Walking Wounded

Life is good.  To put it basically.  I’m finally settled into my new job.  Which I am thoroughly enjoying.  Well, as much as you can enjoy a job I guess.  I’m working really hard.  Which I’ve come to find out is a wonderful thing.  You know I always thought if I worked really hard I would be miserable and stressed.  Well, not to say I’m not stressed, but I find at the end of the day I’m proud of myself and what I accomplished that day.  This is much better than feeling like a worthless slacker, which has typically been my experience.

What changed?  Well, a couple things.  One is I changed.  I’m sure not the same person I was a year ago.  Though who is?  Right?  I’ve grown up.  Taking life more seriously I guess.  Also, I’d attribute it to a working atmosphere that facillitates working hard.  It’s easy to work hard when everyone else around you is.

Recently I said to my boss “I’m smart and I work hard.”  It was nice to be able to say that about myself and it be completely the truth.  I see real potential growth with this job.

For those of you who don’t know I’ve kind of changed career directions.  I’m definitly still programming and using my technical skills.  But I’m also moving into roles of project management, communication, and process streamlining which are all things I’m good at and enjoy.

Other things in life?  Church is fun.  I’m still playing bass every other week in the band.  We rock!  Seriously the band is amazing.  I’m going to get to lead an acoustic worship set on the Sunday after Thanksgiving.  I’m excited about that.  I love music.  I play my acoustic every day and am always writting new songs.  I never seem to finish and record them though.  That’s the hard part.

I’m still single.  Which I’m very much enjoying.  Not that I want to be single but lets just say I’m fully enjoying the freedom.  I’ve been dying to go on a date actually but I have to find someone I want to ask first.  And it’s not that I don’t know any great girls.  I do. I just don’t know any I think I am a good match with.

I’ve lost another 10 pounds over the last 2 months.  I’ve not been on a low calarie diet but a normal calorie diet, which is why I’m slowly loosing weight.  I’m still adjusting to the new job and didn’t want to deal with the diet at the same time.  But I’m going to start cutting back again soon.  Another 10 to 220.  I’m trying to get there by the cruise I’m going on in January.

Oh, ya.  I’m going on a cruise in January.  WHoo!  I’ve already got the time off aproved.  About a dozen of us (my church friends) are going on a 6 day 5 night cruise to Jamaica and the Cayman islands.  I’m super excited.

Um, that’s it for now.  I promise no updates in any timeframe, other than sometime in the future.  Now theres a blogging promise I can keep. 

Well, lets start this off right.  I finally got offered a job.  I will be starting with Siemens ASAP.  I’m totally psyched for this job.  I’m excited to be working in a professional atmosphere.  I’m ready to be somewhere where I feel like I can move up and care about what I’m doing.  I’m anticipating really enjoying what I’ll be doing.  I will be working on many different parts of projects, not just programming all day.

Whats crazy is once I got the first interview for Siemens, the opportunites started flying all over the place.  I ended up not pursueing most of them because I was such a good fit for the Siemens job and was so thrilled about it that I didn’t see the point in looking at other things.

I’ve hit a mini plateau in losing weight.  It’s not that I can’t lose more but the extreme stress of job hunting is taking it’s toll.  I’m still pleased and motivated though.  Here’s a comparison for you.  The first picture here is me at a new years eve party Dec 31 2007.  The next photo is me about 4 weeks ago winning Zombies of Catan (Yeah, I said zombies!).

Yeah, seriously.  I can’t believe how bad it got. I was 285 at the first photo and about 240 in the second.  My first goal is 220 and second goal is 200 with a long-shot hope of hitting 190.  I’m as lean as I get at 190.  We’ll see how it keeps going.

There isn’t a ton else going on.  The job hunt has consumed all of me.  It’s like my life went on hold for two months. Time to get back on track.  I’ll keep the blog updated with news of how the new job goes.  Now, I get to go through the new job stress .

“There is a little McDonalds in Everyone”

I don’t know why they want to let everyone know about this sad truth as if it’s a good thing. But the slogan is true. There is a little McDonalds in me too. I have a double cheeseburger I got in 1985 that is still lingering around in me somewhere. I really don’t think this is something to be proud of.

So anyone who promises that they will start updating their blog regularly, never does. It’s inevitable. I’ve seen it happen all to many times. I am one of the greatest culprits at this so I’ll quit saying what I plan on doing with the blog. In fact I forgot about the blog until my Aunt Laura commented and I got an e-mail. Then I was like, “oh yeah, the blog.” A good bit has happened so let’s get started.

I got laid off last month. So I have been unemployed for about a month now. This has occupied the majority of my time. Honestly I had no idea how much time unemployment can take. I’ve been searching, applying, talking to head hunters/recruiters, and going to interviews all the time. It is without a doubt the most stressful thing I have ever experienced. Buying a house was worse but only lasted a couple days. This goes on for weeks and is such a roller-coaster. So my anxiety level is off the charts. Every job I’ve had I got very easily and they just fell into my lap so this is the first time I’ve really had to pursue one. I’m trying to find a place I want to work but I also just need a job, and that dilemma is the most difficult part. We’ll see how it goes.

In good news I have a new roommate John who just moved a week ago. So now I have two roommates again with Gary still residing here. One, this is good timing for me financially to be receiving the rent each month while I’m unemployed. Two, John is a really good friend of mine. In fact we seem to keep connecting on many levels and it’s only been a week but has honestly been wonderful to have him here.

On that note, I’ve really been blessed this year with friends. I have five guys that I talk to almost daily. You know those fiends that you tell everything to and you feel you can fully depend on and who can fully depend on you? I have five close guy friends like that. It’s truly awesome. Beyond that I have a killer small group at church. We do things every week as a group outside of our “traditionally Bible study” meetings and really are a close community. I’ve also got to develop the closest female relationships I’ve ever had that weren’t Girlfriends. I truly feel blessed with people that care about me right now. Which is so important as I’m going through such a rough time.

Those are the major points of the last couple months. Theres plenty of other things like my drive up to Kansas but I don’t want to long of post so those will have to wait if they come at all.