Nerves
Rochester, NY 11:53 AM Just had an email get passed on to Don Henley (From the Eagles) for an interview request. 10 minutes until head of Career Advisement from CareerBuilder calls to talk. A bit nervous but should be great info. Then I’m off to talk with another college about speaking there. Good day so far.
Read MoreNo thanks…
Rochester, NY 9:05 AM I sat down at lunch yesterday happy knowing that all those hours of Seinfeld watching had some good. I walked into the restaurant for my lunch interview (I am On the Road, not job interview) and a few of the waiters were working on a crossword puzzle. “Do you know who wrote War and Peace?” they asked me. I paused for a second. Then the image of Jerry telling Elaine, “The original writer of War and Peace had called it War, What is it good for? But his mistress changed it to War and Peace.” Then she picked up a famous author for her job, a Russian, maybe Testicov....
Read MoreSpeaking/Geneseo
Rochester, NY 4:44 PM My trip has turned out to be an experience that has changed me forever. I’ve learned so much from the people I’ve met, stayed with, and interviewed. I’ve learned a lot about myself since I’ve been On the Road. I want to share this knowledge and advice with others. I have done that via these online journals and am attempting to do so via the book I am working on. But, in the meantime, it has come about that I will be speaking with some college students about jobs and careers. I will be telling them my story, but more so, I will be sharing all of the advice I’ve...
Read MoreLost 3
Greece, NY It’s been close to two weeks and Nick has still not been found. I woke up this morning again to the sound of the helicopter. It is supposed to get up to 50 degrees today and the police and search crews are back. The sun shines and I hope that they can find him. It struck even closer to me today. One of my childhood buddies, Mark/Bruce, was in town for the weekend. He did the family stuff for the past couple of days, but we had set up breakfast for this morning. He came over to the house at about 10. He caught up with my parents and we headed over to Char Broil for some eats. From...
Read MoreEsther Eaves
Rochester, NY 9:55 AM When I woke up this morning and came downstairs my parents had left open the obituary page for me. There was a post it note going to a lady’s name I hadn’t thought about in a long time, Esther Eaves. Esther was my old religion teacher from church. I had gone to classes at her house for a few years. She got me and my friends ready for confirmation. I began to play all of the memories I had stored. We are in her living room talking about things. Mark O is there. Randy too. The girl that I had a crush on for most of my youth, my first girlfriend, Ariana, is there. As I...
Read MoreJob Opportunity
Rochester, NY 9:05 PM One of my interview subjects told me he was successful in life because he seized opportunities when they were presented before him. He said these chances are few in a lifetime and most people don’t take advantage of them. Today I was given an opportunity, a big one. But, an opportunity that will cause another opportunity to stop. I was offered a job today. A job with the potential to turn into a career. Stability has been offered. Money has been offered. Knowledge and mentoring has been offered. All I need to do is say that I am in it for the long haul, i.e. no more...
Read MoreLost
Greece, NY 10:22 AM I woke up this morning to the sound of helicopters flying overhead. This is not a usual occurrence at my parents place. The choppers were there looking for a missing man. It is weird when a disappearance happens near you. In this case, it is as close to my home as I’ve experienced in my life. Yesterday, I would say 200 yards from the house were cop cars, crime labs, horses, snowmobiles, and many other people. They were all searching for a local guy who had wandered off into the swampy, marshy woods on Friday night. Why would he go in there? I have no idea. From what...
Read MoreDream Job
USA People email me and others ask me when I talk to them, “When you are going back on the road?” and “Where are you going next?” Well, here is some interesting news on my end: Over the past 3 months I’ve had a few discussions with a national company that may allow me to continue to travel, to interview people, and to talk to people about my journey. Basically, my dream job. My hopes are high. It will be a few months out, but it’s on. You’ll see some cool changes for the website coming if things continue. My fingers stay crossed and my mind imagines...
Read MoreReunions
Snowy Rochester, NY 5:07 PM The winter storm has arrived. As I got into my car at 4:30 AM last night, it read -5 degrees. Ladies can cause you to stay up way too late. We’re supposed to get 10 to 20 inches of snow tonight. Ouch. I have a party to go to later. It is within a few miles from here, so I think I’m going. It will be fun to see a lot of girls I went to high school with. This is my reunion weekend. I have the party tonight and last night was a dinner with a different group of girls and their husbands. We had a great time. There were new baby’s to congratulate and a new marriage...
Read MoreNew Baby
Charlotte, NC My old roommate and his fiance just had a baby boy, Jackson. He is healthy and a big one, 9 lbs. I can’t wait to get down there and see them. What a year!
Read MoreShipping Out
Iraq 10:58 AM Over the past two years we all have read about and heard about the War in Iraq. For me, I haven’t known anyone closely who is or has been over there. My dad’s former co-worker’s son was shot there. He is OK now and ready to go back. A kid younger than me that graduated from my high school was killed there. That is as close as I’ve felt it. I haven’t had a brother or sister, or cousin, or best friend fighting for us over there. And because of that, I think may have grown desensitized to the news. Every day we hear about a new bombing or suicide...
Read MoreRay
Big Screen 11:06 PM It’s Friday night. The weekend is upon us and that makes everyone relax a bit. I just got back from seeing the movie Ray with my parents. This is the story about Ray Charles’ life. You need to go see it. It’s about a real guy doing amazing things. Jamie Foxx is amazing, the music is jumping, and the story captivates you. If you’re one of those who think a movie is too long, suck it up. If my dad can sit through 2 1/2 hours and never look at his watch, you can too. NFL Playoffs this weekend. Maybe better than a movie. No predictions, just...
Read MoreKaraoke
Rochester, NY 8:38 PM I type this with a raging sinus infection. The winter has grabbed me. I’ve been running around all over the place with the holidays and I guess it got me. Friends have been in from out of town. I saw Ryan who is now in Charlotte and Ted who is in Philly. I just got off the phone with my friend in Toronto. There may be a plan going into effect to get us up there for New Year’s. We’ll see how I feel. Last night was another classic. My dad and I met Heidi a few weeks ago through one of his coworkers. She is from China and works as an importer. I am working on her...
Read MoreLast Minute
Rochester, NY 11:37 AM Christmas Eve should be a day for relaxing and spending time with friends and family. For the previous 28 years of my life, that is what I did. Today and this year are different. I am that guy. Some may call me a procrastinator. Some may call me lazy. I don’t know what to call me other than a guy who has no shopping done. Yet. I stare down the daunting task of battling the cold, fighting through the crowds, and making my way to the dreaded mall for a round or two with the credit card. The battle is on and I am doing my best to get prepared. I was up until 4:30 AM...
Read MoreCold
Rochester, NY 8:43 AM I had the radio on while I showered and shaved. It is -3 degrees. There is a wind chill of -15 degrees. That – sign means negative, minus, and below. It’s cold. I can’t sit inside with a fire and some hot chocolate today. I have a couple job related things to do at 10 AM and noon. My car sits out in the lot across the street. It waits in sub zero temps for me to come out, start it, and then brush the snow off of it. I am really looking forward to that. Enjoy the day.
Read MoreGoosed
Rochester, NY 8:48 PM My mind is coming back to me after a long Saturday night at a Christmas party. Tis the season for food and drink. Caytie, Bryan and I lived that motto yesterday. We started off with some of Mom’s lasagna. That of course fills the belly and puts you out of it for a while. After some digesting we went to the party. It was at one of their friend’s house. I hadn’t been that social in the last few weeks. I’m not sure if it’s not having a finished book completed or a job or any of that, but I wasn’t into meeting new people and having to explain the, “So what do...
Read MoreAdventure
Rochester, NY 11:30 PM The days march by. I dabble in this and that. I send proposals and write here and there. Mostly there. Most of the time is spent searching for spots to go and people to meet on the next leg of the trip. There will be a next leg of the trip. When it happens is still to be determined. The library has become my friend. Free movie rentals are what I get most. I also get a lot of books that sound cool. I start them and stop. It is rare they go back finished. I have Walden right now. I just got done watching American Splendor. A very different but cool movie about a guy that...
Read MoreTree
Rochester, NY 2:36 PM Snow now blankets the beach. Upstate NY is getting its first winter precip since I’ve been here. We had a dusting around Thanksgiving time, but this is the most wintery it’s felt. It’s pretty to look at. It’s also nice to look to my right and see a fresh Christmas tree sitting there. The ornaments and lights aren’t there, but the tree and smell is. I hadn’t been here for a tree hunt in years, so it was a good time as my parents and I roamed the neighborhoods looking for that special tree. We ended up driving out to the smaller towns and found a house with a...
Read MoreThat’s the ticket
Rochester, NY I found a new place for football on Sundays. I had been spoiled by living with my brother a few years ago when we had the NFL Ticket. Any game you want to watch is on there. We used to do our best to see all of them. We got good on the remote. A play would end and bam, we’d be off to the next game. And the next. And the next. I thought we had it good, but I went over to a friend from high school that I hadn’t seen in 5 years or so. We tired to figure out how long, but couldn’t come up with anything concrete. Mike and Andy have always been buds. I entered the scene during...
Read MoreCold
Rochester, NY 12:03 PM Reality hit me in the face a few minutes ago. As I sat outside pumping gas into my car, it hit me I was in NY for some winter. A few snow flakes danced around and my breath was evident. I knew I was home because the gas was $2.09. I even saw $2.19 while driving today. My bones were chilled by the wind. I was born and raised in Rochester, but I guess my body is now Southern. I am a wuss. I feel like Randy from A Christmas Story (The main character’s little brother) anytime I go out. I layer up and stumble around. It still doesn’t protect me. I really knew I...
Read MoreThanksgiving
Rochester, NY 11:35 AM There is something about knowing that when you wake up, the day will be filled with family, food, and fun. Thanksgiving has always been a holiday that I look forward to. During college I would fly home to see friends and my family. The night before Thanksgiving is the “biggest night of the year” for going out here in Rochester. You never know who you’ll run into. The one year I did not come home for Thanksgiving (last year), I was in Charlotte. I went out with my friend Ryan, his girlfriend, and another girl. We are all from the north and since it was the night...
Read MoreGraceland
Memphis, TN 5:05 PM I decided I’d go meet the King. I lived in Memphis for over a year and have visited many times, but I’d never been to Graceland. Before we left I told Rochester, I told my Mom I wanted to go. I’m not sure why I wanted to check it out on this particular visit, but I did. We fit it in on Saturday. The kids and the family stayed here, so my Mom and I had a date and went to Elvis Pressley Blvd. I’m sure things have changed since Elvis was here, but he is not in the best part of town anymore. We pulled into the parking lot, paid the $2, and made the walk into the...
Read MoreSticker Book
Memphis, TN 11:55 AM CST You can’t get much better than waking up bleary eyed to a little, blonde 3 year old (almost) girl holding up a sticker book, smiling and saying hello to “Uncle Andrew.” Hope gave me a big hug and scurried around the bedroom I’m sharing with my parents. I’m on a futon mattress in the floor. This room has changed quite a bit. This used to be the big kids play room. I mean this is where the pool table was. Now, it is Brad’s office and the guest room. Hope is in the room I used to live in when I was here. Hattie’s is in the old office area. There are a lot...
Read MorePack it up
Rochester, NY 10:21 AM I have not had any big revelations, other than more outside people telling me to go for it and finish the book. I have a sinus infection. I was basically forced to go to the doctor yesterday by my mom. I wouldn’t have gone, except I didn’t want to contaminate the little ones in Memphis. He gave me some antibiotic and I’m feeling a little better. I went and saw Napoleon Dynamite last night at the dollar theater. You can’t beat seeing a movie in the theater for literally one dollar. That is awesome. The movie is different, but funny. It’s about this outcast in...
Read MoreNext
Rochester, NY 3:00 PM Now here I am back in Rochester. I’m sick. It’s cold. And, I have a lot of figuring to do. The call of money and a normal job beckon me. The west calls as well. Budgets and bills weigh more on the mind than ever before. Stability and my own place pull at me. I have been on the road for over 7 months. The experience has been invaluable. I am not sure if I’ve really grasped what I’ve seen and done yet. It will happen. Writing the book has its place as well. My conversations and emails ask me where are you going next? What are you doing next? I need to figure that...
Read MoreTurkey Sandwiches
Wilmington, NC 1:04 PM I’m in Kinko’s in Wilmington. I just spent an agonizing 40 minutes with Microsoft’s help desk. I needed to activate my copy of Windows. After doing it 5 times and it not taking any of them, I called. We got it resolved though. That was weighing on me. If I hadn’t resolved it by tomorrow, my Windows would not be useable. I’m a bit foggy today. Kyle and I arrived to Wilmington at about 6 yesterday. We came over to Kinko’s to try and resolve my CPU issue, but it didn’t work. We made our way to Morgan’s in between her classes....
Read More11/11/2004
Charleston, SC 11:10 AM I’m back in Kevin’s studio. Kyle and I will be leaving today for Wilmington, NC where his sister and my cousin, Morgan, is. Map quest says it’s about 3.5 hours. She has class so we are not in a rush. The last two nights have been awesome. Tuesday started with the guys at the house watching Maisie while Cathy went to work. She came back and then we headed out to Fig, a very cool place that I’d been to once before after one of Kevin’s art shows. We walked in and Kevin’s partner in crime, John, was there. He is a truly nice guy and I’ve had some fun times...
Read MoreIdeas Happen2
Charleston, SC A while back I wrote about an opportunity where you submit an idea and if you are chosen as a finalist you’d receive $25,000. I submitted my journey in the self expression category. I was not one of the ten finalists. No jumping for joy, high fiving, and chest bumping. Thanks to those who checked it out.
Read MoreHanging
Charleston, SC 1:13 PM It’s another beauty here. Sun is shining, short sleeves are the preferred choice. Kevin, Kyle and I are hanging metal siding on the outside of Kevin’s studio. The drill is going off next to me. I get up to hold the siding in place.
Read MoreCreativity
Charleston, SC 9:55 AM I’m back in Kevin’s studio. There is something to be said for creative energy. Last night it was everywhere we went. We started off here. It was cool to hear Kevin and Kyle talking about different kinds of art and things I don’t know about. We headed over to a guys office and show space. He owns an up and coming magazine, Barfly. Kevin had done a cover for the magazine a while ago. As soon as we walked in you could tell the vibe of the place was on. It used to be an old tire and rim shop. This means the ceilings are high, maybe 20 feet. There were...
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