Where are the updates?

There were no updates this month because I was in a race against time and I was barefoot.

I'm at work today.

End of the Month Media Day

Happy end of July! Only 64 more days until I'm hitched!

The Smiths have arrived.

The weather in the Outer Banks is perfect -- mostly overcast with the occasional nighttime thunderstorm, hot and humid, yet windy, and ocean temperatures over 85 degrees.

When I was a kid, I thought the coolest people at the beach were the guys with the metal detectors. Now, I seem to realize that they are all poorly-aged bachelors combing the beach for riches they never find.

Pet Day: Amber

Amber the cat was adopted in March 2005, along with her sister, Sydney. Because the powerhouse of Sterling, consisting of my ex-roommate, Anna, myself, Booty, and Kitty, was going to be split up after Anna's wedding, we had decided to get two kittens so each of our cats would have a miniature friend to abuse after the separation. The resultant object graph showed Anna, Ben, Sydney, and Kitty on the left, with BU, Booty, and Amber on the right. If this assortment of names confuses you, you should probably stay away from the Game of Thrones books.

We first tried to adopt kittens through the Hart adoption agency at the local Petsmart until we realized that they were a special sort of crazy. Going in as two roommates with work schedules that only overlapped by three hours, and with one of us working from home multiple days per week, we thought we'd be shoo-ins for the kitten care poster family. Unfortunately, we were denied because OMG KITTENS NEED SOMEONE HOME 24 HOURS A DAY IM CALLING PETA.

Since doing it the right way had failed, we then went through the Casual Encounters section of Craigslist, full of less reputable kitties and kitties with daddy issues. We arranged for a meeting with a lady that used complete English sentences in her emails and were heartened that it was in a fairly rich section of Fairfax County.

We arrived at a typical Fairfax mansion and were immediately overwhelmed by the stench of millions of cats. Amber and Sydney were definitely good picks, and we ended up paying far more than we should have just to get them out of that environment (Sydney came away with feral food issues, competing with so many adult cats for dinner each day). As we fled to the car with the cats, the cat lady ran after us with a run-of-the-mill plastic toy, stating that it was "the kittens' favorite toy". We thanked her, but apparently misinterpreted her largesse, since she was actually trying to sell us this crappy toy for $20.

Amber adapted quickly to the Sterling house. We learned very quickly that wet food was a bad idea, and consistently resulted in explosive vomiting, akin to jumping into the air and landing on a hot dog. She only gets riled up for food when Booty does, but otherwise couldn't care any less.

When she plays with Booty, she generally gets beat up, so she prefers to play on her own, inventing only-child games involving furry balls and imagination. She will run 10 yards away from any sudden movements, loud noises, or normal breathing, but then immediately return 9 of those yards to observe.

Unlike Booty, who gets up in your business for affection, Amber would rather just be nearby but not touched. She might sleep all day long out of sight, only to show up to shed hair all over your keyboard like a feline dandelion.

Because Amber's actual birthday was unknown, we estimated to be on the same day as Booty's (October 25), but two years later (2004). As such, she is currently 8.5 years old.

End-of-the-Month Highlights Day

New photos have been added to the Life, 2014 album.

• Events
  • Celebrated the 4th in Taylorstown and Colonial Beach.
  
  
  • Made buffalo meatballs for a Crane barbeque on 7/6.
  
  
  • Went back to Mokomandy for high-cost, high-deliciousness tapas on 7/9.
  
  
  • Spent 12 of 12 with both ends of the family.
  
  
  • Mysteriously injured the muscles around my left lung, preventing me from coughing hard for two weeks.
  
  
  • Went to a housewarming for Joe and Katie, and a birthday party at Jack and Kristy's, then reconvened with FSU grads on 7/27.


• Projects
  • Rewrote the custom framework that drives the URI! Zone, mostly so I can be a snob about other people's Wordpress troubles.
  
  
  • Grilled meats at least twice a week every week for dinner.


• Consumerism
  • Tore through Orphan Black, Season Two as well as Derek, Season Two. Started watching Jericho on the treadmill.
  
  
  • Currently listening to new albums by K-OS and Christina Perri.
  
  
  • Playing Hearthstone and Wildstar, but gradually getting the itch to look for a new game.

July's Final Grade: B+, hot and humid, with plenty of socializing

Montreux Day

Traditional rosti and cruet for dinner in Montreux, which consists of either hash browns or toast, slathered in melted cheese and eggs.

End-of-the-Month Highlights Day

New photos have been added to the Life, 2017 album. Google Photos sucks.

• Events
  • Took a trip to the Alamo to watch Baby Driver on S 7/1.
  
  
  • Took a nature hike through Algonquian Park then had Chinese food at Chengs with Rebecca's parents on S 7/2.
  
  
  • Made bean chili for Monday Night Friends Dinner on M 7/3.
  
  
  • Went to Taylorstown for the traditional 4th of July party at the Whitmers on T 7/4.
  
  
  • Took Rebecca to the hospital for induction (the least popular mathematical skill) on W 7/5.
  
  
  • Maia arrived on H 7/6.
  
  
  • Came home from the hospital on S 7/9.
  
  
  • Called the cops on a wild teen party across the street while awake with Maia at 2 AM on S 7/15.
  
  
  • Someone hit Rebecca's car while it was dormant on the street during our first two weeks home. Booo.
  
  
  • Maia got to meet a bunch of friends throughout the month.
  
  
  • Made sushi in our kitchen with Car, Ben, and Sara on S 7/29.


• Projects
  • Taking care of this baby, this wife, Booty and her tumor jaw, and the house that protects all three.


• Consumerism
  • Only got to level 791 in Overwatch this month because of other priorities.
  
  
  • Enjoyed watching Baby Driver and Okja, and just started the third season of iZombie.
  
  
  • No new music this month.

July's Final Grade: A, baby everywhere!

End-of-the-Month Highlights Day

New photos have been added to the Life, 2019 album. Google Photos sucks.

• Events
  • Maia got another fever overnight going into July on M 7/1.
  
  
  • Father-daughter dinner date at Miller's on T 7/2 (kids eat free).
  
  
  • Independence Day in Taylorstown amidst the thunderstorms on H 7/4, followed by fireworks-watching from our front porch.
  
  
  • Maia's second birthday party on S 7/6, followed by a mini birthday with Mike and Ghazaleh in the evening. The kiddie pool popped during a freak thunderstorm.
  
  
  • Had Hannah over for dinner on S 7/8.
  
  
  • Family dinner at Fireworks Pizza on M 7/8.
  
  
  • Father-daughter dinner date at Miller's on T 7/9.
  
  
  • Visit to the Uri grandparents on W 7/10.
  
  
  • Maia and Rebecca visited Andrea and Amelia, followed by a family dinner date at Marumen on S 7/13.
  
  
  • Went to Janie Gillis' baptism and a brunch at the Fort Belvoir's Officer's Club on S 7/14. Had Car and Ben over for a dinner of Appalachian Yak Steaks that night.
  
  
  • Spent the weekend with Mike, Annie, and the Edwardses F 7/19 - S 7/21.
  
  
  • Family dinner out at Chuy's on H 7/25.
  
  
  • Spent the weekend in Mill Run, PA with Elisa and Sayak, F 7/26 - M 7/29.
  
  
  • Father-daughter dinner date at Miller's on W 7/31.
  
  
  • My mom had some health issues in the last week of the month that led to a hospital stay, but is doing better now!


• Projects
  • After years of enduring the growing swarms, we finally tried out a mosquito spraying service on T 7/2 and W 7/24 with short-lived results.


• Consumerism
  • Was completely blown away by how good Dark was on Netflix.
  
  
  • Still playing Grim Dawn in my free time, but considering purchasing Fire Emblem: Three Houses next.
  
  
  • No new movies or music of note this month.
  
  

July's Final Grade: B, Lots of fun non-work activities, but a little draining to be on the go all of the time.

End-of-the-Month Highlights Day

New photos have been added to the Life, 2020 album.

• Events
  • 4th of July barbecue at the Smith's on S 7/4.
  
  
  • Maia's 3rd Birthday Party Part I with the Uri grandparents on S 7/5.
  
  
  • Maia's 3rd Birthday Party Part II with Rebecca's parents on M 7/6.
  
  
  • Outdoor visit to our Taylorstown relatives, Carol and Dave, on S 7/11.
  
  
  • Yet another tack-driven flat tire, this time on Rebecca's car on S 7/12.
  
  
  • Outdoor visit with the Uri grandparents on H 7/16 and H 7/23.
  
  
  • Off to Duck in the Outer Banks with the Smiths on S 7/26.


• Projects
  • Worked on overhauling an ancient website throughout the month (to be released sometime next month).


• Consumerism
  • Minimal gaming this month.
  
  
  • Enjoyed watching Superstore, Season Three and Dark, Season Three.
  
  
  • Continuing to listen to the Fratellis' ancient albums.
  
  

July's Final Grade: B-, Overwhelmingly hot and busy, but we got to the beach!

End-of-the-Month Highlights Day

New photos have been added to the Life, 2023 album.

• Events
  • My parents came over for dinner (pork chops) on S 7/1.
  
  
  • Marc and Nicole came over for dinner (one pot chorizo) on S 7/2.
  
  
  • Maia turned 6 on H 7/6. After a trip to Volcano Island was thunderstormed out, we reconvened at Claude Moore's indoor pool with her friends.
  
  
  • Maia went to the musical, Rainbow Fish, at Wolf Trap with Miss Laura on F 7/7.
  
  
  • Maia's 6th Birthday Party with family and neighbourhood kids on S 7/8.
  
  
  • Dinner at Tammy's (fajitas) on S 7/9.
  
  
  • Maia had Sonrise Camp with Riverside Church the week of M 7/10.
  
  
  • Maia stayed with my parents for the weekend, F 7/14 - S 7/16 and went to the Natural History Museum.
  
  
  • Dinner at Burton's with Rebecca and Ian on S 7/15.
  
  
  • Rebecca and the kids went out to the Cove for Sam's birthday on S 7/16 while I stayed home and organized the house. Dad dinner at Local Provisions.
  
  
  • Went to the HOA meeting on W 7/19.
  
  
  • Rebecca took the kids back to Volcano Island with their rain check on H 7/20.
  
  
  • Rebecca took the kids to visit Jessika on S 7/22.
  
  
  • Appetizers sans kids at Local Provisions on T 7/24.
  
  
  • Went to Lake of the Woods with the Smiths, W 7/25 - S 7/30. Thursday was boating day with lunch at Fairways Cafe and dinner from 2 Brothers Italian. Friday was lake beach day. Saturday was another boating day with dinner from Clearwater Grill. We came home on Sunday just as the heat wave broke to find all of the peaches from our peach tree missing in action.
  
  
  • Family dinner at Chuy's on S 7/30.


• Projects
  • Continued learning Spanish with DuoLingo (100 day streak / #1 in the Diamond League).


• Consumerism
  • Still playing Diablo 4.
  
  
  • Enjoyed watching season two of The Bear and season one of Silo.
  
  
  • No amazing new music, movies, or books.
  
  

July's Final Grade: A-, fun but hot