$2 well spent.

I totally got 99 tracks of Beethoven off Amazon for $2.

1.5 gigs.

15 hours.

None of it is complete pieces - more of a greatest hits. But I'm honestly not paying too close attention here at work. It's so good to just have running and it doesn't irritate anybody.

Mad Men episode 4

Mad Men gets a lot more interesting in episode 4. Also, much more depressing. Or maybe Iám just depressed, but I think it was the show.

With the playing media from the computer bit via xbox, I may not even need netflix on the tv now. We will have to see. It is quite convenient.

Kinda funny. Ha Ha.

Remember back when everybody was like "OMG, why are you renting? You need to buy a house as soon as possible!" Weren't those the days?

Thought it would work..

Unfortunately, my rigged watering system for the Chia pet didn't work...hopefully it can recover and I can re-rig the system to work during Christmas!

Freezing of tucchus

I'm totally watching tonight's Bears game. The windchill is never getting above zero today. In fact, the natural temperature right now is NEGATIVE THREE.

You can show this to Luke...he won't mind the crappy cut and past job :)

My new headboard (project from this morning) :)

I <3 Zooey

So, I turned on the TV tonight and saw that Elf was on CBS...well, I've never seen Elf and thought that I might try it. And guess whose in it as Elf's love interest! Zooey Deschanel. We'll see how this movie goes...

Saturday musings...

It's finally Saturday and I finally got to sleep in - my, what a long week it was. Can you imagine - reading Policies of the Indiana State Police all week. At least I got through it - sure hope I don't have to actually remember any of it!

Next week is a short week that will hopefully fly by - I can't wait to get home to see you and the kitties.

The apartment is all squeaky clean (at least the kitchen) so that I can make a mess making cookies tomorrow.

I think presents are pretty much under control - need a little bit more for my brother. Any last minute thoughts?

I wasn't quite right. But I kinda was.

4:51

Chia Kitten!!

I have decided to document the status of Chia Kitten - let's wait to introduce the boys until she's got a full coat of hair.

Day 1: They say that to promote the seed to sprout when it's cold and humid, put a plastic bag over the entire process. But, somehow, it just doesn't seem right...I can almost hear her...it's okay kitty...pet, pet, pet...



Day 2: Out of the bag for her daily watering, the seeds are already sprouting! Just a few more days in the bag, dear kitty...



Stay tuned!

Today feels like a not so useful day for me. My brain simply has not come online yet and I don't know how to reboot.

Patrice started messaging me last night. Apparently all of her friends are divorced now and they're all World of Warcraft addicts. Weirdness.

But what do the cats think?

Josh coming to Indy this weekend?...

Should I bring Scrabble this weekend as well?

I think I just like the idea of some Scrabble after watching Word Wars.

Do you want to see if Courtney and her boyfriend want to do a game this weekend? I could bring Puerto Rico or something.

Today may not be a great day at work. The auto bailout plan has tanked - the markets internationally are freaking out and we're likely to take a haircut here. I'm expecting we might have a few jumpers today and I'm still trying to not be thinking that way myself..

I just thought of what to get Sean for Christmas - we can order him some comic frames. I know he's got some books he'd like to display on the wall.

Will weak, body weak.

OK, I need to exercise hardcore tonight. That's the only reason I can come up with that I've been so sluggish. SLUGLIKE!

Survey...

Do you find yourself taking on new habits now that you are in the house by yourself? I think I was talking to the radio/TV more than usual this week :)

Update from Indy

Well, it is rather sad that I am not yet hooked up to the interweb in Indy but thank goodness for Megabus - I'm going to be able to catch up on all my emails and web browsing (maybe :) and then have lots of time to give you attention when I get in! :) I do have to admit, it is hard for me to work on the laptop in the dark on the road though. oh, well.

Okay - first week. I was greeted with a welcome package and photos of us (from you). It was all very sweet (and a very good surprise) but kinda tugged at the heart strings. I feel like Diane drove me around a lot on Monday yet she seemed happy to do it (she really is quite a happy woman). I've attended a lot of orientation sessions and I feel like it was like a long vacation - you have the best intentions of paying attention and really are interested but, by the end, it's all starting to bleed together. I just can't remember that much in that short of time without time to process. I should have retyped my tour notes or something.

As mentioned earlier, I think I am actually going to do okay with bureaucracy. I'm good at minding my p's and q's and checking that the details are in place. However, I think I'm going to have trouble with the lab's big push to go paperless (not like that could ever really happen at this time). I really really don't read documents well on the screen and I just want to print everything off...however, that would amount to a pile as tall as me that I would probably only reference once in awhile. Plus, I don't really know what is most important/pertinent to know so I'm trying to learn it all. Phew. And I haven't even quite started my document training yet....

Everyone seems soooo worried about me walking and yeah, it sucks when it's this cold but it's not really that bad. I enjoy the exercise and frankly usually few places I have to get to by a certain time (work, MegaBus). I just hope that it won't be a completely brutal winter. Might keep me inside more than I want :-/

Hmmm....I definitely miss you a lot. I think you know how much I enjoy a good bear hug and I'm quite jealous of you with the cats. I know that they both would be miserable with me but it's still hard. Courtney warns me that they might not recognize each other anymore if we separate them so I'm kinda worried about if we should continue with that plan.

Anywho, I think I'm rambling...perhaps I'll sign off with the strong hopes that setting up my internet on Monday goes well!

Til then, toodaloo!

Relief

I think I feel a lot better today knowing that your first day at work went pretty well.

:(..

I should be in bed...

It's 10:24 on Tuesday night and I should totally be in bed - especially considering that I should be at work early to complete everything and that I should be getting used to a new sleep schedule. Guess the late dinner gave me a boost.

Updating the instructions actually went pretty well tonight. I'm quite happy with the copious amount of notes I'm leaving in the Registrar binder. If only the next Registrar figures out that I do everything by templates (and they only have to find the right template), things might be okay. Some probably think I've left too many instructions but oh, well. Hopefully it will be more help than confusion. I still don't know about organizing the conference after I'm gone - it might just be too crazy.

List of things to do tomorrow: call AT&T so that I can actually get internet set up in Indy, get renter's insurance on the new place, call First United to cancel our contribution until things settle down.

Oh, p.s. - I'm not going to get to go to Denver in February because I'll still be too new to qualify to go. I might be left in the lab while all the others go to the conference. Fun!

Man, the Dick Van Dyke show just came on...I totally want to stay up and watch but I shouldn't. Sigh. Signing off now...see you soon :)

Calendars

Just so you know, the calendar you made me has the kittens up for November. I love the shot with Jif in mid floorslide with his mouth open going after a toy. Also, it's got the guys fascinated with something on the Wii. Good lookin' cats!

Updates from an email I just received

So, I just got an email from Diane finalizing the details before I start - my hours will probably be 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. There is some flexibility with that schedule but I wouldn't be able to work consistently only 4 days a week until I am there for a year.

Also, dates for the calendar: she has asked me attend the American Academy of Forensic Science's meeting in Denver, CO on February 23-27, 2009 and go to West Virginia for an FBI Handwriting workshop on June 14-19, 2009. I told her I don't have any conflicts those dates and would be willing to attend (expenses paid! :) Not sure if spouses can share the hotel room yet but it might be an idea??

I can't believe how soon December 1st is!!

Today is not a good day.

I don't know if it's because I forgot to take my vitamins yesterday or because I have no idea what anything is going to look like even 48 hours from now. Everything I've heard and read in the last 3 or 4 years does not equip me at all to be able to look at today's markets and say anything useful. I think today is a data entry kind of day. :(

More car funtimes!

How's this for weird?

The '02 coupe and '04 sedan have exactly the same engine and almost identical dimensions across the board. That includes trunk space, length of car, turning radius, fuel efficiency, gas tank size, horsepower. I don't know why that seems so weird, but they feel like different cars.
http://www.cars.com/go/crp/research.jsp?makeid=18&myid=1520&year=2002&acode=USB20HOC022D0§ion=features&modelid=214§ion=features&mode=&aff=national

http://www.cars.com/go/crp/research.jsp?makeid=18&myid=5402&year=2004&acode=USB40HOC021D0§ion=features&modelid=214§ion=features&mode=&aff=national

Used car funtimes

Well, good news on the loan front!

No down payment needed, I could get the loan straight up. Because I'm an 'Emerald' member with the number of services I have through them, they say I'm knocked down to 6.25%. If I remembered my credit score correctly, they could give me a 3 year loan that would cost $275 a month. I don't think I can knock that.

I'll be checking with my Dad about seeing the car tonight - I think this is a good idea if the car fits well.

The nice thing is..

You may not appreciate it, but the nice thing about having this is that I can actually post from work without feeling too weird. It totally bypasses the e-mail that I would have to handle through my real work account.

Last Monday...I think...

Well, it certainly feels like a Monday - it' cold outside and I'm sleepy, plodding my way through the paperwork despite all the extra distractions. Yet, it's supposed to be my last Monday here but today feels like your birthday when you get old...not quite the event it sounds like it should be - oh, people have commented and asked questions but, in the end, it's just another Monday. Perhaps I feel like this because they haven't hired anyone new yet. Is the knowledge I carry really going to leave with me?? They sure seem to be letting me slip away......

Lighting plans

How about this for lighting in the new place - all indirect! Get lights that will shoot up at the angled ceiling and reflect back into the rest of the room. If you have 5 or 6 sources, it would make for a very warm lighting situation. Yes?

Manual Transmissions

After having a drive to think about it, I think the best route if a manual transmission car is added to the mix, is for me to have the manual. It's not a comment on your driving skills, it's just the season we're in. If it were the spring, I think it'd be great to have 6-8 months for learning stick shift before the roads got slick. But we're looking at the possibility of having to learn on the hardest surface possible for driving a manual transmission. Thoughts?

FYI

Did you hear? Lauren found an apartment.

Large cat transportation shell repairs complete!

Well, it turns out I needed my brake pads replaced, but they repaired the right front tire instead of having to replace it. It all came in at the svelte cost of $237. I honestly thought I couldn't get away from there for less than $300, so I feel like I just saved $70. What do you want to spend $70 on?

Every time I try to post...

Every time I try to post in the last couple of days, it seems like I get pulled away! Granted, the last couple of days have been quite busy but it's also not my routine to go post a thought I've had - I usually just call :)

I am very excited about having our own blog though. I would like it to be just for us because as mentioned, I don't think I have anything exciting to say that the world might want to subscribe to. I'm content that you are/might be interested in what I have to say.

I can't believe how dangerously close my start day is - I mean, I had to say 'good-bye' to Skip today who basically got me this job (well, dropping his name in the interview helped!! :) Yet, no replacement and no apartment yet. We have sooo many appointments for apartments this weekend that we will surely figure something out. On that note, the guest instructor who lives in Indy told me to call him this weekend but I don't know if we'll have time. I'll try to drop him an email tonight to let him how busy we will be.

PS -Kelly and I wore almost the exact same outfit today! How embarrassing!!

The Gnomemobile? Chitty Chitty Bang Bang? Kit? Optimus Prime?

We need a nickname for the Civic. "The car" is just so boring and predictable. Sadly, Dick Turpin was already taken.

Cat confusion condition

The cats seem very surprised that I'm here. Also, they seem surprisingly active. They've chased each other over me twice on the bed already. Now they're trying to crawl under the covers. Weirdos.

Ow, my freakin back!

I dunno what happened. I think I've been hunched over too many printouts. Something has become majorly tweaked in my mid-back. I am definitely heading home early.

Silver lining

Well, it looks like oil is likely to go under $60 a barrel today. If it sticks around here, our fuel costs for a round trip to Indy will be about $25 probably.

What to blog about?

It doesn't count as navel gazing if we're just doing it for each other!

I think of blogs as a good place to digest media, and we could definitely feed back and forth on what we're digesting. If we're reading the same books or watching the same stuff, we can collaborate on what we think on it here.

We can talk about work and how things are developing, at least in a vague sense.

I also expect you to share pictures on here, so carry that camera around. Maybe even carry it around next week to document your commute to and from work. Take pictures of your workspace, etc? I dunno!

Then you can also subscribe to this blog on your google homepage, so you don't have to remember to check it all the time. I've also got a barebones updater on my google homepage.

Hello laurengirl!

This is what we can use. We can even set it to just be readable by us. Let me know what you want it to be.