Since I'm actaully going to try and have a decent looking office, I finally got rid of that humengous desk that Jonathan got me from Staples years ago (been in 2 apartments, 1 house.), so probably pushing 7 years.. So... Teri and I went to Ikea... I picked one out, out of their "configurable" office furniture selection... If you dont know, you actaully pick out the pieces to build your desk.. The legs, the top, the frame (to conect the legs to the top), etc.. Well.. I picked mine out.. Then while browsing the scratch'n'dent section, Teri found the $109 top I had picked out for $20.. I can't find the supposed scratches that the ticket claimed.. So I bought it, saving $89... I love Ikea... Now I need to spend a crapload on the shelving/drawers/etc... *sigh*

For those that don't know, I work with someone who recently got their 15 minutes of fame... The guy I work with is the one who's pissed off Fedex by building furniture.. I have now offically seen the furniture in person.. Ain't bad.. Its far larger in person than the pictures let on.. More info: FedexFurniture

We've made good progress this weekend.. We not only finished unloading the first Pod, but we've unloaded 3/4 of the second one too.. Most of it is still in the garage, but it is unloaded.. We spent most of the day on Sunday unboxing and setting up the stuff we had already unloaded. Teri got the bedroom in order, and I got the TV/stereo in order.. I'm using my 'good' equipment for the TV/stereo setup now, which I had planned on before, but never got to... Using the good speakers with movies is an experience.. Espeically since I only have the 2, and most dialog is in the center speaker, I have to use a small cheesy speaker that I had laying around.. The sound difference between the center and the left/right is huge.. The center sounds extremely 'hollow'.. Weird.. Oh well.. back to work..

After delaying over 2 weeks, one of the Pods finally arrived.. The other is still in the warehouse here in Tempe, since we can only fit one in the driveway at a time.. I highly DO NOT recommend Pods for cross sountry moves.. Too many hassles... Since Pods uses independant carriers, they have pretty much no way of knowing where your stuff is, except when it happens to be in a warehouse at either end.. In the wake of Katrina and Rita, we were very nervous that our Pods were in that area atthe time (especially Rita, since it brushed by Houston, which was one of the stops of the Pods, supposedly).. Also, they told us that since the Pods were delayed over 2 weeks, and its not our fault, that they would have a compensation package of some sort (only because we've pushed and pushed for something... They didn't offer it out the kindness of their hearts..), but we can't seem to get in touch with the person that we need to talk to.. We've left messages, and so forth, but no one returns our calls. Again.. I dont recommend Pods for cross country moves.

That all being said... We have the 1st of 2 Pods.. Everything seems to be in order, except for the expected scuffs and scrapes from stuff moving around.. Yes, the speakers are ok :).. Nothing broke on the move, just when Teri unloaded something (she dropped a glass.. No biggie).. We're about 3/4 done with the first Pod.. Tomorrow we'll have the second Pod..

I did find my cable for the camera, so I should have pictures up on the web soon (this weekend?)..

Sasha is getting her feet wet... Teri and I went into the pool, and bribed Sasha to the first step into the pool... She's now going onto the first step without bribery! We'll clog that pool filter yet!

Hello all.. I've finally gotten normal internet access here in 'zona.. As opposed to borrowing my neighbors.. This means things are starting to normalize.. We even have some TV options now, as we finally got DirectTv installed..

The problem is that we still don't have our stuff.. Thanks to FEMA's complete failure dealing with Katrina, our Pods have been delayed.. I guess that they are calling on all truck drivers to help our down there. *sigh*.. So we're sitting here with nearly nothing.. Luckily, we brought stuff when we drove down, so at least we have -some- stuff.. Watching DirectTV on a 13" TV isn't something I wanna do for long though..

The other problem currently is the fact that I haven't recieved my paycheck for the 15th.. They tell me they mailed it to the Arizona address, but I never recieved it here.. My guess is that it went to Syracuse, and is now on its way back to Arizona... I need that check sooner than later.. I have bills to pay.. I need to open an account here in AZ...

Adventures in AZ.... Driving down Bell Ave at 11pm on a Friday... Some idiot in a "I wanna be a dick-ricer" pulls his e-brake and spins around in the middle of a 3 lane street with traffic.. Barely avoids getting creamed by a white truck.. Cops were called, but unlikely anytthing will come of it... *sigh*..

Driving is nice, except when you want to find a particlar store in a plaza... They don't design plazas here that you can see whats in them at all.. It really sucks.. We went looking for a laundrymat the other day, since we dont have our stuff yet (see above), and we had to dirving into each farking plaza to see if they had it.. And around Scottsdale, they didn't have any.. *sigh*.. teri went out and found one south of here..

I actaully went into a WalMart, and wasn't completely repulsed by it.. Actaully had a reasonable experience... Could be cause I found the hard liquor aisle.. There's something weird about buying JD, hamburger and underwear in the same store (and order takeout McD's on at the register...)..

Of course, there's the dangerous stores here... Ikea, Fry's electronics, Ultimate Electronics, Great Indoors, etc.. I'll be spending lots of money here..

Snicker, Stash, and Sasha are all adjusting.. Sasha loves not haveing to have a lead when she's outside.. Also allows me to start training her to come on command.. Its far easier to start as a puppy, but we missed that.. But she's smart, she can learn new tricks..

Anyways..We have lots of pictures of the new place, a grand canyon trip, and so forth.. But... We can't show them, since the cable for the camera is in the Pods.. *sigh*.. So for those that haven't seen the pictures of the house (from a month or so ago, when I came out here alone, here's the link: Pics

Well, we're packing everything in the house, and moving to Arizona... We'll be living about 1 mile from Frank Llyod Wright's Taliesan West... We have most of the house packed already... Teri leaves Fri, and I leave on next Tues.. Then its outta NY state except for visits..

House hasn't sold yet, so if you know someone looking, let me know.. Maybe someone from the parts hit by the hurricane want to buy a house away from hurricanes, earthquakes and tornados?? Just have to shovel the driveway every so often.. No big deal, really... wink wink, nudge, nudge...

(apologies to Steve Martin)

As many of you now know, I've accepted a position in the Phoenix, AZ area. The company is called UltraDNS. I'll be doing Python, C and C++.. I'll be working from home 3-4 days a week..

Currently, I'm looking at Mesa, Gilbert and Chandler for houses.. Heopfully the drive wont be bad.. Even still, its only 1-2 days a week.. I may also consider Queen Creek, though that seems a touch far.. I'll know more when I actaully get down there..

I'm just currently waiting on the offical offer letter, before I give the 2-weeks to Tickets.. Everyone there knows now (at least in development..)..

I'll be Syracuse a bit long, as I prep the house for sale.

Just as an interesting aside, I found an interesting moving company, www.pods.com.. They drop off a cargo container, take your time filling it, and then have'em move it for ya.. Then when it gets to the new place, you can also take your time emptying it. Neat.. Most of the other "u-load-it" place only give you 2-3 days.. This is more expensive, but seems more reasonable, as you dont kill yourself in the process. No need to rush to return a truck, etc...

I recently discovered a quick and easy method to create a Scrollable Group Box in PyQt,... I'm certain that you can do something similar in C++, but I haven't attempted it yet. You can find it on the PyQt Wiki: http://www.diotavelli.net/PyQtWiki/ScrollableGroupBox

The bigger bosses came into my office reently, and told us point blank that we dont have to move to Cali. Whew. being only able to afford a peice of property in Cali thats smaller than my current house would be unbearable. They also mentioned that we have jobs for as long as this current project lasts, 3-4 years or so.. But I personally see development falling off in 2-3 years.. Hopefully I'll be able to switch to the new product by then.

I just moved the server from one machine to another recently, and lost the blog. Oh well. So I'm starting over. Maybe I'll keep this one a little more current? I also gave Teri and account, so maybe she can help.

Work is, ummm, interesting. We recently merged with MLB-AM (yes, major league baseball. I now can get steriods on the group health plan.). So we're not too sure whats happening yet, as they are still sorting out the pieces. I think I'm ok in my little cave, since the product I work on is the only one being activly sold right now. But they are working on a new product, so in a few years, who knows.

I've been adding a new doorway to the house. For those that know the house, its in the corner of the L-shaped hallway, going into the "dining" room.

If folks recall, I was getting tons of blog-spam before, and I turned the comment system off.. Well, I'm turning it back on. I have to approve comments, so hopefully that will keep the spam down.

Nuff for now.