The New Gig

Okay. So this is the deal. In March I got a call from a Solutions Manager at a large home improvement store. She wanted to talk to me about an IT project that was going on where they were ripping out 40-some-odd home grown Web applications and replacing it with an enterprise level system.

I wasn't really sure it was something I wanted to do, but with all the stuff going on in my life the timing was right for me to at least investigate it. So, I went and did an interview and really liked the people. The project was really cool too (the best part possibly). It really isn't every day that someone as early in their career as I am gets an opportunity like this.

So, after interviewing I waited...and waited...and waited. Finally got an offer middle of April and we worked the details out.

So, I am heading to Huntersville, North Carolina - to live at least. The corporate offices are not too far from there. I have an apartment reserved at a place called Birkdale Village, and am really excited to see what it is all going to be like.

This will be the first time I have really gone off on my own and been alone. It's pretty scary, but I am 100% sure it is the right thing for me to do at this point in my life. Fresh start.

I am going to be a "Solutions Analyst" on the project and will be working directly with a set of contractors from IBM a place called North Highland. Talk about a great networking and learning opportunity. It will be pretty neat to be back on the IT side of the house. I sort of feel like I have been faking the marketing thing for long enough. Although, since last August when my boss Scott started it has been a totally different world, and and I have really loved the ways he challenged me. I am going to hate not working for him any longer.

The role I will be playing on this project (and future projects as well) will be similar to what I did at GraySail. Basically I will be working with business experts and learning the requirements that the software/platform needs to meet. Then, write documentation for those specifications and work with IT through the implementation process.

So, that's the story - and I am sticking to it.

Notice

Well, today was the day. I gave notice at work and let them know I would be taking a new job. Unfortunately my boss was not there, so I had to go to the director of MarCom. All in all - the experience was not so bad.

I am guessing word will slowly get out over the next few days as I start to tell people that I want to hear directly from me, and not from the formal annoucement that will be going out. There are really some great people I work with and I am going to miss them lots.

These last two weeks are probably going to be crazy. I will post in a day or two with the details of what is going on. Not knowing who reads this darned thing...I haven't really been able to post about it. I think that might be part of the reason posting has been light lately.

On another topic...I've given up tracking what I eat. It was too much work, and now that I am leaving I guess it won't matter. I still need to drop about 15 though. It would make me a good deal happier with the way I look in clothes. But all in all I cannot complain about the progress I have made over the past two years.

The place I am heading has a gym in the club house, so maybe I will start being better again.

So long for now.

1, 2, 3, 4... :-)

No, not the song by that band with the chick singer.

Somehow I managed to lose 4 lbs last week (so says the weigh-in yesterday).

Monday
- Cereal
- Coffee
- Salad
- Bacon Wrapped Salmon with Asparagus
- Handful of peanuts

Tuesday
- Chick-Fil-A Chicken, Egg & Cheese Biscuit
- Coffee
- 1 cup Reduced Fat Cheeze-its
- Small plate BBQ with slaw and baked beans
- Small slice cake
- 1/2 chicken & avacado sammich w/ sweet potato fries
- 3,000 calories of BRMC!!

Wednesday
- 1/2 A Sante Fe sandwich from Rising High
- Coffee
- 1/2 5 Guys Little Bacon Cheeseburger
- 1/3 order fries
- Greek Salad
- 1/2 order Calamari
- 1/2 order Beef Lettuce wraps
- 1 Startfruit Martini (YUM!)

I will lunch blog about the show and other things...

Short Forks

Something about me has changed. I have noticed it a little along and along, but I just finished emptying the dishwasher and I guess there is no denying it any longer.

See - I have always thought my mom was kind of nuts for liking short forks. The longer ones were just sooo much cooler. But, when I just put away the silverware all the forks were the short ones. I am consciously not using long ones anymore. Why? Who knows.

I can't blame the odd fork usage pattern on anyone else. I am the only one here. (Which is odd enough in and of itself.) Even odder...I actually emptied the dishwasher.

So - to the blogger gods out there. I ask for your psychological diagnosis. Why now, after nearly 26 years of like, am I preferring short forks?

Off to make dinner now.

So long.

The Weekend

Was pretty nice and relaxing. I found some nice distractions to keep me away from "the real world," and was sort of sad to return to work this morning. I need to be glad about the lazy weekend though because this week is pretty full.

Tomorrow I am going to Concord for a meeting then sticking around in Charlotte to see BRMC. Wednesday I am suppose to build my new media center PC with John. Thursday is YPS happy hour. Next weekend is open so far, but Sunday night Jay Clifford is playing at 5pts Pub and I will surely be there. Its nice to have rock shows that I am going to again. Makes me happy.

Yesterday I managed to eat pretty well..
- 2 eggs w/ a serving of egg whites
- 3 slices turkey bacon
- Hummus & Pita
- 1/2 Salad

End lunch blogging!

It Went In...

Yesterday...
- Egg in a basket
- Coffee
- Lean Cuisine Pizza
- Hummus and Pita Chips
- 1.5 cups Pad Thai

Today...
- Cereal with peaches
- 1 cup juice
- 2 tacos w/ some chips and guacamole
- 1/2 egg roll some fried rice and 2 pieces of chicken

Rock & Roll

Last night Leslie had a show at 5pts Pub. I went. The first band was terrible. I mean, gosh...I wanted to shoot myself. But the guys put on a great show as always. I think they are finally making moves towards getting an album together as well. It is about time. They have been playing together for more than 3 years now. This weekend they are playing a show with Will Hoge in Virgina Beach. I wish things were better with my schedule and stuff right now. I would so be there. I missed those two playing together in Spartanburg a few weeks ago.

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (BRMC) is playing up in Charlotte next week. It is on the 22nd - Tuesday night. I can't decide if I want to go or not. I know I won't be able to stay over the night, and probably would not get home until about 3AM if I went. It would be a great show though. Seeing them at The NorVA last year was amazing.

Travis has also already finished recording a new album. I can't wait to get my hands on that one.

And finally, on July 28th (I think). Seena and I will be going to see Counting Crows and Maroon 5 up in Charlotte. Maroon 5 doesn't have me so excited, but she loves them. Counting Crows on the other hand... Smile!

Done with lunch blogging for today. Back to work.

Down 1.4

So, I did lose weight over the past week. I went down 1.4 lbs (or ~ .8% of my body weight).

Yesterday I had a decent consumption day...

• Small bowl cereal w/peaches & strawberries, skim milk


• 1/3 order of Pad Thai from Thai Bangcock (so good)


• 2 friend wontons


• A side salad w/ 1000 island


• 4 or 5 Teriyaki wings


• 4 or 5 onion rings


• 4 Rum & Diets

Better

Today is the first weigh-in for the contest at work. I am nearly betting that I actually gained weight over the past week.

Monday I had...

• An over-easy egg with toast


• A chicken sandwich with Fritos


• A salmon fillet with small potato and side salad


• Some random snacks


• 5 - 10 strawberries

Tuesday I had...

• Two over-easy eggs with toast


• A fried chicken thigh, collards, mac-n-cheese, peach cobbler


• A good sized salad


• A few handfuls of BBQ Fritos

Good Progress

I am pleased with how much got done on the house this weekend. It didn't exactly get done when or how I wanted, but all of the hard stuff is done (almost). Now it is finishing touches. Putting stuff away, hanging curtains, and such. John still has to come and set the post to repair the fence out back. I should probably also paint all the columns and railings on the front porch, but I am crossing my fingers that a good pressure washing will take care of all that.

So, I am in Florence (as indicated in my earlier post). I think I have only been here once since Christmas, which is really odd, considering I have been here nearly every other weekend since August last summer. Things change though...sometimes for better, other times for worse.

All the work on the house is really giving my knee a fit. I guess that is what is causing it at least. If not, something has gone wrong. There have been 3 days over the course of this past week that its been hurting so bad I have not wanted to be walking. Today was not so bad, but by the time the end of any day gets here it is pretty achy and swollen. If it keeps up I know I need to go see a doctor. I just don't know when I will have the time.

I am getting sleepy though. Off to bed.

I Might Hurl

Ate
Too
Much

I always do that when I am at my parents house. So today...

• 1 piece French toast


• 2 pieces turkey bacon


• 1 over easy egg


• 1 piece toast


• 1 cup juice


• 2 cups coffee


• 2 slices homemade pizza


• 4 mini white chocolate reeces pb cups


• 2 handfuls wheat thins


• A large salad with grilled chicken


• small bowl ice cream

It is all John's fault that I had such a big breakfast, but when he is giving me help getting things ready at the new house and requests such tasty eats, I have to comply. Tomorrow will be better. I will still be in Florence, but will use self control. At least I have not had a glass of Sun Drop yet though.

It is Saturday you know...

Consumption included:

• 3 handfuls honey roasted peanuts


• 3 cups coffee


• An egg & cheese sammich


• 1/2 order of Green Apple Chicken (much better cold)


• 1 glass lemonaide


• BBQ plate with baked beans and slaw


• A slice of chocolate cake

Destiny = Productivity?

I am sitting on my new sofa (got it Tuesday). Watching season 8 of Good Eats on the DVP. Surrounded by...4 half painted chairs, buckets of paint, misc. tools, and other general stuff. (I considered crap, but these things are mine, so that might be a little harsh).

Over there on the dining table is a list of stuff that needs to get done. I am just not sure where to begin. Best do painting first as multiple coats will be necessary on some things.

I only have until about 4:30 though. There is a bbq I am going to tonight for some friends 40th bday party. Should be a good time.

Here I go...

Not So Good.

How many calories does one burn when playing a bassoon? Not enough to offset the lunch I had. At least I don't think so.

Today I ate...

• A small bowl of cereal with peaches and 2% milk


• 2 cups cofee


• A small side salad w/ fabulous roast beef wrap


• 1 mini cupcake


• A 100 calorie Nutter Butter Bar


• 1/2 order Green Apple chicken w/ brown rice from Miyos


• 3 beef/asparagus rolls

I measured today though. Surprisingly my hips and bust were nearly the same size. My waist was only 6 inches smaller than those though. I figure if I can eat well for 2 weeks then I will add exercise back in.

Very Awesome

A friend sent me this link a few minutes ago.

I could not resist sharing. Here is an except of what you will find...

For our latest mission, we turned a little league baseball game in Hermosa Beach, California into a major league event. Enjoy the video below and then go behind the scenes with our mission report and photos.

In order to pull this mission off we worked with the commissioner of the Hermosa Beach Little League. The commissioner provided us with the names, numbers, and batting order of all of the players for both teams. He told us the 2 PM game between the Mudcats and the Lugnuts would be ideal for our mission, and allowed us to arrive early to set up all of our equipment. He was the only person involved with the league who knew what was going to happen. The players, coaches, and parents were kept completely in the dark.

See the Best Game Ever now on ImprovEverywhere.com

Daily Consumption

Currently = s02e23 House MD, but I guess that does not contain any calories.

Today I had...

• An eggy in a baskey w/o the middle piece of toast


• 2 cups coffee


• A pepperoni french bread lean cuisine pizza


• 1 bottle protein water


• A 100 calorie nutter butter bar


• 6 chick-fil-a chicken fingers


• 2 cups Juice

Tastiness.

I'm Back

Opportunities in life come and go. about this time last year - so went my desire/opportunity/willingess to blog. Well, I am back. So I think that's pretty dandy. You may or maynot agree with me.

It's lunch time at the office. My lean cusisine pizza is cooling in front of me, and I am happily typing.

What happened over the past 345 (or so) days?

I leased the cabin Justin and I built, moved into a crappy apartment in Lexington with an amazing person, saw a bunch of rock shows, ate good food, drank good wine, stayed in a cabin for a week with a co-worker and ended up with a fantastic friend, bought a house exactly like the first one I owned and moved in it, drank lots of coffee, busted my butt at the gym for 3 months, laughed and cried, loved, stressed, and lots of other things.

I believe this is post #400 on my blog - that started back in 2004. I guess that's not too much writing in the grand scheme of things, but here is to post #401. May it be a good one.

So long.

In My Mouth

Someone got the bright ideas to do a version of "The Biggest Loser" at work. It was $20 so I figured "Heck, why not". As long as it will get me motivated to lose that last 20ish pounds (or equivalent inches). I did go clothes shopping this evening though and got some pants that were a size 8. Thats a long way from the size 14/16 I was wearing in the fall of 2006.

Today I had...

• a small bowl of corn chex w/ peaches and 2% milk


• 2 cups cofee


• A 100 calorie bag of salt&pepper popcorn


• Small salad with honey mustard dressing


• 5 oz prime rib


• 2 rolls


• 1/2 a sweet potato


• 2 peppermints