Thousands of new items from RSS feeds in Google Reader, and I just end up marking them as read. I subscribe to roughly 14 podcasts and have 47 episodes that have not been heard yet. Of those 14 podcasts, I’ve only been listening to one (The Tony Kornheiser Show), and I’m on a show from 2 weeks ago. I get 3 discs a month from Netflix (2 for CL and I, while D gets the 3rd). Both movies have sat in this house for at least 2.5 weeks; D’s movie has been sitting somewhere in his room since September (Feedfliks tells me I’m averaging 15 days per DVD, but I think it’s more than that). I started watching 10 shows at the start of the fall TV season, but I’ve only kept up on 3 of them (sad for someone who has a TiVo). And the last time I posted a real “entry” on this blog? Maybe September? My friend jokingly asks me, “What in the world are you doing with your time?”
I’ve been hanging with this pretty girl…
September 19th, 2008
Neil
Just trying to get ya up to speed …
Never a dull moment at work. The case management application that I’ve been working on since August goes live next week. We completed the build of the live system this week, and I must say, I’m quite proud at how much we got done in such a short time. This on top of all other requests from lab, respiratory, registration, and administration. And in October, case management gets another system that I’ll be assigned to as well. Surprisingly, I’m taking it all in stride and loving it. Not too many people in my department can say the same thing, and I guess I’m fortunate.
Sophia will be 16 weeks old on Monday (4 months old in October). We believe she has allergies. The recent cool weather has prompted us to have our windows open in the house at night (excluding Sophia’s room). However, she woke up again the other morning with congestion. So we’ve gone back to keeping the windows closed and using the A/C. She seems to be slimming down (her belly isn’t quite there anymore). While awake, she doesn’t like to lay back in your arms anymore; she’ll pull herself in the upright position (and she’ll let you know about it if you try to put her back down). She’s doing well in daycare; teachers say the noise doesn’t bother her as much as it used to when she first started. She’s sleeping all night too, and waking up about the same time each morning (just in time to get ready for school). We haven’t taken very many pictures since Sophia started daycare, but I plan to post what we have this weekend.
And yes, I’m trying a new theme for my blog. It still needs work, but I’ll get to it when I get to it. What I like is the pics page is working and looking better than ever. I still have to come up with new header images.
Just to get ya up to speed on what’s going on in my world. After having the doc tap my knee (no infection; just a severe case of bursitis), I was back to work. However, I probably rushed it, in turn prolonging the healing process. I still had slight swelling and stiffness. I spent most of the week limping around. The limp caused me to develop blisters on my toes. While standing, I would put most of my weight on my left leg. So … in a nutshell, I’ve worn myself out. Aside from a wedding and registering at Babies R Us, I’ve tried my best to stay off my feet this weekend. Work has been somewhat depressing. I’ve twittered (or tweeted) about recent changes at my job. To sum up the past week and a half – Corporate pulled the plug on our big project (new clinical system). Due to financial problems in our organization, we won’t be able to work on implementing the new system until a year from now. What does this mean for my department? We’re really not sure. There are other projects that we can work on. I’m not concerned about my position since I have experience with the current system. But the system is an old and crappy one, and it’s discouraging to know that it won’t be for nearly 2 more years until we get to use something bigger and better. Not to mention all the money, time, and effort that has somewhat gone to waste the past 6 weeks. Just a big disappointment.
What’s going on? We had 8 inches of snow on Friday. It’s all gone thanks to 75 degree weather Monday. Work is hell. I flooded the master bathroom on Super Bowl Sunday (more on that later). I cheered on the Patriots only to see them lose in fantastic fashion to the Giants (kudos to Eli Manning and the Giants D). Work is hell. Aggravated my knee again while working in the bathroom. Collecting Pepsi bottle caps for free music. Work is hell. I don’t have any updated photos of the Tremont because of said plumbing problems; I hope to get them on Friday.
Hello again 
Sorry for the lack of posts. I’ve just been too busy. My in-laws are moved in and settled. Progress on their house is moving along quite nicely. At work, I’m still in the midst of data collection; I was hoping to have it done this week, but I hit a lot of road blocks. I’m lucky to be part of 2 teams that get along well and are fun to work with, unlike my fellow analysts who seem to be on teams that are not responsive or cooperative, or just downright idiotic. And, of course, we’re getting ready for baby at home. CL decided on a theme for the nursery, and it’s very cute. I’m prepping myself by reading books for new dads; there’s a lot to this, and I want to be ready when we welcome Baby Jose to our world.
Hope everyone had a nice holiday season. It’s been fairly subdued for us. We didn’t travel anywhere nor did anyone come visit us for Christmas. CL worked Christmas Eve, and we both worked the day after. Our Christmas photos can be accessed by clicking on the pic. The new year also came quietly. The news of my grandmother’s passing may have set my mood. We kept busy by working on purging items in the garage and in D’s old playroom.
Resolutions? Looking back at mine from a year ago, I don’t think I did so well. I will probably carry these over into 2008. This year brings lots of change into our world, and it’s all good. A busy year ahead for me at work with the clinical system implementation getting under way next week. My in-laws move back to town in a few weeks as their new house is being built. And, of course, we anxiously await the arrival of Baby Jose in late May/early June!
Finally, I say goodbye to my grandmother. She was a strong woman, strong to the very end. Farewell, Lola; you are greatly missed by all of us who loved you very much. I’m happy to know that you have reunited with those who went before you, especially Lolo and Tito Teddy. And to my Dad, my aunts and uncles, and to my cousins in the Philippines and here in the States – you are in my heart, my thoughts, and my prayers.
Christine’s parents were in town for the past week for her mom’s annual cookie bake in St Louis. While they were here, an offer was made on their house back in Charlotte. After several counteroffers back and forth over the weekend, the buyers accepted the final offer on Monday. My in-laws have to be out of the house by the 2nd week of January. So they extended their stay and spent the entire week making arrangements for movers and storage while also customizing every aspect of the house they’re building here in town. Christine and I are working on cleaning out Daniel’s old playroom so her parents can stay with us while their new home is being built (the guest room is being converted into the nursery).
Her parents bought us a new bed for Christmas; the previous mattress was so old it literally was a pain to sleep on it. And with Christine pregnant, it’s not good for her to have sleepless nights and back pain. The new bed is a welcome change; king-size and firm. We still wake up several times at night – she because of the pregnancy, me because of Salem (I’ve been told that the dog is prepping me for the baby).
