Um, I am unique, just like everyone else

My wife got my on facebook. Kinda fun, you can find people, get back in touch -- that sort of thing. Then I was told to search groups by my sister in law for my name. Tonight I found three groups:
1) We are Matt... with my full name
2) We love Matt... with my full name
3) We hate Matt... with my full name

I must admit my first reaction was to go into the third group to look for any ex-girlfriends or kids on whom some practical jokes might have gotten out of hand. Luckily the last two groups were only done for one guy in particular and it wasn't me.

The first group though, was "invitation only". I did request membership and I am sure that someone, somewhere is checking my credentials with all the scrutiny that a prestigious facebook group would require.

I just hope I make the cut.

About 1/2 my life...

I like math. I mean that in a statistical sort of way (or at least 9 times out of 10 I do). I like to measure, mix, match and meander through the numbers to sort of organize my life and thoughts and better understand the depth/breadth of an idea.

For example, today I started the process of recovering a buried treasure lost at sea over ten years ago... a friendship started my freshman year of college in 1990. I am 35 and that friendship started almost half my life ago. Excited about it, I called two friends from the same era (you get my age and there are eras) also from 17+ years ago. Bizarre. I know it is a cliche, but you don't get to choose your family -- but I do believe that everyone else chooses on a daily basis whether or not to stay in any type of relationship. I am glad this one is back.

After work, Nicole and I went for a walk today through the neighboorhood park and talked a lot about who we are, were and plan to be. Funny how taking a step back makes the path forward a bit more clear. I wouldn't go back 18 years, but I am definitely glad a few folks have come along these couple of decades with me...

Back in Black (& White)

I keep getting hounded about keeping this thing up to date. It is harder than I thought it would be, although failing to every keep a diary despite the annual New Year's resolution to do so -- I should have known better. I am struggling to get a couple of trips together. It is unclear if I am headed back to Geneva in October/November, although we have to go back in December. I figure that I should just count on that trip and forget the rest.

Right now we are gearing up for a few folks (about 50) to head our way instead. Nicole's brother is getting married next weekend and we are throwing the rehearsal dinner. Nicole had originally thought we would do it at our house -- but after a long discussion explaining that our oven did not the magically properties of Harry-Potter-land, she caved and let us set it up at a clubhouse with a bit of catering.

The trip I would much rather be planning is the one where my friends Larry and Tria are at this very moment. Sure -- I took them to Glacier a couple of years... Yet on their three week adventure in Alaska I wasn't even there for a single one of their 14 (in week 1) bear sightings. Sigh.

I do have a trip down to Houston and a canoe trip in October. It just isn't the same.