Today

Last night I worked until 6 or so ended up home by 9:45 and in bed by 11. What a wuss. Today I have mowed and trimmed by yard and am watching Modern Marvels - Metals and the history of going from copper, bronze, and steel. My mainliness is returning. I'll pobably clean and lay out in the sun like a little woman at some point in the next day and half but don't worry, I have plenty of beer and Jack around to balance that out.

Isn't it ironic

My A/C is out and I can't fix it. Just don't have the equipment to pull it off though through consultation with Poot, I know what the problem is, just not the severity. Good part: because I was smart enough to get a home warranty included on my house at time of purchase, someone else gets to pay all but a minimal fee. Bad part: I know at least half a dozen contractors that do both commercial and residential that would be happy to take care of my needs. I, however, was not given the option to select who comes to fix my problem (and possibly pronounce it deader than hell and get another half ton larger unit) and now have the joys of the dreaded time frame waiting on some rinky dink contractor to come tell me what I already know and probably not do a job worth a damn. So much for industry connections on this one.

I think Tater would approve

It's been a damn good Friday I must say. The best part is the weekend is just getting ready to start. Didn't make it home last night as having had a few drinks and being kept in close watch by local law enforcement, I needed to stay at a friend’s house. Too bad the friend didn’t have mammories but oh well. Anyway, woke up around 8 grabbed a shower, didn't shave and headed to my first contractors office. Other than a bit of dry mouth, nothing noticeable about me screamed I'm wearing the same shirt I wore out last night and the same pants for two days. While there they kept making requests for me to price additional stuff on a couple jobs I am doing with them (first jobs with this crowd) which increases my price and profit while taking a little away from the competition that is already on the job for some of the same equipment I also sell.
Contractor stop two was to drop off some submittal and just touch base. Same contractor called me back this afternoon and threw a softball up for me to knock out on a nice little warehouse order. Contractor stop three was to have lunch with a new estimator/project person along with a partial stake owner of a firm that I have been racking up orders with. My big boss made the trip and they talked a little money. Us getting paid as a firm means I get paid. I like getting paid, a lot. I think some details were straightened out so I won't have to wait as long in the future on their orders hopefully.
Contractor four stop after lunch and I firmed up my first pool unit (think big expensive equipment) order, got my PO and released it. Got another little order while I was there.
Conveniently, they are just down the road from the DMV where I was able to get my updated license. That's right; to top off my day I officially received my driving privileges back with a little piece of plastic. Granted, there is a stipulation (1 beer an hour or so basically) on the back until 2009 but that's cool. I think I learned that lesson.
So to recap: Contractors are liking me right now. Battles I have been fighting on getting orders are being won. I got my license back with an updated picture even. I haven’t shaved since yesterday morning since I partied last night and still felt like a rock star this morning for the most part. The weekend is just beginning. And some advice to Nobrainer is making his research show some results. Awesome.

Done and Done

As reported previously excursions to the North End (Italian Side of town) and a Bo-Sox game were set for Wendesday and Thursday nights during my Boston excursion. Planned and accomplished. Parking in the North End was impossible ( a couple guys had a rental car) but after 15 minutes of circling one way streets about as wide as my front door, we got a great spot (probably for local residents) within a block or so of many of the authentic restaurants and Hanover Street, the main drag. We were smart though and got off the main drag and found a joint that seated maybe 40-50 people max and had dinner there. Good wine, great food (I had my standard Veal Parmesean) and good company. Following we ended up at a place called Mike's Pastries. When in Boston, find this place if given the chance. AWESOME Tirmasu and tons of delicisous looking candy, gillato, pies, etc. Don't know how some of it would hsip but worth it if you are a yankee and yern for this stuff or if you are asoutherner and want a real taste of some of these delicacies for the pallett. It rained off and on most of the time we were out but our time on the streets themselves were pretty dry so that helped.
Thursday we were on a mission. Red Sox tickets were to be had. Of the 7 in class, 6 intended to go and three were able to secure in advance. The other three of us journeyed downtown via a cab to the T-line and on in via this route this time around. Snagged Right field bleacher seats for $50/ea but three in a row. They faced for about 23 but just to get to go to a stadium that old with that much history was worth every penny. Who knows if I will ever get back in there before a new stadium is built as this was my forth Boston trip and first time they were in town or it was even baseball season. Had a couple hot dogs, spicy brown mustard, relish and all, peanuts, and a couple beers. It was straight out of Field of Dreams minus score keeping and James Earle Jones. I was like a kid ina candy store. Got back to the hotel about 12:30 with plenty of picso n the camera phone as the digital stayed in Charlotte due to my lack in faith of fun for the week and inability to read an online schedule in advance.
Return trip was rather uneventful though I think I could teach whoever runs shuttle logisitics at the Charlotte Airport a thing or twelve. Class was good. Got to see more of Boston than my prior trips combined and now I am ready to start having a normal life less grad school here in Charlotte from here through the duration.

Not so bad

Thus far the trip hasn't been too bad. Got a front seat shuttle ride to the hotel and had no issues getting picked up and getting out here. Dinner in the hotel bar was more than a little steep for a panini and 4 beers but it was expected. Thought there wasn't going to be any places to grab food close by and even more concerned that most of the other trainees here wouldn'tbe people I would care about grabbing dinner with anyway. As it turns out, as long as a couple folks are willing to split the cab fair, there are plenty of decent, cheaper places around to eat. Most of the people here are younger, including a pretty cool chic from Omaha that has been to a couple of the same sales and training meeting that I have in the past. Always nice to see a familiar face and a group of young folks up for going out at night helps the attitude. An excursion to the Italian northside of town is in the works for tomorrow, also helping keeping the cost down and getting some fun in with a good meal. To top it off, I can't read the schedule and the Sox are in town Thursday night and we are goingto try and pull that off. I may be broke at the end of the week but if I can have an Italian meal from folks who don't speak any other language and get to see a game in Fenway, I won't care, it will have been worth the entire trip. Oh, and the class isn't going so bad either.

Going to Boston

I would write about the weekend that was, however Nobrainer has the pictures covered partially. References abound throughout a couple blogs I think, and if you knwo the crew on facebook and myspace then you have seen even more of hte debauchary. Thanks to everyone who made it. You missed a helluva time for those that missed out (not ro rub it in, honestly). If you want more details, get a hold of the right people and get the disk.
Mom is in to see the house for the first time tomorrow and I fly to Boston Sunday afternoon for a weeks worth of training that I am not so happy about. I don't expect us to have this line more than 3 years from now, it ain't gonna be a cheap trip (which I am partially responsible for paying on), I won't make any money being out of the office, and I am busting my ass to get to a somewhat decent place before leaving. Oh, and hte Bo-Sox aren;t in town not that I would be less than a $40 and hour commute to Fenway from the hotel to see them if they were. I don't even get to be a tourist for a day. Maybe something random will happen. Blogging will either be light or heavy depending on what I manage to get into and free hotel internet access. If nothing else, throw some crap up for me to read while I'm on the road.

Oooooficial

Well folks, keep your ear open for the fat lady. Grades are posted and the Double D finishes with an A of all things. That's right, not only did I complete the progaram, I went out with a pseudo bang. Unofficial (but close enough) GPA, 3.286. Yeah, thats a good half point above Clemson M.E. Amazing what a couple years and a change in perspective will do for you. Most of you are here or on the way so celebration starts soon. Gonna be a blast!