Halloween is upon us

Current music: Stickmen Soundtrack

Pics I took today...

Back and worn out

Current music: Beatles - I'm a Loser

A lot of driving today, but I definitely saw some cool stuff. I went to the Little Rock City and check stuff out there. Then went to Alleghany State Park and hiked Mt. Seneca to go caving in Bear Caves. I couldn't get into the Mother Bear Cave, but I got into Papa Bear and Baby Bear. Papa Bear was so long...over 120 feet! I'll post pictures sometime.

Came back home and ate some gnocchis with the sauce and meatballs I made last night.

Day off

Current music: Recess Theory - To Be An Anchor

I was half way to work today and I decided that I didn't want to go. It is so nice out. So I stopped for some coffee and made a call to my boss. Just came home and packed up my stuff. I am gonna head down to the Southern Tier and do some hiking. I need to hike sometimes and just get away from this damn city.

Don't try to find me until later today. You won't.

Are you kidding?

Current music: Mineral - 80-37

I can not believe this... The Bin Laden family has won a contract to take over control of a Saudi airport!

Not only that! Jessica Lynch's rescuers and company are turning up dead!

This all makes me sick.

Markets

I have been getting into the stock market lately. I have been following it a lot and finally decided to throw in some money... Just a little at first then maybe I will up the stakes later. Tuesday morning I bought GCI. They haven't done much since, but I will give it some time. I have another buy order in, but it hasn't traded yet. For right now I am going to keep that one to myself as I am not sure if I will get my bid price or not. Depends on how the opening goes.

Jeff and I went to some sweet farming, hunting, and tractor stores last night. I bought a pretty cool shirt. It is totally a women's shirt, but I don't think people will know. It was only $3 so I couldn't pass it up.

I was gonna make some homemade spaghetti sauce last night too, but by the time I got back from the stores and went to Wegman's and all it was past 9pm. I guess I will do it tonight. I have never made it before so I hope it goes well. Either way, my apartment is gonna smell good. If anybody wants some let me know. I am gonna freeze most of it so you can have some if you want!

Decided not to go to Plattsburgh this weekend. Tor is gonna go up to do some hiking, but just Saturday and I don't feel like making the long drive this weekend. I think maybe I will go around the beginning of December sometime and go snowshoeing instead.

Need caffiene...

Alread watched the OC

Current music: UB40 - So Destructive

For all you who wanna know...Marissa doesn't go to the mental institute and Ryan gets into the private school. Haha, I have ruined it for everyone!

Sleepy...

Jeff and Beth called me last night to meet them at Natalie's for dinner. I love that restaurant. Hit up the mall afterwards and got my phone fixed. Hung out and listened to music with Jeff for a while. By the time he left it was too damn late to do any shopping and I need food. I had nothing to eat this morning for breakfast except Special K cereal bars...that is not a breakfast. I also had nothing to make for lunch for the second day in row. I just cooked some frozen gnocchis and I guess I will be having a small lunch.

I wanna go back to bed. I guess I will go make some tea instead.

It's better to burn

Current music: Onelinedrawing - February (Barrier)

Ballz Bowling just isn't the same anymore. I love bowling with Marie, Tammy, and Donnie, but it's not Tim and Joe... Kris and I are gonna have to get them to start coming again.

we need more weekends

Current music: Rainer Maria - Long Knives Drawn

What a weekend. I like having non-boring weekends. Went to Canada with Stacia, Kris, and Kristen Friday night. We ate at Xin Vego...mmm, I love that place. We decided to hit up the casino and lose money. Kris and Kristen definitely did, but Stacia and I rocked. Stacia won almost $200US and about 5 minutes later I got over $120US. I like casinos again. Damn...they always fool me into like them enough to take my money again.

Everybody left their leftovers at my house because the guy put them in 1 bag. I ate mock chicken balls for 3 meals...

Stacia and I went out for breakkie in the morning then to the mall then to Mighty Taco. I didn't really feel like going there, but I hadn't been in ages and she loves it. After she went back to Rochester I just slacked the rest of the day until night time. Went over to Beth's new place. Damn, I really like her house. I'm impressed. I think Brickey is living there with her now. Frank was there and Kris came over too. We played some serious XBox, geeked with Macs, and ate nachos. That is how Saturday nights should be...

Sunday morning went to an investment club meeting. I am getting old. Spent the afternoon with Rachel between the art gallery and Coffee &. It was cool to just hang out and talk with her.

I need to get work done. It has been dark for weeks because of the clouds and rain. When it stops later this week it is just gonna be dark because we turned the clocks back. Blah

will be here. will be there

Current music: Portishead - Cowboys

Ah...home from work for a few days. Stacia is coming here tonight and should actually be here real soon. Should be fun. I think we are gonna go up to the casino because she is finally 19 and wants to lose money. Probably go out to dinner while we're out. Kris might come. Tim might come. Matt might come. Maybe I should call them...

Made more progress on my stuff at work, but still 1 major problem and one minor one. Poop.

It's not superficial...it's not.
Why decide so quick?

hrmmm

Current music: Death Cab for Cutie - Something About Airplanes

Kinda got myself in a weird place right now... Not sure about much at all.

Bummed

Elliott Smith dead at 34. Sucks.

In other news... my sister is gonna come visit this Friday. That should be pretty cool. I don't think she has been to visit in a few months.

Last night I was so tired again. What is wrong with me lately? I started watching the World Series and totally fell asleep at about 9 on the couch. This morning I woke up in my bed, but I don't really know how I got there.

The doctor didn't have to take my finger off. Good thing huh? Just got prescribed some antibiotics.

Not matter how far I go...not so far away.

Current music: The Promise Ring - My is at Home

Compiling in Solaris! Still some problems. Do you really wanna know about them Jayzorbeard?

Anyways...401k meeting went well and I like some of the new choices, but on the other hand I am kinda dissappointed we are losing some of the others. All in all, I think this new one is probably better. I think I am gonna do a mix of a bunch of funds in this style... Bonds = 8%, Large Cap (value/growth/blend all combined)= 40%, Mid Cap = 20%, Small Cap = 17%, and Global = 15%. That should be a good aggressive mix.

Ok...back to sipping my tea and trying to compile while drowning myself in bread and coffee.

Deboogering

Current music: Explosions in the Sky - How Strange, Innocence

Made a doctor's appointment for later today about my infected hands. Man...they are starting to hurt a little I think. Got meetings today for our company's 401k switch to a new provider. That is gonna be a hassle, but maybe it will be good and maybe we will get some better funds to invest in...

Last night was pretty sweet even though I only bowled one game. I shoulda bowled more, but I didn't bring enough money and I was tired. Monday night and I am too tired to bowl? Something must be wrong. Maybe it's because nobody has been coming to bowling lately so I just felt slack.

Why won't this email send?

I got my body and my mind on the same page, and now happiness is all the rage.
Promise Ring

This country will know us by name... This country will know us by name... This country will know me by name...

Current music: Damien Jurado - Where Shall You Take Me?

Rocked the Bills game with the old people and the Bills won. Then I came home and watched the Yankee game. They won too! I have been such a sports enthusiast this weekend.

Back to work for the week now. I have some people interested in the wxWindows work I am doing on UDP sockets so that is pretty cool. Now I just need to get it to work in Mac... <rant>Why is Mac so special that they feel they can use a completely different set of networking libraries? Just use sockets like everybody else does...</rant>

I really need to go to the doctor because my hands are both infected now from my wipe out on my bike... Why does this happen to me? I think I am gonna soak them again tonight and see if they get better by tomorrow. If not I am definitely gonna go tomorrow.

Why isn't it 5pm yet?

who is going to the Bills game?

Current music: Michael Knott - Die Baby Die

My aunt called me this morning with a ticket to the Bills game. So I am going even though I am really not a football fan. It should be fun.

Yesterday was a busy day, but it was really good. Except for one part. The Yankees lost.

Talked to Blair for a while this morning. Good to hear about the old NZ crew now and again. Weird...Blair says hi to pirate girl... He also says I should go on a mission like in Coffee Club days. This one would be to fill in that damn ditch that I hit on my bike. Fill it in with cement. That would teach those construction workers to mess with me.

More concerts...more music

Current music: The Gloria Record - The Overpass

Tiredness is setting in...maybe it is time for caffeine. Last night I left work a little early and headed up to Toronto with Tim for Death Cab. They played with the Long Winters and Nada Surf. Neither of them were very good and I couldn't get the idea out of my head that I was seeing the band that played "Popular". Anyways, DCFC rocked my socks. They played a really long set too, I think it was about 18 songs!

We got home at about 3am so I slept in this morning until 8. Now I have to stay at work late. Boo. Oh well, I have plenty I need to do anyway. I wonder how the Onelinedrawing show went for Kris... I'll have to give him a call after work.

Just got back from lunch. We went to a kickin Greek place (sorta) called Sam's. One of the guys I work with knew about it. It had Greek foods, but then some really American stuff too like chicken fingers. Weird. I had one of the best falafel sandwiches I have ever eaten.

Woo! Beth's birthday today and we are going out for some fun times.

Damn drivers

Current music: Maritime - Adios

Coming into work I turn from North French Road (2 lanes in each direction) onto CrossPoint Parkway (2 lanes at first, narrowing after about 200 feet to 1 lane). I turn right onto CrossPoint. People turning left should wait their turn. No, they never do. They always feel the need (even at 7:30 AM when there is not much traffic) to turn at the same time I do. Damn Buffalo drivers almost hit me today. What really gets me about that intersection is that the people turning their are either coming to work with me or going across the street to NCO. The bad drivers seem to always be the ones from NCO.

Aside from that...the Mico, Maritime, and Weakerthans show last night rocked. I had never heard of Mico before and they were pretty good, but nothing special. Maritime has some of the former members of the Promise Ring, including the singer. I love the Promise Ring and Maritime is really good too. Much happier sounding and almost danceable if you are a hippy. Sounds much more like old Promise Ring than the recent stuff which is fine by me!

Tonight is Death Cab for Cutie in Toronto...road trip with Sweet Baby Moose (ex-Sweet Baby Tim).

Ouch...ouch...oooo

I am work now. We had a corporate breakfast this morning where we talk about the state of the company and stuff. Of course I had to sit at the table with the President and CEO of the company and I look terrible with all my cuts, scraps, and bumps.

They are starting to all scab up now although my head is a bit pussy and my right hand is not starting to scab at all yet. I have it covered while I am here at work so that I don't get an infection. I keep resting my elbows on things and that is not fun at all because they are so bruised.

I am not a complainer...really, but I am pretty messed up.

On the other hand, sweet to see Lori Vag last night at bowling, and Craiger came, and Rob and Pam came. It was like the good ol' days. I didn't bowl because I am messed up, but hung out.

Yanks better win tonight. I guess I am just gonna sit at home tonight (after buying tickets for the Weakerthans (and Maritime and Mico)) so I will probably watch the game.

Time for work...

I fought against my bike and it tore me to pieces

Current music: Cool Hand Luke - I Fought Against Myself (and tore myself to pieces)

So I decided I would get a little exercise and go for a bike ride on this cool brisk night. Yeah. I thought I would make it short. Just as I am coming down the biggest (read only) hill in Amherst I go over a big bump but don't think twice. I have been down this road many times before on my bike and on my longboard. I make the turn and immediately see a huge hole in the pavement. The town must be replacing a pipe or some crap. Of course instead of putting the construction sign in the light or even before the hole they put it next to the hole in the darkness under a tree. I slam into the thing and fly over my handle bars and about 20+ mph. Bruised and bloody I straighten out my wheel and get back on my bike and ride home. The very first thing I did when I walked in the door was pick up my camera and take some pics... Now I am cleaned off and ready to bowl with 8 band-aids covering my wounds.

Current music: Sunny Day Real Estate - Diary (wishing is was the new The Fire Theft album, alas...

So let's see...I think I did nothing on Saturday... Yesterday I went and saw Under a Tuscan Sun with my parents. That was pretty good. My dad was taking the piss because it is a chick flick, but I think he liked it. My mom made some ziti with homemade sauce before that. I have had so much good food lately and I'm loving it. Saw my grandparents again. They are leaving today and that sucks. Actually, they are probably passing through Buffalo right about now.

I haven't seen the sweet dudes in forever. I just keep telling myself, "Don't fret, you will see them tonight!" We need to have another huge Ballz Bowling night soon where everybody comes.

Coffee Club

Current music: Dido - Life for Rent

Just got back from a nice long bike ride. I finally got to go for one after we have had such crap weather and I was sick. Visited Erica and Jenny at Buff State and met Erica's super cute friend...

Now it is time to have coffee club with...with...with...myself :(

Damn SonicWall

So we have a SonicWall web filter here at work to keep us doing things that we should be and not hte things we shouldn't be. Well, I decided to check Friendster as I occasionally do and it is blocked! It never was before... Oh well, not a big deal. I just SSH'd to my machine at home, executed 'dig friendster.com' and used the IP I got back and it goes through the filter.

Last night Matt and I went bike shopping. He found one he wants I think and is gonna go back to buy it either today or tomorrow. Afterwards Tim and I were race car driving. We bought tickets for the Death Cab show in Toronto and we had to go pick it up at a TicketMaster in Canada. So we were gonna leave at about 7:30 or so and we thought the place was open until 9. Nope, it closes at 8... Tim found out and called me so after shopping with Matt I raced over to his house. I did 85 all the way there and that is crazy for me, because I don't like to go more than about 7-8 over the limit ever... I got there at 7:25 and we hopped in his car and we had to stop for gas! Then we made it to the Peace Bridge and the guy only asked us what we were going to Canada for...nothing else! Tim drove really fast on the QEW all the way to the mall and dropped me off in front. I ran to the record store and got there at 7:59 pm...1 minute before TicketMaster closes.

After all that excitement we headed up to Niagara Falls for some ass-kickin Xin Vego! I love that restaurant. Today I have leftovers for lunch. I can't wait...

Buffalo's food is good, but that is about it

Current music: Stickmen - Soundtrack from the Motion Picture

I really love the food in Buffalo. Had two huge slices of chicken finger pizza from Pizza Junction. Mmm. I finished up this wxWindows app I am working on and it works great in WindowsXP. I tried running it in Linux using an X11 build, but no dice. It compiles and runs, but there are some bugs in the threading and mime types. I guess I will work on that more tomorrow. I am going home...

coffee coffee coffee

Current music: My fingers slamming on the keys

Weeee... We have a new coffee machine in the lunch room. The coffee in the old one sucks so much that I refuse to drink it. This new one is for "specialty" stuff and is a demonstration from now until Monday. After Monday we will have to pay to use it. Boo. I will stick with tea I guess, but I will be sure to make good use of it until then.

I am really starting to like C++ and wxWindows more and more as I learn and understand them.

My grandparents and aunt are coming to North Tonawanda today to visit some relatives. I think they are going to call me. I hope they do. If they call during the day I will bring them in to work and give them a tour.

Yesterday I found out that a co-worker of mine is on Friendster. She is my friendster now, but I kinda feel uncomfortable about this. I don't think I wanna get my friends and my co-workers mixed.

Finally!

Current music: Billy Joel - The Longest Time

Well, it is nice out and it is about time. Went for a walk during lunch today and saw some snakes... weird, I have never seen them out here before.

My grandparents 50th anniversary was pretty fun. Got to see all the old people that I never really see since I am not in Rochester anymore. Went out to breakfast with Stacia. Went to Canandaigua and ate gnocchis and cutlets that Aunt Ann made. She is possibly the best cook I have ever met. Went back to Penfield to go to Jennie's house and meet Patrick and of course see Marissa! Hadn't seen her in a long time. Bowling last night was cool because Zubz was there and he never comes anymore. Lori is gonna be back next week so she is gonna bowl with us and I think Matt will come too. I hope he starts coming every week because I really like hanging out with him. Why am I so emotional today?

Nope

Current music: Ben Folds - Rockin' the Suburbs

So yesterday was pretty average. Went to work and stuff then went to Jeff's "party". It was supposed to start at 9pm. I got there late at about 9:30 and nobody was there. I stayed until 11:30 and people were just starting to show. After that I went to Kris's party. I was pretty tired though so I was real low key and just kinda sat around.

I am "blah" lately.

Here I am

Current music: DLT8000's shining their tapes

Well, no bad drivers this morning. There is still plenty of time though...

So I am finally almost better from being sick. I am not blowing my nose nearly as much. I guess I am going to Jeff's party on Friday and then Kris's. I wanted to go to Matt's in Rochester so I could see all the Rochesterarian folk, but I really have to go to Jeff's so since I will still be around in Buffalo I will hit up Kris's after.

Back to invalidating cache lines...

Redemption's all we need

Current music: Boy Sets Fire - Live for Today

Tim and I got tickets to Death Cab For Cutie in Toronto on the 16th. I am pumped. I wanted to go to the show in Philadelphia, but it is in the middle of the week so I won't. I gotta find another show to go to down there.

Once again I pretty much slept all evening and all night yesterday. I guess this is just what my body needs. I am feeling a lot better today, but still tons of snot coming out my nose.

Since this blog really has no purpose I am gonna give it one. I am gonna start documenting here stupid things drivers do in Buffalo because the drivers here are so damn bad... I am not saying that I am the best driver in the world or anything like that. I know I am not, but the drivers here are the worst of any place I have ever driven. They don't drive crazy like in Boston, the traffic isn't bad like in NYC, they don't overtake in no passing zones like in NZ. Buffalo drivers just do stupid crap all the time.

Stupid driver of yesterday:
I was following this car and the driver made a left at a light. I also made a left at the light following him. I proceeded to move into the right lane since I was turning right in a few hundred meters. This guy was going ultra slow so I moved up next to him then he started moving over in a side swiping action. He never turned on his directional, never looked, nothing... I honked and slammed on the brakes. I couldn't move over because there is a curb, not shoulder. He finally realized that I was laying on my horn and he was gonna hit me within inches of my car. Damn stupid driver! As with most of the stupid drivers I see on N. French road...he worked across the street from me at NCO.

Stupid driver of this morning:
I was on Millersport Highway where the speed limit is 45 MPH at about 7:20 this morning. A woman there was going all of 35. I passed her in the left lane. Nothing special there. All of a sudden she passes me in a flash on the right only to pull in front of me and slow down again to 35. This time I could not pass her because she did it just as the road went from 4 lanes to 2 (one in each direction) so there I was stuck behind her. Luckily as we entered the 55 zone she sped up to 40! I followed her the rest of the way to work. I was surprised when she did not turn onto N. French and go to NCO.