As Far As I Can Tell

It�s a good day for technology. Macromedia has announced Fireworks MX and Dreamweaver MX, both of which add just tons of new features, including working better with their competitors programs. Also, Apple has release a neat looking little computer called the eMac, which is an all�in�one system built for the education market. They�ve included the most important feature in my mind: a higher resolution screen. They�ve also released a new version of their Titanium Powerbook with a higher res screen and the ability to output to a secondary digital flat panel. Screen space is essential.
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I spent Saturday and Sunday in Chicago, going to the AnonFed event and hanging out with Ivo. The event was exactly what I thought it should be�not too slick, just to the point, well organized and inspirational. I�m excited that they�re planning on doing it every month. Essentially it�s a bunch of people listening to someone talk about design and code in a bar�a nice change from your normal bar scene.
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When MerEdith and I got to Chicago on Saturday, Ivo was helping Kurt and Alyssa move into their new place. Lisa, a friend of theirs, started talking to us and it turns out that she knows someone who lives in the same house that we�re moving into in June. Maybe it�s not that crazy, but it seems crazy. If anything it seems like some sort of good sign.

I�m heading off to Chicago today to see Eric Natzke at Anonymous Federated. I�m really glad that events like this within the Chicago design community are happening; it makes me excited to be there.
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I got a signed copy of my new lease in the mail today, so the apartment is totally official now. There�s was that period of time where I was questioning if my landlord was running an elaborate scam out of a temporary store front, so I feel a little more reassured now.
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I�ve mentioned this to people before, but Kalamazoo loves hot dogs. Have you noticed this? In the last year, four different hot dog businesses opened up.

� Dogs with style
� Hot dogs at Water Street Ice Cream Joint
� Kettle Dogs (in the Soup Kitchen/Kettle)
� Street vendors selling hot dogs

Today I hit a car with my moped. It pulled out in front of me, doing a three point turn out of a driveway, and I slammed into it.

I�m not hurt very much, and the moped only has minor damage�a little scary though. I think I�ll at least get a helmet, even if I don�t wear it all the time.

The Space website is now up.
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Tonight I�m going to see Hayden in Detroit. I�m really excited since he doesn�t tour in the US that often, and I�ve never seen him play live.
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I�m going to start listing �firsts� on this website. Things that I�ve done today that I�ve never done before. To kick it off:

A couple of hours ago I had 100�s and 100�s of comic books in the back of my truck, while it was raining.

Yesterday, Meredith and I went to Chicago and found an apartment�just as easy as that. It�s in Logan Square on a nice quiet street, just four blocks from the Blue Line El and near lots of fun places. It has tons of room, is well lit, and even has extra stroage in the basement. I think we�re going to like it a lot.

2527 N Monticello Ave Apt 1


Chicago, IL


60647-1148, USA

The credit checks and things still have to go through, so it�s not totally official yet. I don�t expect any problems though.

It�s entirely possible that I�m losing my mind, or at least part of it. Daily, or every other, I get so tensed up and anxious for no apparent reason. I�m really looking forward to moving in June. I�m not doing the things I was doing in Kalamazoo any more�I need to get to Chicago. It�s not that Kalamazoo and the people in are aren’t awesome, it is, and they are. It�s just that I feel stalled.

So out of nowhere, I got a job. I�m going to be doing work for Copper on a website for Downtown Kalamazoo Inc. I can work from home, and will be getting an hourly amount that�s much more in line with what my job is worth then what I was getting at Biggs. Not bad.
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My driveway has been turned into a work zone by the roofers next door. I�m not sure that they asked anyone if they could, but it�s now a place to cut wood; no cars allowed.

One of the workmen offered me some lubrication oil after seeing that I was working on my moped and using an inferior brand. He noted that his was the best, “It�s what I use on my guns.”

They were all pretty interested in my mopeds, and not in a way where I felt like they were making fun of me. The gas mileage impressed them, and they kept noting that the bikes were antiques. I guess the antique classification must work differently for vehicles then it does for things like coins and oak dressers.

I just got done with the first real run with the Kreidler. It has awesome takeoff, a respectable top speed, and enough shiny chrome to make my Motobecane jealous.

It is of course Meredith�s moped, but I�ll have to sneak some rides on it now and then.
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In a new format with better writing than ever: The Morning News.

I had breakfast with my family and Meredith this morning; Cosmos as usual. There was lots of talk about my childhood habits of climbing and falling while I ate my Mexican omelet with far too many peppers and onions in it. Aside from the little plastic bowls full of sour cream and salsa they give you, I think they stuff as many peppers in as they can fit as justification for its name. Good, just a bit overwhelming.

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Last night I saw Janeane Garofalo at the State Theater. The only comedy shows I normally go see are for Stunt Weasel, so this was a new thing for me. Through the powers of wishing and wanting we ended up not having any one sit directly in front of our forth row seats, even though the show was packed. It was a really good time; she’s bitter, witty and political.

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Rain and snow again today, so it’s an inside Sunday—the last of the sweater weather I imagine. Aside from my wanting to work on mopeds, it’s okay with me.

I�d never been grocery shopping during the day before, so I went today. The main difference that I can see is there are lots of 9 to 5 administrative types running around that aren�t there during the day. They ask you how you�re doing, and try to help you find things. Overall, the experience was friendlier, and there seemed to be many more people working there.
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Macromedia Showcase: Flash Interface Design, the book that TCUP will supposenly be featured in, is now available for pre-order from Amazon.com.
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I just got done filing my taxes with TurboTax. It was remarkably easy, considering that this is the first time I�ve done taxes myself. I even have strange dividend and trust interest considerations, but it was no problem. I filed electronically, and the return is going to be directly deposited into my bank account. It sure beats paying H&R Block $100 to do it for you.
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If for some reason you are not already on pantsmail, the mister pants mailing list, then for sweet jesus’s, go sign up already. Don�t believe me? Check out the archives.

I�m starting to work on my portfolio website, but having a pretty hard time with it. A part of me wants to go over the top and do something really �impressive�. The other part wants to just present my work in a clean interface so a potential employer can see it. It�ll of course end up somewhere in the middle, after it drags me around indecision land for a while.
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So I�m officially moving to Chicago in June. I�m starting to look for apartments and neighborhoods. All of the apartment search websites suck, so I�m probably going to have to get one of those places that finds you somewhere based on your criteria. I�m getting excited to move though; summer in the city.
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I have to do my taxes pretty soon; I�ve pushed it to the last minute. This is the first year that I�m not taking them in to H&R Block. It�s always such an unsatisfiying experience when you leave there: �Okay sir, you owe $500 to the government, and you�ll have to give us another $100 to get out the door.� This year I might even get something back, since I get to claim myself.
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My grandparents are back from Florida. I went down and had lunch with them last Sunday�Easter. For as much as I�d like to live somewhere far away and different, I�m glad Chicago is so close to my family.
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I’m selling an entire moped shop. Anyone interested.