After a brief hiatus aside from a few posts in the forum, I am back and just filled to the brim with several topics to address now and some I will save for later.

The remodelling of the kitchen in my house is progressing along quite nicely. I know I have not previously mentioned it here, but this project involved the complete redesign, gutting and fresh installation of all cabinets, floors, ceilings, countertops and some appliances. My stepfather, a carpenter in addition to a barber, is the primary person installing everything. As this project proceeded, the adjacent living area also became fodder for upgrades and now has new furniture, paint, windows and a fan. While it has been oh so much fun living in a virtual construction yard for the past six months, the projects are finally winding down. The new granite countertops, cherry cabinets, black refrigerator, raised ceiling, tile floor (pending) and total redevelopment of the kitchen space is beautiful.

As a result of the new refrigerator, there is now one for sale for any interested parties in the Orlando, Florida area. It is a Whirlpool EB19MK Bottom Freezer Refrigerator with 19.1 cubic feet of space and the following dimensions: 32.75 x 66.25 x 29.00 (Width, Height and Depth in Inches). Anyone wanting more information should contact me.

After my excitement over acceptance into the network programme at ITT Technical Institute and then the subsequent let down from the lack of financial aid available to me (due mainly to the ridiculous rules and operating procedures of the United States Department of Education), another possible option became available to me. I received an e-mail from the associate who was helping me though the admissions process in which he gleefully reported that I need not give up, because the co-signer requirements for the loan and the $100.00 admission fee would be waived. The only catch to this arrangement was the fact classes (taught in an accelerated fashion) had already been in session for two weeks and that I had less than forty-eight (48) hours to decide. Having already put the idea of ITT out of my head, I was not initially thrilled about this plan. Further, the more I got to thinking about it, the more I realised how I felt I was being jerked around. I e-mailed back indicating I would accept this offer only if it could be guaranteed to me to be valid at the next start of classes. Here was the exact reply from the representative:

Dear David;

Thank you for your reply. Yesterday was my off day so I want to answer today your E-mail.

Unfortunately, the offer was only good for late students who would like to begin for march session. Now the time is over and we are under regular basis again.

Please consider June 16 as the new starting date and if you would like to apply for that, we only need to resume your application process.

Thank you and have a good day.

I have a Seminole Community College brochure now and will be looking into entering their AA networking programme. ITT can go fuck themselves, because I will be damned if I am going to pay that much money to start weeks behind.

I was stung on the hand this past Saturday four times by a yellow jacket, a first for me. For those of you who have not had this pleasant experience, let me tell you it burns. A lot. The application of ammonia helped greatly, but even today the area where I was stung is still a bit swollen and sore.

The Greek themed dinner and a movie party I attended at Erica and David's with The Boy and Tallahassee Chris was a blast. The Boy and I made and brought Skordalia (Greek Potato and Garlic Dip) as our item. We were rather disappointed with the dish and its inappropriate thickness. Well, without my knowing, The Boy spent the next day remaking the dish by himself in the hope of perfecting it more. While an improvement over the original, we are still unsure why it is so much thicker than we think it should be for a dip. I did enjoy the taste, though and brought fresh baby carrots to enjoy with the dip. By the end of the night, the dish of dip was empty so I guess it went over well. Oh, and I got good and inebriated beyond comparison for the first time in a long time.

Okay, I think that is good enough for now. Coming up soon: New Oreo® Cookies, Arachnophobia and The United States Department of Homeland Security.