The College Tour Of 2004

While most high school seniors around this time are starting to do thier college visits to see where they potentially would like to go to college, my travels with work has taken me close to some large universities of late. Here is the list ive passed through or very close to within the past week.

Arizona State University
THE Ohio State University
Capitol University
Ohio Wesleyan University
Bowling Green State University
University of Toledo
University of Notre Dame
Indiana University - South Bend
College of St Marys
Holy Cross College
Valparasio
Purdue University

Speaking of which, here I am, in West Lafayette, IN, on a job that puts me very close to purdue. Luckily, im with a purdue alumni who will be my guide while in this lovely town ;-) Had an exciting monday, doing training for Sarbanes-Oxley work that i will be doing in the upcoming future, for those of you not familiar, Sarbanes was the legislation put through in response to the Enron and Worldcom scandals, making companies liable for their financial reporting. Really exciting stuff. Hopefully, i get to head home on wed night, letting me spend some much needed time at home for thursday - sunday. Next week, back on the road, heading to maryland, which should be nice, if it werent for the flight. After my previous post, im sure you can tell why ;-)

Fall has started, and its hit pretty hard. Its been dog cold lately, and even had a pretty decent frost in South Bend on monday morning. Idiot here didnt take anything warmer than a short sleeve polo to wear to the client, and didnt even bring a coat. I do have the nice scarf that Katie made for me last winter. However, i think id look somewhat strange wearing a polo shirt and a scarf. Im pretty sure Columbus is like the moon when it comes to weather, lately, its been around high thirtes or low forties in the morning when i get up, then balances out around high 60s low 70s in the afternoon. Then again, since coming back to work, ive been in Columbus for a grand total of 2 nights.

The apartment is working out pretty nicely, Mom and Dad came by this weekend and we got the living room finally set up alot better than it was originally by myself, after moving some things around, getting rid of some boxes and other things. Its a really nice place, i love the vaulted ceilings and the fact that i dont have to listen to people thump above me. Living on the 2nd floor is definately nice, especially when i dont have to move anything up the stairs when moving. Callie also is alot happier here, there are alot more windows she can look out, plus i dont mind leaving the shades open all the time here so she can look out the window like i did in South Bend, since i didnt really like the fact that people could walk past my windows, see all my electronics and could break in and take it when i was gone travelling. No longer.

Anyone else following the pro football season? Its odd to see that the Falcons and Lions are 2 of the most successful teams this year. Not only that the Falcons are doing well, but that Vick isnt doing that great. Im not a big fan of them trying to force feed him the west coast offense. Im sorry, but when a player of the caliber gets 0 fantasy points, its not a good thing. For him, it just seems like hes being constrained. I know Jim Mora has done a ton of good things down there, but i dont like seeing vick held back. Any idiot who has watched Atlanta for 2 seconds knows that the strength of that team is the fact that hes one of the most mobile, if not THE most mobile quarterbacks in the history of the game. FOcusing on using that threat of a scramble to make the defense guess is what would work there. Making him be a pocket passer is like trying to make a fish breathe out of water. Let him move around, let him scramble 150 yards a game. He is a smart and mature enough player to know whats best to get the game won, but for the love of god, dont try to make him a immobile pocket passer. Hes better than that, and they know it. Speaking of quarterbacks...i think its time for Favre to hang up his hat. The guy has heart, but just doesnt seem to have it anymore. While i like to see the packers at 1-4, i hate to see a legend go out like he is now. I hope he can turn them around, have a good comeback story, and retire after this year.

Well, im off to finish watching some TV and head to bed. Lookin forward to heading home tomorrow :)

Take care all!

Man, didnt i get out of this place?

So, its sunday night...and im sitting in South bend, In. Didnt i just get out of this town? Oh well, im here in the bend for training tomorrow. I thought i was going to be at a local client, but things changed last minute. Heading out to another client here in indiana tomorrow night, but i hope i can be home later this week. Things are looking good.

Phoenix wrapped up pretty well, long plane rides suck, but it makes you realize alot about the general public. Some of them are as follows....

• Despite what you may think...i really dont care where you are going and why. Im a big guy. Im uncomfortable in a plane. I dont want to hear that you are going to check on your wife to see if shes cheating on you.
• For the love of all things holy....GO TO THE BATHROOM BEFORE GETTING ON THE PLANE!!!! The bathrooms on the plane are not there as public restrooms, but are there as EMERGENCY restrooms if for some reason your ass is going to explode and you cant deal with it untill you land. Its not there to create a line remeniscent of a port-o-potty line at a dave matthews band concert.
  
• America West - If you are going to advertise in flight meals, even if they have to be purchasable, then MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ENOUGH FOR THE WHOLE PLANE. It makes people slightly irratable to be on a 4 hour flight that feels like 7 because of the time change if all there is to eat are peanuts...peanuts....and more peanuts.
• I dont know whos idea it is to sell alcohol on a plane, but the TSA should have them executed. Nuff Said.
• Why does every pilot sound like the same guy. Either they are using that voice changing box thing you see at sharper image, or all airline pilots are clones of each other. If i hear the phrase "Its gonna be alittle choppy" one more time....ill sit in my seat and not cause any problems, like a good airline passenger.
• Mother & Daughter fights are obnoxious to begin with. Put them in a confined space, and it makes it even more obnoxious. Listen, ladies. You got on the plane. Were on time. I dont care who made who late.
• Didnt we learn first on last off when in school on the school bus? Why is it everyone gets up immediately as the fasten seat belt sign is turned off? You know if you are in the last row, you are going to have to wait. Dont cut in front of people in rows in front of you. Just because you are more nimble than old lady blue hair in the seat in front of you doesnt mean you should push past her to get off the aircraft
• Blackberrys are personal electronic devices. Dont use it in flight. I dont want to be the biggest lawn dart there is.
• If your kids are obnoxious, flight attendants should bring handcuffs and duct tape with them. Noone likes kids slapping seats, bouncing on people or throwing their gameboys to their brother on the other side of the plane.
  

Im sure i could go on, but thats all i can write about without wanting to be like john madden and take a bus everywhere i go.

Football season is proving to be pretty interesting. Way to go pats, 19 game win streak is something to be proud of, as well as 5-0 as of this week. Also, can someone tell me what the deal with Detroit is?

Well, im off to watch the rest of sunday night football before i go to bed. Have a good evening, and leave some comments in the box!

Time flies when you move, work, travel...etc....

Hey everyone -

Alot has happened since my last post. The long term job i was on finally ended, im back on a normal work schedule, as if there is such a thing where i work. Back on the weekly travel schedule. But i finally did move to columbus! Last week i took my first week of vacation(yeah, i know, 10 months without a significant vacation) and moved from South Bend to Columbus. I live in a real nice suburb north of the city, and got a really nice fairly new apartment. Katie is down there as well now starting at OSU, its nice to not be 2.5 hours away, but only 10 minutes.

Im in Phoenix this week, what a beautiful area. Its the first week of october, and its 90some here. Rarely a cloud in the sky and mountains that i can see from the client site. Not bad. Travelling this week was interesting, i had my first in flight movie, and ate my first meal on an airplane. Youd think i would have done of those already with the amount of travelling i do, but this was definately a first for me. However, the movie was "White Chicks" with the wayans brothers and the food was a roast beef sandwich, it was like neil frigging armstrong for me ;-)

This year is wrapping up soon, i cant believe there are only 3 more months untill 2005. Election is coming up soon, and the race is getting close. The debates have been something of a let down. I dont understand how people can decide who WINS a debate. The partisanism comes out with that. I dont trust any polls anymore. They all seem slanted. They only way to know is on election day.

Its been a rotten few days for alot of people i know. I just want to let all of them know that my thoughts and wishes are with all of them, and i wish them all the best. If there is anything i can to do help, please let me know. I know times are rough, but any of you that need my help, let me know. Im here for you.

Well, its 5ish here, but my body thinks its 8....jetlag is fun. Franklin, let me know where you are at in columbus, and well get together.

Take care all, leave some love in the c-box!