Work:

• Pretty much dominating my time. Handed over the code base of the 1.0 system to the government two weeks prior, and we’ve started UAT/IV&V, which is always a “fun” time for me as the functional lead and my requirements team. But aside from a few minor things (in the overall scope of things), this thing looks like it’s going to fly
• Picked up a new major agency as a client, when one of my old clients switched jobs. Suddenly my target for sales/work has doubled. A year ago I had 2 people working for me… Now I have 17
• Trying to get my PMP certification. It’s a scam, but it ups the billing rate, and if you want to lead gov’t projects, you pretty much have to get one. Should be taking the test in early December.

Wedding:

• Date picked: October 4, 2008
• Location: We’re close. I just need to see River Farm but J thinks this is the place

Sports:

• Red Sox – I could get used to this. By “this”, I mean the four game World Series sweeps. Not the “every game is an elimination game” ALCS. The Indians looked good, and they should be there again – all they need to do is pick up a good big bat over the offseason, and they’ll be a force. This season was “better” than ’04 in that we won the division over the Yankees (although we almost collapsed in true Sox fashion), and showcased new young talent in the process. I can’t remember any names of young impact players in ’04 – with the exception of Youkilis – and I had the feeling at the time that the team had been put together to win that year, rather than just win period. This could be good.
• Pats – just finished watching the Pats beat the Colts to go to 9-0. I’m not sure we should have won this game really. Even putting aside the horrible officiating, the Pats didn’t play good ball on either side of the ball. For some reason, the Colts just pulled up short in the 4th quarter. The Steelers game could be this team’s undoing
• Celtics – hey look! The Celtics are relevant again. It might be worth watching them again, if I can find them on TV or the Net….

Free Time

• Games: Ratchet and Clank Future Tools of Destruction – finally something fun and playable on the PS3. Assasin’s Creed will hopefully be fun as well.
• Books. Finished Hugh Laurie’s (yeah, that Hugh Laurie) “The Gun Seller”. Started out good, ended in confusion and chaos, like he hit a wall. “The Sushi Economy: Globalization and the Making of a Modern Delicacy” was a decent read, if you enjoy sushi. Currently reading “Einstein: His Life and Universe”, after which I’ll probably finish Harry Potter (finally. Not that I don’t know the ending already)

Gadgets:

• Picked up an Archos 605 Jukebox, for videos on trips. Pretty decent device. Only issues are the charge time and the fact that when I put a screen protector on it, it pretty much ruled out the use of the touch screen (but the buttons are fine)
• Using the OGIO Metroid as my current bag, and it’s actually working out pretty well.

Travels:

• Aside from a wedding in Winston Salem, nothing to really report on. Dallas over Thanksgiving to meet J’s family. India in January to meet mine.
• But I did put some photos up of our trip to Butler’s Orchard

The Cherry Blossoms actually have their own festivals, replete with street festival, parade, and best of all, the Grand Sushi and Sake Tasting. Two hours of all you can eat sushi and all you can drink sake and beer. Three master sushi chefs in attendance, with participation from the best sushi restaurants in DC. Yummy. Unfortunately, the only good picture I took was the first one. Like I said, all you can eat, all you can drink….

Y wanted photos, so here you go