That’s my girl
Permalink | August 24, 2008 by John in Of a Personal Nature
I told her I’d post this if she didn’t let me take a “regular” picture…
“I’m a man of my word.” - Joker, The Dark Knight
JAWS (The Villain, not the Shark)
Permalink | June 11, 2008 by John in Dentist, Of a Personal Nature
My mouth is just chock full of metal. I had my Spring checkup a couple weeks ago and they found that another ancient filling had cracked on the upper left side, and a tooth on the upper right was chipped and acting as a “food catcher.” And catch food did it ever. I’ve been amazed at the chunks my floss had been pulling out of that hole.
I don’t know what the hell is going on. I haven’t changed my dental hygiene habits in years, and shit just be fallin’ out my mouth over the past year or so. Last April I had two fillings go bad, then last November I had two more go bad and had a new cavity to boot. I guess I gotta step it up in the bathroom.
Bad Habits
Permalink | May 27, 2008 by John in Interesting/Trivia, Of a Personal Nature
Like most people, I have bad habits. Most are not up for discussion but one is really starting to annoy me and just about everyone I know has been subjected to it.
(more…)
Am I a Lifer? Should I be?
Permalink | March 18, 2008 by John in Career, Of a Personal Nature
My dad worked for the phone company (in its various incarnations) for over 30 years. With his pension/retirement and social security he has a fairly comfortable lifestyle (while certainly not opulent or luxurious) in his retirement, even living in California. The world is a very different place than it was when he started with Ma Bell. It was normal for people to work for the same company for the majority of their adult life and retire with the proverbial (or not-so-proverbial) gold watch.
Due to the change in the country over the past 20-30 years, and especially working in the IT industry, I never thought it possible that I could fall into that category. But having passed my 10 year anniversary at Northrop Grumman, I’m beginning to wonder. I’ve seen a lot of ups and downs in that time, and yet I manage to stay alive here.
I started my own web design side business a couple years ago because I was bored at my day job and wanted a creative outlet. I considered different ways my career vs. my business could go. One plan was to grow my business large enough to back my Northrop Grumman hours eventually back to half-time so I could keep my benefits, I figured eventually I might be able to leave the day job and do my business full time. While that’s entirely possible, it doesn’t feel likely. Add to that I recently met two Northrop Grumman retirees who non-stop sing the praises of their retirement and pension. If I stay here for the duration I’ll have 34 years at age 65.
I guess what I’m trying to articulate that my side business is what gives me job satisfaction and let’s me exercise my creativity, while the day job …is just a job. Good benefits. Flexible hours. A modicum of job security. Decent pay. But still, just a job. Long gone are the days when my day job defined me (I’m not sure what does define me, but that’s another post).
So as long as it doesn’t suck, should I stay here indefinitely? Am I just being complacent? I’m no longer feeling the need to go set the world on fire. Have I sold out?
A Great Weekend
Permalink | February 25, 2008 by John in Dating/Relationships, Entertainment, Of a Personal Nature, Video Games
For those of you who don’t know, Saturday was my 41st birthday. The great thing about a birthday on a weekend is you get to play the entire weekend. After work on Friday Sherri and I went to Costco and picked up my new Xbox360. I had saved up most of the money, and it was payday so I had the rest, but she insisted on kicking in for part of it. She also gave me the Halo3 special edition and Call of Duty 4, two of the best games I’ve ever played. Just need to buy Gears of War for the shooter hat trick. The shopping spree was followed by a nice prime rib dinner at the Silver Star.
(more…)