How's this for a title: Lost a Job but Gained a Hobby?

So it's been a few weeks and eventful that's why I haven't posted.  The job loss was not a shock I saw it coming for 6 months plus.  I had been planning for this and have saving and a plan which I may elaborate on.  For now I will say that I am pursuing several parrellel paths and each is promising to get me to the next level in my career.  The weeks I have been off I have felt better than I have for many years.  This is how I can tell I would be a great indepedantly wealthy or retired person.  I have a schedule set for week days.  Work in the morning, walk the dogs, then the afternoons gym, usually followed by cooking dinner.  The lack of the day to day stress of work is a feeling I have never felt before.  Of course a weeks vacation here of there is ok, but there was always that looming back to work Monday.  This is an entirely new feeling that has been so far great. Should I be more worried? probably so, but for now I am enjoying my "faux-retirement".   I also have begun learning a software language which I had on my to do list for years.  I found a class (insert Stanford online link) to learn Java.  I picked it because it is used for mobile app development.  This project is mostly for self improvemnt and now I have the time I am getting it done.  The other part is a small personal project that I will outline on another post when it gets closer to time (i.e. when I learn enough to start writing it).

So was learning Java the hobby? nope!  As if I needed another hobby in this time of financial uncertainty.  Well true to form I have been influenced to take up Golf.  I had hit balls in college at a driving range and it was a good time.  Around graduation set of clubs was given to me and I went a few times, but not having a partner it sort of died off.  In a cleaning mode one day led to the donation of the unused clubs.  Well 15 years later I find myself back at the range and basically as I do with every hobby into it big time.  Thanks to my cousin as he pushed this onto me.  I can't say I regret it.  I am taking a measured approach in that I am only buying a few clubs and the bare minimum to get on the course.  This is not my usual hobby MO of sinking lots of $ into it.  So far I have been to the driving range a few times and plan on my first round in the next couple of weeks.  In the short time back at the ranges I can say I have had some beautiful weather since the horrible winter and I have seen some beatutiful scenes (see pic below).

Other than that I have help my parents with a deck fix up project (see pics below) and done a few projects around the house (flat screen behind the wall install, gardening, got motorcycle out).   I have a big project that it seems I am procrastinating on which is wash, polishing and waxing the boat.  I wasn't going to put it in this year, but as the time came I said I have the time to save the cost of the detailing and frankly I don't think I could live with not fishing at all this year.  So there you have it and more to come.  

Insert picture from Rocky point
Insert pictures of deck
Insert picture of wall mo

June Updates

So its been a busy few weeks.

First the Ice Luge was constructed and turns out the documentation from last year may have been a little unclear.  It turns out we went with 21" not 29" rear leg length.  Thus the angle was too aggressive at 36 degrees (versus 28 degrees).  The other issue was I added lights (bass Christmas lights).  I tested them, but once the ice was in place the lights didn't work. Someone improvised with a black light set on the table under the luge.  So the next plan is to reuse the luge but add black lights and shorten the legs to 21".

On the 17th Father's Day we took the family on the boat to see the Blue Angels.  We anchored up between the Key bridge and Fort McHenry, had a picnic and watched the show.  I was impressed and can't believe I hadn't gone to see them before.  When ever they are in the area I am going to try and see them.           

I am close to finishing the coaming pads.  I have constructed one 100% and the other I just have end caps to sew on. I am a little dissapointed with the finishing,but it seems like they will do the job.  I will have to check the fit and adjust the postion of the snaps that keep it from sliding around too much.

On a new note I gave someone my resume for a PM job where they do IA. More specifically data security by protecting communications, sensitive and classified data, intellectual property and digital identities. I am not too sure about that considering it isn't in my area of technical expertise; however, I think the field is very hot right now and in some ways is the future of defense.  Last week I was also contacted by a former customer that asked me about my willingness to come and work for them.  this is the second time I was contacted by them, but this wasn't a causal what-do-you-think-of-working here kind of deal. Either way I think I need a new suit.