This week I’ve finally been able to burn up my last 4 vacation days.

It seems like taking vacation time is always a challenge for me – but I really try to do it because I don’t get reimbursed for untaken days and they do not roll over into next year. It’s “use ’em or lose ’em” scenario.

I guess it’s not a bad problem to have; but I sometimes feel like I have more vacation than I know what to even do with. After volunteering with Habitat for a couple saturdays, I literally had 4 and 1/2 weeks of vacation to work with. Next year will be even worse because I’ll have 5 weeks. I did manage to knock out most of it earlier in the year, and wound up with just these last 4 days left.

So far in these last 4 days I’ve played Forza 2 with Vanbergs, eaten at Mongolian BBQ, played Gears of War, flashed my phone with the newest firmware, watched “Doom, watched “Rambo II”, watched “Rambo III”, watched “Brick”, saw “I am Legend” on Imax, bought a new wireless card on ebay for 6.50, painted my hallway with two coats of “Parmesan” satin, and finally got the chance to use my behemoth snowblower…

I’ll see what else I can add to this list today. It is still pretty early.

I’ve recently become certain that there is simply not enough free time on this planet.

Between things like work, home ownership, being married, etc – I could seriously spend all my within that realm.  Don’t get me wrong, spending time in this “Adult” realm is definitely not a bad thing…  But for the most part, the days of the 10 hour Counter Strike sessions are long forgotten relics of a previous life.

I’m still having a little trouble transitioning though.  There is definitely a large party of my being that is still very immature.  I very often find myself wanting to shrug off all responsibilities.  Definitely been a bit of a struggle lately… I guess you could say I’m hanging onto the “college” mentality.  For example, my college mentality tells me:  I should beat Halo 3 again.  I should play through Fear.  I should play through Forza 2.  I should finish Gears of War.  I should watch the 237 (yes, two hundred thirty seven) movies in my Netflix queue.  I should get Guitar Hero 3.  I should mod my Xbox.  I should get digital HD cable.  I  should get a DVD/Nav system for my car.  I should get a Wii.  I should make a Mii.  Apple should make itunes for linux.  I should get a new video card.  I should get another 19” monitor.  I should get a new laptop.  I should get surround sound for my upstairs.  I should get a blueray player.  I should plug in my effing Super Nintendo and play “Pilot Wings” from start to mother effing finish.

Then there’s the responsible side, telling me things like:  I should paint my hallway.  I should fix my garage door trim.  I should put in new floors (wood laminate).  I should completely remodel the bathroom.  I should rake the yard.  I should sweep the drive way.   I should clean the carpets in the basement.  I should put in an exhaust fan in the bathroom.  I should change the shitty outlet in the living room that plugs don’t even stay in.  I should put the final touches on the finished basement.  I should save for a new furnace because mine is exactly as old as me.  I should clean the gutters on my garage.  I should power wash the deck.  I should stain the deck.  I should water treat the deck.  I should paint the annoying wall in the kitchen.  I should get new cupboards in the kitchen.  I should get a new motion light for the back yard.  I should cut down the basketball pole that there is no basketball hoop fastened to.  I should fix the garage walls. I should put real siding on the garage.  I should see my father without a mustache at least one time.  I should read a book.  I should lose a little weight.  I should clean the air filter in my car.  I should change the front brakes in my wifes car.  I should buy a floor jack to jack up both cars.  I should unplug the effing Super Nintendo.

Obviously there is a solution to this profound predicament:  Balance both of these worlds.

Provide a good home, but enjoy the home.  Sit out on the deck you just stained and have a cold beer.  Have a nice dinner in the kitchen you just put nice new floors in.   Hell, even take a bubble bath in your remodeled bathroom.

With an answer so clear, its amazing that I am even finding myself troubled with this.

For nearly a month, I’ve heavily been considering a change in my own ‘look and feel’. I’ve had the same haircut and style for literally about 10 years. Really the only thing that has changed has been my hairline; which has receded pretty drastically (thanks Dad).

I started reading online… I explored the history and enigma that is “The Buzz Cut“. You see, the buzz cut is not just a simple hair style. It’s a change in attitude, a renewal of youth, a whole new life style. I needed it.

After settling that I was going for “The Buzz Cut”, I started researching different brands for a set of clippers. I ended up trying to decide between Wahl and Oster – but then I found an awesome website by Wahl with video examples for home haircutting (http://www.wahlkeepitclean.com). Due to the awesomeness of the website, Wahl got the nod.

So I now own a home hair cutting kit with a nice set of Wahl clippers.
And I also own a close cropped, clean looking, fantastic “buzz cut”.

Overall, i’m very happy with the results… And i’m pretty sure I am going to maintain this hairstyle for the foreseeable future. It’s easy to do, even on my own. It’s surprisingly clean and professional looking especially accompanied by glasses. And it really takes the emphasis off of a receding hairline. My head is a pretty good shape for a buzzcut. My ears don’t stick out funny. And I am pretty confident that I wear the haircut very well.

Some pics have been posted

One of the definite upsides to my career is the fact that I really get quite a bit vacation time. I do however find it challenging sometimes to work vacations into my schedule because I’m usually fairly busy at work – but this week is one where I’ve worked 5 days off into the schedule. And so far, it’s been fairly productive for me.

Monday
For anyone that knows me, they know that I am the exact opposite of a golfer. Sure, I’ve taken the occasional bucket out at the driving range… But to really seriously golf on a course I can only remember doing one time in my whole life. Now it is two times: On Monday I golfed 18 holes in a scramble format. I borrowed Vanlandw’s clubs, bought some golfballs, some tees, and gave ‘er hell. I have to say, I really enjoyed myself. I was surprised at how well I hit the ball, and free food/beverages didn’t hurt either. I’m still not a ‘golfer’ – but I respect it a little more.

Monday Night/Tuesday
I will have a dedicated post on these proceedings at a later date. For now, here is an unordered summary.

• Wii Sports.
• Coney Island.
• Vanhood.
• Game Fuel.
• Halo 3.

Wednesday
Today has been a general recovery day. This is generally necessary after playing a single video game for over 10 hours in one calendar day (and, pretty much in one sitting). I recovered successfully by waking up too early, watching two episodes of sports center even though it was the same taping played twice, taking a nap, meeting johnson2 for lunch, and generally laying around accomplishing little to none. Most notably today I watched Predator 2.

We’ll see what happens for tomorrow and Friday – I’m kind of winging this “vacation” and just trying to realign my being.