The closest thing that I can relate it to is a shooting star.

Most of us have seen them. However when we do we are usually the only one in the crowd who gets to see it at that moment. It can be the most amazing experience even though it is always very quick and disappears without a trace. Sometimes the ill experienced try to explain the shooting star…however the only way to experience a shooting star is to be in the moment at the right place and the right time. I have had a few key moments on my trip that were….simply amazing…not to be explained because that would steal from their meaning.

I started working at my current job with Take Charge America a little over a year ago. Now it is time for this to come to an end so that a new chapter in my professional career can begin. I really love the fact that I have nothing bad to say about my current employer, they have been awesome to me and I couldn’t have asked for anything more.

So if my job is so great why change? Mostly because the new opportunity presents three key factors that I just couldn’t pass up. Growth, freedom and compensation. I will be working on a new project from the ground up, literally we will be putting together the development/test/source control environments in the coming weeks. Also it will be done in C#/ASP.NET which is my strongest skill set right now. Further it keeps with my strong belief in web applications. We will be creating a web app to replace a desktop application that is currently installed in 4 different states. I have always believed in the zero footprint nature of web applications and will be working for a company that feels the same way. Freedom, once all the initial planning and design process has taken place I will be able to work remotely a large percentage of the time which will also allow me to travel while working. Compensation, it never hurts when there are more digits in your paycheck

So wish me luck, there is incredible risk in the move I am making but with that comes great possibilities!

“We rest here while we can, but we hear the ocean calling in our dreams, And we know by the morning, the wind will fill our sails to test the seams, The calm is on the water and part of us would linger by the shore, For ships are safe in harbor, but that’s not what ships are for.”

after our first tasting for the day…don’t miss the tiger..that’s me

I just have to say that I had very low expectations for this weekend and it was far better than I could have ever imagined. If you would have told me that we would have had such an amazing time at happy hour I would have never believed it. In order to celebrate it I thought I would list out some random things about our weekend that I look forward to keeping in my memory. Great trip everybody!!

The List:

• a little chocolate sumptin sumptin
• Always making a mess on your shirt
• Hippie Chinese Lady
• River dance Irish jig
• Jazz at the pearl (Closed)
• Random lunch in Mountain View *smile*
• Walking a block to make it a shorter drive
• Walking in the Forest
• Someone breaking rules in the forest
• Do you like fish?
• Almost crashing through toll both
• Almost getting lost in Sausalito Mountains
• Closing down Lou’s Jazz club
• Closing down dirty martini – twice
• After party in the room
• Portable speaker fun
• Fresh squeezed OJ
• BOBBIEAH
• Monksters
• Barry’s Chinese Shake
• Served wine in line @ Taylors
• Sipping the F in red
• Napa Castle
• Camera Timer shots times 3
• Wine barrel bathroom
• Uncontrollable laughter
• Relaxin at the spa
• One person always falling asleep
• Largest circular table ever
• Lost scarf = free sparkling wine
• 3 Girls are somehow more efficient than 1 guy
• Battling GPS, Googleberry always wins
• Don’t wake the grapes
• Japanese tea garden
• The ark, The boat

I am certain that you may have some other random memories, feel free to leave a comment here with any additional moments you would like to share.

“delivers the pinnacle of our weekend” ~ Bobby

Awesome job guys, love messing with Little Joe, not sure why he still hangs around us with all this abuse.

Video Link

There have been some major changes in my life recently and some of these thoughts weighed heavy in my heart.

…..

I was asked the night before to be a pallbearer; honored and amazed I accepted. This man was as close to a solid father figure as I had ever had. Holding my chin up and after putting on the drab grey gloves I helped to lift the casket into the hearse. After I quickly turned to my best friend in the world, with tears beading in her eyes I just held her as we headed to the church.

Presenting a strong rock to lean on I was honored to be here. We arrived at the graceful church and I prepared to escort the exquisite casket up to the alter. Slowly we lifted his casket onto a sturdy wheeled stand. Most people had entered the church except for the immediate family, they all waited by the door to welcome him into church. Now I wanted to be strong for all those who may need me. Once we got the stand to the entrance all of the pallbearers were asked to place their hands on the now draped casket and guide him up to the front. Until this point I was strong, I was a rock. Upon our entrance a single voice began…’Amazing Grace, how sweet it is’. Tears rolled freely down my face. Sadness was overcoming me. I looked at his brothers, and the other three pallbearers around the slowly moving casket. All of them with tears in there eyes.

I am human. (thankfully)

The rest of the mass was difficult, uplifting and filled with intense grief. Some how it is appropriate to hear baby noises, it ushers in new life as others expire.

I was worried that I had completely detached, or would be so pre-occupied with my own earthly problems. Honored to be there, and glad to be there for a great friend who needed me.

Steve, you will be missed.