Cynically Optimistic

News! This has all fallen into place fairly quickly so I apologize for the late notice but here goes. I'm flying back to the midwest to pick up my new (to me) Audi A4. I will be in the IC area on or about Friday and Saturday and possibly part of Sunday. After that I'll be heading back east.

If you're going to be in the area and would like to get together, please contact my social secretary in the midwest office for dinner and drink arrangements. I will be in the mood for grilling if anyone wants to fire up and invite me over to a new house. Pork Chops sound tasty.

I'll do my best to visit everyone as much as possible. It is also the week of my mom and sister's birthday so I want to celebrate that while it's convenient.

Also, here's a great big apology for blowing off The Steeles for having to cancel our plans this weekend. I promise I'll get to Philly as soon as I can.

Posted by Jeff Smith at 12:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

*insert Ariel's Theme here*

From Yahoo News Photos:
Uruguayans players Diego Forlan (R) and Adrian Romero stretch during a team practice in Montevideo, May 25, 2004. Uruguay will face Peru on June 1 in a soccer qualifying match for the 2006 World Cup. REUTERS/Andres Stapff

Posted by Jeff Smith at 05:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

I have owned an iPod since the day that the original 10 GB version was released on March 21, 2002. It came as an early birthday present for me that year and I have loved and cared for it since. Overall we have had a smooth relationship, except for a few small issues with the battery guage (a known problem which was replaced under warranty) and later because of an even weirder software glitch that no one could explain. Both times the nice folks at the Apple Store (once in SoHo, once in the Walt Whitman Mall) replaced my iPod with a refurb and I was on my way again. So, technically I'm on my third iPod.

Now my play/pause button is not working, even after a software restore. I'm afraid this might be the end of this iPod. Perhaps I'll be lucky and Apple will replace it again for free.

As a consolation prize, I noticed today when I started iTunes that someone, somewhere on my network is using iTunes and sharing some music, which I can stream from his computer. I don't know where it's coming from, but thank you Ari!

Posted by Jeff Smith at 04:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

"We like you a lot, you're the perfect tennant -- it's just weird not using our basement"

I have to move out.

Moving in was great, but it was with the understanding that my landlords weren't sure if they wanted anyone living in their house, and that my living here was just a trial. I can't really say I blame them, because I certainly will miss the jacuzzi tub, giant bathroom, and the delivered meals. Most of all*, however, I will miss the two person steam shower.

This ends up not being a bad deal because:

¥They're helping me move
¥I get to help design the remodel job on the place I'm moving ino
¥I'll still have access to a washer/dryer
¥The new place is cheaper (except I might have to pay utilities)
¥Closer to a main road, walking distance to grocery store/strip mall
¥I "have" to housesit when they are out of town

Once again I'll have a kitchen, so cooking will be necessary. I actually enjoy cooking sometimes, and I can guarantee you the salmon component of my diet will increase. I'll be above ground for the first time since I moved to NY. I get to pick out the carpeting I want, the countertops, etc. and since I got a large say in the remodelling of our lab space I think I can handle an apartment. I wonder if there's any chance the new place will have a steam shower.

*Actually, I will miss the most the random times I come home and get invited up for a drink, or just sitting around making intelligent conversation, or holidays with their extended family.

Posted by Jeff Smith at 09:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

The kids came to visit last week and it was really awesome (see a few entries back for a photo). We kicked back, relaxed, sipped on some wine and had a lot of catching up to do. We went to NYC on Wednesday, ate some Afghani food (yum!) saw some good comedy at the Comedy Cellar (highlights included Dave Attell, Jim Norton, and Hood), and watched the final episode of Friends with 3,000 other people at the TriBeCa Film Festival.

The best news of all, they're not going to be too far away for a few months. I will refrain from disclosing the mystery location until they decide to inform everyone. Until then, here's some photo documentation.

Posted by Jeff Smith at 12:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Today someone "ran a few things by me", which in this instance was something that I knew was inevitable, and kind of makes me sad, but I made my peace with it a while ago. Life goes on, and it's not all bad, but there are things I will miss.

*Sigh*

Posted by Jeff Smith at 12:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

I know at least one person who will enojoy this.

You are the most worshipped godess in all of Egypt.
You are a great protector, a mother type.
People appeal to you for guidance and
direction. You fight for what you love, and
rarely take no for an answer. You are Isis.


Which Ancient Egyptian Diety are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Posted by Jeff Smith at 12:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Common. Apparently. Like I needed to be told that.

Jeff is the #120 most common male name.
0.166% of men in the US are named Jeff.
Around 203350 US men are named Jeff!
source namestatistics.com

Smith is the #1 most common last name.
1.006% of last names in the US are Smith.
Around 2515000 US last names are Smith!
source namestatistics.com

Posted by Jeff Smith at 11:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (1)

Via Wendy.

What's Your Pirate Name?

I am:

Dread Pirate Bonney

Like the famous Dread Pirate Roberts, you have a keen head for how to make a profit. You can be a little bit unpredictable, but a pirate's life is far from full of certainties, so that fits in pretty well. Arr!

Posted by Jeff Smith at 12:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Kickin' it on the North Shore with Jerry and Sara. I love having visitors.

Posted by Jeff Smith at 05:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)