I've Been Tagged, Too!

Well, it appears as though I've been tagged by UAintNevaLied. I'm a fair sport, so here's the rules:

A). Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
B). Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself.
C). Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.
D). Let each person know that they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Without further TO-DO, here are Seven Random High Fidelity Facts:

1. I have two degrees that have absolutely nothing to do with each other. I initially graduated from Alabama A&M University with a degree in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. The idea was to go into medicine, but I changed my mind after graduation when I saw where the medical field was headed. So I went to the University of Alabama and graduated with a degree in Computer Engineering and minors in Computer Science and Mathematics. Who knew?
2. My birthmark looks like the state of West Virginia. So there's this birthmark on the back of my neck that apparently looks like the state of West Virginia...or so I've been told. My geography and topography sucks, so I'll take your word for it, mom.
3. Collecting mechanical pencils used to be a vice. Okay, this one is weird, I know, but it's true. I used to have all kinds - thick, thin, multiple colors, etc. But I've narrowed it down to normal to medium sized barrels that have the thin, twistable, replaceable erasers. I also have a few drafting pencils as well. Between the two I only use .5 and .3 as any other size is too big or small. Hey, don't judge me. Like I said, this was a "used to be a vice", remember?
4. My hobby is collecting pennants. Okay, this one is more unique. Ever since I was a kid, I collected pennants - flags - from the places that I would visit. It could be schools that I liked, or places (i.e. Six Flags, Zoo's, landmarks, etc.). I would normally stay away from team pennants, but I've found moreso now that pennants aren't really made like they used to be, except for team stuff. So now, I get a team pennant to represent where I've been...normally for every new state or city I visit. I may have to start collection country flags for new countries I visit...I dunno, man.
5. I stay up late but with reason. Okay, though the reason may not make sense to any of you, here it is. I feel as though I'm missing stuff when I go to bed early, even if I'm doing nothing but watching TV or looking at the computer. Part of me feels as though I've spent most of the day inside an office, and that's 8+ hours that have passed me by and I haven't gotten to do what I want to do, and not necessarily have to do. For those of you who like to be asleep by the time the street lamps come on, ignore this one.
6. I played trumpet in high school. Yep...it's true. I actually played from 5th grade until I graduated. Little known fact...trumpet players make great kissers.
7. I talk in my sleep. I pray that my wife gets adjusted to this as I can foresee her waking one night and smothering me because I won't shut up. The sad part...I actually woke up one night to my own discussion. Even worse...I finished my sentence after I was awake and completely aware that I was doing it.

So there you have it. My 7 random facts. I only know one person to pass this two at the moment that hasn't received it. Man...I gotta find some new contacts on this thing.

Here you go, "cuzo": LifesABeach

What's Really Good!

So, I've been emailed, tagged, IM'ed and spoken to the fact that I have a blog and haven't touched it since somewhere back in the summer. Well, a lot has been going on and I have been absent from the scene. So needless to say, my blogging time fell from a more frequent occurrence to that of a screeching halt. Nonetheless, after much prodding and bad-mouthing from others, I am returning. Though I don't really know who I'm returning too...it's not like many people read this thing anyway, right?

At any rate, I'm devoting this blog to things that have kept me occupied since I left. And yes, they are legitimate things so don't start getting ideas like I was spending all my time on a gameboy or Xbox....

...besides...I don't own either of those anyway.

So, here's a breakdown of what's been really good. Let's start at February of this year:

1. February 4th marked a day that started a domino effect for the positive in my life. This was the day I took the most special woman in the world, UAintNevaLied and put her on layaway by asking her to marry me. For those of you who are slow, "yes", I got engaged. It was a wonderful moment filled with tears, slob and runny noses and smiles all around. It was also Superbowl Sunday; how's that for a kick-off play, huh?!



2. Between February and July, I did some traveling for my job that put me in New Jersey, Washington D.C., Kansas City, Missouri and Kansas, and Texas. I like to travel, so I'm not complaining at all. The work was good, the per-diems were awesome, and I was engaged. No...cloud nine wasn't high enough. I was on cloud 12!



3. Somewhere in late June - early July - I moved my fiancee (in two trips) out of the cold, frost-bitten land of Maryland and down to Hotlanta. It was definitely a change, but she's adjusted now and is enjoying the city very much. Of course, she was happy with the change in family situation as well. She was now much closer to her family, but still just far away. What more can you ask for, right?



4. August 9th: I turned 30. Yes...I finally left my 20's. But the youth is still strong. Especially when I shave all the facial hair. I look like I'm 12 then. Along with baking me an unbelievable homemade cake, I got a cool gift courtesy of my fiancee - a digital SLR camera that I carry around with me darn near everywhere I go. I sometimes wonder if she's going to shove that thing down my throat as I take photos of her when she's not expecting. August 31st: I make my final payment on my layaway purchase and completely take her off the market! Sorry fellas...you snooze, you lose!! So yes, we got married on the beach - surrounded by friends, family, loved ones, and people we didn't know (but according to some were somehow related to us). I'd personally like to thank each and every guy that at some point or another dated my wife (before we knew each other, of course) and somehow f*ed up along the way. Thank you...thank you!! You can start hating now!



5. September 2nd: The wifey and I take off on a two-week honeymoon to Thailand. That's right...Thailand. We've seen Hawaii and the Caribbean, so we did something different. It was AWE-SOME-MM!! Yes, I added the extra "M's" for emphasis! We visited Bangkok (thanks for the bootleg stuff), Chiang Mai (thanks for the cheap stuff and more bootleg stuff), and the island of Phuket! Outside of the 16 hours it took to get there, it was a tight trip! Of course I'm running on adrenaline the whole time, so sleep wasn't a factor!



6. October: We're back from the honeymoon and I'm working in the ATL. The later part of the month I get a call to go to New Jersey (again) for a couple of weeks. This is the first time I've been away from wifey since August. Hated it...and I did too! The trip was good, though. I got to hang with some of my new family members, including LifesaBeach.



7. November: Get this...I'm sent to Gold Coast City, Australia...a little area known as Surfer's Paradise...to help conduct training for a client. Yes...I was excited. I mean, I've never been to Australia before, so this was definitely an opportunity...not to mention that it was the second time I've been out of the country within two months. The suckiest thing about it was that my beloved wife couldn't come. That definitely put a bit of a dark cloud over the trip. I would have loved to have her there, but since I was only there for a week, we had to wait until next time. And yes, the picture to the right was taken by me. I shot it from the hotel room balcony, 22 stories up. Who knows, if I keep this up, I may be able to turn this camera thing into more than a hobby. Any mentors out there interested in taking on a FREE understudy?

So there you have it. That's what's been going on. There are other things in the mix, but I'm not going to spill the beans just yet. That's for me to know, and for you guys to find out later. I guess I'll just have to put it on the blog.

I hope this will suffice for now. I should have more dropped on here soon, as I have a load on my mind.