Well, I made it....the weather in Orlando is great...suuny skies and temperate weather. I slept for 2 hours yesterday and got up to catch the early a.m.flight. I usually don't have a problem with sleeping during air travel....but I had a really rough time. Probably because my family isn't with me.

I have to stand out on the hotel balcony to get 2 bars on phone to make a call. I was planning on using my phone as a wireless modem for my laptop, but that would only work if I want to sit outside....in the daytime -- yes, but at night, I don't think so...I'll use the in-room high speed internet access instead. Checked in with the family and SaxyHC and JigNeNe have a bet that I will lose something by tomorrow because whenever I travel, I ALWAYS lose something. I have a Hertz rental with their own brand of GPS called NEVERLOST. It's already proven to come in handy although I missed a series of turns (which would've been worse if not for GPS) from the airport to the hotel. SaxyHC was quite amused when I told him I couldn't even follow the directions from GPS. I hear the Disney fireworks across the way....so, I'm gonna freshen up, grab a bite to eat and maybe explore.

--bustagroove was here--

I'm going to Lotusphere 2004 conference at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando. I leave this Saturday from my homebase, connect through Houston and then arrive Saturday evening. The conference doesn't start until Sunday and ends on Thursday, but the boss said that the company gets a "break" on airfare for leaving/departing on a weekend.

I've been supporting Lotus Notes/Domino at other companies since since '95 but this is my first junket to Lotusphere. My coworker filled me in on the must-dos and where to look for the VIP freebies. He took his wife and 3 kids w/him when he went to Lotusphere a few years ago. Looks like I'm staying at Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resort. Sigh...., too bad JigNeNe and DramaKween can't tag along because they just came off a two-week winter school break. I'll have my tech gadgets to keep me company, but it won't be the same without my family ;(

--bustagroove was here-- Orlando Weather

That was fun....Spongbob Squarepants Collapse game at RealArcade. I like clicking on stuff a lot because now my left hand in kind of numb. Even JigNeNe gave me pointers on how to explode the most colors. I tried to get a screen drag to put into SnagIt, but it wouldn't let me do it, plus I was too tired to try to figure it tonight. Demo game was fun and I had a high score of 77,213 and got up to level 5 with 26 lines left.

P.S. Looking forward to the "must see episodes" next Monday of "Plankton's Revenge Marathon" leading into Plankton finally getting the Crabby Patty recipe, or that's what they want us to believe ;) .. Yes, I'm a BIG KID, you gotta problem with that then take it up with the Flying Dutchman....

--bustagroove was here--

I see that mwsmith's "place of cubicle suffering" is also a Dell shop.

Friday can't get here soon enough for me. My place of "cube suffering" gave us $500 spot bonuses for work we did on Domino server upgrades. Nice 'lil surprise...I'm so used to getting freebie movie tickets.

--bustagroove was here--

Reading lilman's post reminded me of one of my favorite shows: "What Not To Wear" on The Learning Channel. I was reminded of this show only because of the 360-degree mirror that lilman was standing in while trying on the white threads. The show always subjects the fashion "victim" to the 360-degree mirror.

"What Not To Wear is a show where people nominate others close to them who they think need help dressing better. The show then secretly videotapes the MO to see the true look, then surprises the "fashion victim" with the choice to go to NY and spend $5000 on a new wardrobe - if they'll give up their old look and try to follow new rules. They get their hair & makeup done and then show off their new look, first to the fashion gurus, Clinton and Stacy and then to their friends and family.

--bustagroove was here--

About 1 hour and 50 minutes to go til the New Year rings in. I heard a few shots being fired when I came home. I expected our street to be full of cars with neighbors having New Years'Eve parties. It hasn't been this quiet in years. Law enforcement is out in full force though pulling people over on my ride home. I didn't see any mobile sobriety checkpoints though.

Kicking back at home doing the usual. Kids are watching Dick Clark's Rockin' New Years Eve. Going to pop to cork on the bubbly AKA apple cider and look forward to another year mixed with blessings. Stay safe :)

Auld Lange Syne of 01/11/2003 - closest blog I could find AFTER start of New Year 2003

Auld Lange Syne of 11/28/2002 - closest blog I could find BEFORE start of New Year 2003




--bustagroove was here--

Score...Score...Score...It's Chinese Food For Christmas Dinner @ Noble House...ummmm, yummy...Honey Walnut Shrimp, Hot and Sour Soup, Sweet and Sour Shrimp, Shrimp Egg Rolls, etc...Time to Scramble the Family....Here We Come 0;)

Spent last night wrapping the girls presents. DramaKween loves music more than I did as a kid, um...errr...teenager. I got her the new Alicia Keys, B2K and Musiq CDs, clothing and a Walmart shopping card -- what else would a teenage girl want? I got JigNeNe got one of those remote control cars that turns flips, Quantum modules for her LeapPad modules -- she'd been using the same ole' one since she was about 5 years old. The girls gave me the coolest gift -- a snowglobe with Spongebob and Patrick wearing winter attire that plays "Let It Snow". This year the majority of the gifts were family/shared gifts..Playstation 2, EyeToy...still waiting for the Sony Karoke(sp?} to be delivered so that we can all sing and laugh at each other on the basis of American Idol-audition-style methodology of singing. SaxyHC got the NFL Gameday 2003 (from the girls) and Grand Theft Auto (for himself). EyeToy is fun, interactive game...you've probably seen the commercial where "Billy" lives in some sort of small town and then a neighbor person starts running around town crying out "Billy's on TV" and then the camera goes back to Billy who is playing one of the EyeToy interactive games. We're having a good time overall.

We didn't cook for Christmas but we'll come up with something hopefully ;O) My early Christmas gift to myself was the Treo 600. I've been listening to an awesome Shoutcast station I discovered yesterday ... Chilly's Vibes/Old School, R&B, Disco, Funk & Slow Jams from the 60s-80.

Well, since I'm Treo 600 convert I don't use the Sidekick anymore -- can't send pics from Sidekick anymore....I just wanted to wish everyone Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa and Happy Holidays.

Groovygirl...those pics of the Scion reminds me of a car you would see on "The Munsters", for those under 30 -- may not remember that show. I think it still comes on TVLand. Honda Element is more stylish and reminds me of a baby Hummer.

Nikhoi...is that a pic of the 2004 Toyota Sienna? I've seen a few of those in parking lots and on the road..more aerodynmaic look from earlier models. Buying a vehicle is always a PAIN, even when you do your homework. I traded out of a leased '99 Ford Explorer earlier this year. I have a '03 Honda Odyssey & have been keeping periodic track of its resale value and it's holding on mucho better than than the Ford Windstar I was considering. I want to keep the Odyssey until DramaKween graduates from college (several years from now)...and then it's on to my dream car -- Lexus GS 430 (mega-smile).

--bustagroove was here--

Wasn't in the mood for Thanksgiving Day feast yesterday. While I was at the grocery store picking up a few things for us to eat during the week. SaxyHC kindly cleaned the turkey and put it in the oven....mind you, he doesn't eat meat....only soy products and seafood. So this was really a big deal. He bought a 12lb turkey from Whole Foods Market the night before so it was a fresh turkey. He ate some sort of soy-based roast, and we had honey carrots, string beans, macaroni & cheese, peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream.

Toggling between ebates and Upromise websites to get the most for my $$. Ebates gives $$ back when initiating online shopping via links provided and Upromise transfers $$ towards college savings for your son/daughter/?. So far I've earned $39.16 of "Big Fat Checks" from eBates and $372.72 from Upromise. I'm sure the malls are a mad mad madhouse. Plan on doing majority of Christmas shopping online as online merchants are providing free shipping, etc. and I can take advantage of ebates/Upromise perks as well.