Tired but Wired

I really should be crawling into bed and dropping off into a deep, coma-like sleep right about now. However, I'm still too mentally awake to crash just yet. Today I started two classes at the TCC Corporate Training Center, where I also work. They gave me the opportunity to add a networking class to my schedule, so I jumped on it! Unfortunately, they are back-to-back on Tues/Thurs., and they are almost 3 hours each. My brain was spilling over a little by the time I finished my second class around 8:30 tonight. It really felt good to have something crammed in there, though. I'm catching up on a lot of networking and admin stuff that I have very little experience with.

A few blogs back, I mentioned Griffin going to the doctor for a checkup. I forgot to post his vitals. He weighed 17.5 lbs and was 27" tall. Of course, this was several weeks ago, so I'm sure they've already changed. The doctor said he was "Perfect". He just keeps progressing in every area. It's amazing how quickly they change at this age. Every week he's figuring out something new. Today, Joshua came to visit. I was told that they had a grand time playing with the Mega Saucer while I was at work/school. I'm sure that Joshua will be glad when Griffin can actually play with him, which, at this rate won't be long.

Amy's still putting in the hard hours. She works the next three mornings (before 6:00am) and then switches to nights for the weekend. She and her 22 year old manager occasionally have some sparring moments...but she seems to be doing really good, and keeps making decent money even on slow days. We went down to Wichita Falls last Friday and came back Sunday. It was a fast trip, but she got to see all of her family in various shifts and we hit the storage unit for some additional clothes and misc. baby items (although we never found a particular turquoise foot-locker that had all of Griffin's 6-12mo clothes...maybe next time when it's not 104 degrees in the shade).

Going back to the Falls, I realized just how much I've fallen in love with Tulsa again. Wichita Falls just seems so small, flat and desert-like after being back in "Green Country" for a couple of months. When I lived here before, some 15 years ago, I used to always say that I "Love Tulsa, Hate Oklahoma". That still pretty much sums it up for me now. It's large enough to have almost everything that Denver and Dallas has, but without the extra million or so people to add to the traffic and cost of living. I think even Amy would admit that she's enjoyed being able to almost immediately know her way around, since the layout is so simple. She already has told me that she thought the area was really pretty; reminding her of Maryland. It does look very similar to a lot of the northeast, with all the hills and trees. I can't wait until Fall when the trees start changing colors!

The interview with the Computer Nerdz (notice the cheesy spelling!) went well too. They wanted to hire me...but it didn't pay that great, and the job itself (on-site computer tech, fixing Win95/98 problems, installing modems and hard drives, pushing upgrade products on computer neophytes, etc.) didn't seem to be very challenging or exciting. Also, they wanted me to use my own car, which still has no A/C in this heat and humidity (Did I mention?...I can't wait until Fall weather!!!). All in all an interesting opportunity, but not enough to leave TCC. I'm still looking, though, in case I can actually get back into a job with similar salary and benefits as I once had.

Haven't watched any more movies lately...we never found the time to watch Harry Potter, which Dad rented the same time he picked up Lord of the Rings. My family has got me watching Big Brother 3, despite my normal adversion to reality TV. Shows like this are every bit as trashy and addictive as soap operas and I'm ashamed to admit that I actually enjoy this one.

I know that I promised new pictures...but I'm still not quite ready to post a new gallery. I'll get something up before too long.

NOW, I'm going to bed. Thanks for all of the e-mails...I'll be responding to each of you soon! G'night!

 
Finally!!
The interview with Tulsa Community College went quite well last Monday. They offered me a position as a Computer Technician in their Corporate Training Center, and I've accepted. Yesterday was my first day. The people here are great, and the job seems like it will be quite fun. Right now, I'm typing this from my new cubical, watching a great rainstorm out of my 2nd floor window. I'm working a lot with Windows 2000 and XP machines, so I'm getting a refresher on configuration of these systems. Also, I'm allowed to take MCSE preparation classes for free. I start my Windows 2000 Server classes next week. Things are starting to look up!

Griffin turned 5 months old on Sunday, and is still the bright light in our lives. I've taken some new pictures, and I'll try and get them posted soon.

This afternoon, I go back to Computer Nerds, an on-site computer consulting company. I applied for a job there a few weeks back. The General Manager for Oklahoma must have thought I did decent on my application exam (testing mostly Microsoft OS knowledge), and wants to interview me. I figure it can't hurt to talk to them, and see if they can offer me a better deal than TCC. If nothing else, maybe I can pick up a little work to make a few extra $$ on the side.

Amy, my Dad and I watched Fellowship of the Ring last night. Very excellent adaptation of the first book in the Lord of the Rings series, which I haven't read in over 20 years. This movie had incredible special effects and the scenery was awesome! I forgot how detailed Tolkien had described Middle Earth, with all of the unique creatures and characters. It was like watching a real-life Everquest. Occasionally, things got a little confusing, trying to keep up with everyone's names and understanding the dialog through some of the thick accents...but it didn't keep me from enjoying it immensely. I'm really looking forward to the next film, the Two Towers. I may even have to see it at a theater, as I'm sure FotR would have been great on the big screen.

I'm thoroughly jealous of Donnie this week. Last Thursday night, he and JC got to go see Dream Theater in Phoenix. They are touring the US this summer as co-headliners with Joe Satriani. The real kicker is that they have King's X opening for them (one of my most favorite bands!). They are going to be swinging through TX later this month, with the closest to Tulsa being a gig in Grand Prairie on Aug 16th. Even though I've seen all three bands live before, I'm really sorry I'm going to miss them this year. Oh well...maybe next time!

I better hop off of here. I'm happy to have internet access here...but I don't want to abuse the privilege.

 
Update As Promised

Wow, this weekend sure went by fast. It's already late, and I need to get up early in the morning, so I don't have time to go into the detail that I planned...but here's the Reader's Digest condensed version of our lives right now.

Amy's working for the Doubletree Warren Place. She does service for Greenleafs, their resturant, as well as room service. Quite decent pay, particularly when she works room service. The catch is that she usually has to be at work at 05:30am...which is pretty hard for her, since she's the type that can sleep well past noon, given the opportunity. The first day she worked room service, she got to deliver breakfast to Gary Busey...who apparently has a reputation at the hotel as a pretty large pain in the ass. She's not terribly excited about having to work, but I can tell it makes her happy to be able to at least cover our bills while we are living with my parents. I'm so proud of her. She's certainly pulled it together a lot since we lived in Colorado.

My favorite cow-dawg, Flannel Bean has been living with my sister, Melissa (a.k.a. Lucy) in Owasso, north of Tulsa. She has a huge white lab named Allie, who's become Flannel's best friend. I miss my dog terribly, so every visit is bittersweet. Seemingly oblivious to my absence, she's really enjoying herself. Melissa and her husband Rusty have been taking awesome care of her. Occasionally, Rusty and Melissa have to go out of town, so we get to stay over there and take care of the pups. Allie is a totally spastic pup at less than a year old. There aren't many things in their house that she hasn't chewed on yet. She makes Flannel look like she's been professionally trained (well, almost!). Dewey really misses Flannel too...she sniffs me up and down everytime I go up there and visit, when I can't take her with me. Amy and I can't wait to have a place of our own again, where we can re-assemble the zoo we once had previous to our lives crumbling around us.

As I mentioned in yesterday's blog, I've been playing Mr. Mom, taking care of Griffin each day while Amy's at work. He's become quite the "Daddy's Boy"...which doesn't hurt my feelings a bit. During naps, and when my Mom is watching him, I'm still searching and applying for jobs every day. I have an interview tomorrow morning with Tulsa Community College. This one is for a technical position working at their Corporate Training Center. I'd be responsible for installation, configuration and operation of computers, video equipment, etc. The engineering firm bidding on the CDMA overlay project did their "Dog and Pony Show" for US Cellular last Wednesday. After a serious shakeup in the regional organization of the company (which involved the Director of Network Operations being escorted out by cops), US Cellular will be picking the winning bid sometime in a few weeks. If this firm does win the project, I'll be working with them on the surveys of all sites scheduled for upgrade, making sure they have enough DC power, floor space and A/C capacity to handle the CDMA equipment additions. If I somehow manage to get another job before then, I'll try to work them both, since this project is scheduled to be completed by year-end, and it would give me a chance to make more than enough for us to move out on our own again.

My sister Tina and her husband, Kirk have been building a house in Stillwater, where he recently was hired as head football coach for Stillwater High School. The house is almost complete, and they expect to close on it this Thursday. They moved in with my parents 4 days before us (they sold their house here in Broken Arrow quickly), so I'm sure they are quite ready to move, and have their lives/privacy back. Kirk works harder than any coach I've ever known. He's been the defensive coach at Union High School for the past 10 years...so this is his first time as head coach. He has been spending an incredible amount of time preparing for this season, with videos and Powerpoint presentations and playbooks. You can tell that he has a true love for the game and for the kids. I'm sure that he'll do an excellent job. It's going to get very quiet around here without them and their son, Joshua living with us. We are all going to miss them.

The upside of living at Mom and Dad's has still been the amount of time that I've been able to spend with them. They are such wonderful people and role models. I don't know what we would have done without them. It's been great for Griffin to get to know his grandparents so well. I love seeing his face light up with a huge smile of recognition when he sees his Nana each morning. It's also given me a chance to feel more like a part of my own family, since I've lived so far away from them for the past 15 years. With Griffin, I'm only just beginning to understand how deep the love for a child goes. My parents have always shown me that kind of love, and it hasn't changed even now that I've become an adult.

O.K...I'm going to bed now. Now that I realize that a lot more people read this than I realized, I really will start keeping it updated more often (I can already here you..."sure, Tom!"). Really! Thanks to everyone for keeping us in your thoughts and prayers.

 
Got the point!

OK...Bob, I owe you an apology. It has been way too long since I've added an entry. Things are definitely different for us up here in Tulsa. Amy's working and I'm at home playing Mr. Mom! I don't have time to give the full update...but I promise that I will before the weekend is over.

In the meantime, here's a new picture gallery of Griffin, my family and my dogs taken over the month of July. Griffin goes to the doctor on Monday...so I'll be able to give you the newest vital statistics on him soon.

I appreciate the comments from everyone...even if they are jabbing at me for being a blog slacker.