Santa Rules!

Today, I'm at home blogging while using my brand new Averatec 2300 Laptop. There is something to be said for off brand equipment. Mrs. Santa picked this up for a steal as far as I'm concerned. A computer with this kind of speed, size and storage should cost far more than it did. Anyway, as to not continue sounding like a cheap Jew who lucked out on a discount bagel. I'll just say, "Thanks be to Santa Sheri" for such a wonderful gift. There was a lot of wonderful gifts that I got this year and I sure don't want to come off as that spoiled Jew who found the can of olives while all the other camp members were starving to death. God...I'm a sick puppy.

I hope everyone who reads this had a great Christmas, Hannuka, Kwanza, etc...

2007 is literally days away and as I normally do, I take stock of my life so far and what the past year has both brought me and taught me.

I'm happy to say that I'm still married to a lovely bride who has shown a true desire to work with me above all that is difficult in life. It's no bull that the first year of a marriage is difficult, but I take comfort in both knowing and seeing that we are working together better and with more understanding and love as time goes on.

I've lost some very dear family members this year and my heart still aches at the thought of not being able to see, hug and talk with my beloved grandparents, Helen and Leonard Brainsky. You both are dearly missed. If I can offer a bit of advice for anyone who still has a loved one who is up there in age or not doing so well in health, take the time to see them. Don't think for a second that "you want to remember them the way they were" will leave you without regrets.

My career was thrust into a new dimension with a departure from ATA and having a job, to life as a self employed guy with an appreciation of the freedom to make a dime and the open mind to see opportunity. During the last month, I stumbled onto an opportunity that I'm going to invest some of my time into. Architectural Amenities is a company that I stumbled into while sitting next to the company president during a long 13 and a half hour ride from Chicago to Tokyo. Austin not only was a great guy to get stuck sitting next too, but he has energy and values that I respect greatly and certainly appreciate. I took a trip down to Tampa, where his company is based and have signed on as an independent sales representative. Also during the year, I found myself in a familiar place...one that I knew but hadn't been in a long time....The Pilot's seat in a Cessna 152. Though I would've loved to have achieved my goal of earning my Private Pilot Certificate in 2006, the weather, my schedule and a broken airplane delayed my plans. Oh well....the progress has been made and provided I can get some good weather and a little more free time...I'm going to get that license in the first half of 2007.

All the time spent on career and family has forced an unsatisfactory change in my principal. I hate to admit it, but I've spent less time with my dearest friends over the past year. There are many excuses as to why and how this happened. No excuse is worth a shit when I look back and see that I could've spent some minutes and hours enjoying the rewarding company and conversations of the best group of friends I could ever ask for. More "Friend" time is definitely on deck for 2007...No excuses!

With family and career both in an upswing, I can't wait to dive into 2007 with a smile. I'm a man who loves his life and appreciates everything I can...and I totally love that reality!

This will likely be my last blog of 2006, pending anything pressing I must expel to to universe of course. So, I would like to take a moment to let you...the blog reading universe know how much I appreciate being able to spew my random thoughts out too you and have you there to listen 24/7 365 days a year. God Bless and may everyone, everywhere have a wonderful New Year and may the gift of life be good to you too.

Rob...I hope you appreciate my Episcopalian (sp?) style of writing...that style's for you!

Peace be to all.

Sepultura meets the Wiggles

Doug Brotherton is alive and well! A very good friend of mine from High School has contacted me via email. Doug and I shared moments like...throwing chairs out of our guitar class window...the "Mad Milk Man strikes again"....Slamming into the back end of a Chevy Blazer while admiring Donovan's house....and to top if off...driving with a giant in the trunk of my piece of shit car so he could hold my trunk lid down.

Doug is a giant compared to little me. He was down with some hard core heavy metal when we last saw each other. As tough as his music was, he has always been a gentle giant. He was one of the few friends I had in the Crofton area when I was afraid of my own shadow.

Doug is now a daddy and I'm looking forward to getting to know my good friend once again.

Tomorrow morning, I'll be heading out to Rockford, Ill. Miami Air has a flight to Cancun that I'll be handling. The last time I was out in Rockford, I was flying on a Ryan Int'l flight to Kuwait and Qatar. I kind of wish I could pick up another one of those while I'm up there...but it doesn't look like any of those are available.

My Pilot training is coming along. I've been studying like crazy lately as I shall hopefully be taking my written exam sometime next week. Friday I'll be doing another Cross Country back down to Summit Airport in Deleware to brush up on my skills.

Rob...we need to plan and execute a chili night. It's been WAY too long.