I'm afraid to post something new because I don't want to stop the awesome comment streak we have going on in the post below. Thanks for all the kind words from everyone, I appreciate it.

I talked to my Dad yesterday and he hopes to be able to come home October 16th or 17th. Right now he said he is working 15-16 hour days, partially because there is nothing else to do, and partially so he can come home sooner. It will be nice to have him back.

I am currently in the home office of Grant and Michelle. I came down last night to hang out a little bit and spend some time with them before their wedding shower, which is later today. I won't be able to stay at the wedding shower long because I have to drive back to Raleigh to get Leigh and then to Greensboro for her cousin's wedding reception at 7:30. Busy day / weekend.

Leigh's Birthday is next weekend. I am hoping we can go to the beach for at least one day. Wanna join us? (11:23am)

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Well I accepted a new job yesterday. I actually had two offers and both were appealing in their own way, but hopefully the one I chose will be the right one. You never really know I guess.

The job is a “Systems Consultant” and I will serve as the release coordinator for all of my company’s systems. It is a pretty big deal and I will regularly interact with the CEO and other senior leaders both here and in Charlotte to plan system releases work with IT to make sure they aren’t overlapping other IT area, and lots of random things. It also came with a $10k a year pay raise, which no matter what you make, is a nice treat.

Leigh and I celebrated by hiring a house keeper to come clean out house every two weeks. May seem extravagant to some, but it is less than $150 a month, and to be honest I would rather spend $150 a month less on something else and spring for the housekeeper. Who wants to spend all weekend cleaning?

I start the new job on October 17th. (9:31am)

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So you know you are starting the week off wrong when you lock yourself out of the house on the way out the door. This isn’t the first time I have done this, and last time I didn’t know what to do so I eventually kicked the back door in. That ended up being a huge pain to fix (and I would have cost us a lot of money if Leigh’s parents didn’t come up to help –thanks!) and no way was I going to do that again. However, it was already 10am and I had an interview at 11:30 this morning. So what did I do? Went to a neighbors, borrowed a phone, and called Dr. Harkey and had her come let me in. Luckily she wasn’t in the middle of an appointment and was able to come right away. Thanks Leigh.

This week should be full of news about one job or another. I expect to hear something today about one I interviewed for last week, and I have another this morning. Plus, I got an email from a manager asking me if I wanted a job I hadn’t applied for. So one way or another, new job soon. (10:23am)

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So I guess I lied about the more later thing. This week has been a mad rush to try and get caught up with email, work, life, etc.

This weekend I am going to the first of 4 weddings between now and November. This one is for my friend Kirstin that I went to school with. Should be fun, but sucks because I am missing Trent's bachelor party! (3:37pm)

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I'm really not quite sure why I neglected this site the last week or two. I mean I was in New York for 8 days, but there is no reason why I couldn't have popped in. Maybe I just needed a break from the internet?

However, I am back and the harsh reality of the real world is slowly creeping back in. No more taxies, subways, and insane walks, now it is just car to work to car to house. I am not saying that is a bad thing, but there is something to be said for public transportation, even if it is an insanely hot method of travel in the summer.

So New York was very productive, fun, tiring, and hot. I am glad I went and the 15+ labels I met early in the week will hopefully prove good for business, but I was pretty worn out by the end of the week, and getting up at 7am this morning (which is “sleeping in” for me) was tough.

Lot’s more later, but just wanted to say hello for now. (12:24pm)

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Just got back from seeing Sigur Rós in Durham. Really, really good show. It was a weird show though...seated in a reasonably small auditorium, no talking, no crowd interaction, they were very seperated from the audience other than the loud applause at the end of each song. Different but good. I even had a photo pass, but the setting was too weird ot get up in front of everyone seated and take pictures.

Thanks to the fine folks at Filter for the suprisingly good seats. (11:15pm)

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I was reading stuff about Triathalons and this story blew my mind. That's what I am talking about, that sense of accomplishment.  (4:17pm)

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Sick, I didn't leave work until after 10 tonight. Way too much to do.

On another note, GAS PRICES ARE INSANE!! It cosr $50 to fill my car up now and I have a little 4 cylinder. (9:38pm)

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I heard form my Dad. He looks way too happy in this picture of him in the ruins of a Hussein Palace.

 (12:00am)

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Michael, Ryan, Jeremy D, please tell me you saw the latest Chapter of trapped in the closet live on MTV. (12:00am)

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I need to hurry up and change jobs, I don't care about mine anymore and I am afraid it is going to show before too long.

Leigh and I were going to go to the beach Sunday, but now the weather is all nasty. Sucks, we really wanted to go and I think Leigh needs some sun before she turns into a coccoon. Is that how you spell that? I don't know. Anyway, up we really wanted to go to the beach and now I don't think we are going to be able to.

I am on the 3rd season of 24 and almost through all of it. Just in time for the end of summer and the start of the new TV season, ie the 5th season of 24. This show is so addicting, although after watching the whole season in a period of a week or two, it will be weird having to wait a week between each episode.

Now I'm rambling. It is night time and Leigh went to bed because she has to work tomorrow, so I am up watching 24 and rambling here in the nice keyboard glow of my lovely Powerbook.

I haven't heard from my Dad. He said he was going to email me when he got to Iraq. I need to call his wife tomorrow and make sure he talked to her. (12:00am)

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The trip to New York is getting pretty close and I am really looking forward to this year. Long-time New York buddy Jeremy D should be there along with Robbie, Jeremy C, hopefully MIchael, and most importantly Leigh. Yep, 4 years later and she is finally going to NYC with me.

What will be weird is none of these people are coming until Thursday and I will be there starting Sunday. I need a couple days to do some business, meets some label folks, etc and it looks like I will be doing it solo. Hopefully I can hook up with some other people in town (so if you are there, drop me a line) and finally get to hang out with my step-sister Ami a bit. Regardless, I will be in New York for 4 days with plenty to do during the day hopefully, but nothing to do at night and by myself. It is going to be weird for sure and I imagine come Thursday I will be really really happy to have some company. (12:00am)

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Well I found out last Friday that I did not get that job I had been gunning for. I was going to post some long compaint about it and why I didn't get it, but whiners suck so instead I will just say I didn't get it, and now I am looking for a new job. I mean I talked the talk (and told them I would quit my job if I didn't get this new one) so now I gotta wak the walk. I am looking both externally as well as at a couple internal jobs in completely different areas of the company, mainly the IT side. Changes to come, but hopefully all for the best.

This past Saturday I managed to drive 3 hours to Charlotte, drive around Charlotte for an hour, stop by Jeremy's for about 10 minutes, drive a half hour to Mathews, eat lunch with my pops, then drive 3 hours back to Raleigh. I was really glad to see my dad before he jets off to Baghdad tomorrow, but it was one crappy driving day.

I think Leigh and I are going t to go to the beach next weekend. She has to work Satyrday morning, but we can head out Saturday at like 2pm and then stay the night and stay all day Sunday. ANyone want to go? (12:00am)

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I went to Greensboro and saw Far-Less last night. While getting home at 3am and getting up at 7:30 was painful, it was definitely worth it. Always good to see the boys, and Robbie and I managed to have a conversation that was long over due. I saw it as a heart to heart and a business discussion all in one. I think we both learned a lot from each other about how we currently view this little thing we created called Silent Uproar and hopefully set the path for what is to come in the future. Michael, you need to make it to New York so we can all 3 finally throw down with our thoughts.

Random thought: While coming to work yesterday I approached an intersection where a big dump truck had rolled over and was on its side. While this definitely looked odd, what is even weirder is that I have seen this exact same thing happen at this intersection on a previous morning trip to work. Both times no other cars were involved and there was no violent wreckage, it is just like the truck rolled over when turning right at the intersection. It's just weird. (12:00am)

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I didn't leave work until after 9pm today, which just sucks. But in the end I finished the thing I was working on ALL DAY. So even though the day was long, it is nice feeling like I accomplished something.

I ran/walked a mile this morning. Yeah I know, big deal tough guy, but in case you haven't been paying attention I had surgery on my knee about 2 weeks ago. I am pretty stoked with how quickly it is starting to feel ok again.

In other news, I had some flowers delivered to Leigh on Monday and I immediately remembered why I never buy her flowers. 1. She doesn't really care about flowers, 2. She works at a Vet office so she can't leave them there (because the animals will eat them), 3. She can't bring them home because our animals will eat them, 4. She doesn't really care about flowers. Poop. She did appreciate the thought though. (12:00am)

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I saw some movies over the last two weeks, they included:

Stealth
The Island
March of the Penguins
Fantastic Four
Girl From Monday
Million DollarBaby
Assault on Precinct 13
Kinsky

Seems like there are more, but I can't think of what they were. I am also on my way through the 3rd season of 24, after recently watching the first two. Netflix rules. (12:00am)

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So as you can tell, last week ended without much going on. This weekend I am just trying to rest some and hang out with Leigh, nothing too fancy.

Just found out the other day that Doves are coming to Cat's Cradle, which is pretty awesome.

I also just got a custom screenprinted shirt from Michael in the mail today. I bought some button up shirts at a thrift store in Phoenix and sent them home with Michael for a custom print job. It is awesome having such creative friends, because I know I sure don't have it in me. Thanks Michael.

Oh, I got a nice bonus at work the other day. Pretty awesome and really, really good timing since I have trying to gathjer $8k to pay to the DMV so I can keep my license (because of that wreck from a year ago, etc, etc). The worse part of it is that bonuses like that get taxed at almost 50%. Not complaining too much, but kinda shitty the gov. takes so much of it. (12:00am)

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I think I am finally starting to see how nice it is not being in school. I have more time at nights, I don't have to worry about papers, etc and it is really nice. Good to finally feel it kick in.

I have decided that working and being on my feet off and on all day is really hurting my knee. I come home just worn out and all I want to do is put ice on it and take drugs. I talked to someone else at work today who had the same surgery and she said her doctor ordered her to stay home from work for 7 days before going back. I was back on the 3rd day. Maybe it was too soon.

Anyway, soon you will not have to hear about my knee anymore. On a different note, I am in love with my Powerbook. I really believe this is the best computer ever made. So fast and always works and light and pretty and small and clean and just amazing. Thanks Apple. (12:00am)

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Things continue to get better with my knee. My limp is less severe and I have bene stretching a lot to try and get the kinks worked out. It seems the tightened muscles is what is limiting my knee bending and making me limp.

Anything going on this weekend? As of right now, we have no plans and I sat around all last weekend. Not necesarily looking to get out of town or anything, just something to do. (12:00am)

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My dad just called to tell me he is going to Iraq at the end of the month for 3-4 weeks. You don't really think about such things when your dad is an electrical engineer (although it shouldn't come as too much of a suprise since his company won a lot of the contracts with the defense department to rebuild things in Iraq). I will give more details as it gets closer to when he actually leaves, but this was a pretty big surprise.

Knee is healing. Today was kinda rough, especially trying to walk around at work, but slow and steady wins the race. (12:00am)

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I can't remember who linked this guy, but his pictures are amazing. I still doubt if this one is real though. (12:00am)

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Yes Michael, I am really having surgery this morning, no wolf crying today. It is kinda weird because I can walk fine, I just can't really run or do a lot with my knee the way it is, but after this morning I won't be able to walk fine. I wil have to go through physical therapy, and I won't be able to run for months. It would be different if I was in terrible pain every day and this was going to fix it, it is more like I am fine every day and this is going to make me hurt for a while. I mean I definitely need the surgery, I have a pretty deep cartilage tear, but I have gotten so used to just living with it that it makes it hard to commit to making myself immoble for days/weeks/months. Maybe I am actually starting to feel a little nervous about the surgery itself too. I have never been admitted to a hospital for anything, so the whole experience is a little eery. (12:00am)

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I went and saw Engine Down play the first show of their final tour last night. I hate seeing bands break up that have been at it for a while. Just goes to show that unless a band makes millions (or you are Ted Leo) it is hard to keep at it for over 10 years even if you are moderately succesful. There comes a point where all the scraping by and having to tour non-stop starts to wear on you I suppose.

Many thanks to Robbie and Jeremy C for coming up and eating and seeing the show with me. It was good fun.

On another note, I am having surgery on my knee Friday morning at 7 something. I have to be at the hospital at 5:15am, but hopefully will be done by mid-day and then I get to go home. This weekend should be plenty boring since I won't be able to walk!! (12:00am)

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Success! Other than taking pictures of the house (it was raining all weekend) and actually putting it online, we got everything done we needed to and our house is ready for sale! Now let's just hope it does sell fast so we can move forward with things.

I am finally feeling almost 100% this weekend. After being mad sick last week, having a concussion the week before that, it is reinvigorating to feel nice and normal. I think I might even run this morning for the first time in two weeks. In fact I am going to do that now. (12:00am)

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I had a job interview today for a job that I have been waiting a couple months to be created and posted. I think the interview went well, interviews are actually pretty predictable if you are trained in such a thing. What would you do in this situation, describe a time you had this happen and how did you deal with it, etc. I am not saying I def got the job, but I am confident that I did well with the interview. The question is just whether I was what they were looking for or not. Since the interview is for a newly created job (if I don't get it, the person who gets it will be my new manager) I interviewed with my current manager, which was kinda weird. I did tell her that if I didn't get the job that I wasn't going to stick around in my current job. Ballsy yes, but true.

So this weekend is all about finally fixing up our house to the point of being ready for the market. We need to get this house sold and a new one bought in August because starting in September things gets really busy with New York, Trent's bachelor party and other random stuff. (12:00am)

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I'm feeling human again. Sickness still has a hold of me, but I am feeling much better. Yesterday was really the sickest I think I have ever been with a cold. Nasty.

So there is lots going on. First of all, when I got in my car yesterday the temp was 108 degress. That is insane when the humidity is 85%. So Ryan I know you have 115 degrees in Phoenix, but you don't know hot until you step outside in the middle of a NC summer.

Looks like I have two weddings to go to this Fall. Trent is getting married in October and Grant in November. I still can't believe Grant is back in Wingate and I hope that means I will get to see he and Michelle more.

I had a MRI of my knee today. I had an MRI of the same knee 10 years ago and the Doc said I had torn cartilage, but I was young and stupid and never got surgery. Now my knee causes me to walk with a limp and it is time to do something about it, (12:00am)

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Straight from a concussion to a nasty cold. Suck.

I spent this weekend packing up stuff in our house and taking it to storage. We are trying to get our house ready to sell and part of that means de-junking it. Most of the work was done in my office were I packed up a bunch of CDs and hauled off a bunch of cabinets and such so it looks like a room and not a storage facility. We have one more room to clean up (the room were all of Leigh's 300 notebooks from school reside) and then a little bedroom sprucing, some landscaping (bark, rocks, pond stuff), and a lot of cleaning. Then we should be good to go. It is all going much slower than I would like. (12:00am)

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Since I have some people expressing genuine concern for my well being and other calling me silly and a fiction writer, I feel it is necessary to explain myself further.

Monday morning on the way to work I was getting into my car and as I was opening my car door I dropped my water bottle. I then bent down to pick it up and opened the door at the same time and I smashed my head on the corner of the car door. It hit it hard enough that it knocked me backed and kinda stunned me for a bit, but didn't knock me out. I then went to work and tried to shake it off.

By Tuesday I was still feeling weird and by lunch time my co-workers were asking me what was wrong with me. They said I as spelling my name wrong on emails and when I was talking to them I wasn't making a lot of sense. I then realized I still felt really foggy and almost as if I was drunk (in a daze, things not clear) and hung-over (headache, nausea and tired) at the same time. My boss basically ordered me to go to the Dr, so I did, and he told me I had a concussion. When I told him how I did it, he told me I should come up with a better story or people were going to laugh at me. So I did, and I posted it here.

The truth is I am still feeling the effects. I can't concentrate at work, I am moving really slow, I have no energy and I want to sleep a lot. I have been working half days at work and the whole thing has been really frustrating. So thanks to you all for your concern and sorry for misleading you. As you now see, the made up story is much better than the real thing. (12:00am)

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Well according to the Dr. I do indeed have a concussion. It happened something like this...

As I am was leaving for work yesterday I smelled something burning once I stepped outside. I was late for work so I didn't take the time to investigate. I proceeded to drive out of our housing development when all of a sudden this little dog darts out in front of me. I slammed on brakes and swerved just as the city trash truck was turining into the street. Close call, but I missed it. As I drove to work I just kept thinking how lucky I had been that I had avoided an accident that morning....when BAM!! I hit something. I get out and look around (because I am near a park and I have run over a kid once in the past in a park when he darted out in front of me on a bike) and there is an older guy laying on the sidewalk reaching out towards to road. I go over to help him and he is just screaming for me to help him. I finally get him to tell me what happened and he tells me his son and him were in a wreck and his son was thrown out of the car and into a tree, but he is so feable all he could manage to do is crawl across the street towards a pay phone where he was going to call for help. I look over and sure enough his son is in a tree with an old car slammed into it. So I run across the street to try and help the kid, and BAM... a car comes flying around the corner and hits me. The next thing I know I wake up with a couple scrapes and a relaly bad headache.

I have left work early the past 3 days and don't plan on working much the rest of the week. The break is nice, but this headache sucks and all I want to do is sleep. (12:00am)

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Has anyone ever had a mild concusion from a blow to the head? If so, what does it feel like? (12:00am)

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I am back home (I was in Phoenix this past weekend) and back to the daily grind. I had a great time in Phoenix with Ryan and Malisa, Michael, and Jeremy D, so thanks to everyone invovled. Maybe later today I can give a rundown or some more details about the trip, but for now it is off to work. (12:00am)

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So the task of the day is to look busy without actually doing anything. I am only here for another couple hours and it isn't enough time to really get into anything, so I just have to "seem" busy. It is actually harder that you would think because I can't just browse the internet or work on SU stuff, that would be too obvious. (12:00am)

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