Been far too long...

... since I updated this blasted thing (I'm in the library right now)! Been in LA this past couple weeks, and dialup is not conducive to much web surfing beyond checking emails and reading (but barely being able to comment on) my friends' blogs. I've discovered that Google Maps (or any other mapping service) also dies on dialup-- it's useless. Bereft of my handy Thomas Guide, it was faster for me to call Allan and have HIM look up directions for me and then dictate them over the phone.

Anyhoo-- first up, Todd stuff:

He's been in a preschool of sorts since September, and has adjusted pretty well to it. No longer too shy to even ask to go to the bathroom (I no longer have to bring a change of clothes in case of accidents during the day), and plays well with the other kids. He's taken to another little boy, and I'm not too pleased-- the kid hates school, plays too roughly, and his attitude is a bad influence on Todd.

Part of our parental duties is to serve as volunteers once a month, I've done it twice so far, and it's neat to see what goes on in class and what the kids learn-- alphabet, numbers, singing, crafts-- all good stuff! They even get homework every week. On the 15th the school is having a Holiday Show and Todd's class will sing 3 classic Christmas songs, it'll be neat to see our son out in public, performing with his classmates.

WORK STUFF:
I've lost track of what I've recently blogged about, but my interview at Citrix went well and the recruiter received positive feedback. Unfortunately there's one slight snag: despite the need, there aren't any actual positions officially available to offer anyone. The recruiter has even had to cancel interviews that were supposed to take place this past few weeks because they are still haggling with Finance and corporate HQ to get funding for official positions. They are hopeful for some results in 1st Quarter 2008-- if not then, then hopefully 2nd Quarter. So, if I do get an offer it won't be till January at the earliest, and possibly not till March or April. Fingers crossed that Finance approves the openings they are requesting.

Amgen stock continues to hover in the 50s. Prime time to buy, I say. I took a look at my stock options online the other day-- because I started working when their stock was at an all-time high (in the 80s), my strike price is $80 per share. Umm... yeah, no thanks-- I don't think I'll be exercising those options at all-- even though they expire in a month.

FAMILY STUFF:
Thanksgiving came and went, as always, we gathered at Ron and Debbie's house for a nice quiet family dinner. Todd continues to gradually shed his shyness around Allan's family. This year, he was busy interacting more with them, allowing us to leave him alone with other family members, and even playing actively with the dog! He had great fun teaching Uncle Ron how to count from 1-5 ;-)

Saturday we saw the LADWP Christmas Lights, a mile-long stretch of colorful and whimsical Christmas light displays. I managed to snap a few photos with my phone-- we'll see how they turn out when I download them this weekend. Todd didn't talk much during last year's show, so this year was a treat to have him sit in the back seat and exclaim at all the sights.

On to more somber news: my mom's had a persistent cough for nearly two months. A few weeks ago, her doctor ordered some X-rays to see if they could find the cause. They still haven't, but the X-rays revealed a mass in her lungs, leading to more tests and scans to figure out what it is. These past few days have been a flurry of carting my mom back and forth between doctors and clinics, the latest of which involved doing a lung mass biopsy. In the meantime, we are awaiting news of the biopsy results while Mom recovers from a partially collapsed lung (caused by the biopsy procedure).

As most of you know, my mom had a bout with colon cancer 2 years ago, and we are hoping that if the mass in her lung turns out to be cancer, it isn't the same one that was in her colon. Because if it is, that indicates that it has spread, and that's not good news.

Please pray for her, her health, and a successful and uneventful recovery. Thanks.

That's about it for current updates! :-)

(originally posted at: http://www.myspace.com/hellykwee/blog/334873733