Wednesday, October 31
We didn't get as many trick-or-treaters as last year, but well over 100. My jack-o-lantern got stolen at the end of the night.
Monday, October 29
Mom and Dad are visiting, and we are having the perfect weather: 70's, not a cloud in the sky, cool at night....
Over the weekend we went to the farmer's market, the Japanese tea garden and Galveston, where we toured the Menard house and the Samuel May Williams house. We have eaten out four times, and also had some good meals at home. I am playing hooky tomorrow. We haven't decided yet what we are doing.
Thursday, October 25
Erica got her braces off this week.
Ed has been in Chicago for the last few days, where the windchill factor is about 21 degrees. A shock after the 80's humid weather we've had here. Luckily a cool front passed through last night in Houston, and the weather will be delightful for Mom and Dad's visit.
We ended our training early....it was probably a mistake going back to the office, though, because I got roped into two new projects due by next week. Both are easy, but will take some time.
Our local news is featuring a scandal story in which the reporters go undercover to a local doctor's office and try to get tested for anthrax. The doctor questions their motives, so the story is screaming "What we find out about Houston's preparedness for anthrax will scare you for life!". I hate local news. At least we haven't heard much about Gary Condit lately!
Tuesday, October 23
Tonight's episode of Nova was very good. The <- companion site is as usual for PBS, good as well.
And in other science news, the Odyssey mission to Mars arrives there tonight.
Monday, October 22
I think I fixed my computer problems...at least I was able to back up files to Ed's computer.
I am in Siebel requirements mapping training all week. This involves learning the Siebel CRM application, as well as figuring out how to get data from our current applications (dozens of them) into Siebel. I am able to get work e-mail during the day, and would also appreciate AIM messages to break up the boredom. I touched base with my friend Donna from college via AIM today. She's nervous living near Dulles.
And as of today, I work for this company. In case you're skeptical of the explanation given here, you're right, but I'll explain later.
Sunday, October 21
I spent most of yesterday setting up my computer in my new computer furniture. It was a pain in the butt, but it looks good. But today I'm having computer problems (unrelated to that, I think), so I'm writing this from Ed's computer.
Friday night we went to a free concert by the Stone Coyotes at St. Arnold's Brewery. Ed is a big Stone Coyotes fan, and I am a big St. Arnold's fan, so we had a great time.
This morning we rode our bikes to a new (to us) cafe, DC in the Heights. We had a good breakfast there, then returned to do chores.
Thursday, October 18
Erica made her high school golf team this week. She was the only freshman and the only girl to make the cut.
I was at work until 11:30 PM last night. We are moving our application databases to a new server. Our DBA left, so the Oracle DBA has taken over his duties. But he doesn't know SQL Server. I had to teach him how to do the move, and then he messed it up anyway. I spent today repairing the damage, then continuing the project on my own. I think I should get paid more! Database administrators make more money than I do!
Monday, October 15
Work is very busy...we are beginning a CRM implementation project....and we are changing our company name.
More news later.
I should point out that judging by the throngs of people out shopping for furniture yesterday, tales of a recession are possibly premature. Many are taking advantage of the new sales; the mall is also looking like Christmas in October.
Sunday, October 14
We went furniture shopping yesterday. We wound up getting a leather chair and ottoman set, and a computer armoire for me. This is so that our office looks a little less like an office when we want to use it as guest space.
Today we went biking in the park that runs along Buffalo Bayou to downtown. It was a fun ride, but delayed because Ed pumped up his tire (before leaving), and it went flat. Then he drove all over trying to find tubes. It's a good thing he bought two, because the first one he tried split. He also fell off his bike twice, but was uninjured.
Remember when I said before that Ed is weird? Well, for almost as long as I've known him, when he burps, he makes it sound like a pirate burp (Aaaaaarrr, matey!). Well now, he's changed that to Aaaaaarrr-panet. I think that's much geekier than the pirate burp.
Thursday, October 11
A new site that you'll find interesting. Well, some of you will, anyway.
Sorry for the sporadic posting -- we're having some painting done and it's a pain to plug the computers back in at night. The painters are touching up some spots were settling caused some small separations in the drywall. Since they only come for a few hours at a time so things can dry, a three-day job turns into a week. They took today off, though, so here I am. And now that I'm here, not much to report anyway.
Sunday, October 7
The festival was good - the parade is a typical small town community parade with all the Cub Scouts and Little League teams (like the Massena Heritage Day parade), except it has Art Cars in it, too. Ed took some videos of the Art Cars, which he'll post soon.
Afterward we went to CompUSA to expand Ed's flight simulator game collection, then on to The Ginger Man for beer. We're having leftover lamb pastitsio for dinner tonight. I'll post the recipe sometime -- we made it last night and it was very good.
We're watching coverage of the attack on Afghanistan and getting ready to walk over to the Houston Heights Festival, just in time for the parade. Will write more later.
Thursday, October 4
Dewey is just about back to normal. He started playing hard yesterday, not quite full force, but he looks like himself. I do think the laser surgery helped. He and Ed are both on amoxycillin. Ed has a bad tooth and is getting his first crown. At least I don't have to force bubblegum flavored medicine down his throat!
Monday, October 1
I took Dewey in this morning for neutering and declawing. I felt awful doing it. He made it through surgery okay, but I can't pick him up until noon tomorrow. At least he got laser surgery, which should decrease his recovery time, but I still feel guilty about the declawing part.
