I got to see my nieces for Easter and they are both a lot of fun. We had them hunting plastic eggs in my parent’s backyard and the littlest suddenly squatted down and picked something up – then delightedly exclaimed, “Rock!”

Not quite the object of the game, but she was having fun. She also delights in saying her own name – and correcting people when they call her something else.

I’ll get to see them again for Mother’s day.

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Last week, I conducted some usability tests on our website along with a focus group. I’d done these kind of tests before and we always learn a lot – though they are tiring – but this was the first focus group I had done.

It went amazingly well. I think we got a real insight into our students and learned a lot about how they use the site on a computer and on their phone. It was fun and engaging too – I’m hoping we can do more of these.

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I updated my garmin recently while I was doing yardwork. It’s slow to update and I was able to multi-task. The problem? My garmin didn’t have enough storage space for the new map.

Really? Did the US suddenly get bigger? How does that work? It suggested I insert a memory card – which I don’t have and which my garim doesn’t have a slot for – or load only a region of the maps.

I did the later and I’m now good unless I travel further west than Illinois. So much for the lifetime maps…
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I took the day off today to get some errands done. By 9 o’clock I had:

1. had breakfast
2. dropped off the cat to get his teeth checked
3. got copies of paperwork made at staples
4. bought a gift card at giant eagle
5. worked on two art projects
6. fixed some tea
7. cleaned the litter box

Next up, a trip to the Clerk of Courts to get a passport. Or rather, submit the application and pay a pile of money. I was loaded down with documentation and had my checkbook ready.

Except…

No, sorry, that’s not going to work. You need a certified copy of your birth certificate. Not the original and not a photo copy – both of which I had. The clerk gave me the phone number and website of the right department – in Illinois – that I’ll have to contact. She also stapled my photo to the application. Gee, thanks for the staples. So, more fees and more bullshit.

As my niece would say, “Not today, customer!”

I don’t have any immediate travel plans, but I was hoping to make the most of my day and get some of these things done.

So, I went and got my watch band fixed, then lunch at BK. They screwed up my sandwich and I didn’t realize it until I was long gone.

I let out my neighbor’s dogs, wiped the mayo off the sandwich and ate it, and then went home.

Now I’m waiting for the gas company to come and check the meter for… ummm… I really don’t know why except I have to be here between 12-4 because it’s the year 2014 and they can’t schedule any more accurately than that.

Finally – insult to injury – Diablo 3 is down for maintenance today.

Really?

Expansion pack. 4 hours to kill. System is down.

Screw it. I’m going to go read a book. At least those don’t require extra forms from out of state or an internet connection. And the don’t come with mayo, thankfully.