Times like these

The Professor's Year in Review

This idea is straight up stolen, and there isn't anything I can say to explain why I am doing this other than... I love the idea!!!

January: Working in South Jersey and living in North Jersey. I get new wheel bearings put on my car that I bought just a month ago. I drive 92 miles to work each day so that I can snowboard for an hour in the evening. Thankfully I stayed a few nights and had some fun. "You read" was born on this month too and I had a wonderful conversation with some very nice friends, Preeti and Helen. We spoke about religion and all that jazz. I think this is the month that Helen and I drove back from the Residence Inn to the Hilton, and I was pulled over for speeding. Thank God they didn't notice the drunk part! However, they did notice the strangely suspended license. More on that later. Did I mention I stabbed my foot with a huge knife the month before?

February: I get that court date for the silly ticket. Apparently my license is suspended because I didn't turn in my NY plates when I moved into NJ. Boo. I find out at the end of this glorious month, on a Sunday, that I am to travel to Los Angeles and do some work at Warner Brothers. The entire project is independent consultants and IBM guys. Awkward! Tons of fun though and a gorgeous state. Too bad it was so last minute otherwise I would've planned to bring friends out. I start the NY apartment search.

March: Back in New York for a project and coincidentally, it is 15 minutes away from where I find my stupendous apartment! Working at CA was so much fun and I became addicted to Ping Pong and taking random breaks. I get my bonus and raise (or lack thereof) and begin to start a shitstorm. This project I got my first real Data Lead role and man was it cool. I felt so powerful and helpful because I was learning at a blazing rate and everyone needed my help! I had a great mentor though, Shankar. What a guy.

April: I move into my apartment and man do I love it. Kelly helps me unpack stuff and get things situated. It feels good to be so close to her. Traveling all of the time is difficult, especially when you travel all week and all weekend. CA gets intense and I get shipped off to another project. Ironically, it is 15 minutes from where I used to live in New Jersey!

May: This project does not last long and I'm quickly scooted off elsewhere. I honestly can't even remember where exactly. All I can remember is that I performed the first ever uPerform server installation and man, what a bitch! I had the support of my department and company during this difficult task and man did I need it! I am walking in K-Mart and I bump into an old college friend, suitemate and fraternity brother (all in one). We reconnect and become good friends again.

June: Somehow, I end up in Canada working with a rude independent consultant from Kentucky. There was no real need for me to be up there, but I was still there for a week. I learned some software and returned back to the States to begin the shittiest project ever. I meet some of my fraternity brother's friends from Long Island and start to make some new friends of my own. I have guys to hang out with, people to drink beer with, friends to talk to and a wonderful girlfriend right down the street. Life is good.

July: The current project is driving me up a wall and I am doing everything I can to stay sane. JPMorgan gives me a call and wants to explore the possibility of bringing me in as a Project Manager. Nothing ever happens with that but I was still a bit flattered. Just for shits and giggles I put my resume out there to see who bites. I get a ton of bites, none really relevant. All of my Core buddies are over in CT working together and I can't wait to join them. Wait, not all, a couple. But I still wanted to go. And then I did.

August: Even as bad as KCP was, Swiss Army was bad. I worked the longest shift of my professional career (7:30 am to 1:00 am) but that was not to be outdone by the drama that ensued. Good fun in the end. Met Steve Arata from the company, the guy is amazing. His family is all Army devoted and they are just the most genuine and nice people I have met. Preeti and I take a journey for some liquor, and CT has the most terrible liquor laws ever. But we luck out. Sadly, I am sent back to KCP.

September: This was a big month. I had some important interviews as work was starting to overwhelm me. My girlfriend moves in and we get the most gorgeous puppy ever. The traveling starts to wear on me as I can see my health diminish. Asthma makes a nice rebound and comes back to hit me full force - good times. I make my final good bye's to RWD and it wasn't easy. I miss the atmosphere and the work a lot, but I don't miss the travel. Thankfully I am still in touch with the best people ever and we chill when we get a chance.

October: Birthday month is always fun, I met up with some of the Core in NYC and had a blast on Halloween. We bar hopped and restaurant searched all night. The new job isn't what I thought it would be as I find myself doing MIS type stuff. But I can't complain because I am learning some cool new stuff and I get to spend time with my lady and my puppy. My friends and I start our basketball league.

November: My basketball team sucks. We lose 4 games in a row and don't come close to winning. Thanksgiving was good fun as I ate a lot of food and spent time with good people. I am still in touch with my RWD Folks and I continue to miss them terribly. We make plans to hang out and I tend to suck at following through, but I try. Kelly and I try real hard to train Trot and we don't do a terrible job - but he still poops on my rug.

December: I get a chance to hang out with a lot of the Core as we celebrate my buddy's engagement (Preeti!). Christmas comes and goes and I am back at work. I have a ton of fun making some Secret Santa presents with the help of Kelly (you didn't think I did that all by myself did you?). Kelly and I have our first Christmas living together and we get to share it with our puppy Trot. He is so much fun and super adorable. He grows a lot and has such a wonderful personality. I start to talk to my brother more frequently and we can actually hold a normal conversation now. I just got a call from Kelly, Symbol wants to hire me. Hmmmmm... time to ponder.

posted by David Malloy @ 3:58 PM