Member News

[Novowels]

I never had my wisdom teeth out, and they had some cavities according to the x-rays, which my dentist last year told me we'll 'keep an eye on' but were no immediate worries.

Well, last week I was eating something and felt this crunch and searing pain: one of my wisdom teeth just collapsed in on itself. Luckily, the pain went away quickly and all of the tooth shards apparently erupted and got washed out and aren't causing me any problems. Unluckily, the dentist told me I'm going to have what's left of it removed (I'm nearly 30, which apparently means the healing process is a real bitch; which is why most people have them removed when they're younger).

Has anyone had wisdom teeth taken out in adulthood? How bad is it?

[California Tanker]

Anyone follow Forumla 1?



NTM

[wildernesse]

Today's Mail:

Congratulations! I am happy to inform you that you have passed the July 2007 North Carolina Bar Examination.

I'm irrationally terrified that someone fished my name and address out of dumpster somewhere and sent me a hoax letter.

[maddog]

My aunt and I have one week under the same roof ... and we're still speaking and everything!

#1225

[Sock Puppet]

I'm finally finished with the 3.5 days of supervisor brainwashing that I had to launch into immediately upon returning from vacation. So if my posts have been dumber than usual this week, it's because I've only had a chance to do drive-bys during training breaks, or posts from home after being completely wiped. That's my excuse, and I'm sticking to it.

On the plus side, at least now I know what the hell I'm supposed to be doing in performance reviews. On the delta side, I now am incapable of using "minus" rather than "delta." I'm glad curses changed her name or it might get confusing.

[Ari]

Yeah I know I haven't posted in this thread but I thought I would.

In a couple days I will be going back to San Fran for my second semester at the Academy of Art for photography. I finally decided I should go to college for something that I want to do, which is photography (among other things). It was a lot of fun and I learned quite a bit from the basic classes (intro to digital and photo history) in summer semester so I can't wait to get back. The teachers so far have been nice, laid back and interested in what they are teaching.

[Goliath]

Well, I'm not sure where to begin... I got married (we celebrated our two year anniversary last month), I've published and submitted more papers, I've decided that I don't fit in at my current institution, and I've decided to go on the job market this year.

[Dragar]

Welcome back Goliath, and congrats on the many things you've done! Hope the job search goes well.

I'm just a day or two away from moving to Edinburgh, where I'll be devoid of the internet once again until various red tape has been removed. Will probably take about two weeks, but then I'll be back full time (cross fingers, cross toes).

Somewhat more excitingly, my PhD begins on Monday.

I have so much cosmology and particle phyiscs to learn it's unreal, and it's looking like it'll be great fun.

[Sock Puppet]

I'm around, but they just replaced my desktop at work for a craptop that will probably work really well when it stops crashing. So I'll be a bit scarce until that gets straightened out.

[Goliath]

Oh, in further news, I started playing Texas Hold 'em earlier this year, in a poker league at a local sports bar. It's free poker, but you can win free drinks, and if you rack up enough points throughout the year (you get so many points per game, depending on where you place), you get a free buy-in for a local tournament. And if you win the local tourney, you get a free buy-in for a World Series of Poker qualifying tournament.

Last year, there was a guy who started playing poker at this same local sports bar, qualified for the local tourney and won it, and then won the WSOP qualifying event! He got $219,000, a free buy-in to the WSOP (which ordinarily runs $10,000), and free airfare and hotel to attend the WSOP.

I don't know if I'll ever get that good (or that lucky), but it's a fun game, and I've gotten somewhat decent at it. Unfortunately, the league fizzled out over the summer; the ownership of the bar changed hands, and the new owners weren't crazy about paying for the league. However, it's started up again tonight. After dinner, I'm gonna play me some poker!

I have close friends who are working with a university to produce a documentary on a dialogue between Israeli and Palestinian people (as opposed to the politicians and militants) to find a path to a lasting peace. The opportunity to score it (something I have not done in YEARS) has landed in my lap, consequently.

So, about 6 months sooner than I really wanted to do so (mostly for financial reasons), I've ordered a custom-build iMac and a chunk of software to enable me to take a chance at it. Right now I'd like to thank the Academy, my parents and the manufacturers of Ativan.

Fortunately, this is at its absolute beginning stage. Also, because it is a documentary, I imagine it's not going to call for a huge amount of music.

So, in short, I'm poor, nervous and excited all at once. I'm trying to not think about it too much at the moment. I haven't done any serious (or significant) music stuff in almost 10 years, so this is going to be a real...challenge.

[Shelli]

I'm on vacation as of 5:00 EST today!

I'm not going anywhere planned for the week, rather we'll be playing it by ear . There will be a couple day long trips for sure.

The only definite plan that I have for my vacation is that I'm going to take a tomorrow.

Have hardly been on this week. Busy as frelling hesmanah. Maybe by next week I'll have a spare moment to breathe.

*hugs everyone, even yguy*

[Goliath]

I got a scathing referee's report today on a paper that I submitted earlier this summer... I'm caught in the middle of an emotional haze and furious concentration as I try to patch up and strengthen the paper.

It's a strange sensation.

[viscousmemories]

My most recent contract job (at Dell) ended July 27th, due to a corporate policy that requires a 100 day break between contract assignments.

As some of you know I was hired to help implement Sharepoint, but when the database administrator quit suddenly (before Christmas) I inherited his responsibilities as well. As chance would have it I really enjoyed the work, so I've decided to follow that course for awhile.

Alas with my limited experience it has been difficult to find a job as a DBA, but I have no desire to go back into computer networking (which is the bulk of my professional experience). So I am currently self-studying for certification as a Microsoft Technical Specialist in SQL Server 2005, and biting on every "Junior DBA" offer that comes along.

On Friday I had a HR phone screen for just such a job, and I did pretty well on a mandated Brainbench assessment of my SQL 2000 administration and programming skillz. The next step (if there is one) will be a technical phone interview and then a full-blown face-to-face interview. The pay isn't great but it's a permanent job with benefits and, I suspect, a good learning opportunity.

Money is tight, but in the worst case I can more than likely get another contract at Dell in November.

[Anastasia Beaverhausen]

I have really cute new Prada glasses.

(Fingers crossed, vm!)

[Shake]

Back in school. Just 2 classes this semester:

• Engineering Graphics and Machining
• Circuit Analysis I

Unlike the previous 2 semesters, there are 2 days (Wed. & Fri.) a week when I don't have to go to the school at all!

[Ensign Steve]

I was going to wait until it was time to make the move to post about it, but there have been so many developments recently (including one wonderful one), that I think it's time for a comprehensive update.

I plan on separating from the Air Force and returning "home" to southern California when my four-year enlistment is up in March of next year. That plan has been in the works for a while, but since it is now only six months away, it is time to put a finer point on it.

I have narrowed down southern California specifically to mean Long Beach, which was my last real home for several years before I entered the service (minus a spectacular couple of months in Orange County, and a little transition time in the Valley). I am working on my application to California State University, Long Beach (a.k.a. CSULB, a.k.a. Long Beach State). I've been "attending" CSU Chico, a.k.a. Chico State, for the last 2 years via their distance learning program, pursuing my BS in Computer Science, so it should be relatively painless to transfer my credits over.

The most recent developments are as follows: I finally finished my C++ class after two extensions! So recently, in fact, that I'm still waiting for my grade to post, but that's been a huge load off my mind. My CSULB application is in process (waiting for grades to post and for DH to file CA state taxes ((late!)) so I can claim residency). All next week I'll be out of the office taking care of military separation requirements, including GI Bill and VA briefings, but especially exciting is the 3-day resume and interview workshop, so in theory I should have a fresh resume this time next week.

But the best news to date is that my DH and MIL are moving go Long Beach next month! In a development totally unrelated to me or my business, MIL procured a job and digs in the very city I intend to relocate to. That's a big deal for me, because it means I'll have family and a place to squat when I make the transition, and I won't be homeless. Not that I would be anyway, but its nice to know I'll have some breathing room and I can work on School/Job/Home in that order and have one less thing to stress over for the next six months, such as procuring digs 2200 miles away from my current address.

That is all.

ETA: That is not all. I forgot to mention (for the benefit of those marking their calendars) that despite my March separation date, the actual move will take place closer to Feb 17 (give or take a week), due to the 45 days of leave I saved up for exactly this purpose. I will know the specific date when I get my orders, which I started the paperwork for last week, so there's another big development.

[Ari]

Living in a nice college apartment in SF, constantly busy doing homework, and just finally got internet in the room... oh no, there goes homework time.

[Legs]

Widget got a hole in one today.

First time ever

So he gets a bunch of beer or something at the clubhouse and I made him a rack of lamb dinner to celebrate.

and of course later a

show spoiler

[Smilin]

Just noticed this thread...and....

GO WIDGET GO! LOL

My life certainly has changed drastically for the better. Got transferred from the Air Force Base to the downtown office with the company I've been working for the past two years.

I'm taking it as a positive thing since now I've had the opportunity to help design a cool wind tunnel for Honda to test NASCAR racing cars in
and currently I'm working on a project for NASA helping to design a liquid nitrogen control system that will be used to test the new James Webb Space Telescope...

How cool is that?

and sorry Ensign Steve, but the Air Force sucks and they can all just blow me!

nahhhhh..I'm not jaded...not the the least...lol.. ;-)

[chick]

I'm doing stuff this weekend in DC.

[S.Vashti]

I am now a great aunt. My sister's daughter had her baby, a whopping 10 pounder, on Tuesday (by C-sec).

[Angakuk]

Just want to mention that I have a big anniversary coming up. Oct. 3rd will mark the 25th anniversary of my ordination and today marks the 18th anniversary of my service in this parish. The congregations are having a potluck in my honor on Sunday. The huge irony in all of this is that my seminary certification committee originally delayed my certification because they were not convinced that I had the right stuff to be a Lutheran pastor. Meanwhile, a fair number of my classmates, about whom there were no such reservations, have since left the ministry. Go figure.

[Goliath]

Today has been rough... I've stressed myself to the point where I've started to become (slightly) physically ill. At about 11am, I decided to call it a sick day.