rikig1969's LiveJournal

OK, now I am excited to see this movie!

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 05:08:55 GMT

I am soooo looking forward to this movie now!

Special Comment on Gay Marriage ~ Keith Olbermann

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 06:00:04 GMT

OK, so I haven't posted in a while

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 05:43:45 GMT

Well, I haven't posted since we've moved, and it's been a little while.

The move went well. We moved into a two-bedroom apartment in the South Hill area of Spokane. We're getting settled into our new place nicely, hopefully we'll get some pictures taken and posted for everyone to see. The neighborhood is really friendly, and it's only a 15 minute bus ride to work. :)

The job is going well too, getting settled into the new environment. While I am doing pretty much the same thing I was doing in SLC, I am working for a different company (albeit for the same client), so there are differences that have taken some getting used to.

I can't think of anything else right now, but I will try and update more again soon! (I know, I know, I say that every time I post something!)

See ya soon!
- Richard

It's Official, We're Moving to Spokane

Sat, 13 Sep 2008 16:42:44 GMT

Well, it is finally official, so I can let everyone know. I received the official offer yesterday, and I have accepted it.

We are moving to Spokane, WA. It is a job-related move.

For those who don't know, I work for a call center, and the way call centers work is that they are contracted by different companies to handle their customer service (or tech support, or bill collecting, or order processing, etc.). The company that I worked on has taken their business to a different center in another state.

I was in a unique position to where I didn't simply take calls, but supported the client in a number of other ways. I decided to persue the option of working for this new center, continuing doing what I am doing for this client. The client is very familiar with my work, and was supportive of me doing this. (Another one of my co-workers also persued this same option, and she is there already.)

So it finally became official yesterday. Mike and I will be moving to Spokane. I will be going up there in a week, and I will be staying for a bit with the co-worker who's there already, while I locate a place for us to live. Mike will be taking care of getting things settled down here in SLC, and once I find a place for us, will be joining me.

I will be updating my info with everyone once we get settled in up there.

I want to keep in touch with all the friends I have made here in Utah, and I look forward to all the new friends I will make in Washington.

Later,

Richard :)

Back, and tired

Sun, 25 May 2008 05:49:12 GMT

Hey everyone, I'm back home, but a bit tired from the bus travel back from L.A. I will post more tomorrow, once I get some sleep. ;)

Later,

Richard

Halfway thru the cruise

Thu, 22 May 2008 01:56:58 GMT

The cruise is half over... we were unable to stop in Catalina, so it's a day at sea, then on to Ensenada. San Diego was nice, we toured the USS Midway, which was a lot of fun. :)
Since I'm paying 55¢ a minute on this thing, I'll post more when I get home.
Talk with you all soon!
Richard :)

Off to my cruise!

Sat, 17 May 2008 19:04:57 GMT

Hey Everyone!

I just wanted to let everyone know that I'm off cruising this week! Heading out of L.A. on Royal Caribbean! I'm not sure how much internet access I'll have, so I may not be able to update while I'm gone like I did on my Virginia trip.

See you all in a week!

Richard :)

My birthday and such

Wed, 07 May 2008 05:56:13 GMT

Well, today I turn 39, and I'd say, all in all, the past year has been pretty good.

I normally would take my birthday off, but today I'm working, since I took a week or so off last month to go to Virginia, and in a week and a half I'm going on a cruise. :)

I haven't got the Virginia pics posted yet, mainly due to our getting things together and ready for the cruise. I shall try to get those posted for everyone's enjoyment before I leave.

Here's looking to the start of a brand new year, and that this one is just as good as the last one.

Later,

Richard

Back to work and such

Sun, 27 Apr 2008 00:27:28 GMT

OK, since I did such a good job at keeping up on this thing while I was on vacation, I'm going to try and continue to do so now that I'm back.

I've been back to work now for a couple of days, and so far, it's the same old stuff... no big changes occured while I was gone. (Sometimes it seems there are major changes, either while I'm away on, or when I get back from, a vacation. This one seems to have bucked the trend, maybe because the vacation itself was so eventful.)

Today in SLC marked the opening of the new FrontRunner rail train from Salt Lake to Ogden. We went down to the opening ceremonies and got a couple of pictures (and a couple of nice freebies). We decided however to wait to do the free rides until early next week, as they were expecting huge waits in line just to ride it.

I will try and work on getting my vacation pictures posted tomorrow.

Until then,

Richard :)

Back in SLC

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 04:38:26 GMT

I made it back safe and sound. It was an uneventful drive to BWI, and an uneventful flight.

I will work this weekend to get some pics and such posted, as I do need to be at work in the morning.

Last full day in VA

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 03:43:37 GMT

Today was a lot of fun. It started with eating lunch with my mom and my best friend Rita, at Macadoo's, a restaurant where my step-sister, Crissy, works. It was nice to eat there, and spend time with them. I am so proud of Crissy now, she has definately gotten more mature since she moved out on her own.

After lunch, Rita and I went and hung out at the mall for a bit (boy has that area changed since I was last here), and then went to the bowling alley... we ended up playing pool since there was league play going on. Pool was a lot of fun! We ended up staying there for a few hours playing.

We then went and grabbed a bite to eat at Hardee's and grabbed a couple of things at Kroger that I'm taking back to SLC with me.

Tomorrow is the drive to BWI airport, and the flight back.

I miss Virginia already, and I haven't even left yet.

- Richard

Today with Dad

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 04:16:50 GMT

Today was a very good day with my father. We first went to take my brother back to his foster home (for those who do not know, my brother is autistic, and has been in foster care almost his whole life).

We then went to visit my papaw in the Veterans home. He is doing as well as can be expected since mamaw passed away.

I then had dinner with my dad and step-mom.

After that I hung out with Rita, whom I've known since grade school. Other than Mike, she is probably the person I'm closest to, and has always been a dear friend to me. I'll be hanging out with her tomorrow too.

All in all, a good day with family and friends.

:) Richard

At my mom's

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 05:28:27 GMT

It was a good day today. I am feeling much better today after the allergic reaction I had yesterday.

My mom invited a number of family over today, so it was like a mini family reunion, which was very nice. Generally we make the trip to visit the family members, this time they came here. So we all got to visit with each other, and it was very good to be around family. I will be posting pictures from the trip when I get back.

Tomorrow should be a good day too. I will be spending some time with my dad, and we'll visit my papaw tomorrow.

It's getting late, and I'll be getting to bed shortly, so I will post more tomorrow.

Richard

Trip to the ER :(

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:18:33 GMT

Well, I made it to Missouri and had a good time, and then on to Knoxville, where I also have fun!

On the other hand... I woke up this morning to finding it very difficult to breathe, my uvula had swollen up. The only thing I can attribute it to is that I had an allergic reaction to a wool-like blanket I was sleeping under. Anyway. I ended up having Cris take me over to the ER to get it checked out, and sure enough, it was an allergic reaction to something. I got some meds for it (thank God for Walgreens being nationwide!), so things are better and I can breathe again, I'm just gonna be a little out of it with the medication. Fortunately today's drive is only about 3.5 hours or so, and Jeff is doing the driving. I'll update again when I get to my mom's.

Take care,

- Richard

Stuck in Denver

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 23:19:02 GMT

We're stuck in Denver due to car repairs, so we're a day behind.

It sucks, but what can you do? :(

On the road to Virginia

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 15:59:42 GMT

I'll be on the road shortly to Virginia, passing thru Denver, Kansas City, and Knoxville.

I'm excited to be able to make this trip.

:)

See ya soon
- Richard

Road trip to Virginia!

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 18:48:41 GMT

I have my trip plans to Virginia next month set.

A friend of mine and I are driving to Virginia, he's heading out to paint his sister's house, so he invited me along. I was able to swing getting the time off, so I'm riding out with him.

We'll be on the road from the 14th to the 17th, and I'll be at my mom's until the 22nd, when I fly back.

So needless to say, I'm happy to be able to get back for a short visit!

Not sure exactly how much free time I'll have while I'm there, but I'd be interested in meeting new friends along the way and while I'm there. If you're interested, give me a holler! :)

- Richard

We've booked our next cruise!

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 06:21:21 GMT

Well, we have booked our next cruise! This time it will be on Royal Caribbean's Monarch of the Seas, on May 19th. We thought we'd give them a try. This is going to be a lot of fun, and we can't wait!

Like irishchub said, everyone else is doing it! ;)

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 01:21:02 GMT

create your own visited states map
or check out these Google Hacks.

Looks like I've been to about half the US, right across the middle. May get the opportunity to add a couple more to that this year. ;)

Anyone with Flickr?

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 08:14:29 GMT

Anyone with a Flickr account? If so, add me, and I'll add you.

http://www.flickr.com/people/rikig1969/

I'm going to start using it to share pictures, so I would like to be able to share them with plenty of friends.

- Richard

Evacuation at work

Fri, 15 Feb 2008 07:39:56 GMT

I must say that today was one of the more interesting days I've had at work.

About an hour or so after I got there, we started to smell this really strong odor. Then one of my friends fainted, and we called 911. We got him outside for some fresh air, and a few of my other friends came out for air too. By this point, the firemen arrived, and we were told we had to evacuate the building. (This is a call center, mind you, so that meant no one was left to answer the phones.) Some of my friends ended up going to the hospital, but they were there for only a little while, and are doing OK now.

It turns out that someone had started the four-wheeler snow blower while still inside the facilities area. Somehow the exhaust got in the venelation system, which caused carbon monoxide levels in the building to go sky high.

We were out of the building for about an hour or so, maybe a little longer.

If you want to see more about it, check here for the local news story:

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=2663182

Everyone is OK now, which is a relief.

Where I slept in 2007

Sat, 02 Feb 2008 20:40:36 GMT

This meme was going around a while back, so I thought I'd finally get around to doing it too.

Here are the places where I slept in 2007:

Riner, VA (near Christiansburg, where my mom lives, started the year there actually, attending my grandmother's funeral)
Salt Lake City, UT (where I live)

vacation #1
Barstow, CA (Motel 6, on way to vacation)
aboard the cruise ship Diamond Princess (7 nights)
St. George, CA (Motel 6, on the return trip)

vacation #2
Barstow, CA (again! same Motel 6)
San Diego, CA (Best Western)
aboard the cruise ship Carnival Elation (5 nights)
Las Vegas, NV (on the return)

It'll be interesting to see where 2008 will bring me.

Interesting little surveys.... :)

Sat, 02 Feb 2008 20:03:43 GMT

What Your Bathroom Habits Say About You

You are a very considerate person, but that doesn't mean you let people walk all over you.

Your idea of fashion is jeans and a t-shirt. Clean, if you're lucky.

You have the perfect blend of confidence and class. You're proud of who you are - but you don't broadcast it.

In relationships, you tend to be very romantic and demanding. You'll treat your partner like gold, but you expect a lot in return.

What Do Your Bathroom Habits Say About You?

Now, this fits me, as green is my favorite color.

You Are a Green Crayon

Your world is colored in harmonious, peaceful, natural colors.
While some may associate green with money, you are one of the least materialistic people around.
Comfort is important to you. You like to feel as relaxed as possible - and you try to make others feel at ease.
You're very happy with who you are, and it certainly shows!

Your color wheel opposite is red. Every time you feel grounded, a red person does their best to shake you.

What Color Crayon Are You?

I may have to give Mai Tai's a try, as I usually have Sex On The Beach... the comments are pretty spot on for me though.

You Are a Mai Tai

You aren't a big drinker, but you'll drink if the atmosphere is festive.
And when you're drunk, watch out! You're easily carried away.

What Mixed Drink Are You?

Travel Expo follow-up

Tue, 29 Jan 2008 06:17:24 GMT

The travel expo I told you about Friday was a pretty decent show. A very good turn-out of vendors. We picked up 2008 books from all the major cruise lines, which is what we mainly wanted. We sat in on a couple of seminars (HAL, Carnival, and Princess), and got some decent information from them. We would have went to the NCL one, but it was cancelled due to their stuff getting shipped to a show in Denver instead.

We didn't make any bookings yet, the specials we were seeing (which included air and in some cases a one-night hotel stay) didn't seem to be all that great. We weren't ready to actually book yet anyway, we need to get our taxes done first to see what that brings us.

We did enjoy it though, it was the first one we've actually been to. We picked up some little trinkets and such in addition to the books, and won a little something at the bingo.

- Richard

Travel Expo! Woo-hoo! :)

Fri, 25 Jan 2008 07:26:24 GMT

We'll be going to a travel expo this weekend, that a local travel company (Morris Murdock Travel, http://www.morrismurdock.com) is putting on. We are so looking forward to it, it should be a lot of fun, and we'll be getting lots of information. After this weekend's show, we'll probably start doing some serious planning for our next cruise. More on that as plans progress!