IM has to be one of the most interesting forms of communication. You get to "speak" with someone almost like you are on the phone with them, with the major distinction that more often than not you don't plan to IM someone.
They just show up online and you begin your conversation. In this way IM acts more like a chance meeting at a store or something.

While, I prefer the immedacy of IM over email, I also like the asychronize abilities of email. Email is more practical because you know your message is going to be received. On the other hand, I was talking with my younger brother- and sister-in-law, neither of them have email addresses because they see all their friends through IM. They just leave away messages for each other in a pseudo-email fashion when they can't chat.

A very interesting culture has sprung up around this. One that I am only tangentally involved in, and think that I will stay on the sidelines.

So I am not getting to this blog as much as I would like. That sure makes it hard to keep people interested in coming here.

I had a consultation with my dentist today about a root canal that I am going to need. There are a few other cavities to be filled, but the main concern is the root canal. Fortunately he caught it early enough that I don't have to go for it right away. I might spread it over this year and next. That would be nice.
But it has certainly given me a renewed interest in dental hygene. We got a sonic care tooth brush for Christmas, and I am still getting used to it. I like it except when I hit my teeth with the back side. They are supposed to be good though, I will have to see if I notice a difference.

This has been quite a week. I have been very busy at work this week.

Being busy at work is always an interesting thing. This week I have been running around, but I haven't felt like I accomplished much. I think that part of the reason was that my desk became a complete mess. Everytime I looked around, even after finishing something, all I could see was how much more I had waiting.

Tonight I stayed late so I could clean everything up. The catharsis from cleaning is second only to that of writing. I feel so much better now that I have a clean area. I feel like I can go back to work and be more efficient. Won't that be nice.

This is just a quick update. I have been updating my Web site. I am finally starting to add in some of my writing. And this weekend I am going to try getting more pictures up. Look for photos from Korea and other exotic places...
Ok, just Korea.

Happy New Year!!

New Year's Eve was a quite event around our house. We decided to rent a couple of movies, all of which turned out to be independent films. We watched Raising Victor Vargas, a very real movie about the barriers people set up to keep people out, and how different life is when you let people past those barriers.
Later that night we watched Attack of the Killer Tomatoes, a favorite of my wife's family. I was so tired that I kept falling asleep during the movie. But I woke up in time to watch the ball drop, cheer in 2004, and drag my blanket back to the bed. I was asleep by 12:05 but I didn't care.

Today we watched He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not, with Audrey Tautou--the actress from Amelie. It was really well done. I don't want to spoil it, but this is one of those movies where your perception completely changes. We liked it, and it comes recommended from me.

We also went into Boston to with my mother-in-law and sister-in-law to watch Ghosts of the Abyss. An IMAX 3-D documentary about an expediation to the Titanic. Such an amazing ship. So many things are so well preserved down there. I wish that I could see first hand the wreckage. That would be a powerful and humbling experience.

As it is 2004 I feel that I should say I am looking forward to this year. So many things can happen in a year, I just hope it doesn't pass as quickly as 2003 did.