Wow

I haven't updated this in a long time. There are so many options for photo hosting and social media, that this blog has fallen by the wayside. Most of my new adventures are documented on my Facebook account. That being said, I'll be good and update again. :)

March 14th is Pie Day! Celebrate by making one of these delicious pies.

Moving to Virginia

Hey again.

A lot has happened since my last post, and I'm happy to report that I will begin working for Lockheed Martin in a little over a week! Monday, I drove to Manassas, VA to look at apartments. Tuesday, I found a beautiful apartment (and reasonably priced -- for the area) with a 15-minute commute to work. It's located near everything I could want or need: work, the University, shopping, it's right next to the commuter rail station to D.C., and only 15 minutes from Washington Dulles airport.



The complex is only 3 years old, and has lots of sound insulation. The grounds are gated and very well-maintained. There's a jogging path around the entire complex, and a fitness room with machines and free weights both! This is great, because now my resolution to get a gym membership is fulfilled without having to spend hundreds of dollars a year.

I'm really excited about finding this place and how quick my search was: I got to come back home to Georgia a day earlier than I expected. Crista and Dad will drive up with me and my stuff on Friday and return Sunday, then work starts two Mondays later on the twenty-fourth.

Send me an email for my new address! I'd love to have friends and family come visit me!

Family Reunion and Job Interview

It's been a while since my last update, and a fair amount has happened since then. Mom, Dad, and I drove for two days up to Wappinger Falls, NY for the 2007 Stradling Family Reunion. (Mom's mom's side) This photo is of my generation of cousins with Uncle Jim and Aunt Ina. My sisters and older cousins weren't there for various reasons, so I got to be the oldest! The family reunion only lasted for a day, so it was another two day trip back down to Georgia, after a quick morning stop at Uncle Jim's.

Last week, I flew up to Philadelphia for a job interview with an engineering company. It was a lot of fun, even if it was only two days. I felt like the interview went well, so maybe I'll get to have a great job soon! And yes, the Cheese Steak was delicious!

Two hour layovers at each stop in the flight let me read 2 1/2 books too, so it was really grand! Book buying has become a minor obsession of mine now. Our local library (click here to take a virtual tour!) just isn't enough sometimes, so I've been taking to hanging around the Book Tavern downtown. The owner really knows his books and is always fun to talk with.

Anyway, the company I interviewed with was generous in its rental car and hotel options. Take a look at the interior of the car! It was a 2007 Ford (Taurus?) with black leather seats and entirely too comfortable. It's almost a shame it wasn't cold enough to try out the heated seats!

Augusta Canal

This week, my adopted Uncle David came to visit us. We got to be tourists in our own city again!

This time, we took a ride on the Augusta Canal, an 8 1/2 mile long canal running parallel to the Savannah River. Henry Cummings dreamed of an industrial revolution in Augusta similar to one in Lowell, MA (also resulting from a canal.) Augusta grew lots of cotton, sold it up north, and then bought back the products. People figured they should do it all in Augusta.

The downtown area has revived a lot in recent years, though there are still only 1 or 2 restaurants that look like they'd pass the health board's inspection. It was beautiful weather as we walked up and down Broad Street. James Brown's statue is at the corner of Broad and 9th: he was born in Augusta. Apparently, his estate is planning on creating a tour of his home similar to Elvis's Graceland in Nashville. They have a small exhibit in the Augusta History Museum featuring one of his outfits and a video from the 60's where he came back to stop race riots.

Come and visit me sometime in Augusta and we'll show you the town!

Done!

Hey again,

I'm done!

May 9th I graduated with a B.S. in Software Engineering and a B.A. in Piano Performance! Now I need a job.

Another book case would be great too. The library continues its incredible deals, so I keep rescuing volumes from their clutches. In the meantime, I'm reading and cooking and resting a week.

More later!

-Matthew