Shine On

And I am back, again. We have been just getting nailed with nasty storms this week. Hail, straight line 60 MPH winds, and sheets of rain. It is supposed to be over for a while so that we can get out and enjoy our summer a little more. Jessica and I have spent a few weekends up at the cabin in Brainerd, and the last weekend we went it was just wonderful weather, which makes a huge difference. In entertainment notes, I decided to grab the new Jet album called "Shine On", just to try something different. I am really impressed with this band! Think, The Beatles meets AC/DC with no over-production. I recommend it if you are needing some new rock for your collection. There is a show coming up that I am recruiting people to go to with me down by the U of M. If you are a long time reader, you will know the name Scott H Biram. He will be here next Saturday so if you are able, come on! My job is good, my wife is great, and life just keeps getting better. Since moving on from my previous job, Jessica has commented a few times that I am much easier to be married to, ha. I actually sleep at night now and find time to work out. So, that's the update. Wishing you all good health.

About D*mn Time

Hi, my name is Jesse and this is my blog. I am alive and am sorry for not writing for so long. Ok, enough cheesy apologies. The picture you see here is from our trip to Clearwater Beach Florida. This is a typical sunset with the"pirate ship" setting sail. Jess and I spent three days down there alone and then Cub and Amber came down. We laid on the beach and by the pool, read books, had drinks and just generally relaxed. It was just what we all needed after the longest winter in history. We all came back refreshed and ready to start out summer. BREAKING NEWS...my deck is finally complete. We bought some patio furniture and have some landscaping to do and then we will have a party to celebrate (Corey, the reason for the long delay, is not invited). As Corey says, my deck is timeless. Work is great, I love my job. Jess has been at her new job (about 1 mile from home) and she is enjoying that as well. Coming up we have my Grandfather's 80th birthday party, my niece Savannah's 1st birthday, a family reunion and on and on. Summer is simply wonderful. We are hoping to make it to NYC for Carly's wedding, but we will see about that. BREAKING NEWS...I caught 2 walleye last weekend at he cabin. It is very true STEVE. They do exist. Anyway, I will try to not be away so much and try to keep this updated more often. Hi to all of my family in West Virginia. Be safe and God Bless.

Winter In the Rear View Mirror

Thank God we have come out of one of the longest winters that I can remember. I mean, it was getting to the point of Jessica and I thinking about moving. But alas, Spring has come and reminded both of us why we live here in Minnesota. Jessica has started her new job managing an office for a company about 1 mile from our house. So far, she is loving it. She was at the board meeting tonight and got more insight on the direction of the business. She is involved in a start up business now which I can relate to as most of you know. If you are bored at work ( and have speakers, JOE) head over to www.slacker.com to listen to music any way you want it. I listen most of the day and it helps to keep my alert. The job is really good, I am being challenged every day. I am learning every day also which is what I thrive on. I am still getting used to being in one place for most of the day. I am the most active (antsy) of all 6 of the Project Managers I work with. I still think of my Gramps everyday but it is very comforting knowing that he is with Grandma and Uncle Brent. Finishing deck work should be starting any day now which leads to new patio furniture and a deck party. My cousin Blake is home after being away for over a year while serving our country in my beloved Air Force. Otherwise, everything is good. Have a great weekend.

This is just a tribute

Bad news. My Paternal Grandfather died on Monday night. This is a tribute to Powell Sams. Gramps was the best man I have ever known. He accomplished more in his life than most men will ever do. He was a veteran of the Korean war, where most of his platoon was killed in combat and he was spared. He was an accomplished pilot. He moved to Minnesota from West Virginia when he took a job with Pillsbury where he was awarded a patent. He went to the University of Minnesota at night and got his degree in Mechanical Engineering. He worked for Pillsbury for 20 plus years until he decided to move to Illinois to work with a small food processing company. That company went under and he took a job in the Food division of NASA in Houston. He settled there with the love of his life Anna Belle, my Grandmother. He worked at NASA where he played a vital role in developing the food that every space flight took into space with them. He met every astronaut that went up until he retired. Anna Belle died in 1992 and he decided it was time to move back to Minnesota to be closer to his family. We all had the gift of being with Gramps while he was here. His son and my Uncle, Brent, died at 52 in October. He was heartbroken. Gramps was a devout Methodist and very involved in his church. Today, at the funeral, his Pastor was even crying while honoring him. Cub and I are taking off tomorrow to make the drive to Parkersburg, West Virginia to put Gramps to rest next to his wife. We are meeting Carrie and Matt and many other family members out there. Say a little prayer for my Grandfather, Powell Sams, tonight. He fought for our freedom and was a great man. He is home now with his wife and son. I love you Gramps.

A screeching halt

Well, courtesy of one of my cute little nieces, I am done running for the time being. I am lucky enough to have a nasty cold. Just to get through it, that is what I am gunning for. In other big news, my sister and her family are moving to Las Vegas today. I am going to really hate not being able to see my niece Alex, but I am very much looking forward to traveling out there to see them. I have heard that there is a good time to be had in that town. My good friend Joe has been brewing his own beer recently and it is something I am considering starting. I need a new hobby and what could be better than brewing beer!? We are starting the countdown to our trip to Clearwater Beach Florida now. We had so much fun a few years ago, we are going again. That's all for now. Happy Easter.

It's on...

Jessica and I are really excited. We are both on a mission to get in shape. We started today, Saturday. I ran 2.5 miles this morning with Hank and Jess is starting a work out regimen with our eliptical machine and sit ups. The plan is, get up early twice during weekdays and both Saturday and Sunday and do our work out. I am hoping to drop those 10 pounds quick and then take off a few extra for good measure. To answer your question Michelle, yes, it took 6 to 10 times running to drop those 10 pounds. Wish us luck! Have a good weekend

And I am back...

Hi! Once again, sorry I have been away for so long. Lots of cool stuff has been happening. Jessica and I went out to see Louis CK a few weekends ago, and it was hilarious. We had some food and a drink at Solera down the street from the Pantages Theater, which was realy fun. It is a Tapas bar (not topless). This is where they have a bunch of small appetizer type dishes for a low price so you can taste a bunch of different foods. Keep an eye on HBO for Louis CK's new hour long special. I will be the same material we were laughing at that weekend. The job is good and challenging at times. I spent the first half of the week in meetings with other Project Managers. That was fun to meet others that I have talked to. They came in from Chicago, Denver, California, Tennessee, and Florida. We all went out for dinner one night and got to know each other. Last weekend was very relaxing. Jessica's Mom was here last weekend and they ran around shopping. This weekend looks to be pretty quiet too. I am going to start running again once this cold snap goies away this weekend. I have been longing to go for a few months. When I was running before winter, I ran somewhere between 6 to 10 times and dropped 10 pounds. It also helps to clear my mind and focus a little better. I am excited for it as you can tell. We are gearing up for our trip to Clearwater Beach this coming May. I will keep you posted on that. Have a great week and I will write more soon.

Hi - I am alive - click here for a laugh

I am alive and still kicking. I have been away for a while but I will try to post more frequently. ANYWAY, a few weekends ago we took our annual ice fishing trip to The Pines (or DA PINES) to see John and DEREEEEEN. We had a great time as always, but the fishing was not very good. Actually it really sucked. But, our Dad provided for a few funny stories and we had a great time away. We have a few events coming up that I will share with you. We are going to the Foo Fighters concert in a February which will be, I think, our fifth time seeing them. If you like a great rock concert and have never been, GO! They are absolutely phenomenal live. I am also taking Jessica to see a comedian in concert at the Pantages Theater in Minneapolis in February for her birthday. A few of you have seen him while at my house from my DVR and he is hilarious. If you click on the subject, you will see why we think he is so funny. We are also heading to Florida in a few months for some much needed R&R. More to come on that. The new job is actually really cool. I work with great people and it is a fairly relaxed environment considering all the pressure we are under. Jessica and I just bought a new 40 inch HD flat panel TV. It is a great addition to our living room. I also recently realized that I can't set my glass of beer on the floor or my damn dog, Hank, will stick his tongue in it and start drinking it. I am thinking about renaming him Hosehead (think Strange Brew, the movie). Have a great week!

The New Job So Far

As most of you know, I have started my new job this week and thought you may be interested in a quick review. I went in on Wednesday a little nervous and really wanting to make a good first impression. The building is simply amazing and really stood out as a symbol of previous successes. I met up with my new boss, Chris and we went on the grand tour. I have, at my disposal, a full food court/cafeteria, a 4 and a 10 mile running path out the back of the building along with full locker rooms, and a bunch of small shops to buy coffee or tea or water. Then, we started training. Wow. I was absolutely bombarded with information that sounded like Chinese. I sat in meetings with a few people while being instructed on how to manage large scale projects for Verizon Wireless. By the end of the first day, I was completely brain dead and worried that I would never ever be able to catch up. My mind was set at ease when my boss told me that it would take 6 months to really get comfortable. My second day was much easier as I actually retained a lot of information from day one. I am going forward with high hopes and going to keep an open mind with the new info I am fed. Stay tuned and I will keep you all posted. Have a great weekend.

And I am GONE

The time has come people. I am in St. Cloud at CitEscape for the last time. I am mostly very excited to be letting go of the company that I helped to grow from nothing, but there is a small amount of sadness leaving the guys who have worked, for the most part, very hard to help. As most of you know, my feelings about the town of St. Cloud are not good. As a matter of fact, I have lived in many parts of the world and even in third world countries, and I can honestly say that I would rather live in those countries than in St. Cloud Minnesota. When I hit the road today knowing that my days in this town are over for good (and I will NEVER take another job there) it will be one of the best days of my professional life. If you ever have the chance to go there, don't. If you look to your right I have placed a new link to the company I will be working for. I hope you all had a great Christmas and have a wonderful New Year.

Moving on...

In the previous post, I talked a little about the boxing match that happened last weekend. Ricky Hatton lost and, I think, he had a decent showing. The hand speed of Mayweather was just too good. Anyway, I wanted to let all of you know that I have accepted a position as a project manager for ADC Inc. I am leaving CitEscape effective January 1st, 2008. I had some very rewarding experiences at CitEscape. I helped start and build the company for more than 3 years but it is time to move on as the past year has been quite challenging. My new job will be 15 minutes from my house and they made me an offer that I couldn't refuse. With this change, Jessica will need a new vehicle to drive and I will be taking our truck. We are going to purchase a 2006 Saab 9.3. Jess loves it and I am comfortable with the reliability and security of the car. So, there you have it. The winds of change have definitely blown my way and here is looking to our future.

Floyd Mayweather SUCKS, Go Hatton!

I am a boxing fan and so is Cub. There is a big fight this weekend on pay per view with two fighters who could not be more different. Floyd Mayweather, pictured on the right, is a great undefeated American fighter. He comes from a broken home. He is unbelievably wealthy and flaunts it. He is extremely arrogant and very hard to cheer for. He talks extensively about his wealth and his cars and his jewelry. His opponent this weekend is also an undefeated fighter hailing from Manchester England. His name is Ricky Hatton and he is pictured on the left. Hatton comes from a middle class nuclear family and grew up in pubs. He will be in Vegas this weekend along with 20,000 screaming and mostly intoxicated Brits. Hatton travels with an enormous fan base who turn the stadium into an enormous party. It is something to see. Hatton is a modest man and is obviously and vocally tired of hearing Mayweather flaunt his wealth. On Saturday night, it will be on at our house and I want to extend the invitation whoever would like to show up. Have a great weekend.

The Mighty Zeppelin - click here

Remember when you first heard the opening chords to Kashmir by Led Zeppelin? I do, and I can tell you it made me a believer. Well, they are back and right in time. Zep is reuniting for a tribute concert that started off as a one time show but word on the street is that a full blown tour is being planned. Now, if you have read previous posts, you know how pissed I was about Van Halen charging a ton of money to see their reunion tour. I was so angry about it that I sent their management a nice note letting them know. When Zeppelin comes to town, in my mind, they have earned the right to charge higher prices for the show. I mean, come on, IT IS LED ZEPPELIN! They have influenced almost every rock band directly or indirectly since forming. They have arguably the best ax slinger and front man in the history of rock music. With all of this said and if you were not aware, the original drummer John Bonham, passed away in 1980. Interestingly, he was found dead with more than 40 shots of vodka in his body. Bonham's son Jason will take his place on this potential tour. I will be there come hell or high water when and if they come to Minneapolis. There is also some more good news on the reunion front. Extreme is also reuniting for a tour and maybe a new album. I have always liked the playing of Nuno Bettencourt on the guitar. He was, unfortunately and unfairly, put into the same category and the hacks who played in many bad hair metal bands. He deserves more and I hope he finally receives his credit. Have a good weekend.

ALREADY!?

It is here, again. The Holidays are upon us and with it comes traveling, too much food, gifts, and many more things that I could live without. I know that you are thinking that I am a scrooge, but hell, it is a lot to deal with. I love seeing family, but when you have 5 sides to try and get to, it is a bit much. But, we will grin and bear it and smile and nod and blah blah blah. The fun part is seeing my nieces open their gifts I have to say. I keep thinking that there are going to be large changes in my professional life in the very near future and as the weeks go by it seems to be getting closer and closer. I will not reveal or announce anything yet, but in due time and with some good luck I will be able to. I hope all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and enjoy your time off.

The Vikings worst game EVER?!

My oh my. My my my. Dear Lord, was that Vikings/Packers game disgusting. So, allow me to start with a little background on my love/hate relationship with the Minnesota Vikings. My brother and I have been hardcore fans of this team for a very long time. We make sure that we are in front of the television every Sunday to catch the Purple battle with their opponent. The team has a new coach named Brad Childress. Horrible. He is horrible. I am passionate about how horrible he is as a coach. Last week, the Vikings running back, Adrian Peterson, got the record for yards in a single game. This fact gave us and the entire world of sports excitement about the team and this player. So, going into a division rivalry with the Green Bay Packers we had hope. Those hopes were dashed by the end of the first quarter. They embarrassed all of us. We were made to look like fools and I am squarely blaming it on the man in the picture. How can a team go from such a high to such a low without pointing a finger at this man? The Vikings lost to the packers 34 - 0. 0! We did not score one point. I am starting a movement to take back this team. Fire this coach, bring back Coach Uncle Burnsie, pull Tommy Cramer off of his bar stool and let him throw for the purple. Having old men on the field and losing is acceptable. Having paid professionals out there and being embarrassed like we were on Sunday is not. Zygie Wylf, call an owner who knows what they are doing or better yet, sell the team. Go away. I want winners not you who are losers. Readers, rant away.

BOO!

Happy Halloween to all of you! Jessica and I will be handing out candy to the seemingly 2 million kids in our neighborhood. I am thinking about getting something nice for the nieces and a few neighbor kids. I finally get a night off from helping on the deck. It is almost done folks. There will be a party when it is. I think that we will have the nicest deck in the 'hood when it is all done. Have a good week and a great weekend.

Pheasants and Shooter

Well, I got to go out pheasant hunting yesterday for the first time in a few years. I went with my friend Sam and his dog Morgan. We hunted state property and did not see much. We had a good time walking the fields anyway. Also, Shooter Jennings (pictured) is playing again tonight at the Cabooze. We will be there for the third time in as many years. It is a great time nd we usually run into old friends. Shooter has a new album out titled "The Wolf" and it is really awesome. I suggest you pick it up and have a listen. If you like non traditional, outlaw style country, you will like his new CD. Have a good weekend.

Hello Cello

In case you haven't seen Hank in a while, here he is with Jessica. My cute little niece Brooklyn likes to say "Hello Cello" quite frequently, so I used it as a title. Anyway, this week has been a bit strange. Jessica got to meet and talk to my Dad's Mother who was in town for the funeral of my uncle. She brought along a few other West Virginia hillbillies and we all had a few laughs. The funeral was very very sad. I have not seen so much sadness nor have I experienced it. Anyway, life has now returned to normal. Jessica and I may be going out with Joe and Michelle for dinner tonight, that will be fun (maybe Cub, Amber, Mike, and Liz will join). AND I think we may actually get my deck done finally! So, look for a deck party coming up in the near future as long as it will stop freaking raining. This state has been Seattle for a few months. Record rainfalls here has been depressing but we will get a break tomorrow. Have a good weekend.

This is just a Tribute

Last night my brother called me and told me that he had just gotten off the phone with our Dad. He told me that my Uncle Brent had just died. Uncle Brent was at dinner with some buddies at a restaurant and went to his truck to go home. Someone found him slumped over the steering wheel and called an ambulance. He made it to United hospital and passed away. I have fun memories of Uncle Brent. He was hilarious, and fun to be around. He was always cracking jokes. His wife, my Aunt Terry, relied on him due to her M.S. He has one daughter who seems to be really stepping up to help her Mom. I wanted to post this as a tribute to Uncle Brent. May he rest in peace.

Jury Duty...

Carver County has moved into a new century and in doing so they have researchers that select potential jurors for civil and criminal trials. Having said that, I was called into be a juror and was ultimately selected to sit on a 12 member jury for a criminal trial early this week. With work as hectic as it is right now, I had a bit of pressure to get in and get out but in thinking about it I decided it would be best to forget about work and do my civic duty. The case was a bit silly in that the state was charging a man with "Terroristic Threats" against his on again/off again girlfriend. The two of them have both served time in Hennepin County for various domestic issues. With that being said, we had the girlfriend and the arresting officers take the stand to testify. It was pretty interesting to be a part of the process and watch and listen to the whole story knowing it would soon by our turn to determine the fate of someone. The trial took until about 2:30 pm (with an hour lunch) and then it was handed over to the jury. The evidence was weak and the state's case was just as weak. We all determined the defendant not guilty knowing, however, that he would be back in the court system sooner or later. He was guilty of being an idiot, damn guilty actually. ANYWAY, the Vikings have a bye week to try and get their shat together. They sure have their work cut out for them. I have a low key weekend finally and I am looking forward to relaxing a little. Have a great weekend!