While in the Apple Store on Saturday, I was checking out one of the “dream” machines (Dual 2.5 G5 with the 30-inch Display, yummy), when the guy who was checking out the machine next to me struck up a conversation. He remarked on how stylish the computers were, and how sharp they looked compared to a Windows machine. He made an observation on how I seemed to really know what I was doing, and asked what I did. I said I worked as a QA engineer and had all three platforms (Mac, Windows and Linux) at my desk to use as I saw fit.

He was impressed, and then proceeded to ask if I liked what I did. This was my first tip…something’s fishy here. But I pressed on, and said it was alright, nothing special. Then he said his “Company” (note, no name given) was always looking for someone to make some extra money, and I was obviously smart and tech-savvy, and that he and his “business associates” (tip #2) were always looking for sharp people. He then asked if I was interested in making some extra money.

I glanced over at him, and then said “Amway?” The quick look of recognition, surprise and almost guilt crossed his face. He came back with a quick “No!”, so I said “Quixtar then” and he didn’t have a quick response. I smiled at him, said “Been there, done that, no thanks…” and we shook hands and walked our seperate ways.

So yes, there’s my dirty little secret. I was in Amway. I can smell a distributor coming a mile away now. People try to cold call me and I get them before they get me. It’s made me a stronger person. I’m a better man for it, for now I know. Now I know…

Gah. A week has gone by since I last posted. How does this happen? Seems like it was just two days ago I was writing about going into D.C. to take pictures, and now a whole week has come and gone, including a birthday and made-for-the-greeting-card-industry holiday.

It’s the wife’s birthday that I speak of and luckily for me (?), it falls on Valentine’s Day, so I’m not likely to forget. Growing up with a birthday near a holiday myself (my birthday falls on the 23rd of December. Don’t forget. And my wish lists are over on the right there ), I try to keep the two seperate. For her birthday this year, I email a bunch of friends and family to pitch in and help buy her a pottery wheel. She was quite surprised and in her words, “if I wasn’t so dehydrated, I’d be crying.” That’ll teach her to go out and party a little too much the night before.

I did the normal flowers, chocolates and card bit for Valentines Day. Nothing too special in that one, other than we have a ton of chocolate in the house now. Not saying that’s a bad thing mind you, but I’m going to have to take advantage of the nice weather and get out and walk the dogs or something.

Other than that, things are, as always, the same. I have to start on a story for my class that’s due by the 8th of March, and I have no idea what I’m going to do, how I’m going to write it, or what I’m even going to write about. I guess I’m one of those who need inspiration. I think in this case, it’ll be a case of last minute panic that inspires me.

I’ve decided it’s embarrassing to have something that you’ve spent a lot of money on, and then never use. There are two “case in point” situations here. First, my camera. Back in October, I bought myself a very nice Nikon D70 dSLR camera. I usually don’t splurge on myself but I finally went out and got one.

But I haven’t used it that much. Plenty of photo opportunities abound, but I’ve simply been too lazy. So I decided to start dragging the camera with me when I go different places, regardless of whether I think I’ll have a photo opportunity or not. And tomorrow morning I’m planning (“planning” mind you…) to get up early and go into D.C. and take some pictures of the Vietnam Memorial for a website I’m working on. So hopefully I’ll start taking more pictures, and making use of that silly “Photo’s” link I have up there that goes nowhere.

The second case in point is a piece of software called Reason. I love music, always have, and love playing and creating it as well. Reason is a software synth/sequencer/drum module/everything all built into one. I also have an M-Audio Oxygen 8 midi controller. Both cost a bit of money, but do you think I’ve gotten to where I can use it? I’ve bought probably $75 worth of books and such, but do you think I’ve found time to sit down and read through and learn the different nuances of the program?

I can make excuses all day long…but what it boils down to is just lack of motivation. i.e., laziness.

Definitely something to work on…

Things might look a bit wonky around here for a few days, as I’m creating a new layout for the site. It’s generally the same, sidebar on right, menu above. Just slightly different with different colors. No serious changes, so all my die-hard readers (all 3 of you) shouldn’t find navigating that much different.

Other changes will hopefully include getting the about section updated, and finally finding time to create a photo’s and contact page. You’d think I’d have done that a while ago, seeing as how I put those links up there…well, a while ago.

So, assuming I can get some more pressing concerns wrapped up, everyone should see some changes around here soon.

Oh and what the heck is the purpose of Trackbacks and pingbacks? I’m sure that’s in the documentation somewhere, just too damn lazy to look it up right now…

At least two posts a week…isn’t that what I said? Yeah, we see how well that worked out. I just never know what to talk about, nor ever have anything really profound to say. Not that it matters, this is supposed to be just thoughts in my head.

Class went well last night. A few of us read the short pieces we’d done in the class before. I read mine, and was pleased with a couple of the comments I received. We also started another exercise that will help me get an idea for a story that’s been brewing down on paper. I’m really enjoying the class. Having friends from the previous class, as well as the instructor from last class really helps.

Not too much going on otherwise. Gail’s going to Tucson for her cousin’s wedding Thursday, and will be back Monday. I’m thinking woo-hoo! Bachelor Pad Time! Then I remember I have kids and dogs and cat and fish all to take care of. So…no partying for me! Instead, I think I’m going to surprise Gail and get the table sanded and stained (It’s been half-sanded for almost a year now), and the workshop cleared out and some shelves built for her pottery wheel, which she’s getting for her birthday. I was trying to throw her off this morning (I let slip she was probably getting one), citing that we need to get the Isuzu fixed, and the dog as well. Dan (my dog) is scheduled to go in for surgery here shortly, as he somehow tore a ligament. I think I’m the one that might’ve done it (He was losing his mind and trying to chase a squirrel from window to window, upsetting water bowls and knocking stuff over. I grabbed him by the collar and sat him back on his butt and apparently that did it ), so there’s a guilt feeling involved and I need to make sure he gets the attention he needs.

Silly dogs…for “free” dogs they sure have cost me a lot of money over the past three years.

Started class again last night. This semester I’m taking English 212, which is a Creative Writing course. It’s actually the course you’re supposed to take after 211, in which you learn about plot development, characterization, etc. In 212, we’ll be learning point of view mostly. I haven’t taken 211 yet. I guess I just have to do everything backwards. We’re also supposed to do a lot of writing (naturally), both fiction and poety. I’ve stated my views on poetry before, so we’ll see how this goes. The class seems to be eager to get into it, and there’s some very…”passionette”…people in there. There are also a few classmates my from my last English course attending, including Krysta. I’m looking forward to it, this should be as much fun, if not more, than my last class.

Along the blog front, I’ve been contemplating moving the site over to Expression Engine, or EE for short. pMachine won’t be developed anymore, and I really like the team behind it. As they’re the ones responsible for EE, I’d feel much better about moving my site over to them, rather than someone else. EE costs about $100 bucks though, so I’ve been debating it. It has what looks to be an impressive photo gallery module, which I’d really like to take advantage of. I’d like to start sharing some of my photos, and getting them organized in a user-friendly way would be wonderful. I tried getting the free 14-day trial to run on my laptop here, but you have to include the Zend Optimizer in order for the free trial to work. I haven’t had any luck yet, and I’m not sure where I’m going wrong. I thought about upgrading to the latest version of PHP, but I’m not sure I want to do that yet. I have 5 virtual sites I develop stuff on here on my laptop, and hosing the PHP install (as I’m so apt to do. Ask my brother) is not something that would help me at all.

Perhaps I’ll bite the bullet and try again this weekend.

As stated in the previous post, I want to try and get at least two posts a week here. Apparently I’m going to bookend this week, with one on Monday and today’s, Friday. Hey, at least I’m writing.

And writing is a good thing. For now, it’s serving a dual purpose: First, it lets me get down in writing several things…things I wish accomplish, items of note, events that happens around me as I percieve them, etc…. It also serves as a creative outlet, one in which I am sorely in need of. My current job as a QA Engineer is mind-numbingly repetitive, and offers no evidence of work I can point to and say “I did that”. That, to me, is very unsatisfying. So the writing outlet is good. I’ve found myself wanting to do other creative things as well. For some reason, though I’ve never done any sort of wood working, I’ve found myself wanting to get a mini-lathe and use it to build a mock-up (or several) of a log home. It’s always been my dream to live in one, preferably one I’ve designed and helped build. As I can’t just go out and start building one, I thought it’d be cool to build a model of one, without using popsicle sticks.

I also bought a Reason book that comes with a video tutorial CD. I’m wanting to find time to play with one of the coolest music making pieces of software I’ve ever seen. It’s just finding time to do it that is the problem.

Last, and certainly not least, I have such a nice camera now, that I feel guilty if I’m not out spending every bit of time I can squeeze out of the day taking pictures. I’ve obviously taken a few, but nothing I’ve really worked at, nor bothered adjusting in Photoshop to get the best possible exposure. And I’ve had that “photos” link up top there forever. You’d think I’d get around to actually posting some.

So, hopefully in the near future we’re going to see Shad being more creative and productive. Getting things done in an expedient manner, and then instead of simply surfing the web laughing at stupid photos

Taking the last three weeks of the year off usually ends up in me spending very little time on the computer. Hence the reason there was a whopping two journal entries for all of December. So I guess resolution numero uno for this journal is to try to get at least 2 entries a week. I actually think I’ll be more into writing these next few months as I’m starting a Creative Writing class at the community college. That’ll help get the writing bug going.

As for other resolutions, there’s many. Too many to list, though I really should and then print out the list and tape it on my bathroom mirror so I can focus on it every day. Everything from getting my body in shape (a perennial favorite), to getting the house in shape. Basement, garage and the rest all need work. I think rather than call them resolutions, I’ll call them my Best Intentions. Resolutions are when you resolve to do something, and sound so serious. It’s my Best Intention to do all these things, and this way, I won’t feel as bad if they don’t get completed.

The big news story lately, at least in the sports world, has been the riot that took place during the Pistons / Pacers game. I’m sure if you’ve even watched 3 minutes of news lately, you’ve seen the footage of Ron Artest jumping up into the stands and attempt to pummel one of the fans that threw a water bottle at him.

That’s not what gets me, really. True, Artest shouldn’t have jumped up into the stands. And the same goes for the fan throwing the water bottle and setting off the melee, it shouldn’t have happened. Both sides are at fault.

What got me was what I heard on the news this morning. That the NBA players are thinking about a walkout next season. I’m assuming because they don’t think they make enough. On average, they make 4 million a year.

That’s a big fat 4 with 6 zero’s behind it.

The same issue is going on in hockey right now. There are no games because the players think they don’t make enough money. I’m sure whatever the average salary is in hockey, it’s a lot more than the average Joe makes. And they’re playing games.

Personally, I’d love to see an NBA walkout. Perhaps even an NFL and MBA one as well. Get these whiney boys, who can’t seem to understand that they’re getting paid serious money to play a game a real job.

It just sickens me to see grown men act like petulant whiney four-year olds.

Well, it looks like we’ll have to put up with four more years of Dubya’s BS (though it’s still not conclusive yet), there’s layoffs coming down the pipe here at work, and someone parked in my usual parking space.

So, what’s this all mean? Well, hopefully Bush won’t screw up to bad, I can get up earlier and eat breakfast at home instead of here at work in case I do get laid off, and it won’t kill me to walk the extra eight feet to my car.

Here’s to hoping the day perks up a bit.