NQH was watching Sports Center this morning before work.  A commercial for Pizza Hut (I think) comes on; at the end of the commercial they proudly announce that there's an iPhone app that allows you to order pizza from your phone! Awesomeness!

NQH gets all indignant about the stupidity of this, and finally yells at the TV "You don't need an app to order a pizza from a phone!  We've been using the phone to order pizza for decades!  This is not progress!"

:D

(Also, I'm reading The Time Traveler's Wife right now.  I'm on page 70, and it's really, really sad.  I do not see this becoming a feel-good book.)

Four-day weekend is full of win.  Went to see Aerosmith on Sunday night, which was great.  Spent Mon and Tues lounging around, watching Wimbledon, and reading.  Woke up this morning with a scratchy throat, which I blame on NQH stealling ALL the covers last night. 

Woo hoo, 3-day work week! :)

I finished Fire Raiser this morning.   
( My thoughts, with spoilery spoilage )
Overall, I really enjoyed it.  B+ from me.  The way this story was written, I could see this becoming an ongoing series, not just a trilogy.  However, as I am still eagerly awaiting CT, I'll be perfectly satisfied with 3 books. :)

I started Fire Raiser last night, and I'm about 100 pages in so far.  Really enjoying it.  I find myself becoming attached to two secondary characters, so now I'm wondering which one is going to die.  <sigh>

Next time I start to think that the governement hasn't done anything good for me, I will try to restrain myself.

Long story short:

Last week, the Service Engine Soon (aka "Something Expensive is Broken") light turns on in my car.  This happened 6 months ago, and it needed a new O2 sensor, at the bargain price of $300+

Wednesday, I take the car in to our usual mechanics.  I ask for a diagnostic ($70+) and an oil change.  I mention the recent sensor replacement, and comment that I hope it's not the same one.  Guy says it is unlikely.  That afternoon, I return for the car, and am handed a very small bill.  Diagnostic revealed a problem with recently replaced O2 sensor, but sensor itself works fine and is not having issues.  This mean (uh-oh, spaghetti-o's) that there could be a problem with the car's computer.  I must take it to the dealer for a more intensive diagnostic, which could cost (worst case) $300+ just for the diagnostic, not including repairs.  In a very nice gesture, the mechanic does not charge me for the diagnostic, only the oil change. 

Friday (today), I take the car to Nissan, explain my adventure with other mechanic, and explain need for uber-diagnostic.  I leave the car at Nissan, go to work, and proceed to drive myself further nuts by googling the issue and discovering that replacing the computer in my car could cost $1,000+.  I mention my angst on Facebook, and a friend from div school responds with an (altered, funny) quote from Thich Nhat Hanh, about how mindfulness and hope help you with Dealerships.  I try to be mindful through the day.

At 3:00 Jay from Nissan calls me, and says that yes, it is the computer that has gone wonky, but (cue fairy dust and angels with trumpets) the ECM (don't know what that is) is covered by a federal emissions warranty, so the replacement of my car's computer is... free.  Even better, if I leave it with him for the weekend, he will overnight a new computer, and have it all fixed by Monday afternoon.

Fuck me.  I think the only thing that would make me feel more elated is the impending publication of Captal's Tower.  I can't remember the last time something that had the potential to go so wrong, turned out so right.

OMG, Gaeta, what the frak?  For a guy whose name means "lucky," everything he touches seems to eventually turn to shit.   And what was up with the guy in CIC who heard the music?  Very strange.

Got up at 3:20 on Sunday morning to watch the men's final of the Australian Open.  <sigh>  Nadal seems like a really nice guy, and he's obviously an excellent player, but I still wanted Federer to win. 

In honor of the return of BSG on Friday night, I started knitting a pair of Eye of Jupiter socks:



Sorry for the phoneto, but I'm at work.  I sized them for NQH, but I think he might think they're a little strange, so they might go to his brother instead.  The nice thing is, unless you're a BSG nerd they just look like regular striped socks (and even for the nerds it's an abstract interpretation of the mandala).

Loved the new episode.  Sad about what happened but not surprised.  I love that Kara finally found a way to get the upper hand on Leoben in terms of freaking people out. 

I'm a bit meh about the 5th.  I'm curious to see where the plotline goes in the next few episodes.  It brings a whole new dynamic to the events of New Caprica, though. 

BSG is definitely one of those shows that I'll have to go back and re-watch after the final episode to find all the things I missed initially.

Oh, and we started watching Lost season 4 again.  I like Lost, but it really drags itself down sometimes.  I really need Jack to STFU, and I would not complain if someone accidentally shot Kate in the head. 

Spent the weekend playing WoW, knitting, and watching Battlestar.  I'm 4 bars from 80, the happy owner of a new sock (not a pair, just the one), and we've got 3 episodes left in season 4 (.0) of BSG.  I lurve me some crazy Starbuck. 

However, watching all these episodes in close proximity has made me realize that Roslin does this weird thing with her lips that is vaguely frog-like, and oddly reminds me of Jack Nicholson's Joker.  No, I cannot explain it.   Also, Baltar is the strangest Shakespeare-quoting prophet I've ever seen.   I wonder if he were less attractive and not British if so many single women would be drinking the Baltar-ade.  Just sayin'.

Back at work after nearly 2 weeks off.   :P

I celebrated Christmas 4 times (O.M.F.G.) and my birthday, and am thoroughly sick of unwrapping gifts.  Or maybe it's not the gifts but the excessive togetherness required by the holidays.  I'm glad to have it done with.

I finished my holiday knitting by the necessary deadlines; the final tally was 6 hats, 2 scarves, and 3 sets of wine bottle hats and scarves.  The holiday baking also finished promptly; final tally there was 70 dozen cookies and 16 pounds of chocolate.  I question my own sanity at times.

I've been playing a ton of WoW over the last 10 days, and just got my mage to 77 last night.  Yay for cold-weather flying!  I'm having fun with the Dalaran cooking quests - mmmmm, sewer mushrooms!

Supposedly there will be Snow and Ice of Doom in the area tonight and tomorrow.  My dentist called to reschedule my appointment for tomorrow morning, and my boss has already told me that if there is Woe and Angst in the form of Ice and Snow, she will not be here tomorrow, and I shouldn't come in, and neither should anyone else, because Woe is Us, there is Ice. 

Oh, and we have a new "casual Friday" policy in my office - we can wear jeans, but we still have to look professional, etc., etc..  The chair's assistant sent out the memo, and then the COO (who was the one who came up with the idea) sent out a follow-up email reminding us all that "one bad apple can spoil it for everyone".  Umm... okay.  I really thought I was past the age where I had to worry about tattletales.  It won't surprise me if there's another memo next week reminding us that we should raise our hand and ask for the pass before going to the potty.

Finishing up my last day of work for 2008!  13 days of vacation, FTW.