"Dream House" written by Jim on estrip.org

09/03/07 05:01 - 77ºF - ID#40918

Dream House

Considering...

1. I love mansard roofs
2. I am jealous of not have a mansion like (e:MPT)
3. I think I could afford the mortgage, but probably not the heating bills

This is my dream house:

Huge double lot, brick, second empire house. A bit in a bad area maybe though... Niagara Street near the college and armory.

matthew writes at 10:25:28 09/04/07 - Comment #23831: $333! that's crazy. what temp do you keep it at? 85 degrees? :) We kept it at 70 during the day and 65 at night. It can be chilly but you could just throw on a sweater. Do you have storm windows?

tinypliny writes at 08:23:11 09/04/07 - Comment #23818: If "Mansard Roofs" are the ones with the hexagonal/pentagonal tiles, I adore them! They are perfect.

carolinian writes at 06:53:54 09/04/07 - Comment #23806: $450 a month in a 4000 sq. foot 100 year-old house? I have an 850 sq foot apartment in 100 year-old house. My highest heating bill was $333. Did I mention I did the whole plastic thing and caulked the windows? That's just not right. Not right at all, I say!

matthew writes at 05:33:00 09/04/07 - Comment #23804: very nice! The heating might not be as bad as you think, if you're careful. Our house is about 4,000 sq feet. and our highest heating bill last winter was $450. We had a new high efficiency furnace installed this summer, so this winter's heat bill should be even lower. and just imagine if we tweaked our windows! i remember everyone telling me i was crazy when we bought our Linwood house because the heating bills would be "crazy". But they were wrong. if the house is built well (which i have no doubt an 1860's buffalo 2nd empire is) it contains the heat well and keeps the cold out for an 100 year old house. Just heat the main rooms during the day and the bedrooms at night. Also, it says that one of the fireplaces is in working order. Score!

jim writes at 05:02:09 09/04/07 - Comment #23802: Now if only it stays on the market until the spring!

jason writes at 04:00:05 09/04/07 - Comment #23801: Looks like a fantastic (although freaking giant) home. Living in a little apartment for so long, I think I might feel odd having so much space.

joshua writes at 10:22:58 09/04/07 - Comment #23789: That heating bill has to be murder though. Murder, I say!

fellyconnelly writes at 09:36:42 09/03/07 - Comment #23778: oh thats great!
buy it and invite me for parties!

drew writes at 08:22:46 09/03/07 - Comment #23760: Wow! This seems like a great deal.

jim writes at 05:20:34 09/03/07 - Comment #23747: Yeah... I think we'll end up staying in Buffalo just so we can buy an awesome house and waste all the earth's resources in keeping it warm through winter.

joshua writes at 05:19:38 09/03/07 - Comment #23746: Hmm - that is in very good condition for its age, at least from the outside.

Personally, my dream house is a beach home in California... but I'm still saving my nickels.

Permalink: Dream_House.html
Words: 70
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: estrip

09/03/07 03:39 - 77ºF - ID#40913

Estrip is Dying

As you can see from this graph, Estrip activity is exponentially decreasing over time, a disaster in the making, and soon no one will be posting comments.

You all must view and post comments to my journal, thus propelling me into Silver Medalist position... err I mean thus saving Estrip!

Late Update:

Thanks to your hard work, we've saved Estrip!

Permalink: Estrip_is_Dying.html
Words: 64
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: photos

09/02/07 03:28 - 70ºF - ID#40889

Mike and Terry's Birthday 2007

Here are my photos from last night, also the full set of 50 or so photos is available here on Flickr:

jim writes at 02:12:09 09/02/07 - Comment #23697: I updated this journal with all the rest of the photos. You may need to clear your browser cache and then refresh if you see weird squished photos.

paul writes at 01:17:17 09/02/07 - Comment #23694: Oh, I see it now on the flickr page.

paul writes at 01:16:24 09/02/07 - Comment #23693: Which one of (e:jill)?

paul writes at 01:12:32 09/02/07 - Comment #23691: Jim, you can upload more into any journal. It only lets you choose 20 at a time. The n you can load 20 more.

metalpeter writes at 01:11:39 09/02/07 - Comment #23690: The Graphic ones are nice nothing wrong with those. The limbo pictures came out really good that one of (e:jill) is amazing.

paul writes at 01:11:33 09/02/07 - Comment #23689: My favorite one is the last one of megan and I.

libertad writes at 01:01:59 09/02/07 - Comment #23687: Paul is such a filthy pig rolling around in that porn.

Did Mike and I pose for that picture you posted of us on estrip? I like the one of us in the dining room.

I love that card I got Terry that looks like Andy Warhol. Fabulous! Your the boss applesauce!

Nice pics. I think my camera would have a hard time in those low-lighting situations because I don't use the flash (its hideous). I tend to get a blur in those situations, sometimes I like that though.

jim writes at 12:52:52 09/02/07 - Comment #23686: I took out a couple graphic ones, sorry!

lauren writes at 12:26:51 09/02/07 - Comment #23685: Fabulous pics as usual! Yay for cute little sugar gliders, nipples, and fire!

jim writes at 11:56:33 09/02/07 - Comment #23684: Peter, thanks! And done: :::link:::

There are the rest...

metalpeter writes at 11:31:45 09/02/07 - Comment #23683: If you up load all your pictures to another site you can give us a link to it or even another journal.

metalpeter writes at 11:12:39 09/02/07 - Comment #23682: Great pictures and thanks for posting them the one of (e:lilho) is great that is one picture that I wish I would have gotten of her video chatting with someone the two of (e:paul) where you can see the picture of what he is looking at is great to. I didn't realise how big that fire got, again great pictures.

jenks writes at 10:19:27 09/02/07 - Comment #23678: wow... I definitely left too early.

Permalink: Mike_and_Terry_s_Birthday_2007.html
Words: 127
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: work

08/31/07 07:39 - 77ºF - ID#40866

Business Cards

I'm pretty happy! I made the text a point or two too small, though.

Permalink: Business_Cards.html
Words: 16
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: movies

08/31/07 12:12 - 59ºF - ID#40856

10 Things I Hate About You

I really liked that movie. Every time (e:Drew) posts I am reminded of it. You better stop, Drew, before I put it on the NetFlix queue and force (e:James) to watch it.

And I like a lot of other really dumb popular movies where people in their mid-twenties play 15 year olds. And I tend to cry easily at ridiculous movies. I am really not fit for being exposed to popular culture.

Also, I am 28. I only have another year where I could conceivably move to LA and find a job playing a teenager on a new sitcom on the WB (or CW or whatever it's called now). I better get cracking.

I should be working right now, but I felt like yesterday was Friday and that would make today Saturday.

james writes at 03:08:27 08/31/07 - Comment #23590: When I turned 18 I felt a great loss. Now I never could do kiddie porn.

grains of sand in an hour glass Mr. Lindley.

tinypliny writes at 03:07:16 08/31/07 - Comment #23589

I haven't seen those movies...

duly noted :)*

tinypliny writes at 02:27:32 08/31/07 - Comment #23573: I love that line where that kid from the 3rd rock goes something like: "One question before we talk, do you think you should be drinking when you have no liver?"

Hilarious!

drew writes at 02:21:01 08/31/07 - Comment #23570: Sorry to start all of this.

For the record, my favorite adults playing teens movie is Mean Girls.

I'm not really into the teen movie thing, but I had to watch it because it was writeen by Tina Fey. I will post 10 things I like about Tina Fey sometime soon.

jim writes at 02:15:08 08/31/07 - Comment #23565: My favorite Freddy Prinze Jr movie is [link=http://imdb.com/title/tt0192111/]Head over Heels[/link] where a beautiful girl (who dresses frumpy) moves in with 4 supermodels, and gets made over. Then, she falls in love for F.P.jr's character who may or may not be a serial killer, but she is not very concerned and keeps going out with him anyways.

Turns out he is a secret undercover agent working in the fashion world to uncover the brutal blood diamond traders, and they all team up, the main character, the supermodels, and the undercover agent, to stop the evil guys. And there is a great dane named Hamlet.

mike writes at 02:07:15 08/31/07 - Comment #23561: those are the best movies. Can't Hardly Wait is really the best one thoguh. don't you dare steal my 25 year old playing a 15 year old dream. When I turned 22 I really felt like I lost my chance because that is the age when the guy who played Dawson on Dawson's Creek was discovered while majoring in sociology like I was at the time. Maybe there is still a chance....

tinypliny writes at 02:01:20 08/31/07 - Comment #23559: You know what? I am WWWAAAY ahead of your game. I dug up that movie and watched it already, a couple days back (for about the 7th time) - and it was *all* Drew's fault. That movie was the first thing I thought of the minute.. no, the second I saw his first "10 things" list hit the estrip list.

Yeah, and I love pop movies and start crying the minute a James Horner/John Williams soundtrack screeches out of speakers. Heck, I don't even need any plotline - I cry watching trailers with emotional soundtracks.

So now that the basic qualifications have been outlined, do you think I could get a job too? I have one more year (maybe half) more than you. heheh.

And why pretend? I have stopped working altogether.

Permalink: 10_Things_I_Hate_About_You.html
Words: 132
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: work

08/30/07 06:17 - 69ºF - ID#40838

New Business Cards

I ordered new business cards last week. They are just like my old ones, except with my new number, and a new blue back with a dandelion instead of the old orange back with a daisy.

They should be here on Tuesday!!! I can't help but check the tracking every hour.

tinypliny writes at 05:45:50 08/31/07 - Comment #23615: The business day in ending! I think its time you took that phone off its dull hook and stirred up some excitement!

jim writes at 05:39:20 08/31/07 - Comment #23613: The cards have been on the truck for delivery since 6am - for 12 hours now! I am going to die. This is not quite as bad as when I've had to wait for delivery of a new Mac (but it's close).

jim writes at 02:26:43 08/31/07 - Comment #23572: Aww :) You can have one of mine! lol

jenks writes at 02:22:22 08/31/07 - Comment #23571: I love being excited for packages like that.

and I am super jealous. i want business cards. i know I could just make my own, but I want a job that gives me some. I am always jealous of my friends who are way younger than me when they have cards. how stupid is that.

jim writes at 11:32:35 08/31/07 - Comment #23542: Now I'm afraid to leave my house to go meet with clients this afternoon so that I won't miss the cards... I am such a dork.

jim writes at 11:20:50 08/31/07 - Comment #23537: Aug 31, 2007 6:13 AM

On FedEx vehicle for delivery

BUFFALO, NY

:)

fellyconnelly writes at 10:43:05 08/30/07 - Comment #23493: you seem more like the dandelion type than daisy... good choice!

tinypliny writes at 10:18:05 08/30/07 - Comment #23489: Don't they give you a proof-print? Like journals usually do?

jim writes at 08:56:07 08/30/07 - Comment #23483: I keep feeling panicked that I ordered them with a typo actually. But i think it's going to be ok, i've proofread it a million times

tinypliny writes at 07:01:39 08/30/07 - Comment #23478: You are the best!!!!

jim writes at 06:40:40 08/30/07 - Comment #23476: sure thing!

tinypliny writes at 06:37:04 08/30/07 - Comment #23475: OOOOOh, could I have one?? I know, I know, i would probably have no earthly use for it, but they have my favourite dandelion shot!!!!

Permalink: New_Business_Cards.html
Words: 53
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: estrip

08/29/07 11:44 - 79ºF - ID#40819

2 Year Anniversary

I just noticed my start date is 9/1/05 so in two days I'll be at the two year mark. Almost 200 journals and 5 games of hangman. Good times!

Permalink: 2_Year_Anniversary.html
Words: 26
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: deals

08/29/07 09:21 - 79ºF - ID#40817

Cheap (but good) 11x14 Prints!

Adorama has 11x14 inch prints for $1.99 each until Aug 31:

(e:James) and I have ordered from them a few times and have always been happy. Of course the framing is the expensive part!

Permalink: Cheap_but_good_11x14_Prints_.html
Words: 39
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: programming

08/28/07 08:58 - 84ºF - ID#40791

Programming Stuff

In Ruby 2.0, a new hash literal syntax (like javascript!)

{a: "thing"} # ruby 2.0

{:a => "thing"} # ruby 1.8

array('a' => "thing") # and PHP

Succinct.

Permalink: Programming_Stuff.html
Words: 23
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: life

08/28/07 05:29 - 84ºF - ID#40787

Decisions, Decisions

Oh Estrip, give me your advice:

Should I give up my business which is finally starting to come together after 2 long years of struggle, and go back to school and try to get a nice permanent job sometime next year at Roswell with (e:Enknot) and (e:Paul)?

Or screw security and keep working at Roswell a couple days a week for the next year or two and try to be awesome the rest of the time / the rest of my life as my own man? After all, big things could be in store!

Lifetime security versus trying for the stars? I have to choose what to do in the next month.

Edited to add: Well thank you everyone! There's really no need to make a decision this month, now that I think about it, I'll just keep trying to do it all :)

tinypliny writes at 09:47:56 08/28/07 - Comment #23305: I didn't realize that. And I agree. Getting a diploma/degree just as a bureaucratic requirement is an appalling waste of time. It seems absurd to me that Roswell would function like a federal body with rigid rules about such pre-requisites. If your vitaé includes prior experience, references and proof that you have the skills required for the job, couldn't they overlook the alphabet soup?

jim writes at 09:36:05 08/28/07 - Comment #23303: I know what you mean tinypliny, but for me it would be intro programming classes - stuff I already know, and I would learn nothing. It would be merely for a piece of paper so that an employer could check that box off on a form. That is the lamest reason to do something ever.

tinypliny writes at 09:30:11 08/28/07 - Comment #23300: A little late, but I think school does take a lot of your energy and time away if you want to finish it well. So multi-tasking could be a problem.

But I would take going back to school any day over not going back to school and repenting later.

jim writes at 08:15:35 08/28/07 - Comment #23292: imk2,

I am just freaking out this week about it because I'm making two pretty big pitches to big clients, and it is not possible to turn it on or off like a faucet. Doing really small jobs is not worth it in terms of money and time, and the bigger jobs require a certain amount commitment. If someone is paying thousands and thousands of dollars for something, you can't put them on hold if you have exams.

I've got to find out from Roswell just exactly what the hiring requirements are, so I'll talk with my boss about that tomorrow and what I can realistically expect as a potential career path there.

jim writes at 08:04:39 08/28/07 - Comment #23289: Yeah, I am going to do all three for at least the next year, or as long as Roswell will have me.

imk2 writes at 07:52:16 08/28/07 - Comment #23287: why not do all three? you work at roswell part time, right? so go to school part time, one or two classes a semester, work at roswell part time and do a little business on the side. you may have to cut down on the business part, but you can always pick it back up when you are done with school or if you should decide that either school or roswell are not for you after all.

paul writes at 07:14:48 08/28/07 - Comment #23283: I obviously made the choice to settle on the moderately high income in a city with a moderately low rates instead of going the self employment route. It is not like working at Roswell is deciding to work at a low income job.

Moreover, I like the feeling that no matter how inane some of my projects are they all contribute in some way to the eventual treatment and cure of cancer and not to some materially obsessed sales objective for exotic whatsits.

There is also plenty of money to be made at Roswell beyond the regular pay. As part of a fulltime employee contract you split patent proceeds from you inventions 60% Roswell, 40% inventor/inventors. Depending, what you make that could be huge. I am sure doctors probably make more money off patents and publications than they do off salary.

Also, as I said at lunch, other benefits include stability of payrates vs self employment ups and downs, and that the job lets you concentrate on what you are good at doing (programming/design) instead of having to do business - which stresses me the hell out. Not to mention the union, pension and health care benefits.

Either way I would go to school and get a degree, so that if it doesn't work out in the future with self employment you don't have to go back when you are 40 and feel really weird about it.

I also just like having you there. Its great to work with someone who is really into what they are doing.

zobar writes at 07:13:30 08/28/07 - Comment #23282: "...I tell you, my man, this is the American Dream in action! We'd be fools not to ride this strange torpedo all the way out to the end."
"Indeed," he said. "We must do it."
"Right," I said. "But first we need the car. And after that, the cocaine. And then the tape recorder, for special music, and some Acapulco shirts."

- Z

mrmike writes at 06:30:43 08/28/07 - Comment #23280: Dare to be great!

james writes at 06:29:57 08/28/07 - Comment #23279: You should have asked me first Jim.

ANd I think you should give it all up to become a stripper to the stars! Just imagine shaking your expensive booty on Star Jones' lap!

jason writes at 06:08:51 08/28/07 - Comment #23276: Anyhow, something more helpful here. If you can land one of those cushy government gigs, why not go for it? Those kinds of opportunities are highly sought after, and 10 out of 10 sane people would take it if they weren't their own boss. Plus, going back to school is something that personally I think is fantastic.

Of course, you would be sacrificing potential big bucks that may come through your business. I give you tons of credit, Jim. I read an article recently that rated Buffalo as the 8th worst place in America to run a small business. Yeah, shocker, I know, we do live in NYS. You have a brain-child, and you want to nurture it.

As long as you are young, and have few financial obligations, I don't see the harm in going for it. Later on in life you might be in circumstances where you would be far more risk averse, and unable to rationally make the choice to just go for it.

Whatever you choose, best of luck to you.

theecarey writes at 05:59:41 08/28/07 - Comment #23275: The vibe I'm getting from your post is that you feel more in your element proceeding in "being awesome the rest of (your) life as (your) own man". Hell yes! Whatever means it takes, run with it. Yes, big things are indeed in store. Explore now, reach for the stars and if it feels right, DO it. If you are comfortable doing that, then that is essentially all the security you need. It's *all* good.

I chose that path and I am not looking back.

Whatever you choose, may it bring excitement and peace to you. :)