scoreboard

It's been a little while since the last update, so I present to you a recap of the things that have been going on in the past few weeks...

The New Job
On Wednesday, October 29, 2008, I started in my new position at Georgetown as the Manager of Information Systems and Technology Contracts. So far it has gone fairly well, at least as far as I can tell. As with any job, there is a certain learning curve involved, so I've had to ask quite a few questions. Once I get the basic procedures down. though, I can start working on making it my own. I already have a couple ideas that I think would help the processes out a little bit. I just want to make sure I'm comfortable with everything before I start messing with any existing processes. One thing that I am really happy about with this position is the fact that I'll get to telecommute once a week. I've been looking for a position that offered that for a while now, and finally have it. I've decided to telecommute on Mondays, but won't be starting that until around Thanksgiving - when I should be more comfortable with everything that I'm doing.

Halloween
I haven't gone out to do anything for Halloween in quite a few years. This year, since I would be going out by myself meant that I was going to attend a few parties that I'd been invited to. So, the first stop on the evening was to a party hosted by a few guys I play softball with. The picture you see here is a shot of all the guys who were at the party who played for our softball team (the Money $hot$) during the summer and fall leagues. (As a side note, after the team finished 0-18-0 in the summer league, we finished 9-8-1 in the fall league). Anyway, it was quite a good time, as with the number of people who attended, they ended up going through three kegs by midnight.

I'm the guy in the blue and yellow face paint. My shirt said "Go Ceiling" on the front, and "Ceiling is Number 1" on the back. What was I? A ceiling fan. A little humor for you there.

I ended up not making it to the second party ("by accident"). When I got back to Shirlington I got a call from a friend who lives in my building and I met his wife and him at Bungalow for another hour and a half. After shutting the bar down (and playing some pool), we went back to the club room for a little while. I ended up being up until a little after 4 AM - the latest I'd been up in a few years.

All in all, a great Halloween.

Fitness
I've been fairly dedicated to my workout routine for the past two months. This weekend marked the fact that I've been on a weight training program for an entire month. I have noticed that it has gotten easier to get my butt downstairs to work out the more I've been doing this. Based on the exercises I've been doing (as well as the cardio I do nearly every day), I can definitely see results. I've lost about 25 pounds since June, and I can see a change from the weight lifting, which is what I really wanted. They say if you can continue to do something for 60 days, it becomes habit. If I can get through November and keep this up that whole time, I should see some fairly significant changes. I've already seen about 15% increases in the weight I can lift.

Travel
In the next two months, I'll be traveling to a few places. Over Thanksgiving, I'll be returning to Michigan again. I'm actually hoping they see some snow on Thanksgiving again, because I rarely get to see any measurable amount here in DC. I'm planning on driving up, and may go to Canada as well for a day or two. In December, my mom is taking us to Disney World. She took me for my law school graduation, and she's going to be taking everyone again as Tom will be graduating from PA school next summer - but this was the best time to go, as over the summer it was likely both Tom and his girlfriend would not be able to go. I'm sure it will be quite a bit different than the last time I went to Disney, but I'm really looking forward to it. We're going December 20-24, which unfortunately means I'll be flying back in to DC on Christmas eve, and won't be spending the actual holiday with my family. I might go up for New Years and Tom's birthday, but haven't decided yet. It all depens on the financial situation.

So, that's the story for the last couple of weeks. I'll try to update again soon with some more thoughts....

Posted by Jeremy Sarnovsky at 02:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

This weekend I was back in Michigan for a short vacation. I had planned it because we get Columbus Day off in DC (though nobody in Michigan seemed to). The other reason I came back is that my brother Tom and I were going to throw a suprise party for my parents.

See, my parents have been married 35 years this month, and we wanted to do something special for them. While I wasn't able to do a lot of the planning from DC, Tom, Lindsey, Stacey and Chrissy were able to get everything together for the event. It turned out that about 25 people came to the party, which was a very good turnout. Unfortunately, we couldn't get a hold of some people, but nevertheless, it was a great time.

It's amazing to think that my parents have been together for 35 years. Really, you just don't see relationships lasting that long in the United States as much as you used to. Maybe it's because my parents are from a different time, but I think it is because they genuinely love each other. I think we can all agree that spening 35 years together is pretty impressive regardless. When we get married, I think we all expect (or at least hope), that the relationship will turn out like my parent's has, with years of enduring love. Unfortunately, all too often that does not happen.

It was good getting back to Michigan for a little while. It's hard to only be back for 2 1/2 days though - there are so many people I want to see, and I haven't been able to see a couple of the people I really wanted to. The weather was fantastic the whole time I was visiting, and it felt good to relax outside for a while. But I do have to say it is a little disheartening to see all of the houses up for sale or auction, as well as the sheer number of McCain/Palin signs in the area.

It's back to the grind soon enough - I can't wait to get back up to Michigan at Thanksgiving.

Posted by Jeremy Sarnovsky at 01:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

When I moved to Richmond for law school, it never occurred to me how difficult going back to Michigan for vacation might become. It isn't the travel or cost that make it difficult, either. Unfortunately, it comes down to trying to squeeze seeing all the people I want to see in to a week (or less in some cases).

I'm heading back to my parent's house for a week vacation between June 28 and July 6. Of course I'll be staying at my parents house, and I assume they want to see me and spend time with me (seeing as how they are my parents and all), but there is so much else to do. I think it was easier when I was in law school, and most people were still centrally located.

Continue reading "Juggling Commitments" »

Posted by Jeremy Sarnovsky at 03:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Last week I was in Michigan taking a break from things to see my family. Everytime I go back to where I grew up, I get extremely nostalgic for the old days. Realistically, were I to move back to White Lake now, things would be nowhere near the same as they once were. Most of my friends who I spent the majority of my time with no longer live in the area, and the area has changed enormously.

I took my father's truck out for a drive on Sunday, before I left to return to my now-home, DC. It occurred to me just how much it had changed around there in the 7 years I have been gone. (Wow, seven - that's a long time!) Anyway, while some things felt familiar, most looked drastically different. It was almost surreal, in a way. Even then places where I spent a large amount of time - the old house, Lakeland Arena, and Lakeland High School - have changed so much in the time I've been away, that it doesn't feel right anymore. Of course, it could just be that it really isn't home for me anymore.

I do intend to move back to my home state someday. Of course, it is easy to say that myself, but I have a wife to think about now, and potentially children in the future. Who knows what will happen in the next several years?

I think the thing that bothers me most when I go back is the feeling that I've lost touch with my roots. I grew up in a neighborhood, but it was still fairly rural. I spent my summers with nature either in Michigan, or at my parents farm in Canada. I still love nature (and dislike the crush of people that you get in the city), so being reintroduced to that environment sort of tugs at me.

Of course, I have responsibilities and friends here, too. I mean, I left for one game, and my hockey team loses 9-2. Ouch. Blame me, I guess.

Posted by Jeremy Sarnovsky at 04:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I've been away from my home state of Michigan for some time now (it was six years in August!), and during that time I've realized that I miss something a lot since I've been there. No, I'm talking about family or friends (although if forced to admit it, I would).

I'm taking about Michigan-made products, or products sold there but not in VA or DC.

Continue reading "What's good for the goose is good for the Michigander" »

Posted by Jeremy Sarnovsky at 01:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I've never been a huge football fan (maybe because the Lions have always been terrible), but I found this statement from ESPN's Article on "The owners we love to hate" pretty funny - especially the part about the Lions.

8. William Clay Ford, Detroit Lions: Forty-three years of ownership, one playoff win. In 2001, Ford was attacked by a band of marauding zombies, who subsequently ate his brain. In related news, Matt Millen has been the Lions' president and CEO ever since.

That reminds me of the game Dave and I went to earlier this summer. A baseball game. Not football. In Washington, DC. The Washington Nationals vs. the visiting Detroit Tigers. These guys were in one of the luxury boxes:

Posted by Jeremy Sarnovsky at 02:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Story pulled from today's headlines: "Detroit likened to Iraq."

A Republican congressman representing rural southern Michigan is taking heat for saying that most of Iraq is at least as under control as Detroit is.

Hahahaha! Hilarious. The funny thing is, most of us Michiganians (who aren't from Detroit proper) say stuff like this about the city all the time. I'm not saying it's true, but yeah, I've made a comment or two like that in my day...

Posted by Jeremy Sarnovsky at 02:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)