Long time no blog...

Hello to anyone that actually has my blog still bookmarked or even bothers to check it ocassionally. It seems that I manage to actually complete a post every 3-6 monhts -- even longer this time. I'll blame it on ADD -- I open up the blog console, start typing and then get wrapped up in editing myself or distracted by something else. Usually, by the time I realize I was in the middle of a blog post I've lost my train of thought and give up on it(ok, so it's a lame excuse but I'm sticking to it). Add to that my difficulty opening up to people and I'm not the best blogger in the world. (I will never forget what my friend EWD told me about 10 years ago "I tell you all my problems and cry all over your shoulder and when I ask you how things are you tell me 'I like chocolate chip cookies'"). I guess that about sums it up. :)

Work has been going pretty well -- not a whole lot of drama there (thankfully!). We have been incredibly busy and my team of two has grown to 10 in the last 4 months and the number of customers we support has grown even faster. I've really grown to love my new job; the team is an awesome group of people located around the world. I'm on call 7x24 for the time being -- thankfully the team is good and my cell phone rarely rings; when it does I know that whomever is calling has done everything they know to resolve a problem. For those that have not been filled in on the changes in my job, I am a technical manager. My responsibilities include training and talent selection (hiring) for my direct team and supporting the technical needs of everyone in our entire organization of about 75. I also support about 10 customers at the same time so it really keeps me going and every day is different. I think my favorite part of the job is managing our labs in Coppell and Highlands Ranch.

I quit smoking in December -- for probably the 4th time. (yes mom, I was a smoker). I'm proud of myself -- it's been over 7 weeks and I've only cheated once. Thank god for commit lozenges, though nothing will ever replace the love I had for a cigarette. I actually miss standing out on my back porch in the freezing weather at night and looking up at the stars (not that you can see many from my location in the city -- it's just too bright out). I don't miss the sound of the hospital helicopters roaring over-head as the come in to land at the helipad down the street. I never realized how much I used smoking to cope with stress or anything that wasn't going my way and it has been difficult learning to cope without cigarettes but I am making it through and every day my resolve is stronger. I guess I just had it when I got sick after the holidays; I was tired of not being able to breathe and tired of not having any energy or stamina. Every day it's a little better; I just have to keep reminding myself that it is worth it.

The car drama ended sometime late in the summer. I'm just glad it's all over. I finally got the title just as I was preparing to sue the previous owner. I still love driving the hell out of it and smile every time I get behind the wheel. I went to the track a few times over the last summer -- just to watch as I still haven't had the courage to actually race. Considering all the previous blog space devoted to my new car I think that's enough said about that. :)

I saw my first concert at Red Rocks Ampitheater this past summer. The headliner was 311 with Pepper and the Wailers opening. It was a fantastic show -- the sound was a bit loud and distorted but the show was awesome. In fact, the concert was so much fun that it was decided that Andy and I should take a road-trip to Dallas and Austin in September for Labor day. We drove from Denver to Dallas in one day -- that wasn't so bad. The concert Saturday night in Dallas was, I think, the best of the three we saw: the sound was excellent and we had tickets in the pit (another first). I also discovered that I really do love the city of Dallas. I think part of it is emotional ties to friends in the city, but it really is an amazing place (if you can deal with the traffic!). We made the trip to Austin on Sunday -- not a bad drive. We ate some of the best BBQ I've ever had in a HUGE restaurant in the middle of nowhere and then headed to the show. The venue in Austin was another outdoor ampitheater (The Backyard). It rained cats and dogs during the show -- Pepper only got to play one song out of their set (which was OK with me) and the Wailers act was cut similarly short (which was a dissapointment). 311 put on another awesome show -- it was a pretty small event with I would guess around 5000 people in the audience. Even without pit tickets we were still close enough to the stage to have an awesome view. On Monday we drove straight through from Austin to Denver. The drive home was a real killer -- we woke up late and it POURED rain from Austin pretty much straight through to OKC. We somehow managed to get off of I70 somewhere in Oklahoma -- apparently we misread a sign and took a leg of I70 that just dumped us into OKC (?) -- that was an adventure. I really wanted to make a couple of stops to say hi to 2 very special friends but neither Andy or I had Tuesday off work so we were forced to press through. Overall, it was an excellent trip and I'm really bummed that 311 has decided to take an extended break because I'd do it all again in a heart beat -- I got to hear all my favorite songs live and there is just nothing like it.

In fact, it does seem to have been the summer of concerts for me -- I think I saw as many concerts this summer as I've seen in my entire life. I also went to see Bowling for Soup with my friends Dancing Star and Girl Zoot. It was a great night at the show and It's always good to see you ladies. :) GZ -- thanks for the postcard it really brightened my day.

I'm headed back to Jamaica on Friday -- technically Saturday morning. We have a 12:55 AM flight to Atlanta. I'm just going to be glad to get away from all of the SNOW here in Denver. Beautiful as the snow may be I am definately over it. I am looking forward to sitting on the beach reading a book and listening to music. Since this isn't the first trip we have no real sight-seeing plans other than to hit some of the live music spots: Alfred's Ocean Palace and Rick's -- both places do live concerts at least one night per week on the beach. As much as I'm looking forward to the trip I already know it will come to an end way too soon.

One of these days I will figure out how to balance my life a bit more. It seems I've either got all my energy focused on work or drama going on with my house (maybe in my next post I will detail my ongoing battle with squirrels).

I feel like there's so much more to add, but it's past midnight and I really ought to be going to bed. Hopefully this post isn't a bunch of rambling nonsense.

Mitch