Poor Saints.

And with that loss, the jersey goes into retirement until next season. No more Sunday uniform for a while.

I cheated on the GTI today.

So yeah, I took a drive out to the Dulles area for 2 reasons today. One, to buy some more nice shirts at my favorite clothing store (H&M), and two, to check out a couple cars. Yes, you heard that right...I was car shopping.

For those that know me, they know I've been into the relaunched Mini Coopers ever since they came out back in '02. In fact, when I bought the GTI, the Mini was #2 in line...and I ended up going with the GTI since it was a larger car for the money. All the while, I still get a kick out of seeing Minis on the road...still wishing I had one.

So why am I car shopping already? Well, it comes down to the fact I'm looking at leasing a Mini for 2 years to see if I like it or not. With me not having to drive to work, it would be pretty advantageous to go for a lease. Cheaper car payment = more money to put away. Don't worry though, this is something that won't even happen for a few months (if I even do it)...and if I do happen to go for it...I will be most likely special ordering it...getting it exactly the way I want it.

Random Stuff

Well, I've used my building's gym twice now. I normally despise the treadmill; but with the crappy winter weather outside, it's a necessary evil. My only complaint about the gym? That the equipment doesn't face the exterior windows...after all, it's on the top floor.

So, after 2 tiny trips to 2 different grocery stores around here....I finally had to buckle down and do some semi-large shopping. For this, I returned to the 1st place I checked out, Shopper's Food, after having sticker shock at the local Giant. Anyways, the atmosphere isn't the greatest at Shopper's (reminds me of a military commissary); but the prices are pretty damn good...and no card to worry about. Too bad I had to put away my cereal...because they don't sell my Silk!!! Guess I'm going to have to resort to another store for that...most likely Target.

Besides that, I did absolutely nothing on Christmas day...and liked it. I just lounged around the apartment with an HD fireplace on my TV playing Holiday favorites. LOL

One week down...

So, I finished my first week at work. Not much to get into...but man do I love my commute. If I hit elevators just right I can be at my office or at my apartment in < 5 minutes! All without stepping outside!

Anyways, I basically have a 4 day weekend...and should be going back home (757) for at least Sat/Sun. Trying to avoid some of the peak driving times (plus I've been wanting to sleep in here at my new place), hence why I'm not leaving tonight.

Ahhh...Comcast.

Well, everyone who knows me, knows I value the internet over TV. Well, a Comcast tech came out tonight for my install. The crappy thing is that they only had me down for the HDTV box...no internet (or phone...but that I don't care about as much). So anyways, my account is so new with them, that I have to wait a day or two for ordering a self-install kit.

Anyways...thanks to the "mommy" network for the free WiFi access.

As for the job, it's going well. In fact, my company should be providing a free lunch tomorrow at a nice little restaurant in the underground.

99% Moved In!

Well, after much help from my parents, Aaron, Mark, JB, Bean, Dan, Bobby (And his friend Annette), I'm finally up in Arlington, Virginia. I want to keep this short since I'm actually on someone else's WiFi (LOL)...so yeah, I'm a tiny bit depressed that I moved away from the "home" area; but I know this is for bigger and better things. After all, home is only 2.5 hours away, and I'm still in the same state...and I have at least 2 good friends here and look forward to meeting many more.

Oh, and here's a sunset shot from my 10th floor window for you all to enjoy/drool/do-whatever-over.



Finally, the best part...I start work tomorrow! Updates on that to come when they are relevant.

Keys In Hand

Well, went up to Northern VA today to pick up the keys to the new apartment. I can't get over how huge this place is...then again, it's almost 200 more square feet than the current Yorktown apartment. Of course, the rent is almost twice as much...but hey...I love it so far. So outside of a nice crack developing in my windshield, today was a good day. Enjoy some shots of the barren apartment. The big move is Saturday and start work on Monday. Woot!

Click below to see the pictures.

Crystal City Apartment 12/12/07 11:27 PM

Found my new place to sleep!

So, after much research done on the internet I made the trip up to Arlington, VA today to look at apartments (with my Dad in tow). After a tough decision between a studio and a 1 bedroom (yes, I'm telling the truth; they both had great qualities), I chose a 1 bedroom. I can't remember what floor it was on again...but for some reason I'm thinking the 10th. Anyways, the rent isn't cheap...but hey it is the DC area...and it is in a nice area. But I will be working in the next building over...so guess what? No commute and no filling up the gas tank at least once a week. Anyways, I move there next Saturday...and start my new job 2 days later.

Here's the link to the apartments if you'd like to check it out.


Finally!!!

Piece by piece

Went out and bought some spackle today. Then proceeded to take down all my pictures on the wall and fill them with the aforementioned goopy stuff. Man, bare walls looks so depressing. Yet, this is just one less thing I got to do when I move out of here.

Fax Run

So, yesterday I had to fax some paperwork back to my prospective employer. I was feeling guilty about mooching fax machine time at someone else's job, so I went out to look for a retail fax location. Well, I ended up at a UPS Store and wouldn't you know it? It was a $1/page to fax...and I was faxing 14 pages! Ouchies.

Oh, and I see myself doing the big move to DC next weekend.

Update #3

Well, I have decided to accept the offer I received yesterday. Tomorrow I'll try to get some more specifics, such as when I'll start and such. Then this weekend calls for a trip up to DC to search for Mikey's new place to live.

Update #2

Well, if you haven't already heard...I came back from my run today to find a nice little email in my inbox. I've been officially offered the job I really wanted in Crystal City (Arlington, VA). I will make my mind up by mid-day tomorrow on whether or not to accept. Basically meaning I'm going to sleep on it...well not on it literally, that would bend the papers all to heck. LOL

Update #1 for the week

So, I was turned down for the Ft. Belvoir job today. Still awaiting news from the job I wanted the most (Crystal City). Though I'm not one to rest on my laurels, I registered for 2 DC-area jobs fairs, one this Thursday and next Thursday. This is starting to get crazy...and entering the last month in my apartment is only going to make this more fun.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Well, I have a few things to give thanks for this year; but I will leave it @ these two:

1. I'm thankful I planned ahead and had money set aside before I left the Air Force and became jobless for longer than I thought I would be. (Update: my 2 NoVA interviews went well, hoping to hear back with offers at the beginning of next week.)

2. I'm very thankful for our veterans and those still serving in the US Military. Many have sacrificed; and many continue to do so everyday. Please take some out today between family, food, and football to think of those out there in harms way. :)

Jobssss

An update for you all...I have finally have some momentum going with this job search. I don't have 1, but 2 interviews in the Northern VA area on Monday!!!

One job is in Crystal City and the other at Ft. Belvoir. I'm kind of torn on which one I'd rather have (pretty much the same type of job). More updates to come after the fact!

My "First" Veteran's Day

...And it couldn't come at a worse time for me. Well, perhaps worse is too strong a word...but I'll try to tell you what I mean. Those who've been around me since I was approved for the early out from the Air Force know I've had doubts about my decision. Those doubts could go away once I finally start working; but alas, I'm still on the job search. So with my days of countless internet job searching, studying for A+ certification, and general stresses associated with these tasks...it hasn't been easy giving up the military. Still living so close to Langley AFB doesn't help matters either. I see the uniforms everyday in my apartment complex and in the local places of business. Not to mention the sounds of Raptors and Eagles flying overhead. All constant reminders of what I gave up.

That being said...I'm officially saying that I regret my decision. I think the decision was made based on peers leaving the military and me thinking I needed to do the same. Heck, being Iraq was a tiny part of it as well...not a huge factor, but certainly a detractor. Now some of you will still want to spout your line about "your opinion will change when you start working", and that may be true. Not a 100 percent true though...because I know for certain no matter how much I love that future job and things like growing facial hair...a part of me will still long for the feel of slipping on the uniform and going to work with men & women who everyday sacrifice a bit of themselves so the rest of us can enjoy life's freedoms.

So on this Veteran's Day...please think of all those service members: past, present, and future.

Little Weekend Vacay

My Dad and I drove out to Rocky Mount, VA for a visit with my Aunt Tammy and Uncle Jim. It was a great visit minus the pouring rain on the 5+ hour trip out that way. That being said, I finally was able to see something I've been meaning to check out for quite a while. That would be the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, VA. The link below will send you to the photos I took of that visit. We also drove a segment of the Blue Ridge Parkway, which was also very beautiful even as we began to lose sunlight.

National D-Day Memorial

Oh, my Dad and I both agreed that visiting that memorial made us both want to put our uniforms back on!

Job Update: None yet...applying for NoVA/DC jobs this week.

Ummm....no.

So I applied with a job with Canon's Tech Support team...and was quoted 11-12 an hour. Yeah, no thanks. So, barring any other calls before Thursday, I will attend a job fair in Hampton. Then if nothing good comes from that, NoVA jobs will be applied for next week.

Just because it's been awhile.

Update: Still no job

Why: Because the IT market here sucks and I still haven't applied for a job in the NoVA/DC area yet. I know I keep saying this; but Hampton Roads gets one more chance. There is a job fair in Hampton on the 25th that I will be attending in full force. If nothing promising comes from that, then I'm going to start applying to jobs in the northern part of the state that following Monday. I'm getting tired of sitting around the house not trying to spend money...I want to relieve the boredom. Not to mention get a paycheck again.

Did I mention, I hate HR people who call you, it sounds promising over the phone. They then say "I'll call you back later today or tomorrow." Well that's happened over 5 times to me in the last few weeks. False leads suck. Oh well...time to see what's good for this weekend.

Such Fun

Well, here's an update on the job search. It's not going well at all. Sure, I've gotten a few calls; but never a call back after that initial one. So yeah, I'm going to step away from this for the weekend and focus on something else. Hopefully something fun and/or exciting. Yeah, I have the nest egg in full effect; but I don't want to just run through it like no one's business. I still think that limiting myself to the Hampton Roads area is hurting my search...so after many threats, Monday I will start applying for jobs in the Richmond area.

Bah...

The REAL last day in the Air Force

Well, today is officially my last day in the US Air Force. I actually received my discharge certificate today to make it hit home even more. Oh, and here's some stone cold honesty...I think I made a mistake going civilian. No, I don't think I'll change my mind when I finally start working...it's just the AF was alright in my book. I seem to think I got out more because of all my friends jumping/jumped ship and not because I 100% wanted to. Yet, again, I've made the choice...and I need to keep the head up and just get working to get my mind off the Air Force.

SSgt Michael Lynch
United States Air Force
1998-2007

Duty History:
1998-2001 - Pentagon, Washington DC
2001-2002 - Kunsan AB, S. Korea (my favorite year in the AF)
2002-2007 - Langley AFB, VA
2002 - United Arab Emirates
2005 - Qatar
2006-2007 Baghdad, Iraq

Long time, no post.

Anyways, here's the down and dirty. My birthday was last week and after finally deciding to celebrate it by having a little party at a martini bar in Virginia Beach, things decided to turn sour. First, I wake up the morning of my big day with a cough (little did I know what this was foretelling. I had a cool meal made by mom at the family's house, and then went with Aaron to Bailey's for a beer.

That night I get no sleep...and next thing I know, it's Sunday before I even leave the apartment again (birthday was Thursday, party was going to be Saturday night). I was sick with I would like to think is some flu like symptoms that literally kicked my ass around a bit. This also put a hamper on the job search too...since I missed an important call that Friday.

No worries though...I'm 2 days ways from my official discharge date from the Air Force and I'm not that nervous...still have leads and a nest egg. Oh, and I'm still limiting my search to here..although come mid-Oct if nothing is lined up, DC it is.

-Mikey

News on the job front

After a promising initial interview yesterday (and a even a few tests to take at home), I waited all day to hear a call back for a full interview. This isn't just for one position though...and you'll be happy to know that they are both in the Hampton Roads area. One in Williamsburg and the other in Virginia Beach. Oh well, here's to getting a call on my lucky day.

Speaking of which, I'll wake up tomorrow 29 years old. Ugh. I don't feel that old...but numbers don't lie. LOL

-Mikey

Quick DC Trip

So, I went up to DC on the spur of the moment on Saturday to hang out with Dan. You know what, it could be the awesome place Dan and Bobby have in Crystal City...but you guessed it. I'm thinking I would like to live there again. I think it's time to open up the job search...especially since things aren't going well down here search wise.

-mikey

Tried it on

Well, here is the suit in all it's glory. Money well spent if you ask me...now I just need to get some interviews set up.

On a side note, I have my follow up with the hospital tomorrow, regarding the surgery. I honestly feel 95% back to my normal self...although I hate the look of the scar. Although, due to its location, not many people will ever get to see it. haha

-Mikey

I did it.

I did it...I just buckled down and got the iPhone. Wanted to grab a now-discontinued 4GB before they flew off the shelves. I'm in love and the GTI has competition for my affections (such is the life a single gadget freak). Alright...so no more toys outside of Halo 3 until I get that new job.

Which by the way, could be in D.C. I'm officially opening that option up in the next week or two if nothing happens down here.

-mikey

*sigh* I love/hate Apple.

Man...so they announced all kinds of new iPods today. I kinda like the new nano...but the kicker is the the iPhone price drops. Man, I would be all over that if I had employment lined up.

I escaped!

Well, I finally made it out of the apartment on my own today. It was only a short visit to the parents' house in my finest gym attire (only wearing that because jeans bothered me). But the GTI got some driving action in and I got to hit up Wendy's on the way home for a nice salad and change of pace.

Now it's time for me to really get on the ball with this job search thing...so here goes nothing!

Wheeee

So yeah...here it is, like 2 days later...and the soreness is kind of dying down. Although the Percocet they gave me for the pain could have a lot to do with that. That drug creates an interesting feeling...kind of like one is drunk from alcohol, without actually drinking. Well, back to just sitting around the apartment...fun.

-Mikey

Post Surgery

Surgery went well...I'm on some good drugs. Now I can't go anywhere for at least 3-4 days. So yeah time for some cabin fever to kick in.

Pre-Surgery Update

Well, here it is, the night before my surgery. For those that don't know I developed a hernia due to my overzealousness at the gym in Baghdad. Well, it's going to get repaired tomorrow...and I have to be there @ 5:30 AM. So let's see how much sleep I can actually get tonight. Although with the way I'll be feeling post-op I have a feeling I will be able to get all the sleep I want tomorrow. I'll try to throw an update up as soon as I feel up to it.

Welcome!

Hey!

I figured it was about time to start a blog up again; but this time do it to share with friends and family. Now, I've done this off and on through other sites (most recently MySpace); but either never shared the link with anyone or it was open only to users of that particular site. Not this time though, this one is in full view of the public (at least for now)!

Let me start off by just letting you know that a blog is basically a journal, or diary if you will. This will be something for you to check whenever you feel like it see what's going in my world. I know I'm not always good with calling and emailing people so I hope this will fill that void. It's perfect for an on-the-go guy like me who also spends maybe too much time on the internet.

Anyways, I hope you enjoy it!

-Michael/Mike/Mikey