Bub

It's nearing the end of 2009 and this personal website project that I started at the beginning of this year got put in the back seat and somewhere along the ride, it got shoved out the open trunk door (it's a hatchback), got run over by a motorcycle, and tucked and rolled to the side of the dusty road. It stood steadfastly through the blistering sun and the torrential rain with its thumb stuck up and somehow it ended up at the same gas station that I'm now stopped at to refuel. I've decided now that this little buddy of mine is riding shotgun on this journey.

Although it's never going to get the full What Not To Wear makeover that it desperately needs until I'm ready to fork out some money for a designer, I AM going to share with you my stories in the meantime.

Here are the highlights to catch you up on what has happened in 2009 up until now:

• Been working on a project in Seattle, WA (Everett to be exact)
• Learned how to snowboard goofy so I can now go both ways
• Got to Platinum status in the Delta SkyMiles and Starwood programs
• Got to Executive Elite status in the National Emerald Club program
• Joined SparkPeople
• Took a Skip Barber driving class at Road Atlanta where I got to drive around on a skid pad and an autocross course
• Passed the MSF course in GA on May 24 with zero points deducted on the final test
• Got my motorcycle license on May 29
• Bouldered at Boat Rock in GA
• Helped develop and teach a IBM night school class on Eclipse RCP
• Mini-vacationed with Frank at the Westin in Hilton Head Island, SC using free weekend nights
• Tried hookah for the first time in Seattle at the Majles Cafe
• Celebrated at the wedding of two good college friends in Milbrae, CA
• Lead climbed at the Frenchman Coulee near Vantage, WA
• Stayed at the St. Regis in Atlanta using free weekend nights
• Went to the dermatologist for the first time
• Celebrated my parents' 35th anniversary

And now that you're all caught up, the most exciting upcoming news is that I will be taking a 2-week vacation to go to Japan and Hong Kong. Frank and I will be leaving on October 24 and we don't plan on coming back until November 7! Thanks to the travel perks of my job, I was able to use points to pay for all of our plane tickets for 90k miles per person. This includes all the flights from Atlanta to Tokyo, Tokyo to Hong Kong, and Hong Kong to Atlanta. I was also able to use my hotel points to book 2 free nights at the Conrad Tokyo (for my parents who are taking a world tour) and 4 free nights at the Sheraton Hong Kong in Kowloon.

So hop in the car, it's time to go! WEEEEEE!!!