The present time isn’t what I thought it would be. Ha. I didn’t really think too much about what the semester would be like actually. I knew the crazy fun times that would be (are) two people working toward their masters degree would be… crazy. I was semi-wrong.

Yes. It’s crazy. The astounding thing is while we’re busy things are really stable. Yesterday morning the topic of dating came up. emma laughed at the idea of trying to date someone during this semester. “No, really, I’m THAT busy. No. I’m not avoiding you. Yes. I AM that busy.”

Tonight I have a call back for Neil Knox’s “Lions” (Winner of the Kennedy Center’s (KCACTF) National Award for Best Short Play Best Short Play of 2006) to be directed by John Dillon and I’ll be driving the volleyball girls to Kristy’s place for her annual team dinner. Not that I’m a part of the team this year but I am the only one of the then or now coaches free that is certified to drive a school van.

Lucky me.

Being married, understanding the psychology of marriage are two very different things. This I can say knowing I’ve gone through a process of questioning and acceptance. It’s peaceful really. I don’t have to worry about impressing anyone while trying to focus on my dreams thereby putting them second in my life.

Things are still difficult but not because of anything between us, HAPPY HAPPY!, but rather due to the day to day struggles - work, classes, coaching, acting, it goes on and on. - 08:30

23:27

It’s been a long, long day. We’re both very run down and (hahaha) it’s not going to settle down at all. I have to re-read Hamlet to find a piece to work on for class (Acting the Poetic Text - Michael Early) this weekend. I also need to buckle down and learn me some lines for Acting for Film. Ed Sherin’s workshop will take place tomorrow and Saturday.

Ahhhh, random fun news. Jacek is moving to White Plains. Right near the Westchester actually. Cha’ching. Want to see a movie Jacek? Dinner? Kick, throw, toss a ball around? Whoohoo! Rock the rockin news.

My auditions, yes plural, for Lions were at 640pm and 720pm. Normally I use military time but they didn’t so I smiled. I have hugely high hopes to be cast for the 640pm character. Uber bigg. Two g’s apparently. Squee! I felt great during and after the auditions. I can honestly this was probably the first audition in which I felt really ready. What a wildly rockin on cool feeling. AHHHHH! I’m so excited waiting to know if I got a part. Damn you delay. Damn you!

On a different note altogether, emma and I finally put together out thank you’s from a well organized and finely executed party thrown by Pop and Lin. It took us a while but I believe we did something a touch different than the normal thank you card. With the purchase of the MacPro came the software Comic Life. emma was enamored with it and wanted to play play play. Te’hee. Te’hee. Te’hee. If there is something like that to bring her deeper into the world of comic books 0’s and 1’s… I’m good. = )

So… Yea. These will be snail mail bound very soon. I have nearly half the addresses needed. Once the addys are available they’ll be zoomin off to a new home. Aww. I can only hope the recipients enjoy it as much as I do. It was hella fun to make. I just saw on their site that there is an upgrade for 9.99. Looks like I know where I’m spending a quick ten this weekend.

There is a rough part of these busy days… We’re both drained when we get home. Sleep happens early. Heck, even the kittens can’t keep us up. AND THEY TRY! OH OH OH! They try! Despite my best efforts last night, and tonight, I’m feeling the droopy eye feeling, that shouldn’t be, at 00:00. A’vast.

Last bit of news before I collapse. I mean it. I am going to fall on the bed even though I’m already on it. Per a conversation with John and Dave at SLC I am officially 12 credits away from finishing my grad degree. Now, were I a crazy man I could do what I did last year and graduate this year. EFF. That. Instead I’ll take a lighter load… 10 hours vs 12 - That doesn’t feel so light anymore.

Processing class times and hours… Working….

Results. I’m much more tired than I thought. 8 hours vs 12 hours. That’s bunches better. So this semester I’ll earn - 3 credits. Next semester 3 credits. And lastly, next year 3 and 3 again. Volla! Wow. I’m going to graduate with my MFA. It’s in there already. Wow. I had a bit of a realization that needs it’s own post: The experience I’ve had thus far as a grad student - year 1 to year 4. So many things have improved.

00:01 has struck. Time to post. Time to thump.

Live Science is reporting on zits, dots, blackheads, whiteheads, yadda, yadda, yadda. For everyone out there that has been looking for some facts about what to and/or not to eat you’ll want to read this bit.

One tid-bit I still have a question about involves, sad look, milk. According to the article “milk may modestly increase the risk of acne.” Is that organic of BGH (Bovine Growth Hormone) milk. Very much a difference. more…

This is a first. But here aren’t there always firsts. Academic Computing has an opening and we need to fill the position quick like a bunny. The info can be had after the jump (more…) and a link to the Human Resources page with the exact same info. If you like academia, are looking to experience it SLC style, and want to share that geek’dom fanboyism contact HR with the requested information.

Update: The position was filled in December 2006.

more…

Opening week at any school is likely insane very busy. Sarah Lawrence College (SLC) is unlike most colleges and universities. The first week of school is less school than it is a time to ask questions and speak to faculty and other students about the offered classes. I’ve never been through the process fully so I get to watch it from a staff perspective. It, often, I believe, is at least as busy as the registration process everyone goes through.

Students go home and reconfigure their computers to work on their home ISP or they use it at a Starbucks. So many things can change during the summer. Few think this kind of thing will impact network connectivity on campus. Typically this mindset is safe and will be expected by network admins so it’s not a big problem.

On the other hand, viruses, ohhhh, viruses… This past week 2, possibly 3, laptops were brought onto campus and brought the network to a halt. Packets were flying through the network faster than Superman flew to go back in time to save Lois from an avalanche. There were so many. So so many packets.

While this is sad that SLC presently does not have anything in place to prevent this type of event it’s sadder still knowing that the school offers to every student and faculty member a free anti-virus application available for download from on or off campus. Free.

I know it’s not news. I know people think it won’t happen to them. But, viruses, happen. It just might happen to you, or your family, or your friend, or a stranger. We all like to think we know what we’re doing on line. Nobody wants to be stupid or inept. Sad thing is, many people simply are uninformed or choose not to care/listen. Yup, back to my point - “It won’t happen to me!”

Describing the impact is very much possible but the impact is hardly possible to understand unless you go through it. Trying to load google or browse the local network only to see “Timed out” appear on the screen isn’t something one would expect. Last week during the opening few days that was all too common. A couple of the virus/malware laden machines came in but one is still out there causing havoc.

Not that it matters due to the power outage at Sarah Lawrence due to downed trees. That’s right, no email, no power, no tech. And, from the looks of it, no school today due to Ernesto’s strong winds and rain. To be perfectly frank, going through it, the storm wasn’t that bad. The rain was strong and the wind was super cool but power outages? Odd.

So, parents or SLC peeps trying to find out what’s happening know that there is no email. Is it gone? Bounced? No, The outgoing mail servers (SMTP) you sent the mail through (gmail, hotmail, local ISP) will continue attempting delivery over the next few days. Each server is uniquely uniquely so don’t expect everything to show up be delivered once when the power comes back on. Note - Mail will be bounced back to you after the SMTP server has tried as many times as it is configured to try.
Actually, mail.slc.edu will be attacked - in a good way, when it turns back on because every SMTP server will continue trying until mail.slc responds. When it does. BAM! Here’s the mail you’ve been expecting.

That’s the lowdown here in the land of SLC. Take it or leave it. Parents, friends, sorry to say the only way to reach your son or daughter is via their cell phone which hopefully has a charge. = )

UPDATE 7:30 PM - As of approximately 3:30 PM power has been restored to SLC’s campus. Internet services are, at present, not responding.

UPDATE 8:11 PM - I drove over to campus to pick up emma and was told that power is going in and out. Volleyball was apparently strange as the day light went away. Anyhow, still no Internet services with the power going in and out.

UPDATE 10:44 PM - Internet services appear to have come back up. I was able to logon to webmail. My.SLC, slc.edu, and pages.slc all appear to be responsive as well. If everything holds fast a bunch of inboxes will soon start to fill up.