Break

Greetings from Florida.

I'm somewhat home for this week. I'm in St. Pete staying with my grandmother in the house in which my dad grew up. I have until July 11 to live it up before the new job starts, so I thought I would come down here and vegetate for a while.

Job. Yes, I said job. The past week has been a whirlwind of luck for me. Monday, June 20, I got a call from SAIC. They wanted an interview and of course I said, "Sure!" The next day I drove three hours to their Falls Church office (three hours in traffic from Warrenton). The interview went well, and at 2pm I was offered the job! They're giving me a secret clearance and great benefits to do technical documentation for DISA. I start July 11.

Friday I had another meeting at the SAIC building, I had a meeting with another one of my supervisors. Afterwards I met up with Theresa and we had lunch with her brother, Tom, and his friend David. Or at least I think his name was David. After lunch I went to Aaron's where I changed out of my business attire and watched The Bridge on the River Kwai (love for Alec Guiness). On the way to P.F. Chang's for dinner I got a call from Margaret, she told me that the awesome apartment in Falls Church for cheap that I applied for was mine! The next day I signed the lease and dropped an insane amount of money on security deposit and first month's rent-- but I have my own place now! Only four miles from my new job!

And Saturday was my 22nd birthday. Yes, the same day I signed the lease. Aaron and I went to the 9:30 Club for the Sleater-Kinney show. Although their new album, The Woods, is rockin', it's made them really popular with a totally different crowd. The show was really different from their last because of the change in audience and it wasn't that pleasant. I don't know, maybe the change in label? Kill Rock Stars to SubPop? Oh, and their opener, Dead Meadow, sucked. Sorry. Rolling Stone magazine said they were an "opening act to show up early for"-- not so much. Sorry Dead Meadow. Rolling Stone also got their name wrong, announcing them in big letters as "Dead Meadows."

Anyway. Will update soon on my adventures in Fla. Going to Ybor City tomorrow. Buying some hand-rolled cigars. Cuban cigars. Just not exactly from Cuba.

53.3 kbps

Last winter, my parents bought a new computer from the Dell Man. Thinking to replace our Windows 95-running, Age of Empires capable (but by no means stellar) Gateway computer that we bought in 1996, we now own this royal P.O.S. As we do not have high speed internet, our average modem speed is 53.3 kbps--even with the Earthlink Accelerator for no extra charge per month. And for some reason Google gmail will not open. This means that on the weekends I call Aaron at home and ask him to check my Gmail account.

I still haven't bought my bicycle yet. Tom's been looking out for me and it's narrowed down to either a Raleigh Supercourse or a Grand Prix (both the '05 model). Can't wait. I want to start riding soon!

Sleater-Kinney is playing the 9:30 Club on my birthday next weekend. I can't wait! Their new album, "The Woods" is great, I really enjoyed it. A little heavier than their earlier ones, but a great listen. Rolling Stone gives it a great review.

Last night I went to Red, Hot, & Blue Happy hour with Bennett and Theresa. We had cheap food, cheap beer, and lots of laughs. It was definitely a great evening. I think after talking to them, my next feature piece will profile my great-aunt. She would travel around the world collecting rocks from famous places...these rocks were more than likely chipped off the famous places she had visited. She gave me a few of her pieces as a birthday present one year. I have a piece of the Sphinx. Yes, that Sphinx. It may be its nose, even. Ah, my family.

My Super 8mm Kodachome movie film experiment was a success! I have a camera that works beautifully and the film was processed and transferred without a problem! The test rolls are funny to watch. The film looks like it could be from the 1950's or '60's, but there's Aaron and I at Burke Lake and Bill and Aaron riding bikes. It's definitely a laugh. And of course no sound. Now, if we could find some old cars to set the scene, we could really throw folks for a loop.

Sorry, no pics for now, but I'll try to have some of that 8mm footage up soon!

Bikes, etc.

I'm in the process of buying a road bike. I'm not exactly sure when I'll get it, I've been talking to my Uncle Tom about what's available and what I need for a recreational bike. It gives me an excuse to visit my old old hometown Pittsfield, Massachusetts and stop by Tom's shop.

Aaron and I are off to buy a hitch rack for my Jeep today!

Doves at 9:30

Doves at 9:30 Club on the 23rd was spectacular. The show was rockin' and so was my date.

The night went well, missing the last train and forgetting we parked John's car at Clarendon made it even better.