I'm not sure how it's already Thursday, but it probably has to do something with the fact that everyone has been wishing for the current DPChallenge to be over so that they can view results and vote on new submissions.  I think that's why life goes by faster and faster everyday.  Too much wishing for tomorrow.  Nick keeps wishing for March 16th so we can goto Seattle and then Vancouver.  Although in all honesty I just want to live today -- work on DPChallenge for 4 hours -- play CS for 5 hours -- play with sharon for 6 hours -- sleep for 10 hours all while the hours are actually minutes in reality.  Time is the worst thing about life.

     It snowed on Wednesday, though too little to matter.  It was just nice to look outside and see it come down.  Kids were fightin' and chuckin' snowballs at the window, so I had to go outside and regulate.

    Much thanks to Andrew Towers for the amazing banner ad that he did for DPChallenge.  It truly is a work of art.

    Check back later tonight for new would-be DPChallenge submissions in the pics section.  If you haven't already seen challenges 001 and 002 then you can check those now or later.

     Things will work out -- they have to.

     Things did work out -- they had to.  I got a call from Kim @ Hall Honda around 3:45 PM.  Little did I know this call would make my fuggin' day.  She starts off by telling me that the left wiper has been fixed.  All that it needed was a tightened screw -- they tightened it.  Next she tells me that anti-freeze was leaking out of my water-pump, as I had told her (confirmed by Drew Good master of all mechanical devices on the face of the planet).  It was a faulty water-pump -- a faulty water-pump that they put in the car last year.  It was replaced free of charge, making the total bill read $0.00.  Goddamn warranties, I'm telling you people.  LangdonX.COM:  Pro-fucking-warranty.

     (I removed the story about my early birthday present due to inconsideration.  It wasn't supposed to be a funny story, thanks).

     Two-thousand-and-two ain't goin' so well.  First off, I owe the IRS exactly $2208.00.  Then this weekend my car "breaks down".  A part that I was possibly warranteed on for 12 months or 12,000 miles -- turns out it's been 13 months and a little over 13,000 miles.  This will surely cost me an arm and a leg to have repaired.  Thirdly, I just took out a chunk of cash to pay off my car loan.

     My safety blanket is slowly dwindling.  I was so looking forward to buying Nikon's new 6-megapixel camera in the summer time.  Oh well -- you win some and you lose some.  Things will work out -- they have to.  (And sorry drew that I already told you all this and you're reading it for the second time).

     I bought a few picture frames from Linens 'n Things last month so that I could make use of the printer that Sharon got me for Christmas.  I'm proud to say that one frame has been filled.  Bad thing is that I have another idea that involves 3 photographs, so I may end up scrapping what's in that frame.  I have no ideas for the other frame yet, but something will come.

=]

     I'm getting ruined by the IRS.  That's all that's really been going on in my life.  What it comes down to is that it's my fault.  Another life lesson -- how many more of these do I have to endure?  I'm not sure, but for the time being I have decided to take control of my life.  My car will be paid off next week.  The IRS will be paid in full next week.  My raise will go into effect next week, and from there I can re-begin to save for my future -- or for my new 6-megapixel camera?  The choices are limitless when you're platinum.

     Today I took an hour out of my day to grab some shots for the latest DPChallenge: Outdoor Macro Shots.  Total, I took about 200 shots throughout the day (not just during lunch).  I went through them all and picked out 21 that I liked, which should be posted in the pics section come the end of the challenge (03/01/2002).  Through deductive skills, I chose the best and submitted.

     Maybe I'm a geek, but I honestly had a ton of fun for that 1 hour that I walked around and just looked for things to take photograph.  I hate that I have to work 8 hours a day.  There's so much going on in the outside world that I miss out on Monday through Friday, 52 weeks a year.  Slave to the grind.

     I have nothing to write about, just a picture to post.  It's classic.  It woulda been better had I the whole series, but luke's cam refreshes too quick.

    I have a couple of possible shots for my DPChallenge entry, which will be up in the pics section of the web site after 2/28/2002.  Thursday is going to be warm and partly sunny, so I think I'll find some place to go and take pictures just for more possibilities.

     I'm somewhat lacking the motivation to write anything.  The only reason I'm doing so is because I was awoken to a text message this morning from Jill requesting LangdonX updates and what not.

     As stated in the last entry, I did get my grill.  Of course, I rocked a flat tire before hand, but I still got it.  And let it be known that the flat was fixed free of charge because of the fact that I had paid $9 extra for insurance on all four tires.  That's twice in one month where buying warranties has paid off.  It could be thrice, but we'll write about that when it happens.

     As a result of buying the grill, Grill fest 2K2 was a success last night. Lotta kids came over and we cooked some meat burgers.  The grill is nice.  It's small and pretty much all I need for now.  I used it again tonight to cook chicken for Sharon and I.  They turned out well -- just like I like em with the charred lines.

     "Back in the day when I was young, I'm not a kid anymore, but some days I sit and wish I was a kid again."  I wish I knew the date on this thing, but it's Matty B and me at Kings Dominion.  Check the teeth.

     As annoying as it is driving home whilst the sun, higher and higher in the sky everyday, blinds out my retina from the glares that are reflected off the rear and side view mirrors... It's just nice to know that spring is on its way.  Warm weather, beaches, pools, and longer days are just a few of the things that I am personally looking forward to in the days to come.

     DPChallenge's first official challenge ended today.  The submissions were accepted, the votes calculated, the results posted, the issues argued, the votes re-calculated, and the re-calculated results posted.  It's altogether now, and there's no stopping it.  I only received fourth which means no ribbon, but there's always next challenge.

     Tomorrow: Buy a grill.  Clean my apartment.  10 Month Anniversary.

I got you twelve roses and put them in a vase.
I spotted this one that reminded me of your face.

It was perfect in every way it could be.
That is why it is a reminder of you to me.

...to Sharon.  AND NO ONE ELSE.

I love you, k?

     Who works at Capital One, and who sends me gay messages like this?  You will die.  Know this.

     What a game... what a game.  My life seems somewhat incomplete now with what-should-be the prelude playing on my TV in the other room and this proudly displayed on the screen as I write.  No aeons.  No limit breaks.  Nothin' but sword wieldin' fools and magic conjurin' chicks.  That's how I took out the Final Aeon.  Rumors say that this is the last Final Fantasy, as we know the Final Fantasy series to be.  Not since FFVI has a game captured me the way that X did.  FFXI is going to be all online, and that's all that's forecasted.  That is just wrong.  I just don't see the whole online thing making it big in my life.  So, Square:  I'm waiting for XII.  Okay?

     This site is now wireless.  Today I put some time and effort into making langdonx.com available on wireless devices.  Pointless?  Perhaps.  Although it was definitely a fun task and I learned some useful information for the future.  Right now there are only two sections, but I hope to add other things and maybe get them published?

     Right now the URL is langdonx.com/mobile, however I hope to make it so that you can just type in langdonx.com and get the same information.  I'm still learning though.

     Scroll to the bottom of the page.  Type some stuff in.  Press enter.  And I get it on my phone.  =D

     I tend to place bids on ebay without really thinking about having to purchase the items I bid on.  Then sometimes I win and I'm forced to send my money and collect my item.  I'm pretty sure that's how I got my arcade machine -- which wasn't such a bad thing, but I would've been better off without it.  With my poor memory lately, I often forget things that happened last week, like the fact that I bid on an ebay item.  I was only expecting a normal wall calendar, I didn't really think about how big 24" was ... but man am I satisfied.  The pictures really do it no justice, but it is pretty large.  I can't bring myself to put holes in it though.

     Tonight surprisingly turned out to be pretty good.  Sharon, Jill, and I ate at the Raven... the scallops sucked and I don't recommend them.  :)  After that, we met up with the BFC+Andrew+Melissa, and lost Jill (her choice).  We all then made use of the Reflections facilities.  There's no stopping 7 kids in weight rooms and racquetball courts.  Game #1 - Steady the raquetball on the treadmill.  No Winner.  Game #2 - Pitch the racquetball through the small square.  Winner: Langdon.  Game #3 - Bounce the ball into your opponent's crotch.  Winner:  Ben.  SportChallenge.COM?  Yea, we're thinking about it.  Fuck me for not bringing my camera though.

     I got another new feature coming.  Prepare yourself.

     I have some, I suppose.  My Olympus camera case came for my sorta-new camera.  Now I can keep it in mint condition -- except for the fact that I use it every hour of my life (which won't help the buttons from fading).

     Final Fantasy X has been consuming my nights this week.  I beat half of Sin, and now I'm trying to get some shits to make the second half easier.  One night I actually spent about 2 hours doing the stupidest shit in the game just to get a perfect run.  Regardless of the fun factor, it was very rewarding in the end.

     DPChallenge got its first UK user tonight.  There's no stopping this thing.  When you check the user list and you see that there are 4 Olivers signed up, you know it's some good shit.

     I put a new feature in, as I said I would last night, although it needs some explaining.  Whenever a section is updated, in the navigation bar, it'll be preceded by an exclamation point.  I think I coded it right, but if you see any discrepancies, let me know.  Thanks.  =D

     First I get a nice new phone.  Then my camera breaks.  Yes.  My camera: my pride and joy in what I like to call life has ceased to function... sort of.  I was busy getting table shots for the latest dpchallenge today during lunch, and didn't really realize that my camera might break if I put it in my back pocket and sat down a few times.  However, the flash compartment was bent up and back, and wouldn't go back down.  I forced it down, and it seemed to be working okay.

     Then when I was outside trying to capture the blizzard on film, I noticed that even though the flash compartment opened correctly, the camera didn't register that it was open and thus it wouldn't flash.  I was pissed at first, but then remembered I had the 4-year Best Buy service plan, so I thought that I'd exercise it.  To make a long story short, I'm now the proud owner of a new Olympus C-700 UZ.  Brand freaking new.  It only took me 30 minutes.  I love Best Buy and I will continue to shop for electronics there.

     I'm going to try and make a new langdonx.com feature tomorrow.  Not a new site, just a new feature.  Hopefully I'll have the time, as it will make your experience more enjoyable.  Good night.

     I got a new phone today thanks the sweetest unnamed individual ever.  It's got a color LCD, custom ringers, custom images, and a bunch of other really nice features.  Sharon scores first place for calling me first and with the sweetest timing possible (02/02/02 @ 2:22 PM).  =D