| North to the Future |
[Jan. 9th, 2009|10:06 pm] |
So it's been 3 months since I last posted. Had great holidays with the fam and the lady. The plan since we got engaged has been for me to move up to resign from my job here in E'Town and move up to Lexington first of June. Due to this week's events, those plans are changing.
I got the news yesterday that I was a part of a company-wide layoff at Fischbach. Nothing to do with my performance - things are just slow due to the economy and stuff. Starting Monday, I will begin collecting unemployment, while I work on figuring out my job situation. I have been working toward trying to go fulltime freelance by the time I move, but now that process is going to be accelerated. I have a few new leads to try to make it happen that I am working on. There's no reason to stay here in E'town now that my day job is through, so I'm going to break lease and go ahead and move to Lexvegas in early March.
I'm not discouraged by this or anything - just more determined to improve as a designer and make a living doing what I want to do. I got a lot of good experience at Fischbach and it will help me toward that end. I am really excited about being in the same town as my future wife two months sooner than I anticipated. If anyone has some advice or some leads, I would appreciate it. |
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| Road to Marritation: ENGAGE! |
[Oct. 6th, 2008|05:41 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  happy | ] |
So for those of you that haven't heard, I had a very eventful week.
Tuesday, I ran down to the 'berg and had some serious talks with my parents, and Susan's parents...the results were 75% favorable. Hopefully that will change before too long. (The 50% that really mattered worked out fine)
Saturday, I met up with my cousin Lauren in Lexington for a covert mission. While Susan was at work, we went browsing for a certain piece of jewelry. I didn't plan on buying just yet, but the good folks at Jared made the price right for ol' DP. Was I nervous? Not really.
So I started making plans. Wasn't sure when I was going to get my chance, but I had a general idea of where. I had thought about writing a poem, but thought better of that. I was going for the spontaneity factor. So what's more spontaneous than deciding to propose to your girlfriend on the day of??
Yep, everything just fell into place. I took her out to the Arboretum, where we had our first date, coincidentally one year to the day before.
I convinced her to go back to a certain part of the park with a small roofed area. Underneath of that roof, I reminded Susan that this was the the place where we first walked together, and first held hands. I asked her if she wanted to always walk with me and hold my hand. She was a little confused. I dropped to one knee, and then both knees, and popped the question. I was pretty choked up. I just happened all at once.
She said yes, got on both of her knees, and hugged me. I was really glad she said yes. I would've looked pretty bad otherwise!
We went over to a bench and prayed together, and talked about how crazy surreal this was. She admitted she was 70% surprised. That was good enough for me. We passed an elderly couple with their dog sitting on a bench on our way out. I whispered that that would be us some day. She laughed and said, "yes, but minus the dog!" We decided to go eat dinner at Puccini's, where we had had our first dinner together.
It just doesn't get more magical that that, right?
***
A lot of people didn't think I would ever make this kind of commitment. For a long time, I was one of them. I want everyone to know that I am not going into this lightly. I have spent a lot of time in prayer, and I truly believe that God's plan is for Susan and I to spend our lives together. She is an amazing person and I'm proud to call her mine. |
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| Random Thoughts... |
[Oct. 6th, 2008|05:36 pm] |
1. Why doesn't Oprah ever have anyone else on the cover of her magazine? I know that It's called "O" or "Oprah Magazine" or whatever, but don't you think that's vain? If there was a Derek Stellar Magazine, I'd limit my covers to a couple times a year, and let Brandon, Josh, Jon, et al rotate the cover occasionally. Granted, those issues wouldn't sell as well...
2. Why aren't all batteries rechargeable? I think this is a good question. Seriously. It's a waste of money to keep buying regular batteries.
OK, I guess that's it. |
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| Greatest Birthday Weekend Ever |
[Sep. 9th, 2008|11:19 pm] |
So before it gets (way far) away from me, I've gotta post about my Labor Day/Anniversary/Birthday weekend.
Sept. 1st was mine and Susan's 1 year anniversary. We went up to Shakertown and stayed. It was really cool. Fine accomodations. Great food. Brushing up on Shaker history and culture. No work to do for a few days is always good. Pictures HERE~!
Susan once again cemented her awesomeness, by throwing me my first ever surprise party, at our friends the Porters' house in Lexington that Sunday. All of my Lexington homeys, including my sis and bro-in-law, showed up. Brandon and Sarah even drove up from BG. Fun party games, good food, party games, and overall merriment. Pictures HERE~!
We finished up the weekend by taking couple-y pics. As if you haven't had enough, this will surely do it. Pictures HERE~!
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| CAN. NOT. WAIT. |
[Sep. 9th, 2008|10:00 pm] |
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Nashville, TN- December 6th
Saturday, December 06, 2008 Vanderbilt University Memorial Gym
December 6th, 2008- 7:30pm belltime
2601 Jess Neely Drive
Nashville, TN 37212
Tickets go on sale Friday, September 12th at 10am EST at www.rohwrestling.com.
Talent lineup and matches will be announced in upcoming weeks!!!
No video or digital cameras are allowed in the building!!!
Card subject to change!!!
********
Seriously. I'm actually leaving work just to go home on Friday and buy tickets online. I was thinking about taking a vacation this winter to go up north and catch an ROH show, but they're coming to me!!! Hoo-rah!!!
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| At least I'm not like all those other old guys! |
[Sep. 9th, 2008|09:58 pm] |
I'm twenty-nine years old, still wearing the wallet chain, like I was twenty-eight.
I'm wearing my Vans right now, so high school kids will think that I can skate.
I've got a degree in science, yet shaking my fists in defiance.
Anyway, I'm not cliché, I hardly own any ties. I may be old, but at least I'm not like all those other old guys.
I'm watching MTV, for fashion tips, so I can say, that I saw it first.
Backwards hat, tattoos, and goatee say I'm cool, just like Fred Durst.
I pay almost all my bills, I sleep on a futon still.
Anyway, I'm not cliche, I might not even die. I may be old, but at least I'm not like all those other old guys. |
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| Wild Horses |
[Aug. 26th, 2008|09:16 pm] |
Time for my monthly update, right?
Life in E'town is getting better. I was under some mega stress for a while there. Work has slowed down a bit. I'm finally getting more comfortable with my day job. For a while there, I was dreading coming in to work each morning. I still have some of those days, but they are more sparse. The past couple of days have been better than they deserved to be, seeing as how they were Monday and Tuesday, respectively. There is the odd spot of office politics, and there are a couple of two-faced individuals who have made things hard for me a couple of times. Overall though, it is a good place to work, and I've picked up some new skills. Now that I have some pre-press experience under my belt, I'm a lot more marketable as a designer.
In other news, it looks like I finally have my house in BG sold! I had a lot of potential buyers flake out on me, but finally, a young, first time home buyer, is making it happen. I really wanted the place to go to someone like that, rather than some property manager. I'm actually going to make an okay profit too. I'm definitely going to do something nice for my dad and stepmom, because they helped me a lot on fixing the place up. Heck, I wouldn't have been able to buy the place in the first place if not for them. This will be great to get behind me- I have a lot of things to save for...
So Susan and I will have been together for 1 year on September 1st (we count the day we met as our anniversary)! We have an activity-packed 4-day weekend ahead - she loves to plan. Going to a comedy club, staying at Shakertown, seeing some friends, and getting some "official" fancy couple pics taken.
So yeah, life is good. I am blessed! Hoo-rah! |
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| Craigs-Listed |
[Jul. 28th, 2008|08:38 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  stressed | ] |
At the behest of my brother in law, I've listed my home on Craigslist. I've gotten a lot of responses, but mostly people who want to do an Owner Financing deal. No thanks. Maybe if I was going to stay in BG, but I am, sadly, not coming back to stay anytime soon.
Anyway, here's the listing:
http://bgky.craigslist.org/rfs/767319267.html
And more pics:
http://s175.photobucket.com/albums/w143/derekstellar/1304%20Fair%20Street/
We're finally done working on it, and I'm really proud of what my family and family-to-be have helped me accomplish. I just hope that the place sells to someone who will take as much pride in it, as I do. And really soon. I don't exactly have a lot of wiggle room in my budget right now.
Anyone want to buy a house? |
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| Never Gonna Give You Up, Dad! |
[Jun. 18th, 2008|07:36 pm] |
I didn't get to see my dad for Father's Day, plus I was kind of broke. So to make it up to him, for some reason, I thought it would be a good idea to rib him for Father's Day by Rick-Rolling him. Well, ol' JP didn't get it. His response? "Thanks. I always did like his voice."
When I tried to explain the Rick Roll phenomenon to my Pop, he just shook his head. "Why would a Rick Astley video be so funny to people?"
My response: I guess it's cuz he's a red headed white guy who sounds black...?
Jim just shook his head again, and changed the subject.
Should've expected as much from the guy who asked me for a Backstreet Boys CD for his birthday one year. |
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| Proof that I have brain worms... |
[May. 13th, 2008|10:14 am] |
Last night I worked really, really late. Stupid late. I noticed as I was going to bed that I couldn't seem to find my keys. I currently have two sets of keys...I need to consolidate. Anyway, my apartment keys and all the rest.
So, I gave up trying to find the keys, reasoning that they were in my car and that I had a spare car key in my wallet. Went to bed. It was late, and I didn't have pants on- didn't feel like going outside and looking.
I woke up early this morning, rushed out of my apartment, and found that my apartment keys were in the apartment door! Any jabroni could've broken in and, to paraphrase my big scary stepdad, slit my throat. Or at least stolen all my DVDs. What's more, I walked out to my car, only to find that my car keys were in my car door, with the card table I meant to bring in propped up against the car. Any jabroni could've just stolen my car. Or at least cranked it up and ran it out of gas in the parking lot.
Seriously, what was so urgent that I couldn't think to go back out there and get my keys when I got home last night?
I need a keeper. |
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| New Jobsville, population me |
[May. 12th, 2008|11:57 am] |
Sorry for everyone having to hear this secondhand. I have had limited internet access, and time, the past few weeks. Last month, my place of employment in BG ended up "going broke", and I am now a part time (night time/from home) employee. The same day that I was notified of that, I got a call for an interview in E'town. I didn't think it went well, but the following week, we ended up negotiating a sweet deal. The past few weeks, I've been training in for my new job. I am doing pre-press work for a caulking tube manufacturer. Not the most exciting end of the graphic design spectrum, but I am learning some new stuff, and I think it's really going to help my marketability.
So, I just signed a lease on a townhouse here in E'town, and I'm working on getting my home in BG ready to sell over the next few weekends. It has not been easy leaving Bowling Green, The Happiest Town on Earth, but at least I am now an hour+ closer to my sweetheart.
That's the condensed version. I've been working on this journal entry for a couple weeks now, but keep getting cut off. I hope all is well. If anybody wants to buy a nice little house in BG, let me know... |
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| New Carsville, Population Me |
[Apr. 23rd, 2008|01:13 pm] |
Yep, my Ford Explorer- Dora II, a.k.a Dora the Gas Whora- has outlived her usefulness to me. Since I'm not in a touring rockin' band at this point in my life I really don't need to have a big truck and trailer to haul around a bunch of people and instruments. Kind of a bummer, but I won't miss getting like 15 mpg. So I sold said items, and put down a deposit on a new vehicle:
Yep, I'm back in the land of regular, sedan-driving citizens. Gonna go pick this baby up sometime this week (when the check comes for Dora II). It's an '06 Hyundai Elantra, with only 15k miles on it. Oh and it gets like 40 mpg on the highway. Yeah, I'm becoming more practical in my old age...
I've decided to name this car "King Kong Hyundai" in honor of 80s wrestling icon/Married With Children guest star/Michilin Man lookalike King Kong Bundy:
Can't you tell he's thrilled?
Career update later on... |
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| I've bolded the important points... |
[Apr. 8th, 2008|12:42 pm] |
| [ | Current Location |
| | Wizork | ] |
| [ | mood |
| |  pensive | ] |
| [ | music |
| | One 21 | ] |
So it's been 15 weeks since my last post. This is officially my first post of the calendar year 2008. I know, I'm a bad person for not posting more frequently. My excuse is that I'm always working like a mug. In fact, I'm going to christen myself "The Hardest Working Slacker in North America". That's my wrestling nickname. Like how Edge is "The Rated R Superstar"...or somesuch. Anyway, on to the point.
Things are still going swimmingly with me and Susan. The long distance part still stinks. She is coming down for a librarians conference here in BG this coming week, so we'll get some QT for a few days. I would venture to say that we will not be long distance for too much longer...
So there's just been a lot of big news this week. I've decided to put my truck up for sale, and get a car. I really don't need a truck and trailer anymore since I no longer travel the country hauling around musical instruments. It would also help my wallet, since I am driving to Lexington and back once or twice a month.
But by far the biggest news involves my career. I just hit the two year mark at my current job. Pretty big deal. However, things haven't gone so great the past few months as far as the finances go within our business. In fact, Gary started the Monday morning huddle this week with, "Gentlemen, we are broke." He is most likely going to move the business back to his house. I may end up working remotely on a full time, part time, or contract basis. I'm looking at the logistics of buying my own insurance, and setting things up so I can keep working for Gary independently...maybe. The past few months, our checks have all been short because of the state of the business. In fact, Mike quit yesterday. Gary said he needs me a lot more anyway, so maybe he'll still get me. It hasn't been as big a deal to me to be shorted on my "fulltime" pay, since I have a lot of freelance work keeping me afloat. That and the insurance.
So, blah blah blah. As I was sitting at my desk after hours yesterday trying to figure out how I'm going to make this work (go part time and work at a factory or something til I get married and move?), I got a call from a company in E'town that saw my resume online. It sounded like a good opportunity, so I have an interview on Friday.
So...if I'm offered the job in E'town, do I take it and commute for a while? Sell my house right away, or try to rent it...? Many things to think about. I don't want to leave BG, The Happiest Town on Earth, just yet. I'd like to say I was employed at ASL for three years (looks good on a resume), but at the same time, I hope to make Susan my wife someday soon, and that means I'll have to move closer to her- easier for her to stay in the library system in Lex than it is for her to get a job at the one in BG.
There are more crazy details, but this thing is already running long. Lots of stuff to consider for the future of Ol' DP, "The Hardest Working Slacker in North America". |
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| Whoa it's like 4am... |
[Dec. 21st, 2007|03:45 am] |
Time flies when you're making cool flash banner thingies and watching old Mid-South wrestling from the 80s. Dang that's good stuff.
Good thing I don't have to work tomorrow.
Bad thing that I still have fortyleven things to do before Saturday. My house is a wreck, I've got more design work to do ($$), and I need to get my music together for church Sunday. And get some groceries.
Susan and I are going to see Bruce Springsteen March 20th!!! A life goal fulfilled. Now I just have to attend a WrestleMania, get married, and um...geez I dunno, duder. I don't want much more out of life. I could go now, and say I had a great life, with no serious regrets. |
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| Rest in Peace |
[Nov. 29th, 2007|12:43 pm] |
My dad just called to let me know that my Grandmother, Mary Noffsinger, has gone to be with the Lord. There is probably nobody that I have looked up to more in my life. It has been hard to see her struggling with Alzheimer's the past decade. She had just been moved to a resthome in Madisonville. In a lot of ways it seems like she passed away a long time ago. The last time I remember her recognizing me and saying my name was six years ago. Seeing her in the condition she has been in has been hard.
Grandmother was the first person I saw having a daily devotional, and her faith inspired me. She was also a naturally gifted musician. I like to think that I am carrying on her legacy with my music. Her life was one of worship, and now she is finally with Him. I hope I can do her proud with the time I have left here. |
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| Grr. |
[Nov. 28th, 2007|05:57 pm] |
Being a graphic designer is really hard sometimes. I generally have a hard time dealing with customers unless I've talked to them enough to know that they are friendly. Without going into details, this one client was being a big freakin' douche to me today. I'm sorry if I can't read your mind, duder!! Gah!!
At least my boss is on my side. He says this guy has flaked out of just about every program he's been involved in. The guy offered to teach me about advertising and marketing for a fee! WTF?
Can't please everybody, even though, as you all know, I wish I could. Makes me feel kinda failury. |
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| Like whoa. |
[Nov. 26th, 2007|01:03 pm] |
Thanksgiving weekend was, shall we say, eventful. The first couple of days consisted of the usual good times, overeating with the fams and such. My dad and his siblings have been cleaning out my Grandmother's house, so they can sell it soon. I got, among other things, some much needed (as per Susan) cookwear, and Grandmother's old accordian and melodica. The accordian holds a strange fascination for me. I really want to learn to play the thing. I would've played it more at mom's house, but it was too loud. Didn't want to wake up big scary man.
Susan made it down on Saturday, and met said big scary man. Went pretty well. Then it was my turn to meet her folks. They seem like nice people altogether. Conversation with her dad was a little awkward. He kind of ambushed me and asked about my salvation experience. I didn't really expect to have a conversation about this while waiting for Susan to get ready. I told him about coming to Christ at the age of 7, and mentioned the importance of being involved in a Bible believing church. Thank God he didn't ask about my current church just yet. I don't think he would approve of me not being Southern Baptist anymore (although I personally wouldn't care if I ended up being a part of one again some day, I just know WBC is where I need to be now). It was a little tense at first. Then, he grilled me about my job. Asked a million questions. I asked Susan later on if he had said anything about me before I went back to BG for the weekend. She said he had assessed that I was a "well-mannered man"...her mom seemed to like me. I believe it will take work to win over Mr. Wilkins but I believe it will be worth it. Pretty crazy to think that I may be a part of their family someday. I can tell that Susan and her family share a lot of love, even though they may not agree on a lot else.
The 10 Year high school reunion story coming later on... |
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| curse of curves |
[Nov. 16th, 2007|04:50 pm] |
Is it okay for a guy to swoon? Because I find myself doing that a lot lately.
I'm going to be one busy boy the next few weeks.
1. Thanksgiving in the 'berg, then my 10 Year High School Reunion that Saturday! Dang. It will be good to see some of these folks again. I will have some stunning arm candy too.
2. Redfoot CD release party November 30th at DUC Theater, WKU! Free, with student ID, or $5 for everyone else. Get a CD! We're really proud with how it's turned out! Special guests Why They Came and another TBA.
3. HEXANE - my new rockin' band - we're having our very first show, Dec. 8th, with Ocelots, and Pizza (the band - yes there is a band called 'Pizza') - at Bread and Bagel, here in BG. This is the band I'm in w/ Josh DeArmond. We've been working on it for a year now, so I hope it shows.
4. A Very Redfoot Christmas Part 2 - Friday December 14th! Your favorite local alt country/folk rock ensemble plays all your favorite Christmas hits, serves up some tasty holiday confections, and shows an obscure 80s Christmas special on the big screen, at Westminster Bible Church in BG. And it's all FREE! Bring the whole family!
5. Jesus' birthday Dec. 25th! Thank the Lord for being birthed! He is so wonderful.
6. New Years '08. '07 was such a crazy, blessed year. It's an understatement that I'm looking forward to spending the rest of '08, and hopefully years to come, with that oh-so-sexy librarian that I love so much...I am blessed. |
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| Somebody gon' get they wig split |
[Oct. 30th, 2007|08:32 am] |
So here's the whole story on the appendix.
Friday afternoon, Adam Moore picked me up (truck has been in the shop for the last TWO WEEKS! Whole 'nother story...), ran some errands w/ me and took me to Spencer's w/ him, where he is working some. He made me a smoothie, I sat down and read for a couple of hours, and then decided to walk home. No biggie, about 8-10 minute walk. I was going to grill some fish for dinner, but I started feeling some stomach pains, about the time I got home. I waited for them to subside, took some gas meds, but my lower right abdomen just kept feeling this stabbing pain. I was on the phone w/ Susan about 12:30am, and she was looking up my symptoms online. She suggested I may have appendusitis, and said I should get a ride to the ER. Adam came and got me a little after 1.
After several tests, they let me know I'd prolly be in surgery in a few hours, but they wouldn't really know anything for sure until they got me in there. About 7am they cut my appendix out - my first major surgery. The real story is all of the people who came by the hospital to see me! I feel so loved. About half of Westminster came out to visit me in the hospital - Ron brought me a smoothie. Yeah, I know, I really like smoothies. Thanks everyone who came to visit, and sent me messages on the Facebook.
The first call I got post-surgery was from Mr. Phil Wilkins - Susan's dad. I haven't met him yet, so that was weird. Susan was apparently freaking out cuz my phone had died and she couldn't get ahold of anyone to find out what was going on w/ me. He got through to the hospital and got the news to her. I fell asleep sometime after I got off the phone w/ him, and I woke up to Susan at my bedside! We hadn't planned on meeting up this weekend, as she had been down the last couple weekends, and I had no way to get up there this weekend (f'n truck). She stayed with me til bedtime Saturday night, then came back Sunday morning. She drove me home when they released me and looked after me til yesterday afternoon - she took a personal day on Monday to take care of me! She even did my laundry, which was quite unnecessary, but definitely appreciated. I mean, dang! Girlfriend of the Year! |
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