...more from before...

So I've decided to make another post here in the blogosphere... (is it lame to use the word "blogosphere" now?) ... about the - you guessed it - my iPhone. I'll make it quick, I promise.

So, here's the deal. I use this phone, toy, tool anywhere from 5-8 hours a day. Why? Because there are apps and uses for it throughout the day that just plain keeps it going.

I talk anywhere from 2-4 hours on it everyday for work.

I use the remote to control my iTunes on my home desktop throughout the day instead of logging on to the desktop 6 times an hour to switch songs.

I play games - Monopoly, Tetris, Scrabble, some stupid Poker game I picked up (for free), the paper toss game, Oregon Trail, the Price is Right and Yahtzee.

I've just started using iFitness when I work out to keep track of what I'm doing at the gym instead of hauling a paper and pencil around.

Oh, and the iPod... yeah, use it for when I'm on the plane, when I'm working out, and when I just want to rock!

I can't imagine a better piece of electronic equipment that I've ever bought. I've never gotten so much use out of one thing (and I rubbed the A and B labels off of my original Gameboy...).

All of that being said - I challenge you to find one piece of equipment that will help your life in such a vast way. Do it - and I'll give you a dollar. Or buy you lunch if I like you...

Back Again? Plus some iPhone talk!

So, supposedly the key to good blogging is to keep updating with regular posts, which I do a terrible job at. So it goes.

Today I had lunch with my good friend Brad whom I haven't seen since January. We were chatting about Jeremy and Brad things and this blog came up, and of course it reminded me to look at it when I got home, and so here we are, once again, using too many commas, and thinking out loud to the internets accessable world.

There's been a lot that's changed since the last time I wrote one of these things back in May of 2008... and it's interesting that I go back and look at all the things I wrote then, and I remember what I was thinking and it's pretty cool to remember and think back on, because I don't do that nearly enough.

I've been living in a new place - which is much better than the old, noisy place. It's right next to a bar that hopefully will serve food in the next month or so. I've gotten a pseudo promotion - more $$ in the pocket more people to handle, more things to think and stress about. Ahh, but with more power comes more responsibility, child.

Life is still good. I could complain, but at this moment in time, there's no need. It's Sunday night, and things are alright. Yep, just said that, and meant it.

So the other good rule of blogging is to NOT drone on about nothing... so here's the topic of tonight's session: iPhone.

Some folks give me a hard time about how much of a toy the iPhone is... and I understand the criticism. The phone part of the iPhone is the worst part. However, to all the benifits see this article: How a year with the iPhone has changed my life. I too, am amazed at HOW MUCH time I spend looking at that little screen. Facebook, games, movies, 30 Rock, Friday Night Lights, new music... holy crap. You really CAN do everything on this one piece of technology...

Who knew?

Whatever be your view of the iPhone, it's here to stay... my friend Joe posted an article the other day about how iPhone sales are up 375% over the last year, I can imagine that the growth will slow down, but not stop.

So I mean, you can be cool without an iPhone, but it's a lot tougher. Make it easy on yourself and get one... you won't regret it... until you realize that AT&T sucks, but you'll get over it.

JFK is Charged!

So I've got plenty of time in the airport today - matter of fact, for the last 24 hours, I've had a lot of time in the airport(s). Here's a quick recap;

Fly out of Logan this morning at 6. Land at 710am. Rent the car and plan on spending the night in Manhattan after a visit to East Rutherford and the World Champion NY Giants. Plans for going to NFL HQ for a visit to the NFL officials for a little training. Get a call from the NFL Officials guy saying that he won't be available tomorrow and I decide I can wait to hang out in Manhattan.

So - I got the last jetBlue flight out of JFK for O'Hare, and I'm outta here. I've got 4 hours to spend at the gate, waiting for the plane to leave at 830pm... and I'm sitting in front of a little tower with some USB plugs and power outlets.

This power tower - or as Samsung likes to call it - Charge Station - is basically a fancy extension cord and power strip. But its sponsored by Samsung and this glowing tower with some plugs has gotten more looks than the pseudo-hooker that walked by after she just landed from Tampa.

This is a brilliant marketing tool. Use a simple technology (power), fancy it up with some glowing blue lights and a huge Samsung logo, and you've got yourself about 300 views an hour. There are 4 of these charge stations in this gate area at JFK, which probably cost them all of about $20k for designing and building the things. If they spent $20k in television advertising, they could maybe get a 30second spot on a 6PM SportSCenter, which would probably have been lost in the shuffle anyways.

I hope whoever came up with the idea for these things got a promotion or a raise or something, because its a pretty freakin good idea to get a cheap way to relate your brand to being mobile, and being powerful. Good work.

Hottie McHotties @ the Gym

Hey there kids. I'll get right into this one.

So - I went to the gym for the first time in like 3 weeks yesterday. This is due to the fact that 1) I work so freakin much out of town that I'm never in town to go to the gym and 2) there was the whole "home for the holidays" thing.

So, cool. Gym. Running on the treadmill. Sweet. I'm looking around because I'm not to the point that all I can do is stare straight ahead, because I'm so exhausted... that point comes about 20 or 25 minutes into the run... And since its the gym in Lincoln Park in Chicago, there are a few girls around who are what one might call "attractive". They're wearing some type of black stretch pants - which I've really got to find the guy who makes them and the girl who made them popular and thank them both, many times over - and they're what they call "working out". And it got me to thinking...

So I think there are two types of girls that go to the gym. There are those trying to truly improve themselves by going in and working hard and sweating and burning and toning and lifting and stretching and doing great things. Then... there are those who go to the gym thinking that they are improving themselves by getting on the treadmill and walking at below normal pace. They move to the elliptical and do 20 or 30 minutes on that while they're talking on their cell phone! These same folks go over to the weights and do curls and shoulder lifts for another 20 minutes with 2.5lb weights. They run through weights so quickly that they barely actually lift anything!

So what you're telling me young lady is that you spent 2 hours at the gym and burned maybe 20% more calories at the gym than you would had you just stayed at home? Really? I'm sure while you're talking on your cell phone you're telling your friend how hard your working out at the gym. I get so frustrated by these people not only because of the disrespect they show while chatting it up about LC, Audrina and Team Heidi, but the waste of time that they call going to the gym.

Listen, I'm not going to say that I'm the healthiest individual in the world, or that I work out all the time and am in perfect physical shape. But when I do go to the gym, I'm sweating my guts out; lifting, running, stretching, pulling, and working hard. I make it worth my membership to be in there for 2 hours every time I go.

So for all of you ladies who like to take the cell phone with you to work out... stay away from me - there's no reason for it, and you might as well just stay home and talk to your friends there. And if you're going to go to the gym, work hard while you're there. No pussy-footing around. Grab some weights, lift 'em, leap on the treadmill and run like you mean it. One of the sexiest things that I've ever seen is a girl sweating her heart out, working hard to improve herself.

You know what's cool?

Me!

I'm awesome!

Okay, so I'm mostly kidding. Kind of.

Kids, today's (tonight's) post is going to be about the things that I do that are cool. Mostly having to do with my job and the people I work with.

I work for XOS Technologies, Inc. And we are cool. We are a technology company that specializes in preparing coaches for game planning and with the help of new technology helps them teach their players in more efficient and effective ways. One of the news stories that was just published the other day was an AP story found here. It features one of the cooler things that we work on, and even though its very much still in infant stages, I can just imagine how great it will be in a couple of years.

I just left Anaheim where me and a bunch of my jerksquad co-workers were out entertaining, showing and teaching coaches about some of the new products we're coming out with over the next few months. Its exciting times right now at the company because if we're successful with this new product launch... well... XOS could become even more dominant in our market.

The market itself is pretty competitive, but its competitive like the SEC is competitive. We have one major competitor, and a handful of minor competitors, and we HATE our major competitor. Its to the point that I don't even mention the name of the company... and just refer to them as the nerd squad. (Kinda like when Woody would say "that team from the north"...) We're the company that acts like Boiler Room where we're all loud and obnoxious and funny and overall generally awesome. They're the company that says they do things the right way - all on the up and up of course - and try and throw everyone of us and our employees under the bus. Whiny weasels. But this competition makes it fun, and makes it great to be apart of.

The people that I work with are pretty awesome as well. There's always different personalities of course - just like any company situation. Some of the folks are okay, but most are pretty great. This is the time of the year where we are all coming together as one - and trying to make progressions toward making our company better. Our CEO just sent out a memo stating the exact same thing - we are all apart of making this company better, and everyone that is apart of the company knows that. Its good stuff.

Now... not everything is strawberry's and pixie dust. Here's an overview of what my week so far has been like:
Monday, Dec 31. : Work from home - make 10 calls, arrange a lot of stuff, answer 30 emails. All before 3PM.
Tuesday Jan 1: More calls - only 2, but mostly a day off. Pack for Anaheim.
Wednesday Jan 2: Fly to Anaheim - 8AM flight which means I was at the airport at 6. Early morning. Get to Anaheim and the shit show begins. Lunch, setup demo laptops, start doing practice demos. Dinner. Back to demo prep and many arguments about how prepared we are and what paths we should take through the demo. I stay up until 4AM PST practicing on my own to get it right. Minus the sleep on the plane - about an hour - I was up for more than 24 hours...
Thursday Jan 3: Up and back in the demo meeting room at 830AM PST for meeting. 4 hours of sleep. Meet, argue some more, get real pissed off. Lunch. Hotel staff informs us that we need to move out of our demo suite into some demo meeting rooms downstairs because "we've ruined the integrity of the room". Whatever. The Sheraton Anaheim Convention Center is officially NOT COOL! Move all of the laptops and start demo prep again. Things go well and we're getting prepared pretty well at this point. Dinner. Drinks. Madden tournament in the meeting room while drinking heavily. Throwing football in the room and break the chandelier... guess we ruined more integrity... whatever. Drink until 3AM. Bed.
Friday Jan 4: 4 more hours of sleep. Meeting on Convention Center floor for setup at 830AM. Work our butts off for 4 hours and get lunch while working. Floor setup gets mostly completed by 3PM-ish. Back to the meeting room for more demo polishing. Customers start coming in. Entertain them. Dinner. Drinks. Fun.
Saturday Jan 5: More floor setup at 830AM - lasts about 2 hours. Back to the demo room for final prep. Lasts most of the day. Sales meeting that lasts 4 hours. Lunch and then dinner in there somewhere. More drinks. In bed early (130AMPST).
Sunday Jan 6: Down on Convention floor @ 830AM - AFCA show starts at 9AM. Demos on the floor all day, with a mix of lunch in there somewhere. Show finishes at 5PM, then dinner with the crew, then host a party in our demo meeting room. Awesomeness ensues. Back to the suite for a afterparty party. Stories and good conversation last until 3AM. Sleep. (Apparently I snored for a little while last night - sorry Adam...)
Monday Jan 7: Convention floor again at 830 - quick laptop setup and back at demoing until noon. Go back to the room and pack. Lunch. Get a car from hotel to LAX - fly to St. Louis. Arrive at 1030PM CST. In the hotel at 1115PM CST.

I'll probably be asleep by 2AM CST after I get done with this and get ready for bed. Then tomorrow I've got an install at the Rams, and its going to be probably 10-12 hour days for the rest of the week.

This stuff isn't easy. All of us, including me, work hard and play hard. There are a LOT of long hours. There are a lot of fights and arguments and words said, but its all for the good of the company. And we all know that. I've thought several times that I don't know how long I would make it at this position, but I'll probably keep going until I just can't take it anymore, which at this point, won't be for a while.

Thanks XOS! Here's to 2008!

Ahhh... Chicago in the Winter!

So. Hi.

Today was a big day for me. Woke up around 11am - which is pretty good for me on a Sunday - got going around noon - which again is good for me on a Sunday...

Jeff and I headed up to Xsport (our local gym at School and Ashland), and I was glad to be going because of 2 reasons - 1) I needed to go to the gym at some point today - let's just say it needed to be done... and 2) there's always the possibility of hottie hotness at the gym. I love me some Chicago.

So after that - it was a quick change and then hopped the 76 bus down to Sheridan, then took the 151 downtown - we needed to make a stop at Express for some NYE gear, which oddly enough took us only about an hour for the whole trip. For those of you in Chicago - you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. For those of you not in Chicago - read on.

In this fair city of mine, time is warped from most other places in the country - especially when it comes to intercity travel. I live maybe 5-7 miles from downtown. At home in Michigan, my parents live 10 miles from Jeff's parents. It takes me 10 minutes to get from my parents house to Jeff's parents house. But in Chicago - if you could make it from my place to downtown in a half hour, you're doing pretty good - unless you take a cab - then its like $10 for 15 minutes... -ish... Very different down here.

And speaking of this fair city of mine - which I've lived here long enough and paid enough tickets and taxes to say its mine - its a pretty freakin cool place. Last night we went to an apartment downtown with some beautiful views. Then we went back down there today, and had some more beautiful views - both in the air looking at the buildings and on the ground looking at the hotties.

Of all the places I go all over the country - people ask me why I moved to Chicago, and I really don't have an answer for them, because I can never begin to explain how much of a cool city this is. And I can only appreciate it in a certain way because of my suburban Detroit upbringing. Why did I move to Chicago? Its the best city in the world. See it through my eyes and you'll know exactly why.

Thanks Chicago - these last 6 months have been awesome. Lets look forward to being great in '08!

JG's First Post with a Point: Web 2.0

Tonight, I'm very Web 2.0.

For those of you who don't know what that means... here's the wiki(which after you read this, the point of me referencing a wiki in a Post titled Web 2.0 is very very Web 2.0 - I'm so uber-) : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_2


So now that you know - I'm simultaneously viewing F-book, imspecialspace, twitter , wired, and newly discovered hottie mchottie ijustine. (I'll know if she's making an appearance in the Chi - which I have high hopes of... but probably would think I'm another internet stalker... which at this point, I pretty much am... apologies all around.)

While facebooking and myspace-outing are not new to me, or new to anyone under 35 at this point, the whole twitter, wired, blogosphere is. I'm taking one giant step toward being an even more self-obsessed American. Congrats to me!

Anyway - I thought I would push a little Web 2.0 knowledge for the folks out there who are actually reading this... there's a bright new world out there, and its connecting people. As long as you don't have anything to hide - which I really don't - I pay taxes, I rarely break state or federal laws (misdemeanors at the most - don't get carried away...), and I'm not currently being stalked by any girls (takers?) - then there's really no reason to be afraid of what's out there on the internets. If you have a credit card and/or a drivers license, you've already been out there for years... at least control the message that you're putting out there, right? (First rule of PR - control the message before it controls you...) So - I'm putting myself out there - I'm everywhere and nowhere at the same time - you can find me and learn about me on all of these web 2.0 sites, I'm easily accessible, and loving every minute of it.

so hey - iJustine - find me, and find me awesome!

The Beginning of the Beginning of the Beginning of the End

So here it is. I've moved the blog from myspace - which I rarely use anymore - to an official blog page (from your friends and mine, Google). I'm going to try to keep this up to date more than I did with the myspace one, since the last post I did there was like April of this year. I know this blog is long awaited by maybe two people? You know who you are Harper's.

As of this very moment, I don't have a whole lot to say, honestly. I'm just getting started again putting together my thoughts and serving it up on servers for your viewing consumption.

I think the point of this blog is going to be a lot more posts with a lot less information... I'm going to try and condense this stuff to more of a thought of the day type posts instead of a monthly posting where I just spew on for like 3 pages. Of course, I'm sure every once in a while I'll have something that I need to get off my chest, so be aware of the spew that will eventually happen.

I think as the postings go, I may share to more and more people, especially family as well as friends, so I'm going to keep it clean for the kids out there... which may or may not be fun, but its the right thing to do... maybe I'll figure out some type of censored blog and an uncensored blog on this blogger.com thing... I'm still getting used to this thing - so learn as I go.

Welcome to Fuel for the Fire!