So, I've been working further on my room layout and added a few electrical, coax, and LAN outlets. I've also moved a couple things around, including finally adding something I've always wanted in my room - movie posters (you'll see them in the lower, left-hand corner). Right now I have 5 scheduled to be there, but poster frames are pretty damn expensive - though if you get good quality like those linked below, you should never have to replace them. Two for $220 with a couple of coupons applied and they come out to about $130 each + shipping (edited to add: I'd upgrade to Lexan for $25 more per frame). Obviously I can't quite go out and buy four at this point, but it'd be really nice to have a couple now and add a couple later.

Also added, a chair to be between the bed and the couch (which could be moved where the fish tank is for storage at times - the fish tank is just a prop). But I really can't wait for this room to be done. Having in-wall CAT6 cables will be sweet along with coaxial cable on three of the four walls and more electrical outlets than I'll know what to do with - though you can never have too many - but you can have too many surge protectors (cleaning out my room I found I have upwards of 10 spares). So, without further ado, the layout which will most likely be the last one.

URL: Loc Frame for Movie Posters

I don't care that they lost. I wouldn't have cared if they lost by 20. All I care about is that baseball is back! Let's get this season going. Go Angels!

URL: ESPN.com - MLB - Recap - Giants at Angels

I'm trying to work my way up on the treadmill running a little more each time I climb aboard. However, with a three week layoff, my plans have been set back a bit. Talking to Bryce, a friend who just started working at Metro Police in Las Vegas, he advised me that I should be able to do a minimum of 3 miles in 30 minutes to be able to get through academy without too many problems. The problem is...today after jogging (6mph) and walking (3.5-4.0mph) for 20 minutes, I only made it 1.7 miles before my left leg told me to stop. I should be able to make it to 2 miles in 20 minutes without a problem soon, but getting up to 3 miles in 30 minutes could be a challenge. And it's certainly not 8 miles in 72 minutes that the crazy person linked below managed to do.

On a side note, like I said below, I plan on calling the SD Sheriff's Department to set up a test date which will initiate the application process - a process which I'm told could take up to 7 months to complete. Therein lies my main dilemma. My best friend is getting married December 21st. I can't skip a day of academy if I do get in to go to a wedding. And if the application process does take anywhere from 3-7 months, I will be in academy throughout December. And you can't really say, "Can I push back my academy?" once you've been accepted. So what to do? I believe I can go through everything including the background investigation and then let them know I'm ready to continue the application process - which could be my best bet, but I'm not sure exactly how that would work. Either way, I'm not sure I can handle the bank job for another year...

URL: tension is to be loved... unfair and unbalanced since 2002.

I have given myself an ultimatem. Next week, I will have my application mailed to the San Diego Sheriff's Department. Either that or I will make sure I am scheduled for a preliminary test in April (however, the test is on the 2nd...my brother's birthday - though I'm sure he wouldn't mind too much). I just need to get the whole application process started which can take up to seven months. My only reservation is that if the process takes less than seven months, I could be scheduled for an academy that begins prior to December and my best friend Scott is getting married on December 21st - a WEDNESDAY. I can't take a day off of academy. But you also will go to academy when they tell you to. I really don't want to be working at the bank throug the end of the year - not quite sure I can take it that much longer, but we'll have to see what happens.

URL: SAN DIEGO SHERIFF - Job Opportunities

My apologies for the lack of updates. School has been hectic and one of my best friends was in town for a week before he had to go back to South Carolina for the Marines. The good news is, in May, he's being transferred to Miramar which is only an hour away.

Yesterday, I went to the first wedding of a friend I've known for a while. I've been to a family wedding before, and while it was a nice ceremony, there's nothing like seeing a good friend marry a great guy. I've known Devon for almost 20 years, or...as long as I can remember and we've grown up together and to see her get married to a guy who will make her happy and hopefully be with her for the rest of her life was a great moment. The ceremony was beautiful - it was held outdoors - and the weather cooperated as we've had rain the last two weekends, but it was beautiful yesterday. After the ceremony and cocktails on the patio, we went inside where all the standard hoopla commenced. It was a great party and I wish the best to Devon and Sten for years to come.

On another note, the frame on my new room went up this last week and yesterday before the wedding, I went out and took some measurements. With the measurements in hand, I downloaded a trial copy of SmartDraw Suite Edition - which is a fabulous piece of software - and got to laying out my room. Once the basics were mapped out (walls, closets, doors), I put in the desk, the bed, the dresser and the DVD case and then got to putting in the variable pieces of furniture - TV stand, desk, sofa, etc. The room is just over 350 sq. ft. so I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do with it, but here's the layout I came up with this morning (changes happen by the minute). And...wherever it says Peg-Lok, that's the system of shelving linked below which I absolutely love.

Peg-Lok System - VimCo, Inc.