Updates, schmupdates

So much going on these days and so little time to blog. I've been bad about getting back here, admittedly. I seem to blog more on myspace since that's where most of my readers are. I apologize for neglecting my bloggerific duties here.

The kidlet and I both had birthdays in the last week or so and I think she really enjoyed hers. We went shopping at the mall after a pancake breakfast and got her some cool new clothes, and I took her to see Less Than Jake at a great local venue, which was her first "real" concert. I think she had a great time. I know I did! We head down to OBX this weekend for more birthday celebrating with the family. I am getting an awesome new individual brew coffee pot that I've been in love with since I used the one my folks have. Wicked awesome.

I'm off to see Less Than Jake again in a couple weeks in Richmond, and then Flogging Molly again in September. The onslaught of great bands that come here just continues, and I love it.

Work is going along ok. Not great, but could be worse. I now have two monitors at work which is kind of like standing in front of one of those giant computer billboards. I feel a little overwhelmed by all the information available at once. Takes some getting used to.

A friend of mine committed suicide last week, sadly. He was the first person I remember meeting when I moved back to the area. 39 years old. Very sad.

Other than that, I love my friends here dearly. They are so nice, caring and honest. What you see is truly what you get. It's a nice change of pace to be surrounded by people who will come bail you out of jail at 3am (and no I haven't had to be, but I won't say the same for all of us!). They are real townies and I got slotted right in as one, which is cool. I seem to collect firefighters and builders, but I guess that's representative of a lot of the livable wage jobs around here (we are in a rediculously expensive tourist trap, of course). It's nice to have so many people willing to help out a single girl though. The boys are coming to build me a deck this month!

Anyways, all is coasting along and I just hang on for the ride and wait to see what happens next. No real direction these days, though my thoughts continue to focus on a five-year plan. In five years I'll be vested in my retirement here, and I should be done with my PhD. The kidlet will also be off to college that same time, so I figure that's when the next major life shift will probably happen. Time will tell...