I have the ring.
I have the proposal sonnet.
I have her mother's blessing.
I have special reservations at the restaurant.

Now, I just have to get through my workday, get a quick haircut, and propose.  This is either going to be a very fast or very slow day.  I am probably not going to get any work done.

Here's the sonnet:

ashram

Google released their new web browser today: Chrome.

So far, I like it. The best way I can describe it is that it is minimalist. It has its clunky moments, but Hotmail and Gmail run impressively fast.

Besides that bit of news, my day has been boring. I have one hour left of work. I got paid today, so that was good. I did do some large coding today, but I am hesitating to jump into fixing one of the larger bugs I have right now with only an hour left.

Lindsey and I are hanging out after work. I am glad she has three days off this week. It's tough going from a free summer, to hardly seeing her because of her two jobs. I am really excited that she is doing well in her new one, though.

ashram

After more than 6 years of dating, I am finally doing what I should have done 5 years ago: proposing.

I purchased the ring today at Sam's Club, and it should be arriving in 3-5 days.  Then, I just have to talk to her mom, and take the girl out to dinner.  No more waiting.

I am not wholly pleased with the ring, though I think it does stand out.  I could not find something that I was 100% sure about.  Thankfully, Sam's Club has a good return policy, so if she doesn't like it, we will return it.  She can then pick something else out.

ashram

Look for further updates on how the whole proposal thing goes.

Well, I start my new job in about 6 hours.  I am going to try to nap a bit before hand, but I haven't been able to sleep tonight.  I did my dishes, cleaned the kitchen, and I fixed an actual dinner for myself.  Not tired.

My stomach hurts because I am so nervous.  I had to wear a mouth guard to protect my teeth from the grinding. 

I read The Host by Stephenie Meyer.  It was very, very good.  I can't wait to read Breaking Dawn, also by her.

ashram

Well, all that procrastinating and relaxing has come to an end.  I need to find a job soon.

ashram

Today, I was walking through Sam's Club buying food to celebrate my last few days at work.  We are having a fiesta.  In between grabbing some guacamole chips and some tamales, my mom called.  The conversation started out normally, as we discussed my brother's birthday, her plans to move to Portland with my dad at the end of the month, and my sister's latest romance drama.  By the end of the call, however, I was holding back tears.

Apparently, because of my strange work schedule, I had missed out on the news that one of the very good friends of our family, Jonathan Hamilton, had been very ill.  In fact, he was told he only has 8 days to live.

This is one of the greatest men I have ever known.  He has the incredible gift of joy in any adversity.  He is one of the oldest, if not THE oldest, living survivor of cystic fibrosis.  He has lived through a lung transplant.  He has outlasted the miniscule predictions of lifespan the doctors gave him as a child.  Throughout half a lifetime of hospitalization, he has held a joy for life that I have only barely tasted.  His laughter is contagious, and he has a joke for every moment that can lift anyone's spirits.  I greatly admire that, and I can truly say he is one of my heroes.

Not only has he survived, he has thrived.  He is the President of Outreach International, and has lived in numerous countries, such as Uganda and Kenya, helping the people there through various missions.  He is selfless, and his love of his fellow man shines throughout his life.  You can't be around him and not know it.

Please keep him and his family in your thoughts and prayers.  He battles the cancer even now, and he has beat worse.  God be with the world that loses this man.

ashram

Jonathan Hamilton & his wife Teri.

I found a new electronics obsession.  I want to upgrade my very old Wacom tablet and get a Cintiq.  You actually draw on the freakin' screen.  I could do so much with this!

http://www.wacom.com/cintiq/20WSX.cfm

The have a smaller and less expensive model, but even it is too expensive. I so wish I could buy one of these.  Between this, the Zune, and the Kindle I could waste a ton of money on expensive electronics right now.  This would have more applications than just passive enjoyment.  I could potentially use this to make more money, however I have to be careful because I sometimes us that to justify purchases, then I don't follow through.

ashram

I turned in my notice on Monday.  I'm moving on.  I don't have any other plans at this point, except that I want to move on with my life and really pursue my dreams & goals.  I was honestly using my job as a crutch for a variety of reasons, such as fear of failing, nervousness about my financies and potential for finding a replacement income, and an uncertainty with my personal abilities.

It's time to grow up.

ashram

The past two days, it's been freaking snowing every night.  Between the two days, we got about a foot of snow.  But, the next day it gets up to 70 degrees and melts all the snow. It's such weird weather: nights of snow, days of sun.

I am quitting my job on Monday.  I will go in and hand my boss the final notice. Then it's just putting in the last few weeks.  It's a stress and a relief.  I know once I've turned in my notice, the stress will be mostly gone.  My family and girlfriend have been amazingly supportive, and I couldn't do this without them.

I also think my work with the clan has helped me a lot.  In the last few months I have felt a growing confidence and ability to manage situations like this.  I'm not as terrified anymore of the ridiculous outcomes my mind conjures up.

I don't have a replacement job waiting.  Oh, well.  I'll find one, and I am not going to worry myself about it.  I'll find a new job, and I will have time to get some of the things I needed to get in order in my life as well.  Maybe start that business I always wanted to start.

I am finally reading books again in my free time, which in turn inspired me to start writing again.  I hadn't written in almost six months, and I haven't done serious reading in almost two years.  It's good to be doing it now.  It feels right.

ashram

I read an incredible book today called Ender's Game.  Aside from the few REH Conan stories I've been reading lately, this about the only fiction I've consumed in a while.

I ended up loosing 2-3 hours of sleep because once I started, I had to finish the book.  I definitely recommend it.

Easter was uneventful.  My family  planned to have dinner at five.  Of course it wasn't ready, so I munched on some salad and left for work.  I felt so down and discouraged today I am barely managing to be congenial to my coworkers, much less the officers and public.  I am defeated.

-Mes

After reading that book, I really want to play some Go.

You can read all of Ender's Game online.  Or you can buy it like I did by following the Amazon link below. Do so.  It's an order.  Seriously.