Guilty Pleasures

Hi, readers.

I am awash in guilt.
I feel SO bad.

Yesterday, I write of my joy in the beginning of my garden. I profess my love of things healthy and nourishing. I lead you down the path believing I care about my health.

And then...

I sin.

It's not my fault!
I'm weak.
I have no backbone in the face of temptation.

I fall at the sight of.....

Reese Cups!

Chocolate! Peanut Butter! UMMMMMMMM!

I can't help it. I think it's a genetic anomaly. My whole family suffers from it.

We put our Reese's in the refrigerator, chilling them so the chocolate coating pops when you bite them. The peanut butter cool as it slide over your tongue.

OMG!

I know. I'm horrible. I should set a better example for my family and my readers. I'll pay for my transgressions.

But payment will have to wait.

There's one left!

It's Alive

Afternoon, folks.

They're growing!

My plants.

In the garden.

'Maters.
Peppers.
Jalapenos.

I'm so proud. :-)

Now, if they only produce.

Anybody Seen My Flash Drive? OOPS, Found It.

Hi, guys.
What's up?

Now we've all lost something important. Keys, wallet, purse, etc. But this one's got ya beat.

According to timesonline.co.uk, a MI6 British agent, working in Colombia, left her purse on a bus. No biggie, except for the thumb drive inside which contained top-secret information about covert operations in Colombia. The drive contained agents names and intelligence gathered over five years of sneak and peep work.

OOPS!

Agents were reassigned and operations were shut down so damage was minimized.

But, DAMN!

But the funny part, at least to me, was that the mistake was covered up by the Serious Organized Crime Agency (SOCA).

Wonder if they have a Frivolous Organized Crime Agency?


Image courtesy:
www.techviva.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/u.

Where's WORK!

Mornin' readers.

Hope everyone survived Monday.

Well, my assumption (or hope) that the job market was loosening is appearing to be unfounded.
I had a couple of interviews last week with really cool companies in two different fields. I thought both interviews went well. I presented my talents, showed my portfolio, and engaged in conversation with my interviewers on a wide range of subjects. I left, confident of positive responses.

Unfortunately, one has decide to take another path and hired someone else. I haven't heard from the other.

I'm trying to maintain a positive attitude but this job search is like being an actor who is constantly rejected for the part he knows he is perfect for. I AM a talented designer. I AM articulate, well-read, computer savvy, and adaptable. I bring so many things to a job beyond just what I do.

But, I'm not giving up!

I'm certain that a smart manager or HR person will see beyond my resume. They will realize that I can help them in ways far beyond what they read on that page.

And that person will find me.

So, I'll just keep plugging along.

Fun Stuff

Hey, everybody!

Hope all had a great weekend.

First, I want to say thanks to all who came out and attended the first Virginia Beach Bar Crawl. It was a blast and we raised $8500 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. So, a great success for a first time event. Keep a lookout for the next one. I'll post a reminder here when we're close.

Second, it was a BEAUTIFUL weekend! I hope everyone got out, got sunburned, and had fun. Contrary to today's weather, summer IS coming.

And third, I planted my garden Sunday.
Tomatoes, peppers, and jalapenos. Fresh pico de gallo is close at hand. WOO HOO!

So, Good Monday to all and remember, the weekend is almost here!


Image courtesy:
www.how-to-draw-cartoons-online.com/image-fil

Jobs?

Hi, readers.

How's tricks?

Just a quick post. I've had two job interviews in two days and it's been great. Very different companies with respect to size of operation and job requirements but both look like fantastic places. Cool environments with challenging work. Lets hope for the best.

I hope this means things are starting to break loose around here.

To my fellow travelers on this road toward to employment, I wish you well.

Good luck to all.

But let me get hired first!

What Are Ya Missing?

Hey, there.

I had a recent revelation about our area.

My wife took a friend to the Chrysler Museum the other day and though the friend had lived and grown up in this area, she had never been to the Chrysler. I was amazed. Here we have a world- class museum in our neighborhood, and a local had never been.

It made me wonder how many other great sites here in Hampton Roads are ignored or missed by the residents.

We have a fantastic zoo (growing and expanding constantly), a botanical gardens with plants and flowers to rival any other city. We have a top notch minor league baseball team, a growing soccer league with a fantastic facility in Va Beach. A multitude of concert halls, open air venues, and stages throughout the area that have music, dance, and great performances.

So, I'm going to try and do my best to introduce you to your home town. I'm going to visit these gems and see if I can help you realize how lucky you are to live here.

Help me out. If you find a spot that you like, let me know.
Take a friend.
Go yourself.

Find your city!


Photo courtesy:
www.hamptonroadsvisitor.com/chrysler-museum-1

Create It and They Will Come

Hi, everybody.

Happy Easter!

Back in March, I wrote an article about how the travel industry was critical of the Obama Administrations comments about the use of public funds by big corporations for reward travel. In a nutshell, my argument was that the industry needed to focus on creating new markets for their business and stop trying to blame someone for their decline in activity. The economy is in a downturn all around and the travel industry needs to accept this and find new sources of revenue.

Now, according to UPI.com, Vegas has taken a proactive approach and begun to do just that. They are promoting Las Vegas as a spring break travel destination for older college students, with beer-pong contests and shot girls by the pool. They reduced room rates and are trying to promote an affordable vacation destination for the spring-breakers.

I'm so proud.

Finally, someone or some organization, realized that you can generate revenue by expanding your market instead of firing people and reducing services. Too often, corporations take the fast and easy route of cutting instead of growing. The returns show up sooner for the investors but don't always work out well in the long run for everyone else.

It's time for corporate America to embrace the idea of building business and developing markets, instead of looking only at the bottom line and how fast they can make a buck. True, innovative, and creative solutions exist even in a slow market.

It just takes an innovator to find them.

You know, like the people who created America.


Photo courtesy:
www.visitingdc.com/images/las-vegas-skyline.jpg

Hanging with my PEEPS.

Hey.

Well, it's that time of year again. The time when creatures of indescribable horror creep out into the light of day and terrify the populous.

Yes, it's.......EASTER!

And here come....THE PEEPS!

You know, those sugary, florescent colored things that appear at stores across America during this week.

Now, I've got a sweet tooth the size of Jupiter. I love almost everything that has sugar as a primary ingredient. And don't get me started on CHOCOLATE! (Ummmm...CHOCOLATE!)

But these things, these PEEPS. I just don't know.

They don't taste good. They have a horrible texture. And they can never be destroyed. They last forever! If you bought PEEPS today, they would still be exactly the same when Charlton Heston comes back to Earth after the apes have taken over.

THEY ARE INDESTRUCTIBLE!

Maybe they should have been the thing sticking up out of the sand at the end of Planet of the Apes.

Would have been scarier than the Statue of Liberty.


Photo courtesy:
chicagotribune.com

Peep contest design by:
Peeposaurus (Submitted by Ryan Scher, San Francisco)
Caption:
Peeposaurus and his tree, made of hundreds of Peeps.

Hey.

Ok, I lied.

In my last post, I wrote that I was going to take this blog back to it's original idea. Posts covering My Roads, the places I go and see.

I'm still gonna try but sometimes things come up that I have to comment on.

According to BBC.co.uk, Sweden is trying to tax online strippers in their country. It's legal but most of the strippers due it for extra cash and do not register as a business, costing the Swedish government approximately 3.3 million Euros in tax revenue.

Since there is no way to find and track these independent business people, tax collectors are required to go online and watch the shows in an effort to identify the participants.

Now, I'm looking for work so I would like to volunteer my services to the Swedish tax authorities.

I will be happy to peruse these sites and look for identifying characteristics.

I'm sure it will be tough and grueling work, staring for hours at semi-naked women in an attempt to find out their identities.

But I'll give it a try.

Call me.


Photo courtesy:
BBC.c.uk

Rides

Hi, readers.

Been away for a few days trying to figure out what this blog is. I've tried to make it funny and informative and not get too preachy.

I hope I've done OK but I know my opinions don't count.

But it is my blog, so phttt!

Now that the weather is getting nicer, I going out on the road and try to remind my readers of why this blog is called My Roads.

I was heading down Shore Drive and stopped at Lake Whitehurst boat ramp near Little Creek Amphibious Base. It's located at the end of Norfolk International's main runway so it's a great place to stop and watch planes land and takeoff. The lake also has fishing piers and the afore-mentioned boat ramp for those wishing to explore or go out to fish.. The lake is fairly large and goes all the way back to Botanical Gardens so it's a great trip. There are picnic tables and a grassy area to relax and soak up some sun. It's a great spot for a lunch break or just to get away from work.

Take time to go and visit. It's well worth it.

Weather or Not?

Hey, friends.
Happy Monday!

Well, it's another crazy weather day here in Tidewater. I tease and make fun of the weather folks on TV like everyone else but weekends like we just had and Mondays like today remind me of how tough a job they have.

They cover the weather for an ever increasing area and are expected to make accurate predictions for longer and longer time frames. But with our screwy environment, having the bay on one side and mountains on the other, predictions for just Tidewater are incredibly hard. Add in coastal North Carolina, parts of Eastern and Central Carolina, the area up toward Richmond and out to the Eastern shore and you can see how many different influences there are on the weather.

Computer modeling helps, but we all know how reliable computers can be. (Who hasn't crashed in the middle of an important document or presentation).

Ultimately, the weather analysis relies upon the well-trained eye of the weather person. They try hard to give accurate reports, keeping the folks who listen as informed as they can.

But, hey, yesterday was in the 60's and sunny and today we've got possible tornadoes.

When it flips like that, who could get it completely right?

At least they try.

And thanks to them for that.


Photo courtesy:
www.fsplanet.com/thunderstorms8.jpg

Time

Hey, everybody.

Just a short post today.

I just got back from a lunch with some buddies of mine from the old airline days. We told tales, remembered lies, and in general, had a great time. I always enjoy these visits.

And it got me thinking.

I'm truly fortunate to have a good group of friends that I've acquired over the years. Some are work buddies. Some are friends from school (some even from elementary school). Some are old Army pals. And many are friends I've come to know through my wife.

And I just want to say how grateful I am that they have chosen to allow me into their lives and taken me as a friend. Too often we wait and time passes without our telling them how much they mean to us and how there are missed when absent.

So, to my friends,

Thanks.

I love you guys.

E.T Phone Home-Just Don't Go to the Police!

Hey, folks!

Once again, the old adage of "No good deed goes unpunished" is proven true.

According to dailymail.co.uk, a young man was arrested for turning in a cell phone he found on the street.

The college student was out celebrating his 18th birthday and found a cell phone on the sidewalk. He contacted the last caller on the phone and told them he would turn the phone in to the local police station. Upon arrival at the station, he was arrested and charged with, now get this, theft by finding! He was fingerprinted, a DNA sample was taken, and he was interrogated about the phone.

Charges were subsequently dropped.

Really makes you want to do the right thing, doesn't it?

And I'm sure this had NO impact on this boys view of the police!

Good message to the public, officers.