Blindsided

You know it's odd how things end up being the way the are sometimes. A month ago I was getting very tired of my job. Seemed to be doing nothing but working and was completely burnt out. A month ago I was actually looking at other jobs and thinking of leaving my current spot. Now, however, I don't think I could be dragged away by a raging bull tied to my ankles. It's amazing how things can change so fast. Seeing as how last year was for me I shouldn't be surprised by that, but then again it's crazy how sometimes the chips fall in just the right way that things work out perfectly or more than perfect. I was completely blindsided by the way the chips fell most recently but I sure am liking how they fell.

A good weekend

This weekend my Dad was in town, and he was in town for one simple reason. For us to go to D.C. and visit "The Wall." As you can see by the picture we made it. I'm happy that I could do this for my dad. I know it meant a lot to him. I'm just happy that I could help him close a chapter and be there for him and with him when he did it. This was my way of being able to give a little back after all the years of my dad being there for me through thick and thin. Hopefully now dad can find a little more peace in his life.

Put me on the DL coach

Yes, I finally hurt myself playing basketball. When you consider the law of averages and the state of my knees and ankles I'm surprised it didn't happen sooner. So I'm sure you're all wondering what happened. Well according to the doctor, since I went to the ER to get it X-rayed, I have a serious sprain injury however I'm pretty sure I actually dislocated it but popped it back into place before I went to the ER. The doctor wasn't sure about the dislocation part, but I'm pretty sure that when I snapped my foot from being at some crazy odd angle back to being in the proper angle that that likely constitutes as dislocation.

I'm basically out of playing ball for the rest of the year and I'll have to stay off my ankle for at least two weeks. The bad thing is that it's my right ankle and so I haven't figured out the whole driving thing yet. Maybe I can teach myself to handle the gas peddle with one of my crutches... (don't try this at home kids!!!)

For now though I'm kinda handicapped and depending on friends to help me get stuff and get around town.... Actually I'm hoping that my friends can help me get around town. This theory hasn't been tested yet. I will say this though; if it hadn't been for one friend in particular I might've had to figure out a way to drive my ass home by myself tonight. So to that friend I am very grateful and lucky to have her as such.

An odd phone call???

Today was unlike any other day. I was in cycle making babies as usual. It was actually a slow day, and and looking like I'd get off early for once (and I did). However, there was a part of the day that, well... just stuck out. I got a curious e-mail from a previous employer asking for me to call him ASAP. Now I would have to say that this previous employer would be the last person on earth I would ever expect to want to call me, but he did. We talked at length about things, like where I currently am, and what I'm doing and comparisons between where I am and there. Yes it was a very interesting conversation indeed. What makes it all so funny however is that my previous employer doesn't know that I do know exactly why he called. Funny those things are.

3G Goodness!!!

Wow it sure has been a long time since I blogged on here. Wish I could say a lot has happened in that time but alas it's been pretty mundane actually.

I guess the best news is that I upgraded to the new 3G iPhone on Saturday. Yes, Saturday because all the freakin stores were sold out on Friday. Hell, I was lucky to end up with it then. I got one of the last remaining two that were at the Apple Store after they had just got a fresh shipment that day. So why did I upgrade when I had only my old free iPhone for about three months before hand. It's not because I had to have the coolest newest gadget out there. It was because I was pulled into a wading pool as a joke at a party and thus my old iPhone met it's untimely demise. Good reason to upgrade though right?!!

That really has been the highlight of the entire time since my last blog was posted. I've been on a couple of dates in that time. Some good some bad, noting really worth mentioning on here though. I do have one tomorrow night and so maybe it'll go well. We'll see.

Oh, one thing I guess that's worth mentioning is that I've picked up a room mate for a short time. Being the good friend that I am I'm putting up one of my best buds that I've made while being here in the Beach. The owner of the place he had been living sold the house and thus he was in need of new living quarters before he ships out in three weeks. So being the good friend that I am I put him up for the three weeks. So far it's been good but if all else fails I can just throw his carcass into the bay.

Being sure.

I originally wrote this blog post with a completely different meaning but after yesterdays events I think the title still fits and this post will more accurately justify the title.

Life lesson # something in the mid 100's: Be sure about something before committing to a course of action. There's been many things in my life that I was sure about that caused me to commit to a course of action only to find out I was completely wrong. Sometimes it was because at the time I didn't have any other indicators out there to say, "hold up buddy, better think this one through some more," and sometimes it's just because I misunderstood the situation. Yesterdays misstep was definitely a case of the latter. In my defense I was given all the right signals for me to make the logical conclusion that I did, but then again one should always consider the outlying factors in when someone's saying something. That's what I failed to do and so a misunderstanding occurred. Didn't someone on say that "life's just one big misunderstanding"? If no one did than I am, and yes I've already trademarked it so back off.

Who knows how this situation will turn out. I sure as hell don't but I guess I'll find out in about two months.

When did I get old(er)???

You know back in the day it was nothing for me to play five or six basketball games in a row and still have the energy to do other stuff afterwards. I mean I'm only 27, so how is it that after four games of basketball I barely have enough energy to get through a fifth one and really can't find any energy to do anything afterwards except shower and prop my feet up? Is this that "you're not always going to be young" thing that those older people warned me about, or is it that I'm still not back into shape like I once was? I mean I have been playing basketball three days a week and lifting another three for about three months now. I should be in shape... I think I'm in shape.

Do i face the reality of the situation and tell my self, "Aaron, you're just not as young as you used to be." No! No I say. So what if I'm getting close to 30. I'm not there yet and even if I was it's no excuse. I think the line from Lethal Weapon 4 applies here, "{I'm} not to old for this shit!!"

Is it hot in here or is it just me?

Well we're in the middle of a little heat wave here on the east coast. It's been well in the upper 90's to low 100's for the last 8 days or so. It's times like this that I sure am glad that I work in a nice climate controlled office/ lab. I even have a nice apartment with nice air conditioning to come home to. So when I get off work how do I choose to spend my time beating the heat, you ask? Why I go outside and play full court 4 on 4 basketball of course. Not just one or two games mind but at least three and as many as five. Yes I am insane. I'm out playing full court basketball, running around in temperature that could very likely cause anyone to have heat stroke. It's just a testament to how much I love to play basketball. I really do enjoy the games I play since we're all pretty evenly skilled and the games are pretty competitive, plus it's excellent exercise. But man do I come home tired... and sweaty... really sweaty (I could probably ring sweat out of my shirt if I wanted to after playing... ewwwww).

In other news I am trying to figure a certain situation out. It's all very confusing since I think I know what is going on in the other persons mind, but then again it is someone else's mind so I could be completely off. Do I go with my gut feelings and continue down the path I want to go, or do I let my logical side kick in full gear and do what I know will "protect" myself? I don't know what to do and I really wish I did. It'd be easier if extenuating circumstances and other parties weren't involved, but life's never easy, especially when you want it to be.

To the best niece an uncle could ask for.

This post is for you Ash. I got your thank you letter yesterday and it was a great letter. It is something that I intend to keep forever. What you said really touched me. To the point of tears even. I am very fortunate to have ever met you and be a part of your life and I do hope that I can continue to be a part of it. You're a very special young lady and you'll always have a place in my heart.

I wish you the best in life Ash and I'll help you in any way I can. I know you'll probably never read this post but I just wanted to put something on here about you and the letter you sent me. It meant a lot to me, just like you mean a lot to me.

Timing is everything

I haven't blogged in quite a while but I guess it's due to the fact that I've just been busy and/or just haven't been inspired to blog about anything till today. Today I have come to the realization that I just have shitty freaking timing when it comes to my love life. Case in point: I met a person here in the beach. Someone that I like, that I'm attracted to, and she likes me and is attracted to me as well. We enjoy each other's company and have been spending a lot of time in each others company. It's been good.

Unfortunately, that old adage that all good things must come to an end applies here. In three months this lovely woman will be moving to San Diego. Clear across the f(**(#g country. At first it looked like it would be Spain, which would've been worse, but 2757 miles away isn't much better. We both see the reality of our situation and have pretty much accepted that a relationship wouldn't be in the best interest for either of us. I don't know about her, but while I do agree to the reality of the situation I still can't stop what I feel. We're going to keep being the best of friends but something tells me that she's always going to be one of those ones you keep in the back of your mind asking yourself, "what if?"

An update that's long overdue

Well seems as the masses have decided to assert that I need to do some blogging. My adoring fans... both of them... continually decide to remind me that I haven't blogged in some time. So I figured I'd better appease said fans unless I want to receive hate mail.

What to blog about though. All in all life has been pretty good here in my new setting. Still liking the job and have gotten a pretty good hand on things at work. I get along with everyone at work and they seem to accept me which is good. The odd and yet comforting difference about this office is that I'm not one of the youngest people to work here. I'm actually somewhere in the middle. It's an odd feeling since instead of being treated like a "young" adult like I was in Memphis, I'm treated as an actual adult. In a sense it make me fell kinda old really.

However, while I might feel old or at least older at work I feel down right ancient when i go play basketball. I joined a rec-center here in Virginia Beach for $55 for the entire year. Pretty good deal if you ask me. So every M-W-F I go and play basketball for a couple hours with people who are on average 6-7 years younger than I am. It's here after about the 4th or 5th game when I'm good and worn out and they're asking if i want to play one more when I ask myself "when did I turn older." I swear it's like once I passed 25 I suddenly fall into this category of no longer "young." Oh well in the end I don't care. I get to play basketball.

I'm making lots of new friends here at the beach. I've been invited to several bar-b-ques already and have a few close friends that I hang out with when I'm bored. So so far I'm comfortable and enjoying life at the moment.

Easter Fun

Well it was my first weekend after moving to here in Virginia. Oh, and for those of you who don't know, I did take the job in Virginia Beach. I moved up here last weekend and have spent most of that time getting used to my new job. So far I think I'll like it. It allows me to IVF again so in that respect I'm happy. As for my free time, I spend it trying to find friends here to hang out with. An endeavor that I have yet to be very successful in as of yet. So since I hadn't made any friends here in VA Beach I was looking at the prospect of spending Easter by myself this weekend, however my aunt, whom live four hours away came to the rescue.

I hadn't seen my aunt for nearly three years and now she's just a short drive away so once she invited me I was more than happy to go see her. It was a nice trip down. I got to meet her significant other, who I must say is freaking awesome. The man gave me his iPhone that he won. He didn't like it and thus gave it to me. So now I have the phone that I dreamed of having for FREE!! Now I just have to get it activated and then I can enjoy the fun of having the coolest kick ass phone ever.

I must say that getting the iPhone was the high light of my weekend however I did do something interesting as well while I visited my aunt. I did something that I haven't done in nearly 5 years. I went to church. I know, it's a miracle!!! Well not really, but still as any of you that know me you know you can't drag my atheist ass to a service. Lets be clear about while I went. I didn't want to be saved and i wasn't looking to god for direction or any of that. It was very simply the fact that my aunt's significant other plays the guitar for the church band and I decided to go since i was there for the company in the first place and didn't feel like staying alone in their condo while they were at church.

Now while I swear I felt my skin start singeing as I walked in the church, I must say that going to this non denominational church was an experience. I mean I experienced so much in the 1.5 hours I was there that it was hard for me to take it all in. Actually, I experienced so much it was hard for me not to laugh out loud. I mean they had a girl dance ballet, and while she danced very well, I didn't understand the significance. I saw a play put on by teens where they lip-synced to music and killed ninjas... again didn't see the significance. I saw a guy break down in the middle of the isle, praise Jesus, and cry his eyes out. But best of all I heard a testimonial about God communicated to a family through the cunning used of fortune cookies not once but twice!!!! Amazing how the word of God, like fortune cookies, can be so vague in their prophecies to nearly be able to encompass any situation at any time in your life.

All in all it was an experience to remember, but I've had my fill of Jesus and the Holy Ghost for another five years if not more.

Jobless again???

Well I was supposed to be in to work tonight. I was supposed to start a project this week. But here I am trying to find what I should do tonight since I won't be working. Why won't I be working you ask? Because I was called today and told that I was not allowed back on the premises of my current job because of something that came up on my background check.

Why Aaron, what could possibly come up on your background check that would be so horrendous, so foul, so corrupt that you wouldn't be allowed to go to work? Not only not be allowed to work but not even be allowed on the premises?

Well if you must know its... brace yourselves because it's bad... really really bad....... It's........

It's because I was fired from my last job and not eligible for rehire!!!!!!

I know... horrible isn't it? You're right it's not. It's not even really worth mentioning since anyone who reads my blog knows I was fired. Oh, and in case you're wondering, yes my current bosses knew I had been fired as well. I told them when I interviewed what had happened at my last job. In fact the temp agency that I'm working through did a background check and knows that I was fired. So why is being fired a red flag for one company and not another? Hell you tell me.

Needless to say I'm a little peeved about it all. I mean when I don't work I don't get paid, and I don't know about you, but I like to get paid. Not to mention this doesn't help my stress level at the time. I think I'm gonna go do something mindless for a while to help me de-stress.

I could probably use a tan.

I know you all were beginning to wonder if I had fallen off the face of the earth with my lack of posts, but honestly I haven't posted because I haven't had anything interesting to talk about until now.......

In about 7 hours I should be boarding my plane for a flight to Virginia Beach, VA. Why am I flying out to the beach in the middle of winter you may ask? Well, in my never ending quest to find another embryologist job, I landed myself an interview with a clinic at Virgina Beach. Nervous? You bet I am. It's supposed to be a "working" interview, meaning they're going to see what kind of skills I posses. They're going to see if I can actually do what's on my resume. Apparently there are people out there who claim to be Embryologists having only set foot in the lab for am month or so. While I actually spent 2 years (4 if you count working in the animal lab) doing embryology, I haven't done a case in nearly 7 months so I'm betting my skill set is going to be pretty rusty, but I'm gonna give it my best and hope that I still got the goods.

If I get the job it means relocating which is a stressful procedure but easily done... I think.... I will be close to the beach meaning that I can work on my tan in the summer and rid myself of some of my "whiteness." Yes people, if I take off my shirt you need shades to look at me.

While I'm excited I find myself being somewhat reluctant as well for a couple reasons. The first and foremost is that this time when I move I'll be alone in the deal. No one to help me out if I fall flat on my face. I do have a steady job here, and while the pay may not be the best and it's not really what I want to do it is a secure/ steady job. Finally, I have made some friends recently as well, and I have some regret about leaving those (one I truly will regret leaving) and having yet again start all over.

In other news the gods of dating have decided to cast me into the firey pit of inconvienent occurances to keep me from seeing that one person I want to see. Four times now we've scheduled meetings to be with each other and all four times something's come up. From car troubles at a whims notice to the recent tornadic activity in the area it seems that the forces of mechanics and nature are working against us. If I believed in higher powers that be I'd say someone's trying to send me a signal to which I'd have to respond by fliping them the middle finger and yelling, "mind your own damn business!" But I'm a patient person and I know that we'll work something out, and after all I've always kind of wanted to kidnap someone....

Healthy dose of boredom

Well here I am at work. Currently it's 2:30 and I have yet to really do anything to help the night pass by any quicker. I don't even really have anything to even remotely keep me busy. There's no little cleaning projects or anything that I can do. The one project that could take some time already took up the first two hours of the night when I did it. I don't have my book to read... left it a the apartment. I knew I had forgot something when I left. The person I usually talk to during the nights when it's slow has the night off and I can only read so many articles on the internet before my eyes bugg out.

Some one save me or please make it 7 a.m.!!!!

That Shoulder

Tonight was an odd night for us. It's been a long time since you've just crawled into bed like that with me. I didn't turn you away although the thought crossed my mind, just like it always does when you suggest hanging out. That's a reflex reaction though. Distance myself, get away, don't be pulled back into what was as I fear I might. Yet I didn't. I gave you what I thought you needed. Someone to hold you and just be there for you. I admit, I miss us being close like that and at the same time I don't.

It was odd for me being there like that tonight. There was no self satisfaction for me in your suffering, no thinking that maybe things will turn around, just the simple feeling a friend has for another when they wish to try and help if they can. I guess that means I'm truly past what we used to have. I miss it and I always will but I have moved on. I've made friends and have those friends to hang out with. I don't have to be alone. I hope that you can find the same thing as well, but I fear that you're so wrapped up in what you want that you can't do anything else but chase it.

I hope you find your happiness. I hate to see you sad. I always have. I always wanted to make you happy and while I couldn't do that for you I can offer that shoulder if you need it.

Down with the sickness!!!

Well as you may or may not be able to imply by the title of this post I have been sick as of late. I am for the most part over this cold. I have about a quarter of a lung left, which I think is enough to survive on for the remainder of my life. I don't get sick often but I have been sick twice now in two months. I have no idea what's going on in that respect. I usually only get sick once a year. Technically I'm still on course for that since the two month span was between December and January, but I can't remember the last time I was sick that soon again.

Personally, I blame the weather for the second round of crap that I suffered through. As I explained in my previous post we had some crazy f'ed up weather the previous week. I think it's also the reason that this stuff was a little more determined to hang around with me for awhile as well.

Typically when I say I'm sick I have a head cold that causes me to not be able to breath through my nose, I feel congested and stuffy and my brain is functioning at less than optimum capacity. I am rarely so sick that I can't go to work or do day to day activities. In fact I'm usually never sick more than a one to two days before I'm back to 100%. The two times here was no exception except that the second round of flew took about a week to get over. Odd that. Hopefully my immune system has decided to come back from its hiatus to see the carnage left from its time away to say to itself, "Damn!!! I leave for a month and this happens? Ok time for me to pump some iron and get this place back to a lean mean germ butt kicking machine!!" Otherwise I'm gonna catch the freakin bubonic plague next time.

So ummm.. how's the weather in your area?

Ok I've got a question for everyone. Who pissed off Mother Nature? Was it you? How about you? Did we, as a collective group (meaning all humans), do it? Because if you ask me I think that right now she's messing with our heads because she's pissed off at us. One week ago it was pretty cold in the heartland. Teens here in Memphis, single digits in Missouri, and now it's in the freakin 70's. The 70's!!!! I'm ready to break out the shorts in freakin January. Wasn't I just home three weeks ago where it snowed? I'm so confused.

I think that's what Mother Nature wants. She's pissed of and has decided to show her wrath by changing the seasons around. I'm sure that by tomorrow there will be 10 inches on the ground and the next day we'll be at 80. Maybe in the Summer we'll have to turn our heat back on. The scientists will claim that it's global warming, and they may be right. But me, I think I'm gonna go buy me a nice sacrificial goat just in case.

... ... ...

But you know now that I think about it maybe I've got this all wrong. Maybe Mother Nature isn't pissed at all. Maybe she's in a good mood and decided to help us little folk out by warming it up so that we wouldn't have to run our heaters, which with the price of natural gas is killing everyone. Or maybe she's kicking it back with Father Time smoking a fattie saying, "Hey Time, check this shit out! Watch me freak the people out by changing the seasons on them in January! Hahahahahahaha!!!"

To which Time would respond, "Are you sure you should do that Nature... I mean Al Gore is doing wonders for spreading the word of global warming. And Toyota makes the Prius and stuff like that."

Nature would respond, "Damn, Time why do you always have to be a buzz kill? You're just jealous because you can't screw with them like I can. Now where's those Doritos? I've got a serious case of the munchies."

Yep that's it people. We're experiencing crazy winter weather because Mother Nature is smoking a fattie with Father Time. I'm sure that's what it is. If we wait for her buzz to wear off things will go back to normal. But I am going to get that goat just in case.

Giddy as a School Girl

Wow!!! Didn't think I'd find someone who has as much in common with me as quickly as I did. Talked to her online for the entire night Wednesday then after I got off work Thursday morning talked to her for another four hours over the phone. I've talked to her tons in the last three days and I can't wait to meet her. I'm giddy, nervous and scared all at the same time.

I'm giddy because of the possibility this may hold, that and she's just fun to talk to. She's sweet and sends me little text messages telling to have a good day. I haven't had someone do that in a long time. It brings a smile to my face every time.

I'm nervous because we actually haven't met yet. What if she doesn't like me or I'm stupid and find some small detail and sabotage the whole thing. I don't really think any of that will happen but still it makes me nervous.

I'm scared because I'm trying to keep myself from jumping headlong into something that, while has the potential to be something, if I move to fast I'm gonna get hurt again.

In the end I know I shouldn't worry about any of it. I should just let things be as they'll be and just go along for the ride.

What will the new year bring?

Well it's a new year finally. 2007 sure had a lot of ups and downs although I think more downs than anything. Hopefully 2008 will be better for me. I spent a good amount of time thinking of a good new years resolution but instead only came up with things that I was already planning on doing and will likely do. Here's a few of them:

1) Move out of the apartment that I share with E and into my own.
2) Either maintain my current job as a chemist or hopefully find another embryologist job somewhere.
3) Begin either getting ready to go into Grad school or med school for next year.
4) Get out and start making new friends and dating.
5) Get divorced.
6) Pay off a sizable chunk of money that's owed to my in laws.

I think those six items should keep me fairly busy for this year and if not then I have a few other items that, while they will likely not occur this year, are in my future plans.

1) Eventually get a house again (likely after the housing market finally bottoms out)
2) Start a family someday.
3) Become an M.D., D.O. or Ph.D.

In the end though this year taught me not to try to plan things out to far in advance because all of your best laid plans can come crashing down in an instant. So while I ask myself, "I wonder what this year will bring?" I know that whatever it is I'll be taking it one day at a time.