In between efforts to get my things (physical and virtual) from my former office, trying to get my mood back on an even keel, getting (and keeping) the new webserver running, gearing up for the job hunt and so forth, I simply haven’t had energy or willpower enough to write about what’s happened.

Maybe that’s for the best. Anything I’d have written in the last couple of weeks would’ve come across as dreadfully maudlin.

My goals as of now are simple, yet daunting: To find a job that pays comparably to the last one. (No choice, there. Child support + rent + other bills + eating = serious money.) To avoid slipping into a major depression. (If I fail this goal, I fail the other. It’s that simple.) I keep telling myself “I can do this,” and sometimes I even believe it.

I’m not really built for serious life challenges, you know? But I can either mourn the life I had or get the hell on with finding out what the future holds. Again, it’s that simple. And when you get right down to it, I’m a simple kind of guy.

Going to the office yesterday to get the last of my computer files, though, damned near broke me. Dammit.

Eleven people (about half of them Pisces). Three hours (and some-odd). Total tab of over $440 (counting gratuity).

I somehow managed to get invited along to dinner with a bunch of local broadcast engineering types (and some of their significant others, of course). We dined at Jake’s Famous Crawfish in downtown Portland, ate far more than was probably good for us, and generally had a good time. Continuing my new tradition of trying something I’ve never eaten before when presented with a good opportunity, I eschewed the “fish & chips” (it was cod, anyway, and the gods know that halibut’s the only way to go with that menu item) in favor of grilled mahi mahi in a soy ginger sauce with steamed rice.

Yum. I must remember this for some unspecified future date that involves seafood. I repeat: Yum.

To add insult to the injury I did to my wallet, I enjoyed a dessert of chocolate mousse. Hey, why not? If you’re going to dine out at a place like that, you might as well go nuts. Right?

So far, my haul consists of a “music of the 90’s” compilation CD (Mambo #5, anyone?) and a bag of chocolate chip cookies.

Today I turn 34 years old. My mother called at the stroke of 8am with birthday well-wishing. (I was in the shower at the time.) My father sent an email, and his girlfriend left a voice message on my office phone. Various co-workers have sent me e-cards and emails in addition to random greetings in the hallways. Later on I expect to be celebrating with my rugrats.

Maybe it’s not the perfect birthday, but it could be a lot worse…

It was our first decent visit together of the new year, and wouldn’t you know it? She came down with a cold just in time to make the weekend interesting. That’s okay, though. We managed not to let it slow us down too much.

Friday, we shopped and we shopped. I think I like going to Uwajimaya more for the snack options than even the bookstore, and that’s saying something. (I was a good boy; no money left my wallet at Kinokuniya. Oh, how I was tempted, but no.)

Saturday, we shopped some more, this time at Powell’s. Little by little I’m adding used books to my meager library. Mind you, I wasn’t going to get any this time but somebody insisted… on paying for them. Darn her all to heck.

Sunday, we trekked out to visit The Imperial Princess of Cute. It turns out she bought a fun game called “Unexploded Cow” but hadn’t yet played through it yet, so I taught both ladies how to blow up mad cows. We also played some Fluxx until Doug got home, at which time we dragged him into a few rounds of Unexploded Cow. Much fun was had by all, even the one with the nasty head cold. Oh, somewhere in there we also played Mario Kart and ate at Gustav’s. Life is rough, I tell you.

Today? We mostly laid low, cleaned up, played City Of, and generally tried not to think about the weekend being over. Ah well. I also tore into my early birthday present, much to my glee and everyone else’s wry amusement. Hey, it’s (nearly) my birthday, I’ll geek out if I want to. Hah!