Archive for December, 2006

Today was my last day of teaching, at least for this school year. It decided to stop for a number of reasons, but I think that it will be nice to have that time back for whatever it may be.

I stopped on my way back and picked up a multimeter and breadboard so I can keep going down my beginner electronics path with my book. Hopefully I can pick it up permanently and don’t just forget.

Came home today, and gave away my old non working MP3 player to someone through Freecycle. Then I ate dinner and left to do some shopping, picking up something for dad and then some secret stuff:) I also stopped by three places that were sold out of Zune car adapters! So now, even if I wanted to buy the crappy version that I saw at Best Buy, I couldn’t. I am getting concerned because the whole reason I got it before I left was so that I could use it on the trip, and I only have a couple of days left.

No one could go with me to the movie so I decided to come home and work, yeah! No what I wanted to do, but what needed to be done because I committed. I worked until about 11:00 pm and crashed, I was tired and I know tomorrow starts the long days possibly.

Tonight Sarah and Kate met for their book study, which always gets them both energized for the week. Then Sarah spent most of the night cutting out little plastic patterns for her ornament making session with the kids later this week.

Went out to lunch today at the Rathskeller for work, that was a nice treat, so a workout later on was warranted.

From work I came home, got some clothes to work out in and a change of clothes and my jersey and headed out. Gave Justin a call to give him my wishes on my trip home and chatted with him about his weekend.

Lifted with Brian until about 6:30 and then we headed down to his house for the Colts Monday night game. Kim was there, she had just gotten home and was making dinner, so we just sat around and talked. Brian got back from his errand not too long after, we ate dinner around game time, and watched the Colts win 34-16. They really needed this win, if nothing else for momentum going into the last two games.

Fun fun night, lots of laughs and sharing of stories about weddings and friends in Chicago, etc. etc.

Church this morning was productive, we talked to a good many people afterwards. We also handed out four of Sarah’s apples that she made, including the one that we dropped off, so we didn’t get home until about 12:30. I was trying to remember what I did, but for the life of me I can’t. I read the paper, did a little research on Zune car adapters, and did a little research for a certain someone’s Christmas present. I know I talked to a bunch of people on the phone as well.

We ate lunch at 2:30, and then Sarah did some research for someone else’s present, had some us time, and also looked at dogs again online at surrounding shelters. There is a cute 1 year old we hope to see in January who is cute, has huge ears, and is aptly named Batman, yeah, I know:) Then I went out to the garage and worked on my Ms. Pac-Man, cleaning her for awhile, got the one side cleaned off. Sarah was inside and after she had made chicken pot pie, she continued to cook and make meatballs for this Italian Meatball soup that my mom made last year. I don’t know when we are eating it, but everytime I popped in the house I got hungry and I just ate a whole mess of foodie food.

We went to our last Dave Ramsey class from 6-7:15 or so, it was bittersweet. I did some typing on the computer and some surfing and then it was time for the cartoons, Simpsons and Family Guy, and I didn’t move until after 10. Sarah sat down with me, folded some laundry, and later went through the paper herself. At 10 I went back outside with my Zune and worked more on the Ms. Pac, finished cleaning her off, and then started to think about what to do about the water damaged non salvagable back door. At about 11:30 I came in and soon Sarah I both went to bed.

I woke up ready to go at about 9:15 this morning. I played around a little more with the Zune and then went and got Sarah out of bed.

I had scheduled an electrician to come and look at some improvements I hope to do to the basement at 10. It was a referral from Brian and a darn good one, nice guy, very personable, exactly what I was looking for. I think I am going to have him do the work in early January.

Soon after Sarah and I left for Greenwood, made a stop at Gordon’s Food and I stopped at Best Buy to look at car adapters for the Zune. Then I headed to the gym for a massive workout on the bike and Sarah went to Meijers. We got home, had some lunch, and then I did some miscellaneous things, listed some stuff on an ebay auction, cleaned off some of my game marquees I got in my trip in September. Sarah spent most of the day working on making Carmel Apples as gifts for our close friends. She first made them with those huge colored coated hersey’s kisses, and figured out the size made them look silly so that first one she scraped clean and started over. But on a plate with some wrapping they looked pretty cool.

I had about an hour of freelance stuff to do, and then I took a break for some games. We left for our young adults Christmas party that started at 5:00 pm. We had to choose between this one and going to a friend’s annual part close to Cincinnati. The party was fun, it got more active with more people and after we did the gift exchange. I made out great again this year, I got “Drinko” which is like Plinko from The Price is Right, but with little shot glasses. Thanks to the other Jeff for getting my back, stealing my girly scented cinnabun candles and letting me steal the Drinko back at the last moment.

We ended the party with some catchphrase, but I had a good time, but I know I was loud, they had some good wine there including some from Buck Creek and Brown County so I did my share of partaketh en zi spiritos.

From the party we headed to Johnson’s and hung out with the girls, fresh home from college the day prior. I worked on their computer some and Sarah and Pam visited in the living room, and we ended the night with a quick game of Peach Snoppes and Tequila shot Drinko. Good times, and this night ended the same way, right to bed.

I debated all day about staying at work until our work dinner, coming home in between and relaxing, or going to the gym as I had planned without thinking with Brian and then head back for dinner. I opted for the second option because I knew my new Zune would be at the house later and I didn’t want to rush and be late to dinner. I messed with the player for a little while, loaded some music and then we went to dinner as planned, except, we left late and parking was even worse then we thought so we got to dinner about 15 minutes late.

We had an exquisite time, and my boss really knows some things about how to treat people and where to place priorities which I really respect. We ate at the Oceanaire and I got crab! I haven’t had legs in so long that I could dip in butter, and it was so great. I was the last one eating, dirty, but loving it up. Sarah even got a fish steak which she really liked. We had wine, and finished off the night with some dessert, for us it was a Baked Alaska which is a mound of brownie and perpermint ice cream covered in meringue that is then doused in liquor and lit on fire:)

We got home and just passed out from all the food and drinks, it was a great night and a perfect kickoff to Christmas.

Today I exchanged two emails with Richard, he is super friendly, has an awesome collection, and is really willing to help me out. He says he is going to send me hi res photos of the sideart, I am so psyched, especially since it validates the idea that “it is not what you know but who you know.” But I got lucky to meet Joe in Chicago, he and Richard both are two extraordinary guys that I got lucky to be in contact with so soon.

Today took a lot of patience. I had to run a little errand on the way home, which was fine because Sarah was still at the gym with Kim anyway. I looked through some email, one in particular from Justin, did some research, and then it was time for dinner. Tonight I had a bug to get my arcade page up and running, so that is what you see now on the blog. I have moved the contests, entertainment, comics, and opinion pages to their own section. It was a little too quick for my taste, but sometimes you just have to do it or it never gets done.

I spent a good deal of the night working on that, while Sarah did laundry and school stuff. She came down for a little and we sat together, neither of us feeling very motivated. I had a phone conversation for awhile with a client, and then later had to run back a movie before I sat down for a little bit of tv and then finished up my work and went to bed.

Having not heard anything back from Joe’s contacts, I decide to ask about the guy out east, and if Joe knew many people on that side of the country. Joe did know some people, but Richard was not one of the ones he listed off directly. I debated on calling each individual out there with Richard’s full name, but decided I would ask Joe about Richard directly. Sure enough, Joe knew of Richard, they had exchanged emails on a number of occasions for another super rare game.

I shot Richard an email, now we will just have to see if he responds.