wow, where have i been?

i didn't realize it's been so long since i blogged. sorry about that. i HAVE been kinda busy with work. TheMech is on R&R, so i'm following the work on both units PLUS a lube oil flush which is some work. piping on one of these things NEVER fits up right, ever. anytime it doesn't fit, the customer has to let me know, i take a few pictures, markup some drawings and send it to "engineering" for them to let me know what i can do to fix it. most times we suggest what we are going to do to save some time. still, when i have 5 or 6 issues a day coming up, i have to spend a lot of time on the computer writing up the cases, but i need to be out in the field to give the resolutions from the days before, it keeps me busy.

that's my excuse, now the update, and i'll be brief. jules birthday was saturday, 7-june. i wanted to take her out, and since friday is our day off, i invited the office out to dinner for her birthday on friday. we went to a lebanese restaurant on the "blue nile boat" called "al mawal". jules had been there years before when she was working in alexandria, and during our walk around about a month ago we stumbled across it again. i listen sometimes and made a reservation for 12 people. TheDriver hooked me up with a nice birthday cake and his brother is in the balloon business so we had some "happy birthday" balloons waiting for her when we got there. the champagne flowed (it was her 30th birthday and she wanted champagne), the mezza was eaten, and a good time was had. afterwards, we went to the roof of the nile hilton where we had a few drinks and danced at "el mojito", the rooftop bar/disco with a brilliant view of the nile (what, with it being right ON the nile). i don't dance much, but it was jules birthday and anything for her. the night was a brilliant (triple digit) success, and i think everyone had a good time. the next day, her actual birthday, we woke up early and i gave her her present, an amazon kindle. she wanted one for xmas, but i was skeptical from the reviews. after some time and more research i figures it would be a great present, but it was cutting close. i think i ordered it around the end of may, rush ordered it to my house in ohio, and then had my mom send it rush via fedex to egypt. it cleared customs with minimal difficulty and got here with about 3 days to spare. she LOVES it. she's downloaded "newsweek" and is waiting to download a book until she runs low here on the real paper kind that we are pretty stocked up on.

the day before her birthday, we invited TheSiteLead and his wife and daughter who are visiting for a month to come over, have some tequila shots, and watch my downfall, that is... well, the result is the picture below.

i've been butchered. i had jules put my hair in a ponytail, braid below that, and cut in the middle. yesterday, i sent my braid to locks of love. that seems to be the only way i can justify my cutting my hair to anyone. even at Chump's wedding, some of his old college buddies were there, and they were inquiring as to why i was going to cut my hair. they said i shouldn't do it, until they heard i was donating it. so, at least i have an out. i'm still not happy with it, though jules says it looks nice. i think it is more "weird" al yankovic looking than cute. it is as i expected and remember years ago when i was growing it out... when dry, it is "mushroomhead". jules says she can "thin" it out, and still get it in a ponytail. i think she just wants me bald.

that's all i have for now. dinner is ready, and i need to get some in my belly. i might be starting nightshift soon, so i need to get it while i can.