So, A-typical of being near the ocean is having lots of snow.  Well this weekend we got hit with a good one and in some areas up to 12", which to northern folks probably sounds like a dusting, but this area just isnt geared for that.  Sadly, everything shuts down when this occurs. Because of that, I sit here, writing on my blog, watching the tele with lots of closings across the crawl.   ::SIGH:: 

I often wonder if other states laugh at this aspect of our city shutting down because of a few inches:

(Photo taken in yard at 4:00 after snow stopped for a brief)

Granted its the law of averages that governs this. Virginia isnt going to spend a load of money on snow plows and such when it rarely snows.  I get that.  However it would be very nice to not have an entire weekend ruined because of this.   Oh well, such is life.  I choose my locations. 

While on the topic of snow: 

One of my CB buddies emailed me today and asked a question that im surprised I didnt think of.  "Can I get a picture of Alpengeist track ...in the snow.."  REAL THEMEING!  I think thats a brilliant idea and becuase of that, a photo is being arranged.  I hope to have that posted for others to enjoy soon too.

Until then, visit my FLICKR site where I posted a few photos of the area under "drifts". 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/virginiageek/sets/72157623315195446/

So Busch Gardens GM has announced what is to come for 2010, all of it geared around families which is quite cool for Busch.  Some of the new additions are changes to Corkscrew Hill and the inclusion of daily fireworks during the summer. 

Here is Busch Gardens official you tube video where GM John R. is describing what is to come:

Im certainly looking forward to 2010 season not only for new Busch events, but for our first 300 foot coaster in the local region (Kings Dominion).  This is definitely going to bring some tourism back to our area, which due to economy has been very soft the past couple of years.  Because of this they have been really taxing the locals pretty heavily.  Im all for someone paying my bill for a while.

So I have been looking at this site style and code for quite some time now, and really desiring to rebuild this from ground up again.  Or at least apply a different style.  Not sure what I want to do however.   I like building in FLASH, but its soo much work to edit and requires plugins (Granted, almost everyone has it, but still).  So will see.  

I also want to rebuild my VM Server environment.  Its been humming along with no issue for years, but I think its just time for a rebuild of everything.   Sounds like a geek mid life crisis.

For whatever reason I have just been in the ‘need change’ mode lately for everything and in some cases its good others not as good.  Perhaps I am going through a geekish mid life.  I guess the good news is im not going out to buy a sports car or anything of the sort. Perhaps I took Obama literally on this campaign for “change”. 

While on the thought of change, one thing I did learn visiting my parents this past week is there is definitely a difference between generations.  They are very routine in their life, which works well for them, but would drive me insane.  Monday its time to ……  Tuesday ……   Very odd mentality.  I often wonder if it’s an age related thing or purely generational.   It was amusing when I would intentionally ask something that I knew would deviate their routine, how they processed it, and subsequently reacted to it.  In some cases seemingly unwilling.  If I saw a bit of pushback I caved in.. It is my parents afterall.  

Their static mentality makes me think if a change in life really is better for you or not.   They have lived 60+ years (or at least the last 30 I am aware of) in a realm of routine, and yet they are content.  Here I am not liking one thing or another and I need to modify it.. constantly… Perhaps a level of routine is best to maintain sanity, however if you introduce someone or something into your world, that upsets it and suddenly you become off kilter.    However on the flip side, perhaps constant change can make one off kilter as well.  Maybe there is a careful balance of both?  Who knows..  There is no magic crystal ball in life unfortunately.. But I just find it interesting the comparisons of lifestyles between my parents and myself. 

Over on right I threw in a binary poll if you, yourself, feel like you are a victim of routine.  Just curious your thoughts.

However, returning to my original thought:

Perhaps I will just be happy when my website looks a tad bit different.. Or maybe I will just buy a sports car ..

So I discovered this annoyingly entertaining game online called Super Stacker.  Ugg this game is killing what little free time I have it seems.  Object is simple.. Pile shapes and dont let them fall.  

Seems simple right?? Yeah until they give you these silly shapes that roll or provide no balance point at all... I honestly think they prey upon the OCD of some people as when I get stuck, I really cant put it down. 

Here is level 21 that kept me there for hours.  This just gives an idea of how annoying it is.

Anyways.. If you just want to search for something simple that will obsessively waste your time, I highly recommend Super Stacker.  You will hate me for it!

It is totally cool when you can sit in the valley in a light jacket as the temperature is 60 degrees and look up to the mountains that are capped in snow and less than 32 degrees. 

This past week, we had a really decent storm pass by which dumped a large amount of snow onto the mountains, so naturally I had to grab my camera and get some pictures.  Mt. Lemon which is between 7K and 9K feet got the most of the snow.  Where I stand, in the valley, is at about 3K feet so we just got some rain but for most part stayed above 50 degrees. 

That is one of the things I love about my home town is you can choose your weather. If you want warm, you stay in the valley.  If you want cold, you drive an hour North and up and you can go skiing.  How could you go wrong in that environment.

At any rate if you want to see these snow capped photos feel free to visit my FLICKR page at:

 http://www.flickr.com/photos/virginiageek/sets/72157623274388852/

Today is out on the town for me, visiting more of my childhood stomping grounds.

So tomorrow starts my trip to Arizona to see my parents and spend some time in my hometown of Tucson.   I really miss being out there as when I was a child I have fond memories of just exploring the city and enjoying what it had to offer.. And that was as a child.

I am often amazed when I go back how much I remember of the area.. Granted its a grid city of N/S or E/W streets, which does make navigation easy, but my internal map of everything just never seems to leave my mind.


The last few months have been highly stressful in my life and I figured its time to get away for a bit and see my father, who always has the amazing ability to put me in a stress free zone and keep me there for a while.  Between personal, work and life in general its just really wearing me down right now and I need time to refocus..  Although I still see myself working when im out there, but perhaps being in my home town will ease it a bit.

Dont get me wrong, I have no regrets in this new job, it just seems more demanding than I originally expected so I just need to adjust my mindset to that, which seems to be taking longer than I had expected..   On top of my personal life which is in chaotic flux, its just a bad combination as I have learned that I need control of at least one aspect in my life.. If I lose even that one aspect im in an obsessive spiral.

My hope is this trip will clear my mind a bit..  Will see..

Either way, im looking forward to this as it will be with my parents.. We will go to car shows with dad and I will be in an area of beautiful mountains (real mountains, not hills like the east coast).  I hope this clears my mind a bit when I return..

Maybe all I really need is rollercoaster season to open up?!? 

So one of my employees got into a conversation about Bacon, and the fact that it is amazing on almost anything it touches.  

As we went through this conversation he asked if I ever had bacon chocolate.  BACON CHOCOLATE?!?!?!  Why didnt I know about this?!?!? 

Yes it does exist and here is the proof:

Yes.. it is indeed amazing.. I have now discovered a new love of what to have bacon on.  Most stores apparently carry this though it can be quite pricy.. But its bacon.. Its worth it!!

So here we are.. In 2010.. I often wonder where 2009 went.  Does time truly compress the older you get?  

I remember back in high school thinking summer would never come.. Thinking about the days to hit the beaches, see if my skills of attracting the opposite sex were still sharp (and the fact I worded that reamark that way should immediately tell you 'NO'), and do lots and lots of relaxing.

Now it seems the years are just flying by that I wish it would just slow down.  I suppose this post could be one of those typical look back at the year prior, that certainly would be very cliché of an internet blog.

I suppose I could deviate from that slightly by posting it in a form of a poem.  That certainly would be very different, so let me take a stab at this:

A Rhyme of 2009

2009 has come and gone

and yet im so glad it went,

here I am in 2010

this entry is for me to vent.

My year started out with InBev controlling

half of our yearly take,

but ended off saying so long jerks

now hopefully a new coaster we’ll make

I had a chance to make some friends

at this last coaster mania night,

It was nice to see some faces behind

the screen names on the Coaster Buzz site.

To Disney, to Busch, to Cedar Point

even Carowinds, I was able to go,

But Hershey park is still the place

that I have yet to show.

In football, my college set its sighs so high

in hopes of a bowl game chance,

but along came a school known as Georgia Tech

who beat us and did the ACC Dance.

At my old job I discovered quick

up the corp ladder I cant go,

So I took a chance and changed my job

and now a nice paycheck I show.

I know this is silly and not very sharp

this poem of my 2009 year,

but I seriously hope that 2010

brings me love, hope, fun ….and of course beer!

OK.. Yes I know.. Ultra silly it was but it best outlines my 2009 year.  I do hope that 2010 becomes a great  year for me. 

My hope is:

• To have all well in my life
• Be confident in my new job. 
• Ride lots and lots of coasters
• Have Virginia Tech see an ACC Championship and BCS Bowl game.

Will see how much of that happens.  Either way.. Happy 2010 for those who actually follow me for 2009.  Thanks for sticking with me.

We will see what this year brings.

</2009>

So.. Settling into my new job. Its going ok.. Involving a lot of travel initally but im hanging in there.  I just cant wait till it settles in a bit.   Its definitely an adventure.. Im having to manage 3 people who have total different personailites.  That in itself is a challenge.

Other than that the other frustration is the fact that I feel like its taking forever for me to get up to speed in this job.  I cant expect to walk in day 1 knowing everything thats going on, but I just dont feel my usefulness as of yet.  Jeff (my boss) understands that will come with time but still, it just frustrates me because im not up to speed on day 1.  But thats my OCD talking I guess.

Other than that my life is...well...meh... But I hope it all levels out one day soon. 

So we are about a week away from the opening of Christmas town and boy am I really getting excited.  From the 45 foot Christmas tree in Germany, to the wonderful musical celebrations that will occur all over the park.  

Then theres the million + lights that will shine across the park.  Its just really cool to finally have a holiday park to go to anytime I want.  Before I had to trek down to Disney (not a bad thing, but cant do that anytime).  I think this is definitely going to be a huge hit for the area and also draw in from other regions. 

They are already talking about extending the time of opening due to the expected draw.  I hope to have some photos of the event as the preview is this coming tuesday.  Tune back in for some holiday goodness!