A few months back I discovered that one of the local radio stations does in fact broadcast Bob & Tom in the morning. This comedic morning program goes back to my college, and even high school roots - they got me through those long, snowy commutes to school. I never managed to locate the show during my time in Texas, so you can imagine my delight upon this discovery. Though my morning commute is short and sweet, Bob & Tom add a little more flavor to my mornings by waking up my brain and giving me a giggle.
But unfortunately, it's time to say goodbye to my old friends, as MMS has decided to bring back a former radio personality that tried to make it regionally and apparently fell pretty flat on his face (of course, this is all hear-say, so I could be completely full of it). So good ole Bob & Tom are going to be broadcast at noon, in all their prerecorded glory; though not that it helps me much in the mornings.
The dilemma ensues; do I seek out a new morning show for mental and comical stimulation, give this new guy a shot, or pop in an indie rock CD and forget about the local radio scene altogether? I don't do well with change, and I certainly don't do well with 6:30 a.m. decision-making.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Thursday, March 13, 2008
The 4x4 meme
I lied, the previous post was in fact not the last post before my much anticipated trip south. But after reading this post by one of my favorite bloggers I couldn't help but participate. What can I say, I'm a sucker for questionairres. Besides, other than the people I've met this year, y'all don't really know that much about me. So here's a quick glimpse into the mysterious life of this blogger - and I promise, when I return, it's back to the encounters.
4 jobs I've had:
1. Taught flute lessons to elementary and middle school band students (that's right, I was a band geek and proud of it!)
2. Spent three of my four college years working for State government
3. Worked with the CCHA (Central Collegiate Hockey Association for those who aren't college hockey fans) during turnament time at Joe Louis Arena, working stats and press - it was fantastic
4. Took an internship with a global public relations agency in Texas and fell in love - with the state and with the profession
4 places I've been:
1. Bahamas - specifically Blue Lagoon Island where the exotic fish swim right up to you, the water is this crystal clear blue, and the scenery is so picturesque you never want to leave the island
2. Ciudad Acuna, Mexico - friends of mine in the Air Force took me across the border on a visit. Great margaritas and $1 Coronas, but I wouldn't be sad if I never went back.
3. Hawaii - on a band trip my junior year of high school (band geek, remember).
4. San Antonio, Texas - visited numerous times before I moved there. It's the place where I feel the most free.
4 bands or artists I am listening to:
*Blogger's note: I'm extremely happy to see this question on here. Growing up I was always on the forefront of the alt rock/punk music scene and I've begun to find those roots again.
1. Silversun Pickups - a great indie rock band. Brian Aubert has this amazingly unique voice. Check out the acoustic version of Well Thought Out Twinkles, you won't be disappointed.
2. Angels & Airwaves - fronted by former Blink 182 and Box Car Racer guitarist and vocalist Tom DeLonge. The group has a sound that makes you want to put their songs on repeat (and I've done just that).
3. Live - Throwing Copper is always in my CD player, and you can't beat their acoustic stuff.
4. Saves the Day - these guys go back to my punk kid days, but their new stuff is just as good - if not better.
4 of my favorite foods:
1. Sushi - Love it all, and I'm always on the hunt for the next best sushi restaurant.
2. Italian - no Atkins diet for this one, I love my pasta
3. Taco salads - must be in a shell with sour cream and jalepenos. The combination of spice and crunch is amazing
4. Dessert - I don't think I've found any dessert I don't like.
Thanks, Matt, for sharing. And to my readers, I'd love to hear more about you. Please comment and/or share on your blog. Isn't learning about one another fun?
Cheers!
-A
4 jobs I've had:
1. Taught flute lessons to elementary and middle school band students (that's right, I was a band geek and proud of it!)
2. Spent three of my four college years working for State government
3. Worked with the CCHA (Central Collegiate Hockey Association for those who aren't college hockey fans) during turnament time at Joe Louis Arena, working stats and press - it was fantastic
4. Took an internship with a global public relations agency in Texas and fell in love - with the state and with the profession
4 places I've been:
1. Bahamas - specifically Blue Lagoon Island where the exotic fish swim right up to you, the water is this crystal clear blue, and the scenery is so picturesque you never want to leave the island
2. Ciudad Acuna, Mexico - friends of mine in the Air Force took me across the border on a visit. Great margaritas and $1 Coronas, but I wouldn't be sad if I never went back.
3. Hawaii - on a band trip my junior year of high school (band geek, remember).
4. San Antonio, Texas - visited numerous times before I moved there. It's the place where I feel the most free.
4 bands or artists I am listening to:
*Blogger's note: I'm extremely happy to see this question on here. Growing up I was always on the forefront of the alt rock/punk music scene and I've begun to find those roots again.
1. Silversun Pickups - a great indie rock band. Brian Aubert has this amazingly unique voice. Check out the acoustic version of Well Thought Out Twinkles, you won't be disappointed.
2. Angels & Airwaves - fronted by former Blink 182 and Box Car Racer guitarist and vocalist Tom DeLonge. The group has a sound that makes you want to put their songs on repeat (and I've done just that).
3. Live - Throwing Copper is always in my CD player, and you can't beat their acoustic stuff.
4. Saves the Day - these guys go back to my punk kid days, but their new stuff is just as good - if not better.
4 of my favorite foods:
1. Sushi - Love it all, and I'm always on the hunt for the next best sushi restaurant.
2. Italian - no Atkins diet for this one, I love my pasta
3. Taco salads - must be in a shell with sour cream and jalepenos. The combination of spice and crunch is amazing
4. Dessert - I don't think I've found any dessert I don't like.
Thanks, Matt, for sharing. And to my readers, I'd love to hear more about you. Please comment and/or share on your blog. Isn't learning about one another fun?
Cheers!
-A
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Account Executive
This will probably be my last posting for a while, as I am headed down south for some R&R with the friends I left back in Texas. But the good news is, I’m bound to come back with numerous encounters to share with y’all – and maybe a little of that cute Southern accent as well. So to honor one of my former Texas colleagues, I’ve decided to salute him in a recent encounters tribute.
When I first met this man he seemed like the cool kid on the block. He was the unshaven, creative type that you’d expect to run into at an ad agency. Our first encounter left me with the impression that he had a laid back disposition and tended to keep to himself – boy did he prove me wrong. We worked closely together on a large account, and as the weeks and months passed, I came to realize the extent to which my initial impression was completely misguided. He was not only outgoing and opinionated, but his sarcasm bordered on infuriating at times. Not to mention that over time he learned that I have my moments of complete vulnerability, and he loved to prey on this – anytime I left myself wide open for insult, this AE was right there to step in and serve it up.
There were moments in Cubicle Land where I wanted to throw my monitor over the wall (in addition to the rubber frog and two-year-old bag of potato chips that frequently came flying over cube walls) in hopes of knocking him unconscious for a few moments of piece and quiet. But in the end, I’m not sure I would have survived that place without him. Thanks to random witty (though often vulgar) banter, 80s music trivia, and the occasional tiff he enjoyed starting with our other cube mates, the junior staffers managed to make it through the long days of media pitching and press release writing. We all owe our former colleague a hearty thanks for cutting through the stress that loomed in the air and keeping us sane with a little laughter – even if it was at the expense of others from time to time.
Luckily, we’ll have the opportunity to do so in person this weekend, as we all join back together for a reunion happy hour for some margaritas on the patio – can anyone say 80 degrees? I am greatly looking forward to meeting back up with my former colleagues and catching up on everything from new jobs to babies to the bitter weather we’ve experienced here in the North. But mostly, I’m looking forward to the laughter that will ensue upon our former colleague’s arrival. He never fails to make us all laugh until we cry.
See you soon.
Cheers!
-A
When I first met this man he seemed like the cool kid on the block. He was the unshaven, creative type that you’d expect to run into at an ad agency. Our first encounter left me with the impression that he had a laid back disposition and tended to keep to himself – boy did he prove me wrong. We worked closely together on a large account, and as the weeks and months passed, I came to realize the extent to which my initial impression was completely misguided. He was not only outgoing and opinionated, but his sarcasm bordered on infuriating at times. Not to mention that over time he learned that I have my moments of complete vulnerability, and he loved to prey on this – anytime I left myself wide open for insult, this AE was right there to step in and serve it up.
There were moments in Cubicle Land where I wanted to throw my monitor over the wall (in addition to the rubber frog and two-year-old bag of potato chips that frequently came flying over cube walls) in hopes of knocking him unconscious for a few moments of piece and quiet. But in the end, I’m not sure I would have survived that place without him. Thanks to random witty (though often vulgar) banter, 80s music trivia, and the occasional tiff he enjoyed starting with our other cube mates, the junior staffers managed to make it through the long days of media pitching and press release writing. We all owe our former colleague a hearty thanks for cutting through the stress that loomed in the air and keeping us sane with a little laughter – even if it was at the expense of others from time to time.
Luckily, we’ll have the opportunity to do so in person this weekend, as we all join back together for a reunion happy hour for some margaritas on the patio – can anyone say 80 degrees? I am greatly looking forward to meeting back up with my former colleagues and catching up on everything from new jobs to babies to the bitter weather we’ve experienced here in the North. But mostly, I’m looking forward to the laughter that will ensue upon our former colleague’s arrival. He never fails to make us all laugh until we cry.
See you soon.
Cheers!
-A
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Major Mike
Due to recent blizzard conditions in the Midwest, I was snowed in this weekend. Thankfully I was blessed with the company of my neighbor so the days were not completely awash in boredom, but that doesn’t change the fact that there were no opportunities to go out and encounter anyone – the place was a ghost town from what I could see out the living room window.
So I’ve decided to go back in time to an encounter that took place during my time in Texas. And in the spirit of my upcoming trip back to the Big D for a much needed vacation, what a better time to introduce one of my favorite Air Force men.
Working as an a junior account team member on a large military financial services account, I had the opportunity to travel back to San Antonio (my original stomping grounds in the Lone Star state) for a weekend long event at the Lackland Air Fest. This thought, of being around military planes for an entire weekend, excited me in and of itself. But to my surprise, there was another element to the event that made it one of the best experiences to date.
When my oversized purple and red jet landed in San Antonio, I picked up my rental car and headed straight for the Starbucks in the Quarry. It was great to be back in the city, there was always this feeling of complete freedom that I can’t seem to find anywhere else. My day started with errands, followed by a stop at the client’s office for additional logistics planning before heading to the event site for set-up. When I arrived at the office, I was greeted by my boss who took the flight after mine, my favorite co-worker Chris (seriously, but we’ll have to get into that another day), and an active duty Air Force Major who was the other point person on the event planning committee, we’ll call him Mike (though that’s actually his name).
Mike was in his early 30s, had a great sense of humor, and was eager to make this event a success. Having the opportunity to work side-by-side with Mike and Chris was a privilege, and I learned a whole hell of a lot more in one weekend than I ever expected I would – while having the time of my life. Mike wasn’t a pilot, though he, like me, was absolutely head over heals for the aircraft, the power behind them, and the feeling of merely being in their presence. From the first day of the air show, Mike could see my passion for the planes, and he not only respected it, but completely understood my infatuation.
Through the dull moments of the event, he would step outside the guest tent with me and watch what was happening with the show. On day two, when the clouds had cleared and the crowds were heavy, there wasn’t much available time for watching the show. The day was fast paced, and before I knew it, we were in the lull just before the Thunderbird’s final performance. Mike came over and asked me to hop on a shuttle with him to head up to the air strip, saying he needed help with crowd control after the event. I was surprised by this as the event still had almost an hour until completion, but complied with orders (get it, orders, he’s an Air Force Major) and got on the shuttle with him. We arrived at the show just in time to see the Thunderbirds start their performance. It was an incredible 45 minutes, being directly under these powerful machines as they maneuvered above us – a feeling I cannot put into words.
After the show, we indeed needed to help with crowd control. The next couple hours were a blur, until it was time to head out and get on a flight back to Dallas. I couldn’t thank Mike enough for the opportunity to see the Thunderbirds up close and personal – and I couldn’t stop smiling about it all night. This was an amazing opportunity for me to experience such a successful event for our client, not to mention having met someone who understands one of my greatest passions, even when it can’t be put into words.
So I’ve decided to go back in time to an encounter that took place during my time in Texas. And in the spirit of my upcoming trip back to the Big D for a much needed vacation, what a better time to introduce one of my favorite Air Force men.
Working as an a junior account team member on a large military financial services account, I had the opportunity to travel back to San Antonio (my original stomping grounds in the Lone Star state) for a weekend long event at the Lackland Air Fest. This thought, of being around military planes for an entire weekend, excited me in and of itself. But to my surprise, there was another element to the event that made it one of the best experiences to date.
When my oversized purple and red jet landed in San Antonio, I picked up my rental car and headed straight for the Starbucks in the Quarry. It was great to be back in the city, there was always this feeling of complete freedom that I can’t seem to find anywhere else. My day started with errands, followed by a stop at the client’s office for additional logistics planning before heading to the event site for set-up. When I arrived at the office, I was greeted by my boss who took the flight after mine, my favorite co-worker Chris (seriously, but we’ll have to get into that another day), and an active duty Air Force Major who was the other point person on the event planning committee, we’ll call him Mike (though that’s actually his name).
Mike was in his early 30s, had a great sense of humor, and was eager to make this event a success. Having the opportunity to work side-by-side with Mike and Chris was a privilege, and I learned a whole hell of a lot more in one weekend than I ever expected I would – while having the time of my life. Mike wasn’t a pilot, though he, like me, was absolutely head over heals for the aircraft, the power behind them, and the feeling of merely being in their presence. From the first day of the air show, Mike could see my passion for the planes, and he not only respected it, but completely understood my infatuation.
Through the dull moments of the event, he would step outside the guest tent with me and watch what was happening with the show. On day two, when the clouds had cleared and the crowds were heavy, there wasn’t much available time for watching the show. The day was fast paced, and before I knew it, we were in the lull just before the Thunderbird’s final performance. Mike came over and asked me to hop on a shuttle with him to head up to the air strip, saying he needed help with crowd control after the event. I was surprised by this as the event still had almost an hour until completion, but complied with orders (get it, orders, he’s an Air Force Major) and got on the shuttle with him. We arrived at the show just in time to see the Thunderbirds start their performance. It was an incredible 45 minutes, being directly under these powerful machines as they maneuvered above us – a feeling I cannot put into words.
After the show, we indeed needed to help with crowd control. The next couple hours were a blur, until it was time to head out and get on a flight back to Dallas. I couldn’t thank Mike enough for the opportunity to see the Thunderbirds up close and personal – and I couldn’t stop smiling about it all night. This was an amazing opportunity for me to experience such a successful event for our client, not to mention having met someone who understands one of my greatest passions, even when it can’t be put into words.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Hit it off
Life has recently brought about new and interesting circumstances, many of which have been out of my control – and the control of anyone else who has been affected by these changes for that matter. The talk of the town has been about what might happen next, but in the end, worrying about it will do no good. There are far more important issues to contemplate beyond what interesting twist life is going to serve up next. Rolling with the punches and grabbing life by the horns when ever possible seems to be the most effective tactic – at least in my life. Which brings me to my latest encounter…
In light of recent shifts and potentially scary outcomes of a personal matter, I’ve managed to pick up the remaining pieces of my shattered outlook (okay, so that’s quite the exaggeration) and make the most of my down time. After a hectic week, going into a weekend unprepared can be a little intimidating, so I decided to visit an acquaintance of mine to take my mind off the current state of affairs. Little did I know the impact this quick visit would bring.
Trying to describe a person that you would want to be a close friend with can be a daunting task, and often, I’ve found, you don’t really know what you’re looking for until you’ve found it. In fact, this applies to all kinds of relationships, but we’ll save that for another day. So approaching conversation with a person who has not been in your life long can either be intimidating or gratifying depending on the expectations. Encounters such as these tend to go smoother when the initiator has lower expectations (not to confuse with “lowered expectations”). It seems I’m heading slightly off topic here…back to the show.
After brief contact with this acquaintance, it was clear that a friendship was evolving. Conversation flowed freely and we took comfort in the company of one another. Over time we have become closer friends, relying on one another, even if it’s just for company on a random Thursday evening. This growing relationship has provided me with some much-needed support these last few weeks, though I’m sure my friend does not fully understand the extent to which this is the case. I hope one day to be able to return the favor – to be there when I’m needed most. Because in the end, it’s the two-way street of friendship that proves most fulfilling.
Here’s to new, meaningful, lasting relationships.
Cheers!
-A
In light of recent shifts and potentially scary outcomes of a personal matter, I’ve managed to pick up the remaining pieces of my shattered outlook (okay, so that’s quite the exaggeration) and make the most of my down time. After a hectic week, going into a weekend unprepared can be a little intimidating, so I decided to visit an acquaintance of mine to take my mind off the current state of affairs. Little did I know the impact this quick visit would bring.
Trying to describe a person that you would want to be a close friend with can be a daunting task, and often, I’ve found, you don’t really know what you’re looking for until you’ve found it. In fact, this applies to all kinds of relationships, but we’ll save that for another day. So approaching conversation with a person who has not been in your life long can either be intimidating or gratifying depending on the expectations. Encounters such as these tend to go smoother when the initiator has lower expectations (not to confuse with “lowered expectations”). It seems I’m heading slightly off topic here…back to the show.
After brief contact with this acquaintance, it was clear that a friendship was evolving. Conversation flowed freely and we took comfort in the company of one another. Over time we have become closer friends, relying on one another, even if it’s just for company on a random Thursday evening. This growing relationship has provided me with some much-needed support these last few weeks, though I’m sure my friend does not fully understand the extent to which this is the case. I hope one day to be able to return the favor – to be there when I’m needed most. Because in the end, it’s the two-way street of friendship that proves most fulfilling.
Here’s to new, meaningful, lasting relationships.
Cheers!
-A
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