So I picked up a Nintendo DSi today. It is a very nice machine compared to the original DS. And the Opera based DSi web browser rocks.

Yes, I am blogging this from the DSi.

Jury Duty, that’s what.  No futher comments about that experience, other than I am glad it is over.

Amy just got over having the flu.  Care Bear has the flu now.  It is heart rending to see a 3 year old with the flu.  If I am lucky I won’t catch the flu, and can return to work tomorrow.  I took some time off to take care of the kids while Amy was sick.

So I have been doing a lot of reading and searching on the web on organization and time management.  I’ve read Getting Things Done, and have figured out it’s just not for me.  While searching on the internet I ran across Mark Forster.  I started doing some of the things I found on his website and my productivity increased.  More importantly, my stress level has gone way done.

Mark is beta-testing a new time management system right now, called AutoFocus.  While the concepts in AutoFocus are interesting, I have been reading his book “Do It Tomorrow“.  I have been implementing some pieces of DIT, and I have to say it is actually working for me (something that GTD failed horribly to do).  I really like the ideas in it, as well as the fact that he expects you to be a person, instead of a superman.

Highly recommended.

Well, as cool as it was to have the web on my phone, I have canceled the service.  We mostly use the messaging, which I retained.  I also dropped the number of minutes on the plan, as we rarely make any actual voice calls.  By doing this, I cut my cell phone bill in half, saving around $70 a month.

Of course, this also means I no longer have email on my phone, but I do still have the messaging which my wife and I use all the time.

Every so often, I stay up very late.  No good reason.  Just get busy online and I don’t stop.  Tonight is one of those nights.  They are much more rare now that I have kids, but it is nice every now and again to just stay up and play with stuff.  I don’t really accomplish much, and I end up very tired, but it is sort of refreshing.  I guess it reminds me of my days in college staying up late to study and finish assignments.

Though in all honesty, I don’t want to go back to college.  Homework? Ugh.  What is worse is making sure you make it to all your classes and don’t forget anything.  I have very vivid dreams every now and again of me registering for classes and then just not showing up because I forgot there even was a class.  Not something I look forward to.

But yes, the staying up late can be nostalgic.  But I think it is time for me to go to sleep now…

I’ve started watching 24 this season.  I’m actually quite interested in it this season due to the lack of CTU.  For some reason the whole CTU setup just bothered me.  I’ve not even sure why.  But this season is great.  Jack Bauer is a great character, and I really appreciate the entire “yes I did horrible things and I won’t deny it or try to cover it up” motif that is going on.

Though, I do have to say, no one puts all their SCADA systems in one basket, so you can’t go and shut down the nations water and sewer systems with just one access.  Power on the other hand can be overloaded, and if the grid doesn’t act fast enough to cut off the overload you can cause very large blackouts.  But then, you don’t need a computer to cause a black out.  Cars, planes, and explosives would be much easier, quicker, and makes a really nice visual. 😀

I seem to make this same resolution every year.  To get organized.  To stop having stuff overflowing from every horizontal surface.  To know what is going on, to keep good notes, do things on time, and not forget stuff.  It never quite seems to work out the way I want it to.

Right now at both work and home, I have stuff piled up on my desk that needs to be done, filed, or just plain thrown away.  My filing systems are in disarray, my email is overflowing, and I am exhausted from information overload.  I keep far too many things for no good reason, and am loath to toss or get rid of anything that I once thought was cool, or that I used a lot, even though I don’t use it anymore.

Still, I need to get a handle on all this stuff.  I plan to sell off, give away, or toss most of the physical.  It has all become stuff I rarely use, or just plain don’t need.  I’ve already cut down on my books, and have even disposed of my collection of Analog SF magazine.  There’s lots more to get rid of, and of course to organize into some semblance of sanity.

Wish me luck.

So if you have kids, you end up watching lots of kids shows.  Perhaps more than you really should.  But then, you would never find out that the Backyardigans dance very well to Metallica.

Another day has gone by.  I got quite a bit more done on backup at work on Friday, but I’m not sure the configuration I set up is working correctly.  We are also on track to be completely moved out of the old buildings soon.  I’ll have to head over there again soon to assist with the cleanup.

Then go to Tight Cuts.  Yea, they are a bit pricey, but the girls do a great job of cutting your hair.  Did I mention they do it while wearing mini-skirts and tight shirts?  No, really.

But here is the best part.  The place is set up for men (ladies, you can go there too).  That means nice leather chairs, complementary beverage (non-alcoholic, sorry), and big screen TVs.  Did I mention the chicks in mini-skirts?  The atmosphere is very relaxed and low pressure.  They don’t try to sell you a bunch of stuff, and they aren’t always trying to get you on the mailing list.

The hair cuts consist of the cut, a shampoo with scalp massage, hot towel, straight blade neck shave, and to finish it off, and nice shoulder rub.  It is very relaxing, and while the girls will chat with you if you want, they will also leave you alone if all you want is a haircut without any chat.

It really is a great place, and I highly recommend it.  If you go to the South Hill Tight Cuts, ask for Erin and say Chris sent you.