Just another week in paradise...

Welp made it through another week in Texas. This work week was much better than last. They gave me things to work on. It made things go much better. Highlight of this week had to be getting my first pay stub. (its not a check because I have it directly deposited in my bank account)

I have to say it was a good feeling to see a comma in my paycheck. To tell the truth I never they knew they came with one in it. It was Friday that I realized what all of my work in college was for. It was a good feeling seeing numbers at the end of the week rather than letters.
This week had been a week of firsts my first paycheck, and I did my first load of laundry. Yes folks its true I somehow managed to get my laundry done AND folded. When I say I did the laundry. I mean I took it to the cleaners…..That’s the advantage of being on an expense account. Well I guess I am not quite grown up just yet.… maybe just maybe I will be able to find me a wife that will be willing to do that for me. (that sounds like a girl sport) While it was nice to have my laundry done I had a few issues with the end result. First they did not fold anything right. Second, they must not use the right detergent when washing my clothing because nothing smelled like home. I think next time I need clothing washed I will have them call Mom and see if they can figure out how to do it right.

Exciting news is that I will be home for Nathan Reid wedding June 19th and even better news is that work paid for my ticket home. I am still not sure why they paid for my ticket, but I am happy about it. Only 2 more weeks till I am home again. Can’t wait!

Mitchell left Friday morning so this next week I am on my own. Nothing like eating all meals by myself. So I will have to find someone else from work to eat with dinner with.

With my first pay check I did go and blow a bit of it on the Blackberry Storm and so far I love it. I am defiantly a nerd when it comes gadgets. It really is a cool phone does many things that I will probably never use. It makes for great reading when I have to visit, as Andrew calls it, “the office”.

The weekend as a whole was nothing too exciting went to the movies by myself now that was exciting… other than that and laying out by the pool I really did not do anything. Maybe I will have more exciting stuff next week.

Just another week in paradise...

Welp made it through another week in Texas. This work week was much better than last. They gave me things to work on. It made things go much better. Highlight of this week had to be getting my first pay stub. (its not a check because I have it directly deposited in my bank account)

I have to say it was a good feeling to see a comma in my paycheck. To tell the truth I never they knew they came with one in it. It was Friday that I realized what all of my work in college was for. It was a good feeling seeing numbers at the end of the week rather than letters.
This week had been a week of firsts my first paycheck, and I did my first load of laundry. Yes folks its true I somehow managed to get my laundry done AND folded. When I say I did the laundry. I mean I took it to the cleaners…..That’s the advantage of being on an expense account. Well I guess I am not quite grown up just yet.… maybe just maybe I will be able to find me a wife that will be willing to do that for me. (that sounds like a girl sport) While it was nice to have my laundry done I had a few issues with the end result. First they did not fold anything right. Second, they must not use the right detergent when washing my clothing because nothing smelled like home. I think next time I need clothing washed I will have them call Mom and see if they can figure out how to do it right.

Exciting news is that I will be home for Nathan Reid wedding June 19th and even better news is that work paid for my ticket home. I am still not sure why they paid for my ticket, but I am happy about it. Only 2 more weeks till I am home again. Can’t wait!

Mitchell left Friday morning so this next week I am on my own. Nothing like eating all meals by myself. So I will have to find someone else from work to eat with dinner with.

With my first pay check I did go and blow a bit of it on the Blackberry Storm and so far I love it. I am defiantly a nerd when it comes gadgets. It really is a cool phone does many things that I will probably never use. It makes for great reading when I have to visit, as Andrew calls it, “the office”.

The weekend as a whole was nothing too exciting went to the movies by myself now that was exciting… other than that and laying out by the pool I really did not do anything. Maybe I will have more exciting stuff next week.

First Weekend In Abilene

Well the weekend started out pretty well. Got off work at noon on Friday relaxed for the afternoon then went to Buffalo Wings for dinner with Mitchell and his brother. Mitchell is a guy I worked with this summer he is a year older than I am. Its a good feeling to be done for work week and have a long weekend to enjoy. Hey even if I am in Texas might as well make the best of it and find some cool things to do.

This week I found out that I may be in Texas a little longer that I first expected. I was told by the higher ups that I will probably be moving into a company apartment. I was also informed that at some point I would need to go back home and drive my car to Abilene. Now that sounds like a fun road trip. To tell the truth I would rather drive my car. The company truck that I have been driving is an old work truck that has a few issues. The steering wheel is covered in duct tape, the seats are all torn up and covered in dust, and the door does not shut properly. There is a constant air flow in the truck that comes from the door at all speeds sounds like the window is cracked. With all that being said if you are in Texas let me know need things to do on the weekend!

Saturday was a good day went to Frontier Texas. Frontier Texas is a walk through history ha ha. Its a museum that covers Texas history 1780 to 1880. If you make your way down to Abilene anytime in your life you should go to Frontier Texas. Its not great fun but it will kill close to 2 hours of your time. It would be a great things for boys to go to because every boy dreams of becoming a cowboy.

Saturday night I may have had the best steak in my life (part of the reason was that it was paid for by the company). Mitchell and I made the trip to the town of Buffalo Gap, population 4200, to visit Perini Ranch. In this small town there is a old cattle ranch that had the great idea to just throw together a restaurant.

When I say "throw together" I mean just that. There was nothing fancy about the place. Mitchell and I sat outside at a picnic table and dirt under our feet. The whole place had the feeling that you had just gotten off the range and were about to have some dinner before you hit the bunk house. The food was great and cook perfectly. Must say that it was a good day in the BIG state of Texas.

Sunday was nothing exciting just a small cook out with Mitchell and his brother. Had some more steak but nothing as good as Perini's. The highlight of Saturday had to be Megan and I figuring out Skype. Skype is a video phone that is free through the internet. Its pretty amazing that its free and so simple. If you have let me know or just give me a call on it sometime.

Monday was my first ever paid holiday! Nothing like not working and getting paid for it. Monday was more of the exciting life in Abilene. Went over to Mitchell's apartment and hung out out at the pool and blinded everyone with ungodly white chest. After getting slightly sun burned we headed to Prime Time Family Entertainment Center. At Prime Time we hit up the batting cages bowled and even played some laser tag. I found out that its a good thing that did not go after a careers in pro baseball in simple terms...... I suck. Bowing on the other hand I am much better still not good but able to play a respectable game. Pretty exciting day for a paid holiday.

I will say that my weekend in Abilene was pretty great got to do some fun things. I had a good time but sure miss the hills of Tennessee.

Greetings from the REPLUBIC of Texas

Well I am half way through my first week of work and I figured i would let everyone know how things were going. Just a little Texas Update.

Sunday was not the greatest day of my life. Megan took me to the airport and I def just had to tell her to leave with out too many words said. As I waited in the security line I was really questioning my my choice to head to Texas. It was a weird feeling fixing to fly away from everyone and everything that I known and loved. I was really wondering what i was doing... I mean come on I can't even wash my own clothing ha ha. But once I got on the flight I started to feel better about everything and no regrets. When I got to Dallas airport the airline had overbooked my flight to Abilene and were looking for people to take a later flight. Knowing that if

I got to Abilene 2 hours earlier all that would mean for me was 2 more hours of doing nothing. Needless to say I took the offer and got $200 in American Airlines dollars. (Megan wanted me to use that night to fly back home.)

Work for the most part has been nothing too exciting bet have met a lot of really nice people. I think that Lauren is going to be a great place to work for once I get settled in. My first night behind the wheel it took me about and hour and a half to get from work to my hotel (normal time is 20 min) I know what you are thinking "He should have taken his GPS, but that's the worst part I had GPS.. What I did not know is that the part of town I was staying in has been built up in the past year so no road or address were in the GPS. Word of advice don't always trust technology.

For the short time I have been in Texas I have come to notice a few things...

I don't think they make mid sized trucks in Texas EVERYONE has at LEAST a F150 or 1500 not TOYota as they call them.

People in Texas think that the University of Texas is the real UT even though I try to explain to them that their orange is a little too dark.

I know OSHA is a good thing and probably saves workers a lot of pain and suffering but having everyone take a 10 hour training session is not the best way to spend your work day. The craft workers kept telling me "it all pays the same" Personally I would rather spend my time doing something useful and productive.

If someone comes to the job site selling burritos out of a trunk of a 1990's Lincoln Towncar you don't get weirded out you fork over your 2 dollars and have one (I have yet to work up the courage to do so) Polish it off with a Mountain Dew and its a good day.

Tennessee roads are WONDERFUL. The roads down here are not kept up to the standards that Tennessee does. The road systems are just not as good as ours. Maybe that's why everyone drives big trucks

All in all I have had a good time so far I will try to keep everyone up to date with my adventures and the real world work life. Hope all is well