New Blog

So...this blog has gone in the crapper, so I started a new one...Go check it out http://tcumike.blogspot.com/

:)

Well...that was fun!!! ;) No details on here though.

Basketball & Green Beer!

Well....the NCAA tourney started this week! Probably one of the best sporting events in the country. 64 teams (well technically 68, but I don't count those pointless first four), 3 weeks of basketball, ending with the Final Four and National Championship here in the great city of Houston. I always fill out a couple of brackets to enter, but after only the first round, I am ready to rip them apart. Oh well...same thing happens every year! I always tell myself I will not do any more brackets, but they are just so much fun! We shall see what happens. I got DUKE!!!

Thursday, March 17th, was St. Patrick's Day. Met a some friends out at Brian O'Neill's Irish Pub and Restaurant here in Houston. They usually shut down the parking lot and open it up to be an extension of the bar. Lots of people, lots of green beer, lots of fun!!! Luckily, I'm not working so I was able to stay out a little later than others. Met some new people, saw some old familiar faces, and had a great time!!!

I keep forgetting about this thing...

Seriously...I suck at this blog thing. I couldn't keep up with it if my life depended on it. Oh well...

Anyways. Job searching sucks. I have been having some trouble finding something. I've had interviews but both companies were looking for someone more experienced than myself. So it's almost like I need to find something in an entry level position.... Hopefully something soon.

One of my best friends is getting married this summer and he wants to go to Vegas for his bachelor party. I so want to go but can't unless I can find a job soon. The planning stages have begun already, but at least he understands if I can not make it.

So this past weekend I went to a couple of "other" kinds of bar/clubs with 2 of my close lady friends. And no I don't mean strip clubs. Too bad I can't tell many people about it, but it was A LOT of fun. The club had dancers on tables, which....wasn't bad on the eyes!!! And they were very nice as well. We talked to two of them! I'll be making a return trip, hopefully sooner than later!

That's it for now!!! Till next time.

AMA Awards

OK, this is a pointless post but just have to say it. 2 performances that I have seen have featured one of my all time favorite hot celebs and the other an up and comer on my list of hot celebs.

1st. My true love...Christina Aguilera!!! Her voice makes her even hotter!
And a new person on my list lately...Katy Perry (too bad she is married to an ugly, un-funny guy) Whatever...everyone makes mistakes.


That is all!!!

Welcome to the real world...

A lot has happened since my last post. And most of it, if not all, is non good news. Oh well, I guess everyone has tough times in their lives. A quick one sentence summary before I get into detail...I am unemployed.

So lets start...About two weeks ago I get called into my boss's office and the HR director is in their as well. Now, anytime the HR director is in the room, its more than likely not good. They proceed to tell me that my "STYLE" of how I work is not a fit for how the firm is going. Um...what? I don't even know what that means. I was in shell shock, so I was unable at the time to ask any follow up questions. They tell me that I will have two weeks to look for a new job, and then at that point I'd be let go. At this time they say it is not performance and that, if needed, she would give me a recommendation...(more on that later). They say that normally I would be let go at that point, but since I have been around for awhile, that they would give me that 2 weeks to job search...Gee thanks. At this point, I leave, talk to family, close friends, and even a few close coworkers from the Fort Worth office (I transferred from the FTW office to Houston summer of 2009).

Fast forward 1 week, and I get a call from the HR director. She wanted to check on me and my job search. No problem there, she said she would do that. After though, she asks me if I told people in Fort Worth about being fired...which I said yes. I guess they had a problem with that. She said I was not being fired and that she assumed that I knew this was a confidential thing. Um what...so I cant tell people that I'm being let go. And being terminated=firing. Idiots. So, I've had my last day, just walked out of there without saying bye to anyone. Why should I since in those last 2 weeks not one manager even spoke to me. I get no severance or anything...basically just screwed by the company where I first started working out of college.

So, my thoughts on this whole situation.
1. Them getting upset that I talked to Fort Worth people had nothing to do with the fact they were in the Fort Worth office and not Houston. I spoke with someone in Fort Worth because the person I told, I consider a mentor and a close friend outside of work. At that time our Houston Partner (my boss) was in the Fort Worth office. Since the Fort Worth office liked me so much, I think she was a little embarrassed that she was getting rid of me and they were probably questioning it. Made her upset. GET OVER IT.
2. When I transferred from Fort Worth to Houston, I had the blessing of the head of the Tax Department for the ENTIRE firm. So, the Houston office, probably couldn't say no to the transfer if they wanted to. The entire time in Houston, I never felt like I was accepted. Like I was an outsider (which I was). When it came time to having to get rid of someone, who better, than the person they never hired in the first place. I know I wasn't the best there, but I damn sure wasn't the worst. It was easy for me to be the one to get fired..excuse me, I mean terminated.

So, now I'm home, job searching. I am hoping and praying that I can find something soon. I am going to use this time to leave public accounting and possibly get more money. Maybe this is a blessing in disguise. But still...kind of a crappy situation. Oh well...we shall see what happens.

Welcome to the real world...

This just doesn't feel right...

I began TCU in the fall of 2002, and I must say...this is the first year that I have/will miss more than 1 home game in a season. I feel like I am abandoning my school, my team, my family. I knew this would eventually happen when I moved from Fort Worth to Houston last summer. Along with having tickets to the Houston Texans, it would just be too hard to make it to every TCU home game. I haven't been to one home game yet, and there have already been 2, with another coming up this weekend...which, of course, I will miss. I miss Fort Worth, tailgating, and Amon G. Carter (stadium). However, next week....all things will be good in the world again. I will make my first apperance at a TCU home game! God I can't wait!

Isn't it a beauty...?!!!

Update

So...no special bar/club this past weekend. Maybe again someday. Instead I cooked dinner for a new lady friend of mine. Made Chicken Parmesan, Caesar Salad, Green Beans, and Spaghetti! I know I know...I'm good!

What kind of bar did you say?

There is a chance I may be going to a different kind of bar/club with a couple of my lady friends this weekend. I've been a couple times before, once in Dallas and here in Houston as well. It is definitely a different experience. Maybe I'll come back and post about it, depending on how things go. We shall see. Should be interesting...

Still looking....

So, it's been over a year since I have been in any kind of relationship. I've dated a couple of girls since, but nothing that has progressed. Some guys like being single in their mid 20's....but not me. I actually HATE it. Not that I need someone to complete me, but it's just nice to have someone. Someone I can do stuff with, go out with, and care about! I like having someone I can really talk to about any and everything. Now it seems ALL my friends are either engaged or married already. Some already with kids. It makes it hard to hang out with them, when they are always in couple situations. I did sign up for eHarmony awhile back, so we will see how that goes. I've also been talking/dating a girl I've known since the 6th grade. She is actually someone who I'd love for it to work out...but we will just have to see how it goes. I'm keeping my options open though. Id like to say I'm not that picky. I am definitely willing to try new things as well!!! Id even like to meet some single guy 'friends.' So if you know people out there in Houston that are looking....let me know!

It's back!!!

Football season has returned. Life can go back to normal now...somewhat! My teams as usual to follow...TCU for college and Houston Texans for the NFL.

I went to the TCU/Oregon State game last weekend at Jerryworld in Arlington. Tailgated with my usual group for about 5 hours before game time! Since I no longer live in Fort Worth, it is hard to see my old college friends, except for football games that I make the trip for. It was great seeing people I hadn't seen in awhile!

My Texans start up this coming weekend against the Colts. A team that ALWAYS kicks our ass. Hopefully we can get it started off with a win this season. My dad and I have season tickets for the 3rd straight year!

I have a feeling this is going to be a good year for both my teams. We shall see!!!

SECRETS SECRETS SECRETS

We all got them...what are yours? I have a big one that a few of my close lady friends know about. It's been awhile, from when I was in college, but it is something that I still think about quite often. Maybe one day I'll talk about it on here...since of course, nobody I actually knows reads this!!!

Can't believe I'm admitting this...

OK OK...so it's time to come clean...I have to admit something. A friend of mine got me caught up on 2 shows that I had to admit...So You Think You Can Dance and The Bachelorette. Yeah, that's right...I watch BOTH of these shows. On SYTYCD, I'm pretty sure most, if not all the guys are gay. The Bachelorette...well thats self explanitory. HAHA. Does this make me less of a man...I sure hope not. :) I still got love for EVERYONE!

Back!!!

Wow...so it has been awhile since Ive written on here. Working in Accounting and being a Tax professional kind of keeps me busy between January and April. But now that its summer, I guess I can write from time to time. Since nobody really reads this, I guess I can say whatever I truely want. Lucky me. So...still single. And it still sucks lol. I'm trying to keep my options open a lil more nowadays. Not many girls have caught my eye lately, or at least I'm not catching theres. It seems like all the cute girls that I'd be interested in...are either married or close to it lol. So a friend of mine a couple of weeks ago was joking with me and mentioned guys...lil does she know... :) Like I said...keeping my options open!

I'm starting to really DISLIKE weddings....

Ok, so its bad enough that all my friends are either already married, engaged, or in serious relationships. Especially when, if things had gone to plan, I'd be planning a wedding right now. But whatever, everything happens for a reason I'm told... I have two weddings to go to this month alone. One from a good friend of mine from HS, and another a girl that I worked with back in the Fort Worth office, who is also a really good friend of mine outside of work. The date I had for the second wedding just canceled on me because she has to go to her brothers graduation...wtf. And the date for the first wedding, wont even confirm if she is going or not. I mean seriously...can I get some good luck please. I need 2010 to come fast.

2009 sucks.... Just in the past year alone, I have been to 3 weddings and have been invited to 5. I was in 2 of them...one being my best friend of 23 years (I was the best man), the other being one of my best lady friends who I met at TCU (I was an usher). 2 of the weddings I couldn't attend because one was the same day and time as another and the other one...I just didn't really want to go. The first one I went to was a girl I have known since kindergarten. It was a tough one to attend, because at one point I had always thought me and her would eventually be together. The good thing, at that point, was that I had the love of my life sitting next to me. (how times have changed). So to sum up...5 weddings. 1 best friend, 3 girls that at one point had a lil thing for, and the other just a friend.

UGHHH

A time to be Thankful!!!

Its that time of the year when you sit back and think about all the things you are Thankful for. After this roller coaster of a year, I just want to say one thing...I am SO Thankful for ALL of my family, friends, and TCU Horned Frog Football!!! This year more than others, they have been a huge part of my life and I am grateful for all of them.

THANKS!

One of the BEST football days EVER...so far that is!!!

Ok seriously...I need to stop taking so long between posts.

Anyways, I need to describe this past weekend. Well, specifically one day in general. Let me give a little background first. If you didn't know before, I am an alum of TCU in Fort Worth, TX. I got my bachelors degree and Masters degree from TCU. When it comes to Football there is a lot of history, but most of it coming from the 30s-50s time period. After that, the football program took a big hit. A LOT of losing and not so much loosing from then till about 10 years ago. About the time when LT showed up on campus, things starting turning around again.

Well now, in 2009, TCU is on the verge of having its BEST season ever...since the National Championship years back in 35 and 38. We are currently 10-0 with 2 games left to play. This past Saturday we played a Utah team that was ranked 15th in the country and who we have had our troubles with in the past. Most recently a 13-10 loss last year in Utah, a game in which we dominated. They went on to put a BEAT DOWN on Alabama in the Sugar Bowl and we had to settle for the Poinsettia Bowl against Donky State...I mean Boise State.

ESPN's College Game Day was on campus for their morning show. My friends and I got up at 530 to head over to campus. We got there around 7am and there were already plenty of people there. Game day went from 9-11. This was a hell of an experience. Every Saturday morning, during Football season, I get up to watch game day before watching all of the days games. So I know, the entire country would be watching. IT WAS AMAZING. I think TCU represented well. Herbstreit, Corso, and Desmond all picked TCU to win the game, with Corso putting on the Superfrog head gear. They all commented on how great the TCU campus looked, how wonderful the city of Fort Worth is, and how they would for sure be making a return trip again. Herbstreit even said on a radio show, that it was definitely one of the top 3 schools they had ever been to! So, HUGE boost to TCU and Fort Worth.

After Game Day, we saw no reason to head back to the house before the 6:30pm game time, so....we began our tailgate. Beer, friends, beer, food, beer, purple jello shots, and more beer!!! At about 5:45 we headed into the stadium. The game had sold out the week before so we knew it would be packed. For a stadium that holds roughly 47-48k, we normally don't fill the place. This is due to a number of things, from our only 8k student population, a city that usually only focuses on the Dallas Cowboys, and the fact that many people living in the DFW area, went to other Texas colleges. So why would they want to come see TCU play, when they really don't know much about the school. Its a small PRIVATE school, that your regular guy wouldn't have a connection to (I don't intend for that to be rude btw). However, I also think the stadium not filling up always has to do with the fact that TCU only has about 60-70k living alum...and they all aren't in DFW or even Texas for that matter. So anyways...all that being said...this game broke the stadium record with 50,307!!! It was packed and very very loud.

From the time the game started, my Horned Frogs completely DOMINATED the Utes. Final score...55-28. I'm actually kind of upset we gave up 28 points. Dalton, Hughes and Associates just tore the Utes a new one! It was a fantastic game, and I am so glad I made the trip up to watch in person. TCU is currently ranked #4 in the BCS. After we get through these next 2 games, we should hopefully find ourselves in a BCS game...and you better believe I will be there.

I can truly say I am proud to be a TCU Horned Frog....I will always be...HORNY 4 LIFE!!!

Go Frogs!!! (pics up on Facebook)

Twitter....Really???

So what is so special about Twitter? Let me be honest with you, when it first came out I didn't see what the big hype was all about. I mean, seriously, isn't it just constant updates on what you are doing ALL the time? How come I cant just do that using Facebook? Which is why, at first, I did not and refused to ever get on. And then I started hearing people on the Radio...stations, DJ's, Sports figures, Celebs that were all on Twitter. Radio Stations would always refer to Twitter, so I decided to give it a shot. And actually...it's not so bad. I have a few friends that I follow on Twitter...yes yes yes, I am on twitter. However, I don't have many followers because most of my friends don't know I even have a twitter page. Hahaha. Most people just follow my updates on Facebook. So, I'm here to tell ya'll (the few people that even read my blog) that you can follow me on Twitter if you so choose. However, saying all that, if you would really like to get to know me...Facebook is where its at!!!

"Live your life in such a way, so that the preacher doesn't have to lie at your funeral"

Ok, so a little background about the title. This past weekend I went to a funeral for my best friends
Aunt. She passed away earlier last week of an apparent heart attack. Because this is my best friend of 23 years, my parents and I went to the funeral down in Port Arthur to support the family. When the pastor was giving his Eulogy, he said something that has stuck with me since. "Live your life in such a way, so that the preacher doesn't have to lie at your funeral" WOW...that may be some of the greatest advice I've heard in awhile. And it's so true. I know when its my time to die, move on, go away...I want people to look at my life and say...now that was a good, decent, caring, respectful person. I hope that all of my friends and family will have nothing but positive things to say about me. And I hope that's the case now.

Motivation...or lack thereof.

Seriously, what is my problem? Why am I not motivated anymore? I mean just the simple things of trying to improve myself as a person. Am I still down in the dumps because of what happened over six months ago? I sure as hell hope not. It is time to move on Michael. Time to focus on yourself more. That has to start with self image. There are a couple of things I know I need accomplish to better myself....1. Getting in shape/being healthy and 2. the dreaded CPA exam...I cringe just saying those three letters.

1. Getting in shape/being healthy....I look back to when I first moved off campus after my sophomore year at TCU. Back in HS, I ran track and played basketball all 4 years. I was in GREAT shape back in those days.
Wow...I just took it back a few years...Ok ok..make that 7 years. This was definitely my senior year track picture. Anyways...where was I. Oh yeah...when I went off to college I lived on campus, which meant EASY access to the rec center. So of course, I continued to work out and play basketball on a regular basis. It was when I moved off campus that it all went downhill. Once I left that campus to go home for the day, I sure as hell didn't want to turn around and go work out. It was easy when I was on campus, because I could just walk over there. So yeah...thats when I stopped working out, at least all the time. And then after that, it was just hard to get back into that mindset where working out is actually fun. Well now seven years later...I sure as hell need to find that motivation again. Especially being a single young male in Houston. I need to feel good about myself before I can get the confidence again to go meet some young ladies. I am determined to start eating correctly, and getting in shape. I know I can do it...just got to get off my ass.

2. CPA exam....blah. Being in the Accounting profession, one of the things you need, well should have to further your career is a CPA license. There are 4 sections to this test. I have already taken 2 but didn't do well on either. I have never been great with HUGE tests, especially like this one. Even the SAT, I didnt do as well as I would hope. Being an Honor student, making great grades, I expected to do a lot better than I actually did. So I knew going into the CPA exam it would be a challenge. The first go around I studied with one of my best friends. She helped me stay motivated and kept me on track to study, however I think she went a little too fast for me. She has passed all 4 parts of the exam...ALL on the first try...which if you know anything about this stupid test, is incredible. The National average of passing all 4 sections on the first try is less than 40%. I know what I need to do, its just getting that motivation again to sit down, pull the books back out, and get back to studying as much as possible. And to focus on one exam at a time. I know I can do it...just got to get off my ass.