A Morning with my PS2

My cousin moved out yesterday.
I felt this might be a perfect opportunity to reclaim my PS2. He has been borrowing it for quite some time now. I rarely play it, and he loves to play it, so it worked out OK.
I got home from work yesterday, and I was asked by my mother why the PS2 was in pieces.
I knew at one point the PS2 was malfunctioning, and my cousin had attempted to fix it.
In taking it apart, he had somehow fixed it.
However...it appears he never put it back together.

So...this morning, around 5ish...I decided to go try to put the thing together.
I was quite confused. I felt so stupid knowing I had at least a little bit of an engineering background and could not figure out how these pieces were supposed to work.
After about 20-25 minutes...I decided to just pack it all back up and look up on the Internet later how to put together a PS2. Then...as I was about to walk out of that room...I saw my stack of old Sega Saturn games. I started looking through them...then I noticed something a little odd sitting next to them.
What could it be?
Pieces to the PS2!!!!!!!
I was back in business.
I sat down and had the thing back together in no time.
Though, I was missing one screw. If I get the initiative, one day I may go try to find one to fit it, but it works fine now. It is all back together, functioning properly, and all nice and neat.

So...what did I do once I got it fixed?
Did I play a game!?
You bet your sweet bippie.
However...
I fired up the old Sega Saturn!! Heh.

What a glorious morning.
Today will be a good day.

Internot

OK...
So...in playing around with some of the vital files on my computer, I managed to majorly screw up some stuff. When Linux would not let me copy my backed-up files back to the Windows directory...I know I had royally screwed things up...so I attempted a reinstall of XP. It lets me boot my computer, but now it has so many errors, the computer is useless. I cannot access the Internet from home on my computer right now.
This, of course, will be changed when I reformat my computer...which will happen as soon as I back up some of the important stuff. I think all the photos I have taken in the last couple of years are now on my main drive. Those are my main concern. Once I copy those over to the other drive, then check to make sure there is nothing else I need to keep...I can format it.
This time, I think I will partition the drive, so I can also install Linux and play around with it some.

On a different note..
About three minutes after arriving to work yesterday, I got a message saying I had a phone call from a client. The person asked if I wanted to take the call or have them call back later.
I, of course, was like... "Quoi!?"
I do not talk to clients. Why would I have one on the phone for me.
The person even claimed to have already dealt with me before.
This had me highly perplexed...
until...
I realized the person giving me the message had the wrong Matthew D.
We both laughed at that, I sighed a wonderful sigh of relief of not having to deal with a customer, and I went back to work.

Speaking of TeVo...
One of the things they have me doing is setting up "Courtesy Sites"....
which are basically temporary (or sometimes longer) sites we set up for clients until their "real" website is designed and built.
This is a very VERY monotonous task. Basically...I just have to pick out the files that match and insert the client's information in the appropriate spots.
This is time consuming too.
So, I am thinking of asking permission to take some of the source files home with me so I can design a quick program to just do all that work for me. It would let me type in the information, then it would find the appropriate spots in the ASP files and insert the text.
It would output the files to the appropriate directories....
and all I would have left to do would be to edit the graphics to match.
Wouldn't that be grand?
Though...
I guess I DO need to make sure I get my computer working before I do that.

Well...it's 7:59AM. I guess I better get off this blogger now. Time for work.

A Blog Post

Today's Google quote of the day was from one of my favorite comedians.
"I'm grew up in Europe, where the history comes from." -Eddie Izzard
I thought that was grand.

Regarding these stupid job protests in France...
You know, I do not think an employer would find it a very good thing to see "participated in protest against employers' rights" on your list of extracurricular activities.

I have random scratches on both of my arms. I do not know where they came from. They are in about the same spot on both arms. It is rather weird.

I am behind schedule at work. I do not blame myself, though. Typically, any of the tasks I am given to do have at LEAST a day away set for their due date. In fact, most would have at least two days, if not 4. However, I have been given tasks that have due dates of before I started the job. It seems as though I was behind schedule the moment I submitted my resume. I should hopefully catch up soon, though. Today should be a good day. Every time I get caught up on my schedule, they give me more behind-schedule stuff to do. I hope they take note of this when it is time to consider giving me a compensation bonus.

I'm broke. Completely. Well, not technically yet. I have a lot of money in the bank, but it will all be gone by the end of the day when I go to pay the bills. I did not get a full paycheck from Hollywood. The reason for this is because I took some time off for Mardi Gras related things. Since I do not get days off paid, I, of course, took a pay cut to get the time off.
Oh well... My first paycheck from TeVo should come soon. Hopefully Friday.
If it comes Friday, I am uncertain as to whether it will be a full check or a half-ish check.
Still, though... Once pay at TeVo starts, life will be grand.

I think Gibbet knocked over some of her treats when I gave them to her yesterday. They were under the door to the cage....and she was doing her best to get to them. At least, I hope they were her treats. I could not actually see. I need to get her more exercise. She still seems a little large.

Ok anyway, time for me to rustle up some grub for breakfast. Then, it shall be time to shower up and head to work.

Meow.

Hollywood Ending

Well, it was a relatively sentimental evening for me.
I found out I am not scheduled to work any more at the theatre through the rest of my two-week notice. Translation? Tonight was my last night of work.
That was a startling thought when it came to mind.

I did not try to think about it too much until Miranda mentioned she was a little upset.
Since middle school, we have seen each other pretty much every day. Well....that is what she said. It was a slight exaggeration. During middle school, we saw each other 5 days a week. During high school, we saw each other at least 5 days a week, sometimes 6 or 7. After graduating from Davidson, we saw each other at least 4 days out of the week, though sometimes 5 or more.

Starting that preview for them was a little depressing.
Walking down the stairs...I felt sad.
I walked outside to take a picture of the building, but the lights were off..... so I walked back in to turn on the lights. I then walked out and took a picture. I posted it from my phone. It should still be on a post below.

Well...I guess that is it.

Farewell, old friend.

Beer == Healthy?

In a recent questionable study, Beer is good for you.
This is news I am certain the Picklefish crew will accept with no argument.

OK. First: Apparently HOPS are good for preventing common illnesses. Drinking beer can reduce the aging process.

Second: Drinking two beers a day can reduce impotence in males.

.....
Well...those seem like good reasons to drink beer.
If that were not enough, in a related story I saw on a different news show...studies suggest that having a beer belly can help you survive a car crash. I think that is interesting.

Anyway....regarding that first tidbit of info...I said that the study was questionable for the following reasons:
The study came out of Austria and the Czech Republic. These are two nations that just so happen to produce a LOT of beer.
Also, the study was FUNDED by some of the major breweries in that area.

Still...
I am sure Americans will latch on to the idea with no argument.

More Confusion at TeVo

Ok,
So I started at TeVo today. They checked through my paperwork. I got my little access card. I took the drug screen test thingie..... and I sat and watched people work for the entire day.

Well...actually...Jennifer took me on a tour of the TeVo areas. I WANT TO WORK IN I.T. NOW.
She also introduced me to pretty much everyone. There are a LOT of females there. Many of them are actually cute. I've particularly got my eye on the tall brunette. I wish I could remember her name. Still, though....there are a lot of cute ones.

After giving me a tour it was time for me to get to work. The problem? No workstation for Matt yet. This was where my confusion came in. They called me to tell me they really needed me to start immediately........ Why did they not have a workstation ready?
So, my work for the day involved sitting in the same cubicle as Eric and watching him work.
I got so bored so quickly.
I eventually went to lunch. That was grand. I walked around the building and searched for a courtyard. There wasn't one. At one point while exploring, I saw that cute, tall brunette walking around. It was outside, so I figured it was the perfect opportunity to at least TALK to her. So...I asked her. "Hey, is there a courtyard or plaza around here anywhere where someone can just sit and relax?"
She told me there was a table around the back, but it was basically the smoking area. Apparently, she typically just brings a blanket and sits on the grass. That sounded like a great idea. Well...I went to the table...there was no one there. I sat there for a bit, then suddenly I was surrounded by smokers.
I had to remove myself.

Well, after lunch, I went back and chatted with some of the other webmasters until Eric arrived again. Donald realized I was bored, and he gave me the Account Manager Manual to read through. I finished it promptly.
After a few more hours, I got so insanely bored I was having trouble keeping myself awake. I decided to take a break from doing nothing. I decided to run up the stairs. When I hit the top of the building, I turned around and ran down to the bottom floor. Then, I ran up to the 7th floor again. The exercise helped me a lot.

Then, it was time for me to leave. So I did.

Ambien Causes Obesity

Ok....
I have been saying it for months....
Ambien sucks.
What now?
Well....perhaps people did not believe me when I told them that I was still active after taking the medicine, but I could not remember what happened during the 8 hours after taking the pill.
Well...
On the news today...they were hinting that a sleeping pill may be linked to obesity.
Guess which one!!
AMBIEN!
Why?
Apparently it has been causing many people to SLEEP WALK to the refrigerator and eat large quantities of food.
People would gain weight, and NOT remember eating the food.

Ambien is dangerous.
I do not think it should be on the market.
Though...I guess it could be fun to screw with people.
But that is just cold.

Teleconfusion

Ok, so...
Friday at 5:04, TV calls to tell me that something happened and they need me to start before we agreed, if possible. I told them I would see if that was feasible. It was, so I emailed the HR department to let them know I could.
I got a call some time around 8:30ish this morning from TV to let me know I could just come in when originally intended (Monday, the 20th).
They called me a few hours later to ask me, again, if I could come in tomorrow.
I said, "Yes".

So...
I negotiated with my fellow manager tonight to let me leave early.
This will give me time to try to force myself to sleep....and maybe do some laundry or something.
Apparently, though, the dress code is very casual, except on Fridays, when it is extremely casual.
(The employee manual states that employees may NOT wear flip flops, except on Fridays.)
Heh.

Well...Anyway...
The answering machine for the REC Centre at South states that it is closed for repairs of damages caused by hurricane Katrina.
I wish I had known this before buying a new raquet. Now I must go find another place where I may play.

Time to end this post. So long, blog.

Snacker Stackers

Heck Yeah!
The best thing since sliced summer sausage!

Oh wait...that's what they are!! I love summer sausage. Someone came up with the idea of making little pepperoni-like chunks and selling them that way. GENIUS.
I found these little things while trekking through Walmart. I found them, along with actual pepperonies. Ready to eat. I can drive down the road and chow down on pepperoni.
Life is grand.

My main reason for going to Walmart was to get a new raquetball raquet. I got one, as well as a couple of tubes of balls. You hear that C and T? I'm ready! Bring it ON! :-)

....

Tonight at work, this girl came through that looked familiar. I tore her ticket, and she looked at me and said, "You don't remember who I am, do you?"
I said "Of course I do!". I thought she was someone else. I started going off on this little story about how I had seen her friend a month earlier at the chili cook-off. The confused look in her eyes made me question whether or not I was accurate in my memory.
After a few moments of thinking about it, I realized I was wrong. Then, I racked my brain to think about who this girl was. Then, it hit me.
AMANDA! The hot red head from 80s night!
I have not seen her in quite a long time. I'd say maybe 2 years. At least a year and a half. In fact, I only saw her for about 4 hours that night. She was a friend of a friend. We all dressed up in clothes from the 80s. We went downtown and hung out for a while.
Back at my apartment, I had to talk her into NOT going skinny dipping. I succeeded in convincing her to keep on her swimsuit. I think that the fact that the complex manager's apartment was right next to the pool was a major factor in that decision.

Now...Amanda has lost a slight bit of her original smoking attractiveness, but she is still pretty darn hot. She is currently on a VERY short list of females I have seen naked, especially in a non-club setting.
She told me she has pictures from 80s night, and that I should call her so we can hang out some time. She asked for my number, so I wrote it down for her....meanwhile...I was trying not to make eye-contact with the guy with her....who's first question was "What is 80s night?"

That was probably the highlight of my evening.
Miranda is not happy. I think she will be leaving the theatre soon too, unless something happens to make her decide to stay. She got a job offer with the University, so I think she will probably take that.

I have added an item to my list of things to be purchased once I get my new job. HDTV. I finally saw one that actually LOOKED like it was great quality. So, I figure they are getting better. It is on the list after Air Hockey Table. That is after House, which is after Computer, which is after Car. These are not immediate purchase plans. Just a list of items I would like to eventually own.

Well...I should probably stop typing now. I dropped some food on the floor, and Gibbet did not even want to eat it. Makes me wonder if I really wanted to eat it. If it is not good enough for the ferret, it must have been pretty darn bad.

Where's My Car?

In the friggen McAlister's parking lot. That's where.

I got to drive it for about 5 or 6 minutes today.
I picked it up from the shop. I drove it to Gameroom Gallery. I have been wanting to check that place out. They have some cool Air Hockey tables. I think I might buy one when I get my new house some time after I get my new computer and my new car after I start getting my paychecks from TeVo after I start working after I finish this blog posting. after.

Anyway, that drive was about 2-3 minutes. Then, I drove from the gallery to McAlister's. This was another 2-3 minute drive. I bought something to eat and was about to head on over to the theatre. Well...I wound up walking the rest of the way to the theatre. Why?
THE CAR BROKE DOWN!

My poor car. I think it is time to just declare it dead.

...
On a different note. The people over there at TeVo called me about 5 minutes after I clocked in at the theatre. Why? "Something happened" that pretty much caused them to need me before we agreed. This means I will most likely start working immediately.
I just wonder what happened.

Heh.

That was my day. Then, after work, I watched UltraViolet.
Now...I love Milla Jovavich.
That is pretty much the only good quality of the film. Milla.
Nothing else really worth seeing. Just Milla.

My Name is Matt

Karma is real.
I have actually always believed it, but I never really thought about it too much.
In most cases, I try to treat people nicely.
I know I have had a few slipups, but I am only human.

In watching "My Name is Earl", it really makes you think about how you treat others.
Last night I had a real My Name is Earl Moment.
I walked into WalMart to get some black socks. Walking in, for some reason, I felt this weird vibe from somewhere near me. I looked over, and my attention immediately focused on the Dasani machine. Something about the machine seemed very odd. I shrugged it off and walked into WalMart.
After a little while of walking around and exploring. I decided to make my purchase and leave. As I walked out, I saw that machine again, and I decided to walk over to it.
Oddly enough, there were no options for "Dasani". It was mostly the standard options for a Coke Machine. Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Dr. Pepper, etc.
I immediately noticed TWO buttons for Cherry Coke. My focused shifted to the bottom button. I do not know why. It just seemed to be calling to me.
I bring this up for one main reason. I have recently been heavily craving a Cherry Coke. Unfortunately, the last two times I tried to purchase one from the machine at South, it was out. In many cases, I used to punch the machine and walk off. These times, I just shrugged it off and walked away.
I think this is what spawned this Cosmic Karma moment.
I said to myself, "Heck Yeah! Cherry Coke. I've got 50 cents, I will buy one."
I put in my money and hit that bottom button.
Immediately, I heard the sounds of the inner workings of the machine. You know, where you can hear it thunking around before it falls into the little bottom thing?
Well...I grabbed my Cherry Coke and turned around to walk off.
Then, I heard that thunking again. I turned around and the thunking continued. It went on for a few more seconds than it normally would if you were to actually make a purchase. THEN, I heard the unmistakable sound of a can hitting that bottom tray. It was another can of Cherry Coke. I stared at it for a moment. I immediately thought. "Wow, this is a My Name is Earl Moment." I just continued to stare at it for a moment. I pondered to myself whether or not I should take it or turn it in.
That is when I noticed the WalMart employee a few feet away. I picked up the can and offered the Coke to her. She declined, so I decided to keep it.
It just seemed weird. It seems very unlikely that a machine would put out two cans of something.

That's my story.

Constitution Woes

The Governor of South Dakota just recently signed into law a complete restriction of abortions. The wording of the law declares that life begins at the time of conception.
I support this.
However, they are pointing out that the law may be subject to much resistance.
They seem to think that people will try to claim that it is a constitutional violation.
What I do not understand is WHY people would bring it to court.

If the federal government declares something to be ILLEGAL, then no state can declare it legal.
If the federal government declares something LEGAL, then every state has the right to declare it illegal if they wish.

Great example...
ALCOHOL!
The federal age limit to drink Alcohol is 18.
The STATES made it 21.

Ok...what about MURDER?
No state can declare it legal.

If a state wants to declare Abortion illegal, I think they have every legal right to do so.
It should not be challenged on a US Supreme Court level. Maybe in their state supreme court.
We should not waste the Supreme Court's time on this.

I'd've

I am wondering...
is the following word in the English language? :
I'd've

We have I'd (I would)
We have I've (I have)
We have would've (would have)
but I have never seen I'd've anywhere. (I would have).

...

~~~Edit~~~
This morning I thought about some others.
I'll've (I will have)
won't've (will not have)
She'd've (she would have)
he'd've (he would have)
she'll've (she will have)
he'll've (he will have)
you'd've (you would have)
you'll've (you will have)
they'd've (they would have)
they'll've (they will have)
it'd've (it would have)
it'll've (it will have)

and...if you think about it... what if you add in formes of "haven't" and "wouldn't"?

Examples:

I'd'nt've (I would not have)
I've'nt (I have not)
I'd've'nt (I would have not)

This stuff could get insane. Could you imagine?

~~~END Edit~~~
...

Something else.
I just saw a local commercial for advertising on MediaCOM channel 27. This would not seem so weird if not for the fact that this commercial was aired on COMCAST Cable. Comcast is in complete control of their local and regional advertising time, so why on EARTH would they use their time to allow MediaCOM to solicit advertising on a channel that DOES NOT EXIST on Comcast. Comcast does not cover the "Gulf Coast Network". MediaCOM might, Comcast does not...at least not in this area.
Strange indeed.

...
Anyway, I do not feel like typing much of anything else right now. I am so tired. Think I will lay down and watch [adult swim] for a little while.

Savagely Beaten

Thursday night we were on our way out of PickleFish to head downtown in an attempt to find Melissa's ID and what-not when I was informed that I was scheduled to work Friday morning. This was because I had asked off Friday night for game night. I decided to go ahead and go home instead of going downtown.
Well...I wound up not getting to sleep until about 5:45am or so, so that was pointless

...
random side note...
I just saw a commercial for "Guys Gone Wild".
...
I now want to vomit.

...

Anyway, back to the post. I got to work. I was extremely tired. After work, I went to the bank to deposit my paycheck, then I went to Foosackly's. I kindof flirted with the waitresses. I even got one to smile by simply staring into her eyes. It was great.
Afterwards, I walked over to Bruno's to grab some snackage for GAME NIGHT.
Jeremy wanted a 12-pack of coke, so I got some.
I could not find any Frappuccinos. I figured I would need some caffeine to keep myself awake.
I did, however, grab two big boxes of Wheat Thins. They seemed to be a hit at the LAN, but I think that may have been because they eventually became the only food item available. Or....maybe everyone just loves Wheat Thins as much as I do.

We played Savage for a while. It was great. I suck at the game, but it was loads of fun to play. Of course, I got frustrated several times due to my poor suckage, but it was still fun.
Then, after about an hour of installing, we started playing UT2K4. THAT was a lot of fun too. I actually killed quite a few people. I killed Ezekiel at least twice. I was proud.

We called it a night around 4ish.

That was my Friday.
My Saturday sucked.
I came SO close to just quitting a few times.
I think I have senioritis again. You know, when you know you are leaving soon, you just do not feel like doing anything else?
I keep telling myself I must keep working.

New job starts soon. Not sure when, but soon.

Pickles

Pickles!

I told you I'd post a picture.
Oddly enough, with the size of this picture, it is almost actual size!
Pickles is about the size of my fist. Pretty small, but it's still Pickles!

Pickles Lives!

I found Pickles. ...all cuddled up in a cup I caught at Mardi Gras.
I am happy.
Eventually I shall post an image when I can take one that turns out well.

Random Gibbet Photo

... Random Gibbet Photo...