I have never used Microsoft PowerPoint 2007 for UX design before.  It's actually quite an improvement over the 2003 version.  The ability to manage styles so easily really has made using it a pleasure for my task, which is UX Design.  I have literally designed a major portion of the Marketo app in record time using it.  Previously, I have used Visio to do the job.  But the problem with Visio is the complete lack of "story board" type interaction.  Each screen is a frozen moment and you need to change to a new tab to move on.  It's very "page" oriented.  Conversely, PowerPoint is grounded in the storyboard concept.  So making a more Web 2.0 app is much simpler.  Also, the 2007 version has better tools to draw with.

My only complain is the lack of UI template objects I can drop in.  Visio has tons of these.  I don't know why PowerPoint couldn't use them.

I think there may be a way of doing this, but I don't know how.  I want to include the contents of one slide on many of the others.  Like the header.  I don't want to have to fix the header in 200 places every time something changes.  It makes PowerPoint a little more object-oriented.  I wonder if its possible.

I just looked back over the last few months of blogging.  No prediction of the Jets winning the Superbowl this year.  This was the closest I got.  Staggering.  Look at last years prediction.  And the year before!   And another (last sentence, but mostly a funny story)!

Seriously, look at that.  God NEVER told me the Jets will win the superbowl this season.  Do you think this is how God works?  He reads my blog and whatever I say, he does the opposite?  I did predict the Jets would beat the Patriots this season.  Hmm, something strange is afoot.

I don't want to Jinx it.  Just in case.  No Prediction.

I do want to say though that 2006 was a pleasant year.  The boys are so much fun and Katie is a wonderful wife.  This holiday season Katie took care of everything.  She even let me, with 12 people in the house, have dinner on the couch staring at the Jets beat the Dolphins.  Oooh, almost forgot, Daniel came to visit us!  It was a wonderful new years gift.  All the boys love him.  We had breakfast at Stacks.  Matthew is such a terror and so cute all at the same time.  Things are good.  Let's see how the Jets do.  If they win, they make the playoffs.

Today is the shortest day of the year, Winter Solstice.  It is the day when, for thousands of years, mankind has celebrated the end of darkness and the beginning of a new year.  It is the day when we say, "From here on, we will get more sunshine".  Our house is prepared.  Big tree that we cut down ourselves.  Pretty lights.  Presents all hidden away.  I even made the bed this morning with a top sheet, just for Katie.

Last night, I worked on Rudolph the red nosed reindeer on the Uke.  I love the Ukulele.  It is the best present I ever received.  I have also been practicing Old Lang Syne, but I am afraid I am not very good at it.  My fingers are thin and I often miss the string completely.

Speaking of stringed instruments, Matthew has fallen in love with his Guitar.  He calls it his Tah.  "My Tah!  I need my Tah!"  He sleeps with it.  He brings it in the car.  He walks around with it and plays it.  He is like Ricky Valens in La Bamba.  He was playing it this morning and has this conversation with Ethan.

Matt: "Ethan!  Check it out!  Check out my Tah!"
Ethan: "OK, check what?"
Matt: "Check IT OUT!"
Ethan: "I did.  I checked it out."
Matt: "Check it OUT!"
Ethan: "I DID!  I checked it out!"
Matt: "Check it OUT!"
Ethan: "OK, last time, I checked it out."
Matt: "Check it out! One last time!"
Ethan: "Last time!  Ok?"
Matt: "OK, last time.  Check it out!  One last time!"
Ethan: "I did, now stop."
Matt: "Check it out one last time!!"
Ethan: "Uuuughhhh"

This went on and on and on.  Matthew is so proud and so eager.

Today we go to Berkeley to see Ben and Darcie and Clare and the rest of the Peters.  Happy Solstice!

The other eye went pink.  I feel like Helen Gahagan Douglas.  It's painful and itchy and blurry.  So I am trying to be useful and am wrapping a few presents.  Katie yelled at me when I tried to sort some laundry.  Bad Glen, Bad!

Watch this video.  I know what I should give to Katie for Solstice.

My rotten children have given me pink eye.  What a pain in the ass.  I am going to the doctor today.  I just hope that I have not infected anyone.

This morning, I was getting Matt dressed.  Here is the dialogue.

Daddy: Come on, let's get your socks on.
Matt: No, I caaaannnn't.
Daddy; Yes, you can.  You are a big boy.
Matt:  No, I'm a baby!  I'm a baby right now!
Daddy: No, you are a big boy.
Matt: Not Noooooo!   Not noooooooo!  (He has been saying this in a sing-songy way.  Like it's one word in a rap song.  notNO-Oh.  Hard to describe, but pretty amusing.

This is an spell checked prognosis from Dan Lipka. (It needed alot of corrections!)

Ok, assuming that the Jets win out (they play Miami and Oakland), there this is what the situation is:

• There are four team with the same 8-6 record (Jets, Cincy, Jacksonville and Denver).
• The Jets don't have a tie-breaker against any of the other teams, so we need to win the next 2 games.
• Cincy plays Denver next week, so one of them will obviously lose (and will be out of the playoffs).
• Jacksonville plays New England in Jacksonville and then they play at Kansas City.
• If they lose either of those Games, then the Jets are in.
• If Jacksonville wins both games, than the Jets still have a shot if the winner of the Cincy/Denver game loses the last week. (Cincy is at home to Pitt and Denver is at home to San Fran)

Maybe if the Jets would have just beaten the Browns they would have it locked up. Anyway, they still seem to have a really good chance. Mostly because I don't think Jacksonville have win the next two games. On the other end, there is one other option:

If Jacksonville does win out, that means they would have beaten the Pats. And then if the Pats lose again the last week at Tennessee (who is playing very well) then the Jets would actually win the division and get a home playoff game!!

So we need the Jets to win two and any of the following:

• New england beats Jacksonville or
• Tennessee beats New England or
• Kansas City beats Jacksonville or
• The winner of Cincy/Denver game loses in week 17 or
• Cincy and Denver tie.

So after that happens. The Jets beat Cincy in the first playoff round, then they beat Indy, followed by them shutting out San Diego and finally crushing the Chicago in the Superbowl. Its almost too easy.

Logged December 19, 2006 at 9:21 AM PST
on www.commadot.com (a.k.a. IToldYouSo.com)

Katie and I watched the last DVD from Netflix of the TV Series "24 Season 1".  6 DVDs with 4 hours each.  It was a 24 marathon.  I really hate this show.  It makes no sense.  It’s Los Angeles and they can drive to work in 8 minutes???  I don’t think so.  The whole thing made no sense.  And the final scene with the dead mother?  Come on!  The Shield is much better.  The difference in writing is dramatic.  Boo 24!  Yay Shield!

Speaking of non-sequitors, Penny is the greatest mother-in-law in the whole world.  She visits often and takes care of all of us.  She looks after the kids, and takes care of Katie and I too.  In exchange, I provide witty repartee and technical support.  I think it’s a pretty good deal for me.

She recently went to Japan for a weaving conference.  I consider her a fellow designer.  She is getting better at Photoshop than I am. (True, I’m not that good at Photoshop)  She just got a new loom that is as expensive as a car.  It is as big as one too.  It’s a giant thing right in the middle of the dining room.  Is weaving the most space-intensive design craft?  Maybe marble sculpting?

Anyway, Penny is just great.  She is one of the most engaged Internet users I have ever know.  I use a caricature of her as one of my typical personas.

What is e.g.?
An abbreviation for "exempli gratia,"Latin for "for example."

What is n.b.?
abbreviation for nota bene: used to mark something as particularly important.

What is i.e.?
abbreviation for "id est," Latin for "that is"; also means, "in other words." it is followed by an explanation, specific list or a paraphrase.

I had gotten so used to being reactive at Intuit.  The phone would ring, the email would arrive, the meetings would be scheduled.  I only had time to "work" in between these hectic moments.  So much so, that I had to avoid some meetings (Like the dreaded PELT) to actually get some work done.  Now, things have changed.  No more meetings, no more phone!  I have to be proactive instead of reactive.  I am still in decompression, getting used to it.

Also, I miss my friends at Intuit.  Although Katie said, "You missed Steve when you joined Intuit and you missed Spencer when Koko wound down."  She is right.  I have missed friends and colleagues at every transitional period of my life.  That is the way, you move on and make new friends.  I would like to keep relationships with people though.  Instant Messenger is great for communicating with old friends.  Except when they don’t turn on their IM.  Like Steve!!  Hey Steve, Use http://webmessenger.msn.com/  It works like a website so you can use it without your corp IT people getting wind!

Katie story from last night:
A father sees his 3 year old son go around a corner where the father couldn’t see him.  He says, "Hey, don’t go around the corner!"  The young boy keeps going around the corner though.  Time and again, the father scolds the son and the son keeps doing it.  Finally, the father smacks the boy on the butt.  The boy, in tears, looks up at the father and sobs, "What’s a corner?!?"

Yesterday, I went to get some bread. 
I said, "A two and a half pound sourdough, sliced please." 
Matthew was in my arms and pointed out his index finger high in the air and yelled, "SCUSE ME ONE MINUTE! SCUSE ME ON MINUTE!"
The lady smiled at him and said, "Yes? 
Matt perked up and said, "YOU GOT BREAD?!"  His shoulders went up in the universal question posture.
She mock saluted and said, "Yes sir!" 
Matt smiled and said, "Oh!  THNAK YOU!"

—

Today is my first day as UX Architect at Marketo.  I am excited and a little daunted.  I have never delved deeply into marketing and need a crash course on AdSense and all kinds of Marketing stuff.  I am going to buy some books on the subject, but I really need to USE the Google software and promote a sample site.  Maybe CafeCosa would be a good guinea pig?

Otherwise, I miss my friends at Intuit already.  Ironically, it the marketing folks I will miss the least.  And now, I am going to design a UX for them to make them thrilled.  It’s funny how life works out.  I really hope the last test I did for Turbotax can be completed well.  Eric and Florence are on their own for the next few weeks!  Good luck guys!

Katie is more nervous than me, which is pretty amusing.  She is all giddy and stressed.  She needs a break.  Right now, Jared and Matt are on my lap and making faces at each other and giggling wildly.  Hard to type.