Cruising

Posting from the Greek Island of Santorini on my Treo. An amazing set of islands with breathtaking views. Look for longer posts and photos in a week when we return. Lots to share. Enjoy your summer.

nevermind

In a recent post I mentioned the dangers about blogging about work and burning a bridge in the process. Apparently that bridge has been blown up, burned down and closed until further notice.

darn

Favorite Quotes This Month

Living well is the best revenge.

Give someone enough rope and they will hang themselves.

What comes around goes around.

These are lyrics:

You can’t always get what you want
But if you try sometimes well you might find
You get what you need

It sure is nice when you get both! But I'm not gloating. That wouldn't be nice.

Mecca

Today was orientation at ESPN in Bristol CT. It was mostly a rehash of company policies that I have heard before, but then came the tour. The tour of the biggest and best sports broadcaster in the world. The tour where I was priviliged enough to sit at the anchor desk of SportsCenter.



Boo Yah, Baby!

Happy

I cannot remember being happier than I have been for the past three weeks with the exception of my wedding day and the birth of our children. It is because my professional life has been greatly upgraded by my new job. I had a good first week and so far it is living up to my expectations.

I had not realized how much despising one person at my previous job was bringing me down. Ok.....I really did know that this person was making me crazy, but I was trying to live with it in spite of his deficiencies. (I know that you should not blog about work, but I don't work there anymore and this person is one bridge that I will never ever want to cross again. So if it burns, it burns.)

At my going away party, my VP said that the thing he will remember about me is that I am always smiling. My reaction when he said this to a room full of co-workers was surprise and then acceptance. I guess its true that when I am walking around the office engaging people I try to be friendly and smile. But I am one moody SOB as many can attest to and it took me a moment to wrap my arms around this concept. Of course this happened in a split-second, and beyond an aw-shucks grin, no one in the room was the wiser. But the thought has stuck with me. In my soul I want to be happy and pleasant and kind. I was raised to be polite and respectful. Being a normal adolescent, I went through periods of awkwardness and wanting people to like me. I still do to a point.

As I start this new journey in my life I feel a sense of balance that I have rarely known. I have a wonderful wife and three great children that I love to spend time with. Being a provider for them and the life I live is all for them. With this new job I am released from the stress and responsibilities that seven years in the same place induce. I am working with technology still but now with a sports theme. The money is great and the people so far are grateful to have me. I can't think of a better place for me to be. And I am happy. Personally, professionally, and emotionally. For someone who has gone through depression and stress and an irritable stomach, it feels great to be in the place that I am in my life. We all do what we need to do to survive and change can be scary, but I have learned that if something is slowing eating away you, as hard as it may be, you need to change it. And the best part of change is that if you make a mistake and the change is for the worse, you can always make another change.

Happy 4th of July

I am spending a long holiday weekend with my family at our home on Brown Island in the San Juan Islands in Washington State. This is the second year in a row that we have been up here for the 4th of July weekend and it is becoming a tradition that I love. From the folksy parade to the fireworks in the bay it is nice to be in the small town of Friday Harbor with my huge extended family. We have napped, shopped, watched movies, read, listened to music, played cribbage, swam and eaten very well thanks to Rachel. Most importantly, this five day retreat has given me time to decompress before I start my new job. The timing of events this past month or so could not have been better for me. I am still tickled pink, but today I also add red, white and blue as we honor our great country. I hope this post finds you spending the holiday with those that you love.

Moving On

Today is my last day, well last hour actually, at Disney ABC Cable Networks. After a five day trip to the San Juan Islands, I start at ESPN on Wednesday. I was feted with lunch with my department and then cake with everyone on my floor. It was very touching and made me realize how many relationships I have forged in seven years starting out when I just worked for the Disney Channel.

I have been incredibly excited about my new job ever since I accepted the position. When I tell people about it, apparently I glow and have this look of glee on my face. It's true. I have been so happy about it that it has been all I can do to not jump out of my skin with joy. I have tried not to gloat at the office and be mindful that I am leaving behind some great people that have to endure a department transition and reorganization. But damn, I have enjoyed these last two weeks. Almost everyone has started a conversation with the term "short-timer." My cubicle was slowly raided by technology vultures this past week suffering the loss of my flat panel monitor, my printer cable almost, my Nextel Blackberry and various chotchkes. It has been great. It has been a long time that I have been this excited and happy about work. Not the leaving. That is hard. But the excitement of the new opportunity in the sports world of ESPN. It is the same feeling that I had seven years ago when I came to Disney, only this time it is stronger because I know what I have had, I think I know where I am going and I appreciate the journey so much more.

One of my co-workers who was hired less than a year after me signed my going away card by quoting Sir Isaac Newton. It said, "If I have seen further, it is because I stood on the shoulders of giants. Thank you." I too can say the same about my experiences so far at Disney and to the team that I leave behind. Thank you for showing me the way.