Still a blur today (Great News*)

Wake up call! Will forgot his backpack. So much for sleeping in and getting a haircut. Shower. Drive to Hatler. Pick up backpack. How do you forget a backpack? Drive to St. X. Drop off backpack. Late for work. Morning tea and oatmeal. Busy, busy. Work on query. Interrupted by Infrastructure. Denial of Service attack? Bah! No way. Not from Oil. Interrupted by QA. Alert Tool down. OH CRAP! Fixed. Interrupted by hunger. Lunchtime. Bazos with Hills, Sneaks, and Amrita. Back to work. Query. Nasty query. Debes has no help (but offers a nice suggestion). Nastier query. Eddie steps in to help. Eddie steps back. Final query works but isn't that pretty. Great news*. Leave work. Pick up dry-cleaning. Change. Drive to Hatler. Grab Will. Go to Oxmoor. Go to Apple Store. No need to talk to Geniuses. Problem solved. Pick up gift. Grab Skyline. Eat. Talk with Jooj. Observant kid. Hang with Will. Watch video game play. Watch YouTube videos. Epic Rap Battles of History! Leave. Drop off blues. Would you fucking believe that it is still raining?!?!?! Drive home. Rachel texting me, trying to get me to come out. Jooj texting me, Jack fell down the steps. Just want this day to end so I can go to bed. Sweet dreams. Get home. Manscape. Shower. Finally convince Rachel that I'm not coming out. Catch up on blogging. Pack. Oh shit, it's 1:13am!

Still a blur today. I just don't feel like I'm catching up. And yet do I stop? No. No, I don't. Does something have to give? Perhaps. Not certain yet. Must. Keep. Going.

* My BFF at work put in her two-week notice last week, making this effectively her last week. Well, nothing is set in stone yet, but it appears that she may be around a wee bit longer. If things go her way, she'll be working three days a week for at least the next couple of months. With so much going on in my life - so much in flux, in motion, in a blur - it's comforting to know that I'll have one of my rock solid supports around just a wee bit longer.

80.01% | 173.53 lbs. (168.6 lbs.) | 20% (10 of 50) | 91.23% (333 of 365)

Life in Fragments

Wake up. Shower. Sneak out. Commute (Jesus, it's *still* raining?). Work. Meet. Meet. Work. Soup for lunch. Work. Work some more. Meet. Run a quick errand to the shoe shop (damn this rain). Work. Late for dinner. Change. Eat. Play. Leave (Still raining!!!). Sam's (weeknight is *the* time to go). Dog treats. Tea juice. Dog treats. Gatorade. Blueberries. Dog treats. Bacon bits. Stop by Hatler. Impromptu visit with Will. Watch video game footage. Doze off. Say good night. Drive to Target (OMG, *still* raining). Comfy cozies. Aquaphor. Trimmers. Drive home (fuck me - STILL raining). Good night!

I feel like I'm living my life in a blur right now. I live my life in fragments. I do this and I do that and I do the next thing. There is no real cohesion. Is that a bad thing? Good? I'm not sure. I don't feel like I have time to catch my breath. But is that such a bad thing right now?

I feel like I'm a good worker bee, a good step-dad-from-a-distance, a good still-technically-a-husband, a good son, a good uncle, a good friend. Or at least good enough. And that's about all I can give right now. I am giving all I've got and trying not to take any more for myself than I have to.

80.01% | 173.55 lbs. (169.4 lbs.) | 20% (10 of 50) | 90.96% (332 of 365)

Easy Day, Unbelievable Ending

Woke up early. Showered. Went down to Toast. Picked up George. Drove to the new Toast. Dropped off Cliffie. Helped clean up some leaks from the ceiling. Came back home. Switched out car. Met Kelsey at Hatler to wish her off. Ran over to Melisssss' house to feed the pets. Sounds like a busy day so far, eh? The first few hours of the day were. The next fourteen hours were easy peasy.

Sat around. Played a bit. Smiled. Relaxed. Helped with some Christmas decorations. Had some laughs. Meant to go to Trader Joe's. Drove around in the rain instead. What a gloomy day. Gloom. Glooooooooom. Had a serious talk with my BFF. Helped out around the house. Made dinner plans. Salmon, greens, and roasted sweet potatoes. DELICIOUS! And dessert? Stroopwafels!!! Are you fucking kidding me?!?!? (No, no I am not) Had a few drinks. Sat around for a bit. Chitting and/or chatting. Time got away from me.

Then I realized that I may be in trouble. The night was supposed to end with dinner. And end early. One drink led to two which may or may not have led to a third - I can't remember. Either way, the good times continued until it was getting a little too late. Since it was *supposed* to be an early evening I had left my house key at the house. Once I realized this I sped home... to a dark house with locked doors... in the cold... in the rain... with no key to the house and no key to Hatler and no key to work. I was soooooooooooooooooooo fucked!!! And I had to pee.

So I stood there under the awning, trying to think of anything I could do other than sleep in my damn car. I held my phone and stared at it, ready to text someone - anyone - who could deliver a miracle. Call the house? No way. I fear the wrath of mom like I fear the wrath of Khan!

Then dad's face appeared through the window in the door. ARE. YOU. FUCKING. KIDDING. ME??? He hadn't gone to bed just yet. He had been on the third floor, brushing his teeth, looking out the window, when he saw my headlights reflect off the neighbor's house. He thought to himself, "I bet that's Eric." I haven't wanted to kiss my dad since... well, shit, I don't ever remember wanting to kiss my dad :)

I slept like a baby and have never been happier to be in my little dinky room on the third floor!

80.01% | 173.56 lbs. (170.0 lbs.) | 20% (10 of 50) | 90.68% (331 of 365)

Hard Day

Busy bouncing between my sister's house dog-sitting, Hatler, and mom and dad's. Feel like I'm always on the go. Took a little time out during the morning to do some window shopping at The Summit. Sales were still going on strong but I wasn't there so much to buy. Felt antsy the whole time - couldn't relax. Felt like I was on a timer. But it was still a neat morning. Nice way to start the day.

Then switched gears and headed over to Hatler. Moved some furniture. Then busted up some heavy-duty chests down in the basement so we could haul those old-ass pieces out (they were there when we moved in). I was pretty wiped after that. But I took the time I had left to finish up a painting of my niece Caroline (put the finishing touches on the newest piece for Toast, Cliffie, the day before). Between the moving and the painting my body was devastated.

I came back home and showered up. Then I headed back out to Melisssss' house to hang out with the dogs. I had a gluttonous meal from Burger King - a double cheeseburger, large onion rings dutch apple pie, and a large diet Coke... and ANOTHER double cheeseburger. Good lawd. I watched Conan the Barbarian followed by X-men: First Class. Both were somewhat entertaining. Neither were mind-blowing.

Best line of the night: "I'd rather lose you for one night than lose you forever."

Tucked the dogs in. Locked up. And headed home.

80.01% | 173.57 lbs. (169.0 lbs.) | 20% (10 of 50) | 90.41% (330 of 365)

Black Friday Extravaganza

I had checked the ads, both print and online, from the previous day. I was ready. My plan was to be at my first stop, Target, at 7am.

I woke up at 4:16am. I was ready to go. So I showered and headed out. Target at 5am. Earbuds in. Jamming to iTunes. Shopping at my own pace. Not a care in the world.

Target. Express (visiting my cousin Rachel - not really there to buy). Gap. Good morning, sunshine! Target #2. Meijer. Old Navy. Best Buy. Chik-fil-A (chicken biscuit breakfast - yummy!). Dillards. Dillards again. Lunch at El Nopal. Target #3.

DVDs, DVDs, and DVDs. Candyland. Night-vision goggles. Polo shirts. Nice slacks. Sony headphones. Flash drive. Secret Santa gift. Jeans. Thermal. Sweaters. Undies.

Overall the day was without any headaches of any sort. I managed to luck out and avoid all major crowd activity. I never had to wait in line too terribly long. Never felt cramped. It was a very enjoyable shopping day.

80.01% | 173.59 lbs. (169.6 lbs.) | 18% (9 of 50) | 90.14% (329 of 365)

Happy Thanksgiving

Today I am thankful for family. I am thankful for loving parents, for an adoring niece and nephew, and for a great sister and brother-in-law.

Today I am thankful for extended family. I am thankful for their assurance and their compassion.

Today I am thankful for friends. I am thankful for my fellow adventurers and for friends of yesteryear.

Today I am thankful for the ability to smile in the face of these unsure days. I am thankful for the little moments. I am thankful for the funny moments. I am thankful for the neat moments.

Today I am thankful for Kels and Will. They took time out of their day with their mom and their dad to stop by and drop in on me and my fam. I love you guys.

Today I am still thankful for the family that I no longer can call my own. I am thankful that I was a loving husband to Jooj. I am thankful that I was a fun uncle to five lovely nieces and one spectacular nephew. I hope I had a positive impact in your lives during my time.

So there are plenty of things to lament over, to mourn, to cry about. But these things are not things that I need to dwell on today. What I choose to celebrate are the things I mentioned above - the things and people and friends and family that I am thankful for. I love you all.

85.17% | 173.60 lbs. (168.2 lbs.) | 16% (8 of 50) | 89.86% (328 of 365)

A Fun Day ("Porn and Chocolate")

I cut out of work early today to pick up Kelsey (after dropping Eddie off at the airport for a holiday visit home to Detroit). She is in town for the Thanksgiving holiday and had plans to head over to mom and dad's for some punkin pie and to visit. I picked her up after getting her hair did and brought her over to the 'rents' house. Melisssss and the kids were waiting there to greet her as well. Everyone was happy to see her.

While visiting Kelsey told mom that her friend had texted earlier and told her that he was getting her some "Porn and chocolate"... well, that's what I heard at least. Thankfully, I was there when he had initially texted and knew that he was, in fact, buying her *foreign* chocolate. What a difference a few consonants make. Hahahahahahahaha!

Afterwards I headed out to the house to drop off Kels and visit with Jooj. She's been busy getting the house in order. I'm gonna have to pull my weight this weekend. We chatted for a while - laughed and had a good time. I grabbed some sweaters, some CDs, and some movies and headed out.

I polished off the night helping make chocolate chip punkin cookies. It's a neat combination of flavors. They were delicioso!!!

Fell asleep on the couch playing Bloons Tower Defense 4. Jeebus Christmas I can't stop playing that silly little game! :)

I've dropped my lifting weight from my footer, as I no longer have regular access to my weights. I'll get back on it soon though.

85.17% | 173.62 lbs. (167.2 lbs.) | 16% (8 of 50) | 89.59% (327 of 365)

I am not the bad guy

So I'm hearing through the grapevine that people are giving Jooj advice. This advice, from what I understand, is well-intended and meant to put her in a position where she protects herself. I appreciate the people that are looking out for her. She needs your support.

I do ask that you try and remember that I loved her dearly for 5 years and that I do not bear her any ill will now. In fact, I hope only the best for her. I want to be a positive influence in the kids' lives. I want to make certain that Kels gets the college experience she deserves. I want to make certain she gets the Civic. And I want Jooj to be financially secure all along the way. She and I worked many hours on 5 drafts of a budget that we finally agreed to - and it is fair to both of us while allowing us to save money in the case we take a loss on the house. Mortgage and bills are paid for. Car payments are made. Tuition is paid. She stays in the house until it's sold. Jooj has her own account and still has full access to our joint account. I'm paying the bills but she has full access to see everything I do. I am not trying to hide anything.

I believe all of this is very fair. Is it possible that I'll be a jerk and screw her over? Sure. But I'm not. And I'd like people to suspend their disbelief long enough to give me a chance to prove that. I've been going out to the house as often as I can to do what I can around the house (granted, I've been sick and my effort has been minimal recently), with the pets, or to hang out with Will. I don't want to drive the Civic but I am hanging onto it until I can get it in Kelsey's hands. Kelsey's tuition? Nothing else needs to be said about that.

I am not Jooj's enemy and I am not your enemy. I've done everything I can to adhere to Jooj's wishes. It is unfortunate that things are happening as they are. But I am not the bad guy in this, nor do I want to do any harm to anyone. My living situation is not ideal. I am making sacrifices to ensure that things work out as smoothly as possible between us. I do this for the everyone else's sake. I just want to do the right thing - or at least the closest thing to the right thing.

Some assumptions have been made about the cryptic nature of my recent blogs posts. I think it's easy to assume the worst. I can't blame anyone for jumping to conclusions. But I do ask that you resist. I've been doing everything I can to stay busy and to have fun. In many cases this type of fun is adult fun - not necessarily something that needs to be detailed in a public blog.

So please don't demonize me. Sides are picked during things like this. But they don't have to be diametrically opposing sides. If Jooj and I can be friendly I am hoping that there may be some gray area instead of absolute black and white. But if you have to make me out to be the villian - if you just have to make me out to be the bad guy who takes the blame for the whole darn thing - then do it. All I ask in return is that you be there for Jooj that much more intently and that you love her with as much hate as you hold for me.

85.17% | 173.64 lbs. (???.? lbs.) | 16% (8 of 50) | 89.32% (326 of 365) | 102/55 lbs.

Big Day

The morning started early, but it was all good. This weekend found me short on sleep and firing on all cylinders. But I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Puppy Dogs + Skinny Vanilla Latte + New Socks + Egg McMuffin = Strength to Do What Must Be Done. Fact. It's just simple math.

The new hire Ravi started. Team dynamics about to change for the better.

Lunch at Granville. Holy smokes that Tijuana Burger and Cheese Fries kick all kinds of ass.

Great day at work.

Secret Santa assignments passed out among the Adventure Club. Good pick!

Great conversation on the way home from work :)

Picked up a new wireless router at Best Buy. Interwebs, here I come!

Walked in with both kids here at the house. What a treat (but they were being little sh!ts).

Talked with Jooj. Unloaded some frustrations on her. Tired of talking in circles. Tired of the bickering. Tired of the antics. And I told her, bluntly, to just back off.

Watched a drama-filled The Walking Dead.

Interwebs flowing wirelessly. Caught up on blogging, surfing, and gossip. Next up, email...

Best idea that is kinda awful and kinda awesome ever. Ever? EVAR!!!!1!!11!!!one!!!!1!!!

Pulled out the win when it counted in FFL. Go Wyld Stallyns!!!

Now I've got to remember to start weighing myself in the mornings. I keep forgetting.

85.17% | 173.64 lbs. (???.? lbs.) | 16% (8 of 50) | 89.04% (325 of 365) | 102/55 lbs.

Great Day

What a great day! Morning starts with a big bang. Light breakfast. Playtime at the park. Nap time. Head to the house to hang with Will. Head home. Bath time. Wind down. Day ends with an even bigger bang.

I can't begin to explain what an incredible day it was. I do not have the words.

85.17% | 173.64 lbs. (???.? lbs.) | 16% (8 of 50) | 88.77% (324 of 365) | 102/55 lbs.

Hot Toddy

I've been feeling pretty rotten all week long. I've done my best to stave off serious illness by chowing down on Zicam, drinking OJ, and even sucking down an Odwalla Superfood. I've felt like I can't shake this thing, regardless of what I do. Last night, before heading to bed, I tried a hot toddy. It was delish. And what happened next was incredible. I can't blame everything on the hot toddy but I'm sure it helped.

85.17% | 173.64 lbs. (???.? lbs.) | 16% (8 of 50) | 88.49% (323 of 365) | 102/55 lbs.

Old Guys vs. Young Guys

Today was the Genscape Old Guys vs. Young Guys Football game. I'll cut right to the chase - the Old Guys lost 6-7. It was a ton of fun - a nail-biter. Not the slaughter that was last year's game. And of the 6 TDs the Old Guys scored yours truly scored 2 of them. I possibly could have scored 2 more - 1 on a long bomb that I lost in the sun that bounced off my chest and another kick-off return where I had beaten the last man but was *tackled* out of bounds (yes, it is flag football).

After the game I met up with the head cheerleader (who is also the homecoming queen) and made out with her under the bleachers!!! Hahahaha :P

85.17% | 173.64 lbs. (???.? lbs.) | 16% (8 of 50) | 88.22% (322 of 365) | 102/55 lbs.

Mark it 148, Dude!

Tonight the Oil group celebrated its year-end bash with some bowling at Vernon Lanes and beers at Sergio's. Fun was had, fo sho. There was one particular highlight to the evening. It wasn't the chicken nachos, although they were damn tasty. It wasn't the ceviche, although it was damn tasty. It wasn't the literally hundreds of beers at Sergio's, although that was damn impressive. It wasn't the gluten-free beer, although it wasn't bad. It wasn't starting the night with a triple of Basil Hayden, although that was brilliant!

I am not a an avid bowler. I enjoy it. But I do not practice nor do I ever bowl with any frequency. I enjoy it, but I do not normally score well. I expect to bowl between 80 and 120, with the average of 100. The highest I had ever bowled was 144... until tonight! I rolled a 148.

85.17% | 173.64 lbs. (167.6 lbs.) | 16% (8 of 50) | 87.95% (321 of 365) | 102/55 lbs.

Immortals

Met up with Akers and Eddie last night to see the movie Immortals. And yes, this time I went to the right theater (don't get that reference, check TRON Post-mortem). Overall, I really enjoyed it.

Gawds. Titans. Oracles. Greeks. Mythology. Swordplay. Bloodshed. Imagine these things all wrapped up by Tarsem's unique visual style and what you get is Immortals. I've joked that the movie should be called 600 (as in, the sequel to the movie 300). But this movie bears little resemblance to that movie. True, they are both filled with Greeks and swords and bloodshed and fantastical elements. But it ends there.

The story involves Theseus, played by the guy who will soon be playing Superman in that upcoming movie. He is caught up in the mess as the mythical King Hyperion sweeps the land on a genocidal quest to find the Epirus Bow, a legendary weapon lost by the Gawds during their battles with the Titans. Theseus, the Virgin Oracle, and friends escape capture. Theseus, the Virgin Oracle, and friends face certain capture. Poseidon makes a big tidal wave, thereby allowing Theseus, the Virgin Oracle, and friends to escape capture. They all go back to Theseus' hometown, where Theseus discovers the Epirus Bow and fights the Minotaur guy. Theseus uses the Epirus Bow to allow the Virgin Oracle and friends to escape capture. The Virgin Oracle loses one of the words in her name (psssst, it's *not* Oracle). They fight some of Hyperion's soldiers. The Epirus Bow is stolen. Theseus, the (no longer Virgin) Oracle, and friends escape capture when Ares and Athena come to Earth and kick every kind of ass. They go Mount Tarterus, where the Titans are held and where King Hyperion is staging his army. Big fight. Gawds versus Titans. Massive carnage. Sad but happy ending. Hooray!

Visually a very pleasing movie. The storytelling was a bit lame. The fighting was a little over the top (although the scenes where Gawds fought were very well done). Overall I liked it very much.

85.17% | 173.66 lbs. (167.0 lbs.) | 16% (8 of 50) | 87.67% (320 of 365) | 102/55 lbs.

Midnight Release - Assassin's Creed: Revelations

Last night, at the stroke of midnight, I should have been at Gamestop to pick up the video game Assassin's Creed: Revelations for Will. There are very few reasons why I would ever consider not going. But one of those reasons was proposed to me last night. TAKE WILL THERE AND PICK IT UP TOGETHER TODAY!!!

Will needs a ride home from school today. I've got rides to give out. After a little convincing, I was given the green light to go pick up the boy today. On our way home, we'll pick up some crickets for the dragons and Assassin's Creed: Revelations. Then I can take him home and check out the game as he plays it - just like old times. I'm so excited!

I'm kind of nervous 'cause this is the first time we will have actually spoken to each other in a while. I've been so sad 'cause I've lost my little buddy - or at least that's how I've felt. I hope things aren't too awkward today. I truly don't believe they will be.

88.25% | 173.69 lbs. (168.4 lbs.) | 16% (8 of 50) | 87.40% (319 of 365) | 102/55 lbs.

"Siri, where is the closest liquor store?"

I got a new iPhone 4s. Yay me. This is surprising to many 'cause I've been rocking the same sliver phone for, like, eight years (Zach, I'm gonna miss you, buddy). Welcome to this century, right? Right.

So the first thing I asked Siri was:

"Siri, where is the closest liquor store?"*

She took a moment to think it over and responded:

"I have found 19 locations, 17 of which are close to you."

Siri and I are going to get along *juuuuuuust* fine :)

* Technically, this was the second question I asked Siri but was the first one she answered correctly. The first question I asked was "Siri, is it going to rain tomorrow?" She couldn't tell me. What? C'mon, man! That was a softball. You should've hit that one out of the park! Odd, since she knows my location. But I also found it strangely comforting that Siri puts more importance on my state of mind (or lack thereof) than my state of environmental being. Transcendental, baby!

88.25% | 173.70 lbs. (168.6 lbs.) | 16% (8 of 50) | 87.12% (318 of 365) | 102/55 lbs.

Settling

Things are settling down. I'm catching up on some sleep. Jooj and I hammered out a budget that is fair and works for each of us. She and I also seem to be moving in a good, healthy direction given the situation at hand. Mom cleared out some drawers and most of the closet so I can walk around my bedroom and start moving out of my suitcases. I've had to move bathrooms and feel like I'm finally getting used to my routine (three different showers and two different beds over the course of three nights is unsettling). I feel a little less like a guest at mom and dad's and a little more like part of the scenery.

I still feel like I'm in transit - on the go. I still don't feel like I'm "home". But I'm getting there.

88.25% | 173.72 lbs. (167.4 lbs.) | 16% (8 of 50) | 86.85% (317 of 365) | 102/55 lbs.

3:56 AM

Last night (well, and technically this morning - as in just now) there was a planned outage at work. I was going to be around and volunteered to help out. The outage was scheduled to begin at 6:30 and was expected to take 4 hours. Things started and progressed as scheduled. But then something happened. The outage window came and went. I stood by, waiting to make my moves. A few minutes after midnight I snapped to attention (I had dozed off). It was time!

Starts. Restarts. Checking. Restarting. Production servers first. Then QA. Troubleshooting continued for the next four hours. We left things in a stable state and I logged off at 3:56 AM. Long night at the office!

88.25% | 173.74 lbs. (???.?? lbs.) | 16% (8 of 50) | 86.57% (316 of 365) | 102/55 lbs.

Midnight Release - Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

Last night saw the second midnight release of the "week of three releases" and I was there at midnight to pick it up. This time the game was Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

The crowd was non-existent, much to my delight after the horde at Monday's CoD:MW3 release. I walked right in to a lightly crowded Gamestop, ever so slightly smelling of geeks (sweet, salty, smokey scent). I gave them my phone number and walked out with my previously fully-paid copy of the game and the 648-page game guide.

And you better believe that he'll read that game guide, cover to cover - probably multiple times.

Next week, Assassin's Creed: Revelations!

88.25% | 173.74 lbs. (???.?? lbs.) | 16% (8 of 50) | 86.30% (315 of 365) | 102/55 lbs.

Thanks, Mom and Dad

Thank you mom and dad for opening your home to me. This marks the fourth time in my life I've called the third floor of your house my home. Still getting settled. Nice shower head, dad (why couldn't that have been installed back in the high school days? Hahahaha!).

88.25% | 173.74 lbs. (167.4 lbs.) | 16% (8 of 50) | 86.03% (314 of 365) | 102/55 lbs.

Keeping my mouth shut

I'm not saying what happened tonight. I know things are tough right now. But I expect a little more than what I'm getting. I want to be friendly. I want to be civil. But there are only so many antics a person can withstand before breaking down and getting ugly right back.

This is not a warning or a threat. It is simple fact.

88.25% | 173.76 lbs. (167.0 lbs.) | 16% (8 of 50) | 85.75% (313 of 365) | 102/55 lbs.

Midnight Release - Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

Last night marked the first midnight release of a rapid-fire succession of three upcoming title releases in the next two weeks. The game in question? Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.

I pulled up at midnight and OMFG THERE ARE OVER ONE HUNDRED PEOPLE ALREADY IN LINE!!! For just a split-second, I considered saying "Fuck it," driving home, and going to bed. But I dug deep (actually, I didn't have to dig too deep - I just thought how excited I'd be at 15 if someone were to do that for me... and then realized that I'd be *that* someone) and stood in line for 40 minutes. Game in hand, I drove 20 minutes to his dad's, slipped the game in the mail slot, drove 20 minutes back, and CAH-rashed.

Gonna do it again Thursday at midnight for Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

88.25% | 173.79 lbs. (167.4 lbs.) | 16% (8 of 50) | 85.48% (312 of 365) | 102/55 lbs.

Happy Birfday, Caroline

I share the same sentiment that I felt yesterday with your cousin and I will say it again. I'm not sure how much weight my words carry these days with everything going on, but I love you and hope you have a wonderful 20th birfday, Caroline.

88.25% | 173.81 lbs. (166.6 lbs.) | 16% (8 of 50) | 85.21% (311 of 365) | 102/55 lbs.

Happy Birfday, Leigh Anne

I don't know how much this means to you with everything else going on, but I've immensely enjoyed being your uncle for the last five years. You've always been my #1 fave niece (and I think my gift still kicks ass... hope you get it somehow).

88.25% | 173.83 lbs. (164.4 lbs.) | 16% (8 of 50) | 84.93% (310 of 365) | 102/55 lbs.

Separation

Last night, after being cornered and pressured into answering some tough questions with brutal honesty, Julie and I have decided to separate.

I'm sorry.

88.25% | 173.87 lbs. (166.4 lbs.) | 16% (8 of 50) | 84.66% (309 of 365) | 102/55 lbs.

I Lost My Tea Cup - Meltdown in 3, 2, 1...

I sat down at my desk today and wanted to make my morning cup of tea. But my tea cup was missing. Huh?

Such a minor thing. But my anxiety immediately shot through the roof. I nearly was feeling dizzy. Was this a panic attack? An impending nervous breakdown? I was staving off a major meltdown and was doing everything I could to avert emotional disaster.

Was this really over a missing tea cup? No, probably not. There has been a lot on my mind recently. A lot. If you read my blog, or if you are me, then you know that there has been plenty going on. But there has been other stuff too. It's just a mess. So much so that, obviously, all it takes is a missing tea cup to begin to tear down every emotional defense I've put up.

The tea cup showed up later in the dishwasher. I suppose that either I left it somewhere or someone nabbed it, thinking it was a company cup. No worries though. Tea cup found. Emotional defenses holding.

88.25% | 173.89 lbs. (165.8 lbs.) | 16% (8 of 50) | 84.38% (308 of 365) | 102/55 lbs.

Two Day

Wake up.
Hung over.
Morning routine.
Drop off.
Drive home.
Police arrive.
No loss.
No report.
Bank visit.
Direct deposit.
Send fax.
Fax fail.
Skype madness.
Fantastic Lunch.
Senior Iguanas.
(Mister Lizard)
Change control.
FANTASTIC NEWS!
Frantic discussions.
Hectic changes.
Hasty testing.
Late deploy.
Wife pickup.
Target shopping.
Feeder's shopping.
Come home.
Feed dragons.
Cricket murder.
Spiff up.
Willow Room.
Rub elbows.
Talk shop.
Fancy dinner.
Autumn Salad.
Foie gras.
(Iron Chef)
Lobster grits.
Main entree.
Double meat.
Edamame hummus.
Bourbon balls.
Fireplace conversation.
Red wine.
Silly talks.
Tired eyes.
So tired.
Reality check.
Drive home.
Good night.
Pass out.

88.25% | 173.92 lbs. (165.4 lbs.) | 16% (8 of 50) | 84.11% (307 of 365) | 102/55 lbs.

"Online banking breach"

First thing is first - HAPPY BIRFDAY, WILL!!!

Okay, now onto some crazy shit...

I came home yesterday and checked my online bank account. WHAT?!?!?! Nearly all of our money was GONE! I checked on activity and saw that a wire transfer had been initiated that day to another bank account at another bank. I didn't mess around - I jumped right into the car and sped to my local branch.

After an initial "are you for serious?" series of questions the account specialist knew we were not fucking with him (Jooj met me there) and was quick to jump to action. He was on the phone and the transaction was stopped, right then and there. Whew!

That was the good news.

The bad news is that all accounts were frozen. Then we were told that all credit cards and all checking accounts had to be cancelled. I went to the bank this morning to start that process. After about an hour we were more or less squared away. I have to go back tomorrow and Friday to finish up bits. But overall we are heading back into action.  I was able to track the account number where the money was going and passed that along to the proper authorities. My bank has opened a case with their fraudulent investigations department regarding the matter. I have also called the police and will be filing a police report tomorrow morning. Then I will alert the credit reporting agencies that I may be the victim of identify theft and send in my paperwork.

Crazy day. Crazy world we live in. However, I'm an optimist. I know it could have been much, much worse. In a perfect world someone somewhere catches the perpetrator. At the very least, I hope he gets a headache when this one account gets shutdown. Muwahahahaha!

88.25% | 173.95 lbs. (167.0 lbs.) | 16% (8 of 50) | 83.84% (306 of 365) | 102/55 lbs.

Star Wars: Battlefront 3 News (Perhaps)

Star Wars: Battlefront 3 is a game I have been anticipating for years. Gamers and nerds know that it has been rumored to be in development forever. Spark Unlimited is a game developer. Rumors have suggested that Spark is working on Star Wars: Battlefront 3 for a while now.

Star Wars: Battlefront 3. Spark Unlimited. Rumors. Rumors are strengthening on the heels of some peculiar tweets from @sparkunlimited on Twitter:

"@spartacus128 Publisher hasn't stated when or where the announcement will take place. The time and place could be close or far, far away."

"@chrisdalton93 The project has been the best on all fronts. From the best we expect the best. I have no doubt this effort will surpass all"

The first tweet really "sparks" my interest (you see that?) with the last few words of "... far, far way". For any Star Wars geek out there that small phrase instantly arouses interest as it hearkens memories of the simple little line that appears before the opening crawl of any Star Wars movie...

"A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away..."

I mean, if Spark isn't working on a Star Wars title (even if it isn't Battlefront 3) then they are just fucking with us with a tweet like that.

The other tweet raises my eyebrow simply because of the use of the word "front". There's no need to use that word in the sentence that way. I mean, sure there is. But that's just teasing us if it's Battlefront 3, you know?

I've blogged about this rumor before: Spike TV Video Game Awards (UPDATED). Hell, I've blogged about this damn game plenty...

The big announcement (UPDATED) (Saturday, December 12, 2009)
Disappointed (Tuesday, June 22, 2010)
Spike TV Video Game Awards (UPDATED)  (Saturday, December 11, 2010)
Why do I allow myself to get excited? (Monday, June 6, 2011)
Star Wars: Battlefront 3??? (UPDATED) (Thursday, July 21, 2011)

Why do I allow myself to get excited over this? The lack of this game title has been breaking my heart since its predecessor was released on October 31, 2005 (GOOD FUCKING LAWD THAT WAS EXACTLY SIX YEARS AGO!!!).

I say things like:

"How many times have I blogged about the vaporware Star Wars: Battlefront 3? A dozen? How many times has my heart been broken? Every time. Why do I keep letting George Lucas play with my emotions? 'Cause I'm a sucker."

"Fool me once, George Lucas, shame on you. Fool me twice... well, shame on you again. Fool me twelve times? Well, sir... well... super shame on you, you bastard! SHAME!!!"

"I hate to sound like a broken record. Battlefront announcement. Blah blah blah. Could it finally be? Blah blah. Announced? Blah."

"Battlefront 3? Don't get your hopes up, fanboys. I'm a jaded old man that's been burned all too often by that fat bastard George. Dream on!"

"Hahaha! You stupid bitches! The "exciting announcement" was, of course, not Battlefront 3. It was a Star Wars-themed Xbox retailing for $449. Blow me, LucasArts. I can honestly say that I did not, for the first time, get all worked up over the possibility that BF3 was being announced. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me 14 times, and maybe I finally learn my lesson. Fuck off, Lucas, you fat fucking Hutt!"

These are the words of a silly boy who will never learn his lesson - like the nerdy kid who keeps asking the prom queen out on dates and never gets the hint when she is always busy (and just too nice to tell him to stop). I hate you Star Wars... I love you Star Wars!!!!

88.25% | 173.97 lbs. (168.8 lbs.) | 16% (8 of 50) | 83.56% (305 of 365) | 102/55 lbs.