I don’t know why but since the WBQotW of April 28th, Facebook has not been cross-posting from here. This is more or less just a test now that I’ve double checked all the settings.

So, in short, please ignore the man behind the curtain!

Regardless of what the big retailers would have you believe, it is NOT Christmas yet.

I used to be a real stickler and say that Christmas can’t start until after Thanksgiving. You can’t start playing Christmas music, you can’t put up Christmas decorations, and you certainly can’t start Christmas shopping until the Friday after Turkey Day.

However, I have now been married over ten years to a wonderful woman who sneaks Christmas songs on her iPod in April. Who, if you pay attention, can be heard quietly humming “Frosty the Snowman” in mid-summer. Who’s face lights up like the Griswold’s house at site of the first Christmas decorations in the mall (which is now reaching into September… *groan*).

So, I will make this small concession. I will allow that the Christmas Spirit may be on the loose before Thanksgiving. I will do my best not to grumble and curse when jolly songs and snowmen appear at the mall along side Jack-o’-lanterns. BUT!!! You can NOT call it “Christmas Time” until after my birthday on November 10th.

<ThinlyVailedExcuseToPanderForGifts>Speaking of my birthday…</ThinlyVailedExcuseToPanderForGifts>

…I just updated my T-Shirt Wishlist. Go check it out!!

New York anniversary trip pictures uploaded to Flickr, not all tagged and described yet.

Youth “80’s Tacky Prom” pictures uploaded to Flickr.

Middle school mission trip pictures off loaded from camera. Video not so much.

Last rent paid on apartment. Carpet cleaner and move-out inspection scheduled for next week.

House closed! (w00t!) Less than half cleaned. Lot’s of little repair jobs to do yet. Half of boxes moved. Carpet cleaner, air duct cleaner, cable/internet guy, and refrigerator delivery all scheduled for Friday morning. (Ack!)

Major project at work at least two weeks behind with delivery date in less than a month. (Double ack!)

Surfing, blogging, TV, sleeping, and weight watchers all significantly curtailed or cancelled completely.

Folllow Twitter to keep up with this crazy life.

Now, what the heck am I going to have for breakfast with an empty cupboard? (Feeling a bit like Old Mother Hubbard.)

Don’t ya just hate getting behind the guy that’s driving five under the speed limit in the fast lane? Don’t ya just hate getting behind the lady who doesn’t understand you can take more than one lettuce leaf at a time from the salad bar? Don’t ya just hate when someone gives you weeks of teasers about some big trip they’re going on and then even more teasers about the great pictures they took, but the never post the story OR the pics?!

Me too.

Unfortunately, I’ve got a major project going at work and I’m in serious crunch mode. I’ve been pulling 12-16 hour days all this week and will probably will for the next few weeks. It’s that time again when the only time I see my wife is when she’s already asleep in bed.

The two weeks before I was working ’til midnight, I was rushing home to take care of this or that little issue, filling out this or that form or contract, in order to get our home purchase rolling. (By the way, all the paper work has gone to finance and title. From now until August, no news is good news.)

So, this is yet another sorry excuse for not getting something posted. Our New York trip was amazing and the pictures really are great. I’ve uploaded more than half of them to Flickr, but the rest are still on my home PC just waiting for me to get them online. I’ll do my best to squeeze that in some night. Then I can type up the trip report during my lunch hour or something.

Deal? Ok.

We’re back from New York. I’ve spent hours and hours culling and reorienting our nearly 400 pictures from the trip (and I haven’t even started any PhotoShop cleanup). I will do my best to get a full report posted this week.

Suffice to say it was a fun trip, but I’m glad to be back in Texas.