Mark's Blog...

HE'S BACK!

2007-08-03T17:46:17Z

Hi everyone-- I'm back! Believe it or not this is the first time in nearly a month that I have had to write anything. Work has been INSANE and adding a vacation in was nuts too.

Speaking of vacation, what a great time we had! It was HOT AS BLAZES in DC/Baltimore last weekend but we still had a good time.

Favorite sight: The National Cathedral.
Favorite meal: Pazo, Balitmore.
Strangest moment:
Worst moment: the endless hours sitting in traffic because of STUPID MAPQUEST-- turns out there are a lot faster routes from our hotel to ANYWHERE we went.

Things are great on the home front. I am now managing the entire team at work-- so essentially I finally built the empire I envisioned a year ago. Now I have to deliver. Ugh. Wish me luck, annual reviews come out in the next few weeks, along with bonus and salary increases... PAPA NEEDS A NEW DECK!

This weekend is all about relaxation, with a few chores mixed in. We have a party at the Alcorn residence on Saturday. I am anticipating needing to sleep in on Sunday.

Big Brother: Someone please kill Jen. Poor Nick, what will I do without getting to see his SMOKIN' HOT BODY every week? Is it me or did he get HOTTER with the mowhawk? DAMN!

Speaking of hot, there were some HOT daddies in Georgetown and Baltimore Inner Harbor. YUM. I was drooling most of the weekend!

What a week!

2007-07-20T15:28:26Z

OH MAN! I spent like 40 minutes writing a stellar posting and I inadvertently clicked "BACK" and lost it all. MAN! I suck! I think from now on I am going to write my postings in Word first, then just paste them in when my thoughts are complete so I don't loose anything.

I can't believe it's been since Monday that I posted last. I have been SO busy at work and at home that I haven't had a chance to write anything. I just wanted everyone to know I haven't forgotten you, and will likely find time tomorrow to catch up.

Case of the Mondays

2007-07-16T13:21:09Z

Well, the weekend has come and gone. Overall it was pretty good. We survived the canoeing down the Hocking River. It was everything I expected and more. A little nature, a little sun, a little white trash.

The house decided to give ME a birthday present- one of the pantry sliding shelves decided to come crashing down Saturday night. How was I to know there was a weight limit? It's not like I had 50 lbs of flour in there but I did have quite a bit loaded up. Turns out the screws holding the brackets in were not even through the cabinet wall, let alone into the wall behind it. Heading to HomoDepot tonight to get some better screws. Wonder how long I will be in there before I spring a woodie :-) I just love that place.

Sunday I was a Grade A couch potato. I finally got myself motivated and we went to see Harry Potter in IMAX 3D. Pretty cool, but I could have done without the 3D.

BB8 Update: Jen continues to annoy the living daylights out of me. I seriously worry about the safety of the other house guests- I think she is capable of some very dangerous behavior.

On the schedule for this week:
Monday work
Tuesday work
Wednesday work
Thursday work
Friday work

We have 2 days of design confirmations for our next release that start in about 45 minutes. I really am dreading this.

I need some excitement in my life! Suggestions?

Happy Birthday 1562 Picard Rd.

2007-07-14T12:42:39Z

OK I don't know the actual day my home was born, but it has been mine for 1 year to the day. I remember the day well-- I broke into spontaneous tears when the signing was done. I stood up, said I had to use the restroom and sat in there for 5 minutes to compose myself. Luckily I didn't actually cry in front of the realtors. How embarassing!

I look back on the last 12 months in awe. Talk about life changes! Not only did I leave Limited Brands, my employeer and center of my universe for 6 years (I resigned 5 days after signing the mortgage, brave huh?) I also started the new job with Cardinal Health, bought a new car, lost and gained 15 lbs (in that order, and yes, the gaining was intentional. 5'10" 148 is not hot).

Maybe instead of having my yearly cycle of reflection be on January 1 like most, or on my birthday, perhaps I will run my life on a fiscal calendar much like Cardinal, July to June. So, happy FY08 everyone!

Someone said I need to buy the house a birthday present. Maybe I will get a new storm door this weekend, to match the new windows. By the way, the new windows are amazing. It was the one item that the nearly perfect home needed. We are debating the storm door/no storm door issue. I personally don't see the need, and if I get the new entry door I want I certainly do not want it covered with another piece of glass and metal. Yuck.

OH, and to show what a nerd I am, I Googled my address on Google Maps and found that there are 2 other 1562 Picard Roads, so guess who got a letter from me. Freak! Now these poor people will think I am a stalker.

Its 8 AM and I already have 2 loads of laundry done and my LJ entry for the day. Time to pack up the car and head to Hocking Hills for the canoe trip with Dean and Scott. Todd and I are setting bets on what time Dean pushes Scott out of the canoe. This will either be A) really fun B) amusing in a "watch your friends argue kind of way" or C) the worst idea we have ever cooked up. I'll let you know how it goes.

Top 5 Reality Show Moments of the Week

2007-07-13T15:04:46Z

You will soon realize that I am quite the reality show junkie. What else is there to do but watch others live their lives and make complete asses of themselves on national TV?

5. Kathy Griffin at the Gay Porn awards- need I say more?

4. Paula Abdul's meltdown #1- phone numbers not in her phone. Wah.

3. Paula Abdul's meltdown #2- QVC not holding back any merchandise for her to take back to the "Idol Kids." I bet there was a collective sigh of relief at AI that day!

2. Jen wins HOH on BB-8. Danielle has to be kicking herself for not using veto and having Jen back-doored. (heh heh I said back door)

And the number 1 moment:
The Jen factor on BB-8. For those that don't know, one of the houseguests, Jen, has a collection of "JEN" t-shirts with sayings like "I'm a Jenius" or "Jensa Member" or "Jenth time." I have already driven my friend Jen crazy with this-- she was at a bar last night. Our text message exchange:
Mark: Watching BB-8?
Jen: At a bar getting drunk
Mark: Having a Jen and Tonic?
Jen: Mark, I love you, don't ever do that again
Mark: Hey, it's Jen o'clock
Mark: Its the Jenth time I have told you...
Mark: I Jenuinely love you

Oddly, she did not reply. I am going to work this one for all its worth. Good thing she lives in Pittsburgh-- too far to drive to my house and give me a beating.

There's No Place Like Home

2007-07-12T23:50:38Z

All my life I waited to buy a home, and once I did I realized it was the best move I ever made. I had a lot of reasons for holding back, some obvious, others not-so. It comes down to a blend of being overly cautious, fearful of a big commitment, and a general lack of desire to have to be THAT responsible.

Saturday, July 14 marks the 1 year anniversary of being a home owner-- having a piece of The American Dream. It sounds corny I know but there is something special about it. I was siting on the back patio the other night and thought "this is all MINE, that's so weird." Anyway, I posted a picture I took of the house from 1 year ago, and will take some new ones Saturday so comparissons can be made. Enjoy!

AND YES I PICKED THE DIET PEPSI MAX THEME TODAY. Why? Because I owe my ability to keep my eyes open more than 20 minutes a day to that nectar of the gods known as DIET PEPSI MAX.

Oh, and for the fine people at Live Journal, I'd like to say "Thanks for the blow to my ego." I realized when I logged in today it said "You have only made one friend." That is like coming home after a week long business trip and not finding the message light blinking on the answering machine... sad sad sad. Guess I better make some friends!

Day 2...

2007-07-12T12:04:49Z

Well, here it is day 2 of my journal and I already wonder how much I have to say. It is interesting to spend a moment of your day being introspective and thinking about the things you have done in the last 24 hours and conisder what you would share with the outside world, what you would keep private, and what you wouldn't want anyone to know. I wonder if this thought process might change the way I live my life in general. Who knows.

What's with the philosophical stuff? Lighten up Mark!

On a lighter note, I am really excited that my friend Denise is leaving my old company (Limited Brands, aka Victoria's Secret, Bath and Body Works, etc.) and coming to Cardinal Health. She is the third steal I have made, and I have more planned. <insert evil laughter here> Some say I am building an empire, others think I am just out to screw Limited. Maybe its both? HA!

TGI-Thursday! What a week this has been. Not hard per se, just long, and not in the good way. Looking forward to the first eviction on Big Brother. I freely admit it, I am a reality show junkie. I think it stems from my earlier years as a consultant, when I traveled a lot and my only "friends" were the cast of Real World. Its sad but true.

My First Entry

2007-07-11T15:45:26Z

Well, thanks to stormecho, my buddy whose path I have crossed on many occasions. He turned me onto LiveJournal. We'll see if I thank him or curse him for this new distraction from the every day life.

I am not sure what form this journal will take, as people get to know me they will find out I always have a lot to say. I am looking forward to having a venue to just get thougths out, tell about myself and hopefully meet lots of people in return. Let me know if I am boring you!