Mr. Wags

My Dog Wags had glaucoma, and had to get his left eye removed 2 weeks ago. He just got the stitches out Friday and is doing well. For those who don't know, he is a basset hound mixed with a lab. What really sucks is that when it initially started a little over a year ago, the vet didn't diagnose it correctly. He said it was just a scratch from playing with our other dog. Sucks.

So do you think marijuana is illegal for animals or just people? My dog could really use some of that medical!

Just Words?

Sticks and stones, eh? A co-worker was just really super rude to me, and it's totally changed my attitude today. I was in a good mood, but now can't even concentrate to do my job. Isn't it crazy how a great compliment or rude comment can totally change your mood in an instant ?

Happy Birthday to me !

Last Sunday the 15th I turned 32 ! And what a way to remember it. I started off by going to the last home game of the Mavs, against the Spurs. We not only had free tickets and parking passes, we also were platinum level. It included a buffett with a carving station! What a game, we were trailing for most of the game before coming from behind to win in the 4th. It was a rowdy, playoff like vibe in the AAC !

Then we headed straight from there to Frisco for Edgefest. By the time we got there, the sun was about to go down. We only caught the last 3 bands I think: AFI, My Chemical Romance and of course.....The Killers !

Had a great bday this year, thanks Staci!

Just Give Up!

So I am getting ready to turn 32. And over the past several months, one thing that I have been learning is the importance of just giving up. Here's what I mean: so often I find myself trying really hard to make something happen, whether it's a job, a goal or a relationship. And ususally it seems like the harder that I try, whatever I am trying seems to allude me even longer. Yet if I don't stress out, don't give into fear and if I just go with the flow, things have a way of working themselves out.

For example, I was recently laid off. My initial reaction was normal: fear. I totally didn't give in, and now I am making more money and my company is way more cool! And then today, I was having lunch with a really good friend. All of a sudden, another good friend of ours just randomly comes in. I had been trying for over a year to get the 3 of us together, and it never worked out. So today I am not even trying, and it just happens! It was the first time in 5 years the 3 of us were able to hang out together.

So my advise: have goals and work out to make them a reality, but don't give into fear and stress--go with it !!!

Great Weekend

Hope everyone had a great weekend, b/c I did ! It started Friday night when I went to my first ever Russ Martin/105.3 White Trash Party. Before hand, I met two new friends, Krisitie and Jimmy at Lee Harvey's. Even though we met at 7:00, they were already drunk enough that they arrived by taxi! We stayed for about an hour before going to the concert.

Once at the Paladium Ballroom (formerly Gilley's), one of the most fun parts of the night was trying to determine who was wearing costumes and who were actually not but looked like it! We met a really nice older couple, and I told them that Krisitie and I were married and celebrating our 5th anniversary, and she totally played along! We kept up the antic all night and people were totally buying it. I finally dropped them off and got into bed myself a little before 4.

Saturday was spent nursing an all day hangover. I never ventured out besides having brunch with Kristie and Jimmy. I was planning on kicking it at my new crib just watching videos, but my friend Staci offered me a free ticket to see Bob Schneider at the Granada--wow ! I had not even heard of him until a couple weeks ago, much less ever listened to his music or seen him live. If you don't know, he is from Austin and dated Sandra Bullock and his music is amazing, especially live! Check him out if you don't know. So that was my really good weekend !

Dallas Peace Center

So last night was one of those events that I will probably always remember: I went to my first ever war protest meeting. I was on myspace last month, and came across a random comment on a random profile. Which in turn led me to a new website, Dallas Rally. I had just missed the February protest they had organized, and was bummed out. That is, until I discovered they were organizing another, bigger one for March 19th.

Last night was the planning meeting for this upcoming march/rally. I met a bunch of really cool people. Most of who were from Dallas Peace Center. They have been around since the 80's, but I had no idea! So glad that I met so many great people last night, and found out about their organization. PS--more details on the march coming soon. Our route will take us right to where the new Bush Presidential library will be !

Wags Update

My dog wags came back home! He has been missing since Friday. My mom went outside first thing this morning and there he was asleep! His left leg is hurt, so she is at the vet right now. She said that he went straight to the water bowl and drank for about 10 minutes straight!

Come Home Wags

I am really bummed out right now as I sit here writing this. My beloved dog Wags has been missing for about 36 hours now. He is very unique (like me!): a basset hound mixed with lab. Yes, you read that last part right! This past January, I have had him for 5 years, and he was 3-4 years old when I adopted him from a shelter. My mom has been taking care of him for me over the past year, in a small country town in Louisana. The good news is that it is such a small town, the chances of finding him are a lot better. I know there are a lot more terrible things going on in the world right now, and probably even for some of you who are reading this. But I still want Wags to come home!

Movie Update

Can you believe that it is March already? The year is flying by. Thought that I would update you on how my movie project is coming along. I blogged a while back about how I have finally been inspired to begin work on my very first script.

I found this video on youtube this week, and it is a good summary of what my script will be about. Writing a film is a lengthy process, of which I have just begun. I am still just in the research phase right now, but already have some great ideas. There is so much information and so many details to this story, the hardest part is deciding what to include and what to leave out! But like any great story, it will find a way to be told. And like many great story tellers, I feel like this story chose me, I didn't just choose it.

Laid Off: Happy Valentine's !

What a great day before Valentine's gift: getting laid off. At least we made the paper!

"ADDISON – About 550 Home Depot employees will lose their jobs when a call center closes on March 12, the company said this week.

The center, which opened in May 2006, had assisted customers who purchased floors through the Home Depot, said Ron DeFeo, a company spokesman. Local store associates would respond to flooring questions once the call center closes.

“As we continue improve the customer experience in our stores, we felt it was a priority to restore that customer-associate relationship,” he said.

The Home Depot has about a dozen call centers, including one in Dallas and New Braunfels. Those centers will remain open, Mr. DeFeo said.

Associates will be compensated for 60 days following their departure, the company said in a statement. The company said it was also helping employees with job placement.

The company announced its decision during a staff meeting on Tuesday."

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/021507dnmethomedepot.826d6887.html

I wonder if it has anything to do with the CEO who left a couple months ago with a 200 million dollar bonus ?

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/01/03/ap/business/mainD8ME3O781.shtml

It's My Life

I was recently talking to a new, good friend of mine at the beginning of the year. We were discussing our lives: what we had been through and what were hoping for. I told her that I felt like my life had been on pause. She then asked me something that haunted me--why did I feel that way? I realized that I was in control of my life and it was up to me to unpause it, so I have ! My only resolution this year is to live life to the fullest.

So the same week that we had that conversation, I decided to finally do something that I have dreamed about for a long time: write a movie. I know, it sounds crazy and many of you will think it will never happen. Or if it does happen, it won't be any good. I know this b/c part of me feels the exact same way.

This weekend I was thinking of all the reasons that I have to be happy, and all of the reasons that I have to be depressed. I came to the conclusion that in reality, it's ultimately up to me! So I choose to be happy, and I choose to work on this script.

So hopefully, you are wondering what it's about, right? Well, all I will say for now is that its going to be a true story about how the CIA was involved in the crack cocaine epidemic of the 80's.

Thanks to everyone who will support me, and to everyone else...I am going to be myself regardless ! And to my friend, thank you for inspiring me, not only by our conversations, but by living it by jumping out of a plane !

Burrrrrrr ! ! !

The weather outside is frightful. Well not anymore anyways. But the past 24 hours in the Dallas metroplex have proven much more cold than most of us have grown accustomed to. Some would say so what, it's only 30 degrees. But if you have ever lived in Dallas, that translates into really damn cold!

While not getting any snow, we did get some ice. My normal 25 minute commute into work turned into a full blown 90 minutes.

First Post

Hello internet! After taking a semi-permananent break from blogging over the past 9 months or so, I am back in the game. Unlike most, I first got into blogging in the early part of 2002, before xanga, myspace or anything else that made blogging trendy.

2006 was a year of major change for me. I went through a divorce, moved from California to Texas and struggled to find a job. After a few frustrating months, I finally landed a gig working for the 2nd largest retailer in the country: The Home Depot. No, I don't work in a store nor do I wear an orange apron. I work in a call center office where I spend my time hacking into myspace and blogging, amdist getting my job done.

I, and many of my friends, are way excited that 2007 is finally here! So, here's to the exciting possibilites of all that this year holds in store.