New blog: http://ahilldore.blogspot.com/

test.

I'm still thinking about switching to a google blog. Mostly because I am a google fan.

But I want to put more pictures in. Here is one of our cat. I want to see if it is as easy to do here as the g-blog.

Ah-ha. It isn't because I haven't upgraded my account. Nor will I since I'm a cheapskate. Stay tuned for the new blog page.

I think my arms are too long, or my torso is too long, or both. Shirts just don't seem to fit properly.

Good news though, I found some shirts that do fit at the local thrift shop. Yay for cheap clothes.

So two of us (TOU) that are working on some display screens and what is going to be on them. We were talking to some people trying to get some feedback, and the conversation with the first person (FP) when something like this:

FP: So what are you doing?

TOU: Making a progress board. It's to...

FP: Does it have a purpose? If it doesn't have a purpose you shouldn't use it.


TOU: Yes, it is for...
FP: And how will you know the data is current? The first time I look up there and something is wrong I'm never going to trust it again.

TOU: Well, it will come from a database that should be mostly automated...

FP: Maybe you should really think through what you're doing and make sure it has a purpose. And you need to figure out what you are trying to do.

TOU (thinking): That's why we're asking people.

FP: You really want to make sure it has a purpose. Like Toyota. Were every machine goes uhk, nurk, bor, shiz, uhk, nurk, bor, shiz, uhk, nurk, bor, shiz, uhk, nurk, bor, shiz, uhk, nurk, bor, shiz, uhk, nurk, bor, shiz, uhk, nurk, bor, shiz, uhk, nurk, bor, shiz, uhk, nurk, bor, shiz, uhk, nurk, bor, shiz, uhk, nurk, bor, shiz, uhk, nurk, bor, shiz, uhk, nurk, bor, shiz, uhk, nurk, bor, shiz, uhk, nurk, bor, shiz.

TOU (thinking): is he done making the car yet?

FP: And we really want production to be like that. If this isn't going to help...if it is just something that will be on the screen but not current, you should really think about your plan.

Today I was a Good Neighbor. The across-the-street neighbor's dog was out, which was odd because we've never seen her out without people around. And the house looked pretty closed up. So I went over there and, after debating for a while because I couldn't get a hold of the people, let her in. And that's where she was supposed to be. Phew.

I've thought about changing to a google blog and naming it update. Because I can never think of subjects. And for some reason I like the look of the google blog. maybe I should change my look instead. We'll see what happens.

Sometimes I wish I had deep thoughts to put in this. The other day I was compemplating my seemingly lack of deepness. It is because I'm not deep, because I see stuff that goes on in life differently than others, or is it because my life really has been different? I guess that's a deep thought. But I'm not sure it counts. :)

Where does this all come from? Ben and I went to a small group at church that broke into groups of four to discuss the mini-message. (It felt like school. I hated breaking into groups.) And I was supposed to share my thoughts with four strangers. 1. I'm not sure I had time to process everything yet. (Would I process it? Sometimes. This could be a problem too, but a different one I guess.) 2. I sometimes feel ashamed of my life because I have been so blessed. Sure, there have been some minor down times and a few major down times, but really, nothing too bad. So when I'm asked to give an example of something in my life and I can't come up with one, is it my fault for not paying attention or not my fault because it just hasn't happened?

Today I went to the DMV for a new driver's license. In a lovely turn of events, I didn't have to wait in line at all. Also, they don't need proof of address anymore (if NY ever did), just passport and ss card.

In a not so lovely turn of events, I waited 45 minutes to get Flurry a shot at the vet. They were "having some problems" with the two dogs ahead of me. Then Flurry didn't stop growling and hissing the whole time she was out of her carrier. However, she was ok with the drive, so that was nice.

And in random news, if you put new windows in backwards they tend to leak. The water is directed inside instead of outside. However, since Ben and I didn't put the window in, we don't have to deal with it too much.

So for my birthday, Ben got me an account to netflix. I just found out that you can share your ratings/favorites/etc with friends. So if you too are a member, let me know.

Well, here's another update

1. Last Sunday we went to a Church that felt a lot like the Vineyard, so we're going to try it again this Sunday.
2. We played poker with some people from work last night. I unfortunately didn't feel great (an ache in my stomach that would hurt, leave, hurt, leave) but good enough to stay for a bit. Between Ben and I, I think we made 3.50.
3. Note: don't leave the de-humidifier on "continuous."
4. We got our new bedroom set. What does this mean for you? There's a bed when you come to visit.
5. Frozen jello doesn't work so well.

Ben told me today that I need to post more. Well, here are some misc. thoughts since nothing super interesting has happened.

1. I hate ants. Really. They creep me out like no other bug does.
2. I miss Dos. All of us up here but from Champaign miss it. We haven't had great luck with new restaurants...last Friday we went to one and waited at least 1.5 hours for pizza. They didn't even give us the appatisers for free. Spelling shemling. We might try a mexican restaruant this weekend though that Laura found.
3. The job is fine. This week is busy enough that I think I can work enough hours to take Friday off.
4. I still like the new house. :)
5. Ben got the mailbox up!
6. Some of my plants seem to be dieing. The others are doing well though. I gave the dieing ones some extra water today after getting revenge on the ants.
7. Still no luck on finding a new church. What Ben and I would really like to know is "Where are all the young adults?"
8. I feel yucky. As in slightly ill, but not much.

Well, we have made it into the new house. Stressful, but we're here. Laura and Dusty also made it to NY this weekend and are moved in. Yesterday was a long day with moving out, moving in, then another move in to help them.

/if (not Dusty or Laura)
Luckily, their truck was at least half empty by the time we showed up.

/if (Dusty or Laura)
We felt sad that we couldn't help them move the whole truck in.

However, we were able to help them by storing their love seat, which equates to us having more temporary furniture which is nice.

Flurry seems to be doing fine. A lot of the boxes are still in the garage, but the computers are set up. What more do we need?

Well, sheets would be nice. We still haven't found them.

We also went shopping for some of the essentials and are now the proud owners of six four-packs of toilet paper, five new pairs of socks, four house keys, three doorstops, two card tables, and a garbage can. (If you didn't sing that to the "12 days of Christmas" go back and try again. I worked really hard on remembering what we got.)

Yesterday I saw a stapler with a lable on it: unclassified.

Moral: Make sure you have the correct security clearance for your stapler before using it.

While the trip to work is longer than we would like, we did manage to see two black bear cubs on the side of the highway. Luckily, they turned around and went back into the woods.

Well, we've made it to NY. So far nothing seems to have broken, although there are a few scratches on some of the furniture...pretty minor, really.

We're (although it's more of an "I'm") slowly unpacking some boxes and figuring out which boxes can be kept packed. We also got groceries today, and usually when I go along the bill is higher than when Ben goes by himself. But considering that we had to completely restock the refrigerator and a lot of the other "normal" foods that we had just finished off and not gotten more of, it really wasn't as bad as I was expecting. Oh, and we got a garbage can. Now we just have to call to get the garbage collection started...

"Any landing is a good landing." ~Yellerbeard

Well, we did manage to get a place to live, so that is exciting. We are currently in Erie and have a few hours to go tomorrow.

So far everything has been going well and Flurry is doing ok.

Ben says hi.

So early in the morning a dreamed that Ben and I were visiting a zoo and the white tiger had escaped. Unfortunately, we found it in the parking lot. We mangaged to get inside while the zoo keepers trapped it, but Flurry had a close call and was really close to the tiger. Luckily, the tiger didn't eat her.

Later on, I had a dream that I was back in Holland and it was tulip time. I had gone to see Ben in the parade, with Hanneke and some of Ben's friends. One of them was annoying, but the rest were ok. :D Afterwards, we were going to park at Hope College and walk to downtown, and what do we see? The escaped white tiger on the loading dock. It pretty much just sat there until we noticed it. At this point, we were suddenly in a building and we figured it came from the nearby zoo. So I called them, and the person was amazingly unhelpful.

I told them a white tiger was loose, and they told me it wasn't a white tiger but the normal orange tiger. (Who cares at such a moment?!?) After arguing for a bit about the color, I finally just asked him if someone could come get the tiger because it had killed about 20 people in a hallway. He said no. So I asked if he could give me the number of anyone. That's when the phone rang...

...after which Ben and I gave our white cat some tranquilizer. For real. :)

Hmm, I don't remember what I posted last. Briefly, we still don't have a place to live but are hopeful with a few option and we do have a uhaul and a piano mover.

We are getting rid of some furniture, and amazingly everything has been spoken for. We still have to get it out, but I'm excited that it won't go in the trash.

Also, we got some banana boxes yesterday from the supermarket. Yeah, they have a big hole in the middle, but I wasn't too worried...I'll put some scrap cardboard in the bottom and put cloth-type stuff in it. No problem. Turns out, that all we got were the TOPS of banana boxes. Where are the bottoms? Why give people only the tops? I'm still not sure. Luckily, my engineering abilities kicked in and I decided that the top really wasn't all that important structurally. So I cut one of the corners on the top that I was actually using as a top and put it on. It isn't pretty, but it should work. :)

Well, we have a u-haul and a mover to get the piano down the steps. Our moving quote came in about $1000 more than we were expecting, and with all of the housing problems we're having it gives us a lot more flexibility.

On the housing front, it looks as though we might have a few options with respect to living. One of the best options, however, won't let us in until a bit later though. Not ideal, but at this point...we just need a place to stay.

Luckily, it's mostly good:

1. Ben and I both have jobs.  We will be working for Lockheed Martin in Owego, NY
2. Our condo sold.  It even sold very quickly.
3. We're not working right now, but having a fun time hanging out.
4. I went on a safari that was a blast. (More to come)

The bad:
1. We haven't found a house in NY.  For that matter, it might be a problem finding a rental that allows pets.  Anyone want to cat sit for an extended time?
2. Other sad stuff.

The ugly:

1. Uh...our house.  It's a mess because we brought back the boxes that were in storage and now they're sitting around.