I had a dream that I was wearing a backpack that had actual seatbelts for straps. It was comfy & I could unbuckle to get the backpack off.

I've really begun to notice the circular nature of life. It already seems to repeat itself. It's not a bad thing, it's just really fascinating to watch unfold. Sometimes I have dreams of things, then days, months or years later they come true. That always sends me deep into thought about why that happens and what it means. When it's going on it's pretty unsettling. You suddenly know what the person is going to say next, and then it happens and you just wonder why or how that happened. Is that deja-vu? I thought deja-vu was where it had happened in the past physically.

I'm here in Denton, TX for the week. I hope to break out my camera, at least for a little bit. The weather down here is awesome, it's 70 but it feels like 80 b/c the sun is so strong.

All this traveling has me tired at odd times. I also have trouble figuring out what day of the week it is.

By "in", I mean home. I really don't mind.

I wish I could link easily to my Google latitude account from here but apparently I can't.

I like traveling. I like meeting new people. Hard to believe that the first time I was on a plane was back in 2001.

I need to move in July, the end of my lease is the end of that month. For some reason, the thought of moving "somewhere else" hadn't occurred to me until this latest trip. When it did, I started checking out craigslist ads for apartments in warmer areas on the country. I never realized how expensive New England living is. Now I'm faced with a question - move somewhere in VT? Move back to the Boston area? Move somewhere near a United hub? Move somewhere where I can be more active, somewhere warmer in the winter? I dunno.

Spring is coming, but I keep going places where it is already spring. I come home and have to readjust to 30 degree temperatures.

On my latest trip, I went to Irving, TX for some training. We were sitting there and someone mentioned that there might be a tornado. I pulled up weather.com and started watching the alerts - tornados to the east & west. Then one spawned to our south & was headed for us. After a while, the tornado sirens could just barely be heard in our conference room. Then the hail started, almost as big as baseballs. We were herded into an interior conference room where we watched local news reports of twisters all around us. After a while, they sounded the all clear and we went back to training. I found out the next day that we were one mile away from the closest tornado.

God, so much old shit.

Just got back from scenic Quincy, IL. I'm home for a week, then I'm off to Rochelle, IL, then Irving, TX, and then Pasadena, CA. I guess it's time to get in shape.

This weekend is Saint Patty's Day weekend. Dale & his wife are hosting a party, should be fun, I'm looking forward to it.

Today would've been my mother's 72nd birthday. :(

I miss wotan & lysystrata & libelula_azul. I miss spontaneity. Not really, I still go off on my own but it isn't the same.

Where did everybody go?

God, so much old shit.

Just got back from scenic Quincy, IL. I'm home for a week, then I'm off to Rochelle, IL, then Irving, TX, and then Pasadena, CA. I guess it's time to get in shape.

This weekend is Saint Patty's Day weekend. Dale & his wife are hosting a party, should be fun, I'm looking forward to it.

Today would've been my mother's 72nd birthday. :(

I miss wotan & & . I miss spontaneity. Not really, I still go off on my own but it isn't the same.

Where did everybody go?

It was in the 50s yesterday, and it'll be in the 50s again today. All the snow is gone here in Burlington. Can't wait for summer!

It looks like I'll be out of the office Mon-Fri on the 12th, 26th & April 3rd. Wow. I don't mind really. I love working in labs and I'm always happy to get home at the end of the week - it's a great mix.

I have a dr's appt today. This could be interesting.

Hello March! Here comes the snow. We waited all winter for some snow. As I traveled for work, everyone said the said thing - that this had been an odd (as in dry) winter. Now we're getting some snow. Not much, maybe 4 inches and you can tell it's been an odd winter when people call a 4 inch snowfall a storm.

This weekend is Burlington's Mardi Gras parade, even though the official Mardi Gras was over a week ago. We're supposed to get rain that day, so I guess it's actually Poncho Saturday not Fat Tuesday.

Saint Patrick's is a Saturday this year!

Two trips coming up, one to Quincy, IL (March 12th) and another to Irving, TX (April 3rd). Quincy is north of St Louis, Irving is between Dallas & Fort Worth.

The trip on the 12th means I have to miss Mom's Book Ceremony ("Ellie Bilodeau Memorial Fund") this year. First time I've ever missed it, I believe. Our non-profit really needs a web presence.

( I went to Montreal this weekend... )

On my way back, I stopped at Cake's to visit. I got to play a little Soccer Mud Cup (calvinball - seriously) and had a great time.

I headed home early to hit the sack. I had to get up this AM at 4 to drive Soup to the airport - she's off to the Bahamas for a week.

I'm all caught up now. This is one of the few TV shows I can stand.

( Picking apart the show )

Roofers came & apparently added insulation to the roof in my condo's attic. Seems like they left a bunch on the floor as well. They vacuumed, but tiny fibres were still in the air, floating around to be breathed in. Wish this could've waited until summer.

Forcast for Friday is for a 70% chance of snow. With a high of 40. That's not snow. The drive to Montreal that evening could be interesting.

I have these two big inner tube-type floats sitting in my office. They're for this summer's trip to Burton Island. Every time I look at them, it makes me smile - I can't wait.

Thank god for spring training news. It's good to think about baseball.

It's been a crazy winter. It's been warm and we've had hardly any snow. Here's the forcast for the week, as an example:

Today: Sun fading behind increasing high clouds. Highs in the 30s to near 40 north, in the low to mid 40s south. Light winds becoming southerly 10 to 15 mph.

Tonight: Mostly cloudy, with scattered rain or snow showers, changing to mainly snow showers. Lows in the mid 20s to mid 30s. Winds from the south 10 to 15 mph.

Wednesday: Mostly cloudy, with a chance of rain or snow showers mainly in the morning. Perhaps a little sun south in the afternoon. Highs in the 40s, a few upper 30s in the northern mountains. Winds becoming southwest 10 to 15 mph.

Extended Forecast:

Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, perhaps a stray mountain snow shower. Lows in the mid 20s to low 30s.

Thursday: Lots of clouds, some breaks of sun especially north, and a chance of a rain shower south. Highs near 40 north, in the 40s south.

Thursday Night: Mostly cloudy with a chance of rain or snow developing. Lows in the mid 20s to mid 30s.

Friday: Any snow changing to periods of rain or showers south, perhaps a mix north. Highs near 40 north, in the 40s south.

Friday Night: Mostly cloudy with a chance of rain or snow showers, changing to snow showers. Lows in the mid 20s to mid 30s.

Saturday: Mostly cloudy with a chance of snow showers, especially through the north and mountains, some breaks of sun south. Windy and colder. Highs in the 30s.

The thing I'm worried about is if summer will be messed up as well. Too hot? All rain?

I can't wait until it's warm enough to ride. It's got to be at least 60, or else the wind is too bitter.

Dale & I are planning on going to Montreal this weekend, probably staying at the Bonaventure for its heated pool. Turns out it's also Nuit Blanche Saturday night. Should be a good time :)

I have no idea what I last posted about. Wow, it was before my trip to San Juan?!

That trip was a blast. An expensive blast, but lots of awesome memories, like Dale & his wife & I in the mini-boat going snorkeling. On the ride back to the dock we hit a large wave head on. The wall of water that came over the bow was about 4 feet tall. Poor Susie sitting in the front thought she was done for. It actually swamped the engine for a bit.

Lots of Amy drama. Ups & downs, lots of talking - some of it even constructive. What it all boils down to is that she cannot forgive the past & I think that she is not the same woman I started dating 10 years ago, which totally makes sense. It is over, it is done, time to move on.

At some point back in October or November, I was "promoted" to the Services team at work. I wrapped that in quotes b/c there wasn't a raise involved. I actually had a debate with a friend about whether it was a promotion or not. Since December, I've got on 7 or 8 trips, so I'm getting out of the office more. Being single, I look forward to the trips. I also work from home more often, which is great. So relaxing and yet so much more productive!

My older sister Cake & her husband seem to be doing well. Ollie is quite hilarious and I love visiting him. I'm really looking forward to going to Burton Island with them this June.

I'm finally making more than I was in 2000, before the dot-com bubble. Feels good.

hey, I still have an lj account

I've never actually gone outside of New England/Montreal on vacation. This should be interesting.

I keep getting headaches. I don't know why. I'm going to have to make a dr's appt. Blah.

Another 20 degree day. At least we didn't get the snowstorm that hit southern New England. It's almost April, right?

Funny link of the day - this is not me. The fact that he's from Uxbridge, MA means he's very likely a cousin though.

One more month until San Juan! I cannot wait. Also cannot wait until mid-June to go to Burton Island

Gotta make that maple syrup, I guess. One positive is the sun. It's actually out. There's not a cloud in the sky either.

I think I'm going to drive to Iowa. I'd like to visit some friends along the way this weekend & possibly the weekend afterwards on my return trip. Google Maps says its 1,390 miles or so one way, about 24 hours of driving if I did it non-stop. I've been tempted to take a road trip in my car & this might be just the opportunity. The car is under a full service plan & warranty so it's the best time to do it.

Road trips are good for the soul, I believe. It's thinking time. Maybe I should have been a trucker.

Now to figure out the logistics.

Looks like I'm going back to Ames, IA next week. Hopefully my flights won't have any problems, and maybe it'll be spring when I get back!

I really think that we should always do on-site followups.

I hope I get to go to San Juan again...

I wonder how the early arrival robins are enjoying this 30 degree heat? It must be good for maple sugaring, but I'm itching to ride my bike on the bikepath.

I feel better than I did yesterday :)

I like people watching. I like meeting new people. I like being open & honest with people.

I recently met someone. We hung out for a while, got to know each other & had a great time. Now I'm learning that they're not who they claimed to be. I'm not really going to go into details but it just irked me. Why claim to be someone you're not? Why pretend? Is there no value in friendships for you?

It's been a year since Tom died. I still am sad that I never stopped to visit when I went down to Boston.

I miss you, Mom. They say time heals all wounds but I think honestly time just covers them with scabs and new wounds, some of which just pull open the old ones. Like having your buddy die!

Just taking it day by day.

Sitting in the Red Sox online waiting room, trying to buy Yankees or Cubs tickets.

The weather has turned cold again. It's supposed to be in the 20s all week. I was getting excited for spring.

I love living in Burlington during the summer. Besides all the hippies, there is so much stuff to do outside.

Live is progressing. I think I'm getting old. I need a vacation :)

A good friend of mine died on the night of the 18th.

Seems like I have caught every flu that has come through town. Last week I had the stomach puking bug for my third. I've also had pink eye twice since xmas. I think I might be coming down with it AGAIN, but I think the culprit has been my iPhone silicone case - I found it on Monday and now my eye hurts. That case did protect my iPhone in some questionable areas so I threw it out, but I might have more sick time in my future.

I'm good otherwise. Looking forward to the summer. I've booked another 4 nights at Burton Island from June 4th until the 9th. Awesome.

I've gotten my sisters and brother-in-law addicted to this new game, Dominion. It's quite fun.

That's about it. Hope I don't have pink eye again.

Seems like everybody's got this cold, with the annoying cough that keeps you from sleeping well.

Happy New Year! Our annual meeting is the 18th - one week away. This is also a short week for me for no reason other than I enjoy a shortened week. Last week I was out two days due to illness and it totally screwed me up.

I have a trip to Danville, KY from the 25th until the 29th. Sometime in February, I have to go to Saint Paul to give a training. It's going to be a busy 2010. Better than a boring one.

Been battling a strep throat and head cold since the new year. Bleh.

I had a dream last night that I staged a bloodless coup of the gov't, then started my own nightly call-in show with the phone # 1-800-da-junta. I woke up laughing.

I'm currently basking in the sun in my office. I can almost mark where the sun rises every morning from here. I am looking forward to kayaking and biking this summer. Getting a bit of the cabin fever.

Work is much the same. Home life is much the same. Nothing to report, except my continued happy existence.

I'm sitting in line at the Museum of Science in Beantown. We're also going to the Blue Man Group later. Just having fun hanging out in town.

The Virginia trip was ok, my co-worker messed some things up but overall it was fine. Having Monday off will be nice. The weather on the drive down Saturday morning was messy.

I had a dream last night that a guy tried to rape one of Amy's female friends, so Amy & I went to the guy's house to confront him. We met him and he apologized and started crying and said he was drunk, we had him call Amy's friend and apologize. We were leaving, when I doubled back to ask the guy something, and Amy was already calling him and flirting with him.

F-ed up dream.

SOX WIN!!!!

God, that game scared me.

Oh crap, papelbon is going to dance





( photos )

Sox won last night, I had this long conversation last night with Amy pretty much putting stuff to bed, which was very cathartic in itself.

I had a meeting this morning and everyone is in a great mood today, lots of joking and laughs. The weather is sunny right now, it was about 65 when I left the house. I get out of my morning meeting and wander down to my sister's office to see how she's feeling since she was up late watching the Sox with me last night.

I walk to her door, which is closed and there is a sign on it:



... and I actually said "Kate? Baby? What?!?!?" and opened the door to see if she was in there. Everyone at that end of the hall had a good laugh and I called her husband.

Kate's water broke at 5am this morning. She's been at the hospital ever since. She's had some contractions and it sounds like they're going to induce labor soon. Her husband said that she is sitting in her hospital bed doing work on her laptop.

Yay!


DETAILS:

• Its a boy - knew that beforehand
  
• water broke at 5am
  
• she is having contractions, no idea how far apart, should've asked
  
• they were about to give her drugs to induce the labor earlier this morning
  
• as of 12:20pm, Kate is going in for a C-section, the baby's heart rate is sometimes dropping more than the dr likes
  

My sister working from the hospital bed:

Last night was the 4 year anniversery of the first time Amy & I kissed.

I just got home from the "70th birthday party" celebration. I turned 30 back on the 12th. My older brother turns 40 on November 4th. So we combined the two and created the 70th party. My high school friends were there. I heard wotan and lysystrata were hoping to come too. It was cool b/c some of the guests were complete surprises to me. That was the first real birthday party that I've ever had with family and friends. I've had them with friends when I lived in Boston but that was more of a going out sort of party. It's too bad Amy didn't want to go.

The party was great, tons of laughs and it was fun talking with both family and friends. I will remember the night for the rest of my life :)

Amy got a kitten last night!

After work yesterday, I packed up my bike and headed for Flynn Ave. Amy was playing tennis so I went for a quick bike ride, then I grabbed my camera and went for a walk. Got some really good photos. I went to Subway to eat while Amy took a nap, then I went to the bookstore to upload the photos I had taken. I met up with Amy & brought her to Juniors to get some pizza. We stopped at Noah's Ark and she found the perfect kitten! Little Gizmo. She bought him and we brought everything hope. She loves her kitty so much :) He's going to be a little devil, not sure if she realized that. I left last night, went home, and did not sleep well. Don't know why.

I was driving down the street, listening to this song and just had this thought. It's not an original thought really. It was just powerful and meaningful and something is pulling me towards getting it down, making it permanent, shaping the thought into words like clay into art. My art tends to be disjointed and nonsensical. Buckle up.

Every day is another opportunity to get your ass kicked, both spiritually and physically. I was walking through the bookstore tonight and noticed this woman was hopping around on one foot, following her boyfriend. Later I saw her again, this time cradling her ankle and crying. What made her risk the pain and continue to hop around the store? I watched others walk by completely oblivious.

Every day is an opportunity to observe, learn, and improve yourself. There is a major problem with society today. Everyone is so focused on what they're doing that they're not observing the world around them. When was the last time you drove to work with the radio off? Take ten minutes off for yourself and do nothing but look and listen and think.

Do you realize how valuable every minute is? You've heard it before but maybe you have never thought about it. How likely is it that you are going to die today? How likely that you will be severely injured? That you will catch a cold? Why are you annoyed that you have to wait in line? You can live with the five minute delay. You will be fine if the car in front of you takes your parking spot. Have you ever felt so much pain that you are incapacitated? Have you ever watched a loved one pass away in front of your eyes? Have you ever lost someone or everything in a natural disaster? Stop and think about how inconsequential the little things really are. There are people out there who do not care about any one else. You cannot change that. The only thing you control is yourself. If you cannot control something, it is pointless to get worried or upset about it.

Every single day of your life is an incredible miracle. It is a chance for you to save someone's life and it is a chance for you to lose yours. You could win the lottery or you could lose everything you own. You could experience the creation of life and you could be inadvertently responsible for the passing of another. The best thing you could possibly do is stop for a moment every day and think. Give thanks for what you have and who you are. Think about what you have done and what you will do. Think about yourself and think about your friends and family. Think.

Made a couple of calls tonight trying to setup this weekend's festivities, if you will. Got one answering machine and one mechanized answer. I'm just coming down for a simple visit, so I won't let myself build this up beyond that. I'm truly looking forward to playing with the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles as I have to return my plates. It turns out I will also have to stop by the Somerville town office and give them a copy of the plate receipt so they don't excise me anymore.

I also would like to purchase some Red Sox tickets on Sunday. My brothers, father, and I used to make a yearly trip to Fenway to see the Sox play. Half the fun was actually taking a car ride with those four. Last couple of years, my brothers have given up on trying to purchase the tickets. Seems more like a lack of will than anything. I really want to continue that tradition, the one where we get to see the Sox play. Doesn't matter who, really. Never did.

On a side note, I will be hosting a veritable crapload of ... well ... crap on my home PC. You can reach it here. Lots of mp3s. Lots of family photos. Still more crap to come.

ta ta for now.

Quick heads up: plans are still on for this weekend. I'm still planning on coming down to visit. I'm thinking of coming down after work Friday and heading back to Vermont Sunday afternoon.

I'm coming down to pick up any crap I left behind, so if you have anything of mine, please be ready for a visit.

just got done watching Pearl Harbor. I guess the woman at the video store asked if my sisters were sure they wanted to rent it. "It's three hours of your life you'll never get back" - damn, she was right.

While watching tennis, it seemed like everyone converged on my sister's house. First, Dale showed up on his new motorcycle. It's so nice. I took some photos, don't think they came out quite as well as I'd've liked. I'll upload them from my apartment.
Anyways, Dale showed up, then my parents pulled up. We all sat around watching tennis. My mother had never seen those magnetic fridge word things, so she spent the entire time making up this crazy story.
Everyone took off, including my sister and her boyfriend. They went to play golf. I would've gone, except that Dale and I had made plans to go to Church St and then go see a movie., which we did. We saw The Musketeers which wasn't bad. It's definitely one to rent, not see in the theatre.
I'm only now getting home from Burlington. Once again, I am dazzled by the stars. While driving, no less.
My mom said some interesting things tonight.
Happiness comes from within
You must forgive youself before you can be forgiven by others
Neither of these are mind blowing, except for the fact that they came from my mother. I never figured my mother to be so in tune with herself. Must be that book of sappho poetry I found on her bedside table.
I have finally picked up the damn dime that has been sitting on the floor in my sister's bedroom since the time my niece Sarah was here and dropped it.

I was happy today. I think I'll be happy tomorrow. I feel like things are going to shift my way (finally -

god damn, I spoke too soon. neighbor just backed into my car.

ok, back again. minor scratches to the bumper. nothing huge. no need to trade insurance info. *sigh*

My brother's divorce court date is tomorrow. This will make the 4th divorce total in my family. 2nd one for him.

shower, then bed.

just to let you guys know, ella now checks my lj.

So when I was in the Caribbean, we went to this bar on a boat. Lots of fun stuff :)

Read this for a description of what typically goes on.

There's a photo here.

Yes, I do. Tonight, my co-worker, his wife and I are going to a club of that sort. Then, Saturday night, I hope to go to Montreal and go to Club Supersexe. Or anywhere my friend wants to go. It's her choice. Turns out she's having quite a hard time of things.

Lady_Xoc's got me listing to the Buzz again. Here's a more direct link to listen to the station: http://mediaframe.yahoo.com/ap?id=78035601

The Buzz Back Lunch is the best.

Well, 5 of my co-workers just got the axe. Others in the company did as well, but 5 in my department. I'm safe, but this sucks. This sucks alot.

I get my car tonight. But it's hard to feel much joy right now as I watch my co-workers pack boxes.