I'm making swift progress in my programming school. I'm averaging 12 hours a day on Oil Seller but I enjoy it and come March I won't have anywhere near the time I have now.

I’ve made a little deal with myself. No games, including online chess, until I’ve completed my courses. It’ll be tough but I really want to make a go of it.

Lucy has enrolled me in an online computer programming school. It looks like the perfect thing for me. All the courses are posted on the website and you're able to go at your own pace. I can log in anytime and work for as long or as short as I like. There is always a tutor online if you have questions. I'm looking forward to being able to spend more time on it come November.

The heat was incredible at work this week, but I still manage to find the joy. However, I've decided to begin working towards a new career in programming. It may take a year or two but becoming a grampa has given me a new drive to pursue some of my latent desires. I've had a lot more success with being present lately.

Lucy is gearing up to try her new online piano lessons this fall. She already has students in Russia and Brazil.

Deep Red wins again. I am improving though. I may have had him in zugzwang at one point, but somewhere I threw away the advantage. I beat some other intermediate level players today.

I'm now a grampa. Ben and Sara gave me pictures of their new addition to the McLean family to put on Oil Seller. The pictures look spectacular on Oil Seller's quality monitor.

Well it's back to work. I won't be spending as much quality time with Oil Seller for a while but I could use a little exercise at this point anyway. My book is coming along well and I hope I can still work on it a bit through the paving season.

Starcraft II is here. Luke and I have been playing on-line and of course I get my ass kicked constantly. I'm just not quick enough with the controls. Tactically I can compete but physically I'm just not smooth.

Nothing like a sound wholloping from Deep Red to remind me that I’m not really the master of anything. But I’m not my mind. Disidentify. Starve the pain-body.

Oblivion's a great game. I have to call John and talk to him all about it. Of course I named my character Trollmaster and needless to say, I got killed by the first troll I encountered. Then I turned down the difficulty setting and lived up to my title.

My sons bought me The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion game for Christmas. Needless to say Lucy wasn't thrilled but she's tolerating it for now. John and I had fun tweaking with his Open Jedi Project medieval swordplay mod too. The animations look great and the gameplay is smooth, although he says the graphics leave a little to be desired. I can't seem to beat him but I've never been very good with control pads. Who administers the Khet whackings though?