December 31, 2009
Wow, 10 years. I remember when I was younger wondering what it would be like when we hit the year 2000, and here we are getting ready to roll into 2010.
In the last 10 years,
- I’ve had 2 kids (actually my wife had them, I just… never mind….),
- bought a house,
- changed jobs 6 times,
- lost 2 grandparents,
- lost a brother,
- parted company with some friends,
- gained new friends, some of which are like brothers to me,
- gained a bunch new in-laws and a ton of nieces and nephews,
- watched as we were attacked on our soil and wept at the sight of American’s jumping to their death,
- wondered more than once what the hell was wrong with us as a country,
- looked at other countries and knew what was right about us,
- watched with pride as my children grow up, how proud of them I am even on those days they push my patience to its limits,
- brought 2 dogs into my house, and managed to keep one of them,
- realized I was well on my way to financial ruin if I didn’t make some changes,
- paid off all my debt with the exception of one car and my house without the help of a bailout from anyone,
- remodeled a bathroom,
- taken some fun vacations,
- finally found some hobbies that I really enjoy,
- and managed to not run off my wife in the process of it all (she’s obviously a keeper and must think I am as well).
Some of these events I’ve handled better than others, but I’ve learned something from each of them, but not have they always been fun lessons. Through it all, I feel that God has blessed me very generously. I may not have all that I wanted, but definitely have had all that I needed, and I cannot ask for any more than that.
Anyway, I wish all of you a happy 2010, thanks for stopping by.
Happy New Years!
December 19, 2009
I miss real winters…..
December 2, 2009
Those who are close to me know that I have long been bored with my job. Several years worth of bored in fact. It’s a been a good job, it pays very well, and has allowed us to pay off a great deal of debt. It’s an incredibly freeing thing to watch those chains shrink and disappear, something I intend to continue working at until we are completely debt free. That’s one of the reasons I’ve stuck with this line of work as long as I have.
An opportunity fell in my lap a few weeks ago. Without going into too many details, I’ve been offered a position to manage a group that I have been working with as a contractor for the past few years. I’ve tried a time or two to move in this direction at other companies, but it seems that I do my job a little too well. Yes, I’ve been told that. While this job may not sound exciting to anyone, keep in mind, I have NO (and by “NO”, I mean zero) formal management experience. Sure, I’ve managed small projects and small groups of developers, but nothing like this. I don’t know if I’ll like this job, or if I’ll even be good at it. The technical aspects, I can handle without issue, and have for many years, it’s the management stuff that has me a bit perplexed. I don’t even know, what I don’t know.
So, in a market where jobs are tight, and salaries are dropping, a company comes along, offers a job to someone with no experience but a willingness to try anything once, without taking too big of a pay cut plus gaining paid vacation and holidays…. Sign. Me. Up.
It’s going to be an interesting ride…..
November 22, 2009
I was saddened to hear that one of my favorite planes, which regularly flies over my house, crashed this afternoon. Thankfully, the pilot and passenger were able to walk away from the crash. Pictures of the crashed Stearman can be found at the above link.
Here is one of the plane in 2004. My daughter and I stumbled across an open house at this airfield and were able to snap some pics of this Stearman with the US Army Paint scheme, and the other done up in the yellow US Navy paint scheme
There is something so distinct about the noise of that engine… kinda like how you can tell a Harley by its rumble. I would know when that plane was about to pass over head.
It’s a sad loss from our skies and I’m sure gonna miss hearing it fly over….
November 8, 2009
So deer season is upon us, and I’m getting my gear ready. Silly season started at the range a few weeks ago with everyone dragging out their deer rifles. I had finished my load selection a few months ago and wanted to load up a few more rounds, check my zero and call it good. I meant to do it a month ago, but got lazy about it.
I had decided on using Sierra 180gr GameKings in my .30-06. I bought my box earlier in the year, and I haven’t been able to find them since. Cabela’s has been out of them, as well as my local reloading shop. I loaded up the 19 I had left, plus 5 Sierra 180gr ProHunter’s. I mistakenly bought the box of ProHunter’s a while back, so thought I’d just try them on top of the same load I was using for the GameKing’s just for grins
The GameKing’s have always shot well enough for me, but I would always throw one or two shots out of the 5 shot group, but generally would stay within a 2″ group. Good enough I suppose, but we all know that the jagged hole is like a hit of crack. So after I get everything zero’d for my chosen load, I pull out the 5 Game Kings.
All 5 in a one inch circle at 100 yards. Thank you Mr. Crack dealer.
In case you’re wondering:
45.7 grains Varget
CCI Large Rifle Primers
Remington Cases
180 gr. Sierra GameKing ( or ProHunters in this case)
OAL: 3.340″
Use at your own risk……. If you blow up your gun….it’s your own fault.
