Big Fat Chad

Back in the Game - Early Christmas Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 15:05:00 +0000

After a long period on the bench, coach has put me back in the blogging game. (I'm going to have to come up with better and better metaphors if I end up taking too many hiatuses - or is the plural 'hiati'?)

Just a quick one to get me started today:

I've decided that it's time for a new popular Christmas Song. When was the last time a new pop song for Christmas came out and it immediately entered the Christmas music canon? Mariah's "All I Want For Christmas"? "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer?" Adam Sandler's "Hanukkah" song? Porky Pig's "Blue Christmas"?

How hard can it be? All you have to do is lay down a synchopated track of sleigh bells and talk about snow. Done. I may seriously get on this and have it ready for next Christmas season.

It seems like the majority of our popular Christmas music was produced in the "Glorious '50s" (I've decided to rename the 1950s the "Glorious '50s" - much like the Roaring 20s, or the Sexy 70s, or the Are You Out of Your Damned Mind 80s - because apparently everything was friggin' glorious in the 1950s - see AMCs MadMen or FoxNewsChannel).

Bing Crosby and Andy Williams are the absolute studs when it comes to Christmas music. Beatles great John Lenon cranked out a decent Christmas song. Even George Michael has a solid, albeit easily mockable, Christmas hit.

However, I feel like it's been way too long since a Christmas song has been on the popular charts and I think it's about time for us to add some new stuff to the Christmas canon.

As long as it's not by Taylor Swift, Adam Levine, PitBull, FloRida, or Ghangam Style.

Is that too much to ask?

My Laminated List: 2011 Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 14:51:00 +0000

I used to be infatuated with pop-culture. I'm not so much anymore, but I do love me some hot celebs. Exhibits A, B, & C: Laminated List #1, Laminated List #2, & Laminated List #3.

Time to update the ol' list:

Katy Perry - Remember those old cartoons where the character's eyes would get really big and pop out of their head whenever they saw a pretty lady? That's what happens to me when I see Katy Perry. But what secures her place at #1 is her voice. Yeah, yeah....she has teeny boppy pop songs for hits, but if you really listen, she hits some seriously killer notes. With those pipes and those beautiful ~~breasts~~ eyes, she's made my list for a long time.

Ke$ha - Dirty? Yes. Really dirty? Without a doubt. Clean your house after she leaves the next morning? From top to bottom. With all of that being said, this chick intrigues the hell out of me. I want to know what makes her Tik (Tok). Anyone that can brush their teeth with sour mash and not vomit must be worth knowing (and a hell of a lot of fun). Also, who has the balls to put a dollar sign in their name? A little crazy and a lot of dirty go a long way in my book, apparently.

Lea Michele - File this diva in the Kelly Clarkson file for "Super Hot Because She Has Serious Pipes." Chick was a no name until the television show Glee blew up last year. Now she's all over the place and even showed up Christina Aguilera at the Super Bowl with her rendition of "America, the Beautiful."

Kate Middleton - future wife of Prince William. Unbelievably beautiful and quintessentially elegant. I'd marry her in heartbeat. Don't know what took William so long (maybe she's high maintenance?), but I'm glad that she will eventually be Queen. Anyways, with a killer British accent, this beautiful woman has made my list permanently (she IS marrying my doppleganger after all).

Goal Setting

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 21:26:00 +0000

At several points along my way I've set goals for myself. The dreamer in me doesn't come out as often as I'd like it to (I don't know why, but I don't feel challenged enough intellectually, spiritually, or musically), so I have to jump-start that part of me by force-blogging about it :).

I've achieved some of the goals I've set in the past:

Go back to college - Check

Graduate from college - Check

Finish an Ironman before age 30 - Check (Age 28!)

However, I failed to set new goals once I achieved the old ones. Therefore, I want to set out some new goals, whether they be serious or trivial, for me to pursue consciously.

1. Although I'm halfway done with Law School, I still think it'd be a good goal to strive for the completion of my JD. Sure, I only have a year and a half left, but on the other hand, that's a LONG year and a half!

2. Complete another Ironman. I've fallen miserably out of shape since August 30, 2009. A goal such as this would go a long way to getting me into the healthy body that I've wanted for a long time. I'm projecting Ironman:Arizona in November 2012. Loyal blog readers: keep me honest!

3. Learn how to play the guitar. I feel very limited in my musical abilities with only knowing how to play the piano. Sure, I'm a good pianist, but the guitar is such a different type of instrument with such a different type of sound. Playing the guitar is something I'd like to do at some point in my life.

4. Learn new languages. Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, Hebrew, and Greek all fascinate me. I've a mediocre grasp of Spanish that I'd like to develop as well.

5. Needless to say, I'd like to write better and more often. The first only happens with the successful completion of the second. So look forward to that folks :).

6. Date Katy Perry or Carrie Underwood. Unfortunately, both are recently married, but with the divorce rate at over 50%, there's a good chance 1 of them will be single here before too long.

7. Discover more goals to pursue. As of right now, this list is pretty lame. I may need some help brainstorming cool ideas. (i.e., Travel to Europe, skydive, swim with the humpback whales...)

I'll continue to add to this list (and hopefully check things off) as the years progress. I may not be a master of many things, but it'd be nice to be knowledgeable of more of the world. This is my feeble attempt.

My New Band

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 21:25:00 +0000

Jump, Little Children was my band. They were a group of talented musicians with an amazing lead singer and an impressive repertoire of songs. They were from Charleston, South Carolina and toured mostly in the Southeast which enabled me to see them in concert more than 2 dozen times. These guys were "My Band." They never broke through into the mainstream popular conscience, but that's what made them even more valuable to me. "Jump" was my little secret; and even though I yearned for them to finally "make it" and get some radio air-play, I was happy that they never did so that I could keep them all to myself.

I've never loved a band as much as I loved JLC. Sure, I really like U2, Coldplay, and Radiohead, but I've never poured myself so fully into a band like I did Jump.

Until now....

I've finally found another group of musicians that are musically solid from top to bottom. I've finally found another group that I can invest my musical soul in; a group that I can root for to "finally make it" yet secretly hope that they don't in order for me to feel superior to those that haven't yet discovered them.

The band, you ask?

Mumford and Sons

These guys are the real deal. From the lyrics (and for those of you that know me, I am NOT a lyrics guy) to the new creative melodies, harmonies, and instrumentalities these guys knock it out of the park every time.

It's been too long since I've given myself this much of myself to a group. It's nice to have a "My Band" again.

Snapshots

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 04:58:00 +0000

I just ate half a package of Oreos. And I wonder why I can't lose weight.

I love Dateline NBC's "To Catch A Predator" television show. Watching Chris Hansen make pedophiles extremely uncomfortable NEVER gets old.

Christina Aguilera sang the Super Bowl XLV last night. She screwed up the lyrics and people are coming down pretty hard on her. I actually didn't realize she sang the wrong words, I was too busy trying to determine which key she was singing in.

The Black Eyed Peas performed for the Halftime Show last night. I don't know what they sang or how they did, I was waiting for one of Fergie's boobs to pop out.

I can't figure out if advertisers are brilliant or if the American people are just plain dumb. For 4 hours last night people were glued to their television sets to watch the same commercials they spend the rest of the year abhorring.

I'm actually in awe of Justin Bieber. Kid isn't even 17 years old yet and he's conquered the world. Kid has probably gotten laid more times at this point in his life than I EVER will!

Toilet time. Those Oreos are coming back to haunt me....

Mozart & Dvorak: My Favorites

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 04 Feb 2011 03:19:00 +0000

I went to the symphony this morning. It was enjoyable.

Every once in a while the Louisville Orchestra puts on a Thursday morning performance called "Coffee and Classics." Today's program featured a Mozart Piano Concerto and Dvorak's 8th Symphony (not the 9th, unfortunately. The 9th is my favorite).

Anyways, the performance was OK. I was surrounded by very old people that smelled like BenGay and coffee, but I was still able to focus on the music. The piano seemed muted, and the pianist a bit weak, but the talent on the stage far outweighed any scrap of skill I could ever muster, so I was quite satisfied this morning.

I'm still having problems with sweet tea. I've always had a hankering for it and have tried to kick the habit multiple times. Unfortunately, I've always been pulled back into its choke hold.
Sugar just tastes so good.

So, I've developed a plan of attack. It's called the "Half and Half" plan. Half sweet, half un-sweet. It dilutes the amount of sugar in the drink while maintaining just enough sweetness to satisfy my saccharine-craving taste buds. I haven't seen any reduction in my wasteline yet, but I can confirm the placebo benefits on my psyche.

Egypt is blowing up. Literally.

Actually, Egypt has been blowing up for about two weeks now. Low wages, high unemployment, and food shortages (just to name a few of the many problems facing the Egyptian people) have driven an angry Egyptian population to protest against President (Dictator, General, Autocrat, pick-your-poison-position) Mubarak. From what little knowledge I have of Egypt's history and current political, social, and economic state, I am rooting for the angry populous in the midst of their revolution. I can't wait to see what will happen next there and in the region.

Anderson Cooper, the quintessential news reporter of our generation dove (as he has in nearly almost every other major world event of the last 10 years) right into the melee and nearly learned a valuable lesson. Check out his footage HERE.

As for me? I was not dodging molotov cocktails in the mean streets of Cairo today. I was at the symphony this morning hangin' with Amadeus and Antonin. BFFs forever.

Let's Try This Again

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 03:05:00 +0000

Not much has happened since the last time I wrote. Time flies by so fast that I can't believe it's already been a year. Things happen, sure, but I feel so overwhelmed by Law School that days, weeks, and months of this past year can only be recalled as a blur. That's why I resolved January 1 to write every day. Unfortunately, it's already February 2. I'll do better, I promise.

Enough with the obligatory "I've been gone for so long, let me pick back up where I left off" drivel.

I'm so tired. Law school drains the very last ounce of energy from me EVERY day. The reading, analysis, and debate never ends. The adversarial nature of this place is so exhausting. Not to say that I don't enjoy the challenges of learning a new set of skills, I do. It's just a long, tedious, arduous, and fatiguing process. I'm wiped out and we're only 4 weeks into the semester. Can't we just take the bar already and be done with this place?

I hate people who take pot shots at Climate Change theorists this time of year. Remarks like, "I could really use some of Al Gore's global warming right about now," and "So much for global warming, eh? -chuckle-" You know what? Get your head out of your ass. Stop repeating catch phrases you heard from that idiot Sean Hannity and do some actual fact checking on your own. Climate Change is not a vehicle for some hidden 'liberal agenda' to expand government and take away your right to drive Hummers. I'd actually like to take my kids for a walk in a forest someday or walk down the street without getting either frostbite or heat stroke. Whatever, I guess people are more concerned with leaving the television on for their pets when they leave the house than with the melting polar ice caps flooding the Bangladeshi coastline.

I'm done for now. I could go on, but then what would I write about tomorrow.

I've got some Schopenhauer to read.....and maybe some Civil Procedure.....and then the backs of my eyelids....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

My New Favorite Song....

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 04:34:00 +0000

Thank you to Irving Washington for this glorious piece of time wasting.

The lyrics of the theme song are as follows:

Open your eyes, I see.

Your eyes are open.

Wear no disguise for me.

Come into the open.

When it's cold....outside...am I here in vain?

Hold on....to the night....there will be no Shame.

Always, I want to be with you, and make believe with you.

And live in Harmony, Harmony. Oh! Love!

Always!

Melting the ice for me.

Jump into the ocean.

Hold back the tide.

I see your Love in motion.

When it's cold....outside...am I here in vain?

Hold on....to the night....there will be no Shame.

Always, I want to be with you, and make believe with you.

And live in Harmony, Harmony. Oh! Love!

Always!

-Robot Unicorn Attack Theme Song

(AKA: Awesomeness, with a driving beat, in an elevator)

Thanks to Fronz for a brilliant description of this game. He equates this find with other great viral sensations of the past 5 years and lauds this flash game as a "fabulous fantasy game that you will be playing against your will all night."

Damned internet will be the death of me yet, I fear.

SNOW DAY!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 15:26:00 +0000

Finally! A big snow this winter season! I was getting jealous of the east coast - more specifically DC and New York - for getting over 3 FEET of snow. But, over the course of the night last night we got 7 inches! Whoooo!

Snow = No School

Snow = Sleeping In

Snow = Hot Chocolate on the couch

Snow = excuse to ~~watch shitty soap operas~~ be lazy as hell ALLLLL day long

Snow = a reason to drive my Volvo like a professional rally car driver

Unfortunately, I forgot to race to the store last night to stock up on milk, bread, and toilet paper. Now I'm forced to starve and be constipated.

Taxes....

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 16:25:00 +0000

....done. Electronically.

Crazy ain't it? No hassle with paper W-2s. No having to lick the envelope to send them in. No need to wait 3 months to get a paper check sent to your mailbox. Your money shows up in your bank account in less than 2 weeks!

What will happen when we run out of electricity and the computer that brings the interwebs to me is no longer viable?

Will we have to resort back to carrier pigeons and German Shepherds?

Maybe by then we'll have a hydraulic network of tubes that run on compressed carbon monoxide harnessed from our atmosphere.

-shrug- More than likely we'll all be dead.

And wouldn't that be ironically apropos?

And again....

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 20:55:00 +0000

....inspired by Irving Washington, I've decided to crank this up again. Went through my posts from 6 years ago and enjoyed refreshing those perspectives. Fun times back in ye old 2000s.

Anyways. I'll be cranking out more pop-culture rants and new perspectives on life, people, and events.

And, it goes without saying, this is mostly for me....but, if anyone else gets some enjoyment out of it - yay - good times - bupkis!

7 more pounds!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 21:43:00 +0000

September 1 - 230lbs.
October 1 - 225lbs
November 1 - 218lbs.

Whoo. It's comin' off. Slowly but surely. Probably healthier the more gradual the weight loss, but I'd be much happier if I were already at 200.

ANYways....my journey to Ironman is shaping up to be a long and difficult one. I got sick last week and missed a whole week of training. The rest was good for my body, but my motivation completely disappeared. WIth the cold of winter setting in and having to reinstitute my routine, motivation is my current goal.

Another 7 lbs. is good enough motivation for me! Running shoes, get ready to hit the road!

Please, God. PLEASE!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 14:46:00 +0000

4 Days until the biggest United States Presidential Election of my lifetime.

If there is a heaven, and if there is a God in it, I'm begging him now: "PLEASE ensure an Obama victory!"

I don't understand people's ignorance. I don't understand people's fear. I don't understand people's hatred.

I'd like to say I believe in the goodness of people. I'd like to say I believe in the potential of the human race. I'd like to say I'm proud to be an American.

But, I don't and I can't.

I pray for an Obama presidency mostly to restore my faith in people, the power of community, and not necessarily my love of country, but my burgeoning belief in the possibility of a peaceful global community.

Please, God, Please. Send us a SAVIOR!

5 lbs. lighter

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 14:43:00 +0000

One month since I've registered for Ironman:Louisville 2009 - I've lost 5 pounds and have started to get a good base under me.

September 1, 2008 - BFC=230lbs.
October 1, 2008 - BFC=225lbs.

September was rough, though. I started watching what I ate. And, phew, let me tell you....tough! My stomach was ALWAYS rumbling. My stomach was ALWAYS empty. I'm using alot of energy apparently.

I've taken pictures. I'll post them when I can show more progress!

gasp! IRONMAN!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 17:35:00 +0000

OK. So I have to make it public so that I can be held accountable (well, the $550 that I spent kinda keeps me accountable, too).

As of today, September 1, 2008, I, Big Fat Chad, am participating in Ironman:Louisville 2009. I know, I know....crazy, right? Yes. Absolutely. Crazy.

BUT, I am incredibly out of shape and shockingly unhealthy. After stepping on the scale a few moments ago I weighed in at 230 lbs. (Read: Obese)

My goal is to lose 30 lbs. by Christmas and to be in good enough shape to start training for Ironman:Louisville 2009 by January 1, 2009. Ambitious, I know, but absolutely necessary.

My desire to sign up for Ironman was not completely health related. I have been truly inspired over the last several years by the people I have witnessed finishing these events. It takes stamina, grit, determination, and a mental fortitude that I am interested to see if I possess. Ironman will be much more than the 16 hours on August 30, 2009. It will be an entire year of discipline and sacrifice that will challenge me, and hopefully take me to a new level physically, mentally, and spiritually. (Not to mention, I'm dying to possess a 6-pack and impress chicks with my chiseled body!)

ANYways...please...I implore you to keep me motivated as I begin this journey. Hopefully I'll be able to achieve such a lofty goal, but also improve myself along the way.

20 days...

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 01:28:00 +0000

...since my last post.

And I thought I could keep this up on a daily basis.

Well, I'm in the middle of finals and am not going to compose anything worthwhile to share.

BUT, I've found the funniest, most creative website that I've seen in a long time.

Garfield Minus Garfield

Go. Read it. You will laugh. Out loud, by yourself.

What more in the name of Love?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 03:49:00 +0000

Early morning, April 4
A shot rings out in the Memphis sky
"Free At Last"
They took your Life,
They could not take your Pride.
-U2

Damn promises....

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 01:54:00 +0000

Sucks about this promising to write every day of April thing....it's 10pm and I still haven't read for class tomorrow....AND, I haven't posted on my blog!

It's been a long, sad day....

Charley Willis died this weekend and his funeral was today in Georgia.

Harry Der Ohanian died on Sunday and his funeral was today in New Albany, Indiana. I played for the funeral. It was crowded, somber, but beautiful. The best funeral I've been to in a long time. You know how funerals can go horribly wrong? Or even just take wrong turns? (i.e., the minister screws up the names of the kids and grandkids; they play canned music; a speaker wire blows out and there's awful feedback for a good 30 seconds) Not today. No ma'am. The service was flawless. Went off without a hitch. It even RAINED today. How perfect is that?

My TiVo died today and I refuse to let it die. I'm working on resusitation plans for this weekend.

-sigh- Bad news DOES come in 3's.

So. Sleepy.

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 02:30:00 +0000

I don't understand why I am exhausted all the time.

I get (or at least AIM to get) 8 hours of sleep a night. Maybe more. I don't run marathons, lift heavy packages, or bust stone for a living. So what's my damn problem at 2 in the afternoon when I can't keep my eyes open at my data-imput desk job?

I've recently (and, by recently, I mean VERY recently) changed my diet (no more sweet tea, more veggies, and more whole grains.....the proof is in the pooding....get it??? POO-ding! ha!....I crack myself up)

ANYways...another piece to add to the puzzle...I don't know what direction to take my life, I'm EXhausted, and I make bad puns.

Do they prescribe drugs for any of that?

A post about me

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 01:48:00 +0000

So, a friend of mine has been urging me to write more. And in an effort to appease her, and more importantly, kick-start my creative juices in this the month of writing (April is my last month of school - yay, paper time!), I will attempt to post something every day this month. No this isn't an April Fools Joke. And, yes, please wish me luck.

Lately, I've been struggling to make a confident, coherent, comforting decision about my future. I am almost finished with my 'junior' year of undergraduate studies at the University of Louisville and it's time to start applying to graduate schools and/or start thinking about looking for a job that will hold my attention and fulfill my desires (not to mention, pay off my intimidating student loans). Almost as scary as making the decision to quit my safe and secure carreer in Atlanta, the process of figuring out 'what's next' for me now terrifies me. And, if I were completely honest with you, I'm not worried about what that next step IS, I'm worried how (and even IF) that next step will pay for itself and even the current step that I'm on. So, even though I would LOVE to do something in the non-profit or public arena, to put it quite bluntly, that ain't gonna pay the bills.

However....

Let's say for a moment that money WASN'T an issue. Let's say for a moment that the money will take care of itself.

What excites me? What am I passionate about? What, in a perfect world, can I see myself doing day-in/day-out for the rest of my life?

These are the questions that boggle my mind. These are the questions I had a tough time with in middle-school, high-school, college (the first time), and even as I was contemplating leaving the workforce.

I've ALWAYS envied those people who KNEW without a shadow of a doubt what they wanted to do. Doctor, lawyer, baseball card executive. For me, THAT is greatest gift that anyone could be given. To KNOW what they are to do with their life. I think that's why a military life has always been so appealing to me. Someone tells you what to do: you do it - no questions; easy answers.

I feel like I am wasting all of this time searching for myself when I could be using that time to productively, meaningfully impact ~~someone else's~~ -let's be honest- my life. I feel like I'm missing something.

My options - Law School, Graduate School (History, Theological Studies, English?), go back and work in Atlanta?, drive a truck?....-sigh-

Maybe I lack creativity. Maybe I'm not thinking outside of the box. I know I need to keep moving or I'll end up in the same rut that I was in before. But, for some reason, I feel like I've landed back in that rut again already. Scared to move forward OR backward.

I know I can move forward. I know I can take that step. I've taken that plunge before and only good things have come from it. But for some reason I'm finding myself asking some of the same questions that I've always found myself asking. Those same questions that I've never had answers to - and, what seems like I never WILL have answers to.

One thing I know for certain: The rut is a lonely place.....

Three days have passed...

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 17:37:00 +0000

...since I took my last final of the semester. In those three days I have read The Pearl by John Steinbeck, The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway, Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton, and a couple other miscellaneous titles that need no mentioning at this point (read: garbage). I'm apparently on a reading binge right now - even though I spent a semester swamped with tedious historical tracts - and can't get my hands on enough books.

If you have any suggestions let me know a couple of your favorite 'CLASSICS' and I'll be sure to put them on my list.

Up next: 'The Importance of Being Earnest' by Oscar Wilde

Never Far To Go...

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 08 Nov 2007 19:52:00 +0000

Never far to go,
Never far to go,
Never far to go
to know this mortal coil
is just for show.

Jay Clifford

Where I am right now

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 08 Oct 2007 17:29:00 +0000

It takes down the solitary pride of man, beyond most other things, to find the impracticability of flinging aside affections that have grown irksome. The bands, that were silken once, are apt to become iron fetters, when we desire to shake them off. Our souls, after all, are not our own. We convey a property in them to those with whom we associate, but to what extent can never be known, until we feel the tug, the agony, of our abortive effort to resume an exclusive sway over ourselves.

Nathaniel Hawthorne - The Blithedale Romance

Triathlon!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 20:34:00 +0000

So, after a two year hiatus, I did it again - I completed another triathlon!

I completed the Evansville YMCA Mind, Body, & Spirit Sprint Triathlon in 1:57:54! It was a freaking blast and funnily enough....I can't wait to do another one!

This time I trained for two months and completed this tri under my goal and with a good bit of energy left over. These facts have boosted my confidence in and passion for the sport of triathlon. So much so, that I've ramped up my training and am preparing to attempt triathlons of longer distances. My next goal is an olympic distance triathlon (1500m swim x 40k bike x 10k run as opposed to the 700m swim x 20k bike x 5k run distance of the sprint).

First things first, however; I need to lose these 15 pounds of fat that are lingering!

I'm Back!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 01:44:00 +0000

Well, hello there handsome reader you. It's been a long time since I've seen you. An enthusiastic welcome back is in order - for me and for you.

A lot has happened since the last time I excreted my thoughts into the blog-o-sphere. I quit my job. Sold my house. Moved to a new city. Went back to school. And, have learned and experienced quite a bit along the way.

I've missed writing in a bad way, and I look forward to picking up where I left off over a year ago. And, as I mentioned the first time around - this blog is more for me than for anything or anyone else, but if others happen to find some enjoyment in or inclination towards it - excellent.

So without further ado - BigFatChad Act II!