Date #2

To my surprise, C didn't waste any time and asked me out for dinner Saturday evening. I didn't expect a second date so soon, but I accepted. I'm so glad I did! It was really a perfect evening. We started at Nick's and had a nice dinner. I know there were many silent moments, but that's mainly cuz I was surprise we were here so quickly. It was like a "I need to pinch myself to see if this was real" type moment.
After dinner, we dropped her car off at her place and I drove us to The Perfect Latte for a cup of coffee where we talked more. At this point, I'm really confused as how I'm still sitting here with this beautiful young lady. I kept telling her she's a league above me, but she hasn't figured that out yet. And I don't know what more to do to let her realize that. But oh well...just gotta keep enjoying this moment I was blessed with.
We eventually shut down the place. I drove her back and walked her up to her door. We embraced in a long hug and then she gave me that look. That look. So I asked if I could kiss her. She gave me an ever so slightly nod and I went in for a quick kiss. It had to be quick. I could not allow myself to get too caught up. Yup..I overthought it. But it was for my own protection.

Tuesday, she was upset over something about work so I offered to bring her some BR ice cream. She was cool with that, so after work, I stopped in and picked her up a scoop of Tiramisu and Rocky Road.  I also picked up Mint CC and CnC for her brother. As I was heading out towards her place, it hits me! "Oh fuck"...I have no idea where she lives. Funny I didn't panic after that. I drove until I could recognize some key points and had to adjust a few times, but I would eventually make it. She comes out with her DWTS tshirt on. It was the cutest thing! She was the cutest thing! We hugged and shared a few quick kisses. I handed her the bag of ice cream and went on my way. It was so great to see and hold her and kiss her!

Pimp My Ride

Friday afternoon I decided to stop by the Sterling McCall Acura dealership. Met Emad and offered $35K for a 2017 RDX. I ended walking out after their counteroffer of $35400.
Mike calls me same evening offering $35200 for the car and I accepted. Decided not to tell my sis about.
This morning, dad and I went to bring the car home. It had only 6 miles on it!
When she arrived home, she was so excited banging on garage door.
She was expecting to do some car shopping this afternoon, so we surprised the hell out of her! It was awesome

I also want to include on this post the day I was finally able to make a deal for my 2018 Toyota Camry. Dad went into Joe Myers and we walked out with the car for $36500. About $300 below sticker. Fine...it was hot and fresh on the lot. Can't expect a better deal. But I absolutely love my new ride! It's really nice!

It Takes Two To Tango

I'm sure there's a reason why blind dates aren't so popular. For some strange reason, I love the thrill and excitement of it. And I was not disappointed at all Friday night when I met C for the first time.
So how did we get to this point?!
Well, out of the blue, my cousin texts me and tells me she wants to introduce me to one of her co-workers. She sent a couple of fuzzy photos. I was willing to have some fun and take a chance and just see where it goes. I always enjoy meeting new people, so why not, right?! So I accepted and texted C. She was willing to meet up, so we made it happen Friday night.
So we met up at Sugar Refinery, had a drink, and then proceed to Guru's for dinner. After dinner, we tried to get into Bar Louie to catch the Astros game but it was completely packed. We walked over to Gorilla Greg's but it had closed its doors. So we walked over to La Madeleine's for a bite of dessert and good conversations.
First impression...wow...she's cute! I hit the jackpot with this blind date thing. Holy crap! As the night went on, my take from her is that she's relatively a quiet person. Not shy. Just quiet. She didn't ask about me much as I did about her. Not sure if she's interested in me or just wanted to be out of the house and have some company. But it's all good. I'm still in awww that she showed up with an Astros shirt on. I complimented throughout the evening and continued to do so today. I'm more than impressed!
I do feel she likes me from our first meeting. I can see myself putting her on a pedestal as I usually do and getting myself in trouble. I will try my hardest to keep myself from being hurt again. But I fear this one thing about her will get the best of me. She doesn't want to have kids. I know in my heart I'm not ok with that. I want to eventually have kids. I would never disrespect her wishes not to have kids. Obviously it's my problem, not hers. I'm not sure how far I can be in this without leading her on. So if it isn't religion, than it's this. I can't win...
I think we would look great as a couple. So terrible that I would trouble my thoughts over her not wanting kids. But I'm positive that's a deal breaker for me. And it's breaking my heart...already! :(

JA!

I thought she was the girl I had been praying so hard for...for so long. But after our first sit down and a few drinks, it's not looking like that was the case.
There are some fundamental opposites between us and when she started discussing some of her beliefs and what she's looking for, I knew she was already showing me the door...or that any hopes for a first date was never going to happen.
I feel that she came at a time when I needed her most. I was kind of hoping she'd be the one. The one that would allow me to move on from my past. The one that would be the one to hold my hand from this present and onto the future.  
I thought that it was by more than just chance that our paths crossed. But I guess life is funny that way.
I'm still happy I had the opportunity to meet and talk with her. I felt we were very much a like. So much a like. But it's always the deepest parts of ppl and their wants that keeps ppl apart. It's a shame really.

2016 Highlights

2016 in review!  I can't think about 2016 without thinking about the first 6 months of the year completely dedicated to commercializing the Stingray tool.  All those long days and nights working took a toll on me but in the end it was all worth it!  We got the job done!  The tool passed the confined heat test.  The brick also passed its confined heat test.  It was a 6-day work week for 6 months.  But we got paid.  I made so much money from overtime, it was ridiculous!  The one unexpected thing that came out of this was the recognition we received after the success of this project.  Suddenly my name is flying all over the place.  For me, it was all very unexpected.
The success that followed the tool was that it gained interest from NASA!!!  Yes NASA!!!  It began as a round-table discussion to full blown reality.  NASA will now redesign our tool so that they can take it on their next mission in ?2024? to drill in Venus.
Yeah...did anything from the paragraph above make any sense?!  As many times as I've talked about it, I still can't believe it!  I give myself credit for assisting NASA in this assignment as I did help get some measurements for them.  HA!
The success of the Stingray tool didn't stop there.  Just recently, there was news that there has been more than 262 tools out there in the field without any failures.  Just mind-blowing!

During the crazy first half of the year with work consuming most of my life, there was one thing that helped keep my mind off the emptiness and that was working out.  Joining LA Fitness was really good for me.  I was doing really well and consistently going to the gym until the company took away the fitness reimbursement program.  I just couldn't justify the monthly fee so I had to cancel my membership.  I've been thinking of joining Fitness Connection for the longest time now, but can't seem to get myself to do it cuz that place is no where near as nice as LA Fitness.  But I had to move on from that...

It's not so much a highlight of 2016 but it definitely impacted my 2016.  Henry's divorce shocked most of us.  Still can't believe 25 years went away just like that.  It's such a crazy thought.  So difficult for me to conceive of such a notion.  But as a friend, I had to do what I can to show him some support.  When the 2nd half of the year rolled around, I was able to spend more time with him.  We'd just go to the bar or whatever.  I'd just be a friend and listen and let him vent.  I would try to give my thoughts every now and then, but it really was not my place to be.  I have yet to know what it's like to spend 25 years of my life with one person and then to have it all gone in one day.  Me and Donny tried our best to be there for him.  He was in a very dark place, obviously.  We even took a camping trip together up to Austin for a weekend.  That was lots of fun!  I just hope he's at least out of that dark place and now able to deal with his reality of life.

UH Football!  UH Baseball!  Catching these games with friends was just the best.  So much fun doing it.

John Franklin's retirement was not something I was looking forward to but I knew it was going to happen eventually.  I can't believe it came up so fast.  We started working together about 6 years ago on the Stingray project and now it's over.  He truly deserves his retirement.  I'm just not ready to have him go.  But I know I'll still see him for UH baseball games.  I better!

Camping/Austin Trip

It was a weekend that was so needed.  I just needed a break from the daily grind and the trip up to Austin couldn't have came at a better time.  Overall weather was just beautiful!

While at Lit Lounge, I met a beautiful Hispanic girl name Priscilla. She was with a friend name Sandra. They both were very nice young ladies, but Priscilla definitely was great eye candy. I gave her a smile just as she sat down next to me. I soon said hello and she responded so I offered to buy her and her friend a drink. We talked for a lil bit but the music was just too loud for me to hold any decent conversations with her. Plus she was only 23. A bit too young for me. She had quite a body on her for such a lil frame she was. That ass though!...hahaha. I did enjoy her company though. Was too bad she had to leave so soon. Maybe she just wasn't feeling me and needed to go. It's cool though. At least she was nice about it.

I loved the music at BD Riley's. That Irish rock music really related to me! I was totally jamming to the band's music. I so wish I could see The Corrs live in person. I would just love it! 


Some of the highlights --
Day 1:
Pace Bend Park. North Taylor.

Day 2:
Salt Lick.
Austin.
Airbnb
6th Street. Dirty 6.
-- Bat Bar.
-- The Driskel Hotel.
-- Bikinis.
-- Lit Lounge.
-- BD Ridley's.
-- Rainey Street.

Day 3:
-- Mount Bonnell.
-- Barton Creek Greenbelt.
-- Home.

3 Birthdays, 1 Dinner

Tonight, Bob Dugas, Carlos, and I got together to celebrate our birthdays. Bob was accompanied by his wife Cristine, Carlos' Eva, and Illenny was my plus one. We had just the best time. We got together tonight at Jade Garden on Bellaire. We ordered Lobster in garlic and ginger sauce, salt and pepper fried squid, shrimp with walnut in special sauce, a scallop and vegetables dish, sizzling beef, pan seared beef flat noodles, and then a second order of the shrimp with walnut in special sauce cuz it was so good everyone couldn't get enough of it.
Carlos and Eva showed up late but it was all good. Illenny and I kept Bob and Cristine companied. When they showed up, Carlos went on a beer run to get us some Chinese beer...hahaha. Tsing Tao. We all had a bottle.
I was really happy to see that everyone liked the dishes I ordered. I was a lil nervous about it, but everyone was adventurous enough to try.
I'm just really happy we got to keep our tradition of celebrating our birthdays together. It really makes me appreciate them. I just love Bob that he's always calling us on the day of our birthday to wish us a happy birthday. You just don't find ppl like him these days.
After Bob and Cristine left, the four of us stayed back and talked our heads out like usual. It wasn't until about 10:30pm did we finally leave the restaurant.
Just so much fun!

New Chapter

July 5, 2016, the beginning of a new chapter in my career. It's the day I received my letter reassigning me to a new project. Since Stingray has officially commercialized it was only a matter of time we would get moved out and onto another project. Fortunately for me I don't have to move far. In fact, I'm staying right where I am. Same desk, office, and lab. I'll be joining the neighboring project, PNX. And once PNX is commercialized, I'll be working with PTC on their new smart PNG and detector. Sounds fun, but I'm deadly scared of radiation and neutrons! I'm glad that they granted my request to stay in Sugar Land and in Engineering.
As for Lewis, he is going to the 555 bldg to join Omega for six months. Then he will spend one month in PTC to learn from them and bring that knowledge back to Sugar Land.
Somreeta, she'll be going to the 150 bldg to join the Falcon project. Good luck to her. She'll be joining Jimmy there.
So funny story. PNX shipped Jimmy to Falcon months ago. Now they're bringing me into PNX. Jimmy thought he was king when he was with PNX. Guess they needed a new king...hahaha! I laugh, but I don't mean any harm. It's just that he's such an arrogant type person. He thinks he's untouchable. This shows that he's not. I'm not looking to fill his shoes. I'm looking to put my own print on the project. Make it progress and successful.

Back To Normal

So finally I have made it back to working normal business hours. However, I do sort of miss that 2nd shift hour. I never had to fight traffic anywhere I went. Going to work was a breeze and coming home from work was a breeze. And I sure will miss that overtime money. It was a nice chunk of change. But I'm putting that money to good use. I'm planning a trip up to NY to visit my cousin with my sister. And my sister sure knows how to spend and live lavishly. I'm paying for her flight ticket and most likely will end up paying for the hotel as well. 
It's nice to be back to normal hours mainly because I get to see ppl now. For the last 6 months, I had gotten so used to being by myself. I actually became so antisocial. I never felt like going out or doing anything. Part of me didn't mind. I liked the peace and quiet. And part of me was miserable cuz there was very little human interaction. But all in all I was happy to still be employed. I don't care how much I've bitch about my hours, which I really hadn't bitched all that much, after having made the adjustment to those hours, I was fine with it.
So yeah, I'm back! Back to good! :)

Life Beating Me Down

Just as I'm out having fun with the fellas tonight, life always has a way of beating me down. I knew I shouldn't have answered that text message tonight. But I did. And I paid for it.

Tonight I was enjoying the UH vs. Rice baseball game when I received a text from a number I did not recognize. Given that I lost my phone book a while back, I didn't think much of who it might be, but I had my suspicion. So when I got home from the game I replied back only to learn it was who I was afraid it would be. It was C to inform me about her wedding. What a bummer! Not what I wanted to know, but I knew it was coming. Only thing is that I've been trying to keep her in my past but somehow she just keeps coming back. It's like the world enjoys me being in the friendzone. And if it's one person that kept me there, she was definitely one of them. I do genuinely wish her well, but I also know how much she dicked me over so it's really in my best interest not to be involved with her in any sort of way.

But it is what it is. I have no plans to attend her wedding. But I will still send a gift just cuz I'm a nice guy like that.

Before this, the evening couldn't be any more perfect for this baseball game between UH and Rice. Rain in the forecast for all week but today mother nature made an exception and drove away the clouds and rain for us to enjoy this game. UH's bats were screaming today! They put up 10 runs with 2 homers before it got too late and we had to leave. And just after arriving home, here comes the rain! Wow!

In attendance was me, John, Henry, and Donny. Josh was also there and came down to chill with us for a bit.

Even having to return to work after the game was better than me having regained contact again with C. Just un-freakin-believable!

It Was All A Dream!

Something funny happened today. As I was at work and walking down the hallway, something came to me. It was a tingling sensation. No...my spider-sense was not tingling. But rather the realization that I am living out a dream. Somehow it was a well written script in my life that allowed me to come work for a company I only dreamed of working for. But yet, today, at that moment, it dawned on me it was quite real. Quite real indeed. Everything in my life so far seems to be such a well written script that I've created for myself that it almost feels like I've been dreaming all this time.

And then it occurred to me that anything in life I really focused on, I was able to make happen. Anything of importance in my life, that I've been able to really lock my focus on and give it the attention it needs have mostly panned out for me.

It started when I was put on Academic Notice while attending UH. The very following semester, I quit the going out and started hitting the books hard! Studied day and night. And saw myself come out of that scare graduating with top honors. Next came the reward for all that hard work. The company I had dreamed of working for granted me an interview. Immediately they were impressed and wanted to hire me. I truly seized the moment during my interviews to impress the Engineers. And almost 14 years later, I am highly respected by my superiors and peers. My character has always been about earning respect from those higher than me. I never wanted things to be given to me. And here I am earning every ounce of respect I have been given. It feels good! It feels damn good to go to work and know that I am respected for the work I do.

And then it dawned on me that at any given moment, I could be released from my company. The company that I have given so much of myself to. So much of me given to this company that I never really focus on leading a life outside of work. I was married to my job per say. And now I find myself without a wife and family. Something I never truly focused on cuz of work. It was always in the back of my mind, but I never really devoted myself to the cause as the things I've mentioned above. Even now, I haven't truly believe in myself that I could make that happen. Been single for so long, that it's going to be hard to compromise with another being. But I may been turning the corner soon. I do feel that I'm slowly transitioning myself to settling down. I'm not interested in being a 40-yr old bachelor, or a bachelor for life. I still would like to settle down and have a family of my own. I do hope it can happen sooner rather than later. But again, it's a slow transition. I'm not like most of my friends who were so desperate to marry and have a family.

But as far as my life is right now, I do feel a lot of the times I am living a dream. Sometimes it doesn't feel real to have such great parents, a great job, a great home, and some really good friends (who I really can't depend on...but that's another story...hahaha).

Apparent Lies

Isn't it funny how a friend can blatantly lie to you in front of your face? And isn't it funny how they think you don't know any better?

So I have a friend who I've noticed been telling a bunch of lies lately. Perhaps they're only white lies cuz it's not hurting anybody. The lies are apparently only to boost the person's pride, self esteem, and importance in this world. The person loves to share stories of the perks they get when they're out on the town. Free this, free that. Meals comped here, meals comped there. Always being taken care of everywhere they go. But I know this is far from truth cuz I've been out with this person on multiple occasions and they always seem to be getting into trouble more so than making a good impression on others and the staff that they'd be taken care of in future visits. And if this person is so being taken care of, how come they're not inviting friends, such as myself, out on the town with them? The perks always seem to come when we're not around. No matter. Again, the lies aren't hurting anyone. But it's starting to become annoying to me now that I'm starting to see the lies. It's making it more difficult for me to hang out with this person, so I've actually been trying to keep my distance. But really I have no choice in that matter cuz I've been working so much anyways. Work has kind of been a great excuse for me not to hang out with those I don't want to hang out with.

Making Gains!

Making gains! Gotta get back to it. It's been only about 3 weeks since I've hit the gym and already my body is shrinking back to it's old form. Not good at all! I've lost my guns. Not sure how long it'll take to get it back, but summer is just around the corner and I've got to get back in shape! More than just making gains, I really need to jog more to cut down on the belly fat. Starting to look a lil disgusting. Gotta get that six pack going again. I will though. Just gotta get over this hump of adjusting to working night shift again. But I did manage a small workout at home with biceps and traps. Hopefully I'll find some time Saturday to get to the gym if I'm not too tired from all the yard work that awaits me. I also gotta get a haircut. It's starting to look a lil nappy up there.

Well, this was a bit of a pointless blog, but oh well. Was just on my mind, so I wanted to write it down

Welcome Back! Where You Been?!

Holy moly! Where have you been all this time?! How you been doing?!

I can't believe I've been gone all this time! So many years have past since my last post. Not sure that I'm still the same person since I've last posted. Hopefully I haven't changed too much.

One thing for sure is I am much older and a bit wiser these days. And I take less crap from ppl. But I'll always be that "nice" guy no matter what all around me has changed.

I guess I'm back cuz I needed some form of therapy...some way to keep me distracted from my crazy life, thanks in many part to my crazy work schedule. I guess I must find some sort of comfort in this place.

For about the last 6 months I have been working crazy hours. When this nightmare-of-a-test started at work, one tech was scheduled to work the 4AM to 12PM shift while the other tech would work the 12PM to 10PM shift. For about the first two months, we would alternate our shift each week, but that took a toll on our bodies and it was like being jet lagged the entire time cuz just as you were getting used to the evening shift, now you have to wake up extra early to do the morning shift. After that second month, we decided that one person would do the morning shift and the other will stick to only night shift. That has worked out much better for our body and general health. Well, I got the night shift. The up side to this is that I get to sleep in. But the down side to this is that I no longer have a life. By time I get off work, there is no where really to go or anything to do. Can't hang out with friends cuz they're getting ready for bed. There are no healthy food options. The only places open are fast food drive-thrus.

I struggle sometimes with this schedule but I have surprised myself with how well I've coped with it. With economy being so bad and friends being laid off, I'm just happy I still have my job. So I try not to complain too much about my situation. Boo-hoo-hoo, right?! I still have my job, so STFU, right?!...is exactly what I'm thinking!

But it really does take a toll on you physically and mentally. No denying that.

I've also changed my lifestyle a bit. For the first time in my life, I actually signed up for a gym and actually went. I signed up with LA Fitness back towards end of October of last year. But unfortunately, with the economic downturn, the company is stopping the fitness reimbursement so I had to cancel my membership. $32/month was a bit expensive for my budget. I have until end of May to workout at LA Fitness. After that, I will probably sign up with Fitness Connection since it's only $10/month. I won't feel so guilty if I don't make it to the gym everyday. I know I'll get what I pay for cuz Fitness Connection is nowhere near the quality of LA Fitness.

The reason I signed up for the gym was because I didn't expect to be playing softball this year. But again, due to the economic downturn, the coach of my softball was laid off. Had he still been employed, he still would have been coach, and so I wouldn't have had a spot on the team. Signing up for the gym would have been a way for me to keep active. I know now that my body needs activity. I've been active in sports my whole life. I wasn't ready to give that part of my life up yet. And so I joined the gym.

My workouts have definitely benefited me in softball. I started off slow at the beginning of the season and after a few weeks of rain-outs, I have come back strong the last couple weeks. I've been killing it at the plate and also on defense keeping right field locked down! I've gone 5 for 5 with 2 walks the last couple weeks. And during this week's game, on defense, a ball was hit deep into right center that it had me running back with my head turned around. I did a good job keeping my eye on the ball the whole way until I had to turn my head right. That's when I lost the ball. It dropped just 2 feet away from me. Missed it!...so close...dang it! But that's alright. I picked up the ball and gunned it from deep right center to my shortstop, Taft. He then gunned it home to Marvin who caught the ball just in time for the out. Thank goodness it was Marvin behind the plate and not our regular Riga. Somehow the ball would always hit Riga in the glove but somehow he would always find a way to drop the ball. He has yet to make a play at the plate.
Then there was a shallow pop fly into right field that I had to haul ass to get to.  I had to let up a bit when I finally got there. Guess I didn't realize I still had some speed under these old legs of mine. It was a very good outing for me this week.

Well it's getting late. Time for me to turn in now. But it was really nice to be back here and posting again. I hope I can find time to do this again soon!