My brother reminded me that my flight home to Philly is on the Mayan end-of-the-world day, Dec 21, 2012. So, if Philly is still there and not overrun by zombies I'll be home for Christmas.
I've only been a dad for 2 months and now 10PM is late, even though Jane and I will be up at Midnight, 1:30, 4AM...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. It is amazing how tired you can get caring for an infant that sleeps 16 hours a day. Robbie is now 21&1/2 inches long and about 4-5 inches tall. He would be 21&1/2 inches tall but he can't stand up.
So here is my top 3 things I didn't expect to happen this year, but they did.
1) Jane and I had a son! ...and man is he funny looking ;)
2) I moved to Texas yall. If you have to ask, I've gone to see a man about a horse.
3) After becoming a dad Jane bought me a 600cc Honda Shadow. Usually guys have to sell their motorcycles when they have kids. I also have life insurance for the first time...humm.
People ask me if I like Texas...I like it more in the winter than the summer. We have found a good church community called Community Church. I have eaten some mighty fine brisket. I live in a town that is completely obsessed with football...A&M is in the SEC and the 12th man got a Heisman Trophy. Well it is either football or go to the George Bush Library and museum every weekend. (actually I haven't been yet and I kind of want to go)
Okay this is life update so: if you want to know about my family...mostly my new born go to section A, If you want to know about my Job go to section B, if you want to know about my adventures in Texas go to section C. If you don't care about any of this unfriend me.
Section A: Family
So I almost named my son Bhutan Enoch. Bhutan because that is the country that invented the Happiness Index as an alternative to GDP for viewing country success. Enoch because he is my favorite biblical character. In my bible growing up it only had two sentences about him (not including getting begotton) it said, "Enoch walked with God. Then God took him." I like it. It is simple and clean. Then I found out that in order to visit the country of Bhutan you have to pay a $250 a day tourist tax. How much would it suck not to be able to afford visiting the country you are named after. Also people keep telling me that Enoch wrote some apocryphal book or something, so that whole name got crossed of the list. Alternate names included Albert Franklin or Buckmister Nicoli for the future brainiac, a strong name Alexander Genghis Sherman (all know for burning villages) and Smart, because we thought it would be funny when our son introduces himself to the teacher on the first day of school, "Hi, I'm Smart." In the End I decided to name my son after his grandfathers hence Robert Johnathan. He will have to be smart, and strong and kind to live up to his name. Jane and I call him Robbie, but I am sure if we stay in Texas he will be an RJ. Oh well...more baby stories if I see you in person. I'll try not to bore you to death with long winded explanations about diaper changing, but consider yourselves warned.
Jane is doing great. She is one tough woman. Jane endured 36 hours of labor and then her face was paralyzed (Bell's Palsy)...but it got better. She is a really good mother. Other than that on the family front I am far away from many people that I love dearly in the Northeast. However, I am close to my in-laws and just a few hours away from my cousins Janette and Tod Hunter with their two awesome kids Margret and Zacary.
It has been a pretty busy 5 months. Working with the CEO is fun. I am never bored. I have a lot to learn and this a great opportunity. I am definitely using the MBA. Started off with marketing and strategy, working my way through the Dolan framework. Then I did some HR stuff: leadership assessments, performance reviews, staffing and compensation system adjustments. Also, I have been doing administrative work on DOE grant funded
research project. Recently I spent the bulk of my time working on process flow in production,5s/6 sigma sort of stuff. I probably most enjoying helping set up some customer service business intelligence software and working with R&D project management. Or maybe it was driving a forklift that was the most fun. Next, I need to learn electronics repair, Chinese and master my ping pong backhand. Really this is important.
Section C: Texas.
Everything really is bigger here. Well at least the trucks and chicken fried steak. When they say dinner plate size, they really mean it takes a whole serving plate. The heart attack it totally worth it.
I am in College Station which is sort of like living at Penn State Main, except I live outside of town. My neighbors include the donkey lady, her husband who runs the
Texas World Speedway, a crazy red neck that runs a trailer park and protects his land from a well armed golf cart, and flee market through the woods. They don't sell fleas but they do have bang'n kettle corn. Donkeys make load noises at 11PM that sound like cats having sex. On Saturday morning you can hear the vrroooom, vroom of the race cars going around the track at about 160 MPH. There is also a Winery down the road a bit. I have spent a little time there. The one neighbor I actually talk to is my sister-in-law, Mindy. She is pretty great. Jane and I have dinner with Mindy a few times a week.
College Station in town, other than the college, is pretty much one big never ending strip mall that could be anywhere in America. It is right next to
Bryan Texas, the county seat. Bryan has a community college and a cool little arts and restaurant scene. Jane has been going to a few life drawing session at the
Frame Gallery in Bryan. Gretta, who owns the Frame Gallery got all the shop owners on main street to organize a First Friday art and culture night that happens every month. We pretty much go every month without fail. There is always great live music on every corner and people really have a good time. If you ever come visit me, come on the first weekend of the month so I can take you out for First Friday.
Another huge selling point: Movies are only $5. Even without the student discount. Before Robbie was born I saw every movie I wanted to. Oops, I promised adventure stories...but those are better word of mouth...sorry no spoilers.
Well this my version of a Christmas Letter, so God Bless Us Everyone!
-Matt
It is 80 degree here in December.
I am going for the blue on blue look.
Wow, that was a hell of a last two years...grad school, marriage (to this hot chick I met in an art gallery), Iceland (that volcano wasn't our fault...Jane just kicked a little rock), India (got hugged by 300 drunk men on new years eve), Route 1 in a convertible (checked out a house in Malibu...$23K per month), bought a house in South Philly (much less than 23K per month), wrecked a car (crazy bad rain), joined a church (God first), buried my grandfather(RIP), four internships, and I'm not that tired. Actually I'm sort of thinking that life is good. I might start a company, or a nation state or write a book...in my spare time...Maybe next year
I am not alone, I have never been alone and I will never be alone. The world is absorbed through my eyes, ears, skin, tongue and nose. The world is filtered through my memories, ideals, paradigms, context and dreams. My life is defined by my family, community, friends, enemies and teachers. My actions and governed by my habits, beliefs, principles, and expectations. Before this I was with God. After this I will be with God. Now I am with God. On Saturday Jane and I celebrated with family, friends, and community our commitment to each other. Thank you to all that shared in our joy. Thank you to those that traveled from near and far, and those that were with us in spirit. Thank you to each person that helped us with the wedding. Thank you to each person that has helped us in life up to this point. Most of all thanks be to God who has given us all the gift of life to share is good times and bad, sickness and health, when we are full and when we are hungry. Thanks for the opportunity to love. - 5 minutes in my head & my <3
