Shades of Reality

Sat, 14 Jan 2006 15:41:45 GMT

As if anyone really cares, but I'm probably going to stop posting on this (like I ever did anyway). Just don't see a point...if you want to know whats going on with me, just pick up the phone or drop me an email...

Goodbye...

Happy New Year!!!!

Sun, 01 Jan 2006 16:47:29 GMT

Haven't posted in awhile, but I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy New Year! I got this from Danny's blog, so I thought I'd copy it. The website is found here: http://www.123newyear.com/2006-horoscopes/ Here is what is in store for me:

"Sagittarius are singing all together a new song. You'll amaze even yourself with the changes you'll make in the New Year 2006! While all the other zodiac signs work hard and toil away this New Year, you take it easy altogether. A decision to follow your dreams may take you to distant lands, foreign countries, even back to school where you'll quench your eternal thirst for learning!

You'll be able to manage your finances with complete ease and self control on this New Year. When during January, February and March many events will be highlighted, you will be able to find their silent indication towards a particular direction and improve your life thereon. You'll safeguard your personal integrity even more rapidly through your world-famous, up-front honesty.

For Sagittarians 2006 means tying the knot. So if you are already committed to someone then marriage is surely on your cards. Or you can meet someone special that will develop into a serious relationship this year."

Here's hoping 2006 is much better than 2005!

BIG TEN CHAMPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sun, 20 Nov 2005 13:08:58 GMT

PENN STATE IS THE BIG TEN CHAMPS!!!!!!!!!
PENN STATE IS THE BIG TEN CHAMPS!!!!!!!!!
PENN STATE IS THE BIG TEN CHAMPS!!!!!!!!!
PENN STATE IS THE BIG TEN CHAMPS!!!!!!!!!
PENN STATE IS THE BIG TEN CHAMPS!!!!!!!!!
PENN STATE IS THE BIG TEN CHAMPS!!!!!!!!!
PENN STATE IS THE BIG TEN CHAMPS!!!!!!!!!
PENN STATE IS THE BIG TEN CHAMPS!!!!!!!!!
PENN STATE IS THE BIG TEN CHAMPS!!!!!!!!!
PENN STATE IS THE BIG TEN CHAMPS!!!!!!!!!

Ok, so technically co-champs with Ohio State, but we BEAT THEM!!!! And therefore got the Big Ten BCS bowl bid! No one (including myself) was expecting this at the start of the season! WAHOO!!!!!!!!!

Here's the scoup

Sat, 12 Nov 2005 12:26:43 GMT

Well, its longer than I wanted to, but I've found some time and energy to post again (even if it IS from work ) So here's a general overview of things from August - present:

At the end of August or early September, I started rehearsing a show. It was Neil Simon's "The Dinner Party" It was going good. The show, about a week and half to two weeks into rehearsals hit a wall.....one of the performers was told by his company that he had to go to their other office for 3 months, starting next week. He was pissed but we pressed on, trying to find a suitable replacement....we pushed the show back a couple of weeks to give ourselves more time, but ultimately had to post-pone the show for now.

What else....oh yeah. Thursday we started rehearsals for "A Christmas Carol" so that will be taking up much of my "free" time until the show. The show dates are Dec 8-10th in the evening (either 7 or 7:30PM) and Sun. Dec 11th at 2:00 PM. The location is in Bellefonte, not 100% sure I know where it is, but I'm pretty sure and when I find out for sure I'll post it here.

So, in the lull between "The Dinner Party" and now, I've taken to reading. Over the summer, I read 2 books, both by Jimmy Buffett (yes, he is also an author). I started reading the Harry Potter series, and I have to admit, I'm thoroughly addicted. I'm already on book 5 "The Order of Phoenix" and have also started going back and watching the movies. I bought the first one on DVD and have watched it like 4 or 5 times already. I rented the second one and watched it. This coming week I hope to get to seeing the third one so over Thanksgiving (when I'm home) I can go and watch the 4th and latest. It's to the point where I will sit down for 2 or more hours and read. I read like 200 pages just the other day to finish up the 4th book!

Anyways, not much else is going on right now. My family is all doing well. My sister and brother-in-law, Tim, got my dad and early Christmas gift. A dog named Woody. So I can't wait until I get home at Thanksgiving to see the new dog. And speaking of my sister and Tim, they moved into a new place near the end of summer, and its a nice place. In fact, they are hosting the Thanksgiving dinner this year. Which is going to be totally awesome because this year happens to be the once in a decade event: my birthday is also Thanksgiving day! That means more than likely, I won't be able to drive home afterwards

Then, the day after Thanksgiving/my B-day, I'm (hopefully) meeting up with my friend Matt. Not sure exactly what we're going to do yet, but I'm sure it will be something.

Then Saturday, its off to the cabin until Tuesday to go hunting. Should be a good time as always, though we'll be missing 2 of the guys. But its all good and hopefully I see that 4-pointer from last year and he has at least 1 more point so I can shoot it! mmmmm deer meat.

Well thats about all I have for now. Hopefully posts will come more often than once a month! Take care

I'm BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wed, 26 Oct 2005 19:18:47 GMT

It's been awhile, but I'm back and going to make a better effort to update this more than once every 2 months! But not today b/c I'm about to head to bed since I'm not feeling well and have work tonight. Thanks for your patience.

What does your birthdate mean? Take the quiz at http://www.blogthings.com/whatdoesyourbirthdatemeanquiz/

Your Birthdate: November 24
Born on the 24th, you have a greater capacity for responsibility and helping others than your may have realized.
You may also become the mediator and peacemaker in inharmonious situations.
Devoted to family, you tend to manage and protect.

This birth date adds to the emotional nature and perhaps to the sensitivities.
Affections are important to you; both the giving and the receiving.

Chaotic Swirl Continues...

Sat, 20 Aug 2005 13:04:02 GMT

So I'm bored at work, so I thought I'd post. Last weekend was awesome. I left the State College area Thursday morning after work....and that actually was a mistake. I nearly fell asleep several times on my way home. I really don't remember much of the drive from State College through Lewistown until Mifflintown, where I pulled off the road and got a cup of coffee at Sheetz. That saved me. I finally got home around 1 or so, and eventually caught a few hour nap. Then my sister and brother-in-law came over and took me out to dinner. That was a fun time. Then I picked up my parents from their trip to Las Vegas and caught up a little with them.

Friday was a day of just relaxing. It was SO hot that I didn't want to do much of anything. So, I didn't. I ran a few errands with mom and that was about it. Then I went to the Reading Phillies vs. Altoona Curve game in Reading Friday evening with some people from work. That was a great time....lots of fun, lots of laughs, and a good game of baseball.

Saturday was the day I was suppose to meet my friend Matt to pick up a bicycle....well that didn't happen. Our paths just couldn't cross. Oh well. So instead, I enjoyed another quiet, relaxing day with my parents, including me cooking burgers on the grill for dinner.

Sunday was attempt 2 to meet up with Matt, but that too failed. So then it was off the family reunion for the (hot) afternoon. That was fun to a point, but also pretty boring.

Sunday evening, however, was the real excitment of the weekend. A line of thunderstorms slowly moved through the area, and they were severe. So, like the idiots we are, me, my sister, brother-in-law and dad went out onto the front porch to watch the storms.....and we nearly got struck by lightning! Lightning struck the tree about 10 feet away from us, briefly catching the branch on fire. Lucky for the tree that the lightning then jumped onto the powerline. That was the cool part. You could actually see and hear the lightning travel along the line to the transformer, where it popped an insulation cap on the surge protector (we didn't lose power). But that was a hair-raising experience (pun intended....).

Then Monday it was back to State College...and here I am. I thought that as the summer came to an end, things would become less chaotic....but I was wrong. I'm finding myself saying "I just don't know" about a lot of things right now. Most of which deals with "what do I want to do with my life?" I mean, to a point, I like what I do at AccuWeather....but at the same time, I feel like I'm being treated like crap. I don't get paid well at all. In fact, I'm seriously considering getting a second job just so I can keep up with bills (which is becoming an even tougher struggle it seems each month). And at the same time, I would really love to be doing something in the baseball field, either coaching, being an umpire, or working for a team. But the real dilema with that is that if I chose to leave AccuWeather at the end of my contract (next June) I would need to start my new job immediately or else I'm utterly screwed. So again, this brings me back to the thought about getting a second job.

I don't know. There are just too many variables in my life and not enough constants to solve the life equation for me right now....if anyone has any suggestions, I'd love to hear them. Thanks.

Quick Update

Wed, 10 Aug 2005 06:26:43 GMT

Well, here I am at work, trying to stay awake. Tonight is night 9 in a row out of 10. It hasn't been that bad, I'm just tired from the lack of sleep. I've had Curve games the last 2 evenings, and I have another one this evening. After that I work again. Then comes a much needed 4 day weekend trip to the homeland. I so can't wait for it. Should be a fun weekend.

Well not much else to talk about. Just wanted to make a quick post since I'm killing time at work. Anyways, y'all have a good one.

Finally, an update!

Mon, 01 Aug 2005 20:12:43 GMT

Hey y'all. It's been quite some time since I've posted. So here is an update of things past, present and future.

Work this weekend just totally sucked, especially Sunday. I was working 1I2W (which is Dale's schedule).....10 hours STRAIGHT of work, very little time in between tasks. And what really made it bad was that several of us were also splitting 1I1W...not a challenging schedule, but one with time-consuming tasks. So that made for one long night. But other than that, not much has changed for me at work. I'm not overly happy, but at least I'm not overly pissed-off.

Also, while I'm on the subject of work, I just wanted to say a (belated) word about Phil Birnie. He will be surely be missed at work and I feel happy for him that he had decided to move on to something else that will bring him much happiness.

So what else have I been up to? Let's see. Oh yeah, this past weekend I worked lights for Centre Playhouse's production of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." Such a good show. It was also good to see David (our director), his wife Hilary, Tony, Kraig (all group members) and his girlfriend Bobbi-Jo. I nearly forgot (somehow) how much I enjoyed hanging out with the group. After the shows Thursday and Friday night, we all went to the Elks Lodge in Bellefonte for a few drinks. It was the first time I was at the Lodge since I became a member. Kraig, Bobbi-Jo and I went there Sunday after the show as well. In fact, Bobbi-Jo and Kraig invited me to hang out with them since they are at the Lodge nearly everyday. So I will probably be making many trips to Bellefonte in the future.

And speaking of, my parents are going to be visiting me the last weekend of August. Friday night, I'm taking them to the Elks Lodge for dinner with David and Hilary, as well as Tony and his wife Lisa. Saturday night, I got tickets to the Curve game, so the 3 of us will head to Altoona for that. That's all that is scheduled at the moment, so who knows what else we will do. I will probably show my parents AccuWeather (though my dad has seen the place).

Speaking of AccuWeather again (man, these transistions are coming easy today!), AccuWeather.com softball team has done extremely well this season. We have 2 games left until playoffs, one tonight and one tomorrow. Currently we are 1.5 games ahead in first place! So a win tonight or tomorrow gives us 1st place! I played in a couple games the other week and did pretty well. Had a few hits, an RBI or two, and some put outs in the field. So hopefully we find the right combination tonight and/or tomorrow and get that win and claim first place! Oh yeah, and we actually have t-shirt/jerseys now!

Well, some things I have planned for the future. I will be making a trip to the homeland next weekend. Leaving Thursday, be back Monday. My sister and brother-in-law Tim are moving that Friday, so I'm going to help out. The original reason I took the weekend off was to go to the Reading Phillies game (vs. the Altoona Curve) Friday evening with some people from work. So that Friday will be quite the busy day. Not sure what I'm doing Saturday, but it probably involves picking up a bike from my friend and probably helping my sister and brother-in-law some more (and usuing their swimming pool!). Sunday I'll either be going to the family reunion and/or helping my sister some more (and swimming again). Probably doing a little of both.

After that, the middle weekend of September holds another trip to the homeland to see the drag races in Reading. Should be fun.

Well, thats about all I got for now.

Oh yeah, if anyone is interested in FREE fantasy football (hosted on Yahoo), here is the info:

ID: 207787
Password: flyers

Thanks all. Catch y'all on the flip side.

RUSTY WALLACE!!!!!

Thu, 21 Jul 2005 21:16:08 GMT

I saw Rusty Wallace today!!!!! AMAZING!!!! Big Al and I left State College around 8-8:30, stopped in Millerstown for breakfast, and got to Hershey around 10:30. Then we waited, and waited, and waited, and Finally, around 1:30 we were able to go inside. By about 2:30, we made our way through the line to meet Rusty Wallace! AWESOME! He signed a hat I have, I wished him "good luck the rest of the year" and he said "Thanks buddy!" Man that was awesome. I even have a picture of him signing my hat! Oh yeah, and then there is the picture of me with 6 Miller Lite girls! Omg.... hehehe I have the picture if anyone cares to see it

On the way home, Big Al and I nearly got washed away. While driving through the Lewistowns Narrow's section of 322, it was raining at a rate easily over 1 inch an hour. I could barely see the car in front of me! Hell of a downpour!

Anyways, now its time to relax for a bit. Going to Champs tonight with some people from work. As Big Al says "Champs, let there be wings, and let there be beer!"

BACK ONLINE AT LAST!!!!

Fri, 15 Jul 2005 22:17:49 GMT

I'm BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WAHOO!!!!!!!! So today, being payday, I went and spent like 85% of my paycheck....mostly on my truck payment, but also on a TON of items from Walmart, Giant and (of course) Pletchers! Now, I can officially say: "I am settled in!" Its a great feeling now knowing that both I'm back online and I have everything I need to sustain life in my apartment. However, I really don't have much to write about.

Next Thursday, Big Al and I will be traveling to Hershey to see Rusty Wallace (for those who don't know who he is, he is a Nascar driver, my favorite one) on his "Last Call Tour" where we will get his autograph! I can't wait. I already have his autograph, but this will be the first (and probably last) time I will have to meet him!

Then the next big and exciting thing going on for me is a trip to the homeland Aug. 11th through the 15th. My sister and brother-in-law are moving that Friday, so I volunteered to help. Also, that Friday evening I will be attending the Reading Phillies game (versus a team I've started liking, the Altoona Curve) with Big Al and some others from work. Saturday, back to moving, hopefully ending by doing some swimming at my sister's new place in their new pool! Sunday, not sure what I'm doing. I'll either be helping my sister again and/or going to the family reunion (probably a little of both). Then its back here Monday.

Then not much until September.

So that's about all for now. It feels good to be back online. So feel free to drop me an IM sometime if your bored.

Yet Another Update...

Tue, 12 Jul 2005 05:00:14 GMT

Well y'all, another week has passed by and things are settling down....at least for the moment. I have moved everything into my new apartment and most things are put away. If it hadn't been for this dang sinus infection that I got out of nowhere, I'd probably be done with everything. But, this post is basically to let y'all know I'm still alive and kicking....hopefully when I get paid at the end of the week, I will be going out and getting internet for my place so I can feel like I'm apart of civilization once again (as well as being less bored).

Anyways, I'm at work and should probably be doing work....anyways, later y'all.

Moving Update

Mon, 04 Jul 2005 12:09:21 GMT

Hey y'all,

Just wanted to give a post quick from work since I have a few free minutes. First off, Happy 4th of July everyone! Now as for the apartment update....

Friday after work, I went to the apartment office and signed my lease. I then got the keys and moved a few things in.

Saturday morning after work, with the help of Samuhel, K. Witt, DT, and eventually Chuckles, I got EVERYTHING moved (well, minus like 2 small things I forgot). That was such a LONG day, but I'm glad I got it done and over with.

As for how my apartment is coming along....I still have quite a bit of work to do and hopefully I should be done putting things away by the end of the week. Currently, I have the kitchen complete squared away. And so is the bathroom. The living room is about 75% done. The couch and coffee table is in place. The entertainment unit, TV, DVD, VCR and PS2 is set up, but I still need to square away my PSOne and all my PSOne games. My desk and computer are set as well, but I have no internet yet....however, I do check my email at work, and if its something somewhat urgent, I can check my Yahoo email (psurob99@yahoo.com) via my cell phone. I also have a comple of boxes in the living room in which I need to sort through, trash and/or put away.

Now, the bedroom is a complete mess. Though it shouldnt take me that much longer to clean that up. There are 2 major things I need to do with my room: 1) hang my clothes properly and 2) set up my bed. I also have to set up my dresser and then I'm good to go.

So I still have a lot of work to do and not much time in the next couple of days to do it in. Lucky for me I have 3 nights off this week (Wednesday, Thursday and Friday Nights), so I have plenty of time then to finish up. I also have tickets to the Altoona Curve all week long (Monday-Friday).

So that's the story.....hopefully by the middle or the end of the month I will be able to purchase internet at my place and everything will be back to "normal" for me. Until next time....Cheers!

New Address

Sat, 02 Jul 2005 09:37:30 GMT

This is a quick post to give y'all my new address. Its:

950 W. Aaron Drive Apt B-9
State College, PA 16803

Wrap up from the weekend...

Tue, 28 Jun 2005 19:05:36 GMT

What can I say, it was a pretty good weekend. Friday was just TOO long of a day, though. We left State College around 11ish and didn't stop going until like 9. Besides the 4-5 hour drive to NJ, we had to make a couple stops along the way, one of which was to pick up an entertainment unit. Then we had to move ALL evening. It was hot, we were hungary and we were tired. But finally, around 10-10:30, we got to eat pizza and then we crashed (well at least I did).

Saturday was a pretty good day as well. We had to make one trip from the apartment to the house moving, but then it was off to the beach for the day. And what a day at the beach it was! Absolutely GORGEOUS weather. At the beach it was like 80, and about 5 blocks inland it was 95! Nice sea-breeze and not a cloud in the sky. The water was a bone-chilling 62 degrees! And guess what, I actually went in it! And not just for a minute, but for a rather lengthy time! It was such a relaxing day.

Sunday then, it was time to come home. :( Boy was that a long drive home. 4.5 hours! But my weekend wasn't over with yet.

I was home just long enough to clean-up and head to Bellefonte where I had a dinner to attend at the Elks Lodge. It was part of the indoctrination of new members. That was followed by the actual indoctrination ceremony Monday evening, where I was sworn in as a member of the Elks. After the ceremony/meeting, we all headed downstairs for some drinks and food. And lets just say I went to work with a bit of a hangover and no sleep since I was only scheduled for 3.5 hours. Then, Frugis never showed up (he's in NJ dealing with a family problem) and he thought he had the night off....well he didnt. So a few of us had to split his schedule, though I almost got conned into staying later.

Now it looks like tonight I will be training with Chuck (talk about the blind leading the blind) on a radio schedule! Considering I really don't want to do radios anyways, tonight is just going to be a total joke, minus like 1 hour when I meet with a regular broadcast meteorologist to learn some things about the radio booth. Then Thursday I probably will be switched to working the Gulf Coast states, which should be an easy night.

Then Thursday, I will be officially signing my lease for my apartment so Friday I can start moving. Not sure how much I want to move this weekend, but it would be nice to move most, if not all of my crap. FYI, my new address will be:

950 W. Aaron Dr. Apt B-9
State College, PA 16803

My phone number remains the same. While I'm moving, I won't have internet access for awhile. Not sure what I'm going to do about that, but I'll figure something out. I should talk to DT who lives in the same complex to see what he does.

Anyways, thats the last few days of my life. Time to watch some more Wimbeldon, leave the house for awhile around 5 while the realtor shows the house off, then come back and relax for awhile. Have a good one, y'all.

Looking forward to the weekend

Thu, 23 Jun 2005 20:02:52 GMT

In the words of Kevin Witt...."Hey Guys"

I'm not much for the summer, but one thing summer has that the rest of the seasons don't have is fun trips. And this weekend should be one of them. I'm heading to New Jersey this weekend with LaSorsa, Chuck and Heather. Should be tons of fun. And despite helping Chuck's friend move Friday, it should be a pretty relaxed weekend. I'll be coming home Sunday morning, but the weekend madness continues.

Sunday evening I have a dinner to attend in Bellefonte. It's part of Indotrination weekend at the Elks Lodge. Then Monday evening I am getting indoctrined/initiated into the Elks. It should be a good time as I will get to see a bunch of people from the theatre group, which I haven't seen since our last show in February! So I'm looking forward to seeing them again. It will give me a chance to find out what shows we will be doing in the fall and when they are scheduled.

Oh well. Wimbledon just ended and I need to kill about half an hour or so before leaving for tonights softball game.

Oh yeah, a quick update on the apartment search...I think its over. I think I'm going to move to the Park Forest Villas. I probably will be moving sometime early/mid Julyish, though I have to wait until I hear from my roommate as to exactly when I need to move out.

Arg.....

Mon, 20 Jun 2005 17:21:35 GMT

So plans to move in with my friend fell through the wayside. Which, I guess, isn't so bad. He wants to continue to live on his own, and after some thinking, I kinda like that myself. So I am looking for either a single bedroom apartment or an efficiency/studio. I don't think I'll know which way I want to go until I'm out looking at places. I mean yesterday I was thinking the efficiency/studio apartment was the way to go....then today at work, I was thinking a single bedroom would be nice. But now I'm thinking of the efficiency/studio. While a one bedroom would provide more room/space, I pretty much live out of my room anyways. I mean I have my bed, TV and computer here, why do I need another room (other than the kitchen/bathroom)? I mean I guess some of these studio apartments have a separate dining area to provide some extra space. I dont know. Anyone have any ideas (or know of any cheap places in State College to live that is relatively quite from college students)?

On some other notes, its going to be a pretty busy week and weekend. I am working the Curve games tonight and tomorrow night. Wednesday I hope to go look at some apartments, maybe Thursday too. Thursday evening I think I have softball game, don't remember. Then Friday I'm heading to New Jersey with Chuck, Heather and LaSorsa for the weekend. The agenda there includes helping a friend of Chuck's move and getting a couch for Chuck to bring back. Who knows what else we are going to be doing. But in anycase, I'll be back in town Sunday afternoon, but I'll still be busy. Sunday evening I will be heading to Bellefonte to attend a dinner at the Elks Lodge. The dinner is apart of Indoctrination weekend....meaning I'm going to become a member of the Elks. Monday evening is when I'll officially become a member. So its going to be a busy busy weekend.

Well, I hope apartment hunting goes well. Leave some lovin' and if you have any, leave some information on apartments in and around State College!

What a difference a day makes!

Sun, 12 Jun 2005 15:21:48 GMT

Well, just when I thought things were bad yesterday, and skies were at their darkest....the clouds started to break today and glimpses of the sun were visibile. I may have already come across a new place I will be calling home! I have to talk it over with my friend, but it sounds very promising and the likely solution. Then it's doing something I haven't done in 2 years....move! One of my least favorite things in the world...especially moving in the summertime! Take one event requiring lots of energy and makes you sweat with a hot and humid summer day and you get one big YUCKFEST!

But anyways, hopefully this works out, though I will continue my online search in the meantime.

Time for a nap/relax for awhile until I head out to the Curve game this afternoon.

Ciao

John Force said it best....

Sun, 12 Jun 2005 00:50:04 GMT

For those who don't know who John Force is, he is the 13-time NHRA Funny Car champion (drag racing). His famous quote is:

"If it weren't for bad luck, I'd have no luck at all!"

That couldn't be any truer! My luck (which is usually pretty bad to begin with) has taken a dramatic turn for the worst in reason weeks. Such things include (but aren't limited to): a) speeding ticket b) my neices death c) having to move

Those are the 3 big things as of lately that are making/made life miserable lately. The speeding ticket, well that just set me back 100 bucks. The death, well that should be quite obvious. And now the last one.

My roommate has been trying to talk to me for the past several days, but our paths just don't cross enough to talk that much. So he emailed me and said he is taking a job in Harrisburg and will be selling the house. That wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for the fact that he will be starting in mid-July! So now I have about a month, maybe 2 at the very MOST, to find an apartment and move in! I'm not blaming my roommate for this b/c I understand he needs to do what he needs to do....and he said he wasn't expecting to start this new job so soon. So I don't blame him. BUT...it does make my life just what I didnt need....more chaotic! So if ANYONE reading this knows of a place somewhere in or around State College that has a room for rent...CHEAPLY and is in a quite place (ie, NOT downtown), let me know ASAP!!!!! I've already hit the internet pretty hard this afternoon, but with the heat and humidity, I wasn't very productive.

And to add to those 3, I've been having some issues at work lately....being unhappy about some situations pertaining to my schedules. As I said in my last post, I am searching for my future.

But the rabbit hole keeps getting deeper and deeper...

And as of lately, while battling through all of this, I've found myself becoming very lonely....I mean I know I have a lot of friends out there, but I still can't help but feel very lonely.

I just feel like the rabbit hole is getting deeper and deeper...

Some poetry may be coming soon....sometimes it helps me to sort things out...

Confused like never before....

Thu, 09 Jun 2005 17:35:11 GMT

First I want to start with this: I, as meteorologists supreme, hereby proclaim that summer has begun!While I know the "actual" start to summer is like June 21st or 22nd, it started yesterday. State College for the first time in over 2 years hit 90 degrees yesterday!

And last night, our first Atlantic tropical depression has formed. In fact, this morning it was upgraded to Tropical Storm Arlene! It is some exciting stuff, but all of this means its probably going to be a busy summer (and probably not too relaxing). Why is it going to be busy? Well, because at work, I seem to be the "expert" map drawer of our hurricane maps. That has its ups and downs:
Ups: at least work recognizes and appreciates something I do at work. I am the first person they tend to ask to draw the maps, or
if someone else is drawing them, they come to me for help. Plus, if I'm at work drawing these maps, then chances are I may not
really br working a schedule and therefore have a pretty easy night at work.

Down: I don't get (or for that matter, no one else gets) extra compensation for the hard work and good job drawing the maps. Plus,
it usually is assumed that I will either come in (on my night off) to draw maps (when extremely busy, ie multiple storms going)
and/or switch from a schedule I like/want to do in order to draw the maps. Plus, drawing the maps means I have to coordinate with
our hurricane expert, who on 2 occasions last summer, he blew me off when trying to coordinate the forecast (which is what I am
suppose to do). So I lost most of my respect for him and I really don't want to have to deal with him.

So this brings me to my current dilemma....what do I want to work this summer? Do I want to continue to be the primary map drawer (which I've done the past 2 summers now). But I also know that I won't be scheduled to monitor all that often (in fact, I'd be lucky if I got scheduled to monitor at all) and therefore less likely to be the "primary" map drawer. So do I make the effort to try to be the map coordinator or not?

This also leads to a much broader dilemma I face: what do I want to do with my life? The way I see things, I have 3 options. My contract with AccuWeather expires next May. I could re-sign with them for an additional year or two, perhaps leading to my full career with the company. Option 2 would consist of attempting to find another meteorological job, which will probably be a LONG and hard task as not many jobs exists in this field (plus I really can't afford to move). Or option 3 could have me not re-sign with company and try to find another full-time job in some other area.

I just don't know what to do. I mean my life is probably even more confusing now as it ever has been. I mean it was easier for me to pick a major for college and then pick the college then this. Up to this point in my life, things have just sorta found a way to fall into place when I've needed them. Now, when I need things to fall into place, they seem to be breaking apart even more.

Now I know how Alice felt when she fell down the rabbit hole...

hehe

Sat, 04 Jun 2005 00:06:37 GMT

Ok, so I did something today that I probably shouldn't have done, but needed to do eventually....I bought a new phone!!! I also switched from Cingular (boo) to Verizon (yeah). I don't know what it is/was, but something about Cingular lately I just really didn't like. I guess ever since AT&T (who I originally had) got bought out by Cingular, I just haven't felt the same way. The online stuff is all confusing and un-helpful to what I was using it for. So I went with my mom to get her and dad new phones, and fell in love with the same one. Once I figured out my contract with Cingular was done, I switched over to Verizon. So now I'm up to the year 2005 in cell-phone technology. Now I just have to figure it out! And I have to figure out how to turn the internet stuff on b/c I can get my work software for my phone! KICK ASS!

Anyways, time to mess around on the computer for awhile since the Phillies are in a rain delay.

Ciao

Returning toward normal.....

Fri, 03 Jun 2005 18:29:58 GMT

First, I want to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers this past week. It's really meant a lot to me.

Now onto my post. My subject says it all....returning toward normal. We all are getting on with our lives and things are returning to normal. Spirits are up and everyone is doing well. Yesterday, as a way to get out and get our minds off of it, the guys had an afternoon out. Me, my dad, uncle and brother-in-law all went fishing. My dad caught the only trout of the day, but the rest of us all caught some sunnies/blue gills. It was relaxing and fun. Afterwards, we went to the firehouse and downed a few beers. So overall, it was a pretty good day and a good idea to bring my fishing gear home!

Today, I went with mom to look at new cell phones, mainly for her and my dad, but as a first look for me. I need to find out when my contract with Cingular runs out, then I may switch to Verizon b/c everyone in my family has Verizon and I may be able to save some money. But anyways, my parents got one of those family talk plans, and its funny to see them try to figure out how to work them!

Anyways, I need to get going. I need to pack for my weekend trip to Delaware for the Nascar race Sunday afternoon. I will try to post on Monday when I'm back at my parents place, otherwise it might not be until Tuesday when I get back to central PA.

Well, again, thanks for the thoughts and prayers. All of us are doing well and getting on with our lives. Thank you, and god bless.

Another Update

Tue, 31 May 2005 00:48:02 GMT

Well, most of y'all already know this, but for the others, here is an update. Just as I was about to go to sleep this afternoon (about 2 pm), I noticed I missed a phone call. So I checked my voicemail and it was my mom. There is no easy way to say this, so I'm just going to say it. The twins died. They had some internal bleeding in the brain and only the machines were keeping them alive. And even the machines wouldn't have worked for too long.

So here's whats going on. I called work and have off the rest of the week. In the morning, I'm going to get up, pack and head home for the rest of the week. Then this weekend I will head down to the Nascar race in Dover to ease my mind.

I've talked to a lot of my friends today and its helped a great deal. The last 24-36 hours have been extreme for me. I've gone from being overwhelmingly happy to find out that I am an uncle and everyone was doing fine, to not being an uncle.

Here are some feelings I had/have (in no particular order):

Helplessness
Sorrow
Grief
Upset
Loneliness
Hurt
Confused
Anger
Shocked
Disbelief

It's going to be a rough day tomorrow and the next couple of days. Your thoughts and prayers mean a lot to me and my family.

UPDATE

Sun, 29 May 2005 16:36:00 GMT

Well, here is an update on my sister. She gave birth this morning. She is doing fine. Both babies, albeit 3 months premature, are doing fine as well. Here are the stats:

Emily Rose (Kiser) was born first at 5:58 AM. Emily Rose weighs 1 pound 4 oz and is 11 3/4 inches long.

Hannah Riley (Kiser) was born at 6:17 AM. Hannah Riley weighs 1 pound 5 oz and is also 11 3/4 inches long.

My sister should be coming home from the hospital by Tuesday. The twins, however, will probably be in the hospital through the end of August or early September (around when they were suppose to be born). But the good news is that all 3 of them are doing good. So please continue to say a prayer, especially for my 2 nieces, that everything turns out a-ok. Thanks!

Please Say A Prayer

Fri, 27 May 2005 22:25:46 GMT

So I got some bad news today when I got out of work. My sister is in the hospital. I really don't know much of what happened as I only know what my mom knows (which isn't much). To make a long story short, she all but went into labor.....she is only 6 months along! Her due date is Sept 21st but will probably be giving birth around Labor Day. So anyways, she went into the hospital yesterday and is still there this evening. In fact, she may be stuck in the hospital until she gives birth. And even if she does get released from the hospital, she will probably be bed-ridden all summer. The good news is that the babies are fine. But I'm still very worried about the 3 of them. So please keep her and the twins in your thoughts and prayers. I will keep you posted on any new developments.

Great Weekend

Sat, 21 May 2005 23:26:50 GMT

It's been a great weekend thus far. The baseball game Friday night was awesome once I finally got there...

So to make a long story short, I suck at following directions....well either that or the City of Baltimore needs to do a better job at labelling things. I got to Baltimore no problems, I'm a block away from the stadium and ended up turning the wrong way....next thing I know I'm out on I-95....woops. 45 minutes later I'm back at the stadium and got to my seats just in time for the opening ceremonies. But the game was awesome and I had a good time with the people I went with.

I got to my parents place at 1:30 in the morning an proceeded to sleep.

Then after I got up and got my cup coffee, I ran some errond with mom, including a stop at the local sporting good store for some more fishing gear!

Then, in what was probably even BETTER than the baseball game (and believe me, it takes a LOT to be better then baseball), I saw.....

STAR WARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Totally kick ass! I think it is my favorite of all 6 episodes!!!!! I was totally in to it. And Lucas did a fantastic job with it, the story was pieced together seemlessly with the original trilogy. Lucas is a genius! I can't wait to see it AGAIN!!!!

Went to dinner with my parents and grandfather this evening. Went to Applebees. Was great! Good times, good food.

Anyways, I'm going to go watch the NASCAR All-Star race. Back in the State College area tomorrow afternoon.

Ciao