All That I'm Living For

This week is all about getting to Thursday. It's been a very difficult couple of weeks. (Do I really keep saying that, or does it just feel that way?) At work I am in charge of just about anything with an on/off switch. In the past 20 days or so, every single thing in my building has rebelled. If it's not the phones, it's the internet, the reservation system, or some other mission critical piece of software. Last night I was there until 9 pm with our phone guy. Most of the time I don't mind, but sometimes it is just so hard.

On Thursday I will be flying far, far away. Mostly I'm going to St Louis to visit my grandparents, but Friday will be even more. Friday is like my birthday and Christmas -- I'll be going into the city to see world champion skating under the lights. It's really become a holiday for me. I'm a big geek when it comes to figure skating -- I can admit it! This is my 12th year going to see this particular tour. I just love it!

There should also be snow in St Louis. What is funny is that it might snow here in Raleigh on Thursday too. A couple of weeks ago we got a little bit here. It's the first time we've had any since I moved to my townhouse. I've added a picture below -- please ignore the scary grass in my yard. I already have big plans for the weekend after I come home.


I'll be home just in time for the "big game" on Sunday. Then Monday it's back to the building -- I hope it behaves while I am away.



**Programming note -- Kings@Canes Feb 13 -- I'll be there.**

Kokomo (Indiana)

First, I have to apologize, yet again, for not posting anything here in a long time. What is funny about that is that I have started thinking in topics. I will roll an idea around in my head about something that doesn't sound too lame to write about. It has never happened when I could actually pound anything out. Figures! Anyway, work has been...hectic lately. We've had some staff changes and with that comes extra work in training and covering other functions, that eventually gets better. I'm still waiting for the "getting better" part but hope it'll happen soon. At the end of each day all I want to do is curl up on my couch and watch the Canes win a hockey game. Not much luck there lately either.

Second, a disclaimer. My people are from Indiana. Not all of them, but everyone on my mother's side of the family started out there in Greentown and Kokomo. We have records going back 200 years -- and then everyone picked up and moved somewhere else. Must have been those new-fangled contraptions, your know, cars and airplanes, that got my people wandering the globe. In any case, it has given me a predisposition to John Mellencamp songs and college basketball.

OK, the basketball is a stretch until March Madness starts, then I'm all over it.

I have lots of friends who are from New England and to them I can only say, I'm sorry but you've had 3 turns in the last 5 years.

So, in a couple of weeks we will have the great Battle of the Midwest, held, appropriately, in Miami.

Go Colts!