Yes, still very intermittent with the blog updates.  Yes, still quite busy at
work.  Just had a Sun-Tues work trip down to Atlanta, Georgia that I only
found out about on the Wed afternoon prior.  Travel on a Sunday (on my
personal time).  Flew out at 1pm, went to Minneapolis-St. Paul, sat around for
2.5 hours, then flew down to Atlanta Hartsfield airport.  I just can't get
over how big some of the airports are.  Just miles and miles of concourse and
shops and gates.  Arrived in Atlanta around 8pm, and then almost an hour wait
to get my rental car from Hertz.  Then, my stress levels shot up as it was
time for what I dreaded the most, driving through a strange city, at night, by
myself.  Thank goodness for the "Never Lost" GPS navigation system in the car.
 Too bad my route ended up being under road construction, so it was stop and
go traffic for several miles.  I didn't check into the hotel until 10pm.  I
don't think I got more than a few hours of restless sleep.  Up at 6am, arrived
to work site by 7:30 and discovered almost no one there yet.  Worked right
along for 12 hours with only a 15 minute lunch break when some sandwiches were
brought in from a local deli to feed us.  Lots of problems found and
diagnosed, so it was worth it from a "value of trip" point of view.  Didn't go
out to eat that evening, just ate an apple and crashed.  Up by 6am again, more
work and a meeting, then on the road by 2pm for my trip home.  Trip back was
much better as route didn't have road construction slowing me down.  Flew out
around 5:30 back to Minneapolis, then a 3 hour layover there which was kindof
killer.  Arrive back in Cedar Rapids a little after 11pm and didn't get home
till almost midnight.  Naturally, I wake up next morning at 6:30 and crawl
into work for a full day of catch-up.

Now just prior to the trip, I noted that I was hearing a squealing-squeaking
sound coming from my engine area on my truck.  So I ran it back Friday night
to have it checked out.  Turns out one of the bearings in my alternator was
going bad.  I was worried it was my water pump going out.  However, Dad said
yesterday there was still some squeaking sounds yet, so he was going to look
into that.

Still really isn't spring here in Iowa.  Grass is green but no leaves on the
trees and not much else growing.  Weather has been cool and wet so far this
month.  That means planting is going to be way behind schedule unless it turns
hot and dry really soon.  Ah well, glad I don't have to worry about that this
year.

Finally finished up Xenosaga 2 on the weekend prior to this trip weekend. 
What a let down compared to the first episode in the series.  Game play stunk,
graphics were worse, voice acting down, and the storyline for the first 2/3 of
the game was only about Jr. and MOMO, and didn't grab me nor really advanced
the plot.  Just started Xenosaga 3, and it is much improved in the gameplay
and graphics department compared to 2.  

Speaking of games, went on a spending spree and bought Civ 4 and Heroes of
Might and Magic 5 for the PC.  The PC you say?  But Roger, you don't have a PC
at home.  Well, consider this my first step towards getting around to
purchasing one.  Prices are looking about right, I just need to pull the
trigger sooner or later.  Of course, two weeks later, I get a gift card for
the amount I spent on the games.  Timing, nice. 8(  Also have picked up a
couple more PS2 games while they are still being produced.  I have a huge
backlog awaiting me once I wrap up Xenosaga 3.  

I am extrememly happy with my weight loss progress due to my lack of eating on
the trip.  I weighed in at 161 last night.  I was down to 159 the day after my
trip, but I knew I'd pick up some weight after getting into a normal eating
and drinking routine.  Stillll, 161 is goood.  I can really notice the
difference around the middle.  I am a few more pounds of fat loss away from
where I've wanted to be for so long.

Ok, time to get back to slugging out at work.  I am totally ready to get out
of here.  Still have a stiff shoulder/neck spot from riding in coach and
carrying bags.  Hope that unkinks a bit this weekend.  Today's blog brought to
you by Underworld - Underneath the Radar