Finally, some peace

Work has been a bit hectic the last few months because I was in what they call the "on-boarding" phase, or the training cycle. I was following people around, learning their jobs and entirely dependent on their schedules. Some worked 1st shift, others 2nd, and one guy worked 3rd. I haven't been able to settle into a routine, and most importantly, I haven't been in control of my own time. As of this last Monday, I started my own shift (2nd shift), and I am free to spend my time as I see fit.

So, now that I have a steady schedule and am now in control of my own time, what lies in my future? First off, I intend to enroll in classes at Univeristy of Texas at Arlington in the Fall (which starts in August) and take my first steps toward completing an Electrical Engineering degree. Second, I intend to update my blog a bit more regularly (like I used to). Third, I am going to write my book and post it on Authonomy, a site recommended by friend Captain Joe. I'll keep you posted on my progress, and hope to have something readable by my birthday (August).

Cheers, people, and best wishes!

-Sailor Matt

Firefly, etc.

I've owned the TV series Firefly for well over a year now, having purchased it with a Target gift card I received for Christmas in 2007, and until now I still hadn't watched it. I knew all the chatter- I heard all about how it's one of the greatest science fiction television shows ever created, but still I procrastinated (take note, Mr. Logan). One major issue is that I don't like to just throw on a show in the afternoon. I need to set the mood, to create an experience out of it. It's almost like I'm taking the show out on a date. There usually needs to be food, hopefully a desert included, and preferably some alcohol as well (I love my craft beers). If I don't take the time to make this viewing an actual 'event', I feel like I'm just turning it on because I have nothing else to do, which makes me feel like I'm wasting my time, which I utterly hate. HATE. HATE!

So, I never got around to watching Firefly, specifically because my prime TV-watching time is in the evening with my wife, and she would never ever ever want to watch a silly sci-fi show like Firefly (she actually tells me this)- although, for some reason, she enjoys Heroes and Lost. Go figure. An interesting thing, though... her cousin told her a while back that she thinks she'd probably like the show because it's not your typical sci-fi/Star Trek-ish kind of stuff. So, my wife finally agrees to watch Firefly with me. Additionally, this coincides with our 'pizza night', which is an extra, doubley awesome bonus! You see, every Saturday night the wife and I spend time together making a homemade pizza, and since nothing good is ever on TV on Saturday evenings, we usually watch TV series DVD's: We've seen the first two seasons of Rome (which are phenomenal) and the first two seasons of Eureka, and now we're watching Firefly. Somebody pinch me, I think I'm dreaming!

Sadly, we're creeping up on the end of Firefly, with only two episodes left. We usually catch two episodes a night, so we've got next week covered. Then we have the movie Serenity, which will cover the week after that. Which TV series will the wife and I pick up next? We both really like Big Love, so that may be a possibility, and her brother definitely recommends Deadwood, so we might try that. True Blood is definitely on the list, but I'm not sure if season one is out yet...

Anyway, there you have it- another little glipse into my quaint life. Take care, friends!

-Sailor Matt