I hate the humidity. I could never live here. Hot and humid is a sure fire way to awaken cranky Mark. However, I will say the trip here went very well.
Since I now have a toll tag, I just drive into DFW on site parking right up to my spot. The toll tag records the charges, I print a bill and submit the expense. I don't have to say hi or kiss my ass to anyone. The bus comes to your car to pick you up and it is straight to the terminal.
It took about 10 minutes to get through the ever vigilant TSA. I don't care where you are, that's fast. I had just enough time for nature and a coffee, then boarded the plane.
The flight was very smooth and I managed to get a lot of work done. No checked baggage and an Avis Preferred customer, so I was able to walk up, be handed keys and drive off.
I arrived at the hotel, stated my name and was handed the key card.
I unpacket, checked email and was able to get more work done.
Very smooth. I'm getting petty good at this traveling thing...
Hope everyone has a good night...
Just me...
Being creative...
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Busy, Busy, Busy....
I have been really, really busy the last couple of weeks. I had a visit form my boss two weeks ago and from Global Security who helped me with a risk assessment. This week brought issues I had to deal with from all three of my locations. Next week I will be in Florida and the following week I will be attending an OSHA conference (it’s in Dallas). My Franklin classes have started back up and I’m getting back into that swing. I decided to change my major to Business Administration. At this point in my life a technical degree would not help me. On top of that, all the senior management jobs I have been eyeing are looking for Business degrees. I have even begun to entertain the idea of pursuing a Masters after I am done with the BA. We will see if I can keep the pace. I think I am going to look into transferring from Franklin (I haven’t changed my address with them because I don’t want to pay out-of-state tuition – shhh don’t tell anyone) to a local university. In addition to all of this, I am beginning to learn Spanish (Latin America). By the time I am done I will have attended College for 10 years. In the immortal words of Tommy Boy “A lot of people go to school for 10 years”…”Yes, they are called Doctors…” I expect my brain to explode any day….
I find it interesting how perspective can change in such a short distance of time. This week has been (according to the news) “very fall like weather.” Not what I would associate with “fall like weather”, but apparently it is Dallas’. The funny part was this past week when I walked Taco in the morning. I put on a t-shirt and shorts and proceeded outside. About a minute into the walk, I felt cold and began thinking I should have worn pants and maybe a jacket. When I got back to the apartment I checked the temperature outside. Are you ready for this… it was 75 degrees. All I could think was you have to be shitting me. I think its jacket weather at 75? I think that means I am officially climatized. This is the first year I can’t wait for winter. Just to see.
On a completely different note, I now have the Big Ten Network. Down here Time Warner put it on their sports tier. So I now have 1 channel to watch the Big Ten and like 6 channels to watch Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. Just weird…
I still don’t have a very significant friend network here. It is interesting that my personality doesn’t position myself well with new people. Although, this has been a very fascinating journey to take. I consider this piece of my life a work in progress. Ultimately, I am fairly shy outside of work and need to learn how to “blossom.” I think it has to do with comfort, because I don’t have this problem at work. I also don’t have a lot of time to work on a personal life, but am trying. I did join EHarmony, the online dating sight, with mixed feelings so far (been on it for a week). First, it turns out that it is very difficult to describe yourself in a few paragraphs and answers to a dozen questions. You start thinking “is that too much information to start with or is it not enough.” Then I start thinking I might attract a psycho like Nicole again (lets face it, I don’t have a great track record). Second, I seem to be grouping the respondents into two categories. The first I perceive them to have a lot of strings attached or baggage and ,quit frankly, scares the hell out of me. I start moving them to the not interested list. The second seem to have less or no baggage, but have descriptions or personalities that remind me of my ex. I need that like I need a hole in my head. So I move them to the not interested list. Of course, after these two “cuts” that leaves a VERY short list. Maybe I simply am not ready for any kind of relationship yet. Maybe I will find new friends this way. Maybe I am putting way to much thought into this shit. Maybe I just need a drink…
I am looking forward to hockey season to start. I will miss going to the games with everyone. I will even miss watching them on TV. I am going to look into getting Center Ice to see if I can catch a few of the games. I am looking forward to going to the American Airlines Center on opening night with Mike and Kim for the CBJ game. We play in Dallas again (I think in December) which I plan to go to as well. I saw the article that Scott sent about Z. He can frustrate the New York fans now….
I am watching another pathetic display of football from Ohio State. I hope he can get this turned around. There is way too much talent on this team to be as bad as they are. Thank God my Steelers are playing well. Unfortunately, we do play Dallas this year, but it is at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh.
I think work is going to send me to Columbus in Mid October to help train the new AP Manager at the lab (that took my spot). Hopefully I can see everyone then. I really enjoy writing in this blog. I find I have to “schedule” time to write and then (as you can see) I get a little winded. Ironic that a shy guy can talk so damn much…
If anyone sees Lori (or you read this), Taco said to tell you he received your card and thought it was cute. He also promised he would “grace you” with his presence next time. I sent a text to you when we received it, but later thought you might not be able to get them.
Well, maybe the next post I will have something more interesting to post. Talk to y’all later…
I find it interesting how perspective can change in such a short distance of time. This week has been (according to the news) “very fall like weather.” Not what I would associate with “fall like weather”, but apparently it is Dallas’. The funny part was this past week when I walked Taco in the morning. I put on a t-shirt and shorts and proceeded outside. About a minute into the walk, I felt cold and began thinking I should have worn pants and maybe a jacket. When I got back to the apartment I checked the temperature outside. Are you ready for this… it was 75 degrees. All I could think was you have to be shitting me. I think its jacket weather at 75? I think that means I am officially climatized. This is the first year I can’t wait for winter. Just to see.
On a completely different note, I now have the Big Ten Network. Down here Time Warner put it on their sports tier. So I now have 1 channel to watch the Big Ten and like 6 channels to watch Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. Just weird…
I still don’t have a very significant friend network here. It is interesting that my personality doesn’t position myself well with new people. Although, this has been a very fascinating journey to take. I consider this piece of my life a work in progress. Ultimately, I am fairly shy outside of work and need to learn how to “blossom.” I think it has to do with comfort, because I don’t have this problem at work. I also don’t have a lot of time to work on a personal life, but am trying. I did join EHarmony, the online dating sight, with mixed feelings so far (been on it for a week). First, it turns out that it is very difficult to describe yourself in a few paragraphs and answers to a dozen questions. You start thinking “is that too much information to start with or is it not enough.” Then I start thinking I might attract a psycho like Nicole again (lets face it, I don’t have a great track record). Second, I seem to be grouping the respondents into two categories. The first I perceive them to have a lot of strings attached or baggage and ,quit frankly, scares the hell out of me. I start moving them to the not interested list. The second seem to have less or no baggage, but have descriptions or personalities that remind me of my ex. I need that like I need a hole in my head. So I move them to the not interested list. Of course, after these two “cuts” that leaves a VERY short list. Maybe I simply am not ready for any kind of relationship yet. Maybe I will find new friends this way. Maybe I am putting way to much thought into this shit. Maybe I just need a drink…
I am looking forward to hockey season to start. I will miss going to the games with everyone. I will even miss watching them on TV. I am going to look into getting Center Ice to see if I can catch a few of the games. I am looking forward to going to the American Airlines Center on opening night with Mike and Kim for the CBJ game. We play in Dallas again (I think in December) which I plan to go to as well. I saw the article that Scott sent about Z. He can frustrate the New York fans now….
I am watching another pathetic display of football from Ohio State. I hope he can get this turned around. There is way too much talent on this team to be as bad as they are. Thank God my Steelers are playing well. Unfortunately, we do play Dallas this year, but it is at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh.
I think work is going to send me to Columbus in Mid October to help train the new AP Manager at the lab (that took my spot). Hopefully I can see everyone then. I really enjoy writing in this blog. I find I have to “schedule” time to write and then (as you can see) I get a little winded. Ironic that a shy guy can talk so damn much…
If anyone sees Lori (or you read this), Taco said to tell you he received your card and thought it was cute. He also promised he would “grace you” with his presence next time. I sent a text to you when we received it, but later thought you might not be able to get them.
Well, maybe the next post I will have something more interesting to post. Talk to y’all later…
Sunday, September 14, 2008
Physically sick...
As it turns out, you CAN get physically sick when your team embarrasses themselves on national television. Or at least that is what I am blaming my sinus infection one...
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Hurricane Ike...
I am still alive at Hurricane central…
As you all are aware from watching the news reporters stand out in Hurricane force winds (and let’s be honest…it was funny as hell when Geraldo Rivera was swept away from a wave…and we all secretly wished it had been a larger wave.), bravely showing us how dire the situation is in Houston and Atlantis…err, I mean Galveston (come on, that was funny…in appropriate, but funny). The thing I like is that these reporters take this pounding and abuse to try and humanize the level of force and catastrophe. It is actually a little insulting to think the news agencies believe we are so ignorant that we need this visualization. But since I find it FAR more entertaining watching these idiots that it really doesn’t insult me. Go figure….
Well, Galveston got pounded pretty hard and the island is virtually underwater. Houston looks like a scene out of one of my “kill’em all” video games. They showed the JP Morgan building in Houston and about a quarter of its windows had been blown out. Street lights were blown off poles and trees were everywhere. And this was only a Cat 1 when it hit Houston. Imagine…
They are reporting that about 1 to 1.5 million people are without power on the coast and Houston. Let the looting begin….
Now the death and destruction is on its way to me. Well, according to the new tracks, a little south of me. We are under a wind advisory after 7 pm tonight. They expect the eye to track southeast of Dallas and move to Arkansas as a tropical depression, dumping a whole lot of rain on its way. Of course, we are expecting a lot of rain as well.
I am not really concerned about the wind at the moment. I do have a closet on the ground floor that I have prepped incase all hell breaks loose. This is where first responders will find me and Taco cowering our scared little asses. It will be interesting who ends up shaking more – me or him…
Hopefully the wind will remain under control and all I have to worry about is the rain. I prefer this challenge because I am uniquely prepared for that condition for two reasons. First, I live on a very large hill. Second, I am on the third floor. I will be watching from my balcony (eating popcorn) as people at the bottom of the hill scurry up to “high ground” (or as an unnamed brother put it “rats running from the water” – I don’t care who you are that’s funny). And in case you are wondering, I do have enough ammunition to hold the hill (I bet mom didn’t find that funny – just kidding).
Thank God that The ...just for you Mike.. Ohio State is on National TV tonight so I don’t have to go out in this to watch it. If the power goes out, I am going to be pissed. I plan to send you all updates as the evening progresses and if it is impressive, some video too.
Hope you all survive the Hurricane as well …
As you all are aware from watching the news reporters stand out in Hurricane force winds (and let’s be honest…it was funny as hell when Geraldo Rivera was swept away from a wave…and we all secretly wished it had been a larger wave.), bravely showing us how dire the situation is in Houston and Atlantis…err, I mean Galveston (come on, that was funny…in appropriate, but funny). The thing I like is that these reporters take this pounding and abuse to try and humanize the level of force and catastrophe. It is actually a little insulting to think the news agencies believe we are so ignorant that we need this visualization. But since I find it FAR more entertaining watching these idiots that it really doesn’t insult me. Go figure….
Well, Galveston got pounded pretty hard and the island is virtually underwater. Houston looks like a scene out of one of my “kill’em all” video games. They showed the JP Morgan building in Houston and about a quarter of its windows had been blown out. Street lights were blown off poles and trees were everywhere. And this was only a Cat 1 when it hit Houston. Imagine…
They are reporting that about 1 to 1.5 million people are without power on the coast and Houston. Let the looting begin….
Now the death and destruction is on its way to me. Well, according to the new tracks, a little south of me. We are under a wind advisory after 7 pm tonight. They expect the eye to track southeast of Dallas and move to Arkansas as a tropical depression, dumping a whole lot of rain on its way. Of course, we are expecting a lot of rain as well.
I am not really concerned about the wind at the moment. I do have a closet on the ground floor that I have prepped incase all hell breaks loose. This is where first responders will find me and Taco cowering our scared little asses. It will be interesting who ends up shaking more – me or him…
Hopefully the wind will remain under control and all I have to worry about is the rain. I prefer this challenge because I am uniquely prepared for that condition for two reasons. First, I live on a very large hill. Second, I am on the third floor. I will be watching from my balcony (eating popcorn) as people at the bottom of the hill scurry up to “high ground” (or as an unnamed brother put it “rats running from the water” – I don’t care who you are that’s funny). And in case you are wondering, I do have enough ammunition to hold the hill (I bet mom didn’t find that funny – just kidding).
Thank God that The ...just for you Mike.. Ohio State is on National TV tonight so I don’t have to go out in this to watch it. If the power goes out, I am going to be pissed. I plan to send you all updates as the evening progresses and if it is impressive, some video too.
Hope you all survive the Hurricane as well …
Sunday, September 7, 2008
