So, today was the first day of PHP class. I think it went well. We’re a small group, but this is good as we can move at our own pace, which I suspect may be faster than normal. It will be fun for all!

Life has been OK, although I really don’t appreciate the snow and all of the heating problems we’ve been having. But, the furnace has been (practically) rebuild, so I hope nothing else will go wrong with it now….

Last week I started school again. I really wasn’t ready to go back - could have used another week. The courses seem good, and the professors knowledgable. Not too much homework either, which is always nice! Seriously, at this stage of my education I’m not looking for “busywork”, but for tips, tricks and techniques that are going to benefit me in my craft. So I appreciate the approach my profs are taking.

Ok, I’m six days late, and way overdue for a post, but I just thought I’d say Happy New Year to all you happenin’ folks.

Things have been going well. Holidays were fun, albeit a little hectic, but so it goes, right?

More later.

Well, it has been a while, so I thought I would post.

Thanksgiving went well - went to my grandfathers for dinner, and then met Elissa at her Aunt’s for dessert. I like seeing everyone, but I spend the whole day in the car, and without my wife. We did inform everyone that we wanted to do Thanksgiving next year, but they weren’t too receptive. I guess we’ll see what happens then.

I went to Albany last weekend for the day. Very interesting up there. Only three or four hours away, but it seems to be a different life. Slower paced, and people seemed happy to talk to you. Of course, you have to bare the “endless” winters, and the lack of beaches and “culture”, but very interesting nonetheless. I didn’t think it was bad at all, and I look forward to returning to learn more about the area.

Elissa is out with her friends tonight, and I’m home (by choice) doing computer work. A labor of love….

School is done for the semester next week. Thank Goodness! I’m tired, and these classes were alot of work, and alot of group work in particular. It was definitely worth it though, as I met some people I never would have otherwise, and they turned out to be a really great group of guys.

The season is upon us - have you finished your shopping yet? I haven’t….

They’ve been calling lately. And my number is on the do-not-call list, so you we must have done business with them…. They always ask for my wife.

Since I’m home this week, I got pretty excited to hear the phone ring. It was about 3 in the afternoon, so my bets were high that it would be them. Besides, no one ever calls us. I really don’t know why we have a phone.

I answer the phone and say hello. I hear nothing. I wait, and a female connects. I now move into stealth mode.

“Hello?”, I reply in the impersonation of a women’s voice that I can possibly do.
“Is this Elissa?”, she asks.
“Yes”, I reply, this time my voice accidently going a little higher.
The woman on the other end pauses for a moment, probably suggesting it was a gag (my impression is not that good).
“How are you doing today?”, she asks, trying to get me to say something else.
“Fine”, I reply.
She continues on:
“This is your account manager from the credit card company, and we’d like to offer you some new….” (product or service that I didn’t catch)
“No thank you”, I quickly blurt out, still in my high voice, and then hang up the phone.

Hopefully, she’ll just take us off of her list, but if not, my Apu (convenience store clerk from the Simpsons) or Mr. T impersonations should take care of it.

Update: mouse #2 caught, but there is a 3rd. I need to figure out where they are coming in. I also need to feed my cats less, maybe they will become more motivated.

Went to the grand opening of the MoMA on Saturday with a bunch of Elissa’s friends. It was a zoo. A two hour wait outside in the rain (I HATE WAITING) wasn’t worth it, I would have gladly paid $20 to eliminate that. The place is tremendous, though, and some of the new art was pretty neat.

Afterwards we headed to a Mexican restaurant on 49th and 9th. They had a $10 brunch special, which is pretty amazing for Manhattan - you can’t eat at McDonald’s for that much.

Just hanging out today, catching up on the (tons of) work that I need to do. Mom’s coming over for dinner and to nag me a bit.

I got an email from my Dad from his laptop in his truck. How ironic, that I live in a major metropolitian area, work in the tech field and HE has wireless access anywhere in the country. Go figure.

I’m on vacation all this week, so I hope to get plenty done, but I already feel like I’m pressed for time.

Had an interesting weekend. We found a mouse in the house!

Elissa was on the phone with her friend when she saw the cat scratching at the base of kitchen counter. She stood there for a moment, and then saw a mouse run out and back under the counter again. So, it was off to supermarket for me to get some mouse traps.

Got home, and realized that we didn’t have any peanut butter, so we had to use cheese. Well, the cheese didn’t work the first night. The next night, I got some peanut butter, set the trap and had the mouse in a couple of hours.

On Sunday we got dining room set which we found on Craigslist. GREAT condition, and cheap too! We had tacos for our first meal in our dining room, which was empty up until then.

Update: another mouse has been spotted. I had already called the exterminator, and now I’m on the hunt for our newest visitor….