Red Bull Gives You Wings...Or At Least Taurine

Everyday this week, I've had to work late (heavy emphasis on the word "late"). I've been designing a stock quote application for a major financial institution. This is my first project that I've been assigned to work on from start to finish. Needless to say, it's been a learning experience. Two nights ago, I felt like I was in college again because I worked until 3 a.m. Now, in all fairness, I didn't start my evening workday until about 10 p.m., but still, it was 5 hours in addition to the 10.5 I had already invested that day. Anyway, I downed 2 Red Bulls during my "late nighter," and it worked! It didn't give me energy per se, but it made me more focused and not sleepy at all. In fact, I only got 4 hours of sleep that night, and I didn't feel the least bit groggy the next day.

On a completely different note, I found this video of these two little freaks both entertaining and somewhat disturbing. Does anyone else think they look like robots? Brace yourself at 0:39. You've been warned!

Weekend Update

I've never thought of jigsaw puzzles as a leisure activity, but that's exactly how the weekend started. "Pfee" came over, so while we waited for him to arrive, Raylan and I decided to put a puzzle together. By the time he arrived, we had most of the edges finished, so he helped us with the rest. We didn't finish the puzzle until Saturday, but the more I worked on it, the more I felt obsessed with finishing it. With every piece that I solved, I felt like that helpless nicotine addict swearing that "this is the last one." I could not stop working on the puzzle until it was complete, but at the same time, it felt therapeutic. Overall, I think it took us about four hours to finish it. I got to place the last piece. Wow, what a feeling of accomplishment! We all signed and dated the bottom, marking its completion. It now sits in a frame waiting to be proudly displayed somewhere in my office. From 1 to 10, how dorky is that? Let me know with a comment.

Later, we went to Chinese buffet with some friends. I personally prefer non-buffet Chinese food, but it's usually a better deal if you get all-you-can-eat. Scattergories was on the agenda following dinner. Somehow, I came in last place, but I did learn that "robots" can be used as an "R" word for things in the sky...the apocalypse is near (robots will take over the world like in Terminator).

Even later, we went to Starbucks at 10:30 PM. Apparently, the one here is now open 24 hours, because we didn't leave until almost 3:00 AM. I've never been a fan of thier coffee (or any coffee for that matter), but I did get to try a sample of heaven in a cup. I think it was called caramel apple cider(?). Try it.

Dr. Manhattan Viral Video

Awesome, simply awesome! This is a viral video showcasing the powers of Dr. Manhattan from Watchmen. It's perhaps one of the most thought-out viral videos I have seen. Enjoy!

4 8 15 16 23 42

Tonight, the addiction starts again. Lost season 5 begins tonight on ABC at 8/7c with an hour long recap of seasons 1-4. The new episode actually starts at 9/8c. I can't wait to hear those opening words, "Previously, on Lost." I didn't actually know about the series until halfway through season 2. I bought season 1 and caught up during season 2 and haven't missed an episode since. Raylan is just as hooked, so it's something fun we do together. If you haven't been following the show, I wouldn't recommend starting now, unless you watch all seasons leading up to this. The title Lost is not just descriptive of the state of the characters of Oceanic Flight 815, but an accurate description of its followers. Only two seasons left and there are still so many unanswered questions.

I just realized something. I've watched every season of Lost in a different home. Raylan and I first started watching lost at the Annex (the shoebox-sized apartment). Well, technically, we watched season 1 on dvd at the Annex and season 2 every Wednesday at David and Aaron's apartment. We watched season 3 at the Arbors and season 4 at the duplex. Season 5 will be watched in the new house. Without moving again, where am I going to watch season 6?

So, what do you do?

So far, I've found that one of the hardest questions for me to answer is, "What do you do at work?" I design interactive voice response (IVR) systems. Like clockwork, the next question is always, "Well what is that?" The only way I can explain it is, "You know those automated phone systems that people hate to talk to because they'd rather talk to a person? Well, I design those." I usually then get this look that someone might get when they reveal to people that they're a telemarketer. Whatever, I enjoy it, and it pays the bills.

Since this is my first post, welcome to my blog. Now, I've got to call Microsoft because my Xbox has the red ring of death...again. I'll probably have to talk to one of those "damned machines."

*UPDATE: My Xbox has decided to work again. The green ring of life is back.