My Dilemma

On one hand... Christmas computer upgrade (current prices):

• AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Socket AM2 CPU - $214.95
• Zalman CNPS9500 heatsink & fan - $69.95
• Mushkin XP2-6400/8000 DDR2 SDRAM 1GB Dual Pack (2x512MB) memory - $199.95
• 2x eVGA e-GeForce 7900 GT KO 256MB PCI-E video cards - 2x$319.95
• MSI K9N motherboard - $229.95
• Seagate 320GB Barracuda 7200.10 SATA II - $109.95

Total - $1464.65 + GST

On the other hand... Europe next year?

My Healing

Knees are getting better... scabs are coming off bits at a time... the two deepest wounds are still being treated with Polysporin as joint movements cause the scabs to rip and the wounds become exposed. But the itching indicates healing and if we didn't have the Phase 3 Dialog this Sunday I could probably play.

My Epiphany

One of those rare, frustrating mornings where I simply couldn't fall asleep on the train until I nearly missed getting off at my stop.

My mind wouldn't take a break. I started wondering whether it'd be a good idea to date a student. Whether she'd understand what I was going through at work. Whether she'd be able to help me through it.

Then I thought about Luis and Sharon, and wondered how Luis is able to help Sharon through whatever she faces at work.

Then I thought about the fellowship split-up, the whole "we're not students anymore" bunch of crap.

And then I realized... that maybe... just maybe... I was so opposed to the fellowship split-up because it reminded me of my own breakup.

NYC Plans

• Dec 23 - Arrival
• Dec 30 - Washington Capitals @ New York Rangers - Madison Square Garden
• Jan 2 - Departure

My Left Knee

Still hurting.

Still limping.

Still swollen.

Didn't notice the swelling until days later because the flesh wounds were so excruciatingly painful already.

Ice is my friend... ice is my friend.

My Question

Who bought our house?

Working on-site again... sorta

Gonna be out of the office again next Thursday.

Not going far though... in fact, closer than the office.

Gonna help man the company booth at the U of C Science & Engineering Career Fair. :-D

Boy that's gonna be fun... I miss being on campus.

Hoping to run into a few people too...

Rug Burn

Kept waking up in the middle of the night last night.

Left knee still smarting from the rug burns. Astroturf is rather unforgiving.

It's like running a piece of steelwool across the skin repeatedly until you're rubbed raw.

The wounds, three on my left knee and one on my right, were deep enough that they were still seeping blood hours later.

What else has happened the past few days?

Found out we're supposed to get site pay if we go onsite for more than 14 days. Will have to look that up.

Got another entry coming about American TV.

Dangerous Driving

Nearly fell asleep behind the wheels again on the I-35 going to Wichita... I'm so sleep-deprived.

Drove down to Norman on Monday hoping to take pictures on the University of Oklahoma campus. It started pouring so hard that streets were flooded and there was no way for me to get out of the car, let alone expose my camera to the elements.

So I left the campus and drove to Olive Garden to eat, and as I was driving across the bridge over the interstate, the boat being towed in front of me jerked its head up as though it'd run into something. I stepped on the brakes, which promptly locked on the slippery road surface, and my car started skidding straight towards the boat.

Thank God I let go of the brakes and steered just in time to swerve into the next lane. Thank God there were no cars in the next lane at the time. Thank God even more that I didn't swerve right into the opposite lane where cars were stopped for the red light.

Life is so fragile... nobody can tell what might happen the next minute...