What a mixture of items on today’s docket. First off was my job interview in Durham. I was to meet photographer Dave Mendelsohn at his house at 2:00. Everything went fine and Dave seems like a really nice guy. He said I had one of the strongest student portfolios he’s seen and he’s going to give me a “trial run” sometime next week. That should be interesting especially since Kim Case wants me to assist her the 26th-29th… which, in case you’re not looking at a calendar… is next week. Well, when it rains it pours right?

After the interview I headed back home and, pulling into my drive-way, realized that today was the day for the house inspectors to come. They were supposed to be there at 4:00 but looking at my watch, it was 5:00 and it looked in full swing. Not only were the inspectors here, but the buyers, the buyers parents, their real-estate agent, our real-estate agent, her assistant, my brother and my father. It was a zoo. The inspector was running all over the house checking light switches and pipes and whatever else inspectors do and everyone else was wondering around my house like it was already theirs. One guy was in my bedroom just looking around. I was less than pleased. I know these people are buying our house, but they haven’t yet, so it would have been courteous for them to stay clear of other peoples stuff. As they were leaving the inspector dropped a bomb on us and asked us if we “minded” him putting out Radon detectors and keeping all the doors and windows closed for 72 hours. I told him to go to hell. Nicely of course, but I made sure both he and everyone present knew that wasn’t going to happen. The compromise was to put them in the basement for 48 hours and that we wouldn’t go down to the basement much. I’m sorry, I don’t care what kinds of tests you need to run, closing up a house for 3 days in the summer is just stupid. Why even open your mouth to ask such a mind-bogglingly stupid question?

So, after being nervous (not really, just a little) about a job interview all day and coming home to this mess, you can imagine the state of mind I’m in. To top it off, as soon as I walk in the door, Capt. Moron, my brother, asks me if he can use my car. Now, the back story here is that he used it yesterday to get himself lunch. When I got in it this morning, not only was there a big Coke ring on the console, but the decaying Burger King bag was stuffed under the seat and the car smelled like rotten onions. I told him to fuck off. I know it sounds stingy and mean, but you just don’t leave onions in someones car and then expect to use it again. I’m sorry, I’m just not that nice.

In better news, Chip and I placed an order at Xoxide.com and it’s shipped. It should be here sometime next week. We’re planning a little light case modding, nothing big, just a fan or two and a cold cathode tube to make things glow a little. I’m also planning on getting some casters (wheels) for my case so I can push it around rather than carry it. A file server just isn’t meant to be carried. I also want to get a Zalman CNPS6000-Cu. It’s nearly silent and it cools like a freezer. It might be a solution to my real noisy case. It’s rated for up to an Athlon XP 2600 but does have one downside… it’s really really heavy. It’s 462g and the AMD recommended weight limit is 300g. There’s a special note saying that “great care should be taken whenever the case is moved. I’m not sure if that would make LAN parties possible. It would certainly make things difficult, but it would solve so many problems at the same time… I’m torn on this one. You guys all know how loud and annoying my machine is, if I could make it nearly silent… is that worth the immobility?

Last item is a BIG, GIANT THANK YOU to Chris. He bought me the new Deep Dish CD as a cheer-up gift and it came today. Chris, you rule bro. Thanks a ton, it made my shitty day just that much better.

Anyway, I think it’s time for a shower and some food. Chip is out doing something with Tim tonight so I’m going to have to find something to do on my own. It might be a good night to read my book. We’ll see.