I like to splurge on something once each year, typically a gadget.

• In 2000 I bought a Toshiba 1605 laptop.  I bought while on leave and took it with me to MCT and MOS training.  That laptop was pretty good at the time with 32MB of RAM that I upgraded to 196MB.  It had an 8GB hard drive running Windows 98.  It also had a built in modem that worked fairly well.
• In 2001  I bought a Sony MVC CD1000 Camera.  I had been working at Pennswoods for quite a while and I had no bills to speak of.  Money was no problem for me.   I also started up my business, signing a 5-year lease on a commercial building.  The next month, 9/11 happened and I was told to prepare for deployment.
• In 2002 I bought a Kyocera QCP 6035 smart phone.  During this year I also took a trip to Washington state for vacation.  This was a good phone.  It sometimes froze on me when I opened the flip, but it generally worked really well. It allowed me to combine my palm pilot and cell phone in one device, and I was all for that.
• In 2003 I upgraded to a Kyocera 7135 smart phone.  This was my favorite phone of all time.  Palm OS, clam-shell design.  What's not to love?  Apparently it can no longer be activated in the US because it does not have a tracking GPS built into it.  I was deployed at the beginning of the year and left the 6035 with my parents.  When I returned, I read reviews on the 7135 and got it within a month of my return.  If I could have this phone now (activated of course), I would still think of it as the better phone even though it lacks bluetooth support.  I have not come across a phone that I felt I would enjoy more (inside or outside my price range).
• In 2004 I was flat broke and bought Ramen noodles.  This was between deployments, between jobs, and I had serious car troubles.  It was a dismal time for me.  I spent each evening at a different house, moving from couch to couch.
• In 2005 I purchased an HP dv1000 laptop.  I tricked it out with a whopping 512MB of ram, 80GB hard drive, and extended battery (lasts 3+ hours).  I should also point out that during the summer of 2005, I was again broke. My business was my sole source of income and not doing as much as I wanted it to. However, everyone else I knew was broke, and we all enjoyed that summer playing pool, eating at Dennys, and taking road trips to Western PA, Eastern Maryland, and Southern Virginia.  I don't know how we afforded any of it.
• In 2006 I purchased a house.  Not exactly a gadget, but I believe it will outlast all of my other gadgets.  Business was doing a lot better for me during this summer.  Up until winter came, things were truly looking up.
• This year, the year of 2007, I purchased a xv6700.  This is a Windows PPC 6700.  It comes with 64MB of ram, has bluetooth, wifi, is evdo capable, and will take mini-SD cards.  It has a touch screen and a slide out keyboard that works really well.  This device is more of a computer than a phone, and in that regard works very well.  The phone side of it leaves a bit to be desired.  There seems to be a slight delay between when you press a key and when it updates the screen, which is a bit distracting when placing a call or entering your pin.  Otherwise, this is an amazing gadget.  The phone portion is vastly improved if you use a bluetooth headset.  Plantronic Voyager 550 is the one I got and unlike those earpieces that you corkscrew into your ear, I barely notice that I'm wearing the headset.  I linked to a video review that I would highly recommend watching even if you're not in the market for such a phone/ppc.  There are reasons I chose a phone that is more of a computer than a phone, and I will go into that next.

As you may have read, I am working for "the man", a big corporate entity in Virginia.  My main business has become a sideline endeavor for the foreseeable future.  I still have customers I support, and I'll still do a lot of the same stuff.  But, I'm not taking calls constantly for the business and not using my phone that much as a phone.  I'm shifting to work I can do remotely such as server administration, scripting, and device configuration.  Most of this can be done via web and email.  With an email/web/ssh capable mobile device, I can even handle some emergency tasks from just about anywhere.
On another note, not splurge related, I have finally been placed on Night One.  This is a wonderful shift that is basically 3-4 (alternating) nights each week.  I will always work Sunday night, Monday Night, and Tuesday night.  Every other week, I will work Wendesday night as well.  The shifts go from 6pm till 6am.  Once I am done at either Tuesday or Wednesday morning, I am off to do my own thing until the following Sunday night.  The long shifts sound horrible, but I much prefer the shorter work week (even though I might go home to do even more work, of a different kind).

So far, work down here has been pretty good. I get along with those that I work with, I understand the job, and I've been able to be valuable with some of the knowledge I picked up along the way.

Now, the place I'm working at is not the only place down here that's hiring, but I know that they are looking for people and not getting them in. Right now, it seems like things are pretty slow (and the seasoned workers also say it's kind of slow this time of year) but there are busy times of the day and there will be busy days. They are also expanding which will create more work.

So they need people, my friends need jobs. I can't give them a job, but I can at least link people up. The first link up was Chris and that went pretty well. He "passed" both the Level II and Level III test. While it's not official, I'm sure he has the job. Shortly, we will get an apartment together like we did in Everett -- reforming our little techie gang.

I have two more people on deck to apply here. One will probably be applying shortly, the other I'm going to try to get to apply in August (they can't start working till September).

We are forming.

Some of you may recall that in January I was planning to get  a job to supplement the shop's income.   At the time I was looking at a company in Hershey, PA that needed "weekend workers".  The company decided that they were only going to hire full-time people, and that opportunity  went away.
Since then, I've been searching around, submitting resumes, getting calls and emails from recruiters.  Some really interesting positions have been offered to me.. a lot of them for places 4-6 hours away.  I had one recruiter contact me in March with a position for Lockheed Martin that was really interesting.  The interview process went fairly well and things seemed promising.  After my interview with Lockheed Martin, they let me know a week later that their project has had quite a few delays and they probably won't be filling the position until July or even August -- however, they did feel I could handle the job and wanted to bring me on -- they just couldn't right now.
Then I stopped looking for a while because I started getting busy with the business.  Things started to peter out in June and I resumed the job hunt.  This time, I focused on  the more populated regions to the south of me.  I struck gold.
I got an email from a recruiter in Bethesda, MD concerning a job in Sterling, VA.  It was for a web hosting company, administering Linux and Solaris servers, as well as customer support.  The opening was for night shift -- 3 to 4 nights each, giving me 36 to 48 hours and either a 3 or 4 day weekend.
Before we could begin, I was giving an online exam to complete in order to test my Linux knowledge.  I felt that I had done horrible on this, but passed with a 3.7 (out of 4.0) scoring higher than 98% of all other test-takers.  This is quite encouraging.
The next step was a trip to Bethesda to go over the position and my resume in detail.  My resume was then submitted to the hiring company and a phone screening was scheduled.
The phone screening was a combination interview and rapid-fire verbal test by one of their Linux administrators.  This went fairly well and within a couple of days, I was scheduled for a "personal interview" along with another exam in Sterling.  This was on Wednesday.
The exam consists of them breaking a server and giving you a series of administration/troubleshooting tasks to complete.  They allot up to 6 hours, most pass it in 2-3.  The fastest time on record was 45 minutes.  I completed it in 1 hour.  I was then asked if I wanted to try my hand at the Level III test.
The Level III test was much more complicated and took me around 5 hours to complete.  But.. I did complete it to their satisfaction, even if some of my work was a bit "basic".
On Thursday I got a call that I needed to have one more interview with the IT Operations Director and we set this for Friday morning.  This interview was actually an interview where he basically tried to gauge my personality and determine if I was a good fit for the company.  He told me that he hadn't discussed my test scores with any of my previous interviewers yet so he couldn't make any decisions right then.  But he did say that "he liked me".
Then it was on to Bethesda -- we decided to preemptively fill out as much paperwork as we could since things looked like they were on the right track.  Then, on my drive home, I got the call.
I was hired -- it was official.  I had the second fastest time on record for the Level II, and had done fairly well on the Level III test. This placed me in a junior level Tier III position.  I can start Wednesday (the 27th).
To top things off, I did find a room for rent in Sterling for an incredible price ($450/month) that is only 2 miles from where I'll be working.  I don't know if I have this apartment yet -- I am going to call the guy again today to double check and then drive down this evening (he doesn't get home till after 6pm).  As long as it isn't a crack house or roach motel, I will go ahead and take it.  This way, I can bring my stuff down on Tuesday and spend the night for work on Wednesday.
Great times.

It happened on a Tuesday.  I've never gotten the hang of Tuesdays.
This Tuesday started out fairly simple.  Someone I knew was moving and had an air conditioner he no longer needed.  I was told I could have it for free if I got it myself.. otherwise, he would leave it behind.   Free is usually a good price to pay for a known working air conditioner, so I accepted.
Last evening, I drove to the house to pick up my purchase.  I pulled into the driveway and approached the house.  Little did I know, things were going to take an interesting turn.  As I walked towards the porch, three neighbors approached me and one asked me "what do you think you're doing here?".  When I told her I was here to meet someone, she told me "don't move" and she started calling someone on her phone.
Apparently, rent has not been paid and the landlord has a) changed the locks, and b) told the neighbors (also his tenants) to call the cops if anyone came on the property and have them arrested for trespassing.  This was all revealed to me second hand as she talked to the Bedford police department.  During this phone call I considered my options.
I very calmly produced a business card from my wallet and handed it to her.  I told her that obviously the person I was coming to see no longer lived here.  I told her that neither her, nor her landlord had any authority to keep me here, and I was leaving.  If the cops actually did bother coming, all of my information was on the card and they can come visit me at my home.
Again I was told to stay "right where I was".  She also kept saying that "she has to do what she was told."  My response was that she had done what she was told -- someone arrived, she called the cops.  I then got into my Jeep and prepared to leave.  At this point, three of them went and stood in the bottom of the driveway, blocking my exit.  I backed up to within a foot of them.  The one boy said "you'll have to drive right over me".  During this time, they blocked the driveway with their vehicle.
I had suspected it before, but know I was convinced.  These people were crazy.  They believed that they were obligated to be "enforcers" for their landlord, confronting random people (potentially violent people).  The lady told me that if she didn't do this, she could "get in trouble".
I was considering the second option, which was to drive around the house and use the back entrance.  I wasn't concerned about potential arrest -- pulling into an unmarked driveway to knock on a door is in my opinion, a non-offense.  I was concerned about waiting 40+ minutes for someone to arrive that could get them to move their car.
Around this point, the phone rang and it was the landlord.  Apparently, she had tried to call him earlier.  She told him that I had arrived, the cops had been called, and that I was wanting to leave.  I don't know what the landlord said, but she immediately yelled at the driver to move the car out of the way and "to let him go".   I then left.
I don't know if the cops showed up or not, or what would have been said.  I have received no phone calls or visits.  I don't actually consider myself a fugitive, but it makes for a great title.
I was curious and looked up PA trespassing laws.  Generally, it is a misdemeanor, unless accompanied by a felonious act (vandalism). Each section starts off with " if, knowing that he is not licensed or privileged to do so, ...".  Additionally (except for criminal trespasses), you have to receive communication to leave.  A defense for trespassing is: "the actor reasonably believed that the owner of the premises, or other person empowered to license access thereto, would have licensed him to enter or remain."
In my case, I  was invited by a tenant.  There were nothing posted against trespassing, and finally I was not asked to leave.  Rather, I was asked and then forced to remain.
This is why I don't like Tuesdays.

A few months ago, I was asked to be an usher at a wedding. For some reason, I decided "why not?". I should have thought more about who was making the request.
I actually do have varying degrees of dress clothes. I have my military dress uniforms. I have "business casual" clothes. I also recently purchased a formal suit to wear the last year's Marine Corp Ball. However, none of these will work in this wedding's bridal party. So, I got measured for the official tux outfit.
A few days ago, I was told the news that the tux rental would be approximately $100. A one day rental of a piece of clothing is $100?!?. That's about what my suit cost. I looked on nextag in disbelief. Most tuxedos range from cheap ($70), with most being around $140, and a few expensive ones actually ring in at $500. There is one tux by a brad name of "Collezioni" that runs $700. I figure that if a tux gets around 20 uses out of it in its lifespan (it should get a lot more, I would imagine), you can rent it at 1/10th the price and double your money. So, taking the most expensive tux I can find ($700 Collezioni), it would be $70. At 1/9th, it's $77. At 1/8th, it's $87.50. Finally, at 1/7th, it becomes $100.
All of this is completely pointless though because I'm stuckg for "the privilege of wearing" some overpriced garments. I guess it's another lesson learned (don't get involved with people that are overly concerned about image and name brands) -- I just would prefer it if these lessons didn't cost so much.
Of course, I am to be best man at my evil twin's wedding next year. However, I feel on much safer ground in that arrangement (should it truly transpire) than I do with the events surrounding this coming June.

April 20th is a pretty popular day. It is the Birthday of Adolf Hitler and Muhammed. It's also the anniversary of the Bay of Pigs Invasion, the Ludlow Massacre, and The Columbine School Shooting. It's also known as National Smoke Marijuana day.
It's only fitting that on a day like this, I turn a year older.

Garp was looking for Lumber when he discovered Marriage; he had some innocent questions to ask about two-by-fours when Marriage caught his eye and raised more interesting and disturbing questions. Garp had never realized, for example, that there were more marriage counselors than lumberyards. - The World According to Garp

For those of you that are like me and don't have television service, American Idol is apparently a pretty popular tv show. I read that it's been running for about six seasons now. What's more is that I've actually seen parts of about 3 or 4 episodes over the last several years.
The premise is that people (presumably American, but I'm not an expert on this subject) will do karaoke performances on the show, judges will judge them, and then other people will vote for the contestant that they want to stay on the show. The last person standing gets the title of American Idol along with a record deal.
Anyways.. as I said above, I've only seen a few episodes. I hate this show. Or more specifically, I hate hearing about this show. People talk to me about the show, telling me who won or who got kicked off. I often will hear about what the judges said, or how someone performed. Yes.. people with little to no singing talent, people who have almost certainly never been the center of focus for thousands of people, will tell me how bad someone else performed in front of millions.
But I'm not here to talk to you about not liking a show. I'm here to talk about "vote for the worst", where people have taken it upon themselves to vote for the worst American Idol contestant, with a goal of giving the person with the least talent a record deal. This season, they picked a person who's name I have already heard (I have informants about this kind of stuff, remember?). That name is "Sanjaya". From what I've been told (by qualified experts of course), this guy is horrible. He is the worst of the worst. Now.. this is democracy in action people! People are making their voices heard through the unfettered power of voting. The voters are speaking one coherent thought in one unified voice. The voters are saying "this is stupid."
Seeing something so simple, yet so powerful, almost makes me want to get out and vote. Almost.

Talking with some friends got me thinking about the Summer of 2005. Thinking about that reminded me of a song, which I quickly parodied. There's a lot of inside references here, so don't worry if you can't follow along.
  Summer of '05
I got home by April sixteenth
Deployed for the very last time
Prayed that it would end
It was the summer of 05
Me and some friends were real cool
Had no job but we tried real hard
Jenny quit and Curt got fired
I shoulda known we'd never get bored
Oh when I look back now
That summer seemed to last forever
And if I had the choice
Ya - Id always wanna be there
Those were the best days of my life
Aint no use in complainin
When you got a job to find
Spent my evenins down at the Denny's
And at the Gateway we'd play pool
Riding in Evil John's car
He said that the tree-trimmin was over
Oh and even Chris got tanned
I knew we'd be friends forever
Those were the best days of my life
Back in the summer of 05
Then around winter time
We were no longer jobless
We ended up reassigned
I guess nothin can last forever - forever, no
And now the times are changin
Look at everyone thats up and gone
Sometimes when I play that old pool thing
I wonder if the gang will come along
Riding in Evil John's car
He said that the tree-trimmin was over
Oh and even Chris got tanned
I knew we'd be friends forever
Those were the best days of my life
Back in the summer of 05