Twitter?

So, I decided I'm going to try Twitter to see how I like it. I've incorporated it into my page, so up in the top right corner, you'll see my Twitter Updates.

You can also go to www.twitter.com/blckbrry_addict

But that's a trip, right?!

Also, Congrats to the Simmons family for the phenomenal newspaper cuttings letter. Truth be told, I thought it might be them, but when it came from E. Rochester, I thought others.

Alright, that's all I got, enjoy!

Response to my Previous Invitation

Got a great response to my previous invitation for a letter.

A quote from the character Cardinal Richelieu in the 1839 play Richelieu; Or the Conspiracy by Edward Bulwer-Lytton. One of my favorite quotes, the full context of the quote is:

True, This! —
Beneath the rule of men entirely great,


The pen is mightier than the sword. Behold


The arch-enchanters wand! — itself a nothing! —


But taking sorcery from the master-hand


To paralyse the Cæsars, and to strike


The loud earth breathless! — Take away the sword —


States can be saved without it!

My favorite part is that it is thru words that great things can happen, not by violence. 9 years before this play was written, Joseph Smith Jr. commented to EB Grandin : "the word had a greater tendency to lead the people to do that which was just; yea, it had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword.” Obviously, Bulwer-Lytton was paraphrasing the Prophet, but I digress...

Well done to the mischievous reader who sent in this letter. They have left it up to me to guess who they are. From my review of the delivery, here is what I know...

1) The Democrat and Chronicle was used in the making of this letter. The particular one they used was from Sunday, April 19, 2009

2) They live on the East Side, most likely East Rochester.

3) They are right handed.

4) They used a black ink, Bic pen. Probably a click style since the writing was smoother than the classic crystal style.

5) No animals were harmed in the making of this letter.

So, that's what I know about this letter I received. After careful review and thought on the matter, I have decided I think I know who the magic sender was...

But, would it be better for me to reveal him/her here? No...

I'll leave it up to imagination... till next week!

Revolutionary Post

I am doing something now, I have not done... ever... I'm blogging from my Macbook!

Usually, I blog from my Blackberry... thus the name for the blog.... and yes, we all know where I find the time to do it...

But today, I'm on my laptop, so I thought I'd drop a line!

Today, I want to talk about something different: pens.

Have you noticed we are living in the disappearance of the main choice of communication for the last trillion years, or something like that? Written thought is going the way of media. This was opened up to me recently in two ways.

First, in my last semester of school, my professor refused my first homework and told me to redo it because it was done in pen. She insisted it be typed. It was an investments course, and most of the homework was math. I've never done math in Word! But, surprise! I was the only one who didn't! Of course, I had to succumb...

Second, did you know that virtually nobody writes in cursive script anymore? I think I'm the last one! For the record, I never have, nor never will write in print, block letters or semi-cursive (common among women - my wife does it). In my training a couple of weeks ago at work, I was to be the scribe on the white board for some ideas we were all throwing out. After a few lines, the instructor commented: "Nice penmanship. I've been doing this for 9 years, you're the first to do it in cursive..." Really?!

So, here's my proposition. Sometime this week, just for the heck of it... get a nice sheet of paper (whatever moves you), sit down and write that email you were going to send. Put it in an envelope and mail it. Use cursive, print, block, semi-cursive or even hieroglyphics.

And just since I never seem to check my comments as much as I should (thanks to all who read and comment, I do see them eventually!), feel free to send me handwritten letters in lieu of comments! (316 Norwood Ave, Rochester, NY 14606) I'd be happy to respond in like manner!

Enjoy my vacation week!

I'm still alive

Hey all!

Up, I'm still alive! Sorry I haven't written in a while!

Not much news... Finishing my BS in Accounting this week and getting ready for MBA this fall.

Had some Paychex internal trainings, and vacation next week, yea!

That's the news, hope all is well with everyone!

raising an addict

I guess its not ever parents dream to raise an addict. But, at almost three, I think I've passed one of my addictions already on to my son, and am very proud!

Hello, my name is Brian, so is my son, and we are addicted to the Blackberry.

Last night, after we watched the final episode of Innovation Movers on the Disney Channel (aka TIVO), it was time for Brian Jr to go to sleep. As I was laying in bed next to him, we thought it would be fun to watch one more quick Movers song, so I whipped out my handy dandy - wait, wrong show... I got out my BB and we loaded up YouTube for one more hit. It lasted 90 seconds. Afterwards, I turned off the BB and got screams a plenty! Kicking, screaming, pulling, pushing! With the BB turned off, it could do no more fun!

And you should have seen little Brian's reaction! Anyway, needless to say, this went on for about five minutes until I simply let him hold the BB. That was enough, and he feel asleep, with visions of BB, dancing in his head...!

So, I know they make toy ones out there... Guess its time to find junior his very own Blackberry...

In other news, I have been accepted to the Bittner School of Business (St John Fischer) for my MBA program. I start in the fall, and it should take two years to complete.

Hope all is well with you guys!

quick Update

Quick update for everyone from the BB!

This week, in review, I think the only big news is that I purchased my first ever football! There's not much to comment on it... Wilson, brown, laces...a lot of people are just amazed that I lived this long and never owned a football... So, now I do!

Brian jr likes it a lot! We've been playing catch, in the house of course, and its been real fun!

That's pretty much it! Shout out to Mike Simmons!

weekly update

Thought I'd take a few minutes today and put together the weekly update for any readers...

GREAT NEWS!!! I have learned that people are actually reading my blog! A a little while, I wasn't sure if anyone was... But it really didn't matter, it still gave me something to do.

This week we purchased a new laptop! To prepare for my graduate degree, I purchased a new Macbook. It has a beautiful LCD Backlit display and all the fancy Apple bells and whistles.

It was also announced yesterday at Paychex that all merit raises and 401k matches would be suspended for a one year time period as a result of the sluggish economy. Overall, I think the news was taken well as it meant that we were keeping our jobs. Also, the Senior VPs, who made the decision, did actually walk around all day and were available to all Rochester employees to discuss what happened and did not hide in their offices. That was nice and I think instilled that this was still a great team enviroment.

Well, got to go!

*** Final *** Jury Duty

Well, I'm happy to report I did not get picked for Jury Duty!

The case I was assigned to was a murder case that happened on Hudson Avenue back in September. Luckily, for me, I had already read about the case and the media around it, so I was happy to report that and show that, therefore, I could not be impartial.

Unluckily, because I didn't get picked yesterday for the jury interviewing, I needed to actually go before the judge and the attorneys after court and let them know of my knowledge and be excused that way... Not a fun experience by any means, but it worked...

So, back to work I am!

Oh yea, Andrea is pregnant and we don't call my son Junior...

***Update*** Jury Duty

They just informed us that the three cases for today (this morning) are now 4. I. Have been assigned to Judge Joseph Valentino, a NYS Supreme Court justice hearing a criminal case. Jury selection begins at 10 am and Judge Valentino requires a Questionnaire be filled out prior to the selection. I'm hoping based on how mine is filled out, I won't be selected- been a victim of a crime, testified in court, like to shoot firearms...

I guess we'll see what happens!

Also- another juror here is named Heather Hunt. A friend I attend Church with also has that name... I wonder if she is here!

Jury Duty...

Well, I got Jury Duty! I write this blog today while I sit, crammed into the Central Jury Room, with 400 of my new friends...!

We started this morning at 8am and, being one of the first here, I took to a side of the large room that I figured would not get crowded so I could read my book. It must be my "magnetic personality", but here I sit jammed in with a ton of people...

We've been informed there are 10 trials they are selecting jurors for - 7 in the morning and 3 in the afternoon. I'm hoping I don't get picked... Not that it wouldn't be interesting... I just don't have the time!

So, here I sit now watching "Ed Bradley" in a "get you excited" movie about Jury Service...

I see a long day in front of me...

quick Post

Hey all!

Just a quick post to update on the Mayhem that is now YE. We are starting to see light! This week, its only two days, but I've started working less overtime.

Brian jr is finally getting over his hand, foot and mouth issue. Back to his normal self, I got the bruises to prove it!

Also, for those of you readers who were at the Euchre Party Saturday night - I had a great time! I had to leave early... Anyone catch what place I came in?

See y'all when I see ya! HEY- THERE'S REALLY GFP THIS MONTH!!!

Mayhem

Well, YE is definately upon us now - in full effect!!!

I've now had my third week of working 12+ hour days and its been insane. Sales have been through the roof, its crazy!

In other good news, junior has Hand, Foot and Mouth disease. He's starting to get better, but he was at 104 deg. temp for a while. Luckily, Tylenol was doing the trick.

Otherwise, things are getting final for St John Fisher in the fall for their MBA Program. I'm really excited about this. In a few weeks, I have to sit the GMAT Exam, and then all should be final...

Well, that is all for now! Let me know how you all are!

Obama Keeps Blackberry!!!

Yea! President Obama, who I should continue to mention had not won my vote, was able to keep his Blackberry in office!!! Well, sort of... You see, they had to make special Blackberry's for him with enhanced firewalls and no GPS chips... But its still a RIM Blackberry!!!

Other news... I am one step closer to acheiving my bachelors degree in Accounting this summer. On Tuesday, my mission to Africa was reviewed by SUNY to see if it met the experience to qualify for college credits. I am happy to report that I was awarded 6 Advanced Level credits in Ugandan Culture. They are treating it as a "study abroad" course. I almost comment my whole marriage is a course in "study a broad", but I knew they wouldn't get it...so, now I need to do is pass Auditing and Investments, and I am a BS in Accounting!!!

I'm also proud to report that I have received my referrals for St. John Fisher College for the MBA Program. Now all I have to do is pass the GMAT and I should be all set.

Time to go, Brian is on my lap beating me up... making it so much fun typing and such... See ya Later!!!

Obama Blackberry

Obama's fighting to keep his BlackBerry!!!!  There's hope for me yet!!!

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/01/16/obama-pretty-determined-blackberry/

Year End is kicking!

I don't know if I discussed this before, but Year End at Paychex (Dec 15-Feb 15: when people are worried about getting and fixing W2s) is insanely busy... 12 hour work days 6 days a week are not unheard of.

As the supervisor of the New Client Team, I have been especially busy. This is the first year that I've had this supervisory assignment, and I've been running. This YE, we've taken on 1,000 new clients just in the first three weeks, with nothing to say about the remaining two. In addition, because I'm still the Year End coordinator, coordinating the whole production... Its been pretty busy...

Luckily, I've been able to catch the news a bit. This Tuesday, President Obama, star of the hit shows "Hillary got Barack-ed" and "Obamanation: The Story of how to make it to the top with no visible credentials", will be sworn in as President. All joking aside, I wish Mr. Obama good luck in this job. I didn't vote for him, but he's our President and we have to support him.

Did you know the President can't have a Blackberry while in office? Its a Security Breach. Its also why I may never be President.

Well, that's my ramblings. Till next time!

Looks Good!

Well, I've been able to pull up the blog on the home computer, and it looks great! Last night, I spent some time linking my friends who had blogs up to my "blogger" account so that I could keep track of their blogs. I don't know if that will alert them to the fact that I now have a blog to, or if I have to email them myself. I guess we'll see...

In other news - my sister is pregnant. I believe she said she is 9 weeks along. I'm not terribly happy about this. She's 22, single but living with a 28 year old man (who already has a kid with another woman), and can't keep herself in school for anything. She's a receptionist with the State, so she has good benefits, but no pay.

I'm not mad she's pregnant. I'm disappointed because she's pregnant, on purpose, with a guy who doesn't want to get married and when he cuts and runs, she's left with... Not to mention, she knew he didn't want to get married before she got pregnant, but she still decided to start a family(?) With this man.

Ok, that's my older brother rants. Have a great day!

First Post

Hey- I've been wanting to start a blog for sometime, but wasn't sure what to do or where to begin... So I didn't. Then, I found out I can blog from my new best friend - my Blackberry!!!

So here I am, blog #1.

Its year end, which for Paychex means I'm married to my desk and my clients are my family, my coworkers my friends and ADP is the enemy! This isn't that bad, but its busy... Real busy...

Other news, Friday was our first Elders Quorum outting to the Rochester Americans Hockey night. I think it was a great success. A wonderful fight broke out 2 seconds into play and Rochester ending up winning 3-1.

That's it for now, gonna head home and see how this looks online. Till next time!