The Clarke Family News

-- 28 September [2006] I'm at work today unfortunately. I'd love to quit this place, my heart just isn't in software anymore - well it hasn't been for years. I was told about some additional work this morning, which just put me over the edge. Not because of the actual work, but because of the last minuteness of it and the disorganization in general. I can't take it. I'm a very structured person. But the field pays so well it's hard to leave. Amanda after nearly 5 1/2 years wants to go back to work which I can understand and I want to stay home, so we have that part figured out. Now it just comes down to money. We can live on Amanda's salary for sure, but the health care is what concerns us. Since most dentists' offices are small they can't offer good (if any) health insurance. We would most likely have to sign up for a third party plan thru Blue Cross Blue Shield plan, which is doable. It's just a scary thing to give up this job, which is wel...

-- 26 September 2006 [Tuesday] Well it had to happen eventually. We are sick. Amanda, myself, Carson and possibly Ian. Keegan seems OK for now, but we'll see if it lasts. Stuffiness, coughing, aching, fever. Not fun. I'm on day two, about one day behind Amanda. I dropped Keegan off at school again today, but this time I walked to his room with him to drop off the big bag of bananas since it was too heavy for him to carry. It's his snack duty one day this week. I got to see his new classroom across the hall from his old one which was nice for me. I really enjoyed walking down the hall with him and talking to him and him pointing things out as well. Very relaxing and fun. -- 25 September 2006 [Monday] Just work again today. I've been dropping Keegan and Carson off at school in the morning since I have enough time to do it and it saves Amanda from having to start the truck up and rush to get ready in the morning. Really works out well, but I can't get home as early bec...

-- 22 September 2006 [Friday] Oh yeah it's Friday! Work has been OK. I still daydream every thirty minutes about quitting and doing something I love. Something physical and preferably outside would be great. I just worry about the finances and especially about health insurance. I know we would get by but actually doing it and taking the plunge is very hard for us - me especially. If I didn't have three children counting on me I would have quit long ago. Maybe next year will be the answer? Who know's what will happen. Doing nothing tonight I hope but taking it easy. Maybe we'll go out for ice cream if the kids are behaving. We'll have to see. Tomorrow I am on call starting at around 1pm for our RMS 4.5 release to production. Shouldn't be too bad, but that means I have to stick around at home and answer the phone and be ready to login if necessary. Amanda is going with the kids to a concert at Regency Park with Pat and Dawn. Should be fun for them...

-- 18 September 2006 [Monday] Back to work today. I hurt. Really got burnt at the beach on my upper half. I always think about it when I'm at the beach, but figure it won't be that bad and then sure enough, it's that bad. Ugh. My fault. We are going to look at a dining room table tonight that we found on Craigslist. Hopefully this will be the one we like as the price and size are right and it comes with eight chairs. I'm a little worried about the color though as it's oak and not our first choice, but there are some lighter oaks that may work. It's nearby so we'll go take a look. -- 17 September 2006 [Sunday] Today the entire day was spent at Wrightsville Beach, NC. We always like that beach, it's one of our favorites and it's the closest. 145 miles it turns out from driveway to parking spot. I ended up riding the Moto Guzzi there, it rolled over 21,000 miles on the return ride home. I averaged 42 mpg which is great considering the approx. 80 m...

-- 15 Sepetember 2006 [Friday] Thank goodness. That's all I can say. Friday. It's not like that will solve my stress problems at work, just put them off a couple of days. We (my parents included of course since they came out yesterday) plan to hit the beach tomorrow and then Sunday go see the Martha Stewart homes and goto a park pehaps. Work is stressfull as I'm the lead of the RMS 4.6.0 project (we all take turns) and I'm trying to learn the project and being new to the group doesn't help. Once I get all this paperwork and scheduling out of the way I hope it becomes better. At least I know it will end in two months - Nov 17th is our deadline. Thank Goodness I'll be able to enjoy the holidays at least and not have this hanging over my head. It's not the amount of work - more so it's the not knowing. Not knowing who to ask, where to go to, what I should have done by this time, etc. I don't like it. Rode the motorcycle into work today so I look forward...

-- 14 September 2006 [Thursday] Ok, at work again. Almost finished. Day went by really slow. Not very busy right now and it drags because of that. So many other things I wish I was doing during the day. Ahhh. My parents were to arrive today around lunch time to visit for several days. I haven't heard otherwise from anyone so I assume they are at the house ok then. Kids have been very excited of course. Keegan is going to be extra exhausted being that he's in school full time now. Next week will be especially hard since they will have been here for awhile then. I believe they are planning on leaving on Tuesday or so, which works out good with our new carpet being installed next Thursday and I have to get the furniture and carpet pulled up before they come - that will be a huge job, but it enables me to make sure the floor is very clean underneath, that all the old staples are pounded in, screw down some squeaky spots and on top of it, saves us about $225. I'm giv...

-- 12 September 2006 [Tuesday] Worked as usual. During lunch I stopped in at 1st Choice Custom Cabinets to choose a cabinet style and go over some details so we can get an estimate from them for remodeling our kitchen. So far they seem very nice, let's hope their prices are reasonable for our budget. Last night I stopped and picked up Boston Market meal on the way home as Amanda thought to do. Was great idea and nice on our anniversary making it easy with the kids. I also stopped and checked out a dining room table she found. It looks nice for six people, but won't fit eight without being squished, so the search continues. It's so frustrating looking for furniture, it's one of my least favorite things to have to shop for. Amanda got the truck tires changed at BJ's today and got a four wheel alignment to go with it. The unfortunately were out of the Michellin's I wanted so we opted for the BF Goodrich, which should be OK and come out to be about $140 c...

-- 11 September 2006 [Monday] Today is Amanda and mine seven year anniversary! What are we doing to celebrate this you wonder? Well, how about I worked, the kids went off to school, Amanda did errands, then we'll cook them dinner, play, read them books and off to bed. :) You see my parents are coming down this Thursday and they have offered to watch the kids so Amanda and I can go out to dinner one night. I plan on taking Amanda to The Angus Barn in Raleigh, since neither of us have been there and we have always wanted to try it. It's VERY expensive, so I don't expect to leave there for less than $100. It's not like we eat there often! This is our first time in the eight years we have lived out here. :) Keegan's first day back at school today after his three week track out. He seemed excited about it and so did Amanda (for some peace and quite). It's nice and cool today for a change. 78F as a high. All week is suppose to be nice. Hopefully we'll have nice we...

-- 7 September 2006 [Thursday] Hard to believe two days have gone by already since I posted an update, but it's true. I am very busy at work now with the RMS 4.6.0 release which I have been appointed to as QA Lead for it. Everyone has to do it and we rotate to give people breaks which is nice. This will be my first one in this new group. Malia, Brayden and Sydney came over to our house today while I was at work to play with Amanda and the boys. They all had a good time I am sure. Nothing new tonight that I can tell. The usual. Hope to get in a nice walk after dinner, play some and read some books of course. Keegans three week track-out is coming to an end this weekend and he is off to school again for his first nine week track-in. He did six weeks the last time since it was the start of the school year. He's doing great and I can't wait to see what he learns next. I read a good article in the Newsweek which I just received about how kids in the earlier grades...

-- 5 September 2006 [Tuesday] My first day back at work. Bummer, especially after that mountain hike. It was so peaceful, I would love to live up there I believe. Nothing special at work that I can remember. Went home, we ate, went for a nice walk, played and went to bed. We are just trying to make it through this week to get back on track from our wonderful vacation. I'm already thinking of when/where we'll go next. I think Amanda and I agreed it will be to Williamsburg, Virginia to visit Mick and Carl. Another hotel with a pool, and maybe a little sightseeing. Just a long three day weekend. These seem to work best and let us have the most vacations with my limited amount of vacation time, instead of blowing a whole week every time. -- 4 September 2006 [Monday] Today was the day to head home. Just 12 miles north on the Blue Ridge Parkeway was a watefall that we found in my waterfall book and wanted to visit. It's called the Cascades waterfall. So after packing up the s...