Trying something new.

While driving home last Wednesday I listened to an interesting story on NPR about Partial Fasting and what happens to the body throughout the fast. I decided to give it a try and today's the day.

Up until about 2pm I was feeling like I do on a normal day, except for the caffeine withdrawl. After that I started to slow down and right now, 5:30pm, I feel like I'm a little bit drunk from light-headedness. It's a little hard to concentrate, but I did kick Dorn's ass at Set yet again. Oh, and there's the constant peeing. I've drank like 50 oz. of water so far today and there's more to come before the end.

And the cravings, boy I could go for some pistachios right now.

Food time: 8:30pm
Food: Spaghetti & Sausage & OLIVES

Musical, anyone?

I have my eye on Sweeny Todd. Anyone else want to go?

Show	Date/Time	Venue	Sign-up deadline	Price	Seat Location	Quantity of tickets
Sweeney Todd	02/09/08 2 p.m.	Orpheum	12/20/07	$58	MF3-4 F-M
My Fair Lady	03/01/08 2 p.m.	Orpheum	01/10/08	$65	MF3 F-N
The Drowsy Chaperone	03/29/08 2 p.m.	Ordway	02/28/08	$58	Orch Right J-M
Jersey Boys	04/19/08 2 p.m.	Orpheum	01/10/08	$80	MF1 Q-S Balc5 D
Jesus Christ Superstar	05/03/08 2 p.m.	Orpheum/ State	03/28/08	$60	MF1 A-Q
Cabaret	05/18/08 2 p.m.	Ordway	04/16/08	$54	Orch Right L-R

Writer's Guild of America Strike

Well, if you didn't think the WGA strike affects you, you're wrong.

Especially if you love The Office or Family Guy.

This Thursday is the last new episode of The Office until after the strike ends. The reason: Most of the writers also star in the show! Oscar (Oscar Nunez), Angela (Angela Kinsley), Kelly (Mindy Kaling), Toby (Paul Lieberstein) and Ryan (BJ Novak) are all striking. Steve Carell and Jenna Fischer won't cross picket lines.

I support the writers' strike. They don't receive any income from the "new media", the Internet. The writers, actors, directors, producers, hair stylists, grips, etc. don't see a dime of that ad money.

For a list of how many episodes are left for each show, check Wikipedia.

I'm walking on sunshine...

*bark bark!*

Friday and Saturday were were well-deserved respites after a hellish two weeks. Becky visited the Roch. Friday night we played some cards, went ice skating, played some more cards.

Saturday Melissa and Becky made monster cookies while we watched The Office season one. Then we went to Hobby Lobby where I picked out two frames and some matte board (you'll have to visit to see the completed project). Then we went back to Chris & Melissa's for more Office, drinks, and games (500, Speed Solitaire, In a Pickle, Pit). A good time was had by all.

Now I'm back at work, attempting to but the finishing touches on a demo for my manager. He leaves tomorrow for Toronto and New Jersey. Unfortunately we don't know if he needs another demo for the following week. I pray he doesn't (especially since next week is U.S. Thanksgiving [already!?]).

Now it's time to branch into two separate threads.

Thread the First
Next weekend I plan on staying in Rochester and making beer. Anyone is more than welcome to come learn the craft, eat some food, watch some movies, play some games, etc. But that's what I'm going to do.

Thread the Second
The rest of my family is leaving the Friday after Thanksgiving for a wedding down in Davenport, IA. I, however, will not join them. The decision becomes, "Do I stay in Podunk, MN or do I come home to the Roch?" I'm not averse to either.

Ahhso

Last night was a relatively good night. I say relatively because the garbage collector (Veolia for those interested) is trying to screw me out of $76.70. I paid way-way-way back in September for yearly trash service. Unfortunately they don't believe me. Unfortunately for them I have a bank statement to prove they accepted payment.

*wrings hands with evil excitement*

Monday: Dunn Brothers - Dark Mocha Latte (awesome, as usual)
Tuesday: Starbuscks - Mocha Latte (not that good)
Wednesday: No coffee so far today
Thursday: No Coffee. :(
Friday: Kona from the Sundry Shop by the Cafeteria

I'm not as impressed with the 'bou as I once was. Their "Wild Drinks" leave chocolate/flavor sludge at the bottom of the cup. Their saving grace is regular coffee. But barely.

Tonight or tomorrow I'm going to take some time for myself and go see a movie. I want to see Dan in Real Life but I think I'll go to The Rape of Europa instead; a documentary about the pillage of Europe during WWII.

*EDIT*
For those interested in the alcoholic concoctions I create...the blueberry melomel ferments away (finally). The four day lag time scared the crap out of me but I'm happy to report the airlock is bubbling. The reason for a lag: I re-used a yeast cake from another batch of mead.

How's the "parent" mead? I added three pints of raspberries (from the farmer's market) giving the mead a b-e-a-utiful shade of red. When I went home for lunch the raspberry pulp was pushing into the carboy neck. I'm thinking I need some citrus to go with the raspberry, but what kind?

• Lemon
• Lime
• Orange
• Tangerine
• Grapefruit
• Ugli frui
• Kumquat (hehe)
• Lemon grass

What do you guys think? (I can always split the batch in half and leave some as "raspberry").

Oh, and melomel is mead (honey wine) with fruit added.

Today is a Dunn Bros. Day...

...or maybe it's a Dunn Bros. Week.

Ugh.

I like to treat myself when work is hellish.

At work we're fast approaching our release date (December 21; it's announced so I can talk about it). Now, my manager's the technical bigwig for the product line (he's chief architect) and as such he gives pitches to conferences and customers telling them what's great about the new release. Usually he gives a PowerPoint and a VMWare demo. The last few weeks two co-workers and I have created the demos. What a pain.

Seventy-hour weeks, working a regular day on Saturdays (and sometimes Sunday).

Time to vent/rant. I'm stressed out, exhausted, and burnt out. The only vacation I have left is the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas eve, and the day after Christmas. I can't leave early any day this week because we have another demo due next Monday. By the time I get home at night I have just enough time to feed the dog, eat some food, and go to bed before I do it all again. If I do leave work early I need to log on from home and do some work there, too. I didn't sign on at all yesterday and now I'm paying the price. There are approximately 30 emails from my manager and one of my coworkers discussing problems, workarounds, possible fixes, broken features. Argh. I'm starting to wonder if this is what I want to do for the next few years. I haven't been to a movie in months. I rarely have time to go grocery shopping. I eat out all the time (that's what she said). I've put on the ten pounds I lost a few months ago. I like being busy but this is extreme.

We just finished creating a demo Saturday for my manager to take to Vienna. We're performing triage and answering his questions. Then we have seven days to get a new version ready for next week when he's off to give the demo to some customers in Canada and New Jersey.

We're gonna need a miracle.

And I'm gonna need some more coffee.

And I better get a hella bonus next year...or some kickass compensation time off in December.

*EDIT*
The first demo is away!
The demo my boss gave in Vienna today worked like a charm (after some hand holding late last night). Whew. That feels goooood.