UPDATED: The data centre where the Mount Sutro server lives is going to be conducting some network maintenance that may very well make the site inaccessible for a time. The two windows are currently scheduled for Tuesday, 09 November 2004 from 0100 to 0200 EST and 0400 to 0500 EST Friday, 12 November 2004 from 0000 to 0100 EST and 0300 to 0400 EST. It is expected that any inaccessibility should last only 15 to 30 minutes.

I really dislike people who are quick to panic. Getting worked up about things accomplishes a big, fat nothing. And never does. But many people continue to live their lives, day in and day out, getting worked-up about things and get nowhere fast.

In business, for example. My favourite pet client absolutely, positively loves to send over just about every e-mail message with the importance set at "high," which in most e-mail clients is represented by some form of icon. In my case, a red exclamation point.

When you see this icon perpetually, the sense of urgency is set aside. Fools, all of them.

Web development work I did for our newest client, the one I have been travelling so much for as of late, has the site and subsequent pages I created linked to on their corporate home page.

I am greatly amused.

I have written, deleted and restarted these paragraphs four times already and am no closer to fully expressing in words the few rather simple things I feel compelled to express. I think perhaps in this version I will remain simplistic. Keep in mind readers who know me, this is pretty general and applies to many situations and people. Something here strike a chord with you? Let's talk about it.

I have been busier with work than ever before, at any other job. It has been a positive experience overall, despite the stress. During this time I have had little opportunity to anything but sleep or think about upcoming work. I know that in the end it will all work out for my company, my career and my bank account, but in the meantime it has been rather overwhelming.

Not to mention the fact I have been trying to make some positive changes in my life over the course of the past six months. An unfortunate result of all this has been what I perceive to be a disenfranchisement from many of my closest friends. I feel like I have been faulted for not being more available or proactive in trying to make time to hang out. Wonderful news from someone I care deeply for had to be discovered on a website, never having been telephoned. Another makes me feel like the bad guy when he is consistently anti-social and rude even when I simply drop in to say hello.

I know I am trying my best to become a better person. I am paying my debts quickly, my family and I are getting along better than ever and I truly happy for the most part. I would like continue making things better for myself while knowing my friends are there to support me. I suppose though that may just be a function of everyone having their own lives and moving on.

That all said my telephone always works even if you may get the voicemail. I am pretty good about returning messages, but sometimes I forget. E-Mail is my communication staple, so that is always a good call. I am here, imperfect, but still the person you have known for years.

I hope this upcoming week is going to be substantially better than the one that concludes today. I am writing this from the office because I had so much work to do by Monday, there was no way I could finish it during normal work hours. The payoff will be worth it, though, because the work I am doing is sure to impress and please the client it is being produced for and, at the same time, amaze the people at my company. I just sent a preview link and the client responded quite favourably. I am hoping I will not be working the same hours I did last week in the upcoming weeks. I still need to work on a few websites and may be in Miami Tuesday for another of my now-famous presentations.