Dammit, I lost my stress

So ... after more than 15 months of an insane workload that included moving from Columbus back to Youngstown and three large enterprise level projects that pretty much killed my life ... I'm FINALLY going to take some time off work here in September ... basically starting Friday and running through September 14th, when I return to the office.

Except "the office" is now my dining room, as officially, beginning tomorrow, I'm one of the thousands of 'virtual employees' that work from a home-based office.  So, here's my evolving home office:

This isn't the final view ... I've not finalized it yet ... there will be three 22" wide screen monitors rather than the one 22" and one 19" you see ... and a filing cabinet on the left with a printer on top, but this is pretty much what I'll be working with from a furniture point.

This is what it replaced.  So yeah ... huge increase in desk space, work space, looks and ergonomics.

In addition to that ... two of the biggest projects I've ever worked on both ended today.  One of them piggybacked off the huge anti-virus project I was that started in July 2009 ... so I've been kicking ass at work basically since July 2009 without stopping.

Then, as of today, it just stopped.  The projects ended, the speculation as to us being home-officed or forcing to move to another location ... ended.  We're virtual ... and as for the hard-core projects ... I'm back in the general work-flow, not dedicated to huge projects that kill my life.

For the first time in 15 months not only can I breathe, but I feel like I can get stuff done.  Today I did six loads of laundry before noon.  I slept great last night for the first time in probably six weeks (which included two on-call shifts).  I'm just finally in a good point personally and professionally.  It's weird for me, having not had either, basically for three years now.

I think working from home is going to be a HUGE part of that.  There's no stress in driving to work ... I'm not spending $5 on breakfast and $10 on lunch every day;   I have a kick-ass desk, and home office setup. My company is paying for my Internet and phone, and since I'm not working in Youngstown anymore, I'm not paying that insane income tax ... so I'll have more money in my pocket and less stress about getting to work.  A seven-step walk beats the hell out of a seven-mile drive ... especially with winter coming this way soon.

Another big part is the confidence I've gained in these three projects ... I went from standard day-to-day support to three enterprise level projects that impacted 3,000+ servers and forced me to step up my game to deal with something on this scale.

And then there's my personal life, which is also rolling along nicely and enjoyable.  Things with Sarah have had a couple of ups and downs, but we've worked through them and are moving forward. And I'm glad I'll have more time to enjoy it.  I signed a new lease so I'm going to be in Austintown for another year, which is good with me ... I like Austintown ... and to be honest, I really wasn't in the mood to move again.  I like my little box at the top of the stairs. But I have no Indian rug or a pipe to share, sorry.

But yeah ... finally ... I really feel I can relax. I can breathe. I can enjoy my non-working hours doing things I want to do ... and not spending all day and night sitting in front of my computer building servers or cleaning viruses and all that stuff.

Yay me!

"Getting Revealed" - Behind the Scenes

So now Facebook has this thing called "Get Revealed" where your friends can ask questions about you.  And if you answer enough questions about your friends, you can find out who said what about you.

Because yeah, that's why I lose sleep at night, wondering what people really think of me.

So, being the guy who reveals the man behind the curtain whenever possible, I took my current 61 questions, removed the duplicates and decided to not only tell you if you're right or wrong, but expound a bit on it.

With that being said ... I've broken down the questions by how the questions were answered ... Yes or No.  Let's get to me getting revealed:
 

Things you said NO to:
 

Do you think that Eric Broz has ever been unfaithful in a relationship? 
Correct. I’m not and never have been a cheater.
 

Do you think that Eric Broz grinds their teeth while sleeping?
Correct.  I’m not a grinder.
 

Do you think that Eric Broz has a bad haircut?
Subjective.  It’s hair. It changes every so often.
 

Do you think that Eric Broz has bad breath?
Correct.  Ahhhh … minty fresh.
 

Do you think that Eric Broz has ever failed a class?
Wrong. I failed Statistics. Twice. Because 2+2 is always four. I don’t care about your probability.
 

Do you think that Eric Broz has ever stolen from work?
Wrong. Everyone steals from work. Time, Internet bandwidth, smoke breaks, office supplies, CDs, DVDs, you get the picture.
 

Do you think that Eric Broz has ever stolen money from their friends?
Correct. I’d rather be broke than screw over a friend.
 

Do you think that Eric Broz has ever used steroids?
Wrong. I was on them a couple of times for injuries. Not for personal use. And I was never injected by Jose Canseco.
 

Do you think that Eric Broz is a poser?
Correct. Because, tru ‘dat, homie. Damn, those bitches actin’ all Asian ‘n’ shit. That shit is whack!
 

Do you think that Eric Broz is a tree hugger?
Correct. I have a Cartman tattoo.  I hate hippies.
 

Do you think that Eric Broz is cute?
Subjective … this is the one that one person voted yes, one person voted no.
 

Do you think that Eric Broz is dumber than Jessica Simpson?
Correct. But, dammit, I wanted to eat some sea chickens, too.
 

Do you think that Eric Broz is hyper?
Correct.  I go with the flow.
 

Do you think that Eric Broz is ignorant?
Correct. I’m not insane, either. My mother had me tested.
 

Do you think that Eric Broz is lazy?
Correct. Unless it’s football Sunday. Or football Saturday. Or I need to catch up on the DVR. Then I’m a regular couch-dwelling sloth.
 

Do you think that Eric Broz is socially awkward?
Wrong. Uh, ask me about my crippling social anxiety.  (That’s rhetorical. I don’t want you to ask.)
 

Do you think that Eric Broz is tone deaf?
Correct. I will admit to being deaf to Nickleback and other shitty bands  like that.

Do you think that Eric Broz likes British accents?
Wrong. Julia Fordam sounds delicious in everything she does. And she’s British.
 

Do you think that Eric Broz likes chick flicks?
Wrong. “Sleepless in Seattle,” “League of Their Own” and “You’ve Got Mail” are among my favorites.
 

Do you think that Eric Broz still wet their bed in 6th grade?
Correct.  In 5th grade I started breaking into other classmates houses and wetting their beds.
 

Do you think that Eric Broz would help an elderly woman cross the street?
Correct. And yes, I was a Boy Scout.
 

Do you think that you can beat Eric Broz in a fight?
Correct. Because I know kung-fu, and five or six other Chinese words.
 

Does Eric Broz have a nice butt?
Subjective. My butt’s not for everyone.
 

Would you go skinny dipping with Eric Broz?
Correct. I don’t skinny dip. I chunky dunk.
 

Totals for the NO Round: 
 

Collectively … 15 correct; six wrong and three subjective out of 24 … when you factor out the subjective, you’re collectively five for seven.  Not bad.
 

Things you said YES to:
 

Do you think Eric Broz can actually hook up with someone out of their league?
Correct. Have you seen my girlfriend? General consensus is she’s out of my league :D
 

Do you think Eric Broz is cute?
Subjective. Someone answered this as NO last time, so it’s a wash.
 

Do you think that Eric Broz brushes their teeth regularly?
Correct. Thanks!
 

Do you think that Eric Broz can run a mile without stopping?
Wrong. Sorry. I’m old, fat, out of shape and have horrible knees. If you see me running, you better drop what you’re doing and follow me because if I’m running, it’s from something bad.
 

Do you think that Eric Broz can throw a football with a spiral?
Correct. Every year I wait by the phone during the NFL Draft, but nobody calls. Hell, Tim Couch and Brady Quinn were both drafted.  Jamarcus Russell and Ryan Leaf, too.  Then, again, I am old, fat, out of shape and have horrible knees.  I feel like Joe Nameth. I should grope an ESPN sideline reporter now.
 

Do you think that Eric Broz has a funny looking nose?
Correct, and I agree. Broken a few times playing hockey, or fighting.
 

Do you think that Eric Broz has ever been in a fist fight?  

Correct. I have. Bobby Hunter in 6th grade was probably the last planned fight. Wasn’t the flag pole at 3 p.m., but it was close. I think I won. He had a black eye when we were done.
 

Do you think that Eric Broz has ever failed a test?
Correct, I have. Spanish in 12th grade. And several Statistics classes.
 

Do you think that Eric Broz has ever fooled around at work?
Correct. I have. And that’s all I’ve got to say about that!
 

Do you think that Eric Broz has ever had a 1 night stand?
Correct. I’ve had as little as a 20-minute-stand, once; and several one-night stands. One lasted a couple of weeks.
 

Do you think that Eric Broz has ever played beer pong?
Wrong. I’ve played several drinking games, but not beer pong.
 

Do you think that Eric Broz has soft hands?  

Correct. I type all day. I don’t do much else with my hands, so yeah, they’re soft.
 

Do you think that Eric Broz is a good driver?  

Correct. I’m an excellent driver. Dad lets me drive the car. But only up and down the driveway.
 

Do you think that Eric Broz is a good friend?
Correct. I do my best.
 

Do you think that Eric Broz is cute?
Subjective. That was asked in the NO section.
 

Do you think that Eric Broz likes chick flicks?
Correct. As stated before, I love me some chick flicks.
 

Do you think that Eric Broz owns a nice car?
Subjective.  If you consider a 2001 pine green Saturn 4-door nice, yay you.
 

Do you think that Eric Broz spends more than an hour on facebook everyday?
Correct. I’m a junkie. But not because of Farmland or Frontierplace or stuff like that.
 

Do you think that Eric Broz watches porn?
Correct. I was once told there was porn on the Internet I’ve not seen, so I have to keep up.
 

Do you think that Eric Broz watches the TV show "24"?
Wrong. I watched about half of the first season and realized there’s no way one guy can drive all the way across LA in less than an hour.
 

Do you think that Eric Broz would look good in tights?  

Wrong. Ever see hair through tights? Not a pretty look. And I’m not shaving my legs. My knees have enough scars.
 

Do you think your first impression of Eric Broz was right?
Subjective. Not sure who said this or what their first impression was.
 

Is Eric Broz a reliable person?
Correct. I do my best to be on time, every time.
 

Is Eric Broz fun to be around?
Correct. I’m the life of the party!
 

Is Eric Broz's profile picture cute?
Subjective.   The Sarah half of my profile pic is SUPER Cute … my half … meh.
 

Would Eric Broz make a good spouse?
Subjective.
 

Would you introduce Eric Broz to your family? Correct. And thanks. Parents love me.

Would you trust Eric Broz with your life?
Correct. And again, thanks. I got your back.
 

Totals for the YES Round: 
 

Collectively ... you got 18 correct; six wrong and four subjective out of 28 … when you factor out the subjective, you’re collectively three for four.  Not bad at all.
 

Grand Totals:
 

Out of 42 total non-subjective questions, you collectively got 33 correct.  

That’s 78%, congrats, you’ve passed this test!

You know me. You really know me!

You know you're from Youngstown when ...

You know you're from Youngstown when .... 

• You steal $7 million in a armored car robbery and only make it to a double-wide in West Virginia.
• When you take a hot date to the Coconut Grove.
• You think Genitalia is an Italian airline.
• You think TACO BELL is the Mexican Phone Company.
• You hooked up with your present girlfriend as a result of a message on the wall of the men's' room at the Club 76 truck stop.
• If the only reason to go to the convocation center is professional rastling.
• If you think Jim Trafficant was railroaded by the FBI.
• If you think high class shopping is going to Walmart and Dollar General.
• You were acquitted for murdering your first wife after she threw out your Elvis 8-tracks.
• Your kids take a siphon hose to "Show and Tell."
• If you think the MVSD is your own private lake.
• You've ever had to scratch your sisters name out of a message that begins, "For a good time call...".
• The only time you go to church is for Fish or Pirogi Fridays.
• Your whole family is Democrats 'cept little Mary. She lernt how to read.
• You have a bumper sticker that says, "MY MOTHER'S AN HONOR STUDENT AT Cardinal Mooney".
• You consider your license plate personalized because Jim Trafficant, Lenny Strolo or Phil Chance made it in prison.
• Your lifetime goal is to own a Zoldan fireworks stand.
• The drug task force surrounded your house twice so far this year.
• If your tomato plants get singed because of all the cars getting bombed in your driveway.
• If your lawn ornament is riddled with bullet holes.