I was trying to finish up my portfolio and was estimating how long I worked on this site and related projects (e.g. the restaurant site, alamedalink, epeers grading module, advertising stuff, graphic design, dealing wth irrate peeps and social drama, etc) and it is insane. I figure I worked about 5 hours per day over 3 years. Some days I work 18 hours a day, sometime only 1 but I don't think any day ever goes by when I don't do any work. Even when I'm on vacation , (e:twisted) can vouch for this (easter drama.) For god's sake ever since I got the sidekick I have been working on it even when I am driving! or in the bathroom, shopping, out at friends, etc.

So if I go with 5 hours per day for 3 years that brings me to 5475 hours which is about 0.66 hours per journal. I will never forget how much effort I put into this project. So when people ask "How do you knwo how to do that?" or "How do you know so much stuff about web programming?", it is not because I am gifted with natural XML/PHP/Javascript/graphic design skills - it is through thousands of hours of work.

Someone at the old 567 Lafayette stole my UPS package. I seriously can't believe that the UPS policy is to just give it to whoever signs for it. I mean why even have the name signature part. Last week I ordered a new router and it accidently got sent to our old address. I figured it would have gotten returned as we don't live there anymore. But then I looked online at amazon.com and it turns out it was delivered last wednesday to one of the apartments at our old building. I could understand if the UPS man had just left it at the door but that is not what happend. Someone actually signed for it using their real name. I called the landlord and in fact someone named newton now lives in the building. This was march 30th. They don't even live on the same side of the building as our old apartment!

They have clearly stolen the package at this point because they have not contacted UPS. Let's say for example, a husband or wife or roomate thought it was for another person in their household and legitmately signed for it. But here we are over a week later and they haven't contacted UPS or amazon.com about this. I called UPS today and asked them why on earth they would let someone else, with a name other than mine, sign for it. They said they couldn't speak for the driver.

Unfortunately for them I know where they live and now we are going to have to deal with this tonight face to face. Why would someone try to steal a package from something so tracked as UPS. I want my router mr/ms newton.

How are they going to explain why they stole it. I can't even imagine how uncomfortable this will end up being. I wish that (e:terry) was here but he is still in Las Vegas. The other option is to let UPS or amazon deal with it.

My elmwoodstrip.org name now cost me almost $40 as they insist that I was overdue in payment for the $3 domain name and that they has to add a surpluss charge of $20. Who keeps a doimain name open and just keeps charging me back dues. They should have just canceled it. That would have been the appropriate thing to do.

At every othere registrar I ever used if I didn't pay it, they would just cancel it after a time period of about 60 days. There is nothing I can do now because I want the domain name so I can tranfer it and they wouldn't give me the authorization code without paying them!

I should have never gotten that free account. Not to mention the only way I could deal with them over the transfer was via fax. That is so annoying. This site has now cost me more money that I could previously imagine having. I need a better solution soon - probably in the summer when I have more time and/or more money.

I am just so busy still. Today I have to finish my portfolio and then apply for the Canisius job. After that I need to start working some more on fiveV.

This last month of grad school has turned into the most all-consuming part of my life. I also have to move the site to the new server. I am just waiting to get control of the elmwoodstrip.org domain back froim the mafia. Someday I will have a life again. Probably in may.

Elmwood is back to being sunny even if there is lots of snow on the ground now.

Here are some more pics I am offloading from my 'kick. I barely have time to keep up with my journal anymore.

(e:terry) went to las vegas so I bought my self an ipod suffle to make up for it.



I had my first mobile online shopping experience orderig a subscription to make magazine. It as both liberating and terrifying. I saw the magazine, which is by far the coolest magazine I have ever seen but it cost $14.99 per issue, so I looked on the sidekick and found a year subscription for $34.00. I bought that too, it is nice to be able to shop online on the go.



It was hot out, now there is a half a foot of slush but here is proof that it was warm for a bunch of days. It was so nice in the sun.