My life has actually started getting interesting these last few weeks - a wedding, a friend moving back for school, moving said friend into school, making progress on my first commercial software project, making my first actual contribution to an "open source" project, an exciting job offer to follow up; and many of these in the last few days!

To the three or four people who read this (and in particular the few percent who will actually miss this), fret not... As hinted at earlier, there's a good chance that you'll see another incarnation of PI-BLOG sometime in the future, near or far.

Peace out.

... Just like me.

But, unfortunately, I am going to ask for your help with something...

FreeFlatScreens.com is giving away a nice selection of flat screen TVs and (and this is the noteworthy part) flat panel monitors. Flat panel monitors are not cheap, and, for all the computers I have in my house, I am desperately short of good monitors.

And so I am reduced to begging.

Here's how this works:

1. Click here.
2. Choose which monitor / TV you would like.
3. Complete ONE offer.*
4. Refer enough friends, and you've got your stuff.

* I, personally, chose the RealRhapsody promotion - it's $0.99 for the first month's subsctiption, you get credit for completion immediately, the first five songs you download are free, and you can cancel any time.

Eight. That's how many friends I have to bum into doing this.

And I can't believe I just did that.

By the end of this summer, barring my forgetfulness, I will be taking this blog down.

What started as an innocent experiment with plenty of good old fashioned fervor and vigor behind it ... well, mostly I wanted to put up a web page, and to work on my design skills. Before long, I was writing only because I was expected to write, and then, not writing because I was expected to write. The simple fact is this: I don't have enough going on in my own life (though recent events might have me pointing out my "extended life", as it were) to warrant anyone having any interest in reading what I could write about it.

I know, I know:
"That's never stopped anyone from writing a blog before!"
"Maybe you just need to get out and do something."
"But we love you and want to know every detail of your life!"
"You mean you have been acurately portraying your life?!"

a) Maybe it should have.
b) I do - but doing so would necessarily preclude my ability to update any kind of blog about it.
c) Please read point b. For yourself.
d) Yes, pretty much.

But fret not, friends and wanderers - while this page will die, I will not. Someday, in some incarnation, you may yet see another similar journal online.

"For I know the plans I have for you ... plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
- Jeremiah 29:11

And just for old times sake:

*-;-* First Things First *-;-*

Single or taken: Single, but Taken - I just don't know her yet.

Your age: 21

Birthday: August 16, 1983

Siblings: Three biological brothers, X step-siblings, and N other-siblings

Eye color: blue (shade varies)

Shoe size: shoe dependant

Name: Pieter Vande Bruggen

Who is your best friend?: I have to pick one?

Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend?: Nope, and haven't

Did you send this to your crush?: Nope

Did your crush send this to you?: Nope

Have you ever cheated on a boyfriend/girlfriend?: Um ... Nope

*-;-* Fashion Stuff *-;-*

Where is your favorite place to shop?: depends on my mood

Any tattoos or piercings?: Uh, no.

Which hurt the most?: Them.

*-;-* The Extra Stuff *-;-*

Do you do drugs: "... It's all legal, 'cuz it's what the doctor prescribes!"

What kind of shampoo do you use?: Suave, mostly.

What are you most scared of: Hurting those I love...

What are you listening to right now?: The rainfall.

What car do you wish to have: Right now - mine. Long term - I think a hybrid (in particlar from Honda) would be fun.

Who was the last person to [send you a text message]?: Since my phone has been dead for a few years now, I honestly don't know.

Who was the last person you thought of?: When?

Who was the last person you kissed?: NBK

How do you want to get married?: While I'm all for having a little fun now and again, I personally hope to be married a) in a church b) in front of people who genuinely care about and love me/us c) to the woman my heart is yearning for d) in an atmosphere where love, honesty, and devotion are not laughable, overly sentimental, or stifled.

How many messenger buddies do you have on-line right now?: Six, three of whom are family.

How many MSN contacts do you have?: Why such an arbitrary service? About 14, if you must know.

*^! Favourites !^*

Color: a rich blue, whether light or dark

Food: Mexican and Italian are certain staples

Boy's names: Have given it far too little thought

Girl's names: See note on Boy's names

Subjects in school: photography, choir, and many of my CS courses.

Music: Most anything but country

Bible Phrase: "The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground."

Smell: Don't ask me to pick a favorite

*-;-* Have You Ever *-;-*

Given someone a bath: Sure

Smoked: Surely not

Bungee jumped: It would take a lot of money...

Broken the law: Only with regard to traffic, and rarely then

Made yourself throw-up: Not that I can think of

Gone skinny dipping: Can I plead the fifth - even though I haven't ever even possibly had the slightest opportunity to do that thing which the question is asking me if I have ever done?

Ever been in love: Loved - yes, perpetually. Been "in love" - no.

Made yourself cry to get out of trouble: Crying wouldn't have gotten me out of much of anything. More often, it got me further in trouble.

Ever had surgery? On what?: Stitches don't count.

-;-* Final Questions *-;-*

Pizza or chocolate: Depends on the pizza, depends on the chocolate. Though I am going to try to imagine a way to make that chocolate pizza Phronsie mentioned... "Those things looked a-pretty good..."

How many people are you sending this to?: None

Who will send it back?: Everyone

Gold or Silver?: Not particular. I'd have to find a piece that I really liked, though...

Directions:
• Lightly wisk eggs, milk, and vanilla extract together in a 9" pie plate.
• Stand around impatiently while a pan on the stove gets entirely too hot to make French Toast.
• Stand around impatiently while you wait for said pan to return to a temperature somewhat more suited to making French Toast.
• Coat the pan with either butter or a non-stick spray.
• Realize that the pan was still way too hot to make French Toast when the butter and/or non-stick spray you applied instantly incinerated, scorching your pan and filling your kitchen with smoke.
• Take the still smoking pan, and hold it at arms length out your front door, so that the smoke does not continue to fill your house. (This works best during winter weather.)
• Grow impatient with the (still smoking) pan, and bring it inside.
• Slowly run hot tap water into the pan, watching carefully as the water boils in the pan, turning into a foul-smelling steam which also fills your kitchen.
• Attempt to clean pan.
• Get another pan.
• Stand around impatiently while this new pan approaches a temperature suited to the making of French Toast.
• Coat this pan with either butter or a non-stick spray while it is still too cold to make French Toast.
• For each slice of bread:
  As space opens up in the pan,
  • Soak both sides of a slice of bread in the egg mixture.
  • Transfer bread from the egg mixture to the pan.
  • Wait impatiently while bread attempts to get warm.
  • (If necessary, repeat with this slice of bread.)
• Take and enjoy* your undercooked French Toast!

Estimated time: 45 minutes**.

* Or, as we recommend, make a sandwich.
** May take longer if time constraints are in place.

Whadaya know? No left tail-light. Not only that, but my lack of [proof of] insurance nearly landed me a $250~ fine. Again. Ain't life grand sometimes?

Anyhow, I did still make it to class [~]on time, and my "project" that was due was apparently satisfactory, so I guess things could be worse.

(Like the fact I was almost sideswiped by both a large truck and a dump truck the other night... That could be worse...)