End of an Era

Perhaps the title is a little overwrought, but it certainly feel like it is true. I formally resigned from my job today after having been with the company for a little over 7 years. I think resigned might seem to professional for it, I guess I could also say I just quit.

On to another job and formalizing my orientation time tomorrow as well as some potential places to move.

Sacramento, please be open to accept your native son, for he has missed your soil, that which grows there, and more importantly those sustained within your borders. Chico... I will soon say farewell.

Children's Week

Last week, and through the weekend, was Children's week in the World of Warcraft. I, having a fondness for little ones, knew I had to do my duty and care for an orphan of Stormwind. This is my charge, a boy from the orphanage in who lost his parents in the great war against the Horde (Darn you Horde!).

The task was to treat them to a world tour that included some of the cooler spots in Azeroth. We went to Darnassus, the lighthouse in Westfall, and here we can be seen enjoying the magnificent view from the top of the dam near Loch Modan. The reward for these efforts was the choice of a custom pet; rat, turtle, or pig, or a bag full of money. I chose the bag of gold. Well... I have to start saving for that mount I hope to buy soon ;)

Excellent game, neat little additions like this one are one of my favorite things about games of this types; the change, evolution, and process throughout the whole experience. And speaking of evolution, does not Aquaninedex look epic (not really purple) in his gear. One tough hombre.

Risk is Good

Again, if you were able to pull, without looking, that the above title is a quote from Hackers then the cookie is yours. Indeed, yes, you may take it now if you so choose. Just writing this because I read my wife's blog in which she expressed her satisfaction about eating a bowl of Fruit-Loops. I just had to say I really enjoyed it, love my wife intensely, and wanted to throw a bit up on my own blog while I scan my PC for nasty slow down junkies.

Lavasofts Adaware plug here: trusted by professionals.



Looking forward to a truly epic game of Risk this weekend over the Memorial holiday down home. I have chosen the proud color of Yellow and will defend it to the death (or as they say in Princess Bride "to the pain!")

The Bunnies Return

Despite probably one of the worst endings in a game I have ever played, well, the experience in and of itself was very cool and still, still, they are so funny to me as to be splitting my side :)

Hopefully more commercials like the promos for the last game; although this does beg the question, how many of the shortcomings in the first Raving Rabbids were due to them holding out material for this one... hmmmmm?

The Disher are Done Man!

For those in the know, and bonus points if you guessed it - the post title is, indeed, a quote from "Don't tell Mom the Babysitter's dead." Classic, total classic.

Well, now that those dishes are, in fact, done I thought it was time for a little fun and that means back to the video games. Cool posts to come, perhaps multiple, we call those bonus days, (gag).

First up - might be a half-ta-own, Harry Potter's new offering for teh Wii!

Dishes

Amazing, those dishes took a long time, didn't they? Well, now that those are out of the way I have been quite happy lately. I have found a renewed store of energy for the process of applying for teaching positions and have really situated my position in my head in a pleasing way. Sure, I will have to cut my teeth a new system that does not know me and through which I have no real track record. It is a system, however, that has eyes to see and ears to hear and from what I can tell, and this is not just spurious logic, it uses its senses to look for and reward hard work.

Some of the logic I have been deploying lately relies on the interrogative question; "where isn't there?" Meaning so many of the problems that come up in daily life and the potential down sides to my current prospect are all almost, and this might be a little spurious, universal. For instance; I don't like a particular thing about the town I am in, well chances are most cities have that problem, a similar one, or one equally troubling that would merely be a replacement; this part of my future job prospects is less appealing, well what job doesn't have such and such an issue, or again something that is an equal replacement. Sure, I will be gaining experience in a new system that has problems of its own, I would be doing the same thing in a program and with a bit more pressure and a lot more research ;) heh.

Needless to say it has/will take a little time to refocus my efforts and energy, but once I get things lined up, I can't wait to get started.

New Prospects

Boston's reply was not favorable. This means many things and I think it will take more time than I have to write about right now. It does mean that I will not be going on for a PhD in the near future. I am excited to explore our other options.

For now, however, I have some dishes to attend to.

Late Night In Folsom

Just waiting up; sad that my love will not get here until tomorrow. Staying down here for the last half of the week. The weather could not be better and my Dad and I got to rent some cool Wii games. Hope to see some best friends this weekend, finish relaxing, and hopefully hear from Boston.

Other than that, my mind can't think of too much at this late hour. Thinking of getting a MySpace account: Just because, after talking with Budiak, it seems that it might be a necessary social component (such as cell phones) and as such almost unavoidable.

Dodged it for one more day...

It comes to this...

I now know that I will either be going to Boston University or beginning my career path in another direction. The two other schools sent letters on Monday. More to come as I process my thoughts and feelings. I am happy about the situation that stands now: for it will either be a top ranked University or new and exciting career choices. The experience has been a lot to adjust to, however.

And then there were three...

The schools on the list have lost another friend; U of Texas at Austin conveyed their disappointment that they were not able to offer me a place at their school earlier today, in an email. They are the first to have done so and I suppose it does work in the information age a step of progress; it is just odd to get that kind of news in digital format, especially when all the rest (to my surprise actually) used hard copies.

So, chart that as an (X) next to U of Texas, Austin.

Numbers

The NCAA may be in the sweet sixteen, but as far as schools go for me it's the Final Four. Haven't checked the mail yet today but I am eager to. If there is any real big news I will post back up soon.

Latest News: Schools Off the List

The following schools can be removed from the brackets:

I regret to inform myself that I will not be attending the following schools -

SUNY Stony Brook
Indiana University
University of New Hampshire

If you are keeping track at home - these should be the schools left on the list of hopefuls:

U of Texas at Austin
Boston University
U of Massachusetts at Amherst
SUNY Albany

Go Oregon!

That was a great game to watch against Winthrop; coming up - the big UNLV.

I know, crazy, I have March Madness. Well, I suppose I just love Eugene, OR.

The Beautiful Hotel

Just a quick post from the free wifi in the wonderful Larkspur Landing hotel in Folsom, California. A fine wedding anniversary if ever there was; our cake was preserved to perfection, the room here is perfect, and we have both had an amazing time of fun and relaxation.

We fondly remember all of our friends and loved ones and have enjoyed reminisces of that wonderful day, one year ago tomorrow, that we saw so many of you on the happiest day of our lives. The wedding was a wonderful moment to celebrate God's bringing together my love and I. It is truly something that is worth celebrating.

Cake and coffee in the room; hard to get much better than that.

With reluctance...

I must add two more schools to the list of non-admittances. I will not be attending Tufts or Missouri. Those were excellent schools, but I am persisting in my faith that God will place me where it is best for me to be.

So - if you are keeping up on the brackets - that is an (X) by Tufts and Missouri. In the numbers that leaves seven (7) more to hear from.

Family is on their way

Woo! The W's are paying a visit to Chico. Just had to post up because I am trying to keep myself busy while I await their arrival. It's quite a task; good thing there was a new Lost episode on the web to keep my mind entertained and not so skittish.

Well - on with the waiting - it's going to be an awesome weekend.

Rice University - Off the List

With much reluctance and the obvious disappointment I have to announce that I did not get into Rice University in the beautiful city of Houston, TX. I still maintain my faith in God that he will place me where it is his will for me to be. It sounds so noble to do so, but it comes hard at times and when I succeed in giving him all my hopes, which I do believe I have been succeeding at lately, it comes as a quite peace and comfort.

But alas; I have not Rice.

Quick Update

Not much info yet, not enough to start the bracket graphics yet, but I do have a slight update on the school situation.

First response is back and it is official, I will not be going to the U of Connecticut. I heard that part of the country is beautiful. Worth mentioning because it's the first response I have received; eleven more to go.

Tre' Cool D&B

Check it out, some good stuff from Kharm - free player sampler - very nice stuff.

Drum & Bass from the UK

Bring it UK, it always does. Where would the underground dance scene have been without you? Still in the Disco era, that's where.

The Romantic Heart

I think that there are times when the romantic heart needs to be by itself for a while. There are certain conditions, well, perhaps only one, that need to exist for this solitude to be beneficial. That condition is love, love in the exterior sense to the romantic's world. I suffer, from time to time, from melancholy; in the truest most poetic of ways. From Goethe to Keats and then on to Prevost; I feel it is a deep part of me and as part of my German heritage.

But the alone factor and its need for a close love is what concerned me most today. I think being alone with a melancholy heart is often a bad thing. It's solipsistic and very often self-defeating. But if there is love, close and interwoven beyond one's self near, then it knows there is better. There will be a person to which feelings of heartache and despair make room for redemption and joy (redemption is a word so battered around by pop society, esp movies and television that I hesitate to use it, but do in spite of myself).

I have that and cherish it so dearly. My woe or trouble is always borne with the knowledge that I am loved; loved eternally by my heavenly father and by those who encircle my life. To them I own every joy I have ever experienced.