This is where I bitch.

The shopping cart / fulfillment system that has been my life for 1.5 months had it's soft launch on Wednesday. Which means it is set up and a select group is testing it. I expect feedback for about 2 weeks and then that project should be done (or actually open and running, and won't need me anymore). It's been lots of work, very stressful, tons of overtime and not really part of my job. But I think I did a good job and feedback from the team / my boss agree. I'm looking forward to doing my actual job next month. Shopping cart set up is not me, but with a lack of anyone better, it feel to me. Which is OK, just hopefully it won't become common.

It's getting colder here. Fall is pretty, but I hate that it signifies winter is on its way.

Saturday will be long, I work the morning at the watch shop and then after a 3 hour break, go into B&N. The watch shop will be closed by Nov. 1, not sure if they'll need help with tear down or packing. B&N is going well. I'd like more hours, but holidays will be coming and I'm sure that won't be a problem soon. The people I've worked with seem happy with how quick I pick up on things. I've been in retail for 9 years now, it's not that hard. But if they are used to new employees being college or high school, I'm sure it's easy to impress.

Not really looking forward to my birthday, as I'm not thrilled about getting old. I'm definitely looking at my wardrobe and activities and feeling I'm too old for some of them. Might be time for some life changes, we'll see.

I'm doing some book reviews for some people, so I'll be posting them soon.

I got my new tablet yesterday. It is my late birthday gift, we were waiting to save up enough money and until the tablet market settled down a bit. My laptop is very old and trying to work online with it is a hassle.

I got a 10.1" Galxay Tab. It runs android, so I get to learn a new OS. I spent most of last night playing with it. I like it, a few things are tricky, but that will work itself out as I use it more. Most of my time was spent customizing the layout, look and apps. So many options.

I'm really excited to get to start reading all of the eBooks I've been buying/winning/getting free for the last 2 years.

It's a great gift from my BF, for sure.

Birthday is going well, so far. My company gives a gift certificate to a local, nice restaurant. I've not been there, but we will check it out. That was a nice surprise. I've been getting Facebook wall posts all day. My sister gave me some Amazon money, so I'll order a few books and movies this weekend, I want to keep some so when I do have an eReader or tablet I can get eBooks also. I'm gonna hold off on getting a tablet for a bit, I want to see more about the Kobo Vox and whatever Nook is next and see how they compare to the Fire.

Tonight Paul's mom and sister are coming into town and visiting for the weekend. We have reservations to Fresco, a building top heavily windowed restaurant on top of the Overture center. Great view, good food and desserts.

Not sure what we will do this weekend. Sounds like Paul's mom needs a weekend to relax, so that might be the plan. Have to stay away from downtown though, this weekend is Freak Fest (the Halloween party where hundreds of thousands of people come into our city for--it's crazy).

(I'm not really "bouncy" but that mood icon is from Simon's birthday.)

Yesterday finished up well. We went out to eat at Monty's Blue Plate Dinner, good food as always. Then we met up with some people at the Malt House. I have a slight headache from too much mead. Just had french toast for breakfast, checked email quick and now back to bed for a nap.

We think we have a plan for what we will do Halloween. We'll see if things fall through or not. Something with potential fun will happen, for sure.

I hope to read, catch up on Supernatural, watch Avatar and maybe do some freelance art today. But if some of that doesn't get done, no big deal.

Hope everyone is well.

I brought in double chocolate rice krispy treats to work, they seem popular.

Mom got me Glee season 1 and a book on how to make ebooks and ePub files with InDesign. Both I wanted, which is cool. I'll be going up there in a few weeks to see the family. I'm looking forward to seeing grandma, been a while.

No idea what we will do tonight. Out for a drink or two I'd bet.

I came into work today since we actually have things to do. I have tomorrow off and Friday is my furlough day. So kind of a 4 day weekend, but I'll put in some time at the mall. Sunday will suck working there, it's trick-or-treat at the mall day. Pray for me.

No wind damage at our house, but there are down branches (big ones) and loose shingles in our neighborhood.

I liked the Rocky Horror Glee show last night. They did a good job, though--as always--less Will/Emma/adults, more kids.

I had forgotten about the influx of birthday wishes from facebook. Nice to see them all though.

Last night went well. My team played volleyball well, we only won one game, but the other team was good too. I felt I did a good job also. Then we had a few beers at Pooleys, apparently one can drink for free on his or her birthday. Then we went to the Malt house and met up with Keith and Pat for a few drinks. I found their list of meads and drank some of those. Also got to talk to my mom for a bit.

Work has moved to "if you need OT to his a deadline, do it, but don't blanket start putting it in." So I have to judge how much the project needs. Lots of batches and stacks of pages to track, it's giving me a headache. I think we will hit our dates though.

I also have a lot of iTunes money to spend, need to read some app reviews to find out what I want. But soon I'll be able to check and comment on forums from the iPhone, which at the very least means it's easier to post for the Mile High Club game.

I got a lot, I mean a lot, of birthday wishes yesterday. I don't think I've ever gotten so many emails, texts, facebook PMs, and cards the day before my birthday. Not that I'm complaining, just interesting. Sign of the times? Everyone is so rushed these days? Who knows.

No real plans today. Work might go into OT soon, we'll see. Volleyball tonight, but after the game we plan to hang out at the bar for a few drinks. Paul, Jess and Lari are gonna come to my game too.

We've decided to head over to Angela's for Halloween this year. Play some game, eat good food, avoid downtown and bar crowds.

My friend Pat wants me to apply to be a bar tender at the Hilton for banquets. I'm considering it, shouldn't be too hard. I've not bar tended much, but I doubt there'd be a lot of call for odd drinks at those events.

Wow, been a while since I posted.

It was a lot of fun visiting with Laura, Rob and Jack while they were here. We didn't get to spend as much time together as I'd have liked, their drive to Indianapolis was a lot longer than they planned. But Jack is crawling now, though it usually takes a cell phone or remote to get him to move.

My party was a lot of fun. Time went by too quickly. I'd say 15ish showed up. People ate, drank and mostly talked, with a break to watch some Guild, Legend of Neil and other online videos. Didn't get around to playing a game, but there just seemed to be too many people, and then suddenly not enough. The girls got me the Knights expansion for Catan and Revolution, SJ Games new game for this year. Becky and Drew came up, which was really nice, and gave me a Border's card.

Last night Jess, Lari, Paul and I went to a pumpkin farm south of town, wandered out into the field, picked pumpkins and then went to Monty's Blue Plate for dinner. I had the Meat(less)loaf and it was wonderful. Lari gives good suggestions.

The Hilton called back for an interview, so I'll be setting that up soon and then maybe instead of watching TV at the mall I'll be serving food. Not sure this is a move that will lead to tons of fun ;)

Up late helping Paul get ready for my party Friday. I think I went to bed around 3am. He came to bed after that, like 5? Maybe? Tired now, and have a chiropractor appointment soon.

Laura, Rob and Jack will be here tonight in time for dinner, so excited to see him. Apparently he scoots around the floor now. But he will only travel for cell phones or remotes that are on the floor. He doesn't even like the fake toy ones, only real ones. I think he can pick up on the EM radiation, my nephew will be Magnetto soon.

Pretty down today, nothing new, just the Big Issues(tm) are affecting me more than normal.

I'm generally confused about the current project at work, but managing to not look like an idiot, I think.

Wil Wheaton released his latest book, Memories of the Future where he gets nostolgic and snarky about the original ST:TNG episodes, someone should get it for me for my birthday. :)