Busy Busy Busy

I have been very busy lately and obviously haven't posted in a while. If it wasn't for the wife there wouldn't have been any posts up here since WOW February 5th. (I just looked to see the last time I posted).

Lots has happened in the past month so I will give you all a small update on what has been happening.

Last you heard from me much of the discussion was the stupid job crap that was going on. And really none of that has changed. But other things have been added or are going to be added that has made me pretty busy.

Let's start with the current job.

Our office is changing in the next few months and in May the entire office is moving its physical location. And there are some of us that will be separated and will no longer work together. That doesn't really matter much to me since I will be staying in pretty much the same position but part of a bigger group.

Right now there are about 10 of us in my section and that will probably turn into like 50 or something like that by the end of May.

Unfortunately the move is not going to help my career as far as stability or income which sucks. But what are you gonna do. There are worse things in life I guess.

Now let's move on to my job prospects.

I recently applied to be a IRS Agent and so far everything has gone well and I should be getting an interview in the coming weeks/months. I aced the assessment test and am listed in the top of the applicants for the position. The advantage here is that this area is considered hard to fill and could come with a nice signing bonus. Which would be helpful to me.

I am not certain I would take the position but more than likely I would. It wouldn't require much (if any) travel, which I hate right now, and it would be more secure and would pay more. I am excited about that and just hope that I actually get an interview.

Now onto my extra curricular activities.

I took a part time (20 hours a week) with a Internet start up company called netSpray.com. It is an online selling site that is getting started up and if you want you can come check it out. It is free to buy and sell items on the site so if you like to sell on eBay this site will be cheaper.

Basically I am doing a 12 week training course on Internet marketing while spreading their name across the web and doing some networking. After the 12 weeks (which ends in May) there is a chance that I could be kept on permanently to do Internet marketing, blog writing, and article writing. So I am pretty excited about that.

And it is a paid position so it really helps me make my bills.

More extra stuff.

I also am going to be writing for a local community newspaper starting with their June issue. I could have started sooner but with the netSpray stuff I didn't want to get too much on my plate. I will contributing to the sports section of the paper doing interviews and stories with and about local sports personalities.

That I am really excited about and can't wait to get started. It also pays a little per article so that works too.



So as you can see I have been pretty busy over the past month and that is the main reason why this site is not updated to much. On top of the stuff mentioned above I have my other 2 sites Hershey Bears Hockey and Jumping Offsides that I have been writing regularly on. And just this past weekend Verb and I started hbgsports.com to discuss local sports teams and news in the area.

I hope to continue writing here from time to time but it will not be with too much frequency. Hopefully anyone who still reads this keeps coming back and reading.

Sick

So I'm bored and tired of being sick. Our daughter was sick for about 2 weeks with a sinus infection/headcold. The hubby's been feeling off too, however, they can take medicine. I'm pregnant (23 weeks) and can't take much of anything. Plain old tylenol is it, to be exact. Which isn't getting me anywhere but annoyed, so I thought I'd type something to distract myself for a small while. Hope everyone out there is healthly. Oh and if anyone is wondering, I'd rather be pregnant then be able to take meds, but it's really annoying to keep up with a home, almost 8 yr old, 2 cats, and 2 pups without meds....blah....

Obese or Overweight, which is it?

You hear ALL THE TIME about how obesity is running rampant across the world and in the United States mainly.

You get stats like over 33% of American adults are obese. And 16% of children too.

And those stats are incorrect. BUT you have to understand the definition of obese.

Obesity is measured by calculating your body mass index (bmi) which is figured out by putting your weight and height into a couple boxes and spits out your bmi.

Now there are multiple problems with this.

First, it doesn't differentiate between men and women. And we all now that men and women are not created equal when it comes to body style and size. A 5'8" woman who weighs 140 lbs is fine BUT most guys that are 5'8" are probably closer to 170 lbs and they would be classified as overweight EVEN though neither looks overweight.

Second, even people of the same sex are built differently. Some people (like myself) have broad shoulders and can carry more weight without being too out of shape. While others who are the same height don't have the shoulder width.

Myself and one of my good friends are like that. We are both about 6'3" but my ideal weight is probably around 220 (I am not there by the way) while his is probably 195-200 because he doesn't have the overall mass to his body.

And the final HUGE problem with calculating your bmi is that is DOES NOT take muscle mass into effect. So if you are a decently built human being with good muscle definition you might be overweight.

FOR EXAMPLE:: Troy Polamalu (image below) is 207 lbs and 5'10". Which if calculating his bmi means he is ALMOST obese. Actually if he puts on 3 pounds he would be TECHNICALLY obese. Now does this man look obesed to you?



No he doesn't.

Another example:


LaDainian Tomlinson is a running back for the Chargers for any of you that didn't know. He is 5'10" 221lbs. And he is obese!!


Seriously this is all fact. Go to this site to check your bmi and it gives you the ranges for different levels.

Honestly if you are concerned with getting into shape or just want to know if you could do more than use your body fat percentage.

This will actually take into account your age, sex, and body style. For guys you have to measure your waist, hips, wrist, and forearm. For all the ladies out there you measure your hips, calf, thigh, and waist.

Go to this site to check your body fat percentage. And go here to see what a healthy level of body fat is.


And the next time you hear about the obesity rates in this country remember that Troy Polamalu is only 3 pounds from being obese and LaDainian Tomlinson is obese.

Well That Kinda Sucks

Last week I bitched and moaned about the state of my job. And this week it kinda got worse.

Yesterday afternoon I learned that the promotion/raise I was up for probably isn't going to happen. Now let me add that I was the ONLY person in the office up for the position. So unless they really don't like me I was going to get it.

BUT now they are saying it might not happen at all. And if it doesn't it could be a YEAR before I get a raise.

Now the reason that sucks is that I barely make enough to live on right now. The wife works a few hours a week cleaning on office and makes $550 a month. And I make enough to live on but probably just barely. (I am currently in the process of determining if we make enough).

She could obviously work more but there are a few problems with that:

• No experience in an office setting so she is going to have a REALLY hard time getting a good job
• She is 4 months pregnant and will have to take multiple weeks off within 5 months of getting a job
• NO ONE IS HIRING ANYTHING RIGHT NOW!!

So I was very frustrated last night as I might have to get a part time job working in a warehouse or at a convenience store or something just to get by for the time being.

I am still working on the Real Estate license that I talked about last summer but it is turning out to be harder than I originally thought it would be.

And on top of that I need like 2 grand just to get my license and everything else I need AFTER I pass the tests!

So that sucks.

Basically I was counting on this raise/promotion. I understand that I am not guaranteed anything but being that I do a good job and that I was the ONLY one up for it I figured I would get it.

And now.....maybe not for a whole freaking year!

I F'in HATE the economy right now!

How about you!?

For Some Reason it Bothers Me

How was everyone's weekend? Mine was long. I was off on Friday and then yesterday was traveling for work but luckily got to start a little late and actually finished up early so it was almost like a day off.

Did you watch the Super Bowl? I did. The game was good which it has been lately but I thought the commercials were MUCH IMPROVED over the past few years. I can remember watching the game the past couple years and not being too impressed with the ads. But this year I thought it was much better.

My favorite adds were the Doritos (snow globe), Bud Light (thrown out of window), and both of the E-Trade commercials although they came at the end and after the game. For some reason I absolutely love all the talking baby E-Trade commercials. No matter how many times I see them I laugh.

Shank-opotamus!!! Awesome!

Anyways....

Thursday of last week I was at a training class for Excel. I use Excel from time to time and even though I can do everything that is required of me now I thought that I might get some use out of learning more so I signed up to.

But the class wasn't as interesting as one thing that happened early in the day.

The idiot in front of me (probably in his late 40s or 50s) was sending and receiving emails with people all day long. No big deal...I was surfing the web and emailing too.

But my emails did not involve making plans to cheat on my wife. His did. I have gone through most of the possible scenarios in my head and am almost certain that he was doing just that. He was making plans with a woman with a different last name and everything seemed very secretive. And then he immediately deleted the emails from his account.

Suspicious...that's all.


There is local FM radio show host that recently got divorced and another national radio host I listen to that got divorced in the past 12 months.

They bother me now. For some reason since I learned that they are divorced they bother me. It isn't the fact they got divorced but more that they brag about being single now. And both of them had just recently had babies.

I understand that sometimes things don't work out. My wife and I have had some problems but we made it through. That is one thing. But to brag about being divorced on the air. That is unacceptable in my book.

I think that is mainly why I am bothered. It isn't the divorce that bothers me. That happens. But for them to talk about it and seem happy about it just doesn't make sense.

Obviously I don't have all the details on what happened. But I don't think you should be on the air (whether national or local) talking about your relationship status and bragging.

My Interview

I saw this originally over a brran1's place The Black Lounge a couple weeks ago. So I commented and he sent me some questions to answer. Sorry but I would have had it up sooner but I am lazy and forgot about it for a couple days. But, better late then never...right???

1. If you want to participate, leave me a comment saying, “Interview me.”
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. I get to pick the questions.
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.



1. If you were guaranteed lifelong financial stability in your dream career, would you leave your current job? What is your dream career?

In a heartbeat I would leave. I would leave tomorrow...okay I would give 2 weeks notice but no more than that. To be able to do something in my chosen field would be an absolute dream and I would consider the job even if financial stability wasn't guaranteed. My dream career would be something in the sports world (radio, tv, writer). [In fact if you head over to Jumping Offsides you can view the sports blog I have with Verb and listen to our podcast.]

2.If you could move anywhere in the world, where would you move and why?

I would probably move to New York. I won't ever do that but hypothetically I would. Reason: It is the greatest city in the world and so much happens there. Also I have always lived in suburbia and while I love it I think it would have been interesting to live in decent sized city for a while.

3. What bad habit do you NOT intend on giving up?

Bad habits....hmmm. I don't really no what constitutes a bad habit. I really don't do anything that I consider to be a bad habit. My wife would surely give something here as I am constantly pestering her but I don't think think it is bad...I enjoy it. Most of the other bad habits I have (lazy procrastinator, eating too much, talking on phone while driving) I don't really have a problem giving up....in fact I am trying to on some of them.

4.Which one would you rather have: Wealth or Notoriety?

Wealth. Notoriety brings more problems than it is worth. Although if you aren't wealthy it won't matter if you are notorious because no one will care anyway. And at the same time if you are notorious you are probably wealthy. For instance I would love to win the lottery but I don't want anyone to know that I won it.

5. If you had to walk away from Blogland, would you be able to do it?

Yes. Honestly I am not that attached to it. I enjoy writing and I would absolutely miss it but I could absolutely give it up if needed. The only thing in this world that I wouldn't be able to give up is my family and friends. Everything else is just stuff and can be replaced. And anyone that I meet by blogging can still be my friend outside of Blogland.


Anyone that wants interviewed by me just say "interview me" in the comments.

Breed Specific Bans

Okay, I don't normally do an actual posting, but I am so tired of people wanting certain dog breeds banned. One article I read this morning was about Pit Bulls (again.) A 12 year old girl was bit in the face by a Pit. Here's my problem with it, the dog was fenced in, but the girl put her head over the fence, for what reason...it was never mentioned, and the dog bit her. Duh...most breeds would do that or try to. All dogs are territorial. Maybe the fence was right against the sidewalk, or maybe the fence wasn't tall enough. Either way thats not the dog's fault, the owners should have placed a taller fence if its right along side the sidewalk, and the girl and/or her mother (who was with her) should have some common sense not to put their head over a fence.

The last statement of the article really bothers me too. "That particular breed is problematic. They were bred to go into the pit and fight," she said. "It's like a little time bomb waiting to go off." NO THEY WERE NOT!!! People need to learn about breeds before they open their mouths. I have never owned a Pit Bull, but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to look up basic information on the internet. "The American Pit Bull Terrier's many talents did not go unnoticed by farmers and ranchers who used their APBTs for protection, as catch dogs for semi-wild cattle and hogs, to hunt, to drive livestock, and as family companions." Also, most people do not seem to know that their are different breeds of Pit Bulls, with the American Pit Bull Terrier the only one with the words "pit" and "bull" in its name.

Just because they are bad owners, doesn't mean the dogs are born "evil." There are bad parents too, but do we label the children "evil" and try to eliminate them?!?! No!!! We go after the parents.

My husband and I have owned 2 "bully breed" dogs so far; a Chinese Shar Pei and (the current babies) two Siberian Huskies. And I have news for you, so far our two house cats are more likely to hiss, spit, and scratch you then any of the dogs we have had.