Guess who's back?
After a long hiatus?
After closing on a home, moving, relocating, moving some more, and relocating more?
After getting all the finances straight and transferred and accounts setup for the new home?
After leaving one part of the Containment Area.... to live in another part of the Containment Area?
You guessed it! I AM BACK PEOPLES!!!
So I just finished the moving in process and getting things switched over to the new address. I had no idea how much work that really was. Obviously some things had to be sacrificed temporarily... And after a long and lengthy debate, it was decided that blogging was the sacrifice I should make to accomplish everything I need to get done.
Right decision!
There were so many nights during the move that I was so tired, I just laid my head down and that did me in! Plus I moved all by myself, packing the car and making multiple trips when I could during work weeks. Got a little help from work colleagues when it came to getting rid of my couch. I did not stop exercising (thank God) during that whole time... Yea, I be up in the gym just workin on my fitness... I heard that in a song somewhere, hehe.
But no worries. I am BACK! These are exciting times and so much has happened despite the move -- in religious development, social development, and of course, my physical AND mental development.
Right now I am up bright and early because my nieces are graduating from school today. So I need to hit the gym early, and then go to their graduation. Great times to be an uncle I guess, hehe.
Dating season is around the corner and I am going to see what the pool is looking like this time around. Last year sucked but the grass is always greener (smirks... I mean smiles).
This is going to be one helluva summer! One HELLUVA dating season!
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Monday, May 4, 2009
Slippin Big Time!
Whew!
I need to catch up on my blog postings. But to make a long story short: adding relocation and painting to my list of already busy activities has taken a toll on me! OMG! Well, to update, I have a home now, and this weekend I started painting my living room. I picked a steel gray color (with blue tints) because I am going for a very modern/contemporary look. It is going to look REAL NICE when the whole main area is decorated. I might hire a professional to do the kitchen - there is no WAY I can reach the part of the wall where the cabinets are (without messing those up). But the dining room, and the bedrooms, are definitely within my domain!
I need to catch up on my blog postings. But to make a long story short: adding relocation and painting to my list of already busy activities has taken a toll on me! OMG! Well, to update, I have a home now, and this weekend I started painting my living room. I picked a steel gray color (with blue tints) because I am going for a very modern/contemporary look. It is going to look REAL NICE when the whole main area is decorated. I might hire a professional to do the kitchen - there is no WAY I can reach the part of the wall where the cabinets are (without messing those up). But the dining room, and the bedrooms, are definitely within my domain!
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Draft Day!
Today was a great day for both my schools, Ohio St and USC. Sanchez, Nets. Cushing, Texans. Matthews, Packers. Beanie, Cardinals. Laurinaitas, Rams. Robiskie, Browns. Maualuga, the Nati. Moala, Colts. USC is leading Ohio St in draft picks so far. Hopefully everything will even out for both my schools. I even met more of my neighbors. No one has completely moved in... yet, lol. everyone is still painting, lol. even me! But I did start moving a lot of non-critical living items to my new home. Like boxes I never even opened up from my first move here, to kitchen items I have not used since God knows when, hehe. I even showed my nieces my new home. They absolutely loved it, and they already have their rooms picked out! Guess it is time to get some furniture.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Let the relocation begin!
Starting tomorrow, I will begin phase 1 of many of my relocation to my new home! I will start with all nonessential items... stuff I still have boxed up from my move here from Buckeye-land. I need to call the utility companies to get everything transferred into my name, and the cable guy to transfer my internet access.
Still thinking of how I am going to decorate my home. I know I want the main areas decorated and furnished by mid June to early July, as well as have beds for the bedrooms. Since I will be hosting family for the summer. Painting the bedroom areas do not concern me at this point... The living, dining, and kitchen on the other hand...
I heard so much about this "Highpoint" place from friends and colleagues, but my eyes are still focused on that Ikea store in Charlotte. Hopefully, my tax credit will come in the next few weeks so I can use it for decoration and furniture.
Still thinking of how I am going to decorate my home. I know I want the main areas decorated and furnished by mid June to early July, as well as have beds for the bedrooms. Since I will be hosting family for the summer. Painting the bedroom areas do not concern me at this point... The living, dining, and kitchen on the other hand...
I heard so much about this "Highpoint" place from friends and colleagues, but my eyes are still focused on that Ikea store in Charlotte. Hopefully, my tax credit will come in the next few weeks so I can use it for decoration and furniture.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
1 Year Anniversary
Today marks the 1 year anniversary since I started my full time employment at my present employer. So I brought in Bagels from Panera Bread to celebrate. They sure went by FAST! I am just glad that I was able to get my 1 chocolate chip bagel, hehe! Nonetheless, it was a typical work day, followed by 2 workout sessions, and choir practice. I accomplished a lot in my first year here.
I truly feel that my career is off to a great start! I had a one-on-one with my manager and just basically gave him a presentation of my career from my point of view. I let him know of all the skills that I have that the department is and is not taking advantage of, and what I have been doing to keep my skills not being used, well, fresh. Also, I reiterated my desire for international travel. I made it clear that at some point I want a 1 year international assignment somewhere outside the known 50 states and US territories. And that my engineering career goals still include becoming a licensed professional engineer, because it will take me far if I do decide to go into consulting, or project management, even general management. You have no idea how many clients will not consider you if you can not prove that you have at least ONE licensed professional engineer. Trust me, it is a lot! Which increases my desire to get it.
I also told him that with or without the company's 'blessing' I will be a full time MBA student in August 2014, and that nothing will make me happier than to resume my career with the company I am with now to apply my new education in the post MBA timeframe. Basically, with a career plan mapped out, we both have direction on how to shape my tasks, assignments, and opportunities.
I also made a lot of strides outside of work. Since before coming here, I made it my point to make several stands. And I made several personal declarations. Among those include finding a church home before the first Sunday after my arrival, being active in church, trying new things, and losing all the weight I gained during undergrad and grad school. All goals, I feel were accomplished beyond anything I could possibly imagine.
On the religious front, I am active in the young adult ministry and the gospel choir. I participated in prayer sessions, and during lent, the caterpillar challenge. Through prayer, being with the right people, my spiritual life has taken on new meaning. God has done great things for me. With the grace of God, and the mercies of a certain choir director, I went from never singing in a choir, to singing the Exsultet solo for Easter Vigil. I feel a stronger presence of God in my life now, and the church I attend DEFINITELY has a lot to do with it.
On the physical front, I paid a terrible price for my education by letting myself go. Eating and sleeping, and not exercising. Even in the post-USC timeframe, I was exercising but it was not enough. When I arrived in the Containment Area, I made a promise to myself to intensify all workout cycles. I still ate what I wanted, but I started doing 2-a-days in the gym... At first it was 30 minute cardio twice a day, but that later evolved to two 1 hr cardio sessions everyday. I did not start my weight training until the first week of January of this year, and I have been keeping track of my progress. When I started my weight training, I made sure all my meals were as balanced as possible to make sure I was eating the right amounts of carbs, proteins, fats, calories. When I went vegan for lent, I had to substitute all animal products, including meat with synthetic proteins, but now I am back to eating meats and eggs etc, but just more aware of alternatives. I take advantage of the alternatives as much as possible now.
As a result of my newfound drive and resolve, I am 50+ pounds lighter and I went from wearing XL/2XL clothes to wearing Mediums. None of my clothes fit me anymore and I ended up buying new outfits. I look a lot healthier than I did one year ago. I have way more energy now, and I am very stress free at work. It is amazing how exercising does not cause any more headaches for me or make me feel all fidgety or whatnot when I am in the lab.
Socially, I am meeting new people and making new connections, but it has been very slow. I get out every once in awhile for salsa, but even that (and dating) has stalled mostly because of what I am about to write below but I still have a desire to be a more social person. This is something I need to work out in year 2.
The highlight of my 1st year accomplishments rests with the fact that I was able to become a homeowner before my 1 year anniversary of employment. To me that was a very hard and ambitious task -- To save enough money to put down on a home. I even had to stop taking Golf and Salsa lessons to accomplish this. I knew one thing for certain: I was not going to be renting for a second year. That was my motivation to put down on a home. It is the financially responsible thing to do, especially since I will be here for awhile.
I do not know what year 2 in the Containment Area for Relocate Yankees will bring, but year one, with all the ups and downs, ins and outs, highs and lows, was a great year.
And the best is yet to come!
HERES TO YEAR TWO!!! EL YAY!!!!!!!
I truly feel that my career is off to a great start! I had a one-on-one with my manager and just basically gave him a presentation of my career from my point of view. I let him know of all the skills that I have that the department is and is not taking advantage of, and what I have been doing to keep my skills not being used, well, fresh. Also, I reiterated my desire for international travel. I made it clear that at some point I want a 1 year international assignment somewhere outside the known 50 states and US territories. And that my engineering career goals still include becoming a licensed professional engineer, because it will take me far if I do decide to go into consulting, or project management, even general management. You have no idea how many clients will not consider you if you can not prove that you have at least ONE licensed professional engineer. Trust me, it is a lot! Which increases my desire to get it.
I also told him that with or without the company's 'blessing' I will be a full time MBA student in August 2014, and that nothing will make me happier than to resume my career with the company I am with now to apply my new education in the post MBA timeframe. Basically, with a career plan mapped out, we both have direction on how to shape my tasks, assignments, and opportunities.
I also made a lot of strides outside of work. Since before coming here, I made it my point to make several stands. And I made several personal declarations. Among those include finding a church home before the first Sunday after my arrival, being active in church, trying new things, and losing all the weight I gained during undergrad and grad school. All goals, I feel were accomplished beyond anything I could possibly imagine.
On the religious front, I am active in the young adult ministry and the gospel choir. I participated in prayer sessions, and during lent, the caterpillar challenge. Through prayer, being with the right people, my spiritual life has taken on new meaning. God has done great things for me. With the grace of God, and the mercies of a certain choir director, I went from never singing in a choir, to singing the Exsultet solo for Easter Vigil. I feel a stronger presence of God in my life now, and the church I attend DEFINITELY has a lot to do with it.
On the physical front, I paid a terrible price for my education by letting myself go. Eating and sleeping, and not exercising. Even in the post-USC timeframe, I was exercising but it was not enough. When I arrived in the Containment Area, I made a promise to myself to intensify all workout cycles. I still ate what I wanted, but I started doing 2-a-days in the gym... At first it was 30 minute cardio twice a day, but that later evolved to two 1 hr cardio sessions everyday. I did not start my weight training until the first week of January of this year, and I have been keeping track of my progress. When I started my weight training, I made sure all my meals were as balanced as possible to make sure I was eating the right amounts of carbs, proteins, fats, calories. When I went vegan for lent, I had to substitute all animal products, including meat with synthetic proteins, but now I am back to eating meats and eggs etc, but just more aware of alternatives. I take advantage of the alternatives as much as possible now.
As a result of my newfound drive and resolve, I am 50+ pounds lighter and I went from wearing XL/2XL clothes to wearing Mediums. None of my clothes fit me anymore and I ended up buying new outfits. I look a lot healthier than I did one year ago. I have way more energy now, and I am very stress free at work. It is amazing how exercising does not cause any more headaches for me or make me feel all fidgety or whatnot when I am in the lab.
Socially, I am meeting new people and making new connections, but it has been very slow. I get out every once in awhile for salsa, but even that (and dating) has stalled mostly because of what I am about to write below but I still have a desire to be a more social person. This is something I need to work out in year 2.
The highlight of my 1st year accomplishments rests with the fact that I was able to become a homeowner before my 1 year anniversary of employment. To me that was a very hard and ambitious task -- To save enough money to put down on a home. I even had to stop taking Golf and Salsa lessons to accomplish this. I knew one thing for certain: I was not going to be renting for a second year. That was my motivation to put down on a home. It is the financially responsible thing to do, especially since I will be here for awhile.
I do not know what year 2 in the Containment Area for Relocate Yankees will bring, but year one, with all the ups and downs, ins and outs, highs and lows, was a great year.
And the best is yet to come!
HERES TO YEAR TWO!!! EL YAY!!!!!!!
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Home Decorating Books
So today I went to Barnes and Noble to look at some home decorating books. I already have help on the way from some friends, but it is always good to have some knowledge on the subject. I feel that their decorating skills are far superior to my own, so I will still go by their input and suggestions. Nonetheless, it is good NOT to be absolutely clueless when it comes to this enormous feat!
So when it comes to decorating, the main priorities are the living room, dining room, and the master bedroom in terms of painting, furniture, and accents (i am learning new terminology!!!). There is very little to do in the kitchen (just basically change the paint color). After those three, I will focus on the guest room followed by the 3rd floor bedroom.
As for the garage... I have no clue, but it needs to be a 'mans' garage! I need to give this some serious thought.
Anyways, exciting times! What will happen next!?!
So when it comes to decorating, the main priorities are the living room, dining room, and the master bedroom in terms of painting, furniture, and accents (i am learning new terminology!!!). There is very little to do in the kitchen (just basically change the paint color). After those three, I will focus on the guest room followed by the 3rd floor bedroom.
As for the garage... I have no clue, but it needs to be a 'mans' garage! I need to give this some serious thought.
Anyways, exciting times! What will happen next!?!
Monday, April 20, 2009
Homeowner Status!
Let it be known that on THIS day, April 20, 2009, at 1330 hrs (thats 1:30 PM for all you non-military time people), I closed on my 3 bedroom 3.5 bath townhome in the Containment Area for Relocated Yankees. I am officially a homeowner!
El Yay!!!
El Yay!!!
El Yay!!!
Talk about pure joy and excitement. Do you know what this means!
- House parties
- Buckeye and Trojan football gatherings
- Another possible location for prayer group meetings
- Barbecues!!!
- And a bunch of other stuff that I can not think of since it is late at night and I need to be asleep.
The evacuation has begun from my apartment to my HOME!
OMG I HAVE A HOME! Do you know how GREAT that feels to say that!?!
Now all I gotta do is decorate it. I already know how I want the main area to look, thanks to a couple of home showings. I just do not know where to start. I know a couple of things are for certain
- MY Bedroom will have a king sized bed
- The kitchen will soon be populated with the Kitchenaid appliances I already have.
- I need new furniture for the main areas
- I need a gas grill, no man's home is complete without a propane gas grill. DO NOT TRY TO TALK ME OUT OF THIS ONE
and I am pretty sure there is more stuff, but it is very late, and I am sleepy, and I need to go to work tomorrow!
El Yay!!!
El Yay!!!
El Yay!!!
Talk about pure joy and excitement. Do you know what this means!
- House parties
- Buckeye and Trojan football gatherings
- Another possible location for prayer group meetings
- Barbecues!!!
- And a bunch of other stuff that I can not think of since it is late at night and I need to be asleep.
The evacuation has begun from my apartment to my HOME!
OMG I HAVE A HOME! Do you know how GREAT that feels to say that!?!
Now all I gotta do is decorate it. I already know how I want the main area to look, thanks to a couple of home showings. I just do not know where to start. I know a couple of things are for certain
- MY Bedroom will have a king sized bed
- The kitchen will soon be populated with the Kitchenaid appliances I already have.
- I need new furniture for the main areas
- I need a gas grill, no man's home is complete without a propane gas grill. DO NOT TRY TO TALK ME OUT OF THIS ONE
and I am pretty sure there is more stuff, but it is very late, and I am sleepy, and I need to go to work tomorrow!
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