In observance of my 24th birthday this weekend, I give you…
24 things you may or may not know about Robbie…
1) I like to think there is a soundtrack to go with life, every song I hear reminds me of something or somebody…dum dum dee dum dum…
2) I love Tyler Perry movies…MADEA!
3) Contrary to popular belief, I’m actually sort of shy the first time you meet me
4) A friend once told people I work with/my boss, “Homecoming King is something Rob does well, if UBS needs a king, he’s your guy…”
5) I actually get a thrill out of completing a formula in excel and the numbers match what I’m trying to accomplish, that’s the nerdy banker in me…
6) The first time I got drunk was from a liquor aptly titled 99 Bananas…I get a headache just thinking about the hideousness
7) When I get upset about something I turn into “one-word Robbie”…I’m working on it…Nope, I’m fine…
8) I’ve lived in 7 states (Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Texas, Oklahoma, New York, New Jersey)
9) My favorite color is blue
10) The song that defines my life is “My Stupid Mouth” by John Mayer
11) If there is ever a movie about me I would like one of 3 people to play me…Jake Gylenhal, Paul Rudd or Bradley Cooper
12) Fall is my favorite season
13) I love/miss the rooftop of my apt in NYC, it’s my happy place…
14) Billy Joel is my favorite musician
15) Best concert I’ve ever attended was Justin Timberlake (Future/Sex-Love/Show)…and I’ve been to a lot of shows
16) I like giving nicknames…
17) People often tell me that they have a “Robbie” in their life...not sure how to interpret that, but I look at it as a good thing
18) I love laughing till my stomach hurts and my face aches from smiling
19) If I could only accomplish one more thing before I die, it would be to inspire people
20) I love to travel and would go anywhere
21) I’ve auditioned for the TV shows: The Real World and The Bachelor
22) Mi Cocina has a salad dressing (chili-vinaigrette) that I could eat on something every day of my life
23) I’ve read all of the Harry Potter books and I attend midnight showings of the movies
24) I don't like to do something unless I know I can do it well
Showing posts with label Reflection. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Reflection. Show all posts
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Goodbye 417...
This weekend marks the end of an era, two of my very best friends (Megan & Stephanie) have been living together for the past 2 years and it has been the central hub for so many of my dearest friends and myself. It is lame to compare it, but it is very similar to the season finale of FRIENDS (the best TV show) and many of my very favorite post-college memories have taken place in apt 417 at the West Village, so today I pay tribute to an apt that has become a friend.
These are a few of my favorite memories that took place in 417:
- OU/TX 2008: The legend of JJ. JJ is a friend that I worked with in NYC that had never been to a "real" college football game (this summer I learned that people from up there have greater appreciation for Lax 'lacrosse', baseball, sailing and other random sports) so I can think of no better game in the world to go to as your "first." It doesn't matter who you cheer for or where you went to school, but if you have any appreciation for college sports, OU/TX at the Cotton Bowl is the ultimate experience. Its hard to put JJ's visit into words and it is far more amazing if you actually experienced the weekend but lets just say it included an Oprah style interview on the coach of 417 with my inquisitive and often line-crossing friends and let me tell you a couple of them are not shy and always ask the questions that everybody wants to know, but are often too afraid to ask. Other highlights of the weekend included JJ getting pushed out of a moving vehicle, getting lost on our way to breakfast while almost dying, and sneaking friends in to the Cotton bowl.
- Cooking Lessons: Megan and I decided to cook dinner a few weeks ago now, and by we, I mean Megan was cooking and I said I'd bring a bottle of wine and talk to her while she cooked. Well, upon my arrival, I was thrown into baking the dessert. It involved taking a glass bowl and placing it over a boiling pot of water to melt chocolate (I don't know what this action is called, but I should've just quit when I didn’t understand the first step) anyways, as this all progressed I dropped the glass bowl into the filled pie pan thanks to the grease that had gathered on the outside of the bowl and on my hands. Then the pie had to cool in the fridge, but we didn’t have time to wait so I placed it in the freezer and balanced the pie on a frozen chicken nugget. I thought the ordeal had finished, ooooo how I was mistaken, I opened the freezer only to find the pie had fallen off the nugget and spilled all over EVERYTHING….ooops, its a tiny spill just ignore it!
- The Pantry: While we're talking about food, I always love raiding the pantry at Steph and Meg's because they couldn't be more opposite in terms of food consumption. I always tease them about it, but I secretly love it. I can always depend on Steph's selection of Diet Sunkist, Splenda products, Cheez-its, frozen iced oatmeal cookies, some sort of baked chip, oreos, and Pringles, all of this and she manages to remains tiny, it’s everything and any type of processed food that you knew and loved growing up, it's awesome! Then there is Megan's selection of various cheeses, alfalfa sprouts, canned soups, etc. No matter what you're in the mood for you can probably find some variation at 417.
- Aggie Love: Tyler and Steph's engagement, enough said
- Sleepy Meg: Watching Megan fall asleep at the table while eating Village Burger Bar salads during her days and an I-banker
- JT: The premiere of the Justin Timberlake Future/Sex/Loveshow in HD on HBO
- More Food: Thanksgiving Feasts, need I say more?
- Last Minute Plans: Showing up for "dinner" in scrubbed out sweatpants, baseball hat and a t-shirt only to find a dinner party comprised of 7 attractive girls and me
- Multiple award shows, bowl game announcements, etc
- Tivo: Going through 417's DVR recordings only to find 32 episodes of Jon and Kate Plus 8, about 100 weddings shows, Brothers & Sisters, The Biggest Loser, etc….their DVR is the most comprehensive chick collection I've ever witnessed and it will be missed
- Best Friends: The thing I will miss most about 417 is sitting on Steph's bed with Megan and Stephanie by my side, talking about life, work, and the mysteries of the world. I'm glad that I got to do this one last time this past weekend before they turn in their keys. They're 2 of the very best friends in the world and I'm going to miss having them under one roof.
Here's to you 417 and to the people who inhabit you next…may they share as many memories with you as we have…
"The reason it hurts so much to separate is because our souls are connected. "
-Nicholas Sparks
These are a few of my favorite memories that took place in 417:
- OU/TX 2008: The legend of JJ. JJ is a friend that I worked with in NYC that had never been to a "real" college football game (this summer I learned that people from up there have greater appreciation for Lax 'lacrosse', baseball, sailing and other random sports) so I can think of no better game in the world to go to as your "first." It doesn't matter who you cheer for or where you went to school, but if you have any appreciation for college sports, OU/TX at the Cotton Bowl is the ultimate experience. Its hard to put JJ's visit into words and it is far more amazing if you actually experienced the weekend but lets just say it included an Oprah style interview on the coach of 417 with my inquisitive and often line-crossing friends and let me tell you a couple of them are not shy and always ask the questions that everybody wants to know, but are often too afraid to ask. Other highlights of the weekend included JJ getting pushed out of a moving vehicle, getting lost on our way to breakfast while almost dying, and sneaking friends in to the Cotton bowl.
- Cooking Lessons: Megan and I decided to cook dinner a few weeks ago now, and by we, I mean Megan was cooking and I said I'd bring a bottle of wine and talk to her while she cooked. Well, upon my arrival, I was thrown into baking the dessert. It involved taking a glass bowl and placing it over a boiling pot of water to melt chocolate (I don't know what this action is called, but I should've just quit when I didn’t understand the first step) anyways, as this all progressed I dropped the glass bowl into the filled pie pan thanks to the grease that had gathered on the outside of the bowl and on my hands. Then the pie had to cool in the fridge, but we didn’t have time to wait so I placed it in the freezer and balanced the pie on a frozen chicken nugget. I thought the ordeal had finished, ooooo how I was mistaken, I opened the freezer only to find the pie had fallen off the nugget and spilled all over EVERYTHING….ooops, its a tiny spill just ignore it!
- The Pantry: While we're talking about food, I always love raiding the pantry at Steph and Meg's because they couldn't be more opposite in terms of food consumption. I always tease them about it, but I secretly love it. I can always depend on Steph's selection of Diet Sunkist, Splenda products, Cheez-its, frozen iced oatmeal cookies, some sort of baked chip, oreos, and Pringles, all of this and she manages to remains tiny, it’s everything and any type of processed food that you knew and loved growing up, it's awesome! Then there is Megan's selection of various cheeses, alfalfa sprouts, canned soups, etc. No matter what you're in the mood for you can probably find some variation at 417.
- Aggie Love: Tyler and Steph's engagement, enough said
- Sleepy Meg: Watching Megan fall asleep at the table while eating Village Burger Bar salads during her days and an I-banker
- JT: The premiere of the Justin Timberlake Future/Sex/Loveshow in HD on HBO
- More Food: Thanksgiving Feasts, need I say more?
- Last Minute Plans: Showing up for "dinner" in scrubbed out sweatpants, baseball hat and a t-shirt only to find a dinner party comprised of 7 attractive girls and me
- Multiple award shows, bowl game announcements, etc
- Tivo: Going through 417's DVR recordings only to find 32 episodes of Jon and Kate Plus 8, about 100 weddings shows, Brothers & Sisters, The Biggest Loser, etc….their DVR is the most comprehensive chick collection I've ever witnessed and it will be missed
- Best Friends: The thing I will miss most about 417 is sitting on Steph's bed with Megan and Stephanie by my side, talking about life, work, and the mysteries of the world. I'm glad that I got to do this one last time this past weekend before they turn in their keys. They're 2 of the very best friends in the world and I'm going to miss having them under one roof.
Here's to you 417 and to the people who inhabit you next…may they share as many memories with you as we have…
"The reason it hurts so much to separate is because our souls are connected. "
-Nicholas Sparks
Thursday, January 15, 2009
America...
In tonight’s primetime address, President Bush said "Like all who have held this office before me, I have experienced setbacks. There are things I would do differently if given the chance. Yet I have always acted with the best interests of our country in mind.”
As the nation prepares for what is being billed as the most historic presidential inauguration in recent history, I’m going where few choose to go, saying goodbye and thank you to a leader I look to as a man of unbelievable faith and courage, the 43rd president of the United States of America, George W. Bush.
Over the past 8 years there have been many issues, decisions, and actions made by our government that I don’t agree with, but there have been just as many triumphs by the Bush administration and that comes with the territory. I would challenge you to find any perfect leader in the history of the world, no such person exists. A concept that I have come to grips with during my time in college leadership positions is that you are only able to please some of the people all of the time, all of the people some of the time, but you will never be able to please all of the people all of the time.
I feel that in the final days of his presidency, President Bush is blamed for everything and anything that involves the American people, the economy; even events of nature are blamed on the Bush administration. All of this while Barack Obama is hailed as the greatest President ever, before he has even taken office, signed a single piece of legislation into action, or vetoed a bill. I don’t know why Americans, the media, and naysayers are unable to come to grips that current problems may have been embedded in America long before President Bush ever entered the Oval Office or might have been beyond the control of his administration. Perhaps if Americans stopped being so divisive and elected officials worked together with the President on some of our nation’s most immediate problems, we would actually have a chance at solving a few of them in an orderly manner.
At the end of President Bush’s second victorious campaign in 2004, he said, "Today, I want to speak to every person who voted for my opponent. To make this nation stronger and better, I will need your support, and I will work to earn it. I will do all I can do to deserve your trust." Obama made a similar cry during his Election Day victory speech in November and hopefully the American people hear his call, because it seems as though the Bush doctrine was abandoned by many Americans before it was ever written.
President Bush lead us with his head held high and set a standard for patriotism in the wake of the September 11th attacks and has since protected our country from other terrorist action. He successfully revamped our entire defense system, created Homeland Security, and secured our nation’s airports, borders, and waterways. Not to mention the president lowered taxes, worked to reform the US education system, and nominated Supreme Court justices. He was faced with difficult decisions and made them with what I believe to be a clear mind, the facts that were presented to him, and used morals and integrity built with a foundation of Christianity and for that I give him the utmost respect.
I may have voted Republican in the last election, but it is in my nature to support leaders and work with them rather than against them. Few get anything accomplished by working alone and I will support President-elect Obama in any way that I can. Unless something is evil, corrupt, or simply wrong why is fighting against our elected officials in America’s best interest, especially in this time of economic distress? Yes, our country needs healthy debate and without two sides of a story the best decision can’t be made. This isn’t to say that I don’t believe in democracy and some things aren’t worth the inevitable fight, but the treatment of President Bush has been bottom line, embarrassing.
Jeffrey Scott Shapiro from the Wall Street Journal agrees with my perspective, he notes “Our failure to stand by the one person who continued to stand by us has not gone unnoticed by our enemies. It has shown to the world how disloyal we can be when our president needed loyalty -- a shameful display of arrogance and weakness that will haunt this nation long after Mr. Bush has left the White House.”
During my college career I was challenged to view, respect, and understand the view of the other side of the aisle by David L. Boren, President of the University of Oklahoma and former US Senator. He challenges his students and colleagues to believe in, understand and work with a bipartisan President. If you have even the slightest interest in politics and the future of America’s place in the world, I encourage you to read his book, A Letter to America; it is incredibly insightful, timely, and thought-provoking.
I believe in America and most certainly believe in the greatness of the American people. Now is the time to come together and I hope that we not only join forces now, but that both sides of the aisle see the importance of bipartisanship in the future.
"We have one country, one Constitution and one future that binds us. And when we come together and work together, there is no limit to the greatness of America."
-President George W. Bush
Thank you President Bush and may God Bless America.
O yea and welcome to the neighborhood President Bush, I can’t wait for you to settle down at home in Dallas!
Saturday, January 3, 2009
My thoughts...
“We spend January 1 walking through our lives, room by room, drawing up a list of work to be done, cracks to be patched. Maybe this year, to balance the list, we ought to walk through the rooms of our lives... not looking for flaws, but for potential.”
-Ellen Goodman
I’ve been inspired for a long time to start a blog and I’m finally doing it, in true New Year’s style, I’m making a resolution to start a blog and keep up with it this year, hence my blog is aptly titled “This is the year…” There are so many great blogs out there and at times my life is for sure not always the most interesting but I like to give my opinion and I love learning about the opinions of others, so if nothing else I hope to spark healthy discussion. Sometimes I will talk about my life, things that inspire me, new cds that I enjoy, books I’m currently reading and other times I hope to discuss my views of the world, maybe even a little college football.
Over the past few weeks I’ve been trying to figure out what my goals for the New Year are going to be and what I want to accomplish, let’s not kid ourselves, I try to predict the future everyday of my life, some would say that I’m a control freak, I like to call it being organized. At times in the past it could be easy to assume or predict what would happen in my life tomorrow and the week after, but as I close my first full year in the “real world” it’s getting harder and harder. Who would’ve thought that last year I would move to New York City and then back to Dallas, live with a surfer from Rhode Island, buy a new car, or become infatuated with an Alaskan Governor?
Below is a list of my favorite things from 2008: (in no particular order)
Movies –
Role Models
American Teen
Doubt
Baby Mama
Frost/Nixon
The Dark Knight
Slumdog Millionaire
HSM 3
Books –
Same Kind of Different as Me
Twilight
The World is Flat
Marley & Me
The Reagan Diaries
A Letter to America
Music –
Vampire Weekend by Vampire Weekend
Viva la Vida by Coldplay
We Sing We Dance We Steal Things by Jason Mraz
Narrow Stairs by Death Cab for Cutie
Good Girl Gone Bad by Rihanna
Paper Trail by TI
Where the World Comes Down by All American Rejects
Sleep Through the Static by Jack Johnson
As selfish as it sounds, 2008 was all about me, I started making decisions that were good for me, my well being and my happiness. I may have just labeled myself as a selfish prick, but that’s so far from reality, hear me out. Many of my choices revolved around taking personal and professional risks, reigniting my relationship with Christ, becoming more healthy and working out more often, all of which I feel attribute in some way to being a better son, brother, friend, colleague, and neighbor.
What this year taught me was expect the unexpected. No longer can the world accuse my generation of being naïve to world issues of war and recession, we have endured both. Nothing about 2009 is easy to predict, maybe it will bring a new love, a hobby, or even tragedy, but one thing is for certain, I’ve learned to be proud of the individual that I am, the things that I’ve accomplished, and the decisions that I’ve made. As so many people look to forget 2008, I feel so blessed to close the year with the fondest of memories, experiences, and the most amazing friends in the world. 2008 was all about learning about me and I want 2009 to be the year that I take these lessons and apply them in a way to help others.
“Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man.”
-Benjamin Franklin
Below are a few of my favorite pictures from 2008
New Years Day 2008
My 23rd Birthday and Remodeling NYC Style
Jimmy Buffet and Concert Season 2008
The Today Show
NYC
Old Roots, New Friends
Red Carpets!
Great Friends, Great Pizza
Las Vegas Family Vacation, Part Deux
Best wishes to all in the new year, may 2009 bring health and happiness to everyone.
-Ellen Goodman
I’ve been inspired for a long time to start a blog and I’m finally doing it, in true New Year’s style, I’m making a resolution to start a blog and keep up with it this year, hence my blog is aptly titled “This is the year…” There are so many great blogs out there and at times my life is for sure not always the most interesting but I like to give my opinion and I love learning about the opinions of others, so if nothing else I hope to spark healthy discussion. Sometimes I will talk about my life, things that inspire me, new cds that I enjoy, books I’m currently reading and other times I hope to discuss my views of the world, maybe even a little college football.
Over the past few weeks I’ve been trying to figure out what my goals for the New Year are going to be and what I want to accomplish, let’s not kid ourselves, I try to predict the future everyday of my life, some would say that I’m a control freak, I like to call it being organized. At times in the past it could be easy to assume or predict what would happen in my life tomorrow and the week after, but as I close my first full year in the “real world” it’s getting harder and harder. Who would’ve thought that last year I would move to New York City and then back to Dallas, live with a surfer from Rhode Island, buy a new car, or become infatuated with an Alaskan Governor?
Below is a list of my favorite things from 2008: (in no particular order)
Movies –
Role Models
American Teen
Doubt
Baby Mama
Frost/Nixon
The Dark Knight
Slumdog Millionaire
HSM 3
Books –
Same Kind of Different as Me
Twilight
The World is Flat
Marley & Me
The Reagan Diaries
A Letter to America
Music –
Vampire Weekend by Vampire Weekend
Viva la Vida by Coldplay
We Sing We Dance We Steal Things by Jason Mraz
Narrow Stairs by Death Cab for Cutie
Good Girl Gone Bad by Rihanna
Paper Trail by TI
Where the World Comes Down by All American Rejects
Sleep Through the Static by Jack Johnson
As selfish as it sounds, 2008 was all about me, I started making decisions that were good for me, my well being and my happiness. I may have just labeled myself as a selfish prick, but that’s so far from reality, hear me out. Many of my choices revolved around taking personal and professional risks, reigniting my relationship with Christ, becoming more healthy and working out more often, all of which I feel attribute in some way to being a better son, brother, friend, colleague, and neighbor.
What this year taught me was expect the unexpected. No longer can the world accuse my generation of being naïve to world issues of war and recession, we have endured both. Nothing about 2009 is easy to predict, maybe it will bring a new love, a hobby, or even tragedy, but one thing is for certain, I’ve learned to be proud of the individual that I am, the things that I’ve accomplished, and the decisions that I’ve made. As so many people look to forget 2008, I feel so blessed to close the year with the fondest of memories, experiences, and the most amazing friends in the world. 2008 was all about learning about me and I want 2009 to be the year that I take these lessons and apply them in a way to help others.
“Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man.”
-Benjamin Franklin
Below are a few of my favorite pictures from 2008
New Years Day 2008
My 23rd Birthday and Remodeling NYC Style
Jimmy Buffet and Concert Season 2008
The Today Show
NYC
Old Roots, New Friends
Red Carpets!
Great Friends, Great Pizza
Las Vegas Family Vacation, Part Deux
Best wishes to all in the new year, may 2009 bring health and happiness to everyone.
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