*Boom* Goes the Engine

4 weeks ago. 9:00 a.m.. My potential future father-in-law checks the oil future brother-in-law's Grand Marquis and finds it is 4 quarts low.

Fast forward to Sunday, June 8.
My girlfriend and I are in a caravan of a Honda CR-V and a Grand Marquis. She is driving her brother's Grand Marquis back from his wedding. He has been in New Hampshire for a day. Under the hood of his car, a worn valve train is chattering up and down in a furious harmony of timed chaos. Suddenly, a spring on one of cylinder 3's valves pops. While the vehicle is still drivable, the engine is instantly destroyed - it is only a matter of time until the engine locks up.

And this is what I'm dealing with today in Memphis, TN.

My Mattress Will Soon Be Here

I'd like some of ya'll's opinion: Was I dumb to order a queen size mattress, anticipating marrying in the next two years? Whether I was dumb, or not, it will be here next Tuesday!

Busier Than a Hen Picking Up Corn with a broken beak

Sorry, the title is the best I could come up with. I don't take much time when I write a blog - just fire out what's on my mind and publish it without any revision.

I'm working on launching the third incarnation of my company's website. We're using a "zipped" design written in php that will allow us to change everything site wide by editing 3 files - the only thing unique to each page will be its content, headers, and meta tag. Transferring over everything is taking a long time, but I think it will be worth it long term as part of our broad SEO strategy.

I'm enjoying the apartment. It's cheap to cool it, and I sleep better when it's cold. Thus, I'm sleeping better and am more alert during the day.

Sarah is at her parents right now. She fixed their lawnmower by replacing the belts on it and is now mowing her parent's yard. She's great. You might think I'm dumb, but one of the things I look forward to one day with her is working on our yard. It may be a while before we have a yard though. I mean, we're not married, she has to finish grad school, I have to finish school, I'm getting more tied to Memphis than I thought...

Such is life.

My advice for the day - five people to cultivate good relationships with

This is completely unspiritual, btw. Well, 80%.

You need to be tight with your pastor, lawyer, doctor, mechanic, and gunsmith.

That's it. Have a nice day.

"Moving Is Hard Work" - Captain Obvious

Before I go any farther, let me please ask that no one leaves comments about my title using phrases like, "Thank you, Captain Obvious." Obviously, most people know moving is hard work. I spent the entire weekend moving, and was blessed that Mom and Dad helped me all day Saturday. I rented an F-150 from U-Haul, and made about 4 trips to and from my previous residence. It wasn't that difficult, save moving my solid walnut dresser. That thing is heavy! It's beautiful though, and a family heirloom (it was saved from my Grandfather's furniture store after a fire wiped out the business in the late 40's).

My cable and internet are set up. I told Memphis Light, Gas, and Water to start billing me on Friday for utilities via a web form, and even gave them two week's notice. I've received no indication that they've done that yet, and they are impossible to reach through their "customer support line."

I have to make a trip to Minneapolis to get some stuff out of storage. I still plan on coming back, people, but I have a lot of furniture in a room that I need here, and I don't want to pay for storage any more!