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Jenks's Journal

jenks
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01/20/2010 20:49 #50868

what's up, slackers?
So, I haven't checked in in a few days, but I was SURE this place was going to be full of ranting about the election last night.

But really?
No one?

Fine with me, I don't relish talking politics- I just thought people would be all fired up.

In other news, we managed to find some shady internet car rental deal, but... we have an official confirmation number from Budget, so fingers crossed it will all work out....

Now just to make it through the three weeks until then.

Including a presentation I have to give tomorrow on Tennis Elbow that I haven't started yet, blehhhhhh.

And, I reeeeeaaaallly need to start job hunting. I buffed up my CV this weekend, I guess that's the first step. Now just to find places to send it to... :/
theecarey - 01/20/10 23:41
that he is, (e:libertad)
"Vote for Brown. He Has One Hell of a Stimulus Package" hahahaha
vincent - 01/20/10 22:48
Yea, I'm just as surprised as you on that point. I have been out of it as my body has been readjusting to the Buffalo weather. Plus my blog has just become a Sarasota picture post fest...
joshua - 01/20/10 22:18
I prefer Scott Brown's native accent to say, that of Bawney Fwank.
joshua - 01/20/10 22:04
Just some seething going on. ;-) I see no real reason to needle anybody today - it seems the left is perfectly capable of cannibalizing itself. Have you read the news? My God. Favorite candy flavor of the day - sour grape.

This election was a thing of beauty - what else is there to say? The irony was rich and complex. There's the Kennedy angle, which everybody appreciates. Also, had MA Dems never tinkered with the rules in 2004 to fuck with Mitt Romney, in 2009 Deval Patrick would have nominated a replacement for the recently room temperate assuming Sen. Kennedy, who then would have served out the full remainder of the term.

One spectacular anecdote about all of this is that the most recent amendment probably yielded the best version of the law, although it was really by accident and secondary to their actual aims.
libertad - 01/20/10 22:01
He is sexy! :::link::: Maybe that is the real reason he won?

01/15/2010 19:53 #50824

WTF!!!!
Ok, so we finally figured out the plane ticket situation.

(cut a day off the trip, used his parents' miles for one, and will split the price of the other. And, thanks to farecast, we locked in a good price today.)

But now...

RENTAL CARS ARE $115?????!!!!

Per DAY????!!!!!

$500/week is the best I've found.

Ho-ly shit!
jenks - 01/17/10 13:55
Not this doctor. :(
paul - 01/16/10 10:22
Apparently being a doctor is not all it's cracked up to be, lol. I thought $500 was petty cash to doctors.

01/14/2010 15:29 #50816

sigh...
I wish I had a private jet.

I wish I had a friend with a private jet.

In fact I *do* have a friend with a private jet, but I couldn't actually ask him to fly me places. (and I'm not sure how to get him to volunteer. ;) )

I have a week off work mid-feb.
We have a place to stay in West Palm Beach, for free, for that week.

All I need is to get myself there.

Plane tickets have gone from $300 to $700 in the last 3 days. I'm hoping it's just a blip and they'll come back down some, but at that rate, i can't afford to go. :(

I found one flight for like $200- but it's leaving from/getting in to airports that are like 1-2 hours from home/ the place in florida. And get in at like midnight on monday, and leave at like 6am thurs. So I'd get 2 days there? Not worth it.

Fucking airlines. I really hate them these days.

And, I just checked the weather: all i can say is WTF?! Snow forecasted for florida, but not here???



image

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vincent - 01/15/10 23:20
You're going to have good weather in Feb. That forcast is really off now as it is going to getup to 78 in Miami on Sunday.

I'm glad you and your boyfriend just anted up and are heading down there. The lift you get from getting away from the cold to FLA is always wonderful and it's even better in Feb/Mar.
joshua - 01/15/10 09:41
Yeah that's the battle really, price vs. what you are willing to put up with.
jenks - 01/14/10 21:29
awesome, thanks for the tips/offers, guys.
I was using Kayak, but I think I like farecast better.
Also trying to see if we can scrounge up some miles.

But what's "last minute" these days? We're just under the 30 day mark.
I.e, how long can I wait? I don't want to get totally screwed.

And yes josh, you're right. If we fly out of providence, and fly into fort lauderdale, it's certainly cheaper. And if we leave on tuesday instead of sunday. And if we have a 6 hour layover. And get in at midnight. etc etc etc. But where do you draw the line? yeah, I want (need) to save money, but I don't want to spend more of my trip getting to and from the damn airport than I actually get to spend there.

Then again, the pix I just added make the whole thing seem a little less savory!
hodown - 01/14/10 19:49
Try farecast or bing. These days prices tend not to go down at the last minute because travel has really picked up and airlines are flying less flights. I don't me to sound preachy. I only know that because my company does studies on consumer spending al the time.

You should totally go!!
joshua - 01/14/10 18:03
You can get a better price, but you're going to have to be more creative w/your airports. Instead of W. Palm I'd consider Ft. Lauderdale (hey, it's a Southwest city), then making the 50 min - 1 hour drive north. As for your airport of departure, I presume it is BDL? I'd consider looking into alternatives there as well, that you can live with anyway. =)

Also - last minute deals occur all the time and I get notifications constantly... if I see something I'll forward it your way. Because for work I've flown on virtually every domestic airline, I'm on all their last minute deal spam lists, lol.

12/31/2009 10:31 #50700

reflections
Ok, I'll bite.
I think I often just go through life with blinders on, not always thinking and absorbing as much as I should- both of the good and the bad that happens to me.
So, this is probably a good exercise- though I think I'll do it by the decade, not just the year.

Where were you when 2000/2009 began?
2000: with my boyfriend at the time, and about 20 of his fraternity buddies, in New Orleans- wondering where our jetpacks were, and also 'calling' which stores we would get when the looting began. ;)
2009: Went to a delicious dinner at O, and then to the 'Ice Ball'- which was a total waste. They missed midnight, b/c a fight broke out, and a guy LOST HIS EYE. I also fell on the ice on my way there, and spent the rest of the night with a bloody knee. (pulling my pantyhose out of that scab at the end of the night was NOT fun.) All in all, kind of a disappointing new year- but then again, it often is, because I hope for too much.

Who were you with?
2000: med school peeps in NOLA
2009: some buffalo girlfriends. (had hoped to swing by the 24, but dinner ran WAY over.)

Where will you be when 2009 ends?
TBD- but somewhere in hartford

Whom will you be with when 2009 ends?
My lovely BF, and his brother and her girlfriend. May meet my co-worker and his fiancee.

Was 2000-2009 a good year/decade for you?
decade: Yes. Lots of changes.... I lived in New Orleans, Chicago, Buffalo, and now CT. Had pretty much all the serious relationships of my life. Grew into myself.
2009: a little bittersweet to leave buffalo and my friends there, but CT has been good too- esp meeting the BF. :)

What was your favorite moment of the decade/year?
All in 2009: finishing residency, matching to my fellowship, and reuniting with a buddy from 12 years ago and realizing he is a really amazing guy.

What was your least favorite moment of the year/decade?
Eh, nothing worth dwelling on. Had some disappointments at work, and some bad boy drama, but it's over now.

Did you keep your New Year resolutions of 2009?
Sort of- I didn't make formal resolutions, but I decided to try to be healthier. I lost 30 lb, but have gained about 7 back. booo!

Do you have any New Year resolutions for 2010?
Just to get back on track with my diet. Would love to lose 20 more lb.
Actually, I also want to make a concerted effort to be more of an ACTIVE learner at work. Read more when I'm at home at night, etc.

Did you fall in love this year/decade?
Yes. A couple times I thought I had- but this time I know it. :)

What was your favorite month of 2009?
Probably August.

Did you travel outside of the US in 2009?
Canada (doesn't really count), and Belgium and France. Went to the BVI, Turks and Caicos, Mexico, and St. Thomas (still technically the US) in the 00's.

How many different states did you travel to in 2009?
Hmm. NY, CT, RI, MA, OR, VA, KY... maybe some others for interviews. Also went to KS, LA, IL, OH, TX during the 00's.

Did you lose anybody close to you in 2009?
My grandfather. Also lost my aunt in '07.

What was your favorite movie that you saw in 2009?
Oh man I have to pick one?

What was your favorite song in 2009?
Discovered the National this decade, and they're still at the top of the heap.

What was your favorite album in 2009?
Mixes from friends :)

What was your most exciting moment of 2009/the decade?
Hmm... a few graduations, a few wedding toasts, and a few heart-skipping first dates.

What was your proudest moment of 2009?
Finishing residency.

What was your most embarrassing moment of 2009?
Nothing too terrible...

If you could go back in time to any moment of 2009/the decade and change something, what would it be?
I would not have tolerated cheating as long as I did.

What are your plans for 2010?
Finish fellowship
Get a job
See where life takes me and my boy. :)

12/29/2009 13:53 #50688

checking in
So... Christmas is over.
Always kind of a letdown.
So much buildup, and then.... back to winter.
But, I had a lovely lovely christmas, and I hope you all did too.
And, am going to start planning a vacation for Feb, so I have something to look forward to.

Here's a xmas picture dump, and some more adorable baby pix.

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Love this guy. :)
(taken when we went to Foxwoods to see the Bodies Revealed exhibit).

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Cloves stuck in oranges make delicious decorations/air fresheners.

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Christmas Eve bedtime story. (not pictured, ridiculously cute baby bathrobe).

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Present #1 - her own little chair

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It was a big hit.

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Trying to sit in the big girl chair.

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So, my brother wrangled this present for her in a rare display of tough-guy. He had taken his car in, only to have it break down again half an hour after picking it up. When he took it back in, they said they wanted to make it right. So he pointed at the toy MINI in the showroom and said "how about one of those for my niece?". And it worked.

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She's a natural.

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LOVE!


lilho - 12/30/09 15:54
That baby is completely adorable!
mrmike - 12/30/09 08:43
Great pictures -- love the "Conversation" with her grandpa
tinypliny - 12/29/09 21:51
Oh I love that photo with the bathrobe and the car!

And you two make a very cute couple! :)
enknot - 12/29/09 14:25
Where did you find that baby robe!? I've been looking for one for ages... and a baby apron. And that baby's awfully cute.