Friday

Yes the week is nearly over, which is quite exciting. I have noticed my most recent entries have been rather scatterbrained and not very topical, but that is good I guess it probably sums up my life lately. Last night I was able to get out of work early, so early I actually had to where sunglasses on the drive home. I finally replaced my broken headlight. It was difficult and took me about five minutes to do in the Wal-Mart parking lot, but once I figured it out I was very proud of myself. The next stop was the Bury to get some money at the bank and to pick up my DMB calendar I had ordered in the mail. Dinner last night consisted of Stop & Shop macaroni and chees with three sliced up hot dogs. Yeah it sounds gross but it was very yummy!

Other stuff I thought of while commuting.
- I think it is funny how people with iPods are kind of a little community and when you see somebody with one there is a commonality. However, the irony is that while they do create community they prevent it since when you see somebody with an iPod you can't really talk to them because they are listening to music. Kinda strange.

-There are warning signs on the ceiling of North Station out by the trains saying "Danger do not walk on the ceiling" How many spider people are walking around on the ceiling of North Station.

-Starbucks has a warning on their straws which says,"Not recommended for hot beverages" I thought it was a pretty good idea which led me to another thought. Why do we blow on a hot beverage before we sip it, I agree it is cooling the stuff but probably not the part you are about to sip and I bet it doesn't make that much difference. I can see if it is on a spoon because there is less of it but not when it is a mug full of hot coffee.

-Finally at work we are allowed to where jumpers, they are on the qualified dress code. After much research we were able to get a picture of one on line. See if you can find one.

Have a great weekend!!!
Keeg

Ash Wednesday

You all may have noticed people walking around with some stuff on their foreheads today. They have not mistakenly emptied the fireplace and placed their finger on their heads but instead went to church and had it placed there. Today is Ash Wednesday marking the beginning of lent. It is a time when people give something up for forty days. However I am not going to give anything up so don't expect such a vow from me on here. Apparently you should give up something you enjoy so I had thought of chocolate, excessive spending or even (gulp) pizza. I realized though that this won't make a damn bit of difference, I remember a couple years ago I gave up DMB for a while and afterwards I realized it was a waste thanks to Nissa's graduation speech about how life isn't a dress rehearsal and it is the one chance we get to do everything. I just can't see giving something up when I enjoy it so much.

I do wonder if anybody out there is giving up something for Lent.

Observations

- Sitting on the train this morning I was reading the Metro and there was a story about the cancellation of the Comanche helicopter program. The story says it has already cost $8 billion and all we have to show for that is two helicopters. It has given me a new perspective on the $14 billion Big Dig project. Now many people will argue that the Big Dig hasn't made much of a difference, but keep in mind it isn't complete yet, they will still be adding a couple more lanes to the system. On top of that it is going to create a ton of open space in the middle of the city for parks or various other things. It is definitely better than a couple of two person helicopters. I think my opinion on defense spending has just taken a giant turn.

- While on the topic of helicopters, do you all remember the show Airwolf. I was wondering why we don't have any action shows on TV like Airwolf, the A-Team, the Dukes of Hazzard, MacGyver and the Fall Guy. It seems like the only shows on now are police/law dramas, reality shows, sitcoms and a few random dramas. I am ready for the return of the action shows.

- The Massachusetts Department of Revenue does a great job of keeping my tax returns from the state to a minimum. My return this year was the largest ever at $110, but in the past I have either had a return of $20 or less or once I actually owed money. Now at first I was pissed and then I realized well it means I am earning interest on the money as opposed to the state.

That's all for now.
Keeg

Expense Project Begins

It is official I have been given the go ahead to start the new expense project. Now of course I have mixed feelings because on one hand it will hopefully no longer be a problem. On the other hand I will be working hard for the next few months save the week and a half I am in Europe. It is exciting to finally have a big project to work on and hopefully I can take my time and do it correctly.
I forgot to mention yesterday I picked up my passport from my mom's house. It only took three weeks, I was kind of nervous about it, but now I can rest easy and focus on the trip to come. My final plans are starting to shape up and it appears I will be hitting up Brugge on my few days there by myself. Oops I am not supposed to tell people I am traveling by myself, that is rule number one of Let's Go Western Europe. It is going to be quite a learning experience and I can't wait.

This evening was very productive for me. I cooked dinner, it wasn't great, but I wasn't up for making anything really, so I just settled for a grilled cheese. Next up was downloading music to my PC and then iPod. I then decided to do my taxes, which has me quite happy given my upcoming vacation and the DMB concerts I have to buy tickets for in the next few weeks. The chores continued with the dishes and finally concluded with ironing my clothes from this weekend. It is nice to have everything all organized and set so I can just come home and relax or go out or whatever I want for the rest of the week.

Check these out Waterfront pictures on a balmy day in Boston

I am sitting here waiting for my pictures to upload and I am about ready to pass out. I had a busy weekend and thought of so much stuff I want to put into this little LiveJournal. A lot of it seems like personal emo crap and I am not sure whether to include it or not. In order to not bore you I have removed the emo crap which I previously wrote right where these words are currently being typed. On to the weekend. Friday was good because Matt stayed late allowing me to get up to Suds before the kitchen closed. Clemence stayed at the Outpost and was such a great guest constantly helping with the dishes or breakfast. Amy stayed there all day Saturday cooking, baking and sleeping while we were skiing. Her dinner was excellent and made a perfect end to a busy day. We got about six inches of snow total all weekend and it made the skiing today great. I definitely have caught my second wind this season and skied a total of 13 hours over the two days including six hours of tele on Saturday. I went to the Bury tonight and ate dinner with my family and we all watched Sex and the City, more on that later.

Driving home tonight I tried yet another route here are my results:
5:00 Left Outpost
5:10 Passed Pat's Pizza
5:12 Got on Route 5
5:20 35/5 Intersection 15 miles
5:25 International places sign 21 miles
5:32 35/37 Intersection 27 miles
5:37 Harrison 32 miles
5:54 Route 302 43 miles
6:19 114/35 Intersection Sebago 62 miles
6:29 Gorham 69 miles
6:37 Cummings Hill Road 74 miles
6:44 Exit 7 77 miles
7:16 Exit 1 114 miles
7:23 Maine Border 122 miles
7:32 Hampton Toll 132 miles
7:40 Rt 150 Amesbury 141 miles
7:43 39R Kimball Road 144 miles

So it took 2 hours and 43 minutes to get home. Now the other way usually takes 2 and a half hours, but I was hindered by lack of familiarity with the road, poor road conditions and a p-diddle. So I am confident this way could be the fastest way and also contains the fewest stoplights. I just need to do the drive in light on dry roads to really compare.

Now about Sex and the City. I know the writers felt it necessary to keep the fans happy, but really they just went out of control with Carrie's story line. It wasn't bad enough that she shocked us (right) by ending up with him, but then they had the audacity to end the final show in the exact same manner the pilot episode ended. All I could think of was the Mad About You finale and how they had their last kiss the same way they had their first kiss. I just don't understand the fascination with the full circle thing. The other irritating thing was the hour long tribute to the show with such celebrities as Starr Jones and Alanis Morissette. The tribute was fifteen minutes longer than the actual finale, how does that work. They just kept sobbing and crying about how important it was to them. Hello it was a stupid television show get over it. It makes me afraid for what NBC is going to do about the Friends finale. I think I am going to invest in tissue stock because there will be quite a large demand in May.

Westward Ho!!!

Guess where I am going? The answer a little town called St. Louis. The Dave Matthews Band summer tour 2004 schedule was released and as many of you know I must attend the first show. So this year the band has said, "Go west young man!!" It conveniently falls on June 17th, which is a week I had taken off from work already. Along with the St. Louis show I am planning on going to both Tweeter Center shows (7/6 Tues & 7/7 Wed), the Tampa FL show (7/29 Thur) and maybe instead of going to Hartford (7/16 Fri & 7/17 Sat) I will finally make the pilgrimage to the Gorge shows in Washington state for Labor Day weekend. The Gorge is one of the top five venues to see Dave Matthews Band in so I would like to check that out.
Top five Dave Matthews Band Venues:
1) Central Park
2) Madison Square Garden
3) The Gorge
4) Giants Stadium
5) Red Rocks, CO

So here is a question: Who wants to go with me to see DMB? Anybody want to make the pilgrimage out to the Gorge? Let the negotiations begin. Who will get to attend the shows with me this year? BTW I will not be driving out to the Gorge thats just crazy.

I can't wait for summer!!!!

Drive in drive out I'm leaving
Drive in drive out
I'll come back again
-David J. Matthews "Drive In, Drive Out"

F'ing Cold

Now I know it isn't really that cold, but boy it has been winter for so damn long it is really getting to me. I actually dread going out after work because I know I have to face my dreaded walk home and the chill it brings. The warmth of spring won't come soon enough, I look forward to the days when I can walk home at night only wearing short sleeves. Ahhh those will be the days.

We had BoCaNO tonight and I had the honor of sitting in the giant king chair. So essentially I was king for the evening. It was pretty fun and for once I actually was pretty funny with some real great one liners. Of course we discussed mostly skiing and how we are finally going to show Clemence the movie Better Off Dead on Saturday night. I can't wait to have another movie night at the Outpost. I hope there is enough room for us all in the hot tub ;o)


Okay I am exhausted from my very long day and must now retire for the evening. Have a great day!!!
Keeg