Thursday, November 27, 2008
Thanksgiving marks the "start" of the holiday shopping season, or the commercialization of what was once the religious holiday season. Its has become centered around getting the "biggest" toy or gift that can be purchased. And you can substitute the word biggest with any of the following words: shiniest, coolest, most expensive or what ever the current fad is. In the spending frenzy that takes place during the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas the only people that benefit are the companies that sell, distribute or make all the crap being gobbled up by the unsuspecting consumers. This trend will only get worse unless we make a change.
I don't know about anyone else, but I personally have decided to do something in defiance of this worsening trend. This year I am doing something to change it, and I encourage EVERYONE to do the same....
In place of one or two of the gifts I would normally have bought my daughter, I will make a donation in her name. She has been part of the process in choosing the charity and is a little excited about doing it. This year it is the National Breast Cancer Foundation, in memory of a fellow high school student that passed away in a car accident recently. We will do this on Christmas day, so she will be active in the process and press the button to complete the process herself.
I have also done something similar. I have given to a charity called "Sub for Santa". As part of a company effort to raise money for this charity, the company I work for pledged to match $25,000 if the employees would raise the same. We went a little over board and raised nearly $75,000 (to make a total of $100,000). In a week or so they will send teams out shopping for gifts in 9 cities around the country and Canada, and then have teams of people wrapping and others distributing the gifts.
This is my personal effort to make a change in the worsening trend that is the commercialization of what should be a season of giving, giving back, family and what ever your religious belief happens to be this time of year. I encourage that everyone to do something this season to teach their kids, family and friends that this season is about something other than getting the cool toy or expensive video game. I also encourage everyone to post their story about giving or supporting a charity in their blogs, spread the word....
And as s small reminder, if you can't afford to give money, give time. In the past I have found that to be just as gratifying if not more.
Everyone have a sane holiday season
| OK.... its been a while since I posted one of these things, but there have been a few really odd things that have happened to me in the last week, so I figure I should share a few later on.... but for now, lets do some catching up.... Since my last entry, life has been fairly normal, and here are a few of the highlights... The job is going great... got a promotion and moved to the corporate office to be closer to my servers and the executive team (some one has to save their butts)... I am still working way too much, but then I have always been that way... I finally registered my car in this foolish state.... I thought that Massachusetts and was bad for registering your car, but this is the first time once I finished my registration process that it took a week or two to get my plates... But its complete and one less thing left for me to finish..... I had a chance to visit Maine and New Hampshire a month ago, was good to see Brook and the rest of the family.... I even got to cook Lobster for everyone, a good thing I didn't have to buy it this time.... I did connect with some old friends while I was in Maine this time.... Its been 10+ years since I hung out with Michelle and Leslie.... Maybe next time I wont make Michelle schlep me my beer... I even made a trip to Philbricks Sports in Dover NH to buy some new hockey skates and some pad repair material... I tried to hook up with some old friends while in Portsmouth... but they all blew me off.... maybe next time... And in case you didn't notice, I found a hockey team to play for, well, actually I helped pull it all together.... The competition is not as good as it was back in Boston, but the team I play for is not that good so I get lots of work... We have only won one game, we are 1-3, but we are improving..... I also think I will try to find another skate to get me into better shape.... Now for the Two separate and very strange happenings over the past week or so.... So I was driving to work last Tuesday, and dropped off my dry cleaning along the way, and then all of the sudden WHAM..... the back of my car was thrown up 3 feet and 4 or 5 feet to the left.... I looked in the rear view mirrors to look for the car that ran the stop sign, but there was no one.... after bringing my car to a safe stop, I checked out what happened.... there was no visible damage to the body, but the right rear tire was jammed up into the wheel well and the rim was nearly split in two.... I looked back and found the culprit... a man hole cover was propped open.... I had run over it with the front tire making it half pop out of the hole, then the back tire hit it.... needless to say, its in the shop being worked on and I am driving one of my boss's cars.... I had his BMW 328 for a while, but my hockey bag does not fit in it, so he traded the Acura MDX.... I will put the pictures up when I am done with this... Now for the second weird happening... I went to Dallas for a wedding, an old friend I met while working at Regis College in Weston Mass 10 years ago.... It was a nearly normal wedding, it was held in an Irish Pub, there was lots of drinking and the usual frivolity... I had fun, and probably drank way too much, but what is new there.... the hotel was only a 3 minute walk away.... But the weird part is, during the little brunch served after the ceremony.... While sitting at the table having a traditional Irish breakfast (scrambled eggs, bangers and beer) I noticed a person at the same table that looked very familiar, and once I heard her name it all fell together... A friend of the happy couple (from Irish class - that explains the pub wedding) brought his girlfriend, now here is the weird part... I worked with her when I worked in Boston (she worked for the company in Dallas) back in 2002 and 2003, and we hung out a few times while she was in Boston visiting the home office..... Talk about a small world.... there were a total of 16 other people at the wedding besides the families of the sucke... er... bride and groom, incuding her and I... We caught up and everyone was in shock at the small world factor... And it really is a small world... I knew a total of 10 people in the greater Dallas area before this past weekend, and ran into one of them at a wedding with a total of 30 guests.... It looks like I wont be going back to Maine and New Hampshire until Christmas, but I will make it for a longer time then an extended weekend.... (maybe a whole week).... That should be enough ranting for now... I will try to follow up with some more later... some one remind me to tell everyone about my friends 7 Bathroom house next time... |
Enough of my going on about my pants, or lack of them. More about my adventures in Sunny Utah.....
Brook, who used to be referred to as "Princess Bratski", came out to visit a couple of weeks ago. We had a fun filled short time together, and had a full calendar together...
The first day we slept in a little, then went into my office and got to meet some of the people I work with.... Next she wanted to try Sushi, so we went to the local sushi joint and she tried it..... not her bag, so no more sushi for her.... next we took a trip up the local canyon and headed to Sundance (yes, THAT Sundance) to see where it is and the like... we then proceeded the rest of the way up the canyon road (more like path) back towards where I live for a little BBQ and some well deserved rest....
The next day, we slept in again.... then headed to a party my company was throwing... we had BBQ chicken and pulled pork.... watched the skydivers deliver a JD Powers award... tried to get our names in for the helicoptor rides (but that didn't work)... then headed to the Mall.... you know 16 year olds and malls.... this was not an ordinary mall.... its called the Gateway Mall in Salt Lake City, its down town and is an outdoor mall.... complete with a water fountain that the kids would run through (its flat) and it would have water shows to classical music.... we shopped a lot, got her a few things and had dinner.... she was getting run down and wanted to IM her new boyfriend, so we headed back to the Apartment... after a little rest, we went to the Sonic Drive in and ordered a desert.... a first for the both of us having never been to a Sonic.
The last day, we went to the Timpanogos Caves National Monument... you have seen me write about them on here before, but here we go again.... from the Departure point, its a mile and a half in distance and about 1,100 feet in elevation. We did it in about an hour... the cave itself was fascinating (even for the second time being there).... different crystal formations and some very odd ones.... and its only 43 degrees in there.... perfect for a hot summer day... That wiped us out and we did some lunch.... then rested, cleaned up and headed to my boss's house for dinner with his family.... his kids like her, and i even think the 2 1/2 year old boy was hitting on her....
She flew out the next morning.... back east to rain and cold tempratures.... she things everyone here is a little crazy and all the names of the towns are whacked....
Other than that.... the social life is still standing still and I am working way too much ( but what is new there)....
Friday, July 18, 2008
Well..... Its half way through the summer and I have discovered that its HOT here during the day.... today it nearly got to 100 and I thought I was going to burst into flames when I went outside this afternoon... the good news is that I have central air-conditioning in my apartment and so far, I haven't spent more than $60 for Gas and Electric combined.... yeah, I have to pay for ALL my utilities.... but its a SWEET apartment.... look for the pictures of the fireplace this winter.....
So I have been jonesing for a trip to Vegas, but the job has me working my tail off, and, this is the busiest time of year where I work, so I don't get much time to escape much... on a bright note, we have started an exercise program with in my department and I have lost 5 pounds doing 5 mile power walks at lunch.... and I have skated a couple times at the local rink, and am looking forward to picking up a regular skate this fall......
Princess Bratski comes out to visit in a couple of weeks (two weeks from yesterday to be exact) and we have some fun planned..... She wants to check out where I work and we are going to hike up to a place called Timpanogos Caves that I can see from my porch... We are also going to go visit Sundance to get some food and maybe check out a movie (yes, the Sundance from the Sundance Film Festival - its about 30 minutes from here)..... and we will check out the local malls (you know teen age girls and malls).....
Everything is going well here.... my social life is a little slow, but then I didn't take on this adventure for the social life.... one of the people that work for me keeps threatening to set me up.... but she just got married, so she is still a little optimistic about the thought of love and matters of the heart (it would help if I had a heart)....
Its getting late here.... and I am going to try to work in the morning.... look for more in a few weeks.... |
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
OK.... its the last day of April, and on my way home from work, it started snowing.... ITS NOT SUPPOSED TO SNOW AFTER MY BIRTHDAY!!!!!! and on top of that.... it was 80 on Monday and Tuesday... Something is not right with that....
OK.... enough ranting.... but I am beginning to like the weather back in New England.....
For those that care, work is going well, and I almost have a place to live....
Everone back east enjoy your weather.....
Sunday, April 06, 2008
I finally made it to Utah....
The trip was semi eventful with being stuck in traffic in western Wyoming, then with the snow on the next morning....
I started the new job on Monday around 10:30 local time. Its going to take a little while for me to get up to speed with the business model and applying the technology to it, but I am starting to settle in.
I still don’t have a place to live yet, but I am looking. I am fortunate to have a place to stay while I look for a place of my own. Its tough living in your boss’s home, but I get the run of the place while I am here, and he is also back in boston with his family while he begins the process of moving the entire family. I get the entire weekend to my self.
I am also starting to explore a little, checking out the local supermarkets for the best food choices. I am slowly finding the good restaurants, people tell me that the mexican here is pretty good.
I am jonesing for my Redsox. I bought the MBL TV package for the year, then when I was in my office on Firday it just didn’t work. I am going to have to let the firewall guy that my Redsox are very important. It works at home though, and those games start at 11am or 12noon so I can get the baseball over with early, and, the week day games start at 5. I haven’t worn my Sox cap out yet, but I will soon to see what the reaction is.
I have a new work email and a new Cell number. If you want them, you will have to ask for them.
I will try to post another blog in a week or so. If you haven’t already read my blogs cronicling my relocation to Utah, read my previous blogs and archives.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
OK..... so my preminision this morning about the bad weather being a bad thing was spot on..... Let me tell you all a little story....
So I got a some what early start this morning, on the road for my final drive of 5 hours, even with the snow.... Gassed up..... got a coffee and hit the snowy road.... I got about 170 miles when it happened.... a three truck pile up on Rt 80..... I spent 8 1/2 hours piled up with a multitude of tractor trailors and other weary travelers.... a few times I thought about turning around and trying to find another route, but was told a few times by the truckers that it would only be an hour or two more..... with the shortest detour being 4 - 5 hours and combined with the snow, I decided to stick it out.... So I sat parked on the highway from 10:15AM until 6:50PM..... Picture all those classic movies and TV shows with traffic jams in them with the people out fo their cars wandering about and having fun, but with angry truckers instead jovial bus drivers....
Needless to say, I wont be into Utah until tomorrow morning when I start my new job..... Today’s average speed???? 17 Miles per hour..... I need to let them know I might be a little late for work in the morning.....
I will try to let everyone know how my first day goes
Sunday, March 30, 2008
I look out my window from the hotel, and its snowing.... this should make for an eventfull finish to my trip. I really am not looking forward to this leg of the trip.... good thing its shorter than the other legs....
Saturday, March 29, 2008
.....NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!
That’s right.... a whole lot of nothing.... Iowa... Nebraska.... Wyoming.... unless you like corn or cattle, NOTHING!!!!!
SO far in my quest to get to the Provo Utah area has taken me 2130 miles with stops in Cleveland OH, Stuart IA and now Rawlins WY. Only 300 or so miles left....
Once I got into Indiana, everything started to flatten out... the once in Nebraska, things started to just go up.... And up.... and up.... and up.... and as things went up, there became less and less of stuff.... trees.... fields.... air.... trafic... everything.
I figured out how to take pictures while driving today.... and will post some in my pictures in a little while.....
Utah or Bust...
Friday, March 28, 2008
WOW..... now I know why they come up with these stories about Iowa.... There isn’t anything else to do out here.... Heck... there just isn’t anything here but corn....
So far on the trip I have made it all the way to Stuart Iowa.... About 30 miles past Des Moines. I drove about 700 Miles today, Two Tank Fill ups, three coffees and some munchies.... and I was admiring the corn fields that go on FOREVER.... here I am going to try to get an early start on Saturday morning, depending on how late I sleep in or not sleep in....
Last night in Cleveland, the nieces were all glad to see me, and I was so happy to see them.... look for some cool pictures of them once I get settled in Utah.... I stayed there long enough this morning to see them all off to school... what a wild bunch they all are....
Off to try to get some needed sleep......
Thursday, March 27, 2008
That’s right.... Cleveland.... The Mistake by the Lake... The trip from Portsmouth, 11 hours and 20 minutes, two fill ups of the gas tank and 638 miles, now I SO need to get some sleep....
Back to playing with the nieces....
More tomorrow nigjht....
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Well....... I am on the road..... Staying in town tonight for a last night... some of my old coworkers are throwing in impromptu party this evening..... who knows what will happen.... the last time I went to Margarita’s like this I woke up with a monster hangover....
I will let every one know how the trip is going from Cleveland tomorrow night....
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Ok.... So I am finally done working at Madison, they even snuck up on me with a little cake and a card.... .WAY too mushy.... good bye already.... I would much have prefered beer over cake any day, but those that know me, its always about the beer....
Everything is all packed up with the exception of the bedding, TV accessories (cable box and DVD player) and my fridge..... I am going to pack up the internet and TV stuff in a little while and then I wont be online again until Wednesday evening when I check in to a hotel.... but I may reconsider it due to some extra space in my car for the trip...
Princess Bratski took good-bye fairly well this past weekend, not a tear...... Better than me....
Margarita’s in Portsmouth, Everyone but me is buying on Wednesday evening around 5:15 or so.... Then its a some what good night sleep and off to Utah I go....
I will check messages and email when I can......
Keeping it under 100....
Saturday, March 22, 2008
That’s right, that’s how much time I have left in New England..... Two days at work, one day with the movers and tomorrow with Princess Bratski...
Tonight I got to feed the entire clan that is still here in Maine. I fed them all with quite the feast... My niece Abreal had a birthday yesterday so we all celebrated tonight, complete with ice cream cake.... My sister "Crash" came, along with my nephew and his wife and their son Wes (but I keep calling him Will) who happens to be born on my birthday..... My other sister showed up with the birthday girl and her husband.... Bratski and the ’Rents all watched me cook....
If you were wondering what I fed them, here it is..... I marinated some chicken chunks in two sauces.... Carribean Mango and Lemon Pepper, I also marinated Steak tips in a Honey Bourbon sauce.... I diced up some Peppers, Onions and Mushrooms, added some cherry tomatoes and put every thing on skewers.... put the meats on skewers when they were done marinating... grabbed some potatoes and a few sweet potatoes, diced them all up, wrapped them in tin foil with a little butter and a touch of garlic..... Dropped the entire thing on the grill and cooked away..... they wont be able to top that until I come back and cook again.....
I brought the items I need to go to the cabin in northern Maine to store them at my parents house, but I bet my father uses them while I am gone... I still have what seems like a lot of packing left....
That’s going to do it for now...... but everyone can expect more....
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
I am up to 7 trash bags and have decided to toss the couch and recliner.... 17 years of discomfort are enough now....
The last week at work is going to be very draining.... trying to off load all the knowledge in my head has burnned out one consultant now and shoult fry two or three more...
I bought the TomTom one V3 tonight and a trackfone.... those that need the number will how to get it.... the total fot the phone, TomTom and 60 minute card was only $200... frugality rules on this move....
I will have more as the weekend comes and goes... I will let you all know how princess bratski takes the good bye....so far so good though....
Saturday, March 15, 2008
So some of you might have already figured out, but I am moving to Utah for a new job.
As part of my trip, I am going to take lots of pictures, and experience many things along my way. So I am going to keep everyone up to date in my Blog for the trip. I bet even looking back at it I might get a laugh or two from all of this.
Packing:
Packing all of my crap is more work than I thought. I have moved before, but not to this extent. Everything I pack needs to be packed for a long travel, not 30 minutes down the road....
Purging
I am purging stuff that I no longer want or need. Old clothes are going to goodwill and crap is going to the trash bin. I am discovering that I have way too much crap that I have been collecting over the years. This is all stuff I have been holding on to because I have a dillusion that I might actually use it again.....
So far I have thrown out three garbage bags of crap into the dumpster here at home and see at least 5 or 6 more. Its a little troubling to think that I have been collecting this crap over the years and am now just discovering that its actually CRAP.....
I am actually thinking about leaving the living room set beind and purchasing a new one when I settle down in Utah, I have several other options for seating while I wait for new furnature, so it wont be like sitting on the floor all the time.
More later on this week.....
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
I don't write these things very often (if at all), but I feel that I to let all my friends know what is going on in my life right now.
I will get right to the point…. I have accepted a job in
For those of you that really know me, I have researched it a little, and there are plenty of hockey leagues there and I should have no problem finding work as a goalie out there. I really will miss playing with my Bison team and the pick up groups I regularly play with.
My Daughter, Princess Bratski, has given me her blessing and is looking forward to visiting. Our visits will be a little fewer in number, but we will make the most of our times together when I visit
Too all my co-workers at
As for actually living in
Some of you might be inclined to call, but please hold off until after work hours and I will be happily answer any emails as soon as I can.
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