Coding Coding Coding...

...Keep those fingers coding.
Thank god my partner's co-diiiiiiiiing
FI-NUUUUUUUUUUUUHLS!

Code 'em up, type 'em in!
Type 'em in, spit 'em out!
Code 'em up, type 'em in
MATLAB!

Error 1, error 2!
Error 2, error 3!
Pull my hair, every error!
MATLAB!

Coding coding coding!
Keep those fingers coding!
Thank god my partner's co-diiiiiiiiing
FI-NUUUUUUUUUUUUHLS!

Election Hoo-Ha

I am not known for my depth of knowledge in all things political. In any "things political" actually. Charlie has been trying to remedy this ever since we met. I now vote in every election (except the ones I miss) for everything. Well, maybe against some things too, but you get the point. I have made a conscious effort to disregard all things 2008 Presidential Election-y until recently, since the past year of campaigning has worn on me in its ridiculousness. Has it even been a whole year of campaigning yet? I don't know, but it seems like 10 if it's been 1, so either way, it's been too long already.

I only bring it up now because we're coming down to the wire for Democratic candidates and it might be time to pay a little attention. I stopped paying attention to the Republican candidate mess as soon as everyone else dropped out of the race, leaving a lone McCain.
In an effort to "pay attention" to this thing called politics, I watched one of the recent debates on television. It might have been the first debate I have ever seen in my 29 years of living. It might also have been my last, but that's debatable (pun intended). What silly questions they ask! Who cares why Barak Obama doesn't wear a flag pin? It's like asking why he doesn't wear pleated pants. Totally irrelevant to any kind of issue America should care about and certainly not worth wasting air time but more importantly, MY TIME, on. I find it interesting and a lot of times disheartening the things candidates will do to garner attention - the recent WWE ads in particular. Sure, it might show they aren't such stuffed shirts after all, but c'mon. "Can you smell what Barak is cookin'?" Ouch. Clever, yes. I have to admit that I laughed at it. But really? Wasted campaign funds and precious campaign time spent on something so silly.
Anyway, I didn't write this for any particular reason. Just some thoughts going on in my head about the campaigning right now.

Oh yeah, one more thing: Charlie has gotten me into watching The Daily Show and the Colbert Report. I love it. If you know either of our personalities, you will understand why we like those shows so much. Especially the Colbert Report...and that damn screaming eagle. It gets me every time.

Latest and Greatest

It has been a while since we wrote anything on the blog, so here's a recap of what's been shaking since ...well, since last time. Mom and Dad Strandmark came to visit, bringing with them our new custom cherry bookcases for the office and Faith's old dining room furniture. It was so great to see them both at our house - it feels like ages since that has happened! We ate great food, installed the bookcases, played guitar hero (yes, Mom and Dad too!) and enjoyed one another's company - yay!!

"My best friend Jenny Tobin" came to visit a week or so ago and that was awesome. I hadn't seen Jenny in exactly 1 year, since April & Matt Budde's wedding in 2007, so it was really great to hang out with her and catch up. We shopped, ate, hung out and took advantage of our precious time together - it was wonderful! So wonderful, in fact, that I am going to head to DC to visit Jenny over Mother's Day weekend - just before Jim gets back from Afghanistan in early June. Wheeeee! I've never been to DC and while I would be remiss if I didn't do some sightseeing while there, but I really don't care - I just am happy I get to see Jenny again :)

Yesterday the Wilkes, Sholls and I went to Buzz Fest in the Woodlands. It was so much fun! We got to see great bands like Seether, Puddle of Mudd, Filter, and 3 Doors Down. It was an all day music extravaganza that I am paying for today...surprise surprise.

Charlie left for New Hampshire today for Navy Reserve duties. He'll be gone for 2 weeks and comes back just after I've left for DC and just in time to take his semester final exam the following Monday. Fun fun fun. I barely see the guy anymore!

School is almost done for the semester, thank goodness. My final project is due on 5/7, Charlie's final exam is on 5/12. We have about 2 months off of school and then both take a condensed math class (2x/week, 3 hrs/class, homework due each class) for the second half of the summer...just in time to interfere with the multitude of weddings we've got at the end of July/Aug. Yippee!!

Lastly, the dogs. We still have both of them and we've become much better about managing their time together - though they mostly spend time apart these days. It's still a work in progress, but we're trying to make it work. Kirby smells funky today, so that's an extra bonus to the whole deal. Hopefully I can manage these two rascals successfully by myself whilst Charlie frolics on the East Coast.

That's pretty much the news from here...what's going on with you?