A friend of mine on Twitter did this on her blog and it inspired me to do the same. Thank you, Rachel, for the idea! :)

It's very similar to the "25 random things about me" survey that circulated on Facebook several months back, only this list will be a little different. It may overstep some boundaries, so I'm warning you ahead of time. If you can keep an open mind and tolerate my dry humor, you may just enjoy it.

So, onward...

1_ People that say "washing your hair, daily, is unhealthy" kind of creep me out. The last woman I went on a date with actually told me this. I'm a little glad it did not work out. That's a little gross.

2_ I live a very tidy and organized lifestyle and when I see messes at others' homes or cars - I have an insatiable urge to clean it for them.

3_ Taking a crap anywhere other than my own bathroom creeps me out. I refuse to do it, unless it's an emergency. :)

4_ Music is a HUGE release for me. I use it as therapy for anguish, frustration, and anxiety. It also, puts me to sleep most nights.

5_ I have owned an electric guitar for 5 years and only just signed up for formal lessons two months ago! I had to put lessons on hold for a month because of the holidays and now I'm afraid I won't pick them back up!

6_ Its frustrating to me that I can't watch my cousin's little girl and future baby grow up. Zoey, is such a cute, fun, ball of energy. When I do get to see her, I feel 20 yrs younger.

7_ When I was in high school, I went on 13 second dates... (It's amazing the things I remember!) The number of second dates I've had in the last 5 years? Four.

8_ Adults that can not talk about sex or anything related to it, annoy me. Open up your mind and live a little freer! I feel sorry for my kids, if I ever have any.

9_ I think the idea of gays not being able to marry is crap. People act like churches are going to burst into flames, if they marry in them. I promise, they won't.

10_ While on the subject, I think the ability to get married in a courthouse should be outlawed. If you can't afford a wedding, then you probably shouldn't be getting married, in the first place.

11_ I sometimes wonder what was the matter with snail-mail to begin with... Why E-mail? Because we're lazy? One of my goals for 2010 - to more consistently MAIL out cards, letters, etc.

12_ My best friend, Justin, from back home in Indiana... has been my best friend for 19 years. We've never argued or fought over anything!

13_ I haven't argued or fought with my sister, either, since I was probably 13 years old. I fought with her when I younger, but I love her to death now. Funny how that happens.

14_ I find body hair to not only be a nuisance, I find it disgusting. I'll leave that to you to figure out.

15_ I love animals and to see anyone abuse or mistreat them makes me want to whip them in the face with barbed-wire.

16_ I committed myself to the vegetarian lifestyle on May 30, 2009 and have only succumbed to a craving only once; when visiting my cousin and his wife in Wisconsin over the 4th of July.

17_ I can clearly remember situations and scenarios I've been in all the way back to Elementary School... yet sometimes, can not remember what I spent $10 on a week ago. I now keep receipts.

18_ I will never use computer programs or the Internet to do my taxes. Forms and writing utensils work just as great for me.

19_ I easily get hung-up on certain music-artists. Until I find someone even better. I had a phase where I absolutely loved Martina McBride and lived, breathed, and showered to her music. It then, switched to Green Day, then Disturbed, now it's Elbow (a wonderful, wonderful band from the UK).

20_ I switched positions with my current employer in April of 2009, exiting the weather forecasting industry. I still wonder if it was the right decision, in some respects, but I am a much more positive and happy person because of it.

21_ I wore glasses up until I was 14 years old, when tested out of them. Shortly after college, in 2001, I had to get glasses again.

22_ While on the subject, the thought of putting anything "into" my eye disturbs me. As a result, I've never considered contacts and never will.

23_ Photography isn't particularly a new hobby for me, but over the past several months, I've taken a much keener interest in it. I'm almost considering getting into it on a more professional level. As in printing and selling work.

24_ I took up hiking as a hobby this past summer and this year, I want to continue this on a much grander scale. I want to travel more, hike more, and see more of the country. I will visit Glacier National Park and/or Yellowstone at some point, this summer.

25_ My favorite color is navy blue, my favorite snack food - frozen strawberries or ice cream, and my favorite air temperature is 87° F.

26_ Anything involving hot water, I absolutely love. Long, hot showers, hot-tubs, or hot baths. Although, I don't think I've taken a bath in 3 years.

27_ I tend to contemplate and analyze my life either in the shower or when I'm either walking, jogging, or biking outdoors.

28_ I will watch porn on occasion. I'm not ashamed nor embarrassed about it. Why should I be?

29_ I miss Shirley Manson. She was beautiful and made sweet, sweet music.

30_ The three best investments I've ever made: my car (2002), my bed (2004), and my HDTV (2009).

31_ Twitter may seem pointless to some people, but I've made some of my newest and best friends on it.

33_ I still download music via Limewire. The RIAA can shove it. :)

34_ I can't stand liars and feel trust and communication to be the basis for all relationships, romantic or not!

35_ I'll always believe that love and support will always trump money problems...

36_ While I say I really don't care what people think of me, I still hate to have enemies.

37_ I believe in the strength of the human spirit. It can overcome so, so much!

38_ The worst pain I've ever endured was my kidney stone. I quit drinking soft drinks after that episode. In addition, since then, I've also watched my sugar and salt intake.

39_ I don't know exactly why, but I've always been most attracted to women that are shorter than me.

40_ I am a very sensitive guy. And that fact scares me to death. I'm concerned that if I ever do get married that I'll be crying more than anyone else at my own wedding!

41_ I'm currently in love with this song: "Forget Myself" - Elbow http://tinysong.com/78vf

My annual yearly review is way over due. I had meant to post this several weeks ago! Anyhow, read on, enjoy, and have some laughs at my expense. There were obviously ups and downs in 2008, but I found it pretty much a plateau in my life. Maybe 2009 can change all that!

1_ What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?

For the first time, I went on an extended camping/hiking trip. It was quite an experience to do some off-trail hiking in the South Dakota Badlands and hiking up Harney Peak was pretty damn cool in the Black Hills. It was rather cool to be camping in early September in the western hills, but it was fun and a great experience to share with some friends and co-workers. We're already planning on returning in '09!

2_ Did you keep your New Years' resolutions? Will you make more for 2008?

I actually did, for the most part. I made resolutions last year at this time to get old debt paid off to my father (which I did in August) and I was able to shed some pounds over the summer and have been able to keep if off, mostly. My weight, I've found, fluctuates. I was able to shed off about 5-8 pounds over the summer mostly from just eating a more healthy diet. I didn't really get out and exercise as much as I wanted to. And what I got down to in July, I've been able to stay at for most of the remainder of the year. And of course, the "meeting someone" resolution I set for myself every year... didn't pan out. Will it ever?

Either way, it's a resolution once again this year... along with trying to cut out candy and chocolate completely out of my diet, building up some net worth (my savings account!), and getting a few things fixed on my car. The cruise control hasn't worked in over 2 years now and I need new tires. Hopefully, these are things I will be able to have fixed at some point this year.

3_ What places did you visit?

I made it out storm chasing with my college buddies in late May and early June, so I was able to visit the southern and central plains once again. We chased some in extreme northeastern Texas, parts of Oklahoma, most of Kansas, northeastern Colorado and over central and eastern parts of Nebraska. As said above, I also made a return to the Black Hills and Badlands of South Dakota and, of course, my return home to Indiana in August.

4_ What events marked 2008?

» January: Nearly reached 40 degrees on the 6th with a high of 39° then went on an extended cold snap from the 13th through the 25th. Several days therein where we didn't get above zero for high temperatures! Watched the Colts lose to the Chargers in the first round of the NFL Playoffs on the 13th. One of the most extensive Severe Thunderstorm Warnings I've ever seen on the 29th.

» February: Very extensive Super Tuesday severe weather outbreak on the 5th. One of the deadliest tornado outbreaks in decades. Arctic outbreak from the 18th through the 22nd brought record lows to Fargo and Grand Forks... Watched another Manning win Super Bowl XLII! Writer's Strike continues still, after 2-3 months... Network television still sucks and I start having withdrawals with no new episodes of "The Office." Also, had a photo of mine show up as "Photo of the Day" on the 22nd on Webshots. Quite an honor!

» March: Major winter storm pounds the lower Ohio Valley on the 8th... Hit the 40° mark for the first time on the 18th, then greeted fairly rudely for Spring, with a fairly intense snow-storm. Still waiting for my stimulus check! :)

» April: A few intense snow-storms hit the area (mainly to the south and east of GFK) on the 5-6th (Story 1 | Story 2), the 11th and the 25-26th. Hit 50° for the first time in 2008 on the 2nd, and passed 60° for the first time on the 15th with a high of 70°! Funny that these are significant events, huh? ;) Northern Plains Convective Workshop in Bismarck from the 7th to the 9th - enjoyed a couple nights in the hot tub at the hotel! The first observed thunderstorm of the year on the afternoon of the 21st. Opening day for major league baseball on the 1st... and what became the start of a great season for the Chicago Cubs. A fairly significant (5.4 on the Richter Scale) earthquake rattled the Mid-Mississippi Valley and Ohio Valley on the 18th, much to a lot of people's surprise. Lots going on in April!

» May: Victim of identity theft on the 3rd... of which, I wasn't pleased with. Departed for the plains for a week of chasing with my college buddies early on the 25th. Chased through the 31st. Hit 80° for the first time on the 16th! Summer is near! Still awaiting that damn stimulus check!

» June: Finally received that coveted stimulus check. I purchased GRLevel3 (finally!) with it, along with a GPS receiver, Street Atlas '09 and signed up for broadband access through Verizon. My chase expeditions were never the same! :) Start receiving some Office shifts at work (of which I was able to work rather extensively on the WeatherCam Network this summer). First semi-local chase on the 26th found myself and a few co-workers west of Bismarck on a few nice storms. Fairly extensive warm period from the 17th through the end of the month with 10 of 14 days 80° or better. Long-tracked, damaging tornadoes over Northwestern Minnesota on the 6th.

» July: Active pattern remains for the first two weeks of the month with several days of chasing... (the 1st, 7th, 10th and 11th). Hit 91° for the first 90-degree day of the summer. Warm month with 21 days at 80° or warmer! Pulled my right-quad on the 25th playing softball. Something I hope never happens again. Ouchy! Gas prices spike above $4.00 a gallon for the first time ever in my lifetime.

» August: Another warm month with 21 more days of 80° or warmer. A heat wave from the 16th through the 21st saw five days above 85°. Got inspired by Randy Pausch's "Last Lecture" and started my own "Daily Favorites" on the 2nd... Only lasted a couple of months before I started forgetting to do them. ;) My trip home to Indiana from the 8th through the 18th. A low of 39° on the 24th was a cruel reminder that fall and winter isn't far off, at all.

» September: The aforementioned camping/hiking trip to the Badlands and Black Hills with my brother-in-law and a few co-workers! Spent four days on the roads and trails, from the 5th through the 8th. The 15th, which will go down in infamy... Carlos Zambrano throws the first no-hitter by a Cubs pitcher in nearly 30 years. Cubbies still in first place and are looking for a truly dominate season in the NL-Central. Had the ECM replaced in the car late in the month - ran like new for another month or so.

» October: The Cubbies blow it... Again... In the first round of the Post-Season getting swept by the Dodgers... This has GOT to stop! Heavy rains from the 10th through the 13th dropped over 2 inches of rain across the area. Then had our first snow on the morning of the 26th. Low temperatures back into the 20's on also on the 26th. Bleh, winter's back already. Your's truly turns the big 3-0... on the 30th.

» November: The Election! Finally, no more stinkin' commercials! Renewed love for Carah Faye Charnow early in the month; which actually still continues... While overall, it was a cool month, we did experience thunderstorms on the 5th with heavy rains continuing through the 6th... We saw close to 2 inches of rain over the course of 3 days. Saw Rise Against in concert on the 13th!! A great show which was then followed by a distance record in my car! ;)

» December: Rocked out again, seeing Disturbed at the Alerus on the 9th. Then saw Blizzard 'Ali' move through the area that next weekend. Due to the snow-pack and continued train of Alberta Clippers throughout the month, it was a very cold one. Twelve days of single digits or colder high temperatures! Winters really do suck up here!

5_ Did anyone close to you give birth?

Nope...

6_ Did anyone close to you die?

Nope...

7_ What do you wish you'd done more of?

Work on my web-cam project... Exercise... Sex... ;)

8_ What do you wish you'd done less of?

Dwelling on things that annoy me. ;)

9_ What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?

A meaningful relationship, as always! More money in my savings account.

10_ What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory?

October 30, 2008 - when I finally became "old." I don't necessarily want to remember it, but I will.

11_ What "things" did you want and get?

The Dark Knight DVD, a new cell phone, and a few toys for chasing... I wanted an appt. at a Chiropractor which I got finally at the end of December! It helped, tremendously!

12_ What "things" did you want and not get?

I still haven't bought that mic for the mobile rig in my car. Maybe I'll finally get around to that in 2009! A new TV, couch, or TV stand...

13_ What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

Shaw and Kat took me out to O'Really's for a night of heavy drinking. Too many shots of liquor to remember who exactly was there with us, but it was a good way to downplay that big 3-0.

14_ What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Having a naked, hot chick in bed with me. Hah!

15_ What was the best thing you bought?

Oh, it's a real toss up between the Street Atlas 2009, the GPS, or the GRLevel-3. Or a combination of all three. ;)

16_ Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?

I'm sure my sister once again, tops this list.

17_ Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

I've had one person in mind for quite a while, but I won't say who or why. They know. Probably.

18_ Compared to this time last year, are you......Happier or sadder?

Sadder... My cousin lost his little girl just two weeks into 2009 and since I was able to go home to spend time with him and his wife and my family during the entire ordeal, I've had to really think about where my future is going to take me. Let's just say if the economy wasn't so shitty, I may have decided differently where my 2009 will likely end.

19_ Thinner or fatter?

I'm actually about the same. Even though I exercised less in 2008 than I have in the two years before, I was able to maintain a stable weight. I haven't exceeded 162 pounds, but also, haven't been under 155 in over a year.

20_ Richer or poorer?

Richer... The lack of a car payment is still helping! Add to that, cheaper insurance!

21_ What were your favorite films of this year?

The Dark Knight! Wall-e

22_ What was your favorite TV program(s)?

Pretty much the same... The Office, Family Guy, SportsCenter...

23_ What was your greatest musical discovery?

Versant - Carah's new band! Found out about them late in 2008 and still awaiting the CD. It'll be awesome, I'm sure! Was also introduced to Rev Theory at a concert in August back home in Indiana. They were pretty kick-ass live!

24_ How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?

Became a little more stylish by fall... bought a lot of new clothes after my birthday. Print T-shirts and jeans, mostly.

25_ Who were the best new people you met?

» Kelsey... We were on and off-again for a while and even though we're no longer together, I still consider her my best friend outside of work.

» Caitlin... A co-worker and a fellow Valpo graduate. We reminisce about our Valpo days occasionally, plus, she's a blast to drink with.

» Tim... He brews his own beer! How much cooler can you be?

26_ How many different girls did you kiss in 2008?

Two

27_ How many girls did you have sex with in 2008?

None... still...

28_ Did you fall in love in 2008?

Fictionally, yes...

29_ What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Getting my father paid off. He had covered a $2,000 medical bill for me a few years ago and I was finally able to save up the money to get him paid off. It felt great to give it all back.

30_ What was your biggest failure?

Getting tires for my car or getting my cruise control fixed. Both, desperately needed!

31_ Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.

Stretch before playing softball! ;)

32_ Quote a song lyric that sums up your year?

"I need to wait, I just can't stop
it seems the dream has met a guillotine I never saw coming
I can't believe, you let it drop"

:: Orbit - Embassy

I met women in 2008, yes, but they consistently never gave me a chance. I'm hoping 2009 will reverse this funk I've been in. It's to a point where it almost feels unhealthy, that haven't been in a committed relationship in over 8 years!

I was reminded just a couple of days ago that there really is an advantage for turning 30. I forgot that doing so, drops your insurance premium. So, no longer am I paying over $100 in auto and rental insurance a month.

Digressing, however... This is the last time my premium will go down due to age.

That makes me a little sad.

Maybe I've been blind to the world, but I had no idea Dairy Queen actually closed for the season... ;) I just heard on the radio that the store on Columbia Rd. here in Grand Forks will be closing up shop here soon. I don't ever remember the DQ in Bluffton ever closing, but now I wonder. I never really went to DQ in the dead of winter, but maybe they did. Hmm...

And yes, I was listening to the radio. At home, sitting at my computer desk, and not at work. That does not happen very often, folks! To soak it in. Hah!

Okay, I had a meeting to attend earlier and while eastbound on Demers I noticed a light pole decorated with Christmas lights spiraling upward with a lighted snowflake adorning the top.

First off, what the hell is the purpose of this?

And second off, I don't want to see a damn snow flake in the middle of August. Damnit, Grand Forks, leave those things out of sight, until December! ;)

If any of you living nearby find yourselves traveling through the area, and feel like head-butting your dashboard (like I almost wanted to!) - it's on Demers right across from the Firehouse, just after Washington.

So I'm reading through various articles this afternoon and come across one explaining the government will be shooting us citizens our Stimulus Checks even earlier.

I wonder why?

Maybe because they want us to get out and burn through our checks on gas, since it's at a record high across many parts of the country!

I'll tell ya, a good portion of mine will be to that. If gas doesn't get any cheaper I'll be spending over $200 for the first time ever on a vacation. Round-trip, that is. For as high as gas has been the last 2-3 years, I have yet to spend over that amount traveling between North Dakota and Indiana. It may sound ridiculous, but I kid you not.

I'll be traveling to Oklahoma at the end of May for a chase trip and if gas doesn't drop below $3.50 a gallon, I'll easily spend that much on driving to and from Norman.

If you're curious, you can see the new (estimated) dates for arrival here:

Tax Rebates To Arrive Earlier Than Expected...

I'm hoping the money spent will be worth it... Intercepting a monster Supercell and mile-wide wedge sure would! ;)

Or it may appear so... Going through my stats today, I found the following:

Quite intriguing, to say the least...

I don't necessarily feel that someone would actually look up their own biography on the Internet. On the other hand, I have personally "Googled" myself from time to time. I'm sure others have done the same. If she, did indeed, Google "tera blake bio," and came across my post, I hope she, at least, felt honored to have made it on my blog.

It could very well have been her - considering I never received the "friendly hello" nor a phone number. Random women are never nice (at least, that I've come across) and almost never just send their phone number, on a whim.

I sure wish they would. ;)

Oh, and by the by - concerning my post early this morning...


Happy April Fool's Day!

Did you get your free fries or milk-shake? Hah!

Also, if anyone ever takes anything away from reading my blog - here's a nugget for you...

Be sure to drop by your local Arby's, if you're out for lunch today...

As part of a national promotion, they are apparently, offering a free order of fries or a milk shake (of any size for both, I've read) to everyone that visits between 10:00am and 1:00pm local time. Be sure to mention the promotion and which you'd prefer! I don't go to Arby's much, myself. But, hey it's free food...

Didn't Taco Bell do something like this last summer? I think I remember them offering up a free taco, burrito, or something.

So, I'm looking for some Valpo Alumni this afternoon in the general media and I continue to come across some beauties out there. I'm thinking maybe I should have went that Broadcast Meteorology direction.

I'm going to have to ask Lawson at work if he knows this one... Apparently, like him, she's an NIU graduate:

Tera Blake is a young woman that provides weather forecasts to the Charlotte, NC audience during morning and weekend broadcasts. The Fox Charlotte station has a reputation for the wacky style of news they give and, probably are most famous for when crazy-man, Mark Mathis, once provided his lively, quite entertaining, but often ill-involved forecasts. Ironic to see Tera forecasting there, but given her enthusiasm, it doesn't surprise me to see here there.

I've never been shy about my appreciation of the attractive ladies - and well, I can't just let Tera, or her video biography, to be forgotten among my hundreds of bookmarks or otherwise, the millions and millions of web-sites on the world-wide-web.

Sit back, watch her bio and you'll see exactly what drives me crazy about her. I've been looking for a lot of twins lately, I may as well add one more. Of course, if you find this Tera - and you're reading, you have a new viewer on MyFoxCharlotte.com from Grand Forks, ND. Oh, and if you're single and looking, or dating and not happy, I'd certainly accept a friendly hello or a phone number! Hah!

This may just become a weekly or monthly installment...

Not so long ago, the New England Patriots were undefeated. Then came Super Bowl XLII and New York Giants... and Eli Manning. What was a rather boring 3 quarters of football, became a rather exciting game. Watching Tom Brady getting sacked 5 times on a Sunday afternoon quickly turned into one of the greatest days of my life. Not only because I absolutely hate everything the Patriots stand for, but to see their undefeated season end against Peyton's brother, Eli.

Since I've now had time to let it all sink in, I've been reliving some of the best days of my life. So, here they are...

10_ Saturday, September 4, 2004: Moved into apartment in Grand Forks, ND - started my first real Meteorological (forecasting) job at Meridian the following Tuesday...

09_ Tuesday, August 19, 1997: Move-in day at Valparaiso University. Living on my own terms for the first time - and the beginning of a memorable 4 years of college.

08_ Sunday, February 3, 2008: Patriots lose to the NY Giants in Super Bowl XLII... in dramatic fashion.

07_ Monday, March 30, 1987: Indiana Hoosiers win the NCAA Nat'l Championship on a last second shot by Keith Smart...

06_ Sunday, May 17, 1999: Departed for my first time storm-chasing in the Plains. Great times with VUSIT for 10 days, but no tornadoes...

05_ Sunday, May 20, 2001: Spring Commencement at Valparaiso University. I officially enter the "real world!"

04_ Saturday, January 21, 1995: My first real date... Went to a movie (Dumb & Dumber) and dinner at Applebee's with Dana Morgan (a co-worker at Arby's). Is it depressing that I actually remember this!?!

03_ Wednesday, April 11, 2001: First tornado I ever observed, first hand - near Oxford, IA.

02_ Sunday, February 4, 2007: Indianapolis Colts win Super Bowl XLI!

01_ Monday, October 30, 1978: The day I was born. The world would never be the same. ;)

I'm always pleasantly surprised where people find me and how people find me on the Internet. I guess after years and years of plastering my name all over the web, I really shouldn't be.

Lately, I have been consistently checking my stats through StatCounter to track the use of my weather-cam network. But, at the same time I've sporadically been checking my stats for my blog and web-site. Today, I came across this nugget:

http://wcuvax1.wcu.edu/~strauss/personal/bobmark.htm

And all due respect to this guy for including my web-site, out of the millions and millions of web-sites in the world, but I love how he title's the link to my web-site. "Mr. Weather." hahah... I love it. And "Mr. Weather's Blog..." Hilarious!

Not much else new has been happening lately and is really the reason for the lack of posts. I guess the most excitement is the involvement of a new friend in my life and the recent joining of a volleyball league.

The new friend? She's someone I've known for a little over a year now. Recently, we've decided to hang out much more. I'm not quite sure yet where it will go, but I'll let things take their course for another week or so and reanalyze things then. I'll fill you all in, in due time, I'm sure.

The volleyball league? Yes, I'm giving up my "lying around and doing nothing" time in the process, but really, this is something I need. And something I've been wanting to do for a couple of years. I had a strong desire to join in on a league of some sort last summer but lacked the motivation to do it. With just a little persuasion from a couple of co-workers, I've decided to do it. Our first game is tomorrow night at Center Court, so I'm getting anxious to see how out-of-shape I really am. I'll certainly find out on Monday.

So, it's a late Saturday afternoon and I have a few things to do before taking my nap before work. Perhaps, I'll get my errands completed...

Later 'tater -

Hey folks,

As has become customary every year at this time, it's time for my year in review. The year 2007 turned out to be a great year of growth for me. If you're curious why, read on...

1_ What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?

I went on an extended trip with a good friend of mine. As simple as that sounds, I honestly, had never taken a vacation that only included myself and a best friend. Lu and I traveled to the Black Hills and Badlands of South Dakota in late July.

2_ Did you keep your New Years' resolutions? Will you make more for 2008?

I did stay more active through this past summer and as such, I think I kept up my end of the bargain for my resolution of doing so last year. I also paid off one of my biggest bills in my car just this past month. I really wanted to take better care of myself financially and I think I really did, for the most part.

I certainly have made some resolutions for 2008. Not only to lose weight over the summer, but I want to lose weight and keep it off through the entire year. In year's past I have managed to lose a few pounds through eating better and exercise, but when the temperatures start to cool in the fall and winter I consistently use it as an excuse not to exercise. I want to start a routine of exercising (through running or whichever) during the summer and in the exercise room here at the apt. building when it's too cold to get outside. Because, really, I have no excuse not be using it. Other resolutions are to pay off my dad by the end of the year. I owe him money from medical bills a few years ago and now that I have extra money left over at the end of the month, I need to start saving. I have some bad habits I really want to break and those are also a priority. And, of course, the inevitable "meeting someone special" resolution. It hasn't worked the past 3 years and I really have doubts it will work in 2008, but well, we'll see.

3_ What places did you visit?

I didn't really make it out of Grand Forks much in 2008, but as I said above, I did make it a trip in late July with Lu out to the Black Hills and Badlands of South Dakota. On our trip, we stopped and visited many places I had never been before. We visited the Terry Redlin Art Center in Watertown, SD (very cool!), Falls Park in Sioux Falls, SD, the Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD, and of course, the Badlands and Black Hills. We certainly made the most of 4 days and saw a lot of beautiful country. I'll go back again someday! I also managed my annual 2-week vacation back home in August, once again.

4_ What events marked 2007?

» January: The Colts march to Super Bowl XLI. What an exciting time to be a Colts fan! Weather was fairly uniform, with no really extended periods of cold or mild temperatures or any big snow-storms. Did end the month rather chilly!

» February: Indianapolis Colts win Super Bowl XLI on the 4th! Go Blue! Cold and snowy to begin the month. Dropped below zero on the 2nd and didn't warm above zero again until the 8th. Snow-storm from the 23rd through the 25th gave us a couple of inches of snow.

» March: Tornado outbreak on the 1st leaves destruction and fatalities along the Gulf Coast. Enterprise, AL hit particularly hard when a school full of kids was hit by the twister. An Alberta Clipper dropped several inches across the area on the 15th. Then broke through the 50° barrier for the first time on the 21st!

» April: Snow on the 2nd gave the region several inches of fresh powder. Grand Forks ended up with a couple of inches. Why are winters up here so god-damned long? Had our first severe-thunderstorm warning of the year on the evening of the 20th and saw our first 70° day the same day. Northern Plains Convective Workshop was held here in Grand Forks on the 24th and 25th.

» May: An tornado of epic proportions decimated the small town of Greensburg, Kansas on the 4th. First storm chase of the year on the 21st with another on the 28th. Weak tornado near Page, ND on the 30th. First 80° day on the 8th and heard thunder for the first time on the evening of the 7th. I'm such a weather-geek, I know.

» June: A very favorable work schedule the entire month! M-F, 8 hour days, and office shifts the entire month. Worked on GIS/511 project most of the time... Note to self, volunteer for projects at work this summer! :) Hit 90° for the first time on the 11th! Saw my first tornado in 3 years on Father's Day southeast of Grand Forks. Heavy rains lead to flooding concerns over much of the valley during the mid and late-month period. Temps above 90 for 3 days straight from the 23rd through the 25th.

» July: Back to a normal work schedule... and vacation! Traveled to the Black Hills and Badlands of SD from the 26th through the 29th with Lu. Very warm month with 22 days exceeding 80 degrees; 8 of which exceeded 90° F. Ended the month with an extended heat wave (7 of the final 10 days were 91° F or warmer). Set a record high minimum on the 24th. Consecutive Supercells on the 15th resulted in tornadoes, hail, and lots of crop damage to the southern valley. Drove my car into a 3-4 foot excavated road late in the evening on the 31st. Doh!

» August: The car hit 60,000 miles on its odometer on the 1st! Lu packs up and moves to Pittsburgh, much to my disappointment. I still miss having her around, even today... More vacation! Spent two weeks from the 17th to 31st back home in Indiana. Large tornado hits Northwood, ND on the 26th in a Greensburg-ish fashion.

» September: Lost cell phone (an LG Chocolate, no less) reappears on eBay (evidently) and was able to retrieve it from a local Verizon store, where someone had brought it in attempt to reactivate it. I never thought I would ever see it again...

» October: Birthday (Matt - version 29) on the 30th... Blah!

» November: My mother and stepfather visit for Thanksgiving. Fell below zero for the first time on the evening of the 26th.

» December: Last payment (#63) on the car! All mine! Received a total of 6 inches of snow on the weekend of the 1st, then had an additional 8 inches on the 4th. Unfortunately, that snow-cover is still with us.

5_ Did anyone close to you give birth?

My cousin's wife had her second child; a little girl named Myah... Cute as a button!

6_ Did anyone close to you die?

Fortunately, no...

7_ What do you wish you'd done more of?

Once again, I wish I would have been able to save more money... And wish I would have been able to date more. Maybe this year, eh? ;) Work on my web-cam project.

8_ What do you wish you'd done less of?

Subscribing to Match.com without really using it... Eating... ;)

9_ What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?

A World Series from the Chicago Cubs! A committed relationship with someone special...

10_ What date from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory?

February 4, 2007: The Super Bowl win from the Colts... I'll never forget it!

11_ What "things" did you want and get?

Groceries... A ceiling fan for my bedroom, season DVD's of "The Office," and a Paper Shredder.

12_ What "things" did you want and not get?

I didn't get the lens I so badly wanted for the camera in 2007. Although, early in 2008, I already have it on order! :) The mic that I still need for my mobile amateur radio-rig. A pelican case for the XT.

13_ What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

Had dinner at Texas Roadhouse with Emily, then went to the Down Under with Shaw and Heather for drinks.

14_ What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Seeing another tornado - one that didn't last 45 seconds! ;)

15_ What was the best thing you bought?

Pictures for the walls in my apartment... The season DVD's for "The Office." Watch them all the time...

16_ Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?

Probably my sister...

17_ Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

There's been a couple of lady-friends (that will go unnamed) that I've met that have done some very selfish things, to purposefully hurt me. I've since brushed them off and am moving on. I can't get all worked up and angry about the past.

18_ Compared to this time last year, are you......Happier or sadder?

Much happier... For once in my life, I have a great opportunity to save some money and become more financially secure. 2008, I'm pumped!

19_ Thinner or fatter?

I'm somewhat thinner, but looking at me, you'd probably never notice. My weight at the end of 2007 was about 6 pounds less than at that point last year.

20_ Richer or poorer?

Somewhat richer... Not having a car payment pays dividends! :)

21_ What were your favorite films of this year?

Knocked Up... Hilarious movie! You, Me and Dupree (mmm, Kate Hudson)

22_ What was your favorite TV program(s)?

The Office, Family Guy, SportsCenter...

23_ What was your greatest musical discovery?

Embassy - an awesome band from Ohio!

24_ How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?

Casual... and whatever felt comfortable...

25_ Who were the best new people you met?

» Emily... She's really nice and is a pretty good friend - even though we haven't hung out in a quite a while. I really need to...

» Sheffield... She's a new co-worker at Meridian. Really cool to hang out and chat with...

» Jason... Another co-worker... Cool guy and just found out recently that he lives in the same apt. complex as me, so we may hang out a little more than before...

26_ How many different boys did you kiss in 2007?

Hah, ummm, that would be none!

27_ How many different girls did you kiss in 2007?

Two

28_ How many boys did you have sex with in 2007?

That would be another ZERO!

29_ How many girls did you have sex with in 2007?

Sadly, not even close to an integer... ;)

30_ Did you fall in love in 2007?

Not really...

31_ What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Getting my car paid off, most certainly... Am fairly proud of my work with the web-cam project, though. I was able to really put some serious time into it this past year.

32_ What was your biggest failure?

Shedding the pounds I wanted to and keeping them off. I haven't exercised much at all this past fall and winter and I've splurged on junk food way too much recently.

33_ Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.

If you call a credit card company to bitch about your interest rate, they CAN lower it for you! :) A VERY valuable lesson I learned from my brother-in-law.

34_ Quote a song lyric that sums up your year?

"Life for you, has been less than kind
So take a number, stand in line
We've all been sorry, we've all been hurt
But how we survive, is what makes us who we are"

:: Survive - Rise Against

There's been a lot of ups and downs in this past year. But in the end, I'm in a much better place today. This sums things up rather well...

A bid adieu to 2007...
Welcome 2008!


Edit: 01/09/08 at 8:37 PM CST

A friend of mine sent this to me recently... Sad, but in most cases it's true. Not mine, of course! ;)

GEOGRAPHY OF A WOMAN

Between 18 and 22, a woman is like Africa, half discovered, half wild, naturally beautiful with fertile soil.

Between 23 and 30, a woman is like America, well developed and open to trade, especially for someone with cash.

Between 31 and 35, a woman is like India, very hot, relaxed and convinced of her own beauty.

Between 36 and 40, a woman is like France, gently aging; but still warm and a desirable place to visit.

Between 41 and 50, a woman is like Great Britain, with a glorious and all conquering past.

Between 51 and 60, a woman is like Yugoslavia, lost some wars, won some great battles but haunted by past mistakes, still very strong and proud.

Between 61 and 70, a woman is like Russia, very wide and borders are now largely un-patrolled.

After 70, she becomes Tibet. Off the beaten path, with a mysterious past and the wisdom of the ages... Still desirable, but only those with an adventurous spirit and a thirst for spiritual knowledge and true love dare visit there.

GEOGRAPHY OF A MAN

Between 1 and 78, a man is like Iran - ruled by a dick.

Random thoughts run through my mind many times... And strangely enough, it's typically during one of three things:

...when I'm in the shower
...just before bed
...when I wake up

Sure enough, this morning, random thoughts started again. I'm lying in bed this morning thinking of names. No, not names of my friends or family, nor of names of past girlfriends. Names I'd want to use for my children - if I ever have any!

Is it crazy these things bounce around in my head?

Either way, I felt the need to get on here and log the names I came up with.

My little man is going by Jayden Alan. I'm sorry, but there will be very little negotiations with this.

And any little women I end up with, it's either going to be Lacy or Haley. I haven't conjured up any middle names for them. Haley Lynn sounds cute, but for some reason, it seems creepy to take that from my own sister. I'm sure more random names will bounce around upstairs.

In other news - I've decided upon sending out Christmas cards this year. It's the first time I've ever followed up on the idea. I almost did it a couple of years ago and really wanted to last year but didn't get around to it until the last minute - which would not have had the cards to their destinations until well after Christmas. It would have been pointless. Even this year, I probably waited until it was almost too late. I'm hoping they all get out by Christmas day, but holiday mail is always somewhat slower. So, they may not get to their recipients until Wednesday.

Whenever they do get to all my friends and family, if you happen to come back here - I just want to say thanks for everything and that I do love and miss you all, in some way shape or form.

Well, it's time to get my day started. I have the weekend off, so I have a jam-packed two days of nothing to do! I love this.

Maybe more strange thoughts will come in the shower. ;)

Has it really been since the beginning of September since I last reported here? Apparently so... Not much has happened between here and there, but let me post a few conundrums to you all. Maybe they will make you think twice - as it has me the past week or so...

First, why is it that when it comes to women hanging out together, they seem to gravitate toward each other - ignore the men they may be with and why on god's green Earth do they seem to either "act" like they are kissing each other or sticking out their tongues toward each other. WTF? I swear to god, do a search on a popular networking site. Be it MySpace.com, Facebook, Xanga, or whichever... I will guarantee you, you will find them (women - especially, between the ages of 22 and 30) partaking in this activity. Note to you women out there that may fall between these thresholds... Us guys (read: me!) find this as immature! I don't understand... Guys, if we were to partake in any kind of this activity we would be labeled as "gay," "faggots," for "f'in fairies...." Women, if you chose to live this kind of lifestyle, don't be surprised if you find yourselves on Match.com, Yahoo!, or Date.com with profiles asking why the "right" guy hasn't turned up. The lifestyle you chose will often define the type of person you end up with... Think about it for just one-half second!

Second, why are some people so god-damned close-minded? Let me elaborate for a second. While I am not the type of person to hang out in bars and drink all the time, why is it that most people seem to gravitate towards those that do? I know I am not the social-butterfly I used to be in college. But, hey guess what? I'm not in college anymore. I'm pushing 30, god-damnit... I feel there are much more important things in life than going out and drinking at every opportunity. Case in point, I'm out with a couple of friends from work just tonight, watching the Rockies/D'Backs game... One of my co-workers mentions a female friend of his and the other co-worker I'm out with refers to her as if he knows of her rather readily. Understand that the one mentioning the female friend has worked with us at Meridian for only a month or two... I construe this situation as, "I feel comfortable with this guy sitting across from me," but "I don't with the guy sitting next to me." All I want to say to this guy is "man, I feel like I'm 2 inches tall..." At the same time, however, I haven't really hung out with this guy enough to really know him. Is it wrong of me to think this guy is so god-damned close-minded to reject who I am and not invite me "out," as he has others?

These things bug me... I'm not sure why... Maybe I'm becoming so insecure with myself now that I'm going on six years without a real relationship with anyone. I mean, really... How many people can I say I'm "really" good friends with - someone I can confide in... You know, talk about things other than sports or work... Umm, one? And she packed up and moved to Pittsburgh in June... And yes, I miss her like you wouldn't believe! I try to bring up a different topic tonight, for instance, and for some reason I, practically, get shunned - and when I ask to hang out a little while longer after the game, I get thrown aside like a bum on the street. What the fuck is that about?

Is it selfish of me to feel that there IS someone out there that actually cares to want to be around me or more simply, someone that actually doesn't mind hanging out, talking about life, friends, family, goings-on, and such?

If it isn't, then I suppose I'll be one of those loners that drift through life, thinking the next best thing is right around the corner... when it actually never was to begin with.

It's emanating from the bathroom and unfortunately, the kitchen as well. Has lingered for 2 weeks now and is originating from the least expected place. The water!

It's an annual thing in this part of the country, to have these episodes in the early spring. I remember having a similar issue last year at this time but certainly don't remember having dealt with it this long. It's been in the paper and on the news over the past week, so apparently I'm not the only one around the area complaining to the city utilities. I can't really describe the smell, but it's very similar to the smell of chlorine. Imagine smelling it every time you go to take a shower, every time you go to wash your hands, brush your teeth or wash the dishes. It's very much annoying.

Apparently, the snow melt contributes to the problems - and how the water treatment plant here treats our water. Some sort of chemical they use results in the putrid smell. It, obviously doesn't do any harm, but either way, it's a pain in the ass.

So, I'm hoping everyone out there is doing well... I'm wicked sorry for taking so long between posts, folks! I feel it's been forever since I last wrote anything in my blog. I feel horrible, because there are times when I have strange (and such random) thoughts trickling through my mind and just KNOW you all would love to hear about them. Believe me, I've had some very strange things rattling around up there in that empty shell, lately... ;)

I'm hoping I can most past my laziness and become more proactive with my blog. And I'm seriously reconsidering my WeatherBlog. Even though my participation really fell off with that, as well, chase season is just around the corner up here in North Dakota and really, I'd like to have a place I can share all my chasing adventures and mis-adventures with you all once again. We're hoping for a great chase season in these parts!

What else has been going on here lately? Not much really new. Work has been a little stressful lately. I came off the midnight shift (12am - 8am) this morning and now have a couple of days off. I've had to deal with Alberta for 5 days straight and that's never fun. I used to enjoy working on the Alberta forecasts, but anymore, I get real tired of worrying about the precipitation forecasts up there. It's so large of an area and you're forced to have to work off of satellite imagery to locate your initialized precip. Canadian radars suck freakin' ass and just never pick up precipitation like it should. On top of that, verification is nearly impossible since surface observations are so sparse up there, especially in the central and northern portions of the province - and that the observations we do get are questionable, at best, most of the time. The one advantage - the westerly Chinooks have finally subsided and that makes the temperature forecasts MUCH easier over the southwest foothill regions.

Anyhow, enough about work... I now have a couple of days off and I'm going to enjoy them as much as possible. I'm going to relax some this evening and have some chores to attend to tomorrow. Laundry is piling up and so are the dishes. And I want to work on my web-cam project some more. That has been progressing rather well lately. I've finally put forth the time to really work on it... I've struck a deal with a buddy of mine and he is now helping me with the project. He is currently working on getting cam's plotted in Illinois and Oklahoma. I'm currently working on getting the remaining cams from the TRIMARC network in and around Louisville, KY. Then I'll be moving on other states - namely, South Dakota and Kansas. I have a few I need to edit/plot here in North Dakota and Nebraska and have other states I want to get a good start on, as well. I have several days off here over the next week, so I'm hoping to work on this a lot more. It's progressing and I think once I get it all done (if I ever do!) it will be something very unique. Something that just isn't available anywhere else. And will be something that everyone can use!

It's a very tedious thing, but I have confidence it's something I can work on and complete. I've already approached the boss at work on possibly assigning Office Shifts this summer to working on it even further. It is something that directly affects our responsibilities at work (we already have something fairly similar in place, just not using the Google Map API functions) so I don't see why I wouldn't (or shouldn't) be allowed to work on it. The only problem I see is that I need a PC that has Google Earth installed on it - so I can actually do the work, and that has connectivity to the Internet. I'm not so sure Doug (our Sys-Admin) will be too happy with having another computer on the network. But, given the validity of the project, he "should" allow access for me. We'll see how that goes!

Anyhow, that's probably enough writing to make up for the past month that I haven't written anything. I'm off to find something for dinner.

Hope all is well with everyone!

Ah, and go Cubbies! - it's so great to see a return to baseball season! ;)

So, it's a day off work and I haven't done shit. Typical.

Temperatures are finally moderating some around here, but not quite enough to get out and do much. It isn't quite warm enough to wash the car, like I've been wanting to (or needing to).

It's been a couple of weeks since the Super Bowl win by the Colts, but I'm still living pretty high on that. I finally ordered the Championship DVD and a T-Shirt tonight, so those should be on their way within the next few days. I'm hoping I have them either by the end of the week or sometime next week.

I came off evening (4:00pm to 12:00am) shifts this weekend, had today off, then have day shifts most of this week. I have to be in at 8am tomorrow, but still feel like taking a shower and watching a movie yet tonight. Again, typical. Up late, up early! 'Tis the life of me!

I went and bought "The Departed" a couple of days ago and haven't watched it completely through yet. I put it in the other night but fell asleep on the couch. Go figure.

So, I think I'll get my ass off my computer for once today. If you can believe it, I got up today around 1:00pm and have been on this damn thing ever since. I've been working on a whole new layout for my MySpace profile. I've had to learn CSS all afternoon, but I think I got things to look how I want it. I've spent way too much time on it. Time I should have put to better use, completing more of my Nat'l WeatherCam Network project.

Anyhow, hope all is well!
Take care!

More money, better sex
Especially for women, wealth has a liberating power, survey finds

By Thomas Kostigen, MarketWatch
Last Update: 7:57 PM ET Jan 30, 2007

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (MarketWatch) -- The richer you are, apparently, the better sex you have. That's according to a recent survey of more than 600 high-net-worth individuals. And rich women, it seems, enjoy sex the most.

(read more)

...Only the more reason to find that big pay-out, eh? hahah! ;)

Well I did this last year, to sum up things from my life and such over the course of 2005, so I figured I would do the same this year. Not much excitement, but I'll try my best to entertain everyone! So, if you're curious how 2006 treated your's truly, read on...

1_ What did you do in 2006 that you'd never done before?

I met someone in August and developed a relationship with this woman very quickly. It was great while it lasted, but it was so unlike me to jump into anything like that so fast. It was something I hadn't ever done before and to some degree I realize now that we should have let things develop much more slowly. I'm very happy, though, that we are still really good friends and that we can still hang out without that awkwardness...

2_ Did you keep your New Years' resolutions? Will you make more for 2006?

Well, by looking back at what I had made as resolutions last year at this time, I think I followed up on most of them. I was much more active this past year, I took much better advantage of time off work this past year, and I did meet a couple of women over the course of the year and one that I can say I had a semi-serious relationship with. One that I didn't follow up on was increased participation in the NWA (Nat'l Weather Association). It's still something I really want to do someday, but I guess at this point in my life, I feel I have bigger priorities to take care of. My resolutions this year are to remain active, exercise more, and to take much better care of myself (financially) this year. I have two MAJOR bills I'll be able to pay off this year in my car and in one of my student loans. By the end of the year, I'm hoping to be able to REALLY start saving some cash...!

3_ What places did you visit?

In April, I traveled to Aberdeen, SD for the Northern Plains Convective Workshop... I hadn't ever been to Aberdeen, so it was a wonderful experience to visit the city and to learn a lot at the workshop. I also went back home to visit family and friends at the beginning of August for two entire weeks, then returned to Indiana once again for Christmas.

4_ What events marked 2006?

» January: Warmest Jan. on record here in the Forks! (Our coldest temperature for the entire month was -3°F on the 9th)

» February: We followed up the warmest Jan with a very cold month. (Low temperatures of -10°F or colder 14 days out of the month and had lows of -20 or colder for a stretch from the 15th through the 18th.) A real slap in the face, compared to what he been spoiled with up until this month!

» April: Record flooding along the Red River of the North through a good portion of the first of the month and the Nrn Plains Convective Workshop (17-19th)

» May-August: An unusually hot summer and very dry! We were under moderate to severe drought conditions through much of the summer...

» June: A couple of very good chasing days... June 5th being the best, with several mini-supercells just west of the valley.

» July: Under grips from a severe heat wave... (22 days of 85°F or better!)

» August: Continued heat (9 more sultry days of 85° or better), but did cool down just in time (back in Indiana) for my annual trip back home on the 4th. Was back home from the 4th through the 18th! Great times at the lake with friends on the weekend of the 4th! Met Lu Zhang on the 23rd and have been great friends ever since!

» August-December: Hiring spree at Meridian! Five new hires in the course of 5 months!

» October: Celebrated my 28th Birthday on the 30th - went through a depressed state for a 2-3 day stretch at how close "30" is becoming and how unfulfilled my life seemed. hah!

»: December: A bit more depression at how poor I really am...

5_ Did anyone close to you give birth?

My cousin's wife had her baby (Zoey!) in late Feb. She was 2 months premature, but she's as healthy as can be, now! And very cute!

6_ Did anyone close to you die?

Knock on wood, no... I had a member of the family die on my mother's side, but it was a distant relative that I wasn't ever that close to.

7_ What do you wish you'd done more of?

I exercised much more that I ever have, but I wished I would have done more. I lost almost 15 pounds over the summer and I would have loved to have lost more! Oh, and as always, wished I would have saved more money!

8_ What do you wish you'd done less of?

Running my air conditioner! It's expensive as hell, but it was also hot as shit up here this past summer...

9_ What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?

A Super Bowl win for the Colts... A winning season from the Cubs... A meaningful relationship... Cash in my wallet! ;)

10_ What date from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory?

August 23rd: The day I met Lu for the first time! Even though we only ended up as friends, it's really great to have someone up here to hang out with outside of work.

11_ What "things" did you want and get?

My Digital Rebel XT and even though I didn't technically purchase them, the Emeril Cookware set my sister gave me was something I desperately needed!

12_ What "things" did you want and not get?

Oh gosh, too many! A lens for the XT, a replacement mic (for the mobile rig) for the one that was stolen from my car, a new pair of glasses, more things to hang on my walls here in the apt.

13_ What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

Went out for a few drinks with the guys from work... I can't remember where, but I remember having to work at midnight that night, so it couldn't have involved too much alcohol... Boo!

14_ What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

If Lu and I's relationship would have worked out a little better!

15_ What was the best thing you bought?

Most certainly, my Digital Rebel XT. Oh my, have I enjoyed this thing!

16_ Who did you spend the most time on the phone with?

For likely the 3rd consecutive year, probably my mom... A close second would probably have to be my sister!

17_ Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Prez. Bush's... More troops dying in Iraq is something that saddens (and angers!) me more and more everyday.

18_ Compared to this time last year, are you......Happier or sadder?

Slightly happier in that I have more friends that I can actually interact with outside of my co-workers. More recently, though, a little sadder because I've had so many problems with money lately.

19_ Thinner or fatter?

I lost close to 15 pounds over the summer, but since I've likely gained much of that back over the last 2-3 months, I'd say that I'm likely fairly similar in "shape" as I was last year at this time... ;)

20_ Richer or poorer?

Poorer... I haven't been this worse off for an extra buck since I began working as a teenager! Credit card debt is a pain in the ass!

21_ What were your favorite films of this year?

"Munich" and "The Departed" were movies I saw this past year that I'll probably purchase at some point in the future! Great movies!

22_ What was your favorite TV program?

Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, Family Guy, Chapelle's Show, or any football, baseball, or college basketball that happened to be on!

23_ What was your greatest musical discovery?

Flyleaf, Angels and Airwaves, Bullet for my Valentine... All new interests for me over the past year!

24_ How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?

Didn't really have one... I just wore whatever felt comfortable! ;)

25_ Who were the best new people you met?

» Lu was definitely the most important person I met in 2006 as she has become a very close friend here in the Forks...

» Rob G. at work... His personality seems to really mesh well with mine and I just need to hang out with him more and get to know him a little better.

» Same goes for Brett at work... I'd like to hang out with him more, as well. He and I should really get out and ski sometime before the end of winter (if we have the snow to do it and I have the money... heheh)

26_ How many different boys did you kiss in 2006?

Oh, jeesh... none!

27_ How many different girls did you kiss in 2006?

Three, but only two that really meant anything... ;)

28_ How many boys did you have sex with in 2006?

Hah! To take the words from Gigs... "holy homos!"

29_ How many girls did you have sex with in 2006?

"Almost" one... But, kind of glad that didn't happen, given the circumstances now...

30_ Did you fall in love in 2006?

Yeah... :(

31_ Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?

Hate is a really strong word, but there is someone that I just can't stand... I tolerate him and "keep the peace" but his personality and mine, DO NOT mesh!

32_ What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Motivating myself to get my research from college started back up again... I, at least, got some writing started on some data analysis!

33_ What was your biggest failure?

Apparently, providing a "shitty" forecast to our clients in Indiana in early December. In actuality, it wasn't THAT bad of a forecast, but my boss sure made me feel like it was the worst ever.

34_ Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006.

That no matter what kind of decisions you make, trust your gut instinct first... Mostly pertains to storm chasing! ;) And that even though, you get along with someone very well, it doesn't make them trustworthy!

35_ Quote a song lyric that sums up your year?

"Choreographed and lack of passion
Prototypes of what we were
Went full circle 'til I'm nauseous
Taken for granted now
I waste it, faked it, ate it, now i hate it

'Cause I cannot speak, I lost my voice
I'm speechless and redundant
'Cause I love you's not enough
I'm lost for words."

:: Redundant - Green Day

This past year has been just that... redundant. In many ways, it has felt much of the same thing. With the one exception of actually getting out more and doing more with my time, it really was more routine than anything. ;) We'll see how 2007 goes...

It's a bit late, but Happy 2007 to everyone!

Hey folks,

As you probably have noticed I've changed things around in here... The old template I was using for the layout of the blog didn't look quite right with the switch-over to the new "Blogger Beta." I hope you like it!

Anyhow, not much is happenin' today. I have the day off (kinda!) so I decided to make today, "laundry day." It just so happens that mama nature wanted the day off, as well. It's fairly moist, cool, and raw out there today, so it's been a good day to just stay in and get some things done. I've vacuumed the floors, done the dishes, picked up some things, made the bed... ;) It seems like I clean this place about every other day! But, well, what else is an anal, neat-freak to do? hah!

It's getting about time to fix something to eat here, so I suppose I'll log off this silly thing for now. I'm hoping everything is well out there across the rest of the world!

Oh, and by the way, I hear the Cubbies hired Lou Pinella as their new manager today...! I'm not quite sure on how I feel about their choice, but we'll see if it makes any difference. Now, I'm just hoping that JP (Juan Pierre) decides to stay with the Cubs. Apparently, he's flirting with the idea of testing the free-agent market, but I'm hoping he doesn't go anywhere. He's been about the best lead-off hitter we've had in years... and I love his base-stealing abilities. Small ball is the way to go, Pinella! Talk him into staying!

And also, I read just last evening that the Hoosiers hosted their "midnight madness" the other night. It's sounding like Coach Sampson is actually making the 2006 recruiting class somewhat respectable. Eric Gordon (originally committing to Illinois) changed his mind and is now signing on with the Hoosiers. This guy is one of the top recruits in the nation and now he will be playing in Assembly Hall! I'm getting anxious to see how they do this year with a brand new coach and, hopefully, a whole new approach to the game.

More later...