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This morning was perhaps the last time we will see the Ardrey’s for a little while, but Julie helped me to understand that it would indeed not be the last time we see them by exclaiming,  “It’s not like they are being annihilated!”  True.  We joined up with the rest of the crew around 8:45am for loading boxes into the moving truck, but Julie and I left before it “turned into one big cryfest.” (to quote myself).

Julie and I had a cup of coffee this morning before leaving for the Ardrey’s, and I was telling her about my new routine at work of getting a cup of coffee with Darren in the morning.  It is a great way to start the day, and it is a time that I really enjoy.  I believe that coffee brings people together, and that if even the most bitter of enemies would just sit down and have a cup of coffee together, they could work things out.  Historians will later reflect on the Pax Java as one of greatest eras in the history of humankind.

Of all 4 or 7 people who frequent this site know by now, Julie’s sister Crystal has been our basement-dweller for the summer. Her roommate from college, Liz, came out last weekend and they did some apartment hunting together. In their quest they hit up Timberlane Village, which was our proud and happy place of residence prior to moving, and they were offered a wicked good deal on the same layout apartment that we had! Crazy. Well, good for them. Upon finding this out, we all went to Nebraska’s to order beds and such, followed by the obligatory trip to Famous Dave’s. By the middle of August they should be all moved in!
Also in the last couple of weeks, I have been experiencing an intense desire to listen to Jethro Tull. I first went to a CD Warehouse down the street and picked up “The Very Best Of” and later bought the “Songs From the Wood” CD on eBay. It is wonderful, and I highly recommend the latter CD to anyone who might enjoy “Folk Prog Rock.”
Lastly, but certainly not leastly, is the first annual “LAN & BBQ” party is coming to our place a week from saturday. The plan is for everyone from work (literally everyone. The whole company.)(If not everyone, then at least the IS department) and set up a folding table in the garage and hook up a bunch of computers to it. Then we shoot each other for hours, stopping only to fire up a grill and BBQ. It is looking less and less tentative everyday.

“Sorry I ripped your boyfriend’s arms off… need a hug?”

I highly recommend askaninja.com.  It’s like strongbad emails, but with a “ninja” instead.  For the geek, I think you will enjoy the episodes on Net Neutrality and on Physics (Tim Troxler especially! You’ll love it…) and for everybody else, check out Ninja Excuses or KillaCon.

Today and tomorrow I get the day off from work.  So needless to say, this is amazing. It’s a beautiful day outside and I have all the windows in the house open, cleft in the rock is playing good and loud, I’m working on a friend’s laptop, and enjoying a glass of my new favorite drink, pomegranet-blueberry juice.  Good stuff.

Brad came over saturday night for a round of Settlers of Catan, and he endured my first attempt at making spare ribs.  It was his first time playing Catan, and, of course, he won.  Well done, Brad.  We also spent some time talking about music, and it was just good to see Brad again, I think for the first time spring semester ended.

Sunday came, and church was as great as always.  The ardreys are gone for the next couple weeks (then they are back for a week, then they leave for good, I think that is the plan) so Pastor played piano!  Sunday evening we went to see Riverdance at Starlight, and it was amazing.  I absolutely loved it!  I think this week we are going to see Shakepeare in the Park too.

So, the question of the day, when one is travelling from Long Island to southern New Jersey – Which map do I use?  Rand McNally has me use the cross Bronx expressway, but Google is telling me to drive in downtown Manhattan.  Not gonna lie – I don’t really like either of those choices.  As much as I am always proGoogle, I feel that I should not drive by Times Square and past the Empire State Building to get to New Jersey.  Especially since I am driving a large white ENC van.  So which is better?  I guess I’ll find out in a few hours…