If you're ever waiting for weeks for TiVo to come around and finally update itself to the new OS, you have to be up around 2am to see it happen. I got back from doing laundry to see that my TiVo had reset. Freaking out, thinking it was a power outage or something, I stared at the "powering up" screen in shock. Then I saw this new screen. Then I saw THIS screen. I then realized that good things were coming. I hit the hay and checked in the morning to discover whether or not version 7 is on my box now. Yay! I'm all set to download shows to my external hard drives. Could this be the end of buying box-set DVDs?

There is so much good news with job ju-ju that I think I'll just list them all here. Bear in mind that these are in addition to the others posted last time. So yea, LOTS of good news all around. Check it out:

Paul, at long last, has found a gig. Looks like a temp to perm kind of thing, and we're all very proud of him for not giving up the hunt. I can speak from experience that it's a great feeling after such a long time off to get that first check again. Paul, I hope this is your ticket!! Congratulations!

Also in the jobs news, Tiago was extended an offer from AOL to work in their anti-spam department, which is cool enough on its own. It's just a few miles from his place, has a gym on campus and its a vertical move, so it's definitely a win!! Congrats, Tiago!! (Now if we can just see Rob and Sam happy...)

And more congrats should go out to Branda Alewine for finishing (and passing) her CPA exam! Branda's been working hard at this and deserves some praise, so give her some love below!

I want to welcome the Hollomons to Richmond! Chris and Karen are working on closing on their new place in the Fan district of Richmond, and Karen's hanging back at the ranch to sell their townhouse. Let's just hope he doesn't drive his hosts (Mike and Lauren) crazy in the meantime. Chris's new gig is right down the road from me, so I now have another lunch buddy to hang out with! Rock on man. Congrats! If you're taking score at home, I am running out of friends who have not yet moved to Richmond. And that's the way (uh-huh, uh-huh) I like it.

...This just in...

Karen Hollomon now has a job here too! Holy crap. This rocks. See folks, Karen made a bold move a-la-Korte by telling her prior employer that since things hadn't improved in such a long time (in fact, had gotten worse), life was too short to be unhappy and stressed like that. Just like my situation, Karen's job was creating stress that was affecting her physically, and she got out of there. Taking a jump like that with nothing to land on is scary, but you did it, Karen! (that wasn't so hard, was it?! heh)

Oh- but now here's the cool thing... Her previous employer (a HUGE mega-huge firm) has found something for her in Richmond. She'll be the liason for a major project with the Richmond City Courthouse. You know- mingling with the mayor and dealing with press....she's the "Bill Rancic" of the project. The best part of this is that since it's the same employer, it'll be like she never left and she will be able to help with the loan for the new house because she's been employed there so long. That is so cool! Karen, I'm really proud of ya! Welcome to Richmond!

I spent the weekend up in chilly D.C. with Michelle- just checking out the sites and, you know, freezing. We went to the Smithsonian of the American Indian and the National Archives.

The Smithsonian was, surprisingly, not a great experience. I really wanted to be pulled into the world of "what it means to be Hopi" or Navajo, or Sioux, or anything.... Instead, there were some videos like you'd see on the Discovery Channel and a few artifacts (of which I am certain there are thousands more just not being displayed.) The space in each exhibit area was very limited and was - on a weekend at least - VERY crowded. Made for a bad experience.

Lunch there was neat- lots of food influenced from various native cultures... It was expensive though- my lunch was about $16 and change. Still, it's better than the heat lamp burgers at other museums.

Afterwards, we hit the National Archives, then caught the METRO to see a Wizards game. It was fun, but there's too much going on at a game to notice the game itself. I think the Wizards lost. :)

Happy birthday to Jeff Pollard, now 27!! We're all getting older, but Jeff's Birthday officially kicks off the crazy february-through-april birthday calendar. Here goes!!