Food, glorious, food

I had some really good shrimp for dinner today. It was Margaritaville Jammin' Jerk Shrimp and it was lovely. It was the perfect followup to a great burger for lunch. We went to Red Robin and I really enjoyed it. We drank freckled lemonade which was really strawberries in lemonade. I also had a guacamole bacon burger. ALthough I don't eat beef that often, I really liked the burger.

I have new Danish friends...
It is nice to meet people from other lands because you get to hear what other people think about the US and how different Americans are from other people. But then the conversation continues and you realize that we're really not much different after all.

Deadlines and such

So, I haven't written in a few days. I finding that I have less and less to say that would be of any interest to you. You're my friend and I want you to be informed, entertained and enlightened when you read this blog. If I just drone on about the mundane happenings in my life, well, that's no fun. I wouldn't read a blog like that...

So did I get a lot of work done today? I would say yes and no. I didn't get a lot done on my TO DO list. But I did lay the foundation for a couple of projects. I'm not sure if I'll meet my deadlines for tomorrow, but I'll do the best I can. I'm determined not to work on this at home, but I have a feeling that I might have to pack up the stuff and take it home. See this is what happens when you bite off more than you can chew. I was trying to be helpful and be a team player, but I ended up digging myself into a hole. That'll learn me:(

The one thing or actually one of the things that I'm looking forward to is getting my new cubicle. Now, I know getting to work in a cube doesn't sound like the greatest thing in the world. But my group is moving into brand new cubes that have doors. Granted they don't have four walls (I can hear your laughter already), but we'll make do. I'm planning a cube warming party with mini cupcakes and mini sodas and if I can swing it, a couple of "work time" cocktails. I don't know how I'll do that, but the cocktails are for one particular person who seems fairly conservative, but who, I'm sure, has seen a lampshade in her day on more than one occasion.

So I guess it's time to go home. I have homework to do and a party to plan.

Verses du jour

Proverbs 3:5,6
"Trust in Jehovah with all your hear and do not lean upon your own understanding. In all you ways take notice of him, and he himself will make your paths straight."

Matthew 28:19-20
"19 Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded YOU. And, look! I am with YOU all the days until the conclusion of the system of things..."

Do you know Gina and Sandy?

Do you know my friends Gina and Sandy? Take this quiz to find out just how well you know this dynamic duo

http://www.quizyourfriends.com/linkIM03.php?quizname=060608004354-377013&

Take My Quiz - on - QuizYourFriends.com!

Why?

Last night, someone tried to break into my mother van. They busted the back window open and it looks like they tried to pull the back windshield out. Since no other cars were damaged, we are assuming that someone targeted her car. But why?

The Girls' Book of Friendship

I picked up a neat little book at the library today. The Girls' Book of Friendship has great quotes and stories, like:

A Common Language
The language of girlfriends! I have no idea what a doohickey is, but when Doris calls something a doohickey, I know exactly what she's talking about. Not only do we borrow one another's clothes, makeup, and other doohickeys, but we also have reached the point where we understand each other's language. Sometimes when we can't even express our pain, the language of a girlfriends goes beyond what can be uttered. After all, the lexicon for girlfriends isn't entirely filled with words. Through its bulk of pages you will also see snorts, hugs, and tears. In this language there are even moments of no language, just silence. This silence is filled with understanding and strength.
-Chonda Pierce, Comedian, Speaker, Writer, Recording Artist

OOPS

The freakiest thing happened today. As I was leaving work today, I started to go out an emergency exit. Now this is a door that is always unlocked and isn't truly an emergency exit. As I put my hand on the door, the fire alarm went off. Now, it was a coincidence, but it made me jump for a second.

I had a Steve Urkel "did I do that?" moment.

In other news...

My vacation plans are progressing. I looked into Red Sox tickets, not realizing that Red Sox tickets are more rare than error free speech from George Bush. I did find some tickets on eBay, but they're all terribly expensive. I don't "need" to the see the Red Sox, but it would be nice. I need to figure out my itinerary.

Here are some possibilities:

•Museum of Science
•New England Aquarium
•Skywalk Observatory
•Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
•Harvard Museum of Natural History
•John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum

I have to update my website with my itinerary soon. It'll be done soon. I need to come up with a new design. I promise I'll do it before I leave...really!

A new beginning

This is the week of reckoning... all hopes and dreams begin and end here.

Congratulations Tiffany!
Class of 2006

Faith

(Hebrews 11:1)Faith is the assured expectation of things hoped for, the evident demonstration of realities though not beheld.

(Hebrews 11:6) 6 Moreover, without faith it is impossible to please [him] well, for he that approaches God must believe that he is and that he becomes the rewarder of those earnestly seeking him(m*).

*** Marginals ***
(Zephaniah 2:3) seek Jehovah, all YOU meek ones of the earth, who have practiced His own judicial decision. Seek righteousness, seek meekness. Probably YOU may be concealed in the day of Jehovah’s anger.

(Matthew 6:33) "Keep on, then, seeking first the kingdom and his righteousness, and all these [other] things will be added to YOU.

My Summer Vacation

Here's the vacation plan:

July 6 - 9 - Philadelphia
Sheraton University City
Attending the 2006 District Convention of Jehovah's Witnesses

July 12 - 16 Boston
Comfort Inn & Suites Logan International Airport
Bumming around Boston :)

I'm driving to Philly, but flying to Boston. As soon as I make flight plans, I'll post them.

Catching Up

I haven't written, really written, in a while. I think that the break in classes has left me devoid of grandiose ideas. I did read an interesting article today claiming that the sane half of TomKat maybe experiencing post partum depression. I wonder if old Tommy has stocked up on Flinstone chewables for his baby girl...and her mom.

On a lighter note, I got an A in my web design class. I was really happy when I saw that especially given the trying circumstances I endured with that class. I still haven't gotten my grade for my Intro to Computers class. Intro to Physical Science starts next week. My sister Tiffany, who is graduating from high school next week, took one look at my text book and basically told me that I'll be taking high school level science. I hope I'm up to it.

I'll post my feelings about LOST tommorow.

End of the week

This week, although devoid of homework or class obligations, was still pretty busy. I had plenty to do and discovered some work that still needs to be done. Hopefully, things will stay slow for a while so that these issues can be resolved.

Tomorrow, I'll be at the alumni and friends reunion. It's 3-6 (open house) and 6-8 (evening reception). It's been lots of planning but I think everything will be fine.

What's going on?

In case you haven't heard...

There was a bat in my apartment on Sunday night...

Bats in the house and dogs in the car... what's next? A plague on my household? Boils, frogs, a day in darkness?

1 John 4:18

"There is no fear in love, but perfect love throws fear outside, because fear exercises a restraint. Indeed, he that is under fear has not been made perfect in love."

Blog things

Your Linguistic Profile::

50% General American English

25% Dixie

20% Yankee

0% Midwestern

0% Upper Midwestern

What Kind of American English Do You Speak?

You Should Be a Joke Writer

You're totally hilarious, and you can find the humor in any situation. Whether you're spouting off zingers, comebacks, or jokes about life... You usually can keep a crowd laughing, and you have plenty of material. You have the makings of a great comedian - or comedic writer.

What Type of Writer Should You Be?

You Passed 8th Grade Science

Congratulations, you got 7/8 correct!

Could You Pass 8th Grade Science?

Our Town

This is a story about Grover's Corner...



I saw this play tonight at Howard Community College. I've seen a couple of plays at HCC, but I have enjoyed each one. This simple story set between 1901 and 1913 takes you back to a simpler time...A time when love was more pure, life was slower, everyone knew everyone's name. Your guide, the narrator, is there to fill you in on all the important details of the town.

I thorougly enjoyed the play. I know they'll be many more.

Web site project

At long last, my project is done (http://polaris.umuc.edu/~jjones). It was a lot of hard work and frustration, but I think it's one of the best sites I've done. There are things that I don't like about it, but they are things that couldn't be helped in the framework of my class.

I'll post a link to the site from my personal website soon.
Updated on 5/14/2006 - http://www.jmjdesigns.com/dayspa

Nightmares again

Once again, I had the twin towers dream. Every now and again I dream that I'm in one of the twin towers on September 11th. This time, I was in the building and I could see the planes coming toward the building despite being on the first floor. I managed to get out in time before the towers fell.

This has got to be one of the most disturbing dreams I've ever had. The fire dreams are distressing, but the twin towers dreams are far worse. I can't imagine what it would've been like to be in the twin towers when they were hit. It was the worse day in American history.

If you're not a part of the solution, you're a part of the problem

I posted the following on a message board in the hopes of getting some helpful answers:

I need some help with a couple of XML pages I'm developing for my web design class. I think I may have done something wrong because when I try to view my xml pages in IE I don't get anything. But when I try to open them in Firefox, they open.


Here's my site: http://polaris.umuc.edu/~jjones/


Go to Massage and Face and Skin for the links.


My XML pages:
http://polaris.umuc.edu/~jjones/massage.xml
http://polaris.umuc.edu/~jjones/faceskin.xml
I am linking to the wrong file? Should I be linking to the .xsl file? What file extension should I be using. I'm confused and tired.

The only answers I've gotten so have been nothing but my problem rewritten.

• I'm not sure how to fix it, but this is the error I got from Maxthon The XML page cannot be displayed Cannot view XML input using style sheet. (If you don't know how to fix it, why did you bother to email? )
  
• I have noticed that your XML pages are not showing up. (No, really?)
  
• Ok, I think I may have figured it out. What do you have your default browser set as? If you change your browser to IE, maybe it will show up correctly in IE. (Did you even read my problem? It doesn't show up in IE)
  
• The first link I click on just brings up a page with you background color. The second link gives this error message in IE:
  
  "The XML page cannot be displayed (Yes, I know, that's the problem!!!)
  Cannot view XML input using style sheet. Please correct the error and then click the Refresh button, or try again later.

Here's my theory (and plea): if you can't help me, KEEP QUIET!!

I should've gone to bed

I feel guilty for not keeping up with my blog lately. Life has been so hectic with school and work projects. I'm working on my Web Design class sememster project. It's a web site about a day spa. It's not as easy a topic as I thought it would be. But I'm plowing through.

Thinking of plowing through... I was working on my project Sunday night. I started around 9 pm and at one point looked up at the time and it was 4 am. I was shocked to say the least. I ended up working on it for four more hours and at 8:15 am I went to bed. I called and left a garbled message on my supervisor's voicemail and went to bed. After 2 hours, I woke up and started getting ready for work. Here's a tip for you, if you don't sleep for 22 hours, you don't get to decide what's best for you that particular day. Going to work was such a mistake because when I finally got there, I was so tired, I couldn't even think. I'm glad that no one asked about anything of any importance because they wouldn't have gotten anything intelligent from me.

Just talking about it is making me sleepy... I need a nap.