JohnMassie.com

Well, the blog(s) are. I think we’re going to bid farewell to our current host and move to something bigger. Notice I’m talking in a plural tone? Could this be that I have another (or several) blogs hiding somewhere up my sleeve? Possibly. That or I just like to keep people guessing or thinking I’m weird.

Anyway, expect some downtime. Depending on my current work schedule this might me be just the time for me to actually take the blog down, clean it up and bring a new and improved blog back online. Still debating over CMS (Content Management System). WordPress has served me well… very well actually… but I think that I might be going with another system to try something new. I’m not sure yet. I might get real crazy and write my own engine. Yeah, don’t count on the last option.

Expect some changes. I do need a place to write during the transition. I might bring up a very basic blog in the interim so I have a place to do what I like to do, write. Never fear, it will all get ported to the new and improved blog. Hopefully all my readers will survive the jump.

Night,
- J

Well, I forgot to post that I made it to Dallas, TX in one piece. The flight was awesome. I found a new love for something that I was once scared to do. I find myself excited for the flight back, and that is where I sit, at good ol DFW airport.

I want to give the awesomeness that is flying a proper post and maybe answer some questions for first time flyers. After arriving in Dallas I had to try and find my luggage, which was interesting. You see, growing up in Columbus, Ohio you assume that because you live in  a town with an “international” airport  that all airports are similar. WRONG… DFW is about 6-10 times the size of CMH. It took me a while to figure out that the rental cars were offsite and  ihad to shuttle over to the building with the cars.

My rental experience… I’ve never rented a car so I just went online and made a reservation for a Toyota Corolla. Cheap, efficient, and well… it was just a rental. I get to the desk and they act like they don’t have my car ready and ask if I would like to upgrade for $7.00 to a Camry. I was like… no thank you. I just thought this was an offer not an oppertunity to haggle. Then the guy goes… how about $5.00 extra. I said, “not for a Camry, make it worth my while.” He came back after a minute and said, “final offer… 2007 Ford Mustang”. I was like… SOLD.

I was on top of the world at this point. I successfully made the trip from Ohio to Texas, got a SWEET rental (pics to come when I can download them) and was getting ready to hit the road in a town I’ve never been in. Driving in Dallas is different than Ohio. They rely on street names instead of exit numbers and most freeways (at minimum) are 5 lanes wide.

The hotel I stayed at was brand new, only open for 3 months. It was extremely nice and the staff was helpful and friendly. My room was really nice as well… pics to come when I get home. Standard business class room, king bed, flat panel HDTV, huge bathroom… they were also meticulous about cleaning. Everyday I found they went way beyond what any normal hotel does for cleaning. Their breakfast was also different. It was continental then they had the “special” feature. It was REAL COOKED FOOD. Their workout facility was also very nice (which I used daily).

Working at the office in the Dallas area was fun. I learned a lot and hope that this will help us support this group remotely from Dublin, Ohio. I did some sight seeing at night, ate great food and just had a nice break from the norm.

Well, that’s the short version of the trip. I’m hoping to write some more about this tomorrow or later this weekend. I’m getting ready to finish some other stuff and board my flight.

Later,
- J

Well, I know I said I wouldn’t blog but I have stuff to talk about and no where to post, so here I am.

I’ve never flown, at all. I have driven everywhere all my life and have only been in an airport once. This week I was approached about a trip to Dallas, Texas. I jumped at the offer to go before realizing that meant I would be flying. Then as quickly as I agreed, the plans were made and I realized Saturday morning that I would be flying for the first time.

I did everything possible to research what it’s like to fly for the first time, what to expect and what to bring (and what not to bring). I found a wealth of knowledgue from the internet and was prepaired by mid afternoon. After spending WAY too much on luggage (Swissgear) I packed and laid down to sleep.

I’m not sure if it was the 1,000 times I was asked, “Are you scared?” finally setting in or what, but the fear set in. I laid there and thought of everything I should have done differently. I should have changed how I packed, how I dressed, or just everything. I finally fell asleep 30 minutes later to wake at 5:30 for no reason. I managed to “nap” until 6:00.

I got dressed, put everything by the door and waited for my good friend Chris to take me to the airport. He showed up right on time and we headed out. The trip to the airport is so much shorter when you’re the one anticipating the flight. I arrived, checked my bag curbside and went to go through security.

Security was interesting… You have to remove everything but the clothing *literally* on your back. I am so used to wearing a hoodie that I never even though of that as being “extra” then I noticed that everyone around me was taking their hoodies off so I hurried to get mine off and on the conveyor belt. Finally I had not managed to get strip searched or anything, collected my crap and headed off to find my gate.

As I walked the long corridor to the “B Concourse” I found myself feeling like I had been here before. As I came down a small ramp approaching gates 33 and 34 it dawned on me. This was the same gate I stood at years ago to see my second grade teacher arrive back from a year long missions trip to Russia. For some reason, it brought comfort to me. My nervousness subsided and now just the anxiousness of Texas awaits.

I still have a little over an hour before I can board so I’m going to get off here, check the weather and… relax.

God Bless,
- J

Well, this time I’m going to get on top of this and post it on January 1, 2008 instead of the middle of January as I’ve done in years past. To prepare for this year I actually had to import my old blog into this one (which in turn messed up some old formatting on the posts, but I’ll survive). Let’s review this year.

J A N U A R Y
Well, I was still living in the same house in Grove City. I was working for Pomeroy IT Solutions and working a yearly desktop refresh project. I was celebrating the fact that I survived one year in my house and looks like I was very unhappy with my job (no surprise there). Best post of the month: Rent

F E B R U A R Y & M A R C H
It looks like this is when I purchased hosting service for this website. I didn’t post anything these months. I’m trying to remember what was going on… I know that I started job hunting around this time for my next transition. It was a bad few months so I can see why I didn’t blog. This is also the months that Josh and Katy’s birthdays happen.

A P R I L
This month, www.johnmassie.com version 4.0 was released into the wild. I also began my new job at Cardinal Health this month. It was a good month overall. I posted my article “HP Pavilion dv6338se Review” that has got hundreds of hits and comments since. This post put me on the map. I also changed churches around this time and found some new music to love. Best Post of the Month: What’s Up

M A Y
Here, we have Mother’s Day and Memorial Day. I also was working on finding my spot at Cardinal and enjoying the new job. I wrote some pretty lengthy but good posts. I also started helping my friend Ben buy a car, which was a funny experience that seemed to last forever. Best Post of the Month: Bring the Rain

J U N E
It looks like I was enjoying the summer. I also purchased a car that we will not mention and will soon be spoke of here later. I also posted an interesting “in response” article. I also made some announcements for some improvements to come that have been put off forever and will hopefully take shape here in the next few weeks. Blog Post of the Month: The REAL Consultant is – IN

J U L Y
This was a big month for me. I left Cardinal Health in pursuit of another job… a promotion really. It turned out to be a busy month for me and I didn’t blog much. I did blog about reconnecting with some friends from Marysville, Ohio. Blog Post of the Month: Unexpected Blessings

A U G U S T
I was getting settled at my new job and was enjoying the last bit of summer that was left. It was a big month, people coming into my life, going out of my life and life just being crazy in general. I began my search for a new place to live and began preparing this house to sell. Hope also turned 21 this year; very funny post about that. Blog Post of the Month: So You Would Know

S E P T E M B E R
This was a more busy month. More car issues… no surprise. I also went to TN for a small camping trip with my family which was an awesome break. However, the post of the month was one that made me laugh as I read it today. Blog Post of the Month: To My Acura Brethren

O C T O B E R
Katy gets a real blog… that was HUGE. Also, the infamous month of haunted housing. If you can’t find me in October just look for me at a haunted house. This was also the month where Katy attacks a rock in her parking lot and lost; resulting in a sprained ankle. For some good laughs, read the Blog Post of the Month: Gimpy Girl Goes for Gold.

N O V E M B E R
I turn… well, old. I get sucked into primetime TV. There was also some turkey involved this month. The only post worth mentioning… Blog Post of the Month: My Quote of the Moment

D E C E M B E R
Christmas, which turned out better than anyone thought it would. I also began to do more stuff at work which I enjoy a lot. I haven’t been blogging a lot as I prepare for some changes in the blog and what not. Blog Post of the Month: Month Update

I have no clue what 2008 is going to hold. Be on the look out for the new blog. There’s so much to do but hopefully with some dedication and hard work I can get this done. I wish you all a very Happy New Year and pray that it will be blessed.

In Christ,
- John C. Massie