My life has been a blur this last week or so as we have been trying to get ready for ICSE 09 (Rachel calls it a big geek conference). The professor I work for (Steve) is the general chair, so I've been working on the website (http://www.cs.uoregon.edu/events/icse2009) for almost two years, but now that the program (schedule) is finalized (we hope), we've been designing all of the signage and the printed program. I've got to say, Steve knows how to make some last minute things happen, which I guess is why he's the general chair. As for me, it'll be another long day tomorrow so I need to go to bed (if I don't wake up blame it on complications related to Warcraft III withdraws).

When we were headed out of the house this morning, I opened the door and a wave of sunshine came flooding in. Jacob said "what's going on? why is it so sunny?" to which I responded "I know, it should be raining huh?" To which he said "ya, what's going on?" Yes, I want to move somewhere that it rains less, not for me, but for my children's perception of what is normal... on so many levels (have you ever visited Eugene?). 

I got my paycheck the other day and realized that Warcraft III was much more expensive than I thought. I guess I should say that I'll beat the next level after I work, not I'll work after I beat the next level.

On a happier note, here is a favorite song of mine, go ahead, sing along; when the kids start whining we crank it up and shout it out:

They say i need some rogaine to put in my hair 

Work it out at the gym to fit my underwear 

Okaley makes the shades to transform a tool 

You'd hate for the kids to think that you've lost your cool 

Imma do the things that i wanna do 

I ain't got a thing to prove to you 

I'll eat my candy with the pork and beans 

Excuse my manners if i make a scene 

I ain't gonna wear the clothes that you like 

I'm fine and dandy with the me inside 

One look in the mirror and i'm tickled pink 

I don't give a hoot about what you think 

everyone likes to dance to a happy song 

with a catchy chorus and beat so they can sing along 

timbaland knows the way to reach the top of the charts 

maybe if i work with him i can perfect the art 

Imma do the things that i wanna do 

I ain't got a thing to prove to you 

I'll eat my candy with the pork and beans 

Excuse my manners if i make a scene 

I ain't gonna wear the clothes that you like 

I'm fine and dandy with the me inside 

one look in the mirror and i'm tickled pink 

I don't give a hoot about what you think 

no, i don't care 

i don't care 

i don't care 

i don't care 

i don't care 

i don't care 

Imma do the things that i wanna do 

I ain't got a thing to prove to you 

I'll eat my candy with the pork and beans 

Excuse my manners if i make a scene 

I ain't gonna wear the clothes that you like 

I'm fine and dandy with the me inside 

one look in the mirror and i'm tickled pink 

I don't give a hoot about what you think 

Ok, its been 14 days since I last played basketball, and look:

 

This doens't seem right...

We've officially started looking for mini-vans, so if you have one, you might catch us peeking in through your windows. We were going to the mall to spend the rest of the gift card (mentioned in my post on February 6th) when we decided to pull into a Nissan dealership to drive around (and try not to talk to anyone) when we got cornered when we took a wrong turn. So we got out and looked at the one van they had, which we liked. The salesman wanted us to come back the next day, which was good as Rachel's parents were coming into town and her dad knows much more about cars than we do. 

Saturday we went for a test drive and it seemed like things ran well, except Rachel pulled the shifter right out the socket (apparently it comes out for maintenance, I think someone forgot to put a screw back in) it was pretty funny. But then they wanted to talk serious, like we were going to drive home in our new van. We tried to explain the night before and again that day that we want to get a van before August, but are in no hurry until then. 

Tuesday we went back to look at some other vans that they have on other lots. We looked at everything they have for under 20k (although we only want to spend 5-6k in addition to trading in our Outback). There weren't a ton of them, maybe 7, and the one we liked the second most (after the one we had already seen on Friday and Saturday), smelt like wet dog/throw up/wet dog throw up. 

Anyway, the search continues. We think we would be happy with the first van, but want to look around a bit as we really don't know that much about buying anything that costs more than $500. 

The weather has been so nice that I'm starting to miss everywhere else I've lived in my life. Don't get me wrong, I can take three seasons: Thailand (rainey [and hot], hot, cold [or not hot]), Phoenix (perfect, summer, hot summer). But Eugene? cold and rainey, warm and rainey, hot and rainey. Yes, the last few days of sunshine make me want at least a different three season set, or maybe even a regular four season set. 

I think that I'm going to keep my 8 am class... which is scary since I am known for skipping my math classes, and they usually start at 10 or 11. It would be good for me to go to bed a little earlier and maybe work during the day instead of after the kids go to bed...

Oh an even sadder note, I've played basketball at the church twice now (within the last few weeks). This has been the first and second time that I've played since fifth grade (or was it sixth?). I didn't even have any tennis shoes the first week, so I got some at value village for $4.99; my blisters were much smaller the second time. Anyway, everyone fills sorry for me, so they don't really guard me or call fouls when I elbow them in the back. I only last about an hour, then I'm done (and this is half court mind you).