August 11th, 1999

9:17am - I've decided to pickup programming again. I used to be an expert in making DOS programs, I'm sure I can learn to program under Windows and Linux as well. The thing is I need to learn C and C++ and object oriented language. I think learning to operate the compiler is the hardest part, though. I'm getting there, though.

I have an excellent Idea for a game.. My end all goal is to create this game on the Win32 platform and eventually learn to port it to Linux/X and maybe even a Linux console version would be fun. I won't post the idea for the game here because I don't want it to be stolen. Assuming it becomes popular and everybody plays it and knows who wrote it, I will release it as open source. But for the meantime I want to keep the source code secret so nobody steals the idea.

11:33am - So irritating. I have 3 different C++ compilers and one book to follow. This book is for Microsoft Visual Studio but I don't have a working copy of it. Seems only a few of the commands in this book are relevant to the other compilers. I'm starting to become frustrated with C++ because there are very few actual commands and everything is based on included libraries. Well, seems from compiler to compiler and os to os there are very few standard library commands so I am having trouble learning to use C++ since I don't have a fully functional setup right now. I'm not going to give up.. I think I have the jist of how C++ works and have a glimpse of object-oriented language works after some reading but I haven't been able to make much of anything usefull because I can't find a decent reference book or website that has the same commands and libraries as what I have.

I should be getting Microsoft Visual Studio 6 on CDROM tonight which I'll be able to install on my Windows98 computer at home and hopefully start learning what is in this book.

From what I hear Mike's house should have a foundation in progress. Not the actual cement, but the other stuff they do before pouring the cement. My dad estimates the cement will be poured on Friday. However, I've learned to take his estimates with a pinch of salt because they never seem right. It isn't his fault, but nevertheless things always seem to delay his estimates.

I'm really ready to get out of my apartment. I'm ready to have more space for all of our stuff. I'm ready to be rid of those stupid gates I have to fight with just to get to my home! I'm ready to get away from trying to sleep while some lowered car with tires sticking out the side playing rap-music as loud as physics will permit driving through my apartment building. I'm ready to finally have the capability to make improvements to my living quarters however I wish. And one final thing.. a garage for my car and no staircase!

Oddly enough, my wrist/arm area has been in pain since the surgery. I have finally figured out by examining my other arm that it is the vein.. or maybe artery I am not sure. Anyway my other arm has one in the same place and it comes from the top of the hand and curves around the bone on the inner side of your wrist area (the side of your arm where the thumb is). This is where it has been swollen and painfull. Last night when Leslie and I were horseplaying she hit me quite hard there and it hurt pretty bad for an hour or so. However, today it is still swollen but doesn't hurt much at all for the first time. So maybe it is finally going to heal up?!