I'm not the "doing the wild thing" IT guy!

If one more "Cubhead" calls me to tell me the system is running slow, I may pull a Deb on them!

No "solid waste" the system is slow. I sent an global e-mail stating that we were experiencing problems and that I would let you know when it is fixed. Did I send a "doing the wild thing" e-mail saying it was fixed? "Doing the wild thing" NO! Now leave me the "doing the wild thing" alone, so I can do my own "darn" job. All I can do is contact the service providers and have them check it out. Do you morans actually think, that I can magically snap my fingers to make the "solid waste" work? Maybe I should hop on a "doing the wild thing" plane and fly to India and fix the "solid waste" myself. But I'm not the "doing the wild thing" IT guy.

Christmas Newsletter

all credit goes to Tracy for this submission:

Merry Christmas! This year has been quite a year for us. Our greatest gift was Ethan Eugene born July 14 weighing in at 8lb 10oz. He is quite the "Little Man." He has an amazing personality and is a very happy and healthy boy. And yes, he looks just like Steve!

Tracy is working part-time this year and is enjoying staying home with Ethan. Changing diapers, singing lullabies and midnight feedings keep her busy. When she can she enjoys spending time back home in Wisconsin visiting her family. In July her dad's health took a turn for the worse, as some of you know, but he has made quite a turn around and he is nearly back to his charming self.

Steve continues to work at Essex and on top of working 60 hours a week and fatherhood, he started and completed his MBA this year! Class, papers, exams, and endless group meeting, what a sleepless whirlwind! His parents are still enjoying retirement and visiting their 1st grandson.

In March we were able to travel abroad to Spain and France as part of Steve's MBA program. It was an amazing experience! At 5 1/2 months pregnant Tracy kept up with the group as we toured all of Barcelona & Paris in 10 days.

As we look to the New Year we look forward to SLEEP and spending time watching Ethan grow! We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and hope the New Year brings you good tidings! May God bless you and your family the whole year through!

School's out!!

That was one long year, but now it is done. I still stand by my statement that if you are getting a degree, get it as fast as possible. The PMBA program through NIU is my recommendation. I wouldn't do it any other way. Speaking of which I need to give a shout out to my Study group - Terry, Jon, Chris, Laura, and Rema - you guys rock! From the 1st presentation in January to the Capstone in December, we proved we were the best. Thank you and Congratulations, I couldn't have survived with out you!!

Life

I will start to get mine back in 4 days 19 hours and 44 minutes.

Ask and ye shall receive

I said CHEESECAKE!!



You did not just put me in a Dress!

Ok, More!

Quick Update

I know I said I would be back in 2008, but I'm between classes and I really don't want to work right now.

• In case you didn't know, Ethan was born July 14. I need to upload newer pictures to my computer, but here are a few of the early group.
  

• The MBA is heading into the final stretch as classes resume on Monday and then I hit it non-stop until the final presentation on 12/8. (7 down - 3 to go!)
• Tracy's dad is doing better after a few rough weeks and a couple hospital stays. Hopefully he sticks with his therapy.
• The Cardinals are finally playing better baseball are are climbing back into the postseason hunt.
• Work is work, and I've been trying to dart out early so I can spend time with Ethan.
• Friday is our 5th wedding anniversary.
• Ethan's baptism will be Labor Day weekend.
• I may have a sinus infection, but the time I spent in hospitals between Ethan and Gene has used my personal allotment of Doctor time that I have been saving for the past 7 years. Doctors and I don't get along.
  

I'm available in 2008

See you then.

Still here

I've decided that I cannot leave my current job. Getting them to pay for my MBA is too good to pass up.

Speaking of which, I took the GMAT on Tuesday. It went fairly well. I flew through the test without taking the optional breaks and I got out of there about an hour before I figured I would. I received an unofficial score of 640, so I'm happy with that. Now it just submitting all the paperwork and waiting for acceptance into the program that starts in January.

Choices

Yesterday I received a phone call from a guy that I used to work with. He just had lunch with a guy he used to work with. That guy is now the CFO for a publicly traded company. Through the "good ole boy" network, I now have an opportunity to become the Assistant Controller and/or Controller for said company and virtually meet my professional goal that I had set the day I graduated from college.

Here is my dilemma.

1. I enjoy the place where I currently work and I am just one step away from accomplishing the same goal at this job. If things go the direction I think they will, that could be next year. Things could also go a completely different direction and I could be in the unemployment line again.

2. On the surface it looks like the pay will be higher, but I'm currently not a traditional salaried position. I get paid straight-time overtime. If I work 50 hours, I get paid for 50 hours. That basically pushes me up to the starting salary of the offered position. Bonus structure is the wild card.

3. I also have a written agreement with my current employer that they will pay 100% for me to get my MBA next year. I'm not sure if I can get the same deal elsewhere.

4. I have always been with privately owned companies. The new position will allow me to gain experience in SEC reporting and Sarbanes Oxley.

Technical Difficulties

CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION