Almost lunchtime, we're headed out for chinese to celebrate Kevin’s bday. I barely ate breakfast, cause lunch will be good (and free!) and cause i'm still full from last nite! Luigi impressed us all with a great meal, and we were so incredibly full afterward. ;) An appetizer i can't pronounce that involved fresh mozzarella, garlic, olive oil and white wine… cioppino (a traditional italian soup) made with mahi mahi, salmon, albacore and shrimp… and finishing with a mind-numbing, mouth-melting bananas foster… oooh! So good!

Called my sister’s house to see what her plans were for the evening (maybe she wants to help me pack?) - called the landline cause her cell’s being tweaky and won't turn on, or so says Mom. Her roommate said she went to canada for the weekend, left yesterday, according to the note they found. That’s odd, cause i saw her yesterday at about 5pm and she didn't say anything about it. Don't know what’s going on there…

Office is all a-flutter watching a traffic accident on the freeway right outside our building. There’s a ford explorer with it’s tires in the air blocking two lanes of traffic (what am i always saying about those things being top-heavy?) that has everyone pressed to the windows. I tried to snag you a good picture from the traffic cam. Hopefully this won't interfere too much with my free lunch. ;) … Oh, and i hope everyone’s all right, too…

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Geez, thot i was gonna let it go a week there, didn't ya? Well, not quite anyway. It’s been pretty busy lately, so busy i'm going to have to reduce it to bullet-points. Also, it’s really hot in the office today (well, like every day, since the AC sucks) and i don't have the mental focus to type a whole bunch of long sentences.

Steph bought a great new house in Woodinville, Libby and i helped her move in friday. It’s a great place, and her new king size bed and neptune w/d are super sweet, too. Housewarming party coming up soon, if you wanna get an evite, email me. Big congrats to Steph on a great find, a big step, and the end to a huge, arduous adventure! :D

Danielle moved to seattle, she has a room in a great house in Green Lake area that Colleen hooked her up with, with some fun med student girls (well, Kat’s not a med student, but, whatever). Mom and Dad will be out in a couple weeks with the rest of her stuff (including Ferris the Kitten of Terror) and hopefully she'll have a job this week, on a great referral from Mrs. Benjamin. Welcome to the west-siiiide, Danielle! ;)

Helped Patrick move out of his apt and into his parents' basement on tuesday, then he leaves for LA on july 5th. Gonna be weird not having him around all summer! That’s kinda gonna suck… but i'm sure he'll have fun in cali, and september isnt' that far away…

Gabe returns to seattle on friday, for duty at McChord AFB! His training and tech school are finally over, and he got the station he wanted, so he'll be back in town and we can live it up! It’s gonna be sweet! Now, nobody tell him my sister is single, mkay? ;)

Received a random phone message from Merris T, haven't heard from her in forever! I called her back today but got her vm, gonna try again over the weekend when we can maybe both talk a bit. I hope she’s doing great, and it was sure a pleasant surprise that she called!

Max is being a PITA, tranny is slipping off the line, and having trouble dropping into overdrive. Dad thinks i may have bad clutches, Jeff said the same thing. Travis is gonna check it out today for me (regaining his 'rocks' status) and hopefully it’s just a fluid thing, and nothing mechanical, as the ATF does smell a little burnt. I did finally change my spark plugs last week, so i feel better about that, altho i did manage to break off one of the bolts on the right rear coil in the process (oops!) as it was really difficult to reach. Suck. Anyway, everyone on the boards keeps saying now’s the time for a 5spd swap, so i'm keeping that in the back of my mind. Ian very generously offered to let me drive his car during the week (incredible guy that he is) and Steph has many times extended the gracious offer of her garage. We'll see, i'd love a 5spd and it would probably last a lot longer than another slushbox anyway, for about the same price. Hmm… things to think about.

Tonite Josh, Kim, Erika, Steph and i are headed to Luigi’s Grotto down in pioneer square for an authentic italian cooking class hosted by Luigi himself. I've been to one once before, it was superb, so we're all really excited about this. I'll relay the menu, it’s sure to be impressive!

As if this week wasn't busy enough, friday Matt and i are driving to missoula, and then saturday it’s up to flathead for Tonya and Jared’s wedding. We'll be coming back to seattle monday. I haven't even thought about packing or anything, i'm too stressed with the things that have to get done before i leave! Augh! I think it will be a nice vacation, provided i don't have to tow the Max home. Hopefully just the nice part will come true, and not that second part…

Gotta go now, gotta go meet Travis. Wish me luck!

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Happy Birthday Christian! Since you're phone’s broken and i can't call you, this is your web-based birthday wish. And you probably won't get my email today, because you're on the beach or out clubbing in Munich or driving somewhere in a german car. I really wanted to send you a pint, but Ben & Jerry’s doesn't ship there (i checked). Sorry! Guess you'll just have to find something interesting to do in europe that doesn't involve ice cream from new hampshire… ;)

Been a great week to be a Mariners fan - Steph and i watched the M’s beat up anaheim last nite 1-0, and Josh and i were there monday night to see the M’s to a 4-2 victory. Despite some obnoxious fans, both nights were a blast. Watched Mike Cameron knock out a few home runs, Olerud’s monday homer was also his 2000th hit, Freddie pitched 8 no-hit innings wednesday, and of course Ichiro’s polished skill is never a disappointment. I really need to figure out the whole bus thing, tho, cause parking down there really is evil, especially at sold-out games. I'm plotting a social day at Safeco field - invite a bunch of friends to a game, buy a block of tickets on a front rail, make some large, neon-colored signs featuring bad puns on the players' names - so be watching for that evite. ;)

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I need a job with air conditioning! Augh! The hvac in the corporate office sucks, so it’s stuffy and pushing 80 in the building today, even worse in the tech department amidst several dozen running computers. I took a lunch break and drove around just to enjoy the Max’s AC, and stopped at Sharper Image for one of those little neck-brace cooler things - i had a gift certificate i'd been meaning to use, and they weren't as expensive as i remembered, anyway. So far my neck is really cold…

Hilly is sick at work today - sorry, babe! Hope you feel better soon! Something going around, i guess, as both my roommates are on drugs (the legal kind) and i keep hearing coughs and sneezes in the hallway. Strange, as it’s unseasonably warm and sunny - maybe Seattlites are so used to rain, the sun makes them ill???

Lindsay liked the iPod so much sunday she went and got one for herself. Poor soul, she’s using it with windoze - it’s only half a machine without iTunes 4. But it’s still the coolest mp3 player around, and she seems to be enjoying it. ;)

Okay, i'm feeling a little cooler now. And a look like the terminator, so at least there’s that…

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Sunday nite, i should be in bed, but it’s still too hot to sleep. It’s even too hot to clean my room, even though it really needs it. ;) Not to hot to sit in the office and surf, tho…

All you slackers that replied 'yes' on coming out to the Cloud Room friday are in big trouble! The 'maybe' folks, i hate you, but in a friendly way. The 'no' folks, well, there were some good excuses in there, so i'm gonna let that slide. But all you 'yes' types that morphed into 'no’s… that’s what 'maybe' is for, fools! Thanks to the 'yes' folks who stayed true, we had a good time without all you goobers anyway… ;) Turns out the Cloud Room was actually closed for a private party, which was and continues to be really lame of them. Not impressed. We walked up the street to the Capitol Club instead, where the patio’s just as breezy, the drinks are just as expensive, but the view’s not as good. Met some cool people around a shared table, tho, had a good time. Someone we won't mention (who knows who she is!) took a ride with a nice guy on a streetbike and didn't come back for quite a while…

Helped Christie celebrate her birthday a few days early by drinking beer in her living room and helping her watch bad tv. Julia and i found a great new teriyaki place on california ave and got some good skating time in. Breakfast on the beach with Adam & Lindsay (well, i had breakfast - they had lunch ;) - crabcakes benedict at the Alki Cafe… very good! ) Called Dad to wish him a Happy Father’s Day and a Happy Birthday! Received a really groovy postcard from Christian’s trip to Italy, a photo of Firenze, making me hate him even more (but in the way mentioned above). Josh and i beat a PS2 game sunday evening. Patrick wrecked his car (suck!). Travis was too busy at work to look at my car, which had an adverse effect on his 'rocks' status, dropping him to merely 'is pretty cool', although there is still time to redeem those lost points. Didn't get my car washed, my room cleaned, or the bills paid - my three chores for the weekend - but there’s always tomorrow… ;)

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Whoa, i am so tired at work today! Was really gonna try and catch up on some sleep, but instead i stayed up late im-ing with Ja'Nielle until almost two! Oops! ;) No matter, i'm too young to sleep anyway, and J is way fun to chat with, i'd do it again anytime! (hint hint!) :D

I'm working on a little wiring project for the dash area in the Max, it’s taken me longer than expected. Mostly cause i kept changing my mind on how i wanted to do it . ;) I'm getting to know the guys at radio shack pretty well - at least, they know enough to leave me alone, and let me head right for the back aisle with the little drawers of electronic parts, rather than try to accost me with a cell phone sales pitch or something. I think i've pretty much got it ready to go tonite, i'm just short two small parts i'll get tomorrow - another buck, maybe two - and then put in the car hopefully saturday morning. Sometime sat, if it works for him, Travis is gonna get me into the shop where he works for some lift time, and walk me thru a 60k service. Which would be really good, since i already have almost 70k and i still haven't finished the 60k checklist. ;) Travis rocks and is going to help me do an alignment and an engine tune up - so by next week the Max should have a new lease on life. Sweet! Travis rocks. Oh, and also… Travis rocks. Seriously.

In other news, Ja'Nielle also rocks. In addition to Travis being da bomb, Ja'Nielle is also da bomb. She’s also smokin' hot. Are you reading this Ja'Nielle? See, everybody thinks so! ;)

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Was just reading StrongBad’s email, and realized i should share this with you'all. Well, at least you'all with broadband internet… ;) If you're on a modem, don't bother, they're huge flash movies. Really funny, tho! That’s all for today. Get back to work, all of you!

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Apparently i'm 41% geek, at least according to Thudfactor’s geek quiz. That’s a lot more than Travis scored, but he is a mechanic, while i'm employed as a computer nerd. I'm also 58% evil, with a style rating of 78%, according to Jamie’s How Evil Are You quiz. Good to know, cause i've been wondering.

In addition to being a mostly evil geek i'm also a criminal, it seems, or at least my neighbors think i look like one. I was out in front of the house working on my car saturday (actually, pretty much all weekend) when two cop cars rolled in, one from each end of the street. An officer got out of each car, and they closed in on me, tinkering in my passenger seat with two doors, the sunroof and the trunk open, and tools spread all over the lawn. Oh, and an orange extension cord trailing across the sidewalk, up the lawn and into my bedroom window. You know, typical car theft stuff. They came up and asked me if i owned the car. “Uh, yeah." What was i doing? “Just doing some wiring work on my stereo" (Not entirely true, but easier than explaining that i'm installing lights that aren't street legal ;) Did i have any proof this car was mine? Well, no. My wallet was in the house. I dug out the registration for them, tho, and rattled off my name and info, which they ran through their cop-computer. At this point, they realized i was not a crook, as i had yet to try and escape - although they still didn't want me going into the house to get my wallet. Actually, i would think as soon as they walked up and i failed to make a violent dash outta there, it would have been pretty clear. Anyway, it seems one of my neighbors had called to report someone trying to steal a car in front of my house. Obviously, once the computer declared me innocent of that particular felony, they dismissed the call and nicely went on their way. First nice cops i've met, actually. So on one hand i'm comforted that the neighbors are that watchful, and that if someone truly was stealing my car (with the cunning use of my own tools and an extension cord from my bedroom) that someone would report and perhaps prevent it. On the other hand, i'm not very impressed with the neighborhood busybody’s observational skills. Unusual assortment of tools aside, i'm out there washing it once a week, or rotating the tires, or opening the hood, or loading/unloading the trunk. Maybe i'm just “another punk kid" and we all look the same? Or perhaps saturday at 3pm is the busybody shift change? Or maybe this person just starting peeping out their windows at the neighbors this week, and this was their first act as resident busybody? Whatever the case, i found it pretty funny, and i'm going to be sure and perform fun, suspicious-looking activities in the future for their benefit.

After being investigated by the local authorities, i got cleaned up and accompanied Josh out for pizza, and then to the Crocodile Cafe, to listen to Mountain Con. It was a pretty good show, despite the incredible, mind-melting heat inside the club. One of the guitarists, Eric, is Kim’s sister Erika’s boyfriend. Also, Jason Thane knows a few of the band members from high school, as they're all from Missoula. What a random, small world.

As it’s days are numbered, we're hitting the Cloud Room this friday nite, a preemptive last bash of sorts. Come join us. Buy me a drink… or i'll steal your car!

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Since when is it june already? Seriously… i've been typing the date wrong for a week… although that could just be sleep deprivation. Stayed up until almost 2 with Patrick last nite, doing some custom cosmetic engine projects and setting up our first public sale as a company (for Tein S-Tech springs). It’s a pretty good price - if i had the money i'd buy them from us! ;) Getting up for work was a bit difficult this am, but i'm proud to say i was actually on time… and arrived to an empty office, as no one else in the department showed up until at least 9. Oh, well, at least i won't feel as guilty about leaving early tonight to make happy hour. ;) It is “first thursday" and all, only happens once a month! (Monthly gallery openings in Pioneer Square, free art museum admission, open studios - basically an artist block party downtown). So if you get off work on time, come find us at McCormick & Schmick’s enjoying $2 half-pound cheeseburgers and happy hour drink specials, and then go a-wandering with us through the gallery district. Should be a good time… and cheap, too!

So like it wasn't going to be obvious, i'm really tired today. If you could see me typing this, you'd see how many mistakes i'm making and how glazed over my eyes are… I'm listening to disco and sucking down the bad bad bad (but free) coffee from the break room in an effort to stay awake until lunch, when i plan to find a sunny park bench to take a nap on. It’s only 9.22, but so far… i'm stayin' alive…

On a really sucky note, one of my favorite Seattle spots is closing its doors, thanks to the evil that is the eastside. Redmond-based Trendwest Resorts has purchased the Camlin hotel, and is closing the Cloud Room, one of the coolest bars in the city and the only remaining place for us regular people to enjoy the view for only the cost of a drink. Unlike most of downtown, where the great views are occupied by high-priced offices, or members-only clubs (ahem. Columbia Tower), or $11-per-ride tourist hangouts that close at 10pm (ahem. Space Needle) the Cloud Room was open late, open to the public, and filled with music, laughing, whispering in corners and distilled merriment every night of the week. As Trendwest is going to tear the top off the building and remake it as several luxury condos, i now have a reason to resent and boycott them, as well as one less place to enjoy the city from. Progess sucks! Eastside yuppies suck even more!

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I know my birthday has passed, but if anyone’s feeling really generous, i figured out what i want. I'll love you forever…!

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