So twice today I have heard from places I sent resumes to saying that I don't have enough experience in a leadership role. First off, that is bull, and second, how am I supposed to get any experience if no one is willing to hire me? Bah.

Three projects due tomorrow. YAY!!! Good thing I didn't wait until the last minute to start them.

Way Beyond Empty: how lightsabers work

It needs a "make a laser sword" button. Then it would totally rock.

Maybe if I write it down here, I'll do it more.

I want to exercise more often. It's just a matter of fitting it in, timewise. Since before our wedding, I've been working out Tuesday and Thursday nights, as well as Saturday mornings. At first it was a big bunch of us: Andrew, Jon, Grace, Ruth, Yemesi, and sometimes Ric, and sometimes Linda. I loved being able to see all of my friends that often, and the benefit was that since so many of us were comitted, we all held each other accountable for exercise and eating habits. It all seemed so easy and fun back then.

Well, lives have gotten busy and now it's down to just Ruth and me. We're still exercising regularly, three times a week, but it just isn't enough. My ruptured disc and my bad knees are limiting what I can do; I can't do sit-ups, leg-lifts, squats, lunges, or more than 2-3 miles at a time jogging. So now I feel like I just need to do more of what I CAN do. Thus I need to fit in more times at the track. It's just really hard because life is busy. Out of our off days, I've got to go grocery shopping on Mondays, and every-other Wednesday I have a piano lesson. Then Fridays Ric and I have often got plans for going out that not only cut into my exercise goals, but also my practicing the piano, which is also not getting as much attention as it deserves (I could write a very similar post to this one about how I want to practice more often; stupid back!).

So we've either got to buy something to use at home, or I've got to buck it up and exercise more on top of my already busy schedule. Last night I went to the track just to jog a couple of miles and it felt so nice. Sometimes I like going by myself because I really get into the groove. I've discovered that singing Pulp's "Different Class" album to myself is perfect for exercising alone. Most of the songs are in 4/4 timing, so I inhale and exhale every four steps and sing the music in my head to the beat of my steps. Just perfect.

Going to the track does take a lot more effort, though. I'm hoping we can buy something like the Gazelle to use at home. We have a bike, but the knees just won't stand for it. Even half an hour a day is too much for them.

Anyway, I've just been feeling so blah lately, it's time to step it up a notch, and I'm writing about it here to encourage myself to do more.

No movie reviews this weekend! We spent most of our weekend with little tykes.

On Friday we babysat for Connor. That went much better than last time. I think he was freaked out last time, which resulted in a lot of crying. But now I think he's more comfortable with me and Ric because we come over to hang out often. This time, at first, he freaked out when Ric came in - I think it's the deep voice and tall stature. He started doing this funny thing where he stands on his tiptoes with his arms out in the air and pushes his chest against the child gate until he's shaking, all the while making little "I'm gonna cry" moans. It was kind of funny. Anyway, Ric offered him a few goldfish crackers, and Connor was instantly happy. I love how quickly kids' emotions can change! We discovered Connor likes: the Yellow "Bowmp-Bowmp ... Chicka Chicka" song (thinks it's hilarious), the Muppet Movie (as long as the muppets are on screen because the human actors are boring), Ric's monkey imitations, playing Gran Turismo (or rather, with the controller and associating button pressing with the sounds on the TV), and playing ball. We discovered Connnor doesn't like: getting himself trapped in a corner. Bedtime was a breeze this time - he was so busy running laps and yelling happy screams that he wore himself out and only cried for about 5 seconds when I put him in the crib. Success!

Saturday Ric's brother and sister-in-law came to visit for Mother's Day, of course bringing along our 8-month-old nephew, Harrison. After we all gorged ourselves on Mexican food for lunch and pizza for dinner, the boys got to playing video games and the other adults were playing card games, so I took over Harrison watch. That kid is a little go-getter. He should be learning to crawl, but he would really rather walk. So he's always pulling himself up and walking himself around tables or along couches. He made me hold his hands and walk him all around the house several times. He has a big fascination with the exercise machine in Ric's parents' family room. All I had to do was lift him up to grab part of it and he was laughing with delight. So easily entertained. I love it. He also loved the buttons on my jean-jacket and pulling my hair. Harrison is extremely opinionated though, so keeping him happy is tiring, especially near bedtime. I tried to sit down or have him focus on walking in one area but he would start to cry because he wanted to go back to that exercise machine. By the end of the night my back was really sore. But it was fun.

What I've realized over the weekend: kids will be worth it (one day), but I know I'm going to have a tough time, because one night of playing with a kid is extremely tough on my back.

The rest of the weekend was spent doing laundry, watching TV, reading, and trying to clean the house a little bit. Oh yeah, and I went shopping and got some awesome shoes, boots, and a new purse because my regular purse was starting to fray on the straps.

Woo. I guess that's a boring weekend for some, but I was glad to relax a little after last week was so busy.

BTW, the wedding album is finally complete! I should have it by the end of the week. I'm excited.

The new version of Microsoft Windows, code-named Longhorn and due out in late 2006, may have fewer Blue Screens of Death. But it will have a new feature to fill that gap: Red Screen of Death. I, for one, can't wait.

Someone predicted this back in 2000, but they thought it wouldn't show up until 2016 (one year after IE 6.0 is released for Mac OS).

(via Slashdot)

1. Go to oedilf.com.

2. Read the random definition in the upper right corner.

3. Reload the page (ctrl+r).

4. Repeat steps 2-3 until you are bored.

If you want to get serious about wasting time, then join the project. They've only done words that begin with A so far, so maybe you can help with some B words.

(via Digg)

Found this blog entry about how the Minneapolis Star Tribune has recently posted an editorial supporting the right of Democrats to use the filibuster to block President Bush's appointee votes in congress. What makes this interesting is that in 1993 and 1994, when Clinton was president, the Star Trib advocated a "crusade for changes in Senate procedures that would prevent an obstructionist minority from delaying action indefinitely." Back then they referred to it as "the putrid flood of verbiage known as a filibuster". When this apparent contradiction was pointed out to Jim Boyd, Star Trib Deputy Editor, he replied in an email by saying, "I think you actually have caught us in a contradiction. We can change our mind, as we did on light rail, but in this case, we really didn't. We simply missed the precedent and, like a court, if we make such a shift, we owe readers an explanation for why we did it." I won't hold my breath waiting for the explanation.

This is why I can't stand Democrats and Republicans who have no principles. They are for whatever furthers their cause/party/agenda and against whatever doesn't, period. Whenever they give an explanation for anything, you can bet it's meaningless. I've mentioned this before (I'm too lazy to come up with new examples), but pro-choicers cry, "My body, my choice" when that principle only applies in this very specific situation. Besides abortion, they love to have the government make all kinds of choices about your body and your life for you. The pro-lifers wail about the sanctity of life, yet they're glad to fry someone when they see fit. These people don't seem to care how stupid they may look or how empty their arguments may be. Drives me insane. It's why I love the Libertarians, because all we are is one big fat principle (it's also why I hate them because they continue to be a great principle but politically impotent, but that's another post). Of course, if Libs ever become a powerful political force and become as vacuous as the Dems and Reps I'd dump them too or become their loudest critic. I think principles are worth fighting for, but not unprincipled political parties or their mindless supporters.

ctrl + alt + del: I dare you to say it.

via Digg

If you're still not convinced that cascading style sheets (CSS) are a cool way to format a web page, then check this out: desktop.trovster.com. Make sure you try out the other themes (click on the start button, then Classic or Longhorn). There's an OS X theme coming soon. If he can do that then I'll be even more impressed.

(via Digg.com)

Here's the link to our latest podcast.

We had some nice rain here over the weekend, and my garden is coming right along. Most of my greens have sprouted and are filling in nicely. The carrots seem to be doing well, too, even if only four out of the eight seeds that I planted have come up. So far I haven't seen any sprouts in the square planted with nasturtiums, unless this is not a weed. The birds have enjoyed eating my basil and parsley. Since my cat wasn't keeping them away, I had to install an owl decoy, which I happened to have in my garage. Dad had this in his hangar to keep birds from building nests in his plane, but it didn't work. And one day we were down there with Emma and she said she wanted to keep it. When she asks dad for something, she always gets it. So she carried it around our house for a few weeks like it was a baby. Then it went into the garage until now. It seems to be helping; the two remaining basil plants may just survive.

Sugar Bush Squirrel

LOL