~: Lee :~

This brought a well needed smile to my face. I am tired and sick, and am coughing myself silly :\ But this has me laughing between coughs :)

Well, with no fireworks, today I became a home owner. Close of Escrow happened!

Within just over a week I'll be walking into my home and wondering "what next" :) I already have the answer to most, painting, buying, packing, moving, sleeping :)

Today should be such a wonderful day for me, I am basically now a home owner again. But I can't help but think about how I can't call my mother and tell her the news. And I remember the last time I kissed her, when I said my goodbye.

I know she was proud of me, and if it's possible, she's looking down on me and smiling.

A 4.875% 30yr fixed rate jumbo mortgage ROCKS!

I just hope I am not speaking too soon, all will be done and dusted in a week

I just made an offer on a house in Mountain View... If all goes well, we'll be the owner of a 4 bed place a mile away from Castro Street :)

I find myself frustrated by the lack of tolerance.

From a very early age my mother showed me tolerance is the true way to be. Around us people were discriminating against someone in the community, but my mother welcomed him into our lives. I remember clearly my "Uncle Mac", someone I remember fondly, someone who introduced me to the joys of beets :). It just happened he was African.

At the time, I was under 5, so this fact meant nothing to me. My mother did an amazing job of shielding me from the prejudice around us, and teaching me that everyone has a right to respect.

So, moving to 2008. Here I am in a country that calls itself progressive, yet it blocks something wonderful from two people. I come from a country where marriage is possible between two women or two men. But what really pisses me off is that most of those people voting yes on 8 just don't understand, don't know, didn't take the fucking time to learn! *sigh*

My mother taught me to be tolerant and respectful of those around me, and to accept I wouldn't always understand. PLEASE teach your children the same, let's not let ignorance rule the World.

TREAT OTHERS AS YOU WOULD HAVE THEM TREAT YOU! I am pretty sure most religions say something similar. I live my life this way, I try to be nice to everyone I meet, treat everyone with respect. Please do the same.

I need a new one. The one I have is annoying and i miss so many hairs. I just found another at the corner of my mouth that is driving me nuts, I can't shave it because I'll wake Chris!

Grrrr

Anyone out there have a good electric razor they'd recommend?


P.S. Wet shaving gives me very nasty razor burn, even after years of trying different razors, creams, etc...

A Christmas present :) I didn't realise I could have so much fun in 2 minutes :)

Merry Christmas, hope you all have a wonderful day :)

What's going on... I woke at 1am and can't get back to sleep. It's the first time in a very long time that I've had trouble sleeping.

*counts sheep* :)

http://www.youtube.com/experiencewii

Watch it through to the end :)

Describe it, or better still, post it...

I am sure I have a B/W one somewhere, but here's the oldest colour photo I can find..

Here's my first play with light writing, fun :)

I think you should also include any gaps in your work...

I started working when I was around 13... a paper round (delivering the morning paper)

My first real job was between my 1st and 2nd year at college. I stuffed cookies in to boxes of tea bags for a month or so. This is where I learned women have a dirty sense of humour, and loved it :P After this I was at college for another year.

when I started University I worked for a super market stocking cheese for 2 years I think, then to the bread section. My third year at Uni was spent in industry where I worked for the Medical Physics department of the North Tees hospital (UK). For my final year at University (4th year) I worked in a supermarket again, this time in the cash office and the petrol (gas) station. Oh... almost forgot, I worked 3 days at McDonalds before quitting - annoying place!

Before graduating I got a job as an IT Consultant for a small company, and started before getting my results. I worked there for a year and a bit before moving to Cambridge (UK) to work for a credit union.

I worked at the Credit Union as a software developer, then Sys' Admin and finally the IT manager over the space of about 5 years. In that time I learned how to be both strong with those that were asses, and how to compromise... good experience.

I left there to work for a small company, a BIG mistake and only stayed there a week. Nasty place :) I joined Synaptics as a filler job back in Cambridge (UK) as their IT manager. In the second year there I had the chance to move to the US but decided against it, but a few years later had another opportunity... This time I took it, and moved to California in 2005

At Synaptics I went from managing 2 guys as the Windows Support Manager, to the IT Operations Manager with 9 people reporting to me. This year I finally got sick of the long ass hours and crap salary, and moved to a small company with more money and way less work!

So....

Paper boy
Cookie stuffer
Software developer (Medical) - 1yr
Consultant (Software developer and general IT support) - 1+yrs
Software developer (Financial) ~3yrs
Systems Administrator (Windows) - 1yr
IT Manager (Windows/financial) 1+ yrs
Software developer (Insurance company) one week :P
IT Manager ~5yrs
** Move to US ** 2005
Windows support manager ~2yrs
IT Operations Manager ~1yr
IT Manager 3 months :)

Done :)

I have not been unemployed since I was... 18... 19 years - shit I'm old :P

This picture had me giggling!

So, I am using a tool to track my finances. Today it gave me a good old chastising :)



Not sure if I'm more concerned about the recent spending, or the fact I seem to spend $600+ on average! How!?

Nice :)

I must not, I should not, I probably shouldn't... But I WANT!

The new MacBook Pro is calling my name.

Yes, I know it only has a glossy screen :(
Yes, I know it still has the low resolution display :(
Yes... I know... I have a good enough MBP.

But, when has that ever stopped me :)

Twice today colleagues have referred to Chris (mentioned as my partner) as "she". My response, as usual, is to continue the conversation without correction.

I guess it's starting to bother me...

So, how do I go about correcting people?