Author: Josh

I read this article over at iPodlounge this afternoon. This particular paragraph seems as if it were written for me:

After trying “Switch” as a campaign to sell the Mac on its own merits, Apple is assuming that the iPod might serve as a gateway drug, demonstrating the company’s legendary ease of use and seducing Windows users into adding a Mac to the den instead of another PC.

I’m actually going to CompUSA right after work today to get Elise’s iPod Mini. I preordered a blue one for her for her Valentine’s Day present thinking that she would get it before they hit store shelves this evening. It hasn’t been shipped and my debit card hasn’t been charged. Bad Apple. I called Apple and told them I wanted to cancel my order right after I called the local CompUSA and asked the manager to hold a silver Mini for me.

I guess it all worked out for the better because Elise hinted that she would prefer the silver Mini over the blue.

Awww… how cute. His and hers

Today was a good day. It started off with me getting to work seven minutes late. I was pulled over by a motorcycle cop while riding the trusty Shadow to the mall to buy a garage door clicker. Luckily it was a false alarm. 2002 registration tags are the same color as 2005.

I talked to Earl Campbell on the phone this evening. Elise was catering an event at UT, Earl Campbell was there and Elise said “Here, talk to my husband.”

Earl: [very enthusiastically] “Hello, this is Earl!”
Your Humble Narrator: “Hey Earl!”
Earl: “How ya doin’?”
YHN: “I’m good – how are you?”
[small talk]
YHN: “Aieieieieieeee… EARL CAMPBELL GOOOOOD!!! Arble flocky moo goo gai pan – weeeeeeeeee deeeeeeeeeeeee weeeeeeeeee deeeeeee. Me like the EARL CAMPBELL!! Wooosahhhhhhhhhhh.

Okay, I didn’t really say that, but I talked to Earl Campbell on the phone!

I just bought an album from Wal-mart’s music store. Don’t do that if you use iTunes. I’m now trying a combination of Soundforge and Media Center 9 to see if I can recompress the album so I can put it on my iPod.

I saved $1+ by buying from walmart.com but the hassle isn’t worth $1.

Oh yeah, Happy Valentine’s Day. We used to have Valentine’s Day back in ‘nam.

I bought Elise an iPod Mini so she can listen to music while she trains for Danskin. That and I wanted a new toy to play with.

Last weekend was for moving. Not too many action photos because, well, we were moving. My Mom gave me a muscle relaxer on Friday afternoon that allowed me to lift very heavy objects by using only the muscles in my back! That rendered me pretty useless for the rest of the weekend. I moved light stuff.

For our first full weekend in our home, we spent most of it at Lowe’s. Cell phones are a great thing. Elise and I use them to find each other in home improvement stores. Anyway, I spent three hours digging a trench for a PVC drain pipe. Today I have to insulate a heater duct in the attic, install a digital thermostat, caulk the shower and unpack.

Tonight I’m taking Elise to see the Phantom of the Opera at the Bass Concert Hall for her birthday (which is actually tomorrow). I bought 5th row seats – should be fun.

Moving into a house is stressful. There are boxes everywhere. I figure those will dissipate with time. For some reason, I’m drawn to the backyard. I stand out there a lot and think. I have many ideas – one being a wood deck. We definitely need a deck. We need sod as well. I spent an hour in the yard today picking up rocks and dog poo from the previous owners’ dog. I’m also thinking about a stone walkway on one side of the house. This’ll all be fun.

Interior-wise: paint. Elise and I (meaning Elise) needs to pick out colors and buy paint before Steve and Joanne come down next month. It’s going to be a lot of work but I’m looking forward to it.

House My wife and I own a house!

Yesterday was my birthday. John, Christine, Elise and I went to Sushi Saké for dinner. The eel was really good. I’m eeled out for the year. We split an order of Dragon, Kyoto and Spicy Susan (or as Christine calls it: Lazy-Eyed Susan. Or as Elise calls it: Chunky Dunk in the Fatty Tuna). All were rolls; the Dragon was tempura-fried shrimp rolled in rice and topped with eel. The Kyoto was crab and shrimp rolled in rice and topped with raw salmon and avocado. The Spicy Susan was… I don’t remember – I think it was raw tuna but the sauce is what made it – a mayonnaise and Thai-spiced sauce that was worth double dipping.

John and Christine gave Elise and me a gift certificate to John’s aunt’s frame store in Houston. That was a double birthday present (Elise’s is Feb. 9) and housewarming gift. Elise gave me the Cooking Fearlessly cookbook from Hudson’s on the Bend and a gift certificate for a cooking class at Chef Jeff Blank’s house!!! I’ve decided that I’m going to create a menu based on recipes from my new cookbook and entertain one night once we’re settled into the house.

Speaking of house, we close tomorrow at 4 p.m.! Unfortunately, I don’t think we’re getting the keys until Thursday.

I nervously woke up on Saturday morning followed my standard morning ritual of showering, etc. I took Elise to work at 9 a.m. and then went to the TKD school to test for the first time in almost ten years! Everything went smoothly. Steve, Cindy (couple in my class) and Clyde (instructor) all said that I did well. I’d forgotten how exhausting performing in front of an audience can be. Midway through my first pattern, I remembered that I needed to breathe.

Four patterns later, I was spent. Not that doing patterns is that physically exhausting, but couple that with being nervous and you’ve got yourself a nice pair of spaghetti legs. Now I have to spar a seventeen year old who reminded me of myself 11 years ago. Again, exhausting. I wish this kid would come to the adult class so he can beat up on me and make me better. You never learn by winning [in a fight].

Anyway, I now have a star glued to my black belt. Three more to go and I’ll test for my second degree.

On my way home I stopped at the corner of Southwest Parkway and 71 and bought a huge rustic “metal art” star to hang on our new mantle. Elise and I fancy that sort of home decor and I figured it would commemorate the star on my black belt.

I took the Jeep to have the oil, rear differential and transmission fluids changed. I also changed the wiper blades on the Jeep and changed the oil in the trusty Shadow.

I picked Elise up from a party she was catering off of Balcones and then we drove out to the Bat Cave to see the Ice Bats get beat by the Lubbock Cotton Kings 6-3.

We went grocery shopping yesterday and watch two boring football games. I was looking forward to watching the Superbowl in our new house on February 1. I don’t like the Patriots or the Panthers so I guess I’ll just make sure to tune in for the commercials.

SprintPCS is running a special until 1/31/04: new signups will receive unlimited nighttime calls starting at 7 p.m. My unlimited nighttime calls start at 9 p.m. As I grow older, I don’t like to wait until 9 p.m. to make long distance calls.

I called SprintPCS today, waited on hold for 15 minutes and finally spoke to a young lady by the name of Anachungaquita. I told this lady that I’ve been a SprintPCS customer for two years and I wanted my unlimited nighttime calls to start at 7 p.m. Without hesitation, Anachungaquita told me “No problem sir, we can definitely do that for you.” I was relieved because I thought I was going to have to fight. I already felt bad because I was almost rude to Anachungaquita with my request…

“For an additional $5 a month” she adds. I went off. I told her that new signups get the extra two hours for free but I would have to pay extra?!? She concurred. I told her “Then I’m going to switch my provider!” — customer service at its finest: “OK, well then thank you for calling SprintPCS.” and she hung up on me!

Update: I’ve long since left Sprint and have been a really happy customer of AT&T. There are some Great Deals on AT&T Family Plans with Free Shipping at LetsTalk.com

This past Monday Elise and I were lucky enough to be the first guests in John and Christine’s new house (they closed on the house that morning). We celebrated by standing in the kitchen, eating Freebirds burritos and drinking wine from plastic cups by the light of a flashlight