Panera: Internet Central

I have been nursing my medium iced coffee here at Panera for about the last 3.5 hours. Their connection is S-L-O-W. But I did get some things accomplished - I found a pair of work shoes that I was in dire need of, changed the address on my multiple magazine subscriptions (thanks, Clare and Chanda!), and learned that no, I cannot ssh into my work server from Panera. Apparently, Panera is not an approved NASA remote access point - who would have thunk it!

Yesterday, I went to a Nats game with Sara, who I know through my friend from MN/Boston, Sam. She is interning with a Congressperson (or Senator? - Eek!) from Iowa, and the Iowa State Society got group tickets. We hung out with the Iowans beforehand, and even though I have never been to the state, I had my upper midwestern MN street cred to fall back on, so I was OK. The game ended up being rain delayed the moment we sat down, but it was fun to watch the lightning from the stadium. Can you believe they stuck around and won 13-1 against the Padres after a 3 hour delay? I didn't know it until just now - I thought it would have been cancelled!

It was more or less a relaxing weekend, except for earlier today when I was called into work unexpectedly for an Aqua Late Change - which never happens! Then when I got into the office, they were transitioning the servers over to Sigma, so I couldn't get onto my computer, so I had to go on into Goddard. Not that bad, though, now that I live so much closer! I got the lawn mowed and lots of housework done, which was in bad need of doing, as I was in Boston last weekend.

Speaking of last weekend, I had a really good time - it ended up being less camping and more pedicuring, although we did spend a lot of time outside and it was BEAUTIFUL weather. Thank you so much to Sam for putting me up and showing me such a great time!

I can't believe it is already the end of the weekend. Sigh. This will be my last week as an employee of SSAI - I have already accepted the offer at Sigma, but even so, I don't like the idea of being formally laid off. We will still have the same offices for a while, though, so that is good at least! I have done enough moving for a while.

OK, time to head back home to finish up some chores before it's time for Masterpiece Theater!

Stay Cool! (At least the AC is one thing that I don't need to fix up at the house!)

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Still Alive!

I am sorry to say that I won't really have reliable access to the internet for a while - I can't steal any in my new house and I am NOT paying 40+ $ per month for something I can get free at the library. That does mean, however, that my online activities will be slightly curtailed until I get my iPhone in August. I hope that AT&T will allow tethering soon and that it won't be crazy spendy. Ugh!

In my latest crazes, I am hooked on Rescue Me. I am up to season 4 - which I rent out of my library for FREE!

The house is coming along. I sway between feeling like I am camping out in a house and feeling some elusive house pride. There is a LONG way yet to go, when I get back on the net at some point I will post pics!

In case you didn't know, my employer is changing - I just got my offer letter yesterday. My job will be the same, but our office will move and so will all my benis, etc. It is annoying in the short term, but will probably be good for me in the long term, as the new company is an Optics Instrumentation Co. Yay! I hope to be able to transition over at some point in the future! Also, I am getting 20 PTO days/yr! I don't know what I will do with them all, though, as I am putting every spare penny into the house!

I have been sailing a bit! Tomorrow!

Too many exclamation points in this post!