Twev1701.net 2002-2012

I’ve been working on a new site design for the past week or so. I have a full mockup in Photoshop all done, but to be honest, I’m not sure that I like it. So, in true geek fashion, I went back though my old archive files from all the past designs of this site. I found a few elements from some past designs that were brilliant, but didn’t quite work with that particular design. And then I really noticed something about my past 3 designs. They were all very dark. No, I’m not one to shun the dark colors, but I thought it might be nice to lighten things up a bit. So, if you don’t see the new ‘lighter’ site, just hold down your SHIFT key and hit the refresh button on your browser.

Like it?

I think it really brightens up the place.

Today was a strange day at work. It was one of those days where I just wanted to leave the building and never come back. Never was it more apparent that I need to find a new job. As soon as Jess get her foot taken care of, I’m looking for a new job.

Last year I made a list of 5 goals for 2007. Here were my goals:

1) Stop doing websites for $$
2) Play more games
3) Purchase new LCD monitor
4) Better your time-management skills
5) Better manage your finances

This year I am setting similar goals. Here are my 5 goals for 2008:

1) Lose 30lbs
2) Learn to play the guitar (real, not Hero)
3) Get a new job
4) Learn to enjoy life a little more and to lighten up
5) Finally find a healthy balance between technology and the "outside world"
5a) Write a lot more then I have been in the past few years

Last year I actually accomplished 3 1/2 of my 5 goals. (I’ll let you figure out which ones they are)

I think just about everything on my list is doable. The trick is going to be keeping focus and make sure I follow thru.

I said in my last post that I wasn’t tired. Nothing could be more true as it turns out. I ended up laying in bed all night tossing and turning until about 5:30am. I kid you not. If I was lucky I might have managed to squeeze out a combined 30 minutes of sleep from 1am-5:30am. The weird part is I’m not sure why. I’m not stressed over anything, I don’t have anxiety over anything, and it’s night like I took a bottle of caffeine pills before bed. And yet, I laid there all night feeling like this:

I at about 5:45am, after a good 20 minutes of debate over work, I decided to call in and take a full sick day. I had considered going in for a half day, but I know just as much as anyone else that half days rarely happen. Something happens at work, and before you know it, you’ve put in 7 out of 9 hours, haven’t taken a lunch yet, and might as well stay that last hour and forego a lunch. I just didn’t have the strength to chance that happening. So, after calling in I shuffled my way back to bed. Keep in mind that I am feeling totally exhausted and wiped out, and yet, cannot fall asleep. Jess wakes up briefly and I tell her what was going on. We then both lay back down in bed. She’s asleep within 3 minutes and I lay there for another good hour or so praying for sleep. The last time I looked at the clock it read 7:02am. It must have been shortly after that that I finally fell asleep. I woke up at various points over the next few hours, finally decided to get up around 11:30am. I would have loved to have slept longer, but first I don’t think my body really would have let me since I was wide awake 4 hours after falling asleep, and I really didn’t want to sleep too much for fear that this will happen again tonight. I really want to be wiped out today and try and get a full night sleep this evening.

A little Beethoven anyone?

So, with our weekend coming to a close, I have to say it was a very good one. We got to hang out some great friends, put together a DVD storage unit (sadly, it was outgrown as soon as it was stocked), and ate some most excellent food.

Today after Kelly left Jess and I hung out for a little while and then decided to go out for a quick slice of pizza at a new place that opened up about 2 months ago. Surprisingly, it was closed. This makes the 2nd restaurant in the past 3 weeks that I when I pulled up to it, had closed for business. I’m convinced that either I am cursed or God hates me. I’ll have to get back to you on that one.

Anyway, seeing that the restaurant was closed and I was still craving some pizza, we decided to head over to Antonio’s over on the west side of town. We haven’t been there in a few months and they have great hoagies. Jess decided to indulge in a roast beef hoagie while I stuck to the basics and got a slice of plain and a slice of chicken wing pizza. It was most excellent. After eats, we decided to go to the grocery store for some materials for lunches this week.

This is where I should know better. You never just ‘go for a few things’ when you go with your wife. Needless to say 45 minutes and $120 later we were on our way home. On the plus side, I did get meats of varying flavor for some hoagies this week. In fact, there are two hoagies sitting in my fridge right now that I hope to be enjoying in about 11 hours.

Speaking of which, it is with a heavy heart that I must report that I will be returning to work tomorrow. As much fun as it was to have 4 days off in a row I must go back to the hamster wheel that is retail. On the bright side, I have this coming weekend off with Jess again. We’re going to try and take in ‘I Am Legend’ on Tuesday evening, ‘Cloverfield’ this Saturday afternoon, and then head back to the motherland of New Jersey on Sunday for Jenn’s birthday party. I know it sound pretty busy but it actually won’t be that bad. Hell, that’s only about 1/2 the stuff we did this weekend. The only bummer is that after this weekend it will be at least another month until Jess and I are off the same weekend again. But, as always, we will manage.

This past Friday, I ‘acquired’ the first season of the ShowTime series ‘Californication’. I had seen some previews for it, and it looked interesting. It stars David Duchovny, and as anyone will tell you, I am a huge X-Files fan. So, at about 10:30 tonight, Jess and I decided to sit down and watch the pilot episode. Let’s just say that this is now officially one of my favorite shows. David Duchovny plays what I cam only describe as my own personal hero. I’m not going to ruin anything for you, but I urge you to head over to the iTunes store and lay down $2 and check out the pilot. If you’ve got any taste at all, you’ll download the rest of that sucker and enjoy it like we are. We ended up watching the next 2 episodes before we decided we’d better head to bed since I have work at 6am. Obviously by the time-stamp on the post, I am not tired at all and am trying to tire myself out. The reason I’m not tired is that I want to stay up and watch the rest of that show. The writing and acting is just brilliant.

But, more episodes will have to wait for another night. As it is right now, if I fall asleep in the next 8 minutes (fat chance!) I will theoretically have the opportunity to sleep for about 4 1/2 hours. Yeah, I’m going to be dragging ass tomorrow. But, I don’t go in until 9am the rest of the week so I get to sleep in a bit for the rest of the week. For now, it’s off to dreamland. I can only pray I dream of nuns…

According too all the major new outlets, we’re supposed to get some snow starting tonight and continuing into tomorrow. By what I can fins, it looks like we’re going to see anywhere from 3-6 inches when all is said and done tomorrow night.

To be honest, that’s alright with me. Jess and I are both off today. We’re not sure what we’re going to do today, but regardless, the snow isn’t supposed to start until after midnight.

As for this weekend, it’s been a fun, busy weekend. Kelly had been here all weekend, and we’ve gotten a chance to hang out with a lot of friends and have quite a few good laughs. We had dinner with The Bertman and his wife on Friday night, followed by drinks and some Guitar Hero. Last night JP, Kelly, Jess and I all went wardriving. As always, things went from fun, to crazy to perverse in a matter of minutes! All I can say is that I will never look at a pogo stick the same way again!

As for today, we’re kinda leaving it open. Jess and I talked about maybe going to see a movie before the snow moves in. We might just hang out here and watch some of the movies we have on the network, or some of the DVDs we found yesterday while re-organizing them. Who knows. Either way it will be excellent for 2 reason. First, I get to hang out with Jess all day. Secondly, neither one of us have to go to work until tomorrow.

The best part about this weekend is that I get to do it all over again next weekend since Jess and I are both off again!

Last night was one of those night that will live on in my memory for some time to come. The night started around 6:30pm when Kelly arrived from New Jersey. Once she arrived, we all jumped into Jess’s car and headed to T.G.I. Friday’s to meet Bertman and his wife Kelly for dinner. They were already there and had our name on the list for a table. According to the nice people there, it was a 40 minute wait. So, we all stood outside since it was quite mild out and talked for a good 25 minutes. After talking flor a  bit, we went in and our table was ready. (rare that it was early!)

Dinner was absolutely fabulous. We all had a full round with appetizers, entrees, and deserts. We had some ‘interesting’ dinner conversation that resulted in quite a few red faces.

After dinner Kelly, Jess and I headed to Wegman’s for some soda for drinks and some snacks. Once snackage was acquired, we met Bert and Kelly at our place. Once we got there, the alcohol was brought out along with Guitar Hero III. While Bert and I played Guitar Hero, Jess, Kelly, and Kelly were all on their laptops. Once Bert and I got our fill, I went and got my laptop and hooked it up to the TV and surround sound system. It was nice having 4 laptops and geeking out with everyone. After quite a few drinks, we started going thru my Billboard Top 100 lists and playing some very old songs and telling quite a few stories. Kelly (NJ) and Jess started to fall asleep around 3am, so we decided to call it a night. Bert and Kelly went home and I put the girls to bed. I ended up watching Good Eats until about 4am, and then drifted off to sleep myself.

Today I’ve enlisted Kelly to help put together our new DVD rack that the UPS guy was kind enough to drop off yesterday afternoon. Then later on tonight the ladies and I have plans to go Wardriving with JP. Should be some good and interesting times. After Wardriving, I’m sure it will be back to our place and more consumption of alcohol. At least I know that’s what I’m going to be doing!

Today is day one of my four days off in a row. How did I celebrate this?? By sleeping for 11 hours. Trust me, I needed it!

So, true to my word, I am heading back to the gym this afternoon. Well, after the grocery store for a case of water and the bank for $$. After all that, it’s to the gym, pay for 3 months of membership, and work start my workout regime. I’ve set a pretty realistic goal of losing 30 pounds by the time we all go back to the beach again (September), which I think is achievable. My goal right now is going 5 days a week, doing cardio each day, with weights 3 of those days. I thought I would give myself the weekends off to relax a bit. Plus my gym is open longer hours during the week anyway (5am-7pm).

Anyway, enough talk. I’m off!

I was looking through my flickr stats when I noticed my referrers. This is just wrong. If you go to Google and type in the search term "cut my finger on a mandolin", a picture of my bandaged up finger is the 3rd search result. Don’t believe me? Try it for yourself. Or if you’re too lazy, here’s solid proof with a screenshot.

I now officially have to start saving up for a next gen console. Why you ask? This is fucking why!

Download the QuickTime version here.