http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;950282

When you create a new profile in Office Outlook 2007, the creation wizard disappears before the profile is created. If you try to create a new message, you receive the following error message:

A dialog box is open. Close it and try again.

Additionally, you cannot close Outlook and you have to manually end the Outlook.exe process using Task Manager. Outlook stops responding, and the crash signature details are:

Application Name: outlook.exe
Application Version: 12.0.6300.5000
Module Name: WWLIB.DLL
Module Version: 12.0.6212.1000
Offset: 00144926

Well, it's going well IMHO. Not great, since I'm still not exercising. 20 minutes once a week on the bike is not an exercise program! and the step log/pedometer is not ticking off high numbers anymore because well, because I just wander around my house all day :)

But, I'm happy to say that simply by changing my diet, and not depriving myself of treats, just having smaller and more fruit-oriented treats, I'm at -17 lbs since January 1st.

lost seventeen! pounds!

(OMG what does that say about my life before...)

Stress and easy access to sugary treats in my ex-office definitely contributed some of the extra pounds. Remove the stress and the need to snack drops.

If I can lose weight this easily, you can lose 5 pounds with literally no effort. You can do it!

It's been a mere 3 1/2 weeks since I "retired" from MSFT. In that time, I've:

• watched a lot of CNBC; btw smart brunette women are HOT
• washed a lot of laundry (!)
• made a few "Fast Money" trades which were profitable, but in no way substitute for a salary; did I mention smart brunette women are HOT?
• organized the kids' clothing so that instead of my natural "this pile is clean, this pile is school clothes" organizational style, we now have labeled drawers for school vs non-school, short vs long, etc
• researched and changed my entire insurance portfolio, saving 10% in the process :)
• begun the process of developing a will/healthcare proxy/durable power of attorney; every adult should have such planning in place! don't wait like I did, til you are married, have little kids and then think everything will work itself out. It won't! Probate sucks!
• listened to more than a few friends claim how jealous they are that I retired in the face of an economic recession. I retort that I worked three jobs when I was in my 20's, I saved my pennies, and now I am reaping the rewards of that discipline. I can't guarantee that what worked for me will work for you (I sold my bachelor house for profit, for example), but saving beats spending and if your horizon is long enough, every dollar you put into the front end through your 401k, ESPP, savings, etc will grow to 10x or 20x at the back end.
• applied for unemployment, but learned that "voluntary quit" people like me have to wait 7 weeks for benefits. I guess that flushes some of the cheaters out and keeps the system solvent :)
• put quite a few hours into my Asheron's Call addiction; the 14-day trial is free, come be my vassal! I'll give you phat lewt...
• oh, and I did a few people's taxes on the side

Overall, it's been a busy 3 weeks. Retirement really is just another form of working life. Only in retirement, you get to work on stuff that is important to YOU instead of doing what THE MAN tells you to do.

Oh, and hey, if you have some extra lunchtime hours, give me a holler. I may need to tear myself away from CNBC and see what's really happening in the world. And if you have interesting work that I will be paid handsomely to do, I'm listening...