New Office Buildings

As of today I am in a new building full time.

The powers that be have moved the entire America’s region out of the grand, glassy, cafe laden, starbucks hosting headquarters building… and moved us to an single level, old, vanilla, no place to eat office park building that doesn’t even have a sign (probably for good reason).

I’ve moved from a double cube (extra big) to a single (extra normal), which is really the same thing I had in IL. Also, I haven’t filled the space wih years of things yet, so it’s not a big deal.

On the plus side I now have a water cooler that serves the nice little pellet ice that I like, cause its easy to chrunch. I also have an underground heated parking spot, a luxury in cold cold WI.
I’m further removed from the global team – which is good and bad.

In all… I think I’ll like it.

Wanna get depressed?

Here is a list of 2008 / 9 job losses

New camera

Merry Christmas! I finally went to Best Buy and cashed in my various Christmas gift cards for a new digital SLR camera! i am VERY excited about this, and as soon as I learn how to use it (any good websites for online training?) I’ll post some shots. thank you family / friends who contributed. I’ll send you pics of things, especially baby McCoy, when they come

I was going to post

But I don’t have much to talk about.

Welcome to office President Obama… again Good luck this time. I don’t think I’ll add you as a twitter friend

2008 Holiday Season

Um… Thanksgiving was great. Sorry for not posting about it. We spent it with both of our family’s, with dinner at Cathy’s aunt and uncle’s house in northern IL. All of the picture I took (3) are here (Thanksgiving pic’s)

Christmas was equally enjoyable, as we were able to spend time with all of our family’s this year in IL and CA! We spent a lovely weekend in IL with Cathy’s family which included a nice dinner at the Yacht club, Four Christmases and presents at home. Any time with her family in IL is always a blessing, and we love them. (All 2008 Christmas Pics)

A few days later we flew out to San Diego (with a four hour weather delay) to have Christmas with my folks. We had Christmas dinner with everyone, including my uncle Matt his wife and two kids, followed with a Christmas eve service at The Flood, where my mom goes to church and presents the next morning. We were glad to see some of my friends before heading off to our “Babymoon”

Babymoon? Yes… I’m certain Cathy made this up, but regardless it was a great way to enjoy our last vacation pre-kids, just the two of us. We got a great deal at a very nice resort in north San Diego, where we just enjoyed laying by the pool, having wonderful meals (e.g., fish tacos at Las Olas for lunch).

They cut my eyes open

I had Lasik this weekend. They cut me open and fixed my sight with magic laser beams! I can see perfect now, and expect a bit better than 20/20 in the coming months as swelling continues to dissipate. The funny thing is that I spent new years eve with the Dr who was doing my procedure as he is a friend of Cathy’s boss and happens to be a stand up guy. We played Guitar Hero for quite a while.

If you want to read the details, they follow. If not – stop here.

I was really nervous to get Lasik, honestly. I have never worn contacts because I just can’t stand to touch my eyes for two reasons: 1/ It just wrong to touch your eyes, 2/ What happens if I infect them and go blind?.. I never said they were good reasons. I’ve had a lot of friends have this procedure done, including Cathy, and swear by it. I like to golf, play tennis, sail, etc and am just tired of having my glasses get in the way or slide off my nose during a swing – so I decided to give it a go.

Here’s the process: 1/ Use anti-infective in your eyes prior to surgery, 2/Show up, 3/ re-check your scrip, 4/ get on the table, 5/ have anesthetic drops put in your eyes to eliminate feeling, 6/ test for sensitivity to touch, 7/ clamp your eye lids open, 8/ use tool to slice cornea open (flap), 9/ look (blurry) straight ahead at little red light, 10/ close flap and, 11/ repeat on other eye.

It was no big deal at all. No pain. 60 sec of “surgery” per eye. In and out of the op room in 10 min, the facility in under two hours including checking everything.

After a 4 hour nap I woke up to being able to see quite well, although a little hazy. Two days later I can see great, so long as I drop my eye’s (anti-inflammatory & moisten) appropriately. I do have some bruising on my eyeballs from burst vessels due to the pressure, but these will pass soon.

Would I recommend it? Sure, if you use an FSA to get it tax free. Cathy thinks I look much cuter now too – that helps!

Five Guys

Five Guys is simply the best burger and fries i have ever had. (PIC)

I never thought someone could beat In-N-Out (beware music on site), but they have done it.

The place is simple, like In N Out, only serving burgers and fries – and they have mastered it. All fresh meat, never frozen + hand cut fresh Idaho potatoes done just the way i like them (like comet). This place deserves a review…

The only problem is that is is dangerously close to my office… 1 mile!

Snow Day 2008

Wow… today is a snow day if I’ve ever seen one. It is simply beautiful out there. I bet your glad you got your snowblower, aren’t you? I’m glad I live in an apt and someone else cleans my walks.

So today I will read by the fire, watching the snow fall. I hope a plow doesn’t take out my car!