Started Work on a Project and also Im Now Old

So a few days ago I got a package from back home which had some of my tools. Most notably was my soldering iron so I was finally able to start work on the Xbox arcade stick. So if you remember I bought this old Playstation 1 Hori fighting stick awhile back but after removing the bottom I discovered that the circuit board was not screwed down but soldered directly to the buttons so I was stuck with out a soldering iron and have been in a holding pattern ever since. Another nice item in the package was a solder sucker which I have had for a long time but never had a chance to actually use it. At the time I got it I ended up canceling the project I was working on at the time. Anyway I was really surprised at how well it worked. Here you can see the holes around the contacts of the buttons.

Once all the solder was removed from the buttons the board just lifted right off and I was then able to remove the buttons. With the buttons off I could then remove the top plate as well.

I went to open the Xbox controller to gut it but unfortunately the security bit I had sent to me was too big so once again I'm in a holding pattern. I did take sometime though to salvage the wire from the original Playstation cord to use for the inside wiring and other projects down the line. Its perfect as it is actually pretty long and there are multiple colors. I then made a small dispenser out of a old candy box.

Also it is my birthday today, which means I am now 30 and getting old though I don't think I act my age. Yesterday I had work and went in early to work on some advertising concepts with my boss and here nephew. I hadn't eaten anything and was really hungry so when the time came for him to draw some concepts I said I was going to go get some food. My boss said "no, don't go yet." I told her I was really hungry and she insisted, begged me not to go till six which was 30 min away. I figured that her nephew was only available till that time and figure I could stick it out awhile longer but was slightly annoyed.

Then shortly after 6 she came back in the office with a bunch of pizzas and a cake! She had remembered it was my birthday and had planned it for me, thats why she didn't want me to go somewhere to eat. I was really surprised and kind of shocked as I was really not expecting anything at all and was oblivious to any signals that may have been dropped.

She also gave me a cup as a present as I always have something to drink when I get to work. She told me that her son, who is one of my students, picked it out. I thought I took a picture of it but apparently not and I left it at work where I can use it.

Then today at home I had another cake but this time it was an ice cream cake in the shape of Mike from Monsters Inc. I like the little Mike flag which I kept.

Other then that I didn't really do anything special just relaxed and geeked out all day. Projects and old school gameboy games (Wario Land for the win) just the way I like it.