Reader’s Digest

Hi there! It’s me — your son/brother/spouse/friend/co-worker/acquaintance who hasn’t written in a while. So to make up for it, here’s everything I really intended to tell you about for the past month, but didn’t, in an easier-to-read condensed version. It’s like those old school Reader’s Digest Condensed Books, but of my life.

I was an American Airlines statistic last week when I was supposed to fly to DC for an SMU alumni event, but the five flights I tried to get on to make it there in time all got canceled because of their impromptu safety inspections. You always see those shots on TV of people in airports laying on cots or standing in long lines. Lucky for me there was no laying on cots involved, but I did stand in a lot of lines. Some other SMU folks got stranded in DC for an extra day and had to put up with a day of sightseeing and staying at the Ritz-Carlton. The horror!

We’re moving into a new building at work in the next month or two, and I am obsessed with the fact that I will have an office. With a door. Not that I will close the door ever, but still! We’ve decided that now is the time for me to get rid of my Despair.com demotivational poster in my current cubicle and create a Grown Up Office. Chel was kind enough to give me a painting of a horned frog to serve as the centerpiece. Add to that a water wall (or maybe just a little desk-sized water fountain) and the theme will be Contemporary Zen Mascots. Now I just need to find a good painting of a mustang to ensure equal representation.

I officially became an Apple Fanboy after I had a slight problem with my iPhone where a little swath of pixels on the screen was dimmer than the rest. I took it to my friendly neighborhood Apple store, and one of their “Geniuses” (isn’t that a better name than “Technical Support Person”?) agreed that I needed a replacement phone. So he gave me one, for free. I suppose I should be annoyed that my first phone weirded out, but instead I’m just amazed at Apple’s great customer service.

We still haven’t resolved the automobile situation following Chelsea’s accident. We asked GM to take a look at the car because we were concerned the accident was caused by the rear differential locking up. They finally sent an inspector out, and we’re waiting for the final report from Detroit. We just want to make sure the car is safe before we sell it, and alert GM if they’re doing something wrong in their recall service. For now we’re carpooling it to work, which is actually nice because Chel and I get to spend Commute Time together.

We’re going back to Padre over Memorial Day Weekend! This time, instead of pulling an all-nighter to drive the 13 hours from Dallas, we’re going to fly. I’m really looking forward to some beach bumming after finals are over and before work gets really crazy this summer.

And speaking of finals…I’m really not looking forward to them this semester. I’ve got some major catching-up to do over the next couple of weeks so I can be prepared. I wish Reader’s Digest made Condensed Books of all the cases I still need to read.

So this is what I would have written about over the past month. What’s up with you, my friendly reader?