Cough cough...sputter

This one's for you, Tom.

I know, I know.  Don't worry... I patronize myself quite enough.

This past summer has been quite the event-filled extravaganza.  If you keep up with my facebook, you'll know some stuff.  Here's the highlights:

1.  Moved my mom to California.  At much expense, and with all the associated ongoing drama.  Gee, this is fun.  I realize fully that she carried me under her heart for nine months, and I am eternally grateful for life.  However, this situation isn't going that great for my lil bro and her, and there's alot of conflict there.  Pretty sure i predicted that.  Layer on top of that the financial crisis that they are enduring, and I can only imagine how thin the nerves are wearing.  I had a brief talk with Mom last night, and plan on talking with her more this weekend.  We are taking her to our church's harvest festival, so maybe that will help to create a little space for Ben and her.  I think they are beginning to realize that this transition will take longer than they expected.  Maybe *crossing fingers* some maturity will come out of this, and I won't be the broker of their ongoing conversation.  I know...I'm an optimist.

2.  Still digging my job.  We got some new hardware on the horizon that I am completely stoked to get my hands on.  It's a 10G firewall, with line speed content inspection and 3G IPSec.  *Drool, drool.*  the economy has hit us, just like everyone else, but I think we'll do fine.  Especially when I can go into a shop that is running equipment from the evil empire and replace it at less than the cost of a maintenance renewal.  In situations like that, the slower economy helps us.  I enjoy the travel bits, too.  Teresa doesn't, but she is willing to put up with it because she knows I love my work so much.  Not as much as I love her, but you get the picture.

3.  Two family vacations, one to Disneyland and our yearly trek to Tahoe.  Disneyland was great fun, and there are pics of it on my facebook.  Go there, why dontcha?  I haven't posted any Tahoe pics.  I should really do that.  Or pics of my cross country U-Haul drive.  Thank God for Audible.com and reliable GPS.

4.  I stopped blogging.

5.  I started blogging again.

6.  We (the ENTIRE family) have been rehearsing for a Christmas musical for a couple of months now, at least.  It's been way fun so far, and I'm really enjoying it.  Anne is one of Mary's friends, Emma is a friend and a shepherd girl (two separate parts), Teresa is Joseph's mother ( I KNOW.  I am as shocked as you are.  I would have NEVER pictured Teresa on the stage).  I'm trying to get her to act more like a Jewish mother..."Oy vey!  You never call, you never write, I worry sick about you!  And look at you...you look like you haven't eaten in weeks.  You're poor mother."  I play Gabriel.  which means I walk around and look angelic.  And talk real loud.  I'm good at talking loud, so it's a natural fit.  And, since it's a musical, we all sing.  There's even a Rodger's and Hammerstein bit that, frankly, annoys me to no end.  But I'm in the minority.  And, I don't have to do that bit, so I should just keep my mouth shut.

So, that's all for the moment.  I am in the OC with all of the plastic people, and I need to go to my first meeting. 

How's that, Tom?