Phantom

Next time I'd use a local florist There's a reason why you don't see a WalMart of flower shops Any way It's amazing that you guys care enough to send flowers... now did I mention that you could always send me cookies They have to be home made by you though Andy Eric

Since I've been wearing my Steelers Sweatshirt all week and I will be wearing my jersey on Sunday... take a guess who I'm rooting for AND who will win

I need to use office 2011 because a few of my work stuff is Office specific and when I brought it over to Pages it murdered it I also like Mobile Me because its integrated into everything on my Mini and my MacBook and in a year or so, my iPhone so I see it as an investment (also rumor has it it's gonna come down in price and also add some new features )

Where to start? Oh yea... my cars a hunk of junk and I got iced in last night... woo... I'm just about moved in now, all I have left is to transfer my car insurance and the rest of my clothes, books and files and I'm all set. Last night I went out and bought the last thing I wanted for my move, which is fun. I got myself the new MacBook Air (128gb HD). I've been loving every minute with it and now I'm working over to switching to entirely MobileMe and leaving google for the most part. It's not that I think google is horrible, but I like consolidating things into one company so it makes it easier to yell at people if something goes wrong Tonight is gonna suck because I'm gonna be working from 3-11 and I'm already physically exhausted today. What else what else. OH! I forgot that I purchased Office 2011 for Mac so I'll be writing soon (that and since I spent so much money I need to stay put at home and chill there for free and build up my savings again. My credit cards took a major hit). Anywho I'm sitting at starbucks drinking my drink and getting ready to head to work. Lord save me. OH and hope you guys enjoy my joke of the day status updates and no I'm not making them, I run across them on the internet Eric

As my mom has said to my cousin (who just had a beautiful baby girl) no matter how many books you read, classes you go to, people you listen to, you will never be 100% ready. She even said that after me she thought she was ready with my sister, which turns out she wasn't haha. You're gonna be a great dad, and so will Mike. Like the others have said, always carry around a camera, even a cellphone camera works wonders! Be ready to be up at weird hours, and be ready to learn the difference in their cries, my cousin is finding that out (one cry for poop, one cry for hunger, one cry to torture mommy as she's been saying). Best wishes and warm feelings your way. I love this blog, it's filled with so much goodness Eric

Congrats! Although It's not the quintuplets that I wished upon you, I'm glad your going to have some wonder children coming along. You'll be a great dad and I can't wait to see pictures Eric (still rooting for ya!)

It's a good Bon Jovi song and says a lot about what I'm feeling right now and what I'm dealing with. As you may or may not know, I have an overbearing mother who thinks the world revolves around her and everyone should drop what they're doing at her beck and call. I'm not being over dramatic, but honest with this statement. I'm in the process of moving to Pennsylvania and finding a job (and I have a few leads that I'm following up on) which is taking up most of my time. I also have a lot going on at work that I'm trying to accomplish so that hopefully people won't freak when I'm gone and someone can come in and pick up where I left off (which will be kinda funny to see). Tomorrow I'm getting furniture for my room in the house I'm moving into which is going to be fun! The reason why I bring this up is because she called ranting and raving at me while I'm at work all because I wasn't going to be at the parents tomorrow or Wednesday to help her out around the house. As she put it, I'm putting my friends and life ahead of my family. I told her as calm as I could, I would apreciate if she would just let me know when she needs me more then three hours ahead of time so I can see if I can work things out, and not have to drop everything at the last second which I'm finally putting my foot down and telling her I can't I have plans. Now for the other part. I'm not happy with what my boyfriend did the other night to me. He had a friend that he works with who came over and ended up staying the night (the friend got to shit faced to drive home). This wouldn't bother me with the exception of the fact the boyfriend hid our relationship from him and I had to sleep in another room because the boyfriend didn't what his friend to find out he was gay and in a relationship because he could loose his job (he works in a secular position in Philly for the Archdioceses there). The boyfriend knows that I don't like to hide who I am and the like especially my relationships. So that night hurt worse than anything because while the friend knew I was gay, he only knew that I was a gay roommate that lived with the boyfriend. So I'm still trying to be nice about the whole thing because I do understand where he is coming from (he has a morality clause in his contract), it just kinda made me think of what it would be like in the future and how often I would go from being a boyfriend to a gay roommate. In other news I'm going furniture shopping tomorrow!!! Yay me Well, I'm wrapping things up at work and heading to Philly tonight. Take care all and K.B.O (that's what I'm doing) Eric

Yea I'm right around near TalonRider last night and today and I ended up calling out of work... to many nutty drivers on the Turnpike (according to the news) and it was to freezing to go anywhere (my car had some snow in it because a window was cracked... oops ) But right now... I cant wait till the spring time. Give me warm weather any day.

Happy Birthday future neighbor!!!!!

Privacy died with the advent of the internet and corporations making big money off of your browsing history. While I'm a firm supporter of "If you wouldn't want your mom to see what you're doing, then don't do that." I can understand the certain circumstances with some people wanting to remain anonymous. Now, here's where I know I'll get eaten alive for what I'm going to say, that or make people more paranoid. As a computer guy, if I had a website I can find out a lot about you just based on you visiting my website. For instances I can find out what browser you're using, you're operating system, your location (where you live) or the store you're currently at (i.e. if you're using a WiFi hotspot like so many of us). Heck if you access using your phone you're not that better off because I can see you make and model type of phone, your account information if needed, and the like. That's just if you visit my site using a laptop, tablet computer or a phone. Now here's another point, If you access the internet using a free WiFi hotspot (Starbucks, Local Library, Fast Food Restaurant, Bar, Hotel. you're giving up more information then you bargain for. For instance if I was a company interested in what my customers were looking for I could access (if stored on a server used for hotspots) and market things to you specifically based on the websites you're visiting, among other things. Now if I was a malicious company, I could use your internet information, MAC ID and the like to sell to a company that can directly target you. Paranoid yet? That's the thing about the internet, while built on good ideals, there's many a people who will take the information you put on the net and sell it or use it somehow to make a profit. That's why if you use a service that advertises itself as free, you should really read the fine print (Google, if you use ANY of their services, reserves the right to look at your stuff and read it for keywords. Example: You email a friend about an itching problem in your nether regions, well look at the text add up top it might contain something about a sexually transmitted infection treatment). Facebook and Zynga (the most popular sites and games respectively) have gotten in trouble for selling personal information and lying about it, but no one really took notice. Honestly in the digital age, there's going to be a lack of hardcore regulations (with either privacy groups screaming foul, corporations screaming bloody murder, etc) and we're going to pay in the end. In the end, it's up to the individual user to figure out which company they trust to do the most good with information you trust to them, and even then it boils down to the lesser of the two evils. Personally I've been consolidating my information across the internet to a few websites that I trust (Google, Apple, GA and Amazon) and even then I might get rid of one in favor of another one (get rid of Google for Apple since a portion of my information are equally on both but being a Mac person, I'd go with Apple just because they have my debit card info and Google doesn't). It's all a matter of trust in the end (and the fine print). Now back to the topic at hand with Facebook. I personally hate Facebook, and have been contemplating for the past few days on getting rid of it and honestly I think I'm going to trim down my friend list to people I've talked to in the past few months compared to those in High School who befriended me for the hell of it, but that's something I'm contemplating, and it's something that everyone will figure out for themselves in the end.

Well, I'm getting better in both the physical and mental sense of the word. I've gotten things under control at work which has lowered my stress level and also my anxiety level of trying to get things done in a short time. I'm doing better also with job hunting and getting my things ready to move to the burbs of Philly PA. I talked with my doc and he gave me some advice on how to work things out and how to start with things and he also gave me an insight into what's going on in my head. He said that I'm the type of person who internalizes things to a larger extent than most people and while I know the way to work around that and how to help other people I have to learn to take my own medicine as he said because that is very important with what I want career wise (be a psychologist). So I worked out a plan on what to do and I'm following through on it. I've started writing but not as seriously as I used to (between work and the like, I just don't have the energy that I used to). I've taken my items in eFiction down and saved them to my computer where I will rewrite them and post them again. Instead of frequenting the bar like I have been lately, I'm going to frequent Starbucks instead so basically it's going to be things like that. Also I'm getting rid of google chrome and switching back to firefox. Is it relevant to me and my mental health? Nope. I figured I'd add a bit of tech into the mix Eric

Meh the first post is fine... no need to delete But I love that sign Makes for an interesting take on birth control *snickers* Eric

Woohoo!!! I love hearing good news like this! Can't wait to see how much energy you'll have with your septuplets

Weeeellll.... If you suffer from depression, or know anyone who suffers from depression you know how much of a pain in the ass it can be to deal with and get under control. Couple that with having an anxiety disorder and you got yourself a bowl full of fun. Why am I talking about this you may ask? It's simple lately, I feel off my rocker lately and I've been doing my best to deal with the situation, but I just can't get a hold on it. It feels like trying to hold sand in your hand without letting any of it blow away during a hurricane, and trust me, that's hard. My sleep cycle is screwed up worse then an episode of Jerry Springer, my moods are more erratic then Anne Heche's sexuality and this is all while I'm awake for the 10 hours and not sleeping for the 14. Oh and if you think this is bad? Try dealing with this crap while your asleep and dreaming about things. GOD. I've had crazier dreams for the past few weeks then I think I ever had, and they're all weird. I'm a firm believer that you're dreams are an extension of your subconscious trying to work out issues that your conscious mind just cant deal with and well, if my dreams are any clue, I have more issues right now than a subscription to the New York Times. I'm trying to make light of this because it's helping me to smile a bit, and I hope that soon I'll get back on the straight and narrow. Until then, I'll be somewhat fine. Just don't bother me Eric

Much luck and prayers heading your way! I personally think the $4800 was worth it only because it covers your base. I can't wait to read about you being Mr. Dad to all 5 of your babies

Happy Birthday Brat... I mean dork.... I mean Wacey... I mean Lacey Eric (who has way to many nicknames for you ;P )

I've been using nook ereaders on my Droid, ipad and desktop... and I like all three :-) Eric

Thanks guys

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!! To my friend and my favorite skank

The Postal Service is my top choice Here's one of their songs:

DomLuka's Desert Dropping

So it's been awhile since I uploaded a pic... and I took a really cool one today in the complex where I work (mainly because I was bored LOL) Be nice

A few day's ago I got a call on my way home from seeing Joe that one of my residents passed away unexpectedly. Not a good call to get when you're driving down I-195 at about 75 miles an hour (okay I was speeding so sue me). Thankfully I had the peace of mind to pull over right away and calm down before resuming my trip home. When I got home I told mom what happened (she worked with the same client when she was at Arc) and told her how I was feeling, which is hard to explain, but I tried. I told her I was really sad, angry, confused, baffled and upset. She said that it's normal especially when you work with someone as much as I have and helped them just as much. Well, here's where it gets a bit more fun. I've been going for the past few weeks to Robert Wood Johnson Medical school, namely the Elizabeth Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities and taking some continuing education credits on working with those that have Developmental and/or Intellectual Disabilities, and taking courses on behavior assessments, mental health support and a few more classes that I have yet to take but am registered for. Well, when I went into work yesterday I was asked to do some extra work with the guys, namely to do a Functional Behavioral Assessment (aka a FAB) for 9 clients (A FAB usually takes about 3 hours). Well, it's stressful to do one, let alone do 9 of them, and on top of grieving for my client myself, I'm still managing to get my paperwork done since we have state inspections this month, talk to the clients as needed to help them and help some of the staff. Pretty much we're in Crisis mode since this happened. Oh and to top it all off, we're short staffed, so work really isn't fun right now. I'm dealing with all of this the best way I know how, playing some video games, writing a bit and drinking lots and lots of Starbucks (and doing the usual thing of calling Joe or my mom or someone when I'm really just down in the dumps). I'm gonna miss my client, even though I worked with him for almost a year, I've known him for over 15 because my mom brought me to this program when I was younger to introduce me to the guys and show me that those who are developmentally or intellectually disabled may need a bit more help with things, but are amazing in their own way, and this client was amazing in so many ways. He's in a better place now and I'm certain of that and every time I go in to work, I remind myself of that because it makes it easier to get through the day and have a smile on my face and be strong for my other clients. It's hard as hell, and it's gonna be rough, but I'll do my best for their and my sake. Basically if I seem spacey or short tempered, you know why (and writing this blog is helping because it's helping to get a lot off my mind). Eric

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Everyone!!!

An emotional experience between two guys, one of whom you may have encountered at one point in your life.