4.3.2005 (22:36:00)

Greetings from Pittsburgh, PA. Yet another business trip, this time a 3 hour drive from the home base. My ears are finally starting to pop. I didn't think Pittsburgh had such altitude, but my head is a sensitive guage for this sort of thing. Not to mention my developing head cold. Whaaaa.

The hotel I'm in is nice, despite being in the middle of the city's ghetto. I generally stay in a different hotel from my teams. I just like to be left alone on the off-time! I'd like to see the Art museum before the end of the week. I've heard good things.

Well, I'm going to take advantage of the one hour a week TLC isn't showing some lame house make-over ratings-begging marathon for housewives and watch this interesting Egyptian history program. Then I shall rest for tomorrow's task.

4.7.2005 (00:35:00)

This evening, as I sit in my hotel room here in Pittsgurgh, I've discovered there are 40 channels of TV featuring a live camera shot of the dead Pope's body, and the movie 8 Mile on VH1. Eminem is so inspiring. You go white boy.

I spoke with my friends Alex and Maura on the phone today. It made me happy. They got married just before he went to Iraq and got shot multiple times while raiding a house with his fellow Marines in Faloojah. Falluja. Fa Loo Ja. Something like that. Anyway. He's doing better now. It happened in November. His leg seems fine, but his arm sounds to be a cooked Ramen noodle. They take pieces of other parts in his body and duct tape them to his arm. He's the toughest guy I know. Crazy bastard. And Maura is an angel. I often take forever to realize things. But I just came to discover that I have really amazing, talented and wonderful friends that I need to hang on to. Perhaps I'll try harder to extract myself from this shell now.

4.21.2005 (01:00:00)

The other day I was talking to my dad on the phone. He said some new people moved in a couple houses down the street. He saw a guy outside, and introduced himself. Apparently when the man said, "oh, and this is my partner, Adam" my father finally realized that the gay people are trying to kill him. It was funny to hear him describe the event. I tried to explain that this doesn't mean God will obliterate the small Maine town. He doesn't believe me. Right now, I'll bet you anything he is in the basement wearing a tin foil hat waving a yardstick around and thumbing a rosary. Bless his heart.

We move to the new house this weekend. 2200 square feet of insanely overpriced Columbia, Marlyand real estate. I've designed the new lab and studio, and have already re-wired the place to support my mammoth power requirements. It's nice being a homeowner. I can do what I want with the place. Next step, pink flamingos.

4.30.2005 (23:55:00)

Finally, moved in. Columbia, Maryland. Communism is alive in this little part of the world.

I'm flying to Albany, NY tomorrow - and Wednesday I'll drive from there to Syracuse, NY. Work work work. It beats digging holes. I'll return home Friday night. While in Syracuse, I hope to visit my friend Sonia, who moved just north of the city with her husband. I haven't seen her new little boy yet. I haven't seen her for a while. It'll be nice.

Tip for future U-Haul trailer renters: if you get the big one, put all the heavy stuff towards the back. I learned this the hard way. Every time the Jeep went over 70mph on the Capitol Beltway (I-495) she went fish-tailing all over the road! Contents settled during shipping. What a ride...