I Have a Dream

I am getting close to realizing a dream. OK, not the dream where I find myself in the Playboy Mansion on my birthday. The dream I have had since the first time I got a chance to visit Europe in 1993. The dream to live in the European culture. My phone interview went pretty well this morning. It felt more like a formality as my interviewer and I have known each other for about a year now. We have not spent that much time together, but were very aware of each other. We talked for about 60 minutes and he let me know that he would get back to me in a week or so. He thinks if I decide to come aboard, notice how I made it my decision now, that I could be working in the role as soon as July. Things move slowly here for internal hires. However, I could be in London by mid summer.

Now, I know some of you are saying, hey isn’t Blue buying a condo this month. And the answer to that would be yes. I am in the middle of arranging financing right now. I think I need a place for tax purposes more than anything. Besides, you never know what is going to happen. AOL may decide to be cheap and not want to take care of my move or expenses. I may have to turn down the role. Either way, I still think getting my own place is a good idea. Besides, I can always rent it out if I leave. I may try to rent it out furnished as a corporate rental.

I am a bit concerned right now as my company, well my group, has just done a little re-org – for the third time in a year. We have new people coming in at the top and things could change so I could find myself in Europe with no job. A severance package and no job. Wait, is this a bad thing? Blue’s Extended European Vacation - can you picture that?

Come Support Your Team

I went to my first Nationals game this weekend. Turns out my seats are pretty good. I also learned that there is absolutely nothing around RFK to do. There are no restaurants, bars or even shops. If you are headed to RFK, you better stop at Eastern Market if you expect to eat or drink before the game. I got to see an extra inning loss to the Mets on Saturday. I noticed that the Nats don’t seem to have a great following. There were definitely more Met fans in the stadium than there were Nat fans. It could be that the team hasn’t been around long enough to build up a fan base. It could also be that there isn’t much to cheer about right now. I am still glad I got my 12 games this year. It should be fun to go to a few ball games this summer.

I also heard on the radio this morning that smell is the major sense responsible for physical attraction between men and women. Apparently women are attracted to the smell of cucumbers and fruit on men and men are attracted to the smell of excessive alcohol on women.

OK, I thought it was funny. Wish me luck tomorrow. Phone interview for Europe job. Not expecting much, but can’t pass up the opportunity.

Let's Catch Up

So I haven’t written much in the last week or so. I have been a little busy. So here is the reader’s digest version.

I became an adult again this weekend…yep I bought a condo. So now I owe more money than I could make in 3 years. Of course one of the companies I was talking with about moving to Europe contacted me Monday after I singed the contract. Should I still take the interview?

I finally got out on the golf course last weekend. The weather has really turned here and summer seems to have begun. What is your favorite Summer pastime?

The Jag spent the last few days in the shop. Nothing major, but I needed the head lights changed as well as the cooling system flushed. Speaking of the Jag, I have it on Craig’s List for sale right now. I am just seeing if I get any takers. I only have one parking spot in the new condo, so I am thinking of selling both and buying something new. What should I get?

K comes into town this weekend so we can go to the Nats/Mets game on Saturday. It is the first of my 12 games this season. I bought into a season ticket package. Do you have season tickets to anything?

One of my friends was very sick all last week – stomach virus. She spent 7 hours in the emergency room getting fluids. I sent her some flowers and chicken soup. Someone told me she might take that as though I am interested in her. I think she knows I am not, but what do you think?

Work has been tough this week as the project I have been working on got delayed at the last minute. I am very frustrated with the whole thing. How do you deal with frustration at work?

My cell phone company, and former employer, can’t seem to get my bill correct. They charge me an extra $50 a month which causes me to spend an hour on the phone to get it straightened out. Same thing for 4 months now. How long do I have to put up with it before I can say screw employee loyalty?

I sold my first thing on Craig’s List this week. Some golf equipment I won in a tournament. Now I need to get rid of a lot of things. I figure I will get rid of things rather than move them in June. You want to buy any of my junk?

Some girl from Mexico has been emailing me on Match. I get about one email a week from someone who is not in the US from places as far away as Egypt and Russia. Apparently my profile screams “I am looking for a mail order bride.” How far is too far for a long distance relationship?

I got all the ingredients so I can start my Detox in a Box next week. Anyone want to do this torture routine with me?

I will be in NJ for a day next week and then Orlando for most of the week after. After that Seattle and Los Angeles for a week. Going to be a busy month of May. You headed anywhere soon?

That’s about it. Enjoy the rest of the week.

Tid Bits

You ever feel like you need to write something but then nothing comes out. Well that is me right now. I have no idea what to write about at all.

I should start off with a thank you to my buddy AV and his wonderful new girl RNC. I stopped in Phoenix this weekend to visit them and play a few rounds of golf in warmer weather. Yep, it is snowing here right now. Anyway, AV and I have known each other for about ten years now. We started as golf buddies and have just become good friends over the years. I was very pleased to see him this weekend with his new gal. She is fantastic and he deserves to find a great woman. Thanks to them both for their hospitality and for putting up with me for the weekend.

I also got a chance to go play some cards this weekend as AV lives just one exit from a casino. I wanted to get on a hold ‘em table, but they were full, so I was stuck playing blackjack, which I hate to play. It is just boring. The bad part is that I am good at it. I played for a few hours Friday night, well really until about 4 AM, and won almost $1000.00. I used a slightly different strategy this time. I was playing two hands at a time for most of the night, as were the other guys at the table. I was last to act and on 12 hands, I did not take a hit even though I only had 5, 6 or 7 dealt to me. Sure it is a little unconventional, but I did have logic on my side.

You see the dealer had a low card showing, usually a 4, 5 or 6. I was pretty sure that the next card to be dealt would be bigger than an 8, so I thought: why take a card and get to 14, because I wouldn’t take another card anyway. My only chance to win would be to bust the dealer and I had just as good a chance to do that with 5 as I did with 15. I would also use this trick when I though the shoe wasn’t going in the table’s favor. It seemed to help to do something unconventional and make the flow of cards change, even if only by one card. My intuition for the game was pretty good that night as I won 11 of the 12 times I used this strategy. I went back on Sunday night and won another $500.00 although using more conventional playing techniques. If I didn’t find the game so slow, I might play it more.

One tip for you all…always tip your dealers. You definitely seem to get better hands, even though I can’t explain why.

I am home for the next few weeks, I hope. I have spent little if no time at my apartment in the last few months. I am headed to Florida at the end of the month for a week, but so far that is all that is on my travel itinerary.

I got a letter from my property management company. It seems that my lease is up in June and they want to know my intentions. QUIT PRESSURING ME! I don’t really know my intentions. I want to move to DC or damn close to it. I also have two job opportunities that could require a move to Europe. Both are dragging their feet a bit so I am unclear as to when or if that will happen. I was hoping by summer to be living in either London or Spain (Barcelona, Madrid or Seville).

I sent my tax stuff off to my sister. I know she reads this so let me just say: I WANT SOME DAMN MONEY BACK! I am tired of paying all these taxes and getting nothing back. Make something up if you have to (just kidding Mr. IRS Man).

I guess that is all for now except to say, that I need the New Brunch Crew to get together. I miss you guys. Let’s do it soon.

Home Sweet Home...Well For Now

Well, I made it back from Barcelona a little worse for the wear. I am not sure if it is the three hours of sleep a night I got, the staying out until three AM most nights or the lady next to me on the plane that looked like she was on death’s door, but I am sure that one of those things led to me feeling like crap the last two days. I have done little but sleep and eat soup since returning. Well, I did order a pizza on Friday night when I got home (at four AM Barcelona time). Might have been a bad idea as I was already starting to feel bad, but I had little choice as there was nothing in my house to eat.

I like Barcelona a lot, although I am not sure what it is like when there isn’t the largest wireless GSM show in the world visiting. Yeah, it was crowded. Restaurants were full and people were always on the streets. You would hear accents from all over the world. The people are friendly and there are small bars open very late. My Spanish was better at the end, but I think the only way I will ever really get it is to live in Spain. Hey, there’s an idea.

I don’t want to go into to many details, but I am getting very close to a move abroad. No, not a move on a broad…a move abroad. I think I will be in Europe before summer.

BTW - Let me tell you the one thing you never want to hear as your plane is landing at Dulles.

“Your luggage can be claimed at carousel 4. However, your luggage will be a delayed due to the weather.”

Delayed in Dulles? That isn’t good as Dulles is quite possibly the slowest airport in the country, maybe the world, at getting you your luggage. On a good day, the wait is 45 minutes. I had to wait almost two hours. And making people wait two hours for luggage after twelve hours of travel is just cruel. Even if they are traveling in Business Class.

I am home this week and then gone again for nine days or so. I am going to NYC, then Seattle and rounding out my trip to Arizona. NYC for the weekend…I am a buddy’s wingman for the weekend. Work in Seattle and then the weekend visiting another buddy in Arizona. Man, my life is pretty good.

For those of you that know the address, I posted some pictures of Barcelona on MySpace. I also put some new pictures of Nick on there. Father’s prerogative.

The Trips That Make Work Fun

Well, they finally made their decision. Yep, it is time to dust off my passport, brush up on my Spanish and start thinking about what to pack. I am off to Barcelona. I leave next Friday and don’t get back for a whole week. Nothing to do but lounge around in the sun, eat tapas and drink sangria. Oh, and there is a little GSM conference going on too. There is nothing better than a trip to another country, or a trip to the super market. I don’t care as long as it is a trip somewhere.

Buenas noches, amigos.

Opportunity Over Coffee in Spain

Believe it or not, I actually have a job interview while I am in Spain next week. A friend of mine works for a company that is looking to expand into Europe and is looking for people and she recommended me. I have already spoken to the VP of that group, he is in Paris. But now I have a chance while in Spain to speak with the Director of Sales. He lives in Spain. I could end up getting to do something I have wanted to do for many years now…move to Europe. I would most likely be based in London, but that is still up in the air. This is all very exciting…

I can’t guarantee that I will post anything over the next few weeks as, well, I will be gone. However, I may find an Internet café and let you guys know how the trip is going. Have a great few weeks.

BTW - I am not sure how many of you have noticed, but Blogger has a new version. You can upgrade your site to an XML version. I highly recommend it. The site works much faster and edits to your site are much easier. Warning though, you will need to select a new template, so if you have customized your template, you will have to start over. Some of your template customization may come through, but don't count on it.