new toy

Just placed my order for the parts to build my new computer. I'm extremely excited about this one because I should finally have enough of a system to keep up with the games that are coming out, at least for the next few years. Here are the parts I've ordered.

Jetmaster Jr. Case
Asus K8N-E Mobo
AMD-64 3400+ CPU (yeah, I splurged a bit here)
512 MB DDR RAM (2 sticks)
250 GB Hard disk (ooh...SATA!)
CPU Fan
GeForce FX 5700 LE
16x DVD-ROM drive
DVD+-RW Drive (I wanted dual layer, but didn't want to pay for dual layer. Maybe that'll be a later upgrade.)
500 Watt Power Supply
UV-Reactive EIDE Cable
Blue Cold Cathode Light Kit
SATA power connection adapter
Translucent blue SATA drive cable
Creative Inspire 5200 speakers

No additional sound card on this one since the motherboard ships with 8 channel sound. If I find I have enough money left over from my birthday, I may splurge on the Audigy 2ZS with a Live Drive a little later. Another accessory I think I'm going to go for right away is the Beyond TV/Firefly PC Remote bundle I found last night while surfing around looking for cool stuff. I can't wait to have a PC that can act like a PVR, especially one that doesn't require a monthly fee like TiVo does.

Now, hopefully I haven't left anything essential out that will delay my building this monster! ^_^

it's a boy!

Monday, we went to the doctor's office to have our first ultrasound of the baby. It was a completely entrhalling experience for both of us. We spent about a half an hour watching the screen in amazement. We got to see, for the very first time, our new baby. We also found out that we're expecting a boy. It amazed me that we have the technology to do something like that. We were watching our little baby, not more than 5 inches or so long, kicking and moving around. He is evidentally as stubborn as his father because he was upside down and pretty well refused to move from that position; the technician had to poke and prod at my wife's abdomen to try and get the baby to move where he needed him.

After the ultrasound and the following doctor's visit, we ran a few errands and then got to returning things. My wife had already bought lots of baby stuff (boy and girl items). So we had to go return all the pink things. We ended up spending everything we got back from the return and then some on more boy stuff though. This baby is probably going to have enough clothes to get through kindergarten at this point.

new views

A couple of days ago, one of the bosses came up here and gave us all brand new chairs! Though I can't understand the logic, considering we just had our old chairs reupholstered, I was thankful to have a new chair that hadn't been broken in by anyone else. It's actually quite comfy, and more like the one I have at home, which is also nice.

In addition, I decided to rearrange my office from the way it had been for over a year now. This also gave me the chance to go through a year's worth of junk and get rid of stuff I didn't need anymore. Plus, the way my office was, the door was to my back. That, coupled with the fact that I usually code with headphones on and the volume turned way up, meant that someone could walk into my office, stand directly behind me, and watch over my shoulder without me realizing it. I hate when that happens, and it was starting to happen far too often.

My new arrangement has me facing the door (or rather the same wall as the door), so that I can see outside my office in my perhipheral vision. It has noticeably cut down on my paranoia. Plus, it just feels more cozy in here for some reason. I've definitely created a bit more space in here too, so I can actually fit another person in here comfortably if they need to work with me on something. Of course, now that I've switched everything around, I've still got to get used to everything being essentially in the opposite location of where I expect it. ^_^

old new chair

Well, I got my chair back finally, only it's not really my chair. I knew this would happen. Turns out they sent all the chairs of that type off to be reupholstered, whether they needed it or not (go figure). So now, we get the chairs back and nobody knows who each chair belongs to. The people in the other office got to choose first, and then we basically got the last three that weren't chosen over here in my office. I was here early enough that I got to pick my preference out of the three, but none of them was my old chair. Of course, nobody would probably notice or care except for me, I guess. Makes me wish I'd labelled my chair or something. Maybe if I'd known it were going to be stolen, I would have.

potty humor

Here's an example of what passes for humor in my office. I found these posters taped to the wall in the restroom a few weeks ago. I figured they were humorous enough to share with the world. A coworker evidentally picked them up while he was out visiting one of our clients and saw fit to share them with everyone else by posting them in only the most obvious place. For the curious, I believe that these are the posters they use in the fields to remind the workers of sanitation regulations.

Always remember, when working on a farm, it is inappropriate to drop trou and squat in the field. ^_^

the chair thief

So I come in this morning to find my desk chair missing. Someone has stolen my chair. It sucks too, because it was a really comfy chair. Plus, you know how you just kinda get used to a particular chair? I've been sitting in that chair for over a year now; it's my chair! The culprit must be found and brought to justice!

The only clue I have is from someone who was here when it happened. He said that someone came in and took them so they could be "redone", whatever the heck that means. There was nothing to "re-do" about the chairs anyway. The only chairs that were taken were mine and another just like it in my coworker's office. They were the last two in the batch of really nice chairs that we got a year or so ago (everyone else has since broken theirs). Are we being punished for keeping our nicer chairs than the others? Has management come to the conclusion that chairs with armrests confer too high a status for us to sit in any longer? Help, I'm trapped in Office Space!

So now I'm stuck sitting in this piece of crap chair that I stole from another office. Stupid chair with no armrests and no back support. I sit and wait, hoping for the return of my chair, but I can't say that I'm overly optimistic about it. May it collapse under the weight of it's new owner!!! (If I can't use it, nobody should.)

irony

We got some goodie bags today as a result of an order we made from Office Depot. Inside the bag was an assortment of things, including a pen, paperclip holder, sticky notes. Also inside the bag was a staple remover. I find it quite amusing that the bag the staple remover came in was secured with a staple. But then again, simple things amuse me.