management/maintenance, its a damn good deal)
Crystal and Chaucer (two of the coolest pets EVER)
My job (oh yes, I love my job)

Obviously, this is an incomplete list but its a good start and gets most of the major points.

So with Thanksgiving passed, it is now time to switch gears to Christmas, honestly one of my least favorite holidays. There's just too much to it, I guess. (As a side note, Thanksgiving is probably my favorite holiday. Its all about being thankful, getting together with loved ones, and enjoying company. No gifts required or involved at all.)

So, ho ho ho, and away we go.

It's been a hell of a couple of weeks...

2009-11-18T14:12:00.003-06:00

So, I haven't really had a chance until now to post since my Bachelor Week started.

First off, Bachelor Week went well, all things considered. I hung out with friends or family almost every night, played a lot of video games, drank a lot of beer, and generally had fun. Didn't get any near as much gaming in as I expected, but that's because I was too busy having fun with other people. All in all, I'd call it a success. I was certainly ready to have Katie home by the end of it, though.

Following Bachelor Week, I proceeded to get sick. Really sick. I wasn't feeling well at the beginning of the first week of November, and it escalated into a low grade fever by Wednesday night. I went to the doctor Thursday to be told first that I didn't have the flu, then get a call back after I'd left saying, in fact, I did have the flu. I got some medications and didn't go to work. That weekend, when I still had fever (higher than before, peaking at almost 102), I called the on-call doc who said I should double my fever reducers and if I still had fever Monday to go back to my doctor.

I went back to the doctor on Monday. Turns out, on top of the flu, I also had bronchitis. It sucked. I continued to have fever through the first half of that week, and didn't get back to work until the end of the week.

So, finally feeling better and back at work, Katie and I decide to go to a friend's house Friday night. There we were, having a good time, when my mother calls to tell me my grandmother had died.

I lost it. Crying, a bit hysterical, the works. It sucked. We basically immediately drove to my mom's house and proceeded to stay there all weekend and into this week. The funeral was yesterday (Tuesday) and we first got back home last night.

It's been a hell of a couple of weeks, with little sign of slowing down, especially with the holidays coming up.

It's certainly going to be different and difficult with Grannie around. She will certainly be missed.

Bachelor Week! (initial plans)

2009-10-28T12:44:00.003-05:00

Well, my wife is gone to Florida (not to be confused with Flo Rida) for a week for a family wedding and vacation. Bachelor week, commence! (woo, I guess). Certainly, I shall miss her, quite greatly at times even, but, alas, I shall survive. Video games will see me through. I'm sure friends and beer will make appearances as well.

In other news, I shall be spending Halloween with my father-in-law (also alone due the Florida trip). This I look forward to greatly. We always have a good time together, and I'm sure this is one of the times beer will show up in the itinerary.

The following way, my family is having a get-together for my brother who is home from Iraq! I have not seem him since, so this will be a quite joyous occasion (certainly also involving beer.) I'm saddened that Katie will be unable to attend with me and greet my brother, but that's how things go sometimes, I suppose. It's just an extra excuse to see him again later.

So, other than those pre-planned events, work, and hanging out with friends on Thursday (already scheduled), here's what's on the ol' bachelor week to-do list:

Beat Half-Life 2: Episode 1
Level up in Diablo 2 to try and beat those damn Barbarian gods
Play (and attempt to beat in the allotted timeframe) Dragon Warrior 2
Move further along the Space Stage of Spore
Not die

Obviously, this list is incomplete as cleaning, other games, random hanging out, and assorted musical ventures are always on the list.

With that: let bachelor week begin!

One year down, a lifetime to go!

2009-10-20T10:58:00.004-05:00

It's true: time flies when you're having fun. This past Sunday was mine and Katie's first anniversary! Holy crap! It's difficult to believe that this time last year we were on our honeymoon! This has easily been the best year of my life, and I only expect it to get better from here.

We haven't eaten our cake top yet. We were too tired when we got home from our celebratory vacation to Memphis at 1:30 this morning. However, we did greatly enjoy our vacation! We drove to the Dallas area Friday evening and stayed with a couple of friends we don't get to see often (thanks for a great time!). Saturday morning we left for Memphis and got there around 8pm after making a few stops along the way. We pretty much just went to the hotel and slept. Eventually. ^_^

Sunday was our eventful day. We went and saw the ducks march in to the Peabody Hotel. For those of you who are not familiar with this (as I wasn't), apparently in the 1930's it was cold one day and a duck got in to the lobby to stay warm. There is a fountain in the middle of the lobby, and I suppose the duck naturally found its way to the water. Well, for whatever reason, they didn't want to kick the duck out (I guess they felt sorry for it) this became a tradition, and since then they have had ducks march in to the lobby everyday at 11am and march out every day at 5pm. Its actually pretty neat: they put the ducks on an elevator, then when its time, they announce the ducks, open the elevator, and the ducks (not kidding) walk along a red carpet from the elevator to the fountain, where they get in and swim around all day until they march out that evening. Its a really neat site, though I sort of feel bad for the ducks, with all the people taking flash photography, gathered around making noise, kids trying to touch them, etc.

After we watched the ducks and looked around the Peabody a bit, we went to the Botanic Gardens. This was pretty cool. Just a big park-ish area with trees, paths, lakes, fish, ducks, a swan, etc. It has different areas like the Japanese Tranquility Garden and the butterfly area (though it was too cold to see many; I think we saw one). It was a nice Sunday afternoon to walk around outside.

We left the Botanic Gardens and wanted to get a bite to eat since we still had 3 hours until supper. We found a really cool bar and grill place called the Flying Saucer. They have the single most extensive beer list I've ever seen at one place. Two pages, front and back, small print, not a lot of wasted whitespace (multiple columns on each page). They even have this sort of contest you can sign up for were each time you get a different beer over time they mark it, and when you have had 200 different beers, you get your name, the date, etc. put on a gold saucer (hence the name of the place) on the wall. There were a lot of gold saucers on the walls. (As a side note: the goal is 200 beers. That should give you an idea of how large of a selection they have). I decided to try a couple of local beers made at the Ghost River Brewery in Memphis. Every Ghost River beer I had was excellent. We got a bit of food and a drink there, went back to the hotel, and cleaned up to go out for our anniversary dinner.

I had made reservations at a place called Grill 83. Long story short: I don't recommend it. For being an expensive restaurant that was in the "Fine Dining" section of the travel guides we looked at, they were surprisingly lax in their clientele. There were a few people sitting at the bar, and one other table had two guys at it. The guys at the table were in work jeans and T-shirts. This is a quite expensive place, real towels in the bathroom, etc. *Fine dining*. Some people just have no class or care I guess.

Anyway, even that aside, it took way too long to even get our drink order taken (especially considering there were only two tables with customers). Then ordering took too long, then we had to wait for our food. Truth be told, from the time we sat down to the time we got our food was 45 min. That's pretty ridiculous for only having two tables to attend.

On top of that, our steaks weren't even that great. A bit dry and chewy. I'm very easy to please when it comes to food. I was disappointed. That's really saying something. We still enjoyed each others company, so we at least got that out of it. It wasn't a total loss.

Oh yeah, the weirdest thing about Grill 83: they apparently ration their bread. They bring out olives and oil/vinegar for dipping bread. However, whereas most restaurants will bring you a basket of bread or rolls, they come by with a basket of bread slices and a pair of tongs and give each person one piece of bread. They never came back to ask if we wanted more bread, even though we waited for 45 min for food. Oh well, they're definitely getting a review on Google.

Anyway, after that, we changed and got ready to go on a family friendly ghost tour around downtown. It's a 90 minute walking tour. It was more Katie's want than mine. However, it ended up being quite enjoyable. It was more a history lesson and several buildings around downtown, with some ghost stories to go with each building. We were with a group of about 10 people and we all enjoyed ourselves. Our guide, Jessica, was wonderful and very funny and entertaining. I enjoyed it a lot more than I had expected.

After the ghost tour, Katie and I went back to the Flying Saucer for a late night snack and drinks. We also played some darts. I won, then she won. I was quite proud of her. We ended up back at the hotel around midnight and went to bed.

Monday, we got up and went to Graceland, the home of Elvis. We took their Mansion audio tour and it was a lot more interesting and information than I had expected. We both enjoyed it, surprisingly. Honestly, we had just gone because that's what you do when you go to Memphis. Not going would be like going to Orlando and not going to Disney World.

That was pretty much it. We started heading home, stopped for lunch, and made it home about 1:30am. It was a great time and we both had fun.

Here's to another year of life, love, and marriage!

Magic, Memphis, and the Renaissance Fair

2009-10-14T22:51:00.002-05:00

Life has been pretty good lately. I've definitely been keeping busy. Lots of stuff past, happening, and coming up.

I went to the Texas Renaissance Fair this past weekend with friends. We had a blast! This was the first year I've ever stayed the whole weekend and camped out on their grounds. It was interesting to say the least. Six people between three tents and a Honda Element. I took my little grill and cooked up brats and saurkraut (in beer) for supper, then little smokies (in beer) for breakfast.

It was supposed to be great camping weather. Don't believe everything you hear. It got colder than we expected (in the 40's with high humidity) then began raining (pouring actually) right as we started breaking down camp. I have tents currently hanging on my back porch to dry, as its been raining everyday since. Other than the weather, the only annoyance was the close proximity of RV's to where we camped. It didn't bother me so much, but the generator running all night took a little while to get used to and tune out.

All that aside it was a wonderful trip and I can only hope that those who went with me had just as much fun!

As if that wasn't enough travel and vacation for one month, this coming Sunday is Katie's and my first anniversary! (As a side note: holy crap, its been a year already!?) We have decided to go to Memphis for the weekend; we drive out Friday night and will roll back into town Monday night. Why Memphis, you might ask? Of all the looking around a researching we did, this took the cake. Speaking of cake, Katie and I will get to find out how well our cake top has preserved in the freezer for the past year. We've decided to eat it *after* we get back from Memphis.

Fairs and vacations aside, Katie and I have been trying to find time to see friends (when we aren't playing Pirates of the Caribbean Online). One of my friends and I, on a whim a while back, decided to spark up an old hobby of ours and get some of the new Magic: The Gathering cards. After a long, protesting lapse in support of our old, beloved game, we were pleasantly surprised to find that a new set of cards, called Core 2010, has basically brought back all of the old appeals of the game to the new era!

While I still don't know if the other new sets are any good (doubtful, but I'll reserve judgement until I'm more informed), Core 2010 has really kicked us back into the love of the game, which we had lost over the years as Magic seemed to lose its way (and its values). In any case, I still haven't messed to much with the new cards (don't really have enough to do anything practical), but I have taken closer looks at my old decks; I even re-vamped one and made a new one, which I am looking forward to trying out.

I really hope that my newly revived sense of enjoyment, excitement, and pride in Magic is not without warrant. If it is, I suppose it'll be no harm done, but there's a part of me that just can't stand to be let down by Wizards of the Coast twice concerning the same game: a game that has been (and to some extent, still is) a significant part of me.

Anyway, that's my update. If you want to see what else I've been doing, hop on over to my website and click on the link for "I'm currently...". Feel free to comment (either this blog, or the site)!

Rain Fall

2009-09-24T06:27:00.002-05:00

Well, it's a rain fall, by which I mean, it's fall, and its been raining for a week.

I don't like rain (except that its necessary to sustain life and all that). This weather has really been messing with me: putting me in odd moods and such. Its really quite annoying and inconvenient.

I do have good news though: Crystal was declared heartworm negative! When we took her to the vet a while back, she tested *very* positive for heartworms. Six months (and a good chunk of change) later, and she's good to go. Definitely like this new vet better than the old one.

Mine and Katie's one year aniversary is coming up soon. It's hard to believe its been that long, but I've enjoyed it. She's definitely the best thing that ever happened to me and the best thing I have.

That's it for now. Stay dry!

You Take the Good with the Bad, I Guess

2009-08-29T11:08:00.002-05:00

So yeah, things have been pretty up-and-down lately. I've been having nightly nightmares, which is not very much fun, especially when it leaves you tired most days. At work, we're losing a really good co-worker (but he's moving on, so I wish him the best of luck and prosperity). Katie's been ill. Crystal was sick for about a week (by the way, in a pinch, hydrogen peroxide can be used instead of pet stain carpet cleaner). The cut on my leg which I got two or three weeks ago is still healing (and still hurts if I bump it). Lots of little, mostly insignificant, things, but when you're already tired from not sleeping well, things seem worse than they are.

On the bright side, my brother is back from overseas! I look forward to seeing him. Also, in the past month I've gone fishing with my father-in-law twice, and caught a *lot* of fish! We caught 36 fish just between the two of us at the lake! My freezer can't handle much more. Also, I found out that KISS is coming back to Texas in December, which is always good news.

Anyway, I need to finish preparing for the bachelor party which I am about to attend. (This could be both good AND bad.)

And It Burns, Burns, Burns....

2009-08-14T12:40:00.002-05:00

Have you ever found yourself standing in the kitchen, cooking something on the electric stovetop or possibly baking something in the oven and thought to yourself, "Hm, I should switch this burner knob for the oven knob so that when someone turns the oven to 375F, they'll *really* be turning on one of the burners on the stove!"

Well, someone did, and to that person, I say:

What the hell? What were you thinking? Did you *want* someone (namely me) to burn themselves when they thought the oven was on when, in fact, one of the stovetop burners was on?

If I knew who you were, I'd punch you in the face.

With my unburned hand, of course.

Getting Back to Games

2009-06-16T18:47:00.002-05:00

So, I've been recently getting back into playing video games. Not that I ever got out of playing video games, but I did hit a bit of a (much needed actually) lull for a while there. What games am I playing, you ask? Well...

Half-Life 2: I'm about half way through this game. It's awesome. This is my third attempt; the previous two usually ended up with me getting frustrated with Windows and going back to Linux. Of course, now I have Windows on a partition on my MacBook, so while I can play awesome games, I feel kind of dirty. But I digress... I'm looking very forward to finishing this game and moving on to Episodes 1 and 2. Maybe I'll even get Portal and finish that. I spent a few hours playing it on my friend's Xbox 360 and got most of the way through the game in one sitting, but I didn't get to finish it.

Diablo 2: Man, I love this game. In preparation for Diablo 3 later this year, I'm going back and replaying this game. Also, I never beat the expansion, so that's the goal this time.

Pirates of the Carribean Online: This is an MMO put out by Disney that has both paid and free accounts available. Katie and I have really gotten into this game with just using the free accounts. I recommend it. It's simple but its fun. I mean, come on, you get to shoot cannons AND fight the undead!

Mario Kart Wii: Enough said.

Onslaught: This is a WiiWare downloadable game I got. It's a first person shooter, and I have to admit, I'm really enjoying it. Definitely worth a play for FPS players.

Spore: I've been playing this off-and-on for a while. I'm about a quarter of the way through the Space Stage. Its fun, but honestly, there's so much to it that I feel sort of overwhelmed. Maybe I'm just making too much out of it. I think I liked the Creature and Tribe Stages the best.

On top of that, I still play Guitar Hero (both on the Wii and the DS) and I still play Boom Blox from time to time to try to complete it. I've beat some of the modes but not all, and would eventually like to get gold on all the levels. Also, our roommate just got an Xbox 360 with Fable 2. I'm not really interested in that; I played the first about half way through and got bored. However, I have a Mass Effect game going on a friend's console that I plan to copy to this one so that I can borrow the game and finally complete it.

So, as the saying goes: it's game time!

Chiggers: The Vlog

2009-05-28T19:51:00.001-05:00

I know the sound is low. I will try to correct that in future vlogs.

Chigger Update

2009-05-28T18:22:00.002-05:00

Well, I went to the doctor today. I show some signs of infection and she's a little concerned about me getting staff infection. She didn't even think they were insect bites at first because they look so bad. She's got me on an oral steroid and antibiotic for 10 days. Hopefully that will help keep me from getting a bad infection.

I Hate Chiggers

2009-05-26T10:44:00.002-05:00

So, this past weekend I helped my father-in-law chop down some trees. We were mostly in sandy areas, and yet I now have the worst chigger rash I've ever had. Its been three days and my ankles are still somewhat swollen. The itching is driving me insane and even hurts sometimes. I've tried Calamine lotion (little help), rubbing alcohol (helped some), and have moved on to using bleach diluted in water. That seems to be helping the best, but not nearly quick enough for my tastes.

For the record: I counted, and I have nearly 200 chigger "bites", the largest concentration (over 100) being on my feet, ankles, and lower legs of course.

Oh, and also for the record: my father-in-law didn't get a single one. I don't hold a grudge though.

Thoughts on Vegetarian Life (i.e. Bacon, how I missed thee)

2009-04-16T10:20:00.002-05:00

Well, my trial of vegetarian life is over. From Ash Wednesday to Good Saturday I was vegetarian. To be honest, it wasn't that bad. The worst of it was it was mostly inconvenient when I went out to eat. Apparently, its difficult to find a variety of vegetarian options at steak houses and other restaurants. I will say, though, that Quiznos' Veggie sandwich is excellent and I will continue getting it sometimes just because it is so good.

As far as eating at home was concerned, I really expected the whole "no meat" thing to force me to eat more fruit. I eat little to no fruit typically, and going vegetarian did not change that. I found myself eating more eggs and mixed nuts more than anything. (On the bright side, I learned the wonder that is the One-Eyed Egyptian; I may never toast bread in a toaster again).

Anyway, all-in-all it wasn't bad. If I had to go vegetarian for health reasons, I could do it with little complaint. However, as long as I can eat meat, I will. I just love me some bacon, steak, and pork. (Mmmmm, bacon.... *drools*).

Speaking of health, I thought that I would lose weight during this trial. I did not. Of course, since I only weight 120 lbs. (plus or minus 5) I haven't much to lose.

3 Movie Reviews (no spoilers)

2009-04-06T18:01:00.004-05:00

The past weekend I watched three movies I had never seen before. Here are my thoughts on each.

"Terminator 3" - In spite of having heard mixed reviews, mostly encompassing "its pretty good" to "its absolutely terrible", I tried to watch this movie with as little bias as possible. I like to think that I succeeded.

I enjoyed the movie. It had some cool action and I think it progressed the Terminator story well. Had this been a stand alone movie, I probably would not have liked it. As the third installment in an established series, though, I found it quite appropriate.

I also found it interesting that the John Connor in the movie sounds incredibly alike to the John Connor from the recent TV serious "The Sarah Connor Chronicles" (of which I am a huge fan). He also looks similar enough that I could believe the John in the TV show could grow up to be the John in the movie under those circumstances.

All in all, I think Terminator 3 was a good movie and I look forward, even more so now, to seeing the upcoming fourth.

"Fast and Furious" - I saw this in the theaters with my wife and a friend. I saw the first two, did not see the third, and was told this wouldn't be problem. That statement was correct. To be fair, I wasn't expecting much out of this movie, but I have to say, even with low-expectations, this was still a bad movie.

First off, I'd forgotten how terrible of an actor Vin Diesel is. I mean, Paul Walker's no gem himself, but man, oh man, is Vin awful. In fact, I don't think any of the actors did too great of a job. Often, it felt like I was watching a student film.

The story was actually pretty good and kept me interested enough, in spite of the acting. Of course, with a movie like this, story isn't the drawing point. Fast cars and attractive women are the real selling points.

Even so, my largest complaint is the title. Why not "The Fast and the Furious 4"? Its another case of bad sequel naming. Watch this video (new window) if you don't know what I mean. (Note that the video is explicit and deals with both video game and movie titles).

"Mongol" - This is a foreign movie, made in 2007 I believe, that I watched with a friend who had borrowed it from another friend. Its about Ghengis Khan, but it doesn't deal with his reign and conquering of his territory. Instead, it starts when he was a little boy and ends just before he begins his ultimate conquest.

I really enjoyed this movie, although it seemed a little slow. It was interesting to think of Ghengis Khan in terms of a normal person with a wife, kids, etc. It tried to make Ghengis Khan out to be a hero, and in the context of the movie, he was. However, we all know how that turns out.

My one issue, not even a complaint, with the movie is that it seems to just skip over scenes. For instance, and this will ruin nothing as it happens very early in the film, there is a scene where the young Khan is running over a frozen lake, the ice cracks, and he falls in the water and starts to sink. The scene fades out and fades back in to him laying back on top of the ice, mostly dry. How did he get out? What happened? There are several scenes like that.

Still, I would recommend Mongol to everyone. I don't think everyone would like it, but I think its worth seeing once. I would like to watch it again some day.

KISS and Make-Up

2009-03-30T20:15:00.004-05:00

I recently finished reading Gene Simmons' book "KISS and Make-Up". I rather enjoyed it, though Gene won't be getting any best author awards anytime soon. My general impression of the book was favorable, though it read more like him just talking rather than a well-written, well-edited book. That's not to say the book wasn't well written or edited, merely a comment on the style of narrative.

I learned a lot about both him and the band. I had known that he had come from Israel, but I hadn't known how poor he had been (although he never felt it). I learned how he became the person he is and was able to pinpoint the beginnings of certain nuances in his character through the book.

As for the KISS side of things, I learned a lot about the band's trials and tribulations. I knew that the band had had its ups and downs. I didn't know how they had all started, nor the circumstances under which each member left and joined.

All in all, the book was really good. It was an easy read with some neat behind-the-scenes type pictures. Any KISS fan should read it, though I think non-KISS fans would still enjoy most of the stories in the book. It really gives a sense of how the world sort of changed in the past 35 years, and how KISS was a part of it all.

Website Updated

2009-03-22T13:41:00.002-05:00

I've added an announcements section to my website. That will be where I put all future site updates, so I don't have to clog my blog with them. Go check it out!

Spring Break and Life Recently

2009-03-20T09:15:00.003-05:00

Alright, kids! Time for an update on my life recently!

I was given yesterday and today off from work for Spring Break, since this week was Spring Break for the TAMU students and faculty. I keep thinking today is Sunday and that I have to work tomorrow. It is nice, though, that my wife also has this four-day weekend so we are getting to spend some major time together. We've mostly hung out with friends, but I'd like to try to get out fishing with her and the dog sometime this weekend (either today or tomorrow, probably). I need to use my license before it expires at the end of the month.

As far as KC stuff goes, it looks like I should be getting my 4th degree in the next couple of months. I'm pretty stoked about that. I'm definitely enjoying it, so far. I helped run a beer booth a couple of weeks ago, and aside from being extremely not busy, it was enjoyable.

I've been getting back into Spore lately, largely due to the fact that I realized the install disc is for Windows and Mac. I never go upstairs to my Windows "music recording and gaming" computer anymore, so being able to install Spore on my MacBook has prompted me to continue playing, especially since I successfully transfered my saved games and creations over. I'd forgot how much fun the game is. Also, I've been playing a lot of Aardwolf, which is the single best mud I've ever played (in my opinion, of course). The wife and I still play Pirates of the Caribbean Online (free accounts) also. Good times.

So that's my life recently. Adult life grind FTW.

Watchmen Vlog

2009-03-11T22:21:00.000-05:00

Wishlist added to website

2009-03-03T11:00:00.002-06:00

I've added a wishlist to my website. Looking to get me a gift? Look no further...

You Wanted The Best...

2009-03-03T10:20:00.003-06:00

Anyone who knows me knows I'm a KISS fan. Lately I've been on a huge KISS kick. One day I listened to 8 KISS CDs back to back while cleaning the house. I've been listening to the PodKISSt (awesome KISS podcast) just about everyday to get caught up with their archive and will continue to listen to future episodes. I've also been watching the KISSology Vol. 1 DVD I have (I want 2 and 3) and will soon be reading Gene Simmon's book "KISS and Make Up".

I've been a KISS fan for a little over a decade now. They were the second concert I ever went to, and that's only because I got free tickets to a Motley Crue show that was before the KISS concert. When I was first getting into them I had certain opinions of which members I liked or didn't, which songs I liked or didn't, etc. I'm noticing as I get older and go back and listen to the albums or songs I didn't like that I am beginning to appreciate them.

Case in point: There was a time when, of the four solo albums, Ace's was the only one I would listen to. Now I find that I like all of them (though I can say that Peter's was my least favorite).

The first time KISS ever played in a small local show, they said their famous line: "You wanted the best, and you got the best. The hottest band in the world: KISS!" It really goes to show that you can make your on destiny rather than fall victim to it, as long as you've got a little luck and a lot of guts.

Blog added to website!

2009-03-02T20:54:00.006-06:00

For added convenience, I now have the front page of my website showing the most recent posts to this blog! Simply click on the title of the blog you want to read (or vlog you want to watch).

Edit: Of course, as soon as I think its working, I realize that its not showing the latest blog (which happens to be this one). I don't know if it's not updating at all, or if it just updates at a long interval. I will wait and see what happens, then decide on an action to take.

UPDATE: Check the front page of the website (link above) for further updates on this issue.

Still going strong...

2009-03-02T20:14:00.002-06:00

Well, its been 5 days without meat or TV. I'm still going strong. TV's not hard to live without, especially when you have high-speed internet. The meat, however, actually not as hard to live without as I would have thought. Not yet, anyways. Although I am have some stomach issues that may or may not (mostly likely not) be related to my no meat diet. I mean, come on, it's only been 5 days.

Also, its March now. That doesn't bring any big changes or anything, just thought I'd mention it. Why not?

I received a Wiimote charging station (with rechargeable battery packs) for Christmas and hooked it up today. It looks cool, with its red/blue charging/charged indicators, and will save me lots of batteries. I'm pretty excited about it.

Anyway, not much else to update. Katie and I will probably be doing another vlog soon, so watch for it!

Two new lifestyle changes

2009-02-25T00:47:00.003-06:00

Well, its the first day of Lent. Katie and I have decided to go vegetarian from now until Easter, just to see what its like. On top of that, today is the day our cable is supposed to be disconnected (our choice). Should be an interesting near future. I'll let you all know how it goes, and if we make it until Easter without succumbing to the seduction of a medium-rare steak.

Vlog 1

2009-02-25T00:40:00.000-06:00

Going Google

2009-02-24T13:54:00.000-06:00

Well, I've finally done it. I've had a GMail account for a while now. I've used Google Documents more and more. Google Calendar is syncing with my iPhone. I've always liked Google products. Today, I have taken another (large) step. I have set up a website using Google Sites (found here), uploaded pictures to Picasa, and now, here I am using Google's Blogger to blog about it all.

I'm going Google. The only thing I don't see happening is getting a phone with Google's Android (unless someone ports it to the iPhone, that is...).