Monday, November 30, 2009
Thanksgiving Travel 2009
No, it wasn't as long as last year, but I still ended up in nasty traffic trying to get out of the city. Just shy of 1000 miles and 20 hours...
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Upgrades to my Ruger PC9
I went to The Nations Gun Show today and I had a couple items on my shopping list for my Ruger PC9, most importantly a weaver / picatinny rail and a red dot. I could use a strap but my model is missing the rings on the stock and the barrel band and I needed some cheap plinking ammo more than a tactical sling.
I managed to find 1 vendor out of the whole show that had the rail that I needed. Instead of getting a red dot I found a super cheap holographic sight and got that instead. The gunsmith that did the installation and bore sight could only get the rail to fit one way, but I think the it was designed to go the other direction. Either way, I am more concerned with the functionality of finally having a rail and it was only $25. Pair that with a $60 holo and for less than $100 I tricked it out with everything I've been wanting.
The sight has 7 intensities and 4 reticles: cross hair, dot, circle dot, and circle cross hair (the blurry one in the pic below). I'm heading to the range to try everything out with some amazingly cheap ammo on Monday. I managed to get 500 rounds of Russian steel cased 115gr FMJ 9mm for $100 which is a BIG help to me and actually affording to use the ranges up here.
I managed to find 1 vendor out of the whole show that had the rail that I needed. Instead of getting a red dot I found a super cheap holographic sight and got that instead. The gunsmith that did the installation and bore sight could only get the rail to fit one way, but I think the it was designed to go the other direction. Either way, I am more concerned with the functionality of finally having a rail and it was only $25. Pair that with a $60 holo and for less than $100 I tricked it out with everything I've been wanting.
The sight has 7 intensities and 4 reticles: cross hair, dot, circle dot, and circle cross hair (the blurry one in the pic below). I'm heading to the range to try everything out with some amazingly cheap ammo on Monday. I managed to get 500 rounds of Russian steel cased 115gr FMJ 9mm for $100 which is a BIG help to me and actually affording to use the ranges up here.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Friday, July 10, 2009
A-List
I'm officially A-list, which is for "almost on a list". I had the opportunity to attend the DC premiere of Hurt Locker earlier this evening. What a fantastic treat (and another item checked off my list of things to do before I die).
Jeremy Renner was in attendance and he was a class act, saying some opening remarks and telling everyone to enjoy the movie that was about to begin, "Tansformers 2" haha. It was also awesome to see him respond to several questions after the screening, including mine; I wish I had had a pencil and paper to jot down exactly what he said about his performance. It caught me totally off-guard and really made me think about how he viewed his work... He said he didn't know anything about the military, just that he had 37 years of experience at being a human and his goal was to portray humanity. He did an excellent job at that, indeed. Go see Hurt Locker, it is a great film.
Only in DC can you go attend a movie premiere with actors, generals, doctors, soldiers, sailors, and real EOD techs (the role that Renner plays). A big thanks to Slate and The Washington Post for the hook up.
Jeremy Renner was in attendance and he was a class act, saying some opening remarks and telling everyone to enjoy the movie that was about to begin, "Tansformers 2" haha. It was also awesome to see him respond to several questions after the screening, including mine; I wish I had had a pencil and paper to jot down exactly what he said about his performance. It caught me totally off-guard and really made me think about how he viewed his work... He said he didn't know anything about the military, just that he had 37 years of experience at being a human and his goal was to portray humanity. He did an excellent job at that, indeed. Go see Hurt Locker, it is a great film.
Only in DC can you go attend a movie premiere with actors, generals, doctors, soldiers, sailors, and real EOD techs (the role that Renner plays). A big thanks to Slate and The Washington Post for the hook up.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
No news is good news...
When I fail to blog with any consistency it usually means something is up... After a rather stressful start to the new year I caught a big break. I've been struggling to keep up with my monthly financial commitments and have been freelancing pretty much the whole time I've been in Northern Virginia. It's taught me a lot and made me realize just what I had when I was in East Tennessee. With that, NOVA has a lot to offer and I'm not ready to give up on it yet...
I've been very blessed recently with finding a church home and a new job. This past week I began work at Washington Post Digital as an Innovations Developer for the Web Ninjas. I'm part of a small, agile team that does product development for the Washington Post website. My current tasks will be Python / Django development for a project that is currently wrapping up. I'm replacing a very talented developer and have some big shoes to fill. Working for the post will provide a great opportunity for growth and development and I'm super excited to see where this goes. I'm currently working out of Arlington but we'll be moving to the Washington Post office on 15th St in the heart of DC this summer.
I could have never imagined that I would be here in this type of position by the time I turned 24. (I was offered the job the day before my birthday; best present ever).
With all the excitement that comes with a new position on the cusp on what is really a new life with the marriage coming up soon, I still have a lot of work ahead of me and I would appreciate prayers of support. God has been great to me and I trust that since he brought me to it he'll bring me through it.
I'll have to take some pictures next week...
I've been very blessed recently with finding a church home and a new job. This past week I began work at Washington Post Digital as an Innovations Developer for the Web Ninjas. I'm part of a small, agile team that does product development for the Washington Post website. My current tasks will be Python / Django development for a project that is currently wrapping up. I'm replacing a very talented developer and have some big shoes to fill. Working for the post will provide a great opportunity for growth and development and I'm super excited to see where this goes. I'm currently working out of Arlington but we'll be moving to the Washington Post office on 15th St in the heart of DC this summer.
I could have never imagined that I would be here in this type of position by the time I turned 24. (I was offered the job the day before my birthday; best present ever).
With all the excitement that comes with a new position on the cusp on what is really a new life with the marriage coming up soon, I still have a lot of work ahead of me and I would appreciate prayers of support. God has been great to me and I trust that since he brought me to it he'll bring me through it.
I'll have to take some pictures next week...
Sunday, January 04, 2009
Retrospective on 2008
What a year... I don't even realize it's 2009 because I have yet to write a date on anything. 2008 Came and went with much ado and was a year of many firsts for me. Here's a list of the big things for me in a somewhat chronological order...
Mandy, the woman beyond my dreams with whom I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life with, thank you for putting up with me.
I'm excited about 2009—It's going to be a big year for the Trout and Wood families and I could not have picked a better family to join or have join mine. I've spent the past week with Mandy working through a relationship Q/A book and making some major life decisions about where we will live and how we're going to pull it off.
My fleeting comment is to please pray for me and Mandy and our relationship, and for me and my current job/company.
- Camped out in my hammock in sub-freezing temperatures
- Helped start a praise and worship band (only to drop out just as I was reaching non-suckage)
- Met an awesome girl (who will later be my bride-to-be, more on that later)
- Wrecked my Jeep
- Saw Angels and Airwaves in concert
- Completed some awesome website work and actually felt like I was starting my career
- Launched custom software with my Mom
- Started dating said awesome girl
- Went Jeepin' with my boys (the 4d wrangler is a LOT longer—I hit 2 trees)
- Saw the White House with my own eyes
- Air and Space Museum!!! (I've wanted to go there since I was a boy)
- Job interview in the DC area
- Moved to Washington DC and left previously identified awesome girl in TN
- Decided to do my part to save the planet and my wallet and bought a really nice bicycle
- Rode my bike to work for almost 6 weeks total
- Gained 15 lbs
- Paid $75 to fill up my Jeep
- While we're here, paid $25 to fill up my Jeep :D
- Stood <100 feet below landing aircraft (It's a rush!)
- Bought a diamond ring
- Bought a wedding band
- Got engaged
- Almost climbed to the top of the Holston High Knob Fire Tower (~80 ft)
- Watched fireworks from the foot of the Washington Monument on the 4th of July with Mandy
- Tried Indian food
Mandy, the woman beyond my dreams with whom I cannot wait to spend the rest of my life with, thank you for putting up with me.
I'm excited about 2009—It's going to be a big year for the Trout and Wood families and I could not have picked a better family to join or have join mine. I've spent the past week with Mandy working through a relationship Q/A book and making some major life decisions about where we will live and how we're going to pull it off.
My fleeting comment is to please pray for me and Mandy and our relationship, and for me and my current job/company.
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