Silverline Security

The typical pattern for bloggers is to be gung ho about the blog, with regular updates, only to wane in the ensuing months. I appear to be falling into that group. To curb the trend, I'm writing a post this morning. I figured I would talk about my experience with summer sales and working in Virginia for 3 months with Silverline Security.

There were six technicians on the team: John Travis Hopkins, Austin Bridge, Nicholas Thomas Terry III, Chad Talbot, Eric Berg(see The Eric Post), and Me. Peter Lowe was our trusty manager who knocked and sold as well.

I didn't mind the actual work of installing security systems. What was hard for me was the lack of consistency. There were days when I'd install 4 systems(my record was 6) and other days where we would sit around all day and not get an install. We had to drive a lot. I put 12,000 miles on my Lexus in 3 months. Some days we would drive 80 miles to Richmond, sit at a McDonalds all afternoon, and then get one job at 8:30 at night. I prefer more structure, so that was a challenge. The main problem was simply not being busy enough. We had 6 amazing techs that could install quickly but not enough installs.

Now for the bad. The owner and co-owner of Silverline came out on July 27th. They told us that they were moving our office to Mississippi. When it was discovered that licensing in Mississippi takes a month, they simply shut down our office. Shutting down our office a month early basically kept all of us from hitting the next level of the pay scale along with rent and experience bonuses. This wasn't very kind of Silverline.

I am yet to be paid for a couple jobs and time will tell if a backend check comes in October and if the backend is accurate. I love the guys I worked with, I loved living in Virginia and had some awesome experiences, and I'm glad I made the decision to go. The next blog post will explain a little more about the great things that came out of living in Virginia!

P.S. One more thing, Chad may look bigger and tougher, especially in that truck of his...but we all know that Chad was scared of me and never wanted to mess.

Goodbye Eric!

My trusty friend and roommate Eric Berg has moved back home.

Eric was a great roommate for these reasons:

1. He let me sport my birthday suit, only throwing sandals at me once or twice.

2. He allowed me to hang my shirts all over the furniture for 48 hours before telling me to get a clothes rack.

3. We never left dishes in the sink.

4. He brought a microwave and blender from Utah and then left them for me to use!

5. He let me use the entire freezer for my Costco goods.

6. He was my date on Saturday dinner outings with the crew.

7. We listened to Eminem on the drive to Woodbridge!

8. See #1.

Goodbye Eric. See you at school!

Revival

Like an itch, a chronic collection of reminders

No stopping, an escalator of time

The body, lagging, exhaustion

Minutes don't matter, surpassed by moments

Priority recall, a holding pattern at the wings

Soaked in confusion, muscles and the mind

No real solution, an opportunity to take

A change, notions and conceptions in control

Let this in, don't shutter, no surrender

June and Family

I went home in June and had an amazing weekend with my wonderful family. Here are some of the best photos from the trip!

Ezra. The Man. The Myth. The Legend.

Of course he loves Root Beer. We all do.

The classic lion drinking fountain!

With Grandpa Ace.

The girl in the window!

Model? Yes.

Can you look at this picture and not smile and love this little girl? no. It is not possible!

Cousins!

When you are as old as Spence is, you need this many people blowing out the candles!

Grandma and Grandpa Lake!

Kisses!

We love this beautiful Lake family!

This photo is perfect.

Great Lakes!

Hugh M.D.

Tonight I saw a shuffle. Then I saw a skip. The shuffle came from Creepy Cockroach and the second came from a young frog, whom I shortly thereafter named Hugh M.D. His name came as inspiration which I owe to the extremely high moisture content in the air. So I scooped up this little Doctor and carried him inside with me. I placed him in my plastic bin where he went into dead mode. This is a survival technique I have seen used by potato bugs and a trick performed by some high functioning canines. I got nervous. Frightened. The last thing I wanted at midnight was innocent blood on my hands. I snatched the camera in hopes that the flashes would make him feel like a superstar. I think this only furthered his fear. Although the friendship had just started, I realized that it was about to come to an end. I knew that I couldn't be friends with a frog who plays dead. Frogs are supposed to jump around. We went back outside and down the stairs and I finally shook him out of the container. The container Hugh considered a coffin. He didn't budge. I tried coaxing him but nothing seemed to work. Ultimately, I had to leave him and return to my apartment. I hope that Hugh M.D. will be ok. I hope he finds a friend as good as me. Good luck Doc!

iPhone 4 Release Day!

I waited all morning. I even saw one Fed Ex van pull into the apartment complex and so I chased him down. He had no iPhone. Then at 12:40 I received word from Nick that the goods had been delivered. I raced to his house.

The unboxing ceremonies began!

Goosebumps and smiles abounded.

I started the syncing process!

And.... 5 hours later it finished! (Picture shown twice to give you a feeling of how long those 5 hours were).

First impressions:

1. Fast! Fast! Fast!

2. Beautiful.

3. The screen is amazing.

4. Multitasking. Welcome to my life Pandora radio!

I am very happy with my new daily companion.

Now the question is: Does my iPhone need protection?

The iPhone 4 Pre-order Mayhem.

Yesterday was the first day to pre-order the iPhone 4. I woke up around 8:20 EST and found that pre ordering had gone live. Unfortunately, I'm on a business plan and was unable to order my phone through Apple. I attempted the AT&T site quickly but gave up and headed to the store. Trouble at the store as well. The servers were overwhelmed and it took 45 minutes to process the order of roughly 4 people ahead of us(Nick went with me to order his as well!). I finally got my phone ordered around 10:30. Unfortunately, they wouldn't let me order one for my mother as well. By afternoon, AT&T had sold out of iPhone 4 and by evening, Apple had as well. Lines, crashed servers, potential security breaches, and lots of anxious and frustrated customers described the day. AT&T reports that it was the busiest day of online sales in company history. Yeah...it seems like the iPhone 4 is going to make a killing just like its predecessors. I can't wait till June 24th! This is what will be arriving in 32 GB fashion!

District of Columbia!

Me, Nick, Carrie, Kate, Pete, and Carson hit up DC last weekend. We only had one day but we made the most of it. It is a really fun place. We walked a lot and all our feet were very sore! We are hoping to go back again before summer is over! Here are a few pics from round one!

It is pretty much just a big toothpick.

Descending to the center of the earth....D.C. Metro.

Two of the most beautiful things that day captured at once: Nick and the Monument.

We love Abraham Lincoln. I think I'm going to start studying him. Any suggestions on books?

So many brave men and women, so many names. Such an impressive memorial wall.

Some dude's house...

I'm just a bill, yes i'm only a bill, and i'm sitting here on capital hill.

VIVA LA HUSBANDRY!

Two summers ago, the husbandry (Me, Mark, Jasen, and Brian) went backpacking to White Pine Lake. It was an event for the ages. Tragically we didn't have a repeat last summer. Now, I live in Virginia, Brian lives in Ohio and is getting married in 13 days, Mark is getting married in 14 days, and Jasen, yeah, he's around. Mark was wearing his man thong and we all got in the freezing cold lake. Here's a little video tribute to Mark and the rest of the husbandry!

Memorial Day: Remembering Nana

We love and miss you Nana!