TRAVELING CALENDAR

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Have a great day everyone!  :)

Philly Day 2

6am came early this morning as I didn't sleep all that well last night.  i quickly decided to make some coffee to help wake me up.  hotel room coffee isn't anything to get excited about but i was relying on getting that little caffeine boost to get my day started.  

all i found was decaf... good morning to me.

skipping the brew, i decided to take a quick shower.  that did the trick.

we all met up in the lobby of the hotel and hopped in the rental cars to the convention center in King of Prussia, PA.  this place is huge.  the "drive team" quickly unloaded half of the semi trailer and started setting up the tents in the parking lot.  the semi then backed up to the Main Room of the convention center and my team unloaded the rest of the equipment in record time.  without a beat the guys had a great jump start on setting up all the screens and draping for the stage area.  i proceeded to assist the head technician of this Philly show by setting up the audio/visual equipment in the 3 break-out rooms.  everything looks fantastic and runs flawlessly.  it's great to take a step back at the end of the day and sigh knowing that you worked hard to make it happen.  the chevy volt is a fantastic car.  there are many neat features and some that i don't understand what in the world the designers were thinking.  like storing the charge cable under a panel in the floor of the trunk. 

imagine with me if you will...

you take a long trip with your spouse and two kids.  decide it's getting late and turn off the freeway to bunk down in a hotel for the night.  the hotel has designated "charge parking spaces" for your vehicle for another $30 a night.  you NEED to charge your vehicle so you have no choice but to pony up the dough.  you then proceed to remove the few items you need to stay overnight.  not all your baggage, just a few.  BUT WAIT!  you need to charge your car as well.  might as well unload the vehicle because the charge cable is stored under a large floor panel in the trunk.  not so, "easily accessible" if you ask me.   OH SURE!  if you don't travel with any luggage then you will be fine.

other than "little" issues like that the vehicle is pretty neat.

it is now time for me to go to bed.  tomorrow we will meet in the hotel lobby at 6:15am and head over to the convention center to meet with the clients (chevy personnel).  they will be given the complete tour and everything should go smoothly.  

i will be taking detailed notes on some areas of the set up so that i can easily mimic the set-up in Los Angeles.  

okay, time for bed.  see you all tomorrow.

p.s. i wanted to add a video in this blog however the internet connection im using decided otherwise.  i'll put it in the next blog if i can.

Philly Day 1

CHEVY VOLT TOUR

I decided to enjoy the 2 weeks prior to leaving for Philadelphia for the new job.  I had a fantastic time hanging out with a bunch of friends, going to a Tiger's game, bonfires, mountain biking and a whole bunch of other things.  I am going to miss all of that while I am away.  However I will be keeping you all up to date on what is happening while I am on the road... er in the air.  So hold on tight, cuz here we go!

BIG PHILLY STYLE!

I started my trip off just like every other excursion I've ever endeavored with last minute packing.  I literally took clothes out of the dryer, folded them, put them in the suitcase and walked out the door.  I forgot nail clippers.  It took me 35 minutes to drive to the airport and another 35 to check in, go through security and get to my gate.  I'm a pro at this traveling stuff.  We boarded the plane and waited.. and waited.  Ends up some of our baggage hadn't been loaded yet and the pilot kept apologizing over the PA.  "Sorry folks, this is not acceptable.  I would encourage you to send some emails to Delta voicing any frustration with the delay."  So that's what I am going to do.  Maybe I can get something out of it.  We finally took off and the flight was nice and problem free.  well.. almost.

The girl seated at my right was wearing long jean shorts and I quickly noticed her leg hairs were longer than mine.  This was gross.  Especially because plane seating is tight and I'm a big guy.

It was only a matter of time until our legs made contact in a 

FURRY FRICTIONY FRENZY.  

I landed and quickly made my way to the baggage claim to find my suitcase on the belt right then.  Perfect.  I was set to go.  Shuttle to the rental car place, drive off in a brand new Impala with Betsy.  Betsy is a very nice woman whom I'll be working with for a few days.  After a 45min drive we arrived at the Holiday Inn Express in King of Prussia, PA.  This is a nice hotel.  I have my own suite with two large HD LCD tvs, couch, table, fridge, and two air conditioners.  I can get used to this.  The entire team is staying at the same hotel so it is easy to get to know everyone.  Everyone decided to go grab a quick bite, however the only place in walking distance was Hooters.  gross.  The food is NOT good and I'm not much for the..."scenery".  I ordered carry-out and spent the last couple hours in the hotel room getting settled in.

Tomorrow I will go to Wal-Mart and stock the fridge with healthy dinner and breakfast stuff. 

I have to be down in the hotel lobby at 6:45am to meet up with everyone and head to the production site.  My team will be unloading all the trucks and getting all of the gear opened and start setting up.  I will be assisting the head a/v tech for the next few days.  Pilot show is this Tuesday!


I will be updating my blog every night of my tour.

...bigger and better?

transitions.

transitions can be fantastic.  many times in life when we are going through transitions we are changing for the better.  we have decided to leave behind a certain people, place or lifestyle for our betterment.  maybe a relationship that has lost it's glitz and glamour or simply our daily regiment of: wake up, shower, shoes, breakfast, work, home, dinner, tv, sleep etc.

transitions can be terrifying at the same time.  as we walk out of that relationship we sometimes fear if we threw away something special.  as we change our daily regiment to: wake up, breakfast, workout, shower, shoes, work, home, workout, dinner, family time, sleep, we fear that we won't hold to it.

a few weeks ago i met up with an old friend.  we used to be best friends and played in Semper-Fi together.  we did the typical 'catching up' talk.  he asked what i did for work and if i was happy.  i responded with, "im..... content."  and he said, "that's not what i asked.  are you happy?"  so i obviously replied, "no."  he proceeded to tell me about a job opportunity that he had been offered and turned down.  explained a bit about it and asked if i were interested.  i asked him to get me more info.

the next day i got a call from a guy who wanted to explain the job offer to me.
two days later i went and visited the company and discussed some major details.
a week later i called and told him i would like to accept the job.

which puts me right smack dab in the middle of a major transition.  

a great opportunity? yes! but a frightening one at the same time.  

i am currently still working at my old job and spending random days at the new job going over different things.  this is very awkward and i wouldn't recommend it to anyone.  i wanted to give my old job as much time as possible to train and fill my position.  plus i would like to keep making money until i can start working at the new job full time in July.

the new job will be exciting.  i am very psyched about it.  i will be flying around the continental U.S. as the head a/v technician for Jackson-Dawson.  they put on events/shows for different things.  my first tour will be informative presentations for the Chevy Volt.  i will be traveling with 8-10 individuals and making these events happen flawlessly.  my new bosses are very nice and seem to have a good amount of common sense. (something my old boss seemed to lack greatly)  i have a feeling i could get used to this.

however, i still have my doubts.

what if things don't work out for some reason?  i mean, there are always chances for something to happen, right?  what if i don't "cut it"?  what if i do very well and the person above me feels threatened and wants to cut me loose?  what if i crash in a plane?  (this seriously crossed my mind)  i will be flying to three different places a month.  philly, l.a., phoenix, denver, minneapolis....

i've never been the risk taker in life for fear that shit will go sour and i'll be known as the guy who screwed up royally.  

i was watching a movie the other day and a few lines in the dialogue really jumped out at me.  the lead character was always known as a smart guy who graduated M.I.T. and was working at a movie rental store.  he never knew what he wanted to do for fear he would screw up.  he had a break-down moment while talking to his father and said, "im sorry... im sorry, im your only son... the failure!"  and his dad said, "no son, you aren't a failure at all.  because to be a failure you have to make an attempt at something.  but you haven't even done that.  you aren't even a failure... you're... worse than that."  putting aside the satire, this scene really hit me... hard.  

i can't even be a failure unless i try.

so im.......  a nothing.

this transition is me taking a step.  even if it is the wrong one in the end.  

at least im stepping toward something.

...and eat it too

this is in response to a friend's post found HERE - by: Kristen Cristino

Kristen started off asking how women have become the ones to court men instead of the old fashioned, other way around.  i personally feel that this has changed over time with the feminist movements.  i am not sexist in any way and hope that this text truly reveals my point.  the feminist movement is good in few ways and harmful in many areas that people don't think of first hand.  you can't demand a "level playing field" and be upset that males aren't still holding up their end as they did before.  remember for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.  it's either one way, or the other.  there is no way to have it both ways in this world so let us take a second to delve into this thought.

i'll start off saying that there will always be prejudice individuals.  no matter what.  just like there will always be thieves and liars.  it is the evil nature that some people cannot overcome.  i am, in no way, excusing this behavior.

the uproar for females to be treated the same as males is silly.  not because women are inferior but because they simply play different roles in life that men can't.  just the same as men play certain roles that women cannot.  we are not designed with the same physical characteristics nor thought processes.

now that women have cried out for "equal" rights and are being accepted as men are in certain situations they get confused.   no longer are the lines or boundaries defining the roles of a man or a woman.

GIRL POWER is a term that makes me laugh sometimes.  i think it's funny when a girl thinks that she can physically out perform a male.  now i know there are exceptions to every situation or rule, however lets keep it simple and stay with majorities here.  girls are physically weaker than men.  so what POWER are the girls claiming?  im sorry girls but there are things you just can not do.  AND THAT'S OKAY!  it isn't what you are designed to do.  it goes the same for the opposite side as well.  so don't feel like im attempting to suppress your accomplishments.

back to the power thing.  i think it is more so respect than power that you desire.  respect and recognition.  there is nothing wrong with respect and recognition however, both of those things are earned and requested, not demanded.

moving forward.  you are finally brought up to the same "level" as men.  you are a strong independent woman.  you don't need a man to do anything for you except open the new jar of peanut butter.

(this really happened to me.  the girl who lived in the neighboring condo knocked on my door and asked if i could open the peanut butter for her.  i did so and felt like a hero because i am a silly, strong, doofus of a man.)

lets take a look at it from a male's perspective.  hold on, it gets confusing from this side.  we have to guess how to handle certain situations.  we want to do the manly thing but at the same time wonder if we are going to get told off by a strong independent woman.  holding the door for a girl is a nice gesture.  so why bite our heads off by having the attitude of, "i don't NEED a man to do this for me.  i can open my own damn door!".

im all about the old fashioned courting methods.  if a girl that i had been seriously dating asked me to marry her....  i would be weirded out.  that is MY job as a man.  to nervously request for her hand in marriage.  to get down on one knee and lower myself below her, showing her respect and love.

i agree that the days of proper courtship have long gone, but lets dig to the root of the problem and decide to not make those mistakes again.  you can't have it both ways so stop trying to get it.  let's fully think about the repercussions of things that we want to change.  we are too short sighted and it hurts us in the long run.

...don't know jack

the main entry door to the shop i work in has been broken since we opened a year ago.  i finally received the go-ahead to purchase a new lock mechanism and swap out the old one.  this past friday, while sitting on a five gallon bucket of motor oil, i repaired the lockset.  while doing so a truck driver walked by and said, "so you're a maintenance man too, eh?"  "nope." i replied.  "i am the shop supervisor.  this just really needs to be done right now."  and he returned with, "so you're a jack of all trades and a master of none." and continued into the shop.

i've heard this a handful of times in my life and im not sure how to take it exactly.

yes it means that jack is skilled in many different areas of in everyday life.  on the other hand it also means that he hasn't mastered any of those areas.  inadequately educated in all of the areas he holds to be important in his life.  would you say a doctor is a jack of all trades or a master in his professional field?  who cares if said doctor can't change a lockset on an industrial door.  he can diagnose abnormalities in the human body.

don't get me wrong, if we didn't have locksmiths we would all have broken doors.  but isn't that locksmith the master of his field just as the doctor is a master of the medical?  not some jack who simply learned how to do it because it needed to be done.  no.  he is the master schlage, the king of the kwikset.

picture this.  you book a trip to europe and board the 747.  as your plane is being taxied to the runway a voice is heard over the intercom. "ladies and gentlemen we want to thank you for choosing to fly with us today.  our regular pilot couldn't make the trip with us but don't worry, we found someone who has done it a few times and can probably get us their safely.  please sit back and enjoy the flight."

you would be running for the emergency exits located at the front, middle and rear of the cabin.

i guess my frustration isn't in what the phrase is saying as much as it is in what the phrase ISN'T saying.  now i know that i would be hearing what i want when i start to think along those lines.  but isn't that the way it usually goes?  i think most of the time more is said by what we don't say than what we do.

when i hear someone call me a jack of all trades, master of none i feel like they are saying...

"congratulations.  you have managed to get by without really applying yourself in any one area."

maybe im being too hard on myself.  but if i weren't, who would be?  many times it is said that an artist is his own worst critic.  for me i feel that it forces me to be 100% satisfied with what i create.  but it is not always so.  i am not always satisfied with my performance and get frustrated.  being a selective perfectionist is hell

please keep your back handed compliments to yourself.

the ride

here you go again

not knowing where you'll end... up

come down from your ledge

the long way

and enjoy the ride

you and i

we're gunna ride

this out

you and i

we gotta ride

this out

they say, but don't know

the feeling of being so... low

fuck em for thinking

that they even know

how to enjoy the ride

you and i

we're gunna ride

this out

you and i

we gotta ride

this out