Happy Birthday! Today is the 100th Anniversary of Flight. I wonder what I'd be doing with my life if there was no such thing as flying machines or space travel. I'd probably be the whacko in the wilderness trying to build a flying machine in my shed (while all the villagers laughed at me). Or, I'd be off engineering the fastest sailing ships ever. Or I'd be a science fiction writer.

Last night I got a phone call from Rini (my dad's latest girlfriend) asking what I wanted engraved on my iPod. I assume this means I'm getting one for Christmas from my Dad. Whoo hoo! My affections are so easily purchased with new toys. Am I superficial or what?

Today, I came in early, though not as early as I'd like, since I'm taking a 4 hour lunch break to see Return of the King. I my up-front parking space AND a Christmas gift when I parked. That was nice. I am feeling like a Christmas slacker this year. I'm going to do all my shopping this weekend. But most of the Houstonians I want to give gifts to will be gone, so I guess they'll just have to wait for a New Years' gift. Then I blew up the coffee machine. These things happen. I'm not going to rant beyond that or I may start a journal war.

I watched President Bush give a speech at Kitty Hawk. As I expected, he made no bold announcements on the future of space travel. Too bad, even I could use a daring vision about the future of my work.