Personal

Quicken

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I am a long time quicken user. I have been using it since at least 1995. I have almost every version since then. I have also used Turbo Tax like 3 times. I am a huge fan. The problem I am running into is that I now have Mac’s. I used to only have a PC, so moving my quicken data from one PC to another was as simple as copying the files. Now if I want to use Quicken on my Mac I have to convert it. As simple as Intuit claims it is, it is not so simple.

Back in Oct/Nov 2002 I converted my quicken data to run on my Powerbook. Once converted it was not simple to continue using my PC files. So I just left a copy on my PC and used my Powerbook. In AuGust of 2003 I decided I wanted to have both a PC and a Mac copy of my files. I like having options. I converted everything back to PC format. It takes several hours because out of thousands of transactions at least a few don’t convert. Then you have to spend time figuring out what one didn’t. Once done converting I never did keep updating my Mac version.

Since AuGust I have been running Quicken only on my thinkpad. Now I decided I want it back on my Powerbook. Once again I have to go through the whole conversion process. This time it wasn’t as bad as before, but I still had some problems. Most related to how the two different quicken programs keep investment information. Intuit should get their act together and keep the feature set’s of both products the same. On the plus side I found an error in how I recorded some stock information. That I guess is the silver lining in my whole ordeal.

My last gripe with Quicken for the Mac is that sometimes it has problems moving the file from one machine to another. When I migrated to a new computer last year I couldn’t open my old data file. I had to export the data and create a new file and import the old data. it was a stupid waste of time. Hopefully they fixed the problem in the 2004 version that came pre-installed on my newest Mac.

The Game Place

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Rich, Amanda and I went to Jillian’s. it is a game complex out on the island near Roosevelt Field Mall. It is cool. you can do arcade games, play pool, bowling, skeet ball and other stuff. They are on a budget, and I should be so for $20 we got an evening of fun and entertainment. We didn’t realize how late it was when we wanted to go bowling. We decided to put that off for another time.

Jillian’s is not as good as Dave n buster’s, but it is allot closer to everyone. I went to a Dave n buster’s in Chicago. it is really cool. Same concept but I think they do it better. It is just expensive.

We went to a decent Mediterranean restaurant in the source mall for dinner. I still have to get used to getting my meat on a stick!

We grabbed cheese cake from the Cheese Cake Factory for take home desert. it was awsome as always. I had the special edition godiva chocolate cheese cake. I still have half of it left. I am saving it:)

Busy, Busy, Busy

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Yesterday was very busy. it was one of those days that you don’t remember where I spent most of my time, but I looked up at it was 3:30PM already.

Today and tomorrow will probibly be just as busy. Stuff is going on I cannot really discuss just yet, but the work will keep Keith and I busy for a while.

Jayson went to Dave’s again last night. His mom was cooking dinner. I declined to go. I was tired and had things to do around the house. I got some stuff done, but ended up watching some stuff I had on Tivo. I have not had a chance to watch much TV since last week, so I have allot of stuff on the tivo I have to see or take the chance that it will be overwritten soon.

Tonight Jay and I may goto Angilo & Maxie’s. it is a really good steakhouse right by my office. I need to talk with him later about it to see if he is still up for it.

Train Delays

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It seems like at least once a week this winter the LIRR has a major delay. I don’t remember it every being this bad before. I have been using the rail road on and off for 5 years and this winter is the worst.

Last night Jayson and I got stuck for almost 40 minutes due to a disabled train. When we did start moving we crawled the entire trip home because of train’s in front of us. The time does go by a bit faster if you do get a seat!!!

Once we got home, we decided to do a low key dinner. We went to my favorite pizza place. VI Pizza. Jayson hadn’t had good NYC pizza in a while.

Dave came by and picked jay up. He wanted to go see Dave’s family. I had some work I had to catch up on, so I stayed home. I still didn’t get to bed till midnight. The lack of sleep is quickly catching up on me. All in all it was a good day, even with the train confusion.

Boulder Creek

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Jayson, Dave and I went to Boulder Creek last night. it is a place like the outback. We stuffed ourselves. Whenever Jayson and I get together we always eat way too much really good food that is really bad for you. So far this visit is just like always.

Afterwards we went to Circuit City looking for the Family Guy DVD box set volume 1. We couldn’t find it. I told dave to look at amazon for it. We also drooled at all the high definition TV’s. We had a good night.

Halo

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So I played Halo for the first time ever Sunday night. it was fun, but I can see myself loosing tons of time playing that game. It reminds me of all the time I played half life back in 99 – 2000. John, Jayson, David, Cindy, and some others played at John’s. he hooked up 2 xbox’s and we had 8 people playing. it was fun.

I got to see Cindy and Dave for the first time in like 2 years. it was good to catch up.

Jayson’s Visit

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One of my good friends from High School is coming into NYC today. He will be crashing by me for the week. I haven’t seen Jayson for almost 2 years. It will be nice to catch up. Since I have know him in HS, we have either spoken to each other several times a day, every day, or gone months without talking. Since I started my current job we have had less time to talk. It will be fun hanging out for a while.

Another mutual friend, John just called me to have us both come over and play Halo. He does allot of LAN party type get together. Not sure what our plans are for tonight, but I will call John later.

I just realized that tomorrow is a holiday schedule for the Rail Road. The train runs every hour instead of several times an hour. I am going to be really screwed going to work. I don’t have Presidents day off.

The Things We Do…

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OK, so I don’t normally discuss my dating life on the blog. But it is valentines day, so I figure I will bend that rule for today. I will make something perfectly clear. I don’t cook. I can BBQ, but what red blooded american male can’t BBQ? I thought it would be a good idea to cook for my date. I was pondering the idea when Gus also suggested it. I figured what the hell. Of course we get back to my problem of I don’t cook very much.

Hopefully freshdirect does its thing, and delivers my mostly prepared food tomorrow morning. I still have to heat and season everything but I got appetizers and salad ready to go from them. I still have to cook up the main course. Whoever said eating in was cheaper than going out, doesn’t know what they are talking about. Of course the idea was not based on its cost, but on the thought of doing something different. Lots to do.

I shall know if everything worked out tomorrow. Either we make an ER visit for some stomach pumping or we have an enjoyable meal! I for one am aiming to avoid any hospitals.

I Am Getting A Cold, Or It Is Allergies?

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I woke up this morning with a soar throat. I think I may be getting another cold. If so I will be very ticked off since it will be my 5 or so cold this year. That is compared to 1 or 2 in a year normally. On the other hand it could be allergies. I have not taken the zertec in a while. I am usually ok over the winter, but I may be having issues with all the dry air from the heat in my apartment.

I hope I am feeling better. Tomorrow is Valentines day. Also my friend Jayson is visiting next week, and I want to be up for going out and drinking when he is in. I will try and rest tomorrow during the day, if possible.

Death And Tax’s

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Well, I did my tax’s for 2003. Turns out the government owed me a bunch of money. This year I once again used turbo tax. One of the best programs ever. I didn’t have a complicated return so I used the software.

Everything including the filing was done online. I should see my return direct deposited to my bank account in like 10 days. It is awsome. When you are getitng back money, doing your tax’s is not so bad!