Michael’s Christmas message

When I did my Christmas cards, I meant to place a small note in some of them detailing what my life’s been like in 2006. Unfortunately, when I was sitting there addressing the envelopes and such I sealed the envelopes up and neglected to place the notes inside. But, because I placed my website URL on the cards, it’s quite possible they can read the note here.

Merry Christmas to one and all!

This year I finally decided to do a Christmas letter to update friends and family about my life. I think this is the first year I’ve actually felt settled into my adopted home state of Maryland. That seems about right because it took me about this long to get used to living out in Perrysburg Township. Of course then I ended up getting laid off in Ohio, made the decision that it was time to go someplace where regular work exists and the weather’s a little nicer, and wound up finding a job here on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

However, that was 2004, and now it’s 2006 – soon to be 2007. Time flies when you’re having fun I guess but in life sometimes time flies even when you’re not having a good time. And this year I had a good time more often than not.

But the reason I moved here still exists and I remain gainfully employed at Iott Architecture Engineering. Even with the national slowdown in the real estate market, there still is enough of a demand for new condos that I remain busy on my projects. One is just wrapping up in the town of Crisfield. MD and the other is under construction down in Chincoteague, VA. That’s a three-phase project and I’m just starting on Phase 3. But our company has its mitts all over the Delmarva Peninsula so I’m sure there will be another project on the horizon that I’ll be placed in charge of, and it’s just as likely now to be a commercial one.

So with that income I decided to use some of it and put myself in hock for various amounts of time. The first thing to do was get myself a nicer car, and I found one I liked, a Scion tC. No boring sedan for me this time. And that car took me back up north to Pennsylvania and Ohio in August for my vacation.

A vacation for me is defined as doing things I enjoy doing. So I spent a LONG day with Danie up in Cleveland as part of it. We shopped at a cool used CD store, did lunch with her friends, stopped by the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame, had dinner, and watched our Delmarva Shorebirds play up at Lake County. In fact, I went to four ballgames in four different parks in five days (Washington PA, Cleveland, Lake County, and Pittsburgh) so it turned out to be a nice trip and awesome weather.

That was just the warmup to REALLY spending money. After cooling my heels in an apartment for two years here, I bought a house. It’s certainly not the biggest or newest house on the Shore but it fits my needs and it’s a place I can call home. One asset it has is the nice frontage on a semi-busy road. It’s great for political signs, and I had plenty. In September, I was elected to serve on the Republican Central Committee here in Wicomico County so as one would expect I had pretty much a slate full of signs in my yard once I got moved in during October. Didn’t help much but I’ll keep plugging away at it for the next four years.

The other key element in my days actually began at the tail end of 2005 but blossomed and became established this year. Late last year I began a website called monoblogue. Many who know me know that one thing I enjoy doing is writing and with the advent of the internet, it created an outlet for folks like me who don’t write for a living but have plenty to say anyway. From basically nothing I’ve gone to hundreds of readers a week. I’d say that more than anything it’s helped me get settled into this area because it gives people something to know me by.

And now you know more about me, except for the fact I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a happy, blessed 2007!

Michael

There was one other thing that I wanted to add since the message is now online instead of in print. It’s this time of year where people are their most charitable – everyone sees the Salvation Army kettle out front of the stores or gets the toy to donate for Toys For Tots. But what about the needs that arise June 27th or October 14th? It’s great that folks are charitable now, I’d just like to see that occur and people care for their fellow man 24/7/365. Don’t shut the compassion off after today is over.

Author: Michael

It's me from my laptop computer.