Penn State

My roommate and fellow BD MDP'er (Andy) and I just got back from recruiting for new engineers at Penn State. Just so all you Nebraska folk can rest easy, Beaver Stadium is not NEAR as good looking as Memorial stadium - just looks like scaffolding and concrete. So, we definitely win in the "monument" category... but as noted by Amber - "Ours doesn't produce the same result" - that result of course being winning.

But Penn State showed good form and brought some great engineering candidates - so, interviews were pretty fun today. I'd like to pretend that I'm all "tough cop" in interviews, but really, I like to see the candidates do well -- it's just such a relief when you get someone in there who has experience and actually knows what they're talking about. Otherwise, it's like... well, you know when someone is talking and they have some phlegm in their throat but they don't notice it and they just keep on talking and you start clearing your throat for them? Interviewing a bad candidate feels like that... except instead of trying to clear phlegm out of their throats, you're trying to will them into having some good answers. It hasn't worked yet - so I'll just invite good candidates to the interviews from here on out.

Worky work

Well now that my boss granted my wish of more work and more responsibility, I'm steadily falling behind. Ahhh shucks - all the travel blocks out time that could be used to get work done... so I'm in for some more time management classes from the school of hard knocks.

Late day at work... and come to think of it, starting two weeks ago, I started a streak of 5 weeks in a row of travel. Baltimore - Puerto Rico - State College, PA (this week for recruiting and interviewing)- Miami - Baltimore. Sheesh - a Baltimore sandwich.

Okay - I'm not going to go on like I actually have something to say today... just complaining a bit :)

Rainy Bummer

Shoot - I was hoping to test out my tender kneecap out in the Appalachians this morning - but it's raining cats and dogs. Oh well, guess I get another day of rest... though, honestly, it's probably the best thing - cuz I tried running last night and only lasted about a mile before my knee tightened up so bad I had to stop. Man - I would have sucked at football - you can't tell me you don't get your kneecaps smashed at least once a game... and here I am debilitated. I guess that and my melon-head. I would have looked like a scampering match-stick.

New Stuff

Wow - it sure is good to be back on the continent.

Hmmm - now I'll just settle myself down on this cold, rainy night and share a good, simple blog with my homeland buddies. Really, if that's all I accomplish on this Friday night, I'll be more than happy.

So, I have to be honest - I love new things, new people, new places... but this week I've just really run dry. There's just nothing like the tried and true relationships with family and friends who have walked through tough times and deep pizzle with you. I mean it's cool exploring - but at a point, I've begun to realize that when I meet new people and see new places, they're just normal people and normal places. The difference is, they're not my people and my places. They have their own families, concerns, aspirations...

I guess I might just be making the jump from college to real life. Y'know in college, everyone is up for making a new friend. But now, people are getting settled - they like the way things are and they aren't so keen on having someone new come in and change stuff.

And that's fine, I guess - I can't blame 'em. It's just become more difficult to navigate, especially when people find out that I'm hear for a year and then gone again in June.

And having Amber go back home on Tuesday was a pretty big shock to my system. It's a pretty big jump from phone-relationship to face-to-face... then back to phone again.

Okay - mopey mope mopester is going to go take a shower and get ready to go to Outback steakhouse with my roomies. Nothing like the down under to pick up one's spirits!

Bamma Ramma

Man - I wish I could keep Amber here forever - and that's not just cuz she looks great and says nice things to me. She's just a blessing to have around - I wish she didn't have to leave today!

So, I'm off tomorrow with a 7 a.m. flight to Puerto Rico - suit-and-tie-and all! I'll be cutting it pretty close... grabbing a rental car from the airport, picking up a coworker and then driving for the first time down to Cayey - just in time to catch the Grand Opening! Should be some big wigs there too - like the Governor of Puerto Rico and the CEO of our company! So I'm wearing my paisley tie to impress them... hope it works.

Okay - gotta be up in 5 hrs so I'm off!

Survivors

Well, a couple bloody feet, a bruised kneecap and some sore feet later, Bamma and I made it back to Hackensack! Phew - NYC is fast and furious, but we stayed in long enough for a sweet cruise on a yacht, good times with friends, and another trip to Central Park to laugh at all the free spirits. (I'll never get tired of the roller skate dancers club)

Next: It's the great outdoors and some hiking stories to come!

The Balt

So, just chillin in Baltimore - got one more day of meetings and then AMBER COMES HERE!!! I'm so excited! She flies in like 30 minutes after my train arrives in Newark, so I'm having my driver take me to the airport to pick her up and then we'll go back to the ol' apartment in style! (Well, when I say "my" driver, I mean the limo service that picks me up, and when I say "limo" I mean A Lincoln Towncar)

So - before then, I'm gonna go hit the Hunt Valley Marriott gym and get my HUGENESS on!

TTFN