Still Waiting For Apartment Approval

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I called today to verify that I passed my credit check on my new apartment. Well they weren’t done with it yet. Not sure if that is a bad sign or if they are just slow on the paperwork. The lady said to call tomorrow and check again. I don’t anticipate any problems but because of what I do I become pessimistic unless I see positive results. I don’t just assume.

On a good note Jayson claims he found a nice place. He is now working out the details of it. He should hopefully know in a few days if the deal will work out.

now all we both have to do is pack and actually move. It is also interesting that Dari at work is also moving in 2 weeks. We are all shifting around. Of course Dari is going further down town, while jay and I are looking at the upper east side. Jay will go anywhere but the current place he likes is upper east side.

More updates as they progress…

This blog entry was written while listening to I Dare You To Move from the album “Learning to Breath” by Switchfoot

Old Friends

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Weirdness abound today. Well maybe just weird irony. Let me explain. Kai was down from Kingston for the day (see previous post). While we were working we were discussing our team, old and current employee’s. It was so hot in my office that I fled with Kai to a cube by our portable AC units. Jayson was crazy and held out in the office. Since we were all so hot we decided to go out for some ice cream.

On the way out we ran into Keith. Turns out he came by to get some softball equipment we had. The irony in that?

When we came out of the building he was talking to Mitch and one or two other people. I didn’t stop to say anything. I just waved when we left the building. I wanted to go over and talk to him. I just don’t know what to say. I don’t hold any hurt feelings. I just don’t know if he still has issues. The last time we spoke it didn’t go very well. Not sure how it would have gone over if I actually tried to talk to him. To be honest I didn’t want to risk an argument. I just don’t want to deal with one. I would like to resolve some open “issues” but I realized over 2 months ago that their will be no resolution. I will live with that. Life is too short to dwell on that.

This blog entry was written while listening to Our Lives from the album “Two” by The Calling

Kai Is (Was) In

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Kai came down from Kingston. We gave him some lovely parting gifts. he got some mugs! Those Kingston guys are really low maintenance.

We meet about a number of issues, and just worked. It is weird when people come down from the other office, or when I go up there. Part of the day is taking care of issues back in our respective home offices. The other part is to actually do stuff in the office that we are visiting.

As it turned out, we didn’t have the meeting that he primarily came down for. It was a productive day, but we were unable to have our operations meeting.

I now need to get Jayson up to Kingston next week, and Brian down to NYC sometime soon.

Simpsons Season 4

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I am a Simpsons fan. Not OJ, Homer and his family. I may not be as fanatical as I used to be, but it is still one of the best TV shows ever. I may not watch it ever time it is on TV anymore, but I can still riddle off quotes from a decade ago. Yes I may be a bit crazy.

I was very happy to open my mailbox today and find my Amazon.com box containing the Simpsons Season 4 DVD box set.

As Entertainment Weekly put it this week, season 4 is probably one of the best seasons ever. I think it has some classics, and it it the beginning the style of show we know today.

I begin watching this weekend…

iMac or Not to iMac

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I am still pondering the sale of my iMac when I move next month. I can still get a large amount for it, so I keep thinking will I be better served by a different computer? If I do sell it I would need a DVD burner for my powerbook or some other solution. I would also want a larger flat panel screen for my desk at home since I use the 20″ most of the time.

Too many choices. Pondering continues…

New Cable

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I got a call from the cable company that provides service in the building I am moving to. They said that the management company sent them my name. I currently use Time Warner, and for the most part I am happy. This place uses RCN.

First impression is that they are more money for less services. I get 4 premium packages, digital cable and a cable modem for under $100. These new guys offer you digital cable, a cable modem, and 1 premium package for $101. I am loosing 3 premium packages. To get them, I need to pay $13 more per channel That is a racket. Extra cable box’s are also more money per box than I currently pay. The only plus side is that I can buy a static IP address for $4 per month. I don’t think I can do that now. Of course my current provider only changes your address if you leave your modem off for extended periods of time. I have had my same IP for over a year.

In a nutshell I think I am getting a worse deal than I currently have. Only time will tell, but as I like to say “i think this will end badly”.

Productive Day

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I got allot done today. Some days I get allot done, but it doesn’t feel that way. The majority of days feel that way. It is the nature of what I do that the work I do in a day is not always (almost never) what I plan on doing when I get up in the morning. I mean some of what I plan on doing usually gets done, but there are always things that pop up.

Today I was able to work through my back log of issues. I got allot of the requests done. I only have a few more to clear out. I am under 10 issues in my “ticket box”. that is good for me. That does not include the 57 open tasks my department has. I am just talking about issues that crop up throughout the day.

I also was able to go out for lunch with cari and jayson. We went to the Old Town Tavern. it was nice. We don’t normally get to go out for lunch.

I am off to home to do my laundry, and take a nap. I have to be up by 1AM to do some work on our Fulfillment servers. I need to put them on our automated update schedule.

I hope I can nap. But I am not holding my breath.

The Treoless Day

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I went the day without my Treo. I mean I didn’t use it as my cell phone, and I didn’t carry it around wherever I went. Here is what I realized.

The all in one device is a great idea. I found myself walking around with my Pocket PC fishing in my pockets for my cell phone when I wanted to make a call. Not everyone I know fit into my T610. I walked around with the Pocket PC since I keep my To Do list on that or my Treo. So I saved weight by only carrying a light cell phone, but ended up with my bigger Pocket PC in hand most of the time when I left my office.

This is a well known conclusion. A combined device is better if you DO carry around a phone and an organizer. I thought I would save on some weight by using the T610. For part of the day I was right, but for the rest of the day I was not.

The other point is that the screen on my iPaq 1945 Pocket PC is 10x better than my Treo. I would use that if the device wasn’t so dam big. yes I know that is the smallest pocket PC out there, but it is still big compared to my Treo. A Treo with bluetooth and a better screen would be nice. Please?

Tomorrow I will go back to my Treo. Actually as I sit on the train now, I ponder swapping my SIM card back into the Treo.

The only advantage the T610 has over the Treo is the fact it has bluetooth so I can use a wireless head set, and that the camera is better. it takes smaller photo’s, but they are clearer. Man can you tell the difference.

The Waiting For Approval

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Friday I went looking for an apartment again, and I found something I loved. It was in my price range. Near the subway, had a doorman, and even had a health club and pool in the complex. Basically everything I wanted and more. I was surprised to find I could afford what I got, in Manhattan. I didn’t think it was possible.

I signed papers last friday. I brought my deposit of a first month’s rent and the security deposit. I now await final approval. The building needs to finish running my credit check. I am not worried about that, but I still don’t have a definitive yes or no yet. That is what drives me crazy.

I am ending up eating the cost of a deposit I put down on a place on Tuesday. I am not happy about that, but if I ate the $400 deposit, I can goto the nicer place. The original apartment I tried to get had a small bedroom, and the building was not as nice. I think I am definitely upgrading in my choose.

I am very excited. I heard good things about the location and the building. It is a small world since Mark from work also lives in the same building, and Molly who used to work with us also lives there. So far I have heard only positive things from people that have lived there.

The commute will be about 20-30 minutes. On the long end of what I wanted to do, but it is all one train. And the train stops close to work and to the new apartment. It looks like there is places to eat and buy stuff nearby also.

My issue is that I have to wait till July 15 to move in. It saves me from paying a full month of double rent, and I am happy about that, but I want to get the move over with already. I have been wanting to do this since late April. I like to move fast on stuff like this. Oh well. For now I can just plan and prepare for the move.

The Treo is Off

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I did the unthinkable. I turned off my Treo today. I took the SIM card out of it and placed it in my Sony Ericsson T610. I am doing this for the day. Why you mask ask? Or you may not give a crap. I am wearing shorts today, and pocket space is limited. Carrying my Treo, & wallet it fells like I am carrying rocks. I have my new blackberry. It is big, but clipped to my belt. So for now I don’t need this huge phone. I still love it, and need it. I will leave it on my desk and use it as a palm when needed. But I want to keep my cell on me during the day. I can do that easier with the T610. This is the weight dilemma that I have always had. It is a bigger issue in the summer time when I have no jacket.

What I really need is the Blackberry software on my Treo so I don’t need this new big Blackberry I have. But this big blackberry is great. it has a nice wide keyboard, and direct connect. I am in technology heaven, but I now have too many devices. each one is great, but only does some of the things I need:( I need the pocket knife of smart phones, but it hasn’t been made yet. Come on PalmOne, make me a better Treo. I will buy it!