I've only become involved peripherally since I joined IS last September. I've been able to help on a few things, but not as many as I wish I could have. Now its all up to the programmers, DBAs and our SA to get the job done. We'll all be working at different times throughout the weekend. Some of the group will be working in the wee small hours, only to come in for a full day's work.

I'm going to work even though I'm not a programmer. If I'm lucky there'll be something functional I can do: checking a list or whatever. It just doesn't feel right not to be around at this time when everyone I work with is in overdrive.

I spoke with Shane earlier today. He'll be at his Chesapeake house this weekend, along with Colette (our sister), her fiancé Shawn, Brendan and more. I've told him that anyone is welcome to travel the additional 3.5 hours from Oxford to Richmond if they'd like to see Colette. He said Colette was thinking about it, though he didn't know too seriously.

Once we're through with the conversion I hope to get the chance to go up and spend a weekend with my family. They haven't seen Colette in months and she's really changing (by the way I got a shot of her on my webcam this evening so be sure to take a peek).

It's tougher now to be so far away from everyone than it used to be. I want them all to see Colette, and for her to know them not just as the aunts and uncles and cousins she sees a few times each year, but more as those close relatives who are always mucking up her life all the time.

Colette goes back to the doctor tomorrow for her next checkup. Jean's taking her. I'd like to go but work is too busy for me to slip away for two hours. Plus I've taken her for most of her visits to date. It's about time Jean gets to hold her when the doctor sticks three needles in her legs. I will want the full report of course, so Jean will most likely have no chance for lunch tomorrow. I bet she won't even mind.