Shake 1, Shake 2, And I'm Gone

It's been a while, but we finally got in a game of football the other day after work. Many were suppose to show up but enough showed up for us to get a good game of 3 on 3. Not bad considering we had a very short field to work with. The game got started with a score from the other team on a deep ball, but then it was my turn. To my surprise...I've still got the speed...although I felt very rusty cuz I couldn't get that burst of speed to kick. I ran a cut to the inside and the ball was coming my way. I grab it and made one cut to get away from my blocker and then made a second cut to get to the outside. I was trying to get away from the second guy and was hoping that my speed would kick in but it never did. I took it easy to the outside to try to out run the guy but he was never able to get to me so I was gone. I ran almost the entire field. Crap!...I was tired after that. But that was it for me. I didn't want to play too well cuz we were playing with some new guys and didn't want to discourage them from coming back to play with us. I wanted to keep the competition fair. Although I made some defensive stops, I didn't fair too well offensively after.
I hope these guys keep coming out. Playing just reminds me how much I love football. I need to get on a flag football league somehow...

Facebook

Man...Facebook is too dang confusing and time consuming. I finally caved in and signed up for this. I don't even care to be that social. Plus...I'm more of a private person, so all that information sharing is just too much for me. If you don't know me already, it just means that you must not be that important to me. But nevertheless...I'll give it a try.
I almost got so ticked off today with the thing cuz I kept running in circles just trying to personalize my profile. Errr! I would have rather watched football. But actually that's what I did after getting so frustrated with Facebook.
I just don't know how ppl have so much time on their hands to be doing this social thing online. What happened to go out in public and meeting ppl?...and not hiding behind the computer to do so. What a sad way and excuse to be social.
Anyhow, that's my take on Facebook. I guess it's not all so bad, but just too dang confusing and time consuming...and I just don't have that time.

Distancing Myself

I've learned that ppl come and go, but never knew that the phrase can also refer to friends. Seems like that's the story of my life. This year has been a lil bit of a difficult year for me. I've been really stressed out with work, irritated with some ppl around me, and I've been pushing ppl away. Seems like my only friend these days is me. I think the older I'm getting, the more I realize how hateful ppl really are...and that's not something I want to surround myself with. I'm too positive to be around someone with a bad aura or bad karma. I've slowly distanced myself from my cousin, my friend Lily, Jason, and probably other ppl that I don't even bother to think of. Of course there's other friends that I've cut the string on, but every now and then they come swinging back. I'm not hateful so I'll at least say hello, but I try to keep our conversations to a minimum. I even question some of the ppl I call friends today. Can you believe, but one "friend" came to visit me in my lab for the first time in the 3 years we've known each other from work...and said to me that he was only visiting cuz he now believes that I'm more important cuz I'm being sent to Paris. That's BS! Screw you if you're only visiting me cuz you think I'm a big shot now. Screw you! You can take your fat azz out of my office. Let me show you the door! Gosh...I was pissed when he said that. He might have been kidding, but the facts don't add up to that. I really was mad at that comment. I wasn't good enough before for him to visit? He's been in my building many times and never visited until now. And of course he still can't get over the fact that I've had 2 outstanding performance ratings. And I still can't believe Donny told this to him. I'm still mad at him for that. I really don't like to brag about myself unless it has to do with sports. I really don't take compliments about myself well. Don't talk about my work performances. It's nobody's business but mines. I would tell the world how great I perform only if everyone were to be happy for me. But the truth is...ppl are petty and jealous, so why bother? Nobody will be happy for you. I know this for a fact!
Anyhow...I feel like pulling away from everyone these days. I can't even tell my friends that I'm going to Paris cuz I know what their reactions will be. In fact...I've told a few and I saw exactly the reaction I expected. They give me that fake, "O I'm so happy for you" crap reaction....when I know they're thinking inside..."bastard". That's why I've been pulling myself away. There's just no need for friends when I can't share anything good with them.

Watching Over Me

I have to say...somebody must be watching over me! And I mean in the good way. Like somebody up above is watching over me and taking good care of me. I look back at my life and can't help but to think this is true. I don't think that my life can be any better than it possibly is right now. Well...it can always be better, but I am more than grateful for all that I have today. For what I don't have today, maybe that will come later in life. I believe I'm a patient person and that time is of the essence, so if it's not meant to be now...it's cuz it's meant to be for later. And no matter how bad my life can be sometimes, I always know that it could be worse and so even that I am grateful for. It's funny how things turn up just when you need them too. No particular example at the moment, but I know for sure that whenever I'm in a jam...somehow...I always seem to get over that hump.
I'm particularly grateful that my life has taken me down a successful path. I'm especially excited that my job will finally send me to Paris. I sometimes think, "What have I done to deserve this?" I feel like this is such a huge deal for me. I know it might not be for some ppl, but for me it is. I never could have dreamed that I'd get to go to Paris for free (company is paying for everything). And that I'd be so welcome by so many ppl. I have my cousins and my aunt who is so excited and can't wait for my visit. Then I met some ppl who work there that are waiting for my arrival. And I have some ppl already there that I know who are waiting for my arrival as well. O...and I have a friend here who wants to introduce me to his friend there so that she can take me out. Man...this is great! I am so flattered by every one's hospitality.
I don't know...life really has treated me well despite the few annoyances that I do have in my life. Don't get me wrong...but it's not even this Paris trip that has me so grateful for the life I've been given...or one that I created for myself as some might argue. I guess for every good there's a bad...and vice versa. I know I'm not all good, but I know I've done good. Maybe this is my reward for being and doing good. I really don't know. Whatever it is...I can't thank you enough for the life I've been given, for the parents I have, and for the success that I have achieved. Maybe it's a lil of hard work and giving back that has made my life that much more enjoyable, but again...I really think someone or something is watching over me and taking care of me.

Rice vs. Texas Tech

Today I went to a Rice vs. Texas Tech football game and tailgating party. It was about the most lopsided game I've ever been to. The game was being played at Rice Stadium so you'd think that there would be more Rice fans than Tech fans, but when we arrived at the stadium for the tailgating party, all we saw was a sea of red. The Red Raider fans were out in full effect and accounted for 3/4 of the stadium. So much for home field advantage for the Owls huh?! At our tailgating party, we had Rice fans and also Tech fans. We all got along pretty well. But it was great. I had a really fun time getting to know everyone. We barbecued, drank, laughed and talked a lot. I wish I would have done more tailgating when I was back in college. It was so much fun. But I guess it also depends on the ppl you're with and who's throwing the party.
There was this man there who bought everything just that morning for this party. He had flown in from somewhere...I want to say N. Carolina...just this morning and quickly went to the store to buy a shit load of food and drinks for this party. He also went and bought brand new coolers and a brand new pit just for this party. Of course there were others that contributed to the party. But this man...I think his name was Tim...bought all this stuff and ended up giving everything away cuz he was flying back home tonight and, obviously, can not bring any of this stuff with him on the plane. I ended up getting one of the cooler filled with leftover food. That was great...now I don't have to go buy a cooler. I've been needing one, but never got around to buying one cuz it's so expensive. So I got a free one today. I would have gotten the pit too, but it wouldn't fit in my car. This man must be a big shot. I can't imagine anyone buying all these stuff and just end up giving them all away. That's amazing.
Well...Rice got their azzez spanked by Tech. And now I'm a lil burnt from being under the sun so long. O well...I got to go to this game for free so I can't complain. I had a really good time.

Paris or Bust - Part 2

Could it be???...that finally I will be getting to go to Paris? At least they're giving me an actual date this time around and not just a month. I'm so excited. I'm expected to leave Sunday Oct 7. No flight has been booked, but they seem intent on this date. This will allow me to squeeze in my Komen Race for the Cure. I'm so happy too. I really didn't want to have to miss this. Especially not after this year after I've recruited so many of my friends to come along with me and share in my enthusiasm for this event.
But back to Paris. Looks like they are going to put me in a hotel close to the company campus in Clamart and not in Paris as my ex-manager wanted to place me. O well...not much I can do especially when they're paying the bills. I might end up stuck in the hotel after work hours only cuz I don't have a car and really wouldn't know my way around the town. I'm sure I'll make an effort to get out, but it won't be the same as if I had someone to show me around. Looks like my cousins and family are further away from Clamart that I initially thought so hooking up with them after work might be difficult. Since I have the weekend there to enjoy, I think I'll hook up with them then and hopefully have a place to stay there so I don't have to worry about the hotel bill.
I hope I can have everything booked by the end of this week so I can finally say that I'm going this time.
So many things seem to be happening in the month of October. Going to Paris will also mean that I will have to miss my 5 year seniority dinner. What a shame! But I guess I'll be celebrating in Paris. How cool is that?! Excellent in deed! But I will also have to miss out on an opportunity to go back to UH to recruit. I was to help out Mary, but can't now. Man...I can't believe that when nothing is going on....nothing occurs. But whenever there's something going on...seems like everything is going on. I hate that!

5 Year Seniority

Gosh...it has almost been 5 years since I've started with the company. I have always hoped that I would make that 5 year milestone. Looks like that is going to come true next month. They're having a Seniority dinner next month and it just so happens that it'll be 5 years for me. I'm not sure what I'll receive, but I think it's some sort of pin. Hey...good enough with me. Being with this company for 5 years is rewarding in itself. It completely opened me up to a new lifestyle. A lifestyle that I'm finally very happy with. I'm finally doing what I want to do. And not tagging around town to clubs and bars and segregating ourselves from the public. Geez...don't even get me started on that. I'm so glad I don't hang with those ppl anymore. I feel good about my new found life...hahaha. I wouldn't trade this for the world. Of course...with good there is bad. But somehow...luckily...I've been able to deal with the bad cuz everything is so good.
So for the dinner party, I've got to do a speech. I haven't prepared anything, but I have a pretty good idea of what I'll be talking about. Wish me luck!

Abrupt Ending to Season

Well, it looks like the softball season is done with for this year. Playoffs were scheduled to begin two weeks ago, but due to constant raining we're receiving, the coaches got together and decided to call off the season. The rain doesn't seem to be stopping anytime soon either. I don't even know if we had a summer this year with all this rain. I swear it seems more like the hurricane season this entire summer. What a bummer. We felt that this year was our year to win it too. Our team is as strong as it could be. Hopefully we'll be able to make another strong run next season. I'm already looking forward to it...hahaha. Maybe the season ending was for the best. I've been so busy at work that I almost feel guilty leaving work any time before 6pm. Sad as it is...it's true.
But anyhow...hopefully the team remains intact and that we'll all be back next season to win it all. Gosh...chasing a title is more difficult then I thought. If it's not losing to the defending champs in the finals, it's mother-nature that defeats us. Crap!