Well, the annoying employee that was digging himself into the a hole finally gave up on his seemingly quixotic pursuit. Who knows tho, he has some pledged support from our single biggest software vendor so it may start up again sometime. My feeling is he that we will make a coordinated effort to get to that technology hto there are 1 or 2 more fundamental techs that need to be explored, proven and implemented before we go where he cannot lead us. I have bitten my tongue whenever a "I told u so" wants to come out. We'll see what happens.
Of the wagon again. Geeze I can't believe that I fell off of the wagon again. Its the same old story as before.
Seems a colleague of mine at work, who is gay, seems to have taken a fancy to me. this statement is purely circumstantial yet enough to make me uncomfortable. Professionally, I have the utmost respect for this guy but this situation has me off kilter.
Wife's bday is tomorrow. I think that I have a nice gift for her but i hope she thinks so.
We took the kids out tonight. First stop was Toys 'R Us to each get a toy. The kids found their item of desire very quickly. While wife went w/ son to get diapers, daughter and I kicked a soccer ball around in the aisles. Afterward, we went to Joe's Crap Shack. Since yesterday, we had been getting the kids excited about going to the Crab shack. We arrived about 6:40 and waited 45 excrutiating minutes. Once seated, the kids each downed 2 packs of saltines that were on the table. The kids were so good and I enjoyed my DUNGENESS crab. the place had done a good job in replicating some of the worn and salty charm of a real, waterfront crab shack. Made me want to go in search of such an authentic eatery.
Where the hell is my carpentar! He was supposed to be back here on thursday or Friday and we have not heard a thing. Now I will have to call him and bug him to get his ass over here. Is this guy a professional or a 12yr old? He does good work at very affordable prices so I can't just blow him off. Arrggghhhh. Last time we didn't hear from him he had forgotten about our house for nearly 2 weeks! This does not inspire confidence. If he doesn't call by Monday, I'm calling him. Yeah, I'm tuff. Don't mess w/ me.. unless my wife says its ok.

Holy crap. This morning at work I was faced w/ an unrealistic deadline to make something happen. In order to accomodate this deadline, I would need to take some extraordinary risks. These types of situations have occured before and have usually turned out ugly for me.
The gods were smiling on me today, however, and the issue went away! Yay!
My boss and I went out after work for beer and appetizers. We had some interesting conversations, mostly about work. We haven't hung in such a casual manner since July 2001.
1 guy at work is running off on a tangent that i find upsetting. He's pursuing an area of IT that he has no idea about and is generally wasting his time and that of 1 of our key developers. Our boss has told hiom to let go of the project but he has yet 2 let go. This situation is turning out to be a "i told u so" from me to him but I do not want to wound his pride or self esteem. Yet, he is pissing me off cuz 1) he doesn't know what he is doing, 2) i don't have time to bail him out, 3) he won't listen to gentle suggestions that his project is not appropriate. Stay tuned.

Oh man, I have fallen off the wagon and I can't get up. It started on the weekend and Sunday nite, i got sloshed and felt like crap on Monday. Monday evening I started drinking to take the hangover edge off (that always helps me) and I couldn't stop. Over slept a little and got to work 45 minutes late.

On the past 2 nites before I started drinking, I remember thinking "I deserve to drink cuz I had a rough day with (fill in your excuse here)." Now that I'm back on the drinking tank, it is difficult to imagine those sober days. Alcoholism is, like many other feedback systems, a sel-reinforcing, negative feedback system. I know this yet I willing sip my drink, pour another when this 1 is finished and continue.
I would like to apologize for my terrible HTML presentation of these pages here in writes. My goal is simply to write and thereafter make the publishing as easy as possible for my lazy ass. Editor insert: Thanks to Blogger! I strive to make it redable for you yet snazziness is not part of the equation.
Been thinking alot about buying a shore house lately. Wifey and I are completely into it and think that we have found the right seaside town. One that is close enough for weekend trips and still has somewhat of a peaceful character. Perhaps in 2 years we will be able to buy it.
I fell that, tho I grew up near the river, the bay and the ocean, i did not take active advantage of those resources. It would be fun to do so, and if we have to live in this armpit called New Jersey, I would like my kids to enjoy the fruits that we have.
Inferiority time, ... it would be easier if I had a person to show me how to use a jet ski, (trailer on and off ) before I bought one and had to do it myself. Seems my life is full of me finding my own way w/o ANY gyuidance. No Dad guidance, and that precedent sticks to today. It's almost like I do not seek out help for projects. I just take 'em on, limited knowledge, experience and all. i suck.

Groundhog day is perhaps the silliest holiday ever. If it is sunny enough for the groundhog to see his shadow, doesn't that mean the weather is pretty good? At least its sunny!

Sprayed borate, Termite Prufe, bug juice on the floor joists in the dining room today. Also stacked the remaining firewood and denailed some of the clean floorboards for use in the fireplace. the bug juice directions call for 2 applications but no sure when I can do the 2nd.

My body is sore from working on the floor yesterday. Also seems my kidneys are sore yet here I am drinking again. Oh yeah, had the last of the brasil nuts last nite. Went to the liquor store for the first time in a while. Just had a vodka w/ diet ginger ale and moving on to a new IPA I doscvered at the Liquore Barn. Its from Easton, Pa and called Weyerbacher, Hops Infusion. Damn, it is very hoppy yet not bitter. My palate was matured on Pacific Northwest IPS's that are so hoppy and bitter using Cascade Hops.

Talked to Mike, our neighbor from 2 doors down, over the back fence after I finished stacking the wood. He was starting up a Harley in his back yard. Turns out he's restored a number of motocycles and may start doing it as a side business. Buying custom bikes in kits, assembling, painting and selling. Nice guy tho I spent most of the conversation saying 'uh huh', 'yep' or 'holy mackerel'.
I'm loving the loft. Its so comfortable. Some finishing touches as far as wllpaper, wodden trim on the chimney, refinish the oak floor and get some better furniture situation including at least 1 more bookcase.
I'd really like to get a digital camera. The snapshots are great. I love how there is no waiting to see the photo. Its right there on the camera's preview screen. W/ conventional camera's by the time I got the film developed, I'd forgotten the occasion calling for the pic in the first place. Gotta splurge and get one.
The ice on the Delaware, visible form the windows at the office, is something I have really wanted to document w/ pics. the river had frozen all the way across, physically moved the floating boat dock 30 feet down stream and broke it off its moorings and on Friday was powdered w/ snow. The last 3 days had temps that went over freezing. Wonder if the ice has begun to break up...