Well, heck...it's been quite a while since I've posted. My last post was around graduation (thanks for all the wonderful comments) and then I took a bit of a hiat...hietus....break. I had to get ready for all the fa-la-la'ing Adrienne and I were going to do.

To catch everyone up, Christmas was great and New Years was a special treat. A lot of "firsts" this year, and I have to say, it was the best Holiday Season I've had since I was a kid. Now, on to more current news.

I've been out job searching, and have found 2 very promising prospects. I've had my fingers crossed and hoping to hear something from my "preferred" option, but have also been working the second option, just in case. Things have been crazy at work, making the waiting game even more nerve racking. The stress of a crappy job, waiting to see if I get a new job, and a bunch of other stuff has had me wrapped around the axle lately. But, I guess I just have to take a deep breath and chill. If I've learned anything this past year...it's that "timing is everything". What happens happens, and I have to resign myself to the idea that whatever the outcome, it's for the best. BUT I REALLY WANT THIS JOB!!!!  Ok...sorry, had to get that out.

I've been reading a lot of good articles and various business materials, which just serve to fuel my desire to get hired at this new place. Some interesting material I've read are from "Good To Great", "Managing Customers As Investments", "How to Use Financial Statements", "Renovate Before You Innovate", "Six Sigma", and "Proactive Risk Management". I've just picked up "Executive Intelligence" and look forward to reading that book.

So, now that I've caught everyone up on the first month of 2006, I hope to do a little bit better on keeping my site up to date.Hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday Season and find themselves doing well in 2006!

I GRADGEEATID!

Well, you're looking at the newest graduate from Colorado Tech University! I was glad I was finished, but a little upset that I didn't seem to make honors. They originally messed up my GPA, first citing it as a 3.28. As it turns out, I called and had them look into it. I actually have a 3.82...which means not only did I graduate, but I graduate Magna Cum Laude. I feel a lot better now, because I accomplished a goal I had set for myself. I never did well in High School...I was the epitome of underachievement. When I started college, I set a goal to at least graduate with honors. I guess I had something to prove to myself. So, now that all that is done, I guess I have to start looking at Master Programs.

"Oh Tannen...Tannanbaum...tanniChristmas Tree!"

Okie Doke...so we got the tree up - AGAIN!. Yes, you've guessed it, I fucked with the tree. But to my credit, I held out until Saturday. Oh, that coniferous embodiment of unlevel/corkscrewy evil! Just kidding Adrienne...I LOVE IT! IT'S OUR FIRST TREE! O.K. seriously now, I almost threw it out the friggin window. The trunk is so misshaped!

I had to cut another 6" off the bottom and 1/5th the foliage to find an area that was straight enough to go into the new stand...one of those "easy adjustable" stands that guarantees the tree will be straight. FOOLS!!!!!

This is a gimm-flippin-ick! My tree is still crooked! $50 later, it leans there...mocking me!!!!

So, after about an hour of more cursing, throwing stuff, and body slamming the tree (twice)...I resigned myself to having a crooked tree. Ok Ok...Adrienne talked some sense into me. Anyway...We got it and the rest of the room decorated. I have to say, it didn't turn out too badly. Adrienne picked out some great "Old World" style ornaments, and we fa-la-la'd our butts off while decorated the room/tree.

After that, we settled in for some cocoa and movies. But not until after the obligatory "Family Pictures" in front of the tree!

I think the cat's actually somewhere in the tree...

Turkey Day has come and gone...

Well, a quick update on my life since I got back from Louisiana. I came home the day before Thanksgiving and Adrienne came in to visit me! We caught up on some much needed alone time together and fell asleep in each other's arms. When that girl hugs...she hugs you like there's no tomorrow.  We went to my uncle's to partake in some traditional T-Day grub. I come from a very "huggy" family, which took Adrienne by surprise. LOL

We went to her family's house later that evening, and spent some quality time with her mother, sister, grandparents, and family friends. The highlight of the evening was when she mistook my triple Jameson on the rocks as apple cider. She took a big swig and almost died! LMFAO. Whiskey can be a bit much when you are expecting it...let alone when you aren't. She took it like a trooper though.

Friday, we went into NYC, where Adrienne got us tickets to go to the "Top of The Rocks". We walked around the center for a while, dodging in and out of stores, while watching people ice skate.

We went to the 70th floor and just stood there looking at the city beneath us. It's amazing to see the swarms of people below. We bought our first Christmas Tree ornament to mark the occasion. One of many to come I hope. Of course, I had to stop and take Adrienne in my arms, kissing her on the "top of the world".

 That's my girl!!!

We grabbed lunch at a Japanese restaurant, where Adrienne tried a little bit of my dish (Chirashi) and merrily ate her own. We even got her a set of chopsticks with training wheels.

Later, we went to Central Park for some ice skating. I haven't been on the ice since I was 8...so I was a little nervous. The first pair of skates were too small, so my feet were killing me. The second pair were a little too big, and some of the hooks to tie them were missing. I had one wobbly ass right skate! Not something that instills confidence to say the least. All in all, I didn't do too badly...I only busted my ass once. Of course, I slammed into the wall half a dozen times. I have to say though, it was one of those memorable moments...holding hands and skating with my baby in Central Park. That's a memory I'll fondly look back on in the years to come. It has real potential to become a new "tradition" for me.

Saturday was pretty mundane, but Sunday we bought another Christmas ornament...this one is an Irish ornament, which will sit on top of the tree, just below the star. I thought it was a nice touch, to make it "Adrienne's tree". Sunday night we made some home made bread and Minestrone soup...while we drank two bottles of wine. The next day, we both suffered from it. So, as any responsible individual would do...we took Monday off!

Monday, we bought our Christmas Tree, which I spent the next two hours making it "perfect". What can I say, I just want what any man wants...the "perfect" looking tree. Every man has a little bit of Clark Griswold (Christmas Vacation) or Mr. Parker (Christmas Story) in him.

That pretty much equates to me fucking with it over and over...making it "straight". At some point, I could see Adrienne was ready to kick me in my junk, so I decided to finish the job by using guide wires to get the tree into the "perfect" position. Two trunk cuttings, six shims, and at least 30 curse words later, the tree was perfectly straight...well almost. We're letting the branches settle and we'll decorate it this weekend. I'm just happy to report it is still standing, despite the dog constantly chasing the cat under it...and his "destructo tail" whacking it every time he passes by it.

Well, that's all for now...pictures of the actual tree will follow, providing it survives the cat, dog, and me until Adrienne's return so we can decorate it. Hope everyone had a good and safe Turkey Day!

I'm Back!!!

Well, I'm finally back from my self-imposed Xanga hiatus. I finished my last classes for my Bachelors degree. I also took a nice (sarcasm intended) trip to Louisiana. I've got a lot of catching up to do...so I better get to it! Just wanted to take a moment and tell everyone that I hope they had a great Turkey Day!