First (Half)Week Down...

Well - the first half-week at the new job is done. Lots to learn and the feeling of overwhelm is still there, but it's not that bad. Lots to learn, lots to read, lots more to learn.

Of course, I'll work hard and I've given my new boss some new ideas that we're going to talk about next week.

Lots of meetings and trainings next week so it should go quick and be fun.

This is going to be a good thing!!

Now to swing a plan into motion to get some of the people I used to work with on board.

Four Games and Still In It!!

The Colorado Rockies are down to their last 4 games of the season and still in the thick of this wildcard race in the National League...

Four weeks into the NFL season and we're still talking baseball in the Rocky Mountains - it's strange in some ways.

It's too bad the SF Giants couldn't hold on to their lead in the ninth inning 2 nights ago or else the Rox would be tied for that position with San Diego...

True, the Rockies need help from others, but they've done pretty good by themselves with this 10 game winning streak going into tonight's game with the Dodgers. Longest streak in franchise history - what a great time for them to string together a bunch of wins.

When all is said and done - with or without the playoffs - I think the Rockies have generated some interest for next season already. Now let's hope Dan O'Dowd doesn't go screwing with the roster too much and bring the whole house of cards tumbling down again...

We got a winning team in Denver now - DON'T SCREW WITH IT TOO MUCH!!!

GO ROCKIES!

Good Beginnings...

After 2 days on the new job, I feel pretty good...

It's a sense of overwhelm, but in a good way. Yesterday on day 1, I was introduced to what seemed like half the company! Yeah - like I'm gonna remember that many names so quickly :-)

Everyone is nice and I had sent out an e-mail to my new group letting them know that I was going to set up 1:1 meetings with them all so they can get to know me and I can get to know them better. I also want to ask questions and let them ask me some questions also. The VP of the group got the message and told me that she liked it...

Lots to learn - process, procedure, product.... lots of training classes coming up now over the next few days and I'll start to listen in on the phones with some of the folks as well so I can hear what they hear and see how they operate.

I have a good feeling about this...

New Job - New Beginning

Well, tomorrow is the big day!

New job, new opportunities, new chances to renew my own faith in myself after working in that hell hole for 17 months and getting no support, respect or recognition.

Many people I had worked with are gone from that place and of the remaining ones, I will try to "rescue" some of the better ones that are left.

I'm nervous like it's the first day in a new school. I hope I can sleep OK tonight. It's a good nervous though.

I'm excited to meet the different people I'll be working with, my new team and getting involved. I know I have a lot to bring to the table - I just don't want to show up with my tail between my legs after the beatings we all took at the old place.

Time to go have a beer, relax and watch the Rockies try to make some more noise in the NL West!

Wish me luck!

(PS - Hey Fluff, I'll let you know what's happening as far as hiring is concerned! I want to have a 1:1 w/my boss before the week is out so get that resume ready!!)

When You Play With Fire...

Well it happened... the Broncos showed their true colors today and Jason Elam's famed leg wasn't going to save them this week...

No way, no how... I called it out last week in a previous post. See Living on the Edge.

They couldn't get the job done this week on either side of the ball and I'm not surprised. They're not THAT good of a team. They couldn't go in for the kill in weeks 1 and 2 like a good team should, letting weaker teams hang around until the last second heroics by Elam each week.

You can't survive in the NFL by winning games in the last second (not against weaker teams, that is). Against those teams, you've got to recognize the blood in the water and destroy them.

Until today, some of the local media have been optimistic about the team and seemed like they thought the first 2 weeks were flukes. Nope - the Broncos will struggle this year and easily could be 0 - 3 instead of 2 - 1 on the young season.

The thing that may save them is that they are playing in a more surprisingly weaker AFC West. Let's see what happens moving forward.

Unbelievable Guitar Work - Bohemian Rhapsody

A friend of mine came across this on YouTube. Edgar Cruz is a guitar player out of Oklahoma who has a talent for taking the sound of an entire song and bringing it down onto a guitar.

In this clip, he does Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen and gives a lesson on how it's done as well. Beautifully done.



Here's another of him doing Dream On by Aerosmith. A few dropped notes here and there, but still pretty damn good.

Papa's Got a Brand New Bag!!

It's been a very long week. Multiple interviews, lots of phone calls and one big payoff!

While I was in one interview late this afternoon, my wife got a call at home from another outfit saying that they had just e-mailed me an offer!!!

Hot damn. I rushed home to check my e-mail (probably the ONLY time I've wished that I had a fucking crackberry with me!!) and scope out the offer.

Open it up and the $$ are right (a little below the last place, but livable), decent benefits and a start date of Wednesday the 26th!

Shot an e-mail right back accepting the position.

The wife is happy, the oldest child is happy, and I'm definitely happy. Hell - I even called my mom back east because I know that she's been worried. My dad's been telling her over the past 2 months not to worry - "he's got the education, he's got the experience, he's got the work ethic - he'll be fine".

(I have my parents to thank for the education and work ethic - wonderful examples and I hope I am only half as effective with my kids as they were with me and my sister).

That's a load off my back and I grabbed a 12-pack and celebrated with a couple of beers.

I think I'll go watch a ballgame and have another beer.