01/20/2011

I'm alive, just been buried in work lately. My trip to Indy was not as fun as the prior trip (no fireworks to greet me, etc.) but still a lot of fun. Unfortunately, just like last time, the Colts lost. But, I can't even hold it against the Jets because the Colts really lost the game much more than the Jets won it.

It came down to the last minute. Colts were ahead by 2 points. All that needed to happen was for the special teams and defense to hold the Jets down field but . . . the special teams let the Jets run the kick back to around the 50 yard line and the defense allowed them to get to the 30 on subsequent plays. Jets kicked a field goal in the last 3 seconds and . . . it was over.

I learned an interesting lesson though -- taking a flight which stops twice, with no plane change, is NOT better than changing planes once. At least if you change planes you can get OFF the plane and move and get something to eat, etc. My flight went IN to KC to LA to Oakland. By the time we got to Los Angeles, I was going a little stir crazy -- even though I slept the first two legs of the trip. Although, if I'd thought to bring some food on board and gotten up at each stop and walked around on the plane, might not have been so bad.

The Jets beat the Patriots which was great. I did NOT want the Patriots to go to the Super Bowl. Seattle beat the Saints -- same deal, didn't want them to go either so that makes me happy. So, except for my Colts being knocked out in the first round, the playoffs are going my way. The only team left in the running that I care about are the Steelers. I'd love to see a Steelers/Bears or Steelers/Green Bay Super Bowl. That'd be Old School.

This week's addiction: Oatmeal Cranberry Dunkers from Trader Joe's.

Since returning from Indy I've been pretty much just working. The bad news is, it's been hard to stay on my health kick when working 16 hours a day. Plus, I'm a stress eater. When things get stressful, I want to eat and . . . I want to eat things that are bad for me.

But, things should get better at the end of this month. Work is so busy cuz we have a big deadline at the end of this month. Once we hit that, things will lighten up a little but until then . . . trying to use this to learn how to balance heavy work/stress time with still eating healthy and working out. It's a tough cycle. I work late, get home late, eat late, sleep late, etc.

I once had a boss that told me that he thought my best calling would have been to head up a CIA think tank. He said that he meant it as a compliment but occasionally it pops into my head and I wonder three things: 1) whether I should have; 2) whether it was; and 3) whether it was (a compliment).

It especially comes up at times like this. A little while ago, my boss asked me what it was that I wanted to do, whether I wanted to do something "more" or different than what I'm currently doing at the company. I reminded him of the position that I originally wanted when they put me in the job I have now -- they thought they were the same thing. He said that he realized now the difference and told me to draft up a job description and title.

I was informed this morning that as of February 1, the switch will be made.

When asked for info for my new business cards, I realized that my boss hadn't told me exactly what the change was -- whether it was what I had drafted or some version of it, etc., so I walked over and asked him what my new title was, his response . . . "Uhhh . . . (shrugged his shoulders) I dunno . . . what did you want it to be? Whatever. You tell me." :-\

So, I gave them the title I had written up. In hindsight, I think I shoulda chosen a slightly different title but, oh well . . . I don't really care much about titles . . . though friends bug me that I should.

The interesting thing was, how the news made me feel. It was one of those "be careful what you wish for" situations because as soon as he told me I was getting what I said I wanted, I suddenly felt very sad and unsure that I wanted to give up what I have.

I met with my managers and leads to tell them that about the change and how it would affect them and . . . it was sad! I hate the thought of someone else managing my group. I'll still work with them and have control over what they do to a large extent but I won't be directly managing them anymore. On one hand, there are so many things that I'm so glad to be giving up and not having to deal with anymore but . . . on the other hand, it makes me sad.

My left elbow has been killing me for several days. The pain radiates down my arm and makes my arm/hand/grip weak. At the place where the pain is concentrated is a little red bump. So, I'm thinking something bit me? Not sure but, it hurts like hell.

Other than work, only things in my near future are watching the playoffs this weekend, next weekend going to NYC for work, then watching the Super Bowl the weekend after. Then, focus on my new job which, should be interesting . . .