Overdressed and ready to rock!

So I had my preliminary interview with NI (National Instruments) today. It went pretty well, and I am going back in for a technical evaluation on Friday. I have to say that everything I have read and heard about NI has me really excited about the prospect of working there. They actually seem to treat people like people. This is a place that ever since I started back to school I have targeted as somewhere that I would want to work at and on some level it is very satisfying to have finally come to that point in the process.

And to make things even better... researching NI also led me to this:


Oh yes, it will be mine!

Onward and Upward

So I have an interview for a position in the IT Department at National Instruments tomorrow. Should be interesting. Apparently this is less of a technical screening and more to see if I am a good "fit" for a job at NI. Hopefully it goes well, it would be nice to start to have some options in place for what to do after graduation. NI is actually somewhere I have been targeting to work at for a while. I know a lot of people who work(ed) there and they've all had great things to say about it. I mean, it really seems like they know how to take care of their people.

Anyway, your fingers may now resume their crossed position.

Dyslexia: The Silent Killer!

Apparently there are some people out there that can't see the difference between "Should the Penguins trade Crosby?" and "The Penguins should trade Crosby!" Because of this I managed to ruffle a few feathers this week with a post on TOFTT that I wrote. My response; people need to lighten up and get a grip.

The exposure was welcome though:

People need to learn to drive!

I couldn't even tell you how many times I almost got run over on the way to work today. People really can't drive here. I-35 is like one giant, super-long death trap.

This is on top of all the idiot drivers I see driving down to San Marcos twice a week. If I live to see my 31st birthday it will be something of a miracle.

It's Put Up Or Shut Up Time...

So I have long touted my knack for fantasy sports and love to, when I'm in the right mood, brag about how I "know so much more" than all the so-called fantasy experts out there. Well, now it's time for me to put somebody else's money where my mouth is.

I've signed a deal to write a weekly NHL fantasy column running from Feb. 1 until the end of the Stanley Cup Finals for RotoTimes.com. This came pretty much out of nowhere for me but is a welcome challenge/diversion. Their new managing editor had been scouring the web looking for writers to put on his fantasy hockey staff to kick off new coverage starting Feb. 1, and he liked what he saw over on Taking One For The Team (my hockey blog) and asked if I was interested. After trading some e-mails and a brief phone call the deal was sealed and the official contract arrived in my inbox on Friday. So I am now the newest Associate Editor for RotoTimes.com!

My editor (I get a kick out of saying that) says that there is an opportunity for a longer term and better paying gig with RotoTimes if things go well this season. Apparently the company that owns the site owns some TV and radio stations so there is possible exposure there in some way. He has also indicated that he wants to get them to do a full print NHL Fantasy Draft Guide this summer, so I could get to write for that if they decide to do it. Could be cool.

Overall I'm just looking at this as a chance to get some more exposure and maybe increase my TOFTT audience. It would also be really cool to have a nice side-career as a fantasy writer. The modest amount I'm getting paid to do this is really just a bonus to me. I probably would have done this for free since it's not much of a departure from what I was writing for TOFTT anyway, except now someone's paying me for it. It's pretty much a win-win no matter what happens as far as I'm concerned. Anyhoo, I'll try to post updates on how things are going here, and I'll link to my articles both here and at TOFTT, so they shouldn't be hard to find if you want to read them. Though I wouldn't blame you if you don't. Fantasy hockey isn't exactly the "cool kids table".

I Hope You Like The New Look

So I set up a new template for this blog. Let me know what you think of it (just leave a comment).

This is the first step in resurrecting this blog. I have a lot going on right now, and some of it's pretty exciting. So stay tuned for more (hopefully soon!)...

4 out of 5 Yarbroughs Endorse Super Mario Galaxy

Well, Super Mario Galaxy fever has officially infested the house. Everyone except Landon is racing to save Princess Peach from Bowser ASAP! In a shocking turn of events, Christa is the most obsessed with the game. I thought she wouldn't like it at all with all the crazy 3D camera action, but she's hooked. I think she just has a soft spot for short, chubby, Italian plumbers. What can you do?

We Have Liftoff

So I finally started playing Super Mario Galaxy last night. So far it's pretty freaking sweet. Just another reminder that Nintendo is still way better at making video games than anyone else.

Not to be outdone, Kaylee Wii bowled a 178 yesterday. We're quite the "athletic" family!

2008 is off to a good start...

The Winter Classic was AWESOME and I bowled a 205 on the Wii yesterday (played a strong 9 holes in golf too). 2008 could turn out to be alright.