So… 2008 comes to a close in a little over twelve hours now (CST) and while most people will be thrilled to put the bitch that is 2008 to rest I’d be lying if I didn’t say I wouldn’t miss it a little. 2008 was the year where the notion of global warming took a few on a chin, Democrats took over our government and O.J. was finally convicted. The Giants won the Super Bowl, the Phillies the World Series and the price of gas fluctuated more than Star Jones’ weight.

This year has had plenty of bad news including over 220,000 disaster related deaths world-wide and 151 US service men and women lost their lives in Afghanistan while 309 perished in Iraq. Economies around the world are in crisis thanks to economic lows not seen since the great depression while the cornerstones of the American economy, Ford, GM and Chrysler are fighting tooth and nail just to survive.

Still, with all of the horrible things that happened in the year 2008 she was also a great year to be had. 45 years after Martin Luther King Jr.’s "I Have a Dream" my fellow Americans and I elected our first African American President in Barrack Obama. We found water on Enceladus, sent the Phoenix Lander to northern Mars and the Mars Rovers have been trucking on Mars for nearly 5 years.

I could go on and on about the good and bad that 2008 brought us all but at the end of the day (and year) we’re still standing… maybe not with as much money in our retirement accounts as before but we’re still here fighting, striving and moving forward. The end of another year is always bitter-sweet to me, and 2008 is no different… okay, it may be just a tad more bitter this year seeing as I just turned 30…

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Yesterday my fellow Americans and I elected Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States of America. Since the results came in I’ve been reading my fair share of reactions from both sides of the isle and am appalled at reactions from conservatives and liberals alike. This time should be the most amazing time to be an American yet even when we should be at our best we can’t muster a single, solitary moment of national pride. Think about it. We haven’t been able to witness a night like last night since 1992 when Bill Clinton was the last clear winner of a new Presidency.

Electing a new President is the epitome of what our great democracy stands for and should be cherished by all who live here. I’ll try to sum it up like John McCain did so eloquently last night in his concession speech; Regardless of what party you are affiliated with or who you voted for we are all first and foremost, Americans. People need to realize that regardless of who has been elected to office, it is the duty of all Americans to help move this great nation forward, otherwise we will just continue to decline further into a pit of self loathing.

I didn’t vote for President-Elect Barack Obama, but I am an American who is proud of his country and even more proud of the fact that 114 million of my fellow Americans exercised their right to vote yesterday… a right that has been earned with the blood of brave men and women for over 232 years, including approximately 1,314,225 war-time related deaths by US military men and women in defense of this democracy. For that very reason I openly respect the opinions and views of the 63 million of my fellow Americans who did vote for Barack Obama and I’ll put my full support behind him as our next Commander and Chief.

If all Americans and their politicians would stop blaming everyone but themselves for the problems that face our country we’d get a lot further. Obama can promise all of the "change" in the world but until the American people as a whole take a proactive approach to fixing this nation nothing will be done, nothing will change. Some may think the President has total control of America but even the "chosen one" can’t change things on his own.

The only way for this country to change is for Democrats to stop being Democrats and Republicans to stop be Republicans and for Americans to start being Americans. Our finest hours were during and shortly after World War II and that was because all Americans took proactive steps to make a difference; we won’t get any better now unless we follow that generation’s lead. It is our job to guide America, not the government’s. The people running this country are there to put your wishes into motion, not to make your decisions for you.

So I ask my fellow Americans to support Obama (unlike they have Bush) because the bottom line is he’s our President (elect) and you respect the office and the burden and power it entails. If Obama isn’t all he’s cracked up to be don’t bash him the same way you bashed Bush, stand up for what you believe and and make a difference the next election cycle. Email your congressmen and hold them accountable for once, stop saying what the problems are and offer solutions. You have a voice so stop bickering like you are oppressed and use it in a proactive way for once.

Remember that this great democracy of ours is a government of the people, by the people, for the people… if you take anything from this, remember that.

This position has been very exciting from the start but I’ve had to soak up as much information as a can as fast as I can… the transition period for the Team Lead I’ve replaced has been very short lived and I’m now flying solo. So far Avanade and my direct client have been fantastic companies to work for and it is off to a great start. I’ve already taken some technical training that Avanade thankfully footed the bill for and I’ll continue to do so over the next couple of months…

Anyway, I’ll post a little later just had to get the ball rolling again and force myself to make a blog post… once I get started I can’s stop myself.

Look, I’m not going to lie… I don’t mind being single and actually most of the time I love it. Truthfully, most of my friends make it easy for me, after watching their relationships I’d never wish that on my own worst enemy, much less myself. I see my friends going through all of the pains of a relationship and I sit back on my lazy ass running around my bachelor pad toying with all of my expensive electronics and three flat panel televisions in a spoiled drama-free life. I order pizza far too often, go grocery shopping once every fiscal quarter and pay someone else to clean my house. I guess now that I reflect back I should be as happy as a kid in a candy store…

You know what? Damn women to hell! Seriously, if they didn’t have to stroll in looking all beautiful and smelling perfect I could go about my blissful and peaceful life and be none the wiser… but no, they have to go around spreading their commie propaganda that I can’t truly be happy while all alone. I probably wouldn’t be so spiteful about the whole thing if it was easier to meet real honest-to-God women, but finding a good woman this day and age is like asking for a cure for cancer, AIDs and heart disease all at the same time. Frankly I’d rather punch myself in the junk than even think about it.

I know most people will read this diatribe and think they have me locked down to a classic case of commitment phobia but that is the furthest thing from the truth. The truth is, I’d love to fall hook line and sinker for the woman of my dreams if for no other reason than I don’t want to be collecting Social Security while my kids are still in high school… I’m not getting any younger you know. I’m all for the gung-ho relationship with the right woman but let’s be honest, I have better luck winning the MegaMillions Jackpot… which is just a mere 175,711,536 to 1 shot.

I don’t want to sound overly-cynical as the purpose of this post was to point out the sheer hilarity of the Times Online article but I’m at my wit’s end here. I’m done searching for the right woman; I’ve tried just about everything… I’m a decent enough looking guy, make decent money, own a nice car, nice condo, and am what I consider a good catch. I’ve tried internet dating, meeting new friends and even church as of late to no avail. I guess I’ll just follow the wisdom of the article and wait until some of the women that spurned me before get to be in their mid-thirties and desperate… which is fine with me as I have another expensive gadget purchase with my name on it anyway.

Last year I wrote an entry before the Memorial Day weekend and looking back it is strangely a post that I am very proud to have written… so, I am going to repost it in honor of Memorial Day 2008 along with updated casualty numbers. Please remember… remember them all.

I’m sure the vast majority of those reading this have had their lives completely changed in one form or another because of the wars that this great land has been a part of, and we all need to truly take a moment to remember and thank those brave souls who fought in them. Whether you had a family member or friend perish on the battlefield or had a loved one battle the ghosts of the battlefield years after the war has ended, every one of them made a sacrifice, and their families made sacrifices as well.

When celebrating the patriotic holidays of our country the sacrifices of military families go unnoticed and unappreciated far too often. Anyone who had a father come back from the Vietnam war knows all too well the effects of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) or other mental and health issues that arise from the horrendous battlefields… so I ask that when you take a moment to honor the brave souls that fought that you please take a moment to thank their loved ones as well… they are the true heroes.

Regardless of your political or moral beliefs I pray that all Americans take a moment and reflect on where we would be as a world today if the brave men and women of our armed services present and past wouldn’t have taken up arms to protect the freedoms that we all take for granted today. Sadly we live in an imperfect world where war is inevitable and had the bravest of the brave not stood up and fought for what was right or just none of what we see and hold dear to us would be around today.

To date there have been over 658,000 Americans perish on the battlefields while another 527,500 dying while in service of our armed forces during all major conflicts. That is well over a million Soldiers, Airmen, Seaman and Marines that have lost their lives in defense of our liberties. Imagine the impact if you will of the families of those brave souls, they were men and women that were mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, sisters, brothers, granddaughters, grandsons and so on.

I’d like to personally thank all of the brave men and women that choose to protect this nation and it’s freedoms in anyway… including my father Robert Edward Groux Sr. who served in the Army and was wounded in combat during Vietnam, both of my grandfathers, my great-uncle, my step-father and my best friend Arnold Castro who also served. Without these men and their courage and sacrifices I wouldn’t be the man I am today. There have been over 1.25 million deaths by our armed men and women while in service and there are currently over 24 million living veterens. Remember them… remember them all.

America’s Active Duty Heroes of Today
Army - 517,998
Navy -  373,830
Marine Corps - 186,209
Air Force - 328,270
Coast Guard - 39,121
Total - 1,445,428 brave men and women are currently protecting our freedoms stationed at 820 installations across 39 countries worldwide. 

Seeing as I work in IT and have for nearly a decade now it is amazing how many times I get asked the same questions by my family or friends, or how many times I’ve had to help with the most basic of problems… so hopefully you’re still reading by now and I haven’t scared you away with my “geek speak” because I think I’ll be able to offer at least a couple of things for each and everyone of you out there to help improve your computer experience. Have one of those annoying pop-up ads slowing down your computer down? Have digital images you wish you could get the red eye out of? Wish you could quickly and easily share your pictures with friends and family? Well, these are just some of the topics I’ll be covering over the coming weeks.

So, make sure to check back tomorrow when I get it started with a free and easy to use photo editing softare (no more red eyes!)… and keep coming back for at least the next few weeks as I will continue to bring you more cool free stuff.

Close your eyes and ponder with me for a moment. You’re a child again and on a swing or riding your bike or or just laying in the grass… the sun shining upon your young face, those chubby cheeks and a slap bracelet on your wrist; God I miss that. Obviously we all have different experiences and memories of our childhood but even in the worst of times or circumstances your young mind would wonder off in the bliss that is a life with no worries in the world. Now I don’t want to act like I’ve completely lost this feeling because I haven’t, I’ve just lost the perspective that this is how I should be living my life every day. For about 25 years of my life I refused to grow up, move on and be a responsible adult… to this day, three years later I am still fighting that battle everyday.

I find myself on a constant high-wire act trying to balance myself between the life that is expected of me by my family and the outside world and the life that I want to live for myself. I don’t really feel pressure to be this great leader or amazing worker or talented person, yet in the back of my mind I feel that if I don’t strive for these things then I am letting someone down. Is that someone me? I don’t know. Is that someone my friends or family? I doubt it… so why do I have this feeling? Why do I feel the need to put myself in a miserable position day after day, to strive for a life or goals that in the end are rather meaningless? I have a feeling that I’m not the only person out there thinking these thoughts, why do we put ourselves through it all?

In this ever-changing world filled with fear, terrorism, cynicism, decadence, hatred and the unknown it is easy to lose track of the important things in life. Regardless of what you do or make of yourself the only real important things in your life should be your faith, family, friends and how you live your life. Don’t live the life that you think others want you to live, live the life you want regardless of what others think… otherwise you aren’t really living it at all. Anyone can act like a drone and work 9/5 for a middle-class living, marry, have 2.5 kids, a dog and a cat… it takes real passion to live the life that you feel you are destined for. Obviously having a beautiful family is far from a horrible act, it is easily the most beautiful thing you can do in your life, just live a life that would make your family proud. Life is a journey, take a scenic detour every once and a while.

Call it a cliché but for some reason I continually look to a movie to help me put my life into perspective. The following quote from Fight Club, while not the most eloquent words ever spoken I believe they sum up my thoughts pretty well. “You’re not your job. You’re not how much money you have in the bank. You’re not the car you drive. You’re not the contents of your wallet. You’re not your fucking khakis.” To me these lines aren’t telling me to give up, they are telling me to live. The normal life in America and the world isn’t as beautiful as it used to be, so make your life abnormal. Wake up tomorrow, do something different, make yourself feel like a kid again. Walk in the rain, take a chance and do something, anything to make you feel alive again.

We are all guilty of wearing a facade, refusing to show our real sevles to the outside world. Well, for me that time is over and I hope it is for you as well. I’m an extremely ridiculous person, but ridiculous in a good way. I’m goofy, a hopeless romantic and someone that will forever live his life with the carefree abandon of a child. I know at this point it is simple for me to speculate about how I will go about living my life with no cares, I am single guy who makes decent money and has no family… will my outlook on life change when I have the beautiful wife and children that I hope to someday have? I’m sure it will, but I also hope I sure as hell will do my best to make sure that we all live a life where we wake up everyday with no real worries in the world. Call it a false hope, I don’t care… I respectfully reject your reality and substitute my own.

I’m not really sure my reasons for posting all of this, at this point it seems more like the ridiculous dialogue of a chatty Quentin Tarantino movie. Am I even speaking to anyone but myself? Upon reflecting back on what I have now written I see that I am instructing others to do when I of course should practice what I preach… thankfully I fully intend to do just that. I’m tired of living the same mundane life that countless other singles out there are living. No more of the phony mask that I put on for the rest of the world, here I am in all of my ridiculous glory… love me or hate me, frankly I don’t really give a damn. My goals aren’t to be the model employee anymore, the trendy club-goer, the crazy partier or even the closet nerd in the corner. My goal in life is simply to go to sleep tonight with a clear head and wake up tomorrow and demand that it be the best damn day in my life… if for some reason it isn’t, no worries; tomorrow is another day.

Currently listening to: Placebo - Running Up That Hill