I realize it’s been a long couple of weeks. It has for me, too, but in a good way. I’m sure you’ve all been managing without me, finding your dosage of ‘)”>ugly animal pictures that are their antidote. You’ve probably turned elsewhere for your stories of stupid people making the news and found new examples of ‘)”>random humorous anecdotes to keep the internet spinning ’round in my absence. Really, i’d be surprised if you’re back at all… there really is so much out there.

For my part, i’ve been keeping a full social calendar thus far in 2006, partly as a recovery from a holiday season filled with traveling, errands, career moves and 27 consecutive days of rain and partly because i feel i can afford it now, even though a first paycheck from the new job won’t arrive until Feb. On the job subject, i’ve been doing a bit of working ;) and it’s going very well. A great new team that i’m really beginning to feel at home with and only one more week of walking halfway across downtown from my old parking spot because i refuse to not park in a spot that’s still paid for.

I’ve also been geeking out with my ‘)”>amazingly cool software that i was totally unaware of until i joined the Bluetooth cool kids’ club. Unwrapping some new tech is always fun, and no disparagement intended for my new ‘)”>slender new LCD friend but my relationship to my cell phone is of a much higher order – about this [hold up pinched fingers] far removed from what i imagine the arrangement is between a cyborg and his/her neural implants. Upgrading my phone is akin to upgrading my *brain* and it had been three years since the last revision so the advances in pocket-able tech i’m now pocketing are making me giddy with geek-joy. With really barely any effort or expertise on my part i’ve got contact and calendar data flying thru the airwaves without even the press of a ‘sync’ button due to automatic proximity detection, i’m switching iTunes tracks with phone buttons and even poking around in a modded install of Apple’s ‘)”>potentially useful and/or quirky inventions that cross my radar and providing you a steady stream of photographs of rusty things and urban decay. I’m also always digging for what makes or breaks Seattle – like this great story of a near-miss of huge proportions in the Puget Sound. So don’t fret yourselves; i still have time for you… my full post with comments.....

Just left happy hour at Contour with my new team – they're great, and i think this move is going to be the right one for me. Had delicious dumplings for lunch with some of the old team today, too – they're great as well, and i'm glad i stayed inside the company with them. Even had some chances today to impress some people. Overall, an excellent friday!