.: bistan.net :.

Since I’ve been slightly neglecting this blog lately, I figured its a great time for a life update.  In no particular order:

RUNNING: I ran 4 miles tonight. It’s the longest distance I’ve done since the Disney Marathon, which was almost 3 months ago.  I’m just over a 9 minute/mile pace at that distance.  I have five races scheduled in April/May so I’m really going to be hitting the pavement.  It feels good getting a trophy at the end of a race!

SCHOOL: I turned in my second C# project last weekend.  One more to go and then class number one of masters degree number two will be complete.  Summer semester is going to be rough because it’s less than a month and I have a work trip to Colorado scheduled right in the middle of it.

WORK: Work sucks lately.  I just hate being there.  Our worthless marketing guy is trying to take over technology and my boss doesn’t like to fight the political battles.  On top of all of that, four years of doing the same things is getting boring.  There is no chance of advancement in my current job and my boss doesn’t support formalized training (even when it’s free).  I would really like to get my expired CCNA back (which wouldn’t cost the University anything but time), but the boss believes that if you train someone, they will leave.  I’m not knocking my boss.  He’s a great guy both in and out of work, but I need challenges!!!  I would go for the CCNA outside of work, but I don’t have time.  I do have a 5 day weekend beginning tomorrow, so maybe I’ll be re-energized by Wednesday.  If things don’t improve over the next few months, I may jump into the job market.

TRAVEL:  Yes, we are hitting the road again Sunday.  Back to Disney World.  As annual passholders, we can book the value rooms for next to nothing.  Apparently though, too many of them have been booked, so someone from Disney called me today and gave us a free upgrade to one of the Deluxe Villa Resorts (Old Key West).  It should be a great weekend.

TELEVISION: LOST is really slow-moving this season.  Some questions are being answered, but there’s not much new.  I’m ready for more action.  24 is pretty much the same old thing.  Some [insert hostile county]ian terrorists plan to detonate a [insert WMD type here] weapon in the U.S. and Jack is going to save the day.  Been there, done that.  The best part of the entire show is Chloe!

I’ve been tagged by Greg.  I usually don’t do these things but there is NOTHING on TV tonight and its raining (can’t run).

4 Random Things I Like About My Significant Other:

1 – She puts up with me.
2 – She supports me when I get into crazy new hobbies.
3 – She lets me have the remote.
4 – She loves me!

4 Jobs I’ve Had: (none of these were my official job title)

1 – Hot air balloon wrestler
2 – Sign artist
3 – Rooftop photographer
4 – Litter-box cleaner

4 Movies I’ve Watched More Than Once:

1 – Catch Me If You Can
2 – The Shawshank Redemption
3 – The Goonies
4 – Silence of the Lambs (or any of the other 3 in that series)

4 TV Shows I Watch:

1 – LOST
2 – Parking Wars
3 – Prison Break
4 – 24

4 Favorite Foods:

1 – Chicken & Dumplings
2 – Bar-b-que
3 – O’Charleys loaded potato soup
4 – Chocolate

4 Places I’d Like to Visit

1 – Alcatraz
2 – New York City
3 – Disneyland
4 – Space

5 Things I’m Looking Forward to in the Coming Year:

1 – Mackenzie getting potty trained (5+ years straight of changing diapers is getting old)
2 – Disney Marathon
3 – Tristan starting Kindergarten
4 – Change (ha ha ha)
5 – Going back to school

4 People I Tag:

Sorry, I don’t think there are 4 people who read this blog.

Wow . . . Alcatraz, Prison Break, Catch Me If You Can, The Shawshank Redemption, Silence of the Lambs . . . It looks like I’m fascinated with being incarcerated.  I guess if I’m ever on death row, at least I’ll get my 4 favorite foods!

I am jonesin for some LOST.  I have never been through withdrawal from a television show like I’ve been lately for LOST.  Watching the old episodes Monday nights on Sci-Fi just isn’t cutting it.  Anyway, in a tribute to LOST, I’m going to start posting Flashbacks on my blog.  Some day, I’ll give Charlie Pace a shout by posting my Greatest Hits on my blog.  Maybe even one day I’ll do a flash-forward.

Here is my first flashback:

FIVE YEARS AGO: FALL 2003

Five years ago, Kimberlie and I were wrapping up our first year of marriage.  She also had a few more days before Tristan was due to arrive.  Looking back, I have no idea how we ever made it.  I was the only one working and I was only making half of what I make now.  I was the webmaster at Macon State and I liked the job, but the pay absolutely sucked.  We also still had the normal newlywed challenges: adapting to living with someone other than your parents (and how much control to allow your parents to have in your marriage), owning and taking care of a new home, and paying bills that you never had before.

TEN YEARS AGO: FALL 1998

Ten years ago I was working at Publix making $8.25 an hour, which at that time was GOOD money for a 19 year old.  That fall, I started taking classes at Macon State.  I decided to transfer to Macon State because I had no idea what I wanted to become in life.  The previous year, I was at GC&SU in Milledgeville, but it didn’t make sense because as an undecided major, I could take the exact same courses in Macon.

Who knew that five years later I would be married with a kid.  I don’t think I even had any serious dating prospects back then.

For those of you who didn’t know me back then: See, I told you I’ve gained 40 pounds since I got married.

FIFTEEN YEARS AGO: FALL 1993

Fifteen years ago I was a freshman at Central High School.  High school was much better than middle school, but thats not exactly saying much.  It was tough, because we moved to the north side of Macon that year and I didn’t know anyone when I started at Central.  I do remember getting braces that Fall.  Before that, I had the most embarrassing teeth.

TWENTY YEARS AGO: FALL 1988

Twenty years ago I was a fourth grade student at Heard Elementary School.  Things were tough back then because I was one of two kids living in a single parent household.  At the time, I didn’t understand why I couldn’t have the Nike Airs and other name brand stuff.  I certainly understand now.  I do remember going on my first overnight field trip that fall to Rock Eagle.

TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO: FALL 1983

In Fall 1983, I was four years old.  That’s the same age my son is today.  It’s hard to remember way back then.  My parents were actually still married (but not for much longer) and all of my grandparents were still living.  I do remember that I was Raggedy-Andy for Halloween (my sister was Raggedy-Ann).

FLASH-FORWARD?

I wonder where I’ll be 5, 10, 15, 20, or even 25 years from now.  Perhaps a better question should be IF I will be.  I could be long gone by then.  What sort of technology will we have by then?  Will 2008 be as defining of a year as the media thinks it is?  Will this year’s election and economic turmoil really have a profound impact?

OK, back to my LOST reruns on Sci-Fi!