Monday I cooked dinner and we had a pair of friends over ... with their two young kids (the baby didn't cause any noise so she doesn't get mentioned ;-) It was a good excuse to have ice cream for desert. I did just enough baked battered shrimp and chicken fingers (i.e., just enough left over for my lunch today) though I did forget the cocnut shavings on the counter the kids didn't mind. They even ate one or two of the glazed baby carrots; which had to steam for about an hour to get soft, much to my dismay. However, I did way more macaroni and cheese than needed. When my family used to eat it for dinner (tuna caserole) we would do a 'family size' box so I doubled it for last night adn, though we admittedly had fewer people than I expected, theres still over half of it in the fridge.

 

We got in to work early today; Suzanne was up admirably early though she didn't quite make 5:30am like she originally planed. Worked through - answering emails and prepping for tomorrow, paid some bills and minuted a meeting then got spare keys cut to start replacing the set we (Suzanne) lost a couple fo weeks ago. When Suzanne comes home we may go to the Cinema: Journey to the Centre of the Earth in 2D.

We're back from Los Angeles and my computer is back in the hutch (the repair shop couldn't find anything wrong with the drives or power pack and couldn't replicate the crash we got that sent it in). However, the external HD still doesn't work through the USB so I'm dreading what'll happen when I turn on the printer. I know, maybe I'll leave that for Suzanne.

 

Here's a picture of us somewhere in Los Angeles. I guess since we're back now I shoudl really post up a picture of us here in Cayman but as I have the camera there are few pictures with me in teh frame.

Yesterday (day off) I took my computer back to the repair shop. It was crashign with a cluncking noise. They hadn't hada chance to look at it when I checked back this afternoon. Why back to the same store? Well, store A, where I had the motherboard replaced a while ago and they ended up also downgrading Windows during the reinstall is now out of bussiness. Store B had suggested the problem with the USB ports was rust (not a wrong diagnosis but not right for all the ports). Store C at least got the printer working for a while (untill the computer crashed). Plus they didn't ask for a deposit this secod time. Also they're relaitvely close to home. However, I probably wnt be posting for a while. Computers aren't supposed to make clunking noises unless they're playing games. - Maybe thats it, my computer is playing games with me.

I got the computer back this evening and the scanner now seems to work. However, we have no paper so the printing that Suzanne wanted to do tonight probably still wont get done. Such is as such is.

Well, I got some of the work done today. Once again I underestimate how long its going to take to accomplish something. Rather worying wince I quoted someone that it would take 60 minutes to do a job that should take us 30 minutes to accomplish. We'll see how long it really takes when we do the job next year.

 

Supper is in the toaster oven now (plus a bunch of leftover side dishes on teh counter). I forgot to bring the shopping bags and list when I left home this morning so I'll need to go back out tonight (or leave it untill Friday when I'm off on a long weekend). However, I did collect the mail and get my hair cut so it was still a personally productive day.

 

I wonder if I should be worried that MS-Spaces keeps putting up banner adds for singles clubs whenever I log on? ;-)

If I hadn't enjoyed my day off yesterday I'd say something like "it really throws off the feel of the week - I've lost track of what day it is". As it was I had a mildly productive day - a lot more email (an entire morning's worth actually) than I expected. Which means that the stuff I had put into outlook before I went away last week so I'd remember to do them today. Well, maybe tomorrow.

 

Spent the morning poking at the computer then pulled it apart to take to the repair guy. Hopefully they can get it working properly as I think its a general USB error so beyond my simple skills. We ran some other errands and I cooked dinner for Suzanne, her mother and one of the sister-couples. (The other sister had other party engagements.) We had a fairly enjoyable chat session for several hours. Tomorrow its back to the real world of work. I wonder how that will go?

We picked up Suzanne's mom & aunt from the airport at mid-day on Saturday (couldn't get my bag because the airline agent said Customs had it in secure lock-up and they were swamped with new arrivals so check back later). They came over for a late lunch Suzanne had prepared and talked about their trip. I could tell they really enjoyed themselves as I don't think Suzanne's mom has stopped talking about it yet ;-) They obviosuly had a blast at every stop on the tour.  On Sunday one of Suzanne's sister and her boyfriend came over for lunch and hten we went over my parents for supper.

 

I'm up on my Monday off to try and back up the computer so I can take it in to the repair shop to have them install a printer. I know, I know, what's up with that, right? Obviously some part of the drivers has gotten stuck somewherein the computer system and repeated attempts to uninstall and reinstall have failed. So I'm hoping theyll know where to look for a fast fix that wont cost a lot for what should be a user-achievable project.

LAst week I attended a science conference on Conchs in San Andres (Colombia). It took me 4 days of travelling for a 3 day conference. Now thats bad connections. As it was, on my return through Miami, Immiration was slow & luggage check not particularly fast so by the time I got to the counter they had closed but put me on anyway then security was going fine untill the chap in front of me got all tied up with some fo his stuff through the scanner and some not so after jumping him in the que I dashed to my gate (fortunatley not far) holding my pants up because the plane should have started boarding already. Riiiight. Not that I had much time waiting but at least you can rely on airlines not to be less delayed than their passengers. Of course they're still faster than the luggage transferers so I've got to go to the airport today to pick up my suitcase. Could be worse, on my way to San Andres my sutcase was lost in Havana for a couple fo days so I've only had my stuff for two nights out of the last six. Litterally. Tough it has given my beard a chance to get nicely 'manly'.

Friday we ran from work down to some friends in West Bay for a BBQ, with a quick check-in with my grandparents. This was after lunch with Suzanne's sister's and father. In between there was a lot of job-work.

 

Saturday I was up early keyed up from the BBQ then we headed out to sell produce, had an early lunch that took a long time to track down and camped out during the noon rains doing job-work in preperation for next week while Suzanne did store-work in preperaton for opening her clothing store. This evening we wandered down to my parents where my mom's (extended) family had gathered because of a visiting cousin. A very bubly evening.

Its been a long-working week. Tuesday I was in the lab then we went to the movies (HB2). Wednesday I spent the day on the water then went to introduce a science lecturer. Thursday (thats today) we didn't boat for lack of people so I got to do some office work, though more of it was new work than the work I was trying to get done. When I got home Suzanne had dinner waiting and we ate in teh garden. She'd even made 'fresh cream' to go with the 'seasonal berries'. Then we watched some TV while she worked on teh computer. Which has been my escuse all week for not updating - Suzanne wont let me play on the computer ;-) Actually "she broke it" today so I've got to pull it out of its hutch tonight so we can take it to the repair shop tomorrow and hopefully get it back for the weekend. Hopefull its a minor repair but the other option is a burnt out NIC on the motherboard, which would be annoying. We will see what we shall see.

Wow, its been an entire weekend since I updated. A rainy weekend so we didn't do much. And Suzanne has taken over the computer so I watched a ot of TV. Plus a couple fo videos I rented while picking up possibilities for Movie Night for my church group on Saturday. I like the new longer rental period the tape club is offering now. Works getting heavy. Lots of it and less time (or maybe just more deadlines) than normall. OF course its allways a good feeling to get lots of work done so its a trade off. And all the long-term penidng work that gets pushed back is another trade off too of course. Maybe August. Yeah, thats the month.

Thursday was a slightly shorter day in a different small boat so I wasn't quite as tired as Wednesday. Plus, i got home before Suzanne. Except that I had just got on the computer when a squall made down around the apartment, lightenign flashing bright, so I turned everything off and read a book. Suzanne came home and claimed the computer so I just had time/energy to pay the bills before going to bed. I did get to cook dinner, though, so that was good, plus I get left overs for lunch today. Now to finish slurping down my oats (forgot to get the cereal when we went shopping - I'm not sure how healthy oats are when you add a good dollop of vlavoursed coffee creamer to them to make them taste apetising) and hit the road for work on Friday.

Spent the day out in a small boat - my legs are killing me, probably fromt he lack of driver's seat. Tried emailing some homework fromt he office but it didn't come through. Which, the more I think about it, the less annoyed I become. Gives me more time to to relax. Time to make the most of my time.

No computer time on Monday, Suzanne's gotten the homework bug bad, so I'm dashing this off before going to work on Tuesday while she weighs out produce for me to put in her car so she can go sell it today. Of course it means I did get to watch a lot of TV last night while she had the other screen. First day back at work seemed to involve mostly emails and then a long meeting with some visiting scientists surveying Marine Parks in the Caribbean.

I'm just back from a week away attending the International Coral Reef Symposium - http://www.nova.edu/ncri/11icrs - It was huge. Unfortunately Suzanne lost track of when I was coming home but I did have a nice time sitting in the garden (after waiting at the airport for 90 minutes before catching a cab) reading a book untill she got home to let me in. It was pretty funny. A tiring day, though, with lots of travel from an early hour after a week of late night 'meetings'. Lets hear it for science. And, to paraphrase the duty free guy at the airport today, a job you can enjoy in places you can enjoy.

Thursday, Thursday, now I remember. A local science group wa giving a public lecture and I went to introduce the visiting scientist speaker. Aparently I did a good job; a very good job, perhaps, if you consider that I never met the man before in my life.

 

Friday - Came in to work and got asked to help with a dive trip. Hmmmmm. Rush through the stuff I had to get done then To The Boat! A quality dive. Out the channel and tie up to the first dive mooring. Its just that good around here. Then we had a 50th happy hour for a co-worker and some other reasons to get together around the office.

 

Saturday I went in for a dental cleaning but had writen down the time an hour late. D'oh. Ran some errands and thats been it for the day.

We got out snorkelling at Eden Rock after work today, which was good fun, with some decent dives (~ 40ft, 1min) and Suzanne and a bunch of other people came along as well. After that I went out to so the grocery shopping so now I'm ready for bed but have some e-work to do. Yawn.

Suzanne has been looking forward to seeing "Wanted" since the adds started and she wasn't too disapointed. It was a fun flick if a bit derivative of Star Wars (only you can save the Jedi Order, padwan - Luke, I am your father) <the preceeding spoiler content is in black text. highlight to read it>. I wonder how many people will be playing First Person Shooter games (especially online) and calling themselves Wesley Gibson (the hero) or one of the other code names from the movie.

Today at work was one of those days where you walk in and before you get to your desk you get hauled off to do something else and so what you planed doesn't get done. We'll see if tomorrow I do what I planed or if I do what I should have done today.

 

I got an email from some old friends today. Which made me feel bad I hadn't written back to some other friends in a while like I inted(ed). Maybe tonight.