At my day job we are planning and scheduling. I don't enjoy this part of my job. The slightest unknown can through all my plans out the window.

Plus, it's very boring to spec out, cost and prioritize dozens of little features.

Spring has hit Seattle. The weather is beautiful out and I am feeling, well, "All work and no play..." Being a middle manager at work and then having to help out with RO and the store, it sucks up so much of my time and energy.

It's hard finding a balance. I'd like to do less at the store, but RO needs someone to prioritize and coach him. He gets so caught up in the day to day work at the store, that he sometimes neglects important things like paying bills.

My day job is going well. I have large amounts of freedom. Which is a good thing and a bad thing. If I do something wrong, work on the wrong things for example, no one will notice for months, maybe even longer. If it was just me, then I would be fine with that. But, people report to me and look to me for guidance. I could tank their careers.

I guess this is just whining. Once I remember hearing "No matter how great your triumphs or how deep your sorrows, approximately five billion people have never heard of you and don't give a shit. So get over yourself." My life is good, and I have no one to blame but myself for taking on so much responsibity.

It's still sunny out. I think I will go for a walk.

Years ago, C3 brought two east coast friends of his to Friday night dinner at Siam's. The friends were thinking about moving to Seattle. The dinner was nice, but I didn't keep in touch with the couple.

Skip forward six years. RO and I are in a bowling league, but we need two more players for our team. RO sent out many messages to locals on Bear 411. On Sunday, we met a couple who were interested in bowling.. They thought I looked familiar but couldn't place where they had seen me. Then Monday, before bowling, they remembered where we met-- dinner at Siam's many years ago. RO was a little disappointed. He was hoping we met at an orgy or a bath house.

RO and I attended a suprize wedding reception. One of the girls who works for the store, very quietly got married. Her boy friend is in the military and is heading back to Iraq in a few months. They got married at a court house. No fanfair, no reception, no gifts.

When our design manager found out, she decided to throw them a small party. Everyone brought a small gift.

RO has been sick with a cold for the past few days. The cold has been going around. I feel very lucky that I haven't caught it. I'm usually the one that catches every flue and cold while he stays healthy.

We both been away from the store for the past few days. I like it. It was the first weekend I've had off in a long time.

Last night was our second evening of League Bowling. RO is still a decent bowler. I am still mediorcre.

Having said that, I did better last night than a week ago.

Yesterday I took a big trip to Good-Will and the dump get rid of Earin's stuff. I wanted to bring all of it to the dump. RO stopped me and picked out the valuables.

We kept some of the stuff for us. Four big boxes went to Good Will. The rest went to the dump.

One of the fun things about listening to all my music on my Zune, is discovering albums and songs that I didn't know I had.

I have a medium sized jazz collection that I knew nothing about. Looking back, I vaguely remember receiving a few Jazz box sets for gifts. Although I never listened to them I apparently ripped them into the computer. Jazz regularly pops up on random play.

I have a fair number of songs from obscure bands that posted free songs on the internet.

I have much more Eurythimcs and Corey Hart than I would have thought. Until today, its been at least five years since I listed to either. They both give me flash backs to high school.

I've had a Zune mp3 player for a while now. All my music is on it. It's been ages since I've listened to any of my older music. In fact, I don't musch like my older music. It's unsettling being irritated by songs I know I used to love.

I know my tastes have changed, matured, in many ways. In depth news magazines used to bore me to death, now I skim through them every day. I used to listen to retro 80's and Art Bell style talk radio. Now I listen to NPR and some college music radio.

Sigh. And I'm only 36. It makes me wonder what I'll be like when I'm 46.

Earin couldn't make it on Saturday. She text messaged us that the plans had changed, she would now show up on Sunday.

On Sunday, Earn showed up with a mini-van and 3 guys. She loaded up about a 3rd of her stuff and left. She said she would be back in about 30 minutes. That didn't happen. RO and I messaged her, but she didn't respond to the messages.

RO went through her remaining stuff. He said most of it was garbage. The valuables were things that she had bought through RO, or RO had given her as a gift. After RO pointed that out, we figured she is never comming back for the rest.

I'm going to do a dump run tonight. We may try and sell the valuble furniture, or we may keep it.

I got a text message from Earin

"Will be there on sat @ 11 am to pick up stuff plz dont b there"

What the hell? How do I react to that. I can't wait to tell RO.

More news about Earin. Much of Earnins stuff is still at our place-- a bed and dresser, desk, table, boxes, tv, armour. RO called Earin's sister to try and figure out what to do with all of it.

Earin's sister was not aware that Earin had just abandoned us. She also said that Earin lost her job. During the first week of training, Earin was fired.

From what we understand she already as anew job and has moved in with her girl friend. But, the two of them have a very rocky relationship.

I hope Earin will be ok.

Ryan is in a new band. They are an Irish Drinking & Pirate songs band. Last night was their first gig. RO and I went. It was fun, if a little weird. I've had "Kiss me I'm Shit Faced" running through my head all morning.

Ryan is in a new band. They are an Irish Drinking & Pirate songs band. Last night was their first gig. RO and I went. It was fun, if a little weird. I've had "Kiss me I'm Shit Faced" running through my head all morning.

Last Saturday was the store's one year anniversary. We had a martini party to celebrate. It was fun. Many people showed up.

Next Saturday is our big sale. It will be interesting to see how much we've grown since last year.

Over lunch we were discussing Alaska, and how many who move to Alaska only do so because they need to escape something in the lower 48. One co-worker said that it's not uncommon for bars to post signs like "No photographs allowed." because their patrons do not want to be known.

The lead to... "What happens outside of Alaska stays outside of Alaska." It's the anti-Las Vegas.

They caught my gas thief!

He is in his early 20's. His parents kicked him out of their house because he was constantly stealing things. Rather than completely lose control of him, they let him live in a shack in their back yard.

He has promised to make resitution, but the police doubt anything will come of that. He has no job and no real means of supporting himself.

I also heard some of the neighborhood gossip from the cop. The neighbor who noticed the gas thief has been trying to clean up our street. Not that our street is high crime. Basically he's been calling the police when a house has too many cars parked in front of it. He also wants to have street lights installed.

And now you know the rest of the story.

We changed the keys to the house yesterday. Between the gas theft and Eavin, RO and I have been thinking about security. Many people have had a set of our home keys-- three contrators, old house cleaners, old room mates, the previous owners-- so we felt it was time to change the locks.

After we changed the locks, RO went out and had duplicates made. Of course they don't work.

I told my neighbour about the gas theft. He told me he was very glad to know that-- for weeks now he's suspected that someone has been siphoning gas from his truck.

On Saturday, while RO and I were at the store, Earin took much of her stuff. Only the big pieces of her furninture are left. RO and I have decided to change the locks. At this point too many people have or have had keys.

Gas Theft.

This morning around 5:30am, I heard a loud banging at the front door. It was a neighbor. He told me that someone tried to steal gas from my truck! The neighbor said he scared them off.

I went outside and took a look at my truck. Gas was dripping out of it and into a gas can underneath. I thanked the neighbor. We chatted a bit and he drove off.

I called 911 and reported the incident. While I was on the phone, the neighbor drove back and said he spotted the theives and got the license plate number! I relayed the info to the police.

After a while, the police showed up and took my information. We looked around the tank and couldn't see any obvious damage. I poured some of the gas from the can into the truck. It poured out of a few very well drilled holes in the truck's tank-- damage spotted.

The officer told me these thieves were not that bright. The proper way to steal gas is to put a tray or can under the vehicle, punch a hole and then leave. After ten or fifteen minutes you return to collect the gas. That way no one sees a stranger hanging around a neighbor's vehicle.

Around 7:30am I called to have my truck towed to the service center. The towing company told me to call back after 8:00am. Rather than wait I decided to risk the drive. The service center was only five miles away. Worst-case, I'd run out of gas and need a tow.

I actually enjoyed the ride. I kept telling my truck "Come on baby, you can make it. I love you. I know you can do it." The truck drove smoothly despite the empty tank. We made it without hitch.

As it turns out, I was the second gas-tank-puncture the service center had that morning.

I got a small loaner car and headed home. On my way back I retraced the route to the service center. You could see the trail of dripping gas left by the truck. Bigger at stop signs. Smaller when going fast.