We won our fantasy football game this week against Scotty. He's lost eleven in a row now, I was sure that we'd be the ones to break his streak and end our playoff hopes. If Tony or Todd lose, we're in, but they're both ahead right now.

Late.

Worked on my BMW to get it ready for inspection, but need some parts. Nailed down a couple of other things on my to-do list, but overall a very unproductive week off. Just needed to recharge.

Oh, I put together some stuff for the website, a new page or two about our football weekend. It should be ready for publication this week.

Late.

Nothing today except lay around the house.

Late.

I had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Besides the meal, spending time with the family, etc., I really do have a lot to be thankful for, and don't often take time to appreciate how lucky I have been.

We had turkey, mashed potatoes, dressing (or stuffing, I use the terms interchangeably), gravy, cranberry relish, green bean casserole, asparagus with Hollandaise sauce, and four kinds of pie. A traditional Thanksgiving dinner. We played Scrabble and Trivial Pursuit. Aaron, Kira and I met Tony out for a drink afterwards, and played the trivia game there.

Our stuffing is moist, which is fine, but I also can appreciate the "dry" point of view.

Late.

Went grocery shopping, did some laundry, updated the Books section of my website.

Late.

Aaron's birthday, we went out to eat sushi, and watched the Two Towers on DVD. I didn't get crap done today, the maid came but the washing machine broke again, so she couldn't do sheets and towels again, I'll have to do them myself.

I think I should have gone to work this week.

Late

Laid around the house til now, watching TV, I got up at 8 but took a nap around 10. I'm taking the whole week off, thinking I'll get some things done, but I'm totally unmotivated. I need to:

1) Start Christmas shopping
2) Look for a new house
3) Get some things done on my cars
4) Lots to do at work, I'm trying to pretend that it can all wait

Our fantasy football team lost, we had very bad matchups this week. We're now back in fifth place. We'll need to win out to stand a chance in the playoffs.

Late.

I went to the Texans game with Robin, what a heartbreaker, they lost in OT to the Pats. During the game a cold front came in, and when we left we had to walk about a mile in blustery cold rain. We warmed up at the Marquis.

Late

Got up at 5am because I was nervous, studied a couple of hours before I went over to the Hilton around 8. My scheduled time was 9:30, but they were running ahead, so just to be sure, I was there early. I talked to a couple of guys that had gone through it, they all passed (only one guy in our class didn't, he froze up and blew it off). Very nervous. I can't remember the last time I was so anxious, maybe my job interview with El Paso in 1997? I don't know, I was pretty hung over for that one.

They called me in around 9:00, and got straight to it. 6 technical questions and 4 situational questions, 10 minutes for each. I made notes after receiving each question and then started talking. Most of the time, they didn't have any questions, but several times they prompted me for something I'd left out. And at the end, I leave the room and they vote.

Then they called me back, and said that I passed! I'm now one of the only NACE Certified Coatings Inspectors at El Paso, I'll get a plaque.

Five hour drive back to Houston.

Late.

Today was study day, started at around 8am and a quick break for lunch. Spent most of my time going through the three classes' manuals and making notes. Very productive, but I'm quitting for the evening, too much information.

Late.

The link is now showing up, I guess it was Blogger's fault, I just pointed to their icon.

No studying so far today, needed a break. Watched JFK stuff, still pretty heart wrenching after 40 years. Jackie was amazingly beautiful, and so..., I don't know, 'classy' is too pedestrian a term, 'grace' and 'poise' and 'regal', maybe 'out of my league'?

My treat for passing the exam was a muffaletta from Central Grocery. I love those things.

Late.

WHOOOOO HOOOOOOO!!!!! I passed the exam, second highest score (89 to the 91 that one other guy made). Now all I have to do is the hard part, pass the peer review. I'll have all day Friday to cram, and I've had a pretty good start so far preparing for the final. The peer review covers all the material from the previous three courses (all week-long courses) as well as several real world scenerios. If I pass, I'm celebrating somehow, I'm not sure how. Maybe a CIP shirt.

I've been on the road too long, can't wait to get home Saturday.

To the folks at Blogger I apologize, somehow the link at the bottom of this page disappeared. I'll work on the template as soon as I get a chance. It's a great site, go there now!

Late.

Woke up this morning, and got ready to leave, I was walking out the door and realized that I had set the alarm clock wrong last night and that it was only 6:30 AM! With daylight savings over, it gets light early. Oh well, another hour of sleep I will never get back.

Class til about 6, email til 7:30, and then dinner at the Denny's and hit the books. I have the final exam for the class tomorrow afternoon, then I get Thursday night and Friday to study for my peer review Saturday morning.

Late.

We squeaked it out Monday night, our team jumped from 5th to 3rd in the rankings with three games to go. We've got one of the tough teams this weekend, but then the two softest teams in the league (famous last words). We probably need to win out to get in the playoffs.

I chickened out on checking out, too lazy to move all my stuff. The room was fine last night, so I guess I'm staying.

Got home from class around 5:30, did the homework and reading from today's lecture and finished around 8:30, went to dinner, logged on here, and it's bed time. No time at all for preparing for the peer review. My session is on Saturday, so I'll have all day Friday to prepare. Maybe I can get ahead enough to have dinner with Rick on Thursday, but it's not looking good.

Late.

Well, strike three on the hotel last night, but I haven't checked out yet. I heard a bunch of thumping, and then the elevator alarm went off. After about twenty minutes of that, I got up and rescued the two guys that had been trapped for about half an hour by forcing open the doors. That was about 1:30 am, and then I was too awake to go back to sleep right away, so I finished up the studying that I was going to do in the morning before class. Then the AC started making weird noises, so I had to turn it off. My key wouldn't let me in the parking lot when I got back this evening. So, I'm going to check out in the morning.

Might be too early to celebrate on the fantasy football, since we have a five point lead and he's still got his kicker going. Another Monday night sweating it out.

Late.

Left Rick and Claire's and drove from Covington to New Orleans this morning. I'm taking a class this week at the airport Hilton, but I decided to stay at the Best Western to save money. It's a pit, I got a non-smoking room that smells like smoke and has two ashtrays, the elevator is broken, it took a phone call and a trip to the front desk to get the long-distance authorized on my phone. In addition to that, it's near the airport and right next to a railroad track. One more thing and I'm checking out.

I've been stressing about this class, because I'm taking a certification exam afterwards in front of a panel of experts. Most people at our company think that you can't pass the exam unless you've worked at this particular task for years. After today, I feel pretty good, but I've got a lot of studying to do.

Our fantasy football team squeaked another victory, I did as poor a coaching job as you can do. Our bench scored two and a half times as much as our starters, but with this win, we control our own destiny. With three more wins we're in the playoffs.

Late.

In the AM, got up at 6, packed my bags, finished the laundry, went by the office to pick up my manuals, drove to Covington to visit Rick and Claire (about 300 miles) in about 5 hours, made great time, babysat six kids for an hour or so, went to a church social, and now I am getting ready to go to bed.

Some interesting cajun figures of speech:
Go make groceries = go grocery shopping
Be there for 5 o'clock = be there at 5 o'clock

Class starts tomorrow.

Late

Flew back from Nashville, unpacked, drained, disassembled and reassembled the washer with success, started a load, went to dinner with Aaron and Alissa (Van Loc, very good, the waiters were bending over backwards to impress my guests, they've never seen me in there except by myself). Watched MI-5. Going to bed.

Late

Another all day meeting, we started at 7:30 am and it broke up around 7:30 pm. More heated discussion, I blew up about nothing just before we adjourned. Must be tired. Travel day tomorrow, my flight is later and I'm going to get some work done in the AM.

Late

Had a good day, we met all day on different corrosion issues. A lot of arguing, but things get accomplished by consensus.

Late

Went to Ruth's Chris, had a couple of beers at the bar with some of the guys, too late to be up.

Late

Flew to Nashville this morning, I was up late last night putting music on my iPod, and guess what? ... Yup, I left it at home. Damn.

Sat next to a guy from Austin who could not shut up, even when I opened my book and faced away from him. Perfect iPod situation.

Late

Brian got married, it was a blast. Very nice ceremony, great reception, all in all a great time. Brian looked very happy.

Back from Philly, listened to all the music I've put on my iPod, need to recharge it with about a dozen CD's. Getting on a plane in the morning to go to Nashville for the week. Back on Friday, hop in the car and drive to Louisiana to visit Rick & Claire for the weekend, class all week in New Orleans. Then a week off for Thanksgiving.

My voice-mail message at work says "I'll be out of the office until December 1." Really cuts down on the messages I get.

Late

Just got into Philly and boy are my arms tired. Plane was totally full of geriatrics coming back from a cruise, I sat next to the American amateur sumo wrestling champion. Going out to party.

Late

Well, Tom spilled the beans about Brian's tatoo in front of the whole rehersal dinner crowd. Brian's parents didn't know about it, so it was really exciting!

We're going on a photo tour of Philly, the wedding party is going to go around to scenic parts of the city to take pictures.

Late

Long day again today, sitting up at the podium listening to some folks give the same presentation for the second or third time I've heard before. Presentations went until 6:45, very late, and I have to pack and stuff for going to Philly for Brian Camfield's wedding.

The washer stopped working, and I had to wring out a load of clothes by hand.

Tired. Late

I'm chairing a seminar Wed-Fri, see more info here, there's even a picture of me. Long days and evenings. I haven't had dinner yet, and I have to get up at 5am.

Dragging.

Listening to the Stones on my iPod.

Late

Oh, forgot to tell you, I got my iPod in the mail yesterday, had to go buy a cable to get it to link to my PC earlier tonight, but I am jamming RIGHT NOW!!!! I copied three CD's over, and it works great.

The software is a little counter-intuitive, though. I guess I ought to RTFM.

Late late late

Today I gave a presentation to about 300 people. It went really well, they laughed at all my jokes.

The moderator told me last night that about 1,500 people were participating in the webcast, you can check it out here.

Late much

Link of the day: http://www.henry.martinez.net. Cool site with a lot of very cool video. Check this one out on a fast connection.

Oh, I wasted most of the morning already. Got to get some work done.

Late.

Well, I updated most of the pages on the site to include a link to the blog, maybe someone will read this now. I'm trying to post at least once a day, free association-like, just what's happening.

KFFL trade talks were not successful, we've got one more day before the deadline Monday night. People just think you're trying to rip them off. We got turned down on four or five offers that were really once-sided (against us).

I worked all weekend putting together a presentation for Tuesday. Didn't get most of the errands done I needed to, and I'm going to be on the road for the next month.

Hey, send me an email at drew@hevle com and tell me what you think.

Went out with Craig last night, had sushi and beers.

site history

Added Dangermouse, Electronics, Houston Restaurants, KFFL pages. Created separate Site History from Drew page. Added blog and blog archives. Reorganized site file structure.