Sold my TV so that I would have enough money to make a trip to see some old friends and colleagues down in Champaign/Urbana. This was the first trip back with Virginia and Joy since the birth.

Had some dinner with Jason Pankoke. He seems to be doing some interesting new projects. I look forward to seeing how they turn out. Also met up with Chris Green. He looked exhausted after a long day of driving. It was good to see him. We talked a little about future projects. I hope that those things come to fruition.

Went for a trip to WILL. It was really nice to see some of my old co-workers. They were really happy to see Joy. It was a little depressing because so many people have left since I worked there. It seems like WILL is going through some really tough times. I hope that things get straightened out and back on track soon.

We also got to see Alison, Joy’s middle name namesake. It was so great to see her in her new job. She seemed so happy doing the fun work. She also talked a little about here new adventures in teaching. She has always been good at working with students while she was working at WILL. It is nice to see that she is doing something formal with it. I think that she would make a great professor once she has her graduate degree.

Went over to Alison’s workplace and got to spend time with her and Tim. I am glad that I got to see him. He was teaching some of his new interns on how to use their cameras. I remember when I was a young pup not knowing how to do anything. It was Tim who got me started in the business. I also got a chance to look at their studio and control room. I have been trying to look into as many studios as I can, because that it going to be a big project that I will be working on in Qatar.

Before we left, we had breakfast with Hank. It was really good to see him. He seemed to be the most relaxed of everyone. For the last couple of years he seemed to be super stressed. Work was really getting to him. Getting out of that place was probably the best thing for him. I really enjoyed hearing about some of his plans for the future. He was always one of the good guys. I am glad that I got a chance to work with him.

Went out to the Flugtag today. Crazy people trying to build flying machines. Most looked liike a good way to hurt yourself. It was fun to see the skits though.

After the show, I met up with Laura at Cafe Margot for a delicious lunch/dinner. The I got a call from my old WILL colleague Steve that he and his wife were eating just up the street. Laura and I hunted him down and said Hi. They were eating so we didn’t want to bother them, so we invited them over to the bar after wards. They didn’t drink, but Laura kept on getting more drinks for the both of us. Steve and Diane left after a while. It was really good to see them. Laura’s friend Amanda met up with us at the bar.

We continued to drink for another while, until Laura suggested going to an improv show at the Second City. It was a really funny show up in Donny’s skybox, but I have one suggestion for them. Don’t pick the drunkest guy in the audience to come up and do some improv with you. That just happened to be me. The pulled me up, but I don’t think that I was walking well. It is really kind of a blur, but I had fun.

After that more bar time, and then a trip home. Time to go to bed now, gee am I old.

I got a chance to see the Communication and Journalism programs here at the Evanston campus. It was good to see how they do things here, before I head off the Qatar. I have a lot of ideas about how to do things when I get there. I look forward to helping out soon.

Just got an offer for a job at Northwestern University Qatar. I will be supporting the computers and video equipment that the students use for the Journalism and Communications program. It is a three year contract, and I leave next week. Everything is moving quickly. Can’t wait until I get going over there and get things started.