Here at "Somewhere In Between" your editor and friend has come to 2 conclusions regarding his blogging abilities thus far.

1. He is not very good at updating on a frequent basis. This may not be a real concern because I have no idea how often people read this blog, or if people read it at all.

2. He is not clever. Many other bloggers out there are quite clever at giving titles to their respective posts (see Kicking At The Darkness, For Love of The Game, and The Unsinkable on the right), which works out well for them so they should keep it up then. (That's for you David).

So from this moment on, or until I decide to just change my mind, all titles to posts will have absolutely nothing to do with the actual post itself. As evidenced by my last and current post (that is auditor speak), titles will primarily consist of quotes from television & film, and lyrics to songs I enjoy and will either have non-existent or maximum potential for humor based on what you know and its context. For any frequent visitor this should come as no surprise. Therefore, let's begin...
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ok, I just wrote 2 paragraphs detailing one of my frustrations with my new job and then deleted it because I don't want to be a Debbie Downer (way, wah, waaahhhh). I will however talk about the best and most overwhelming positive thing from our relocation to the UK. I get to hang out with my beautiful, wonderful wife, Cheryl all the time. Back in the days of our Texas residency, she was a graduate student, worked an internship due to that graduate student status, and had a full-time job. On good nights, usually Wednesdays (ALIAS & LOST people) we would have a few hours together, but most nights she would get home between 8 - 9 pm and then we would crash around 10:00.

Now we both get off work around 5:00, spend time together, decide what we want for dinner and then cook said meal with fresh ingredients as opposed to just heating up stuff in the oven. We still do that, but not as much. I can't express how nice it is to spend time with my wife. I love hanging out with her. She is the best honey in the world ("No lessons!") We still crave our weekends, but I love the evenings as well. We just pop in a movie or a season of our favorite TV shows (currently LOST, thank Kristen & David...sorry) and relax together. Some may not think its much, but I'm a fan.

This is just hilarious! Click "The Unsinkable's" link on the right and read the first entry for Monday 9/19.

Great stuff!

As I was thinking about my post tonight (yes, its night here), I couldn't think of a title to this post, so I picked something random and that was in my head. Its also a shout-out to everyone that gets it. Kudos to those that enjoy the title. Moving on...

I was MIA last week for a couple of reasons. Work and...work. I started my new job here in Croydon (I won't identify my company my name so I don't have to worry about the potential to losing my job as a result of blogging about it. It happens). I wanted to finish my first week before I posted anything about it and I was tired. Anyway, I am the sole internal auditor for the European division of a muti-national company incorporated in the U.S. It was a challenging week. It is my first "new job" as my previous position in Texas was my first job. It is definitely an adjustment.

One of the biggest challenges is not knowing anything. I have to learn about an entirely new and different company and its business model (how they make their money) very quickly as part of my job is to make sure things run smoothly. Another adjustment is knowing what my job totally entails. If you don't know about Sarbanes-Oxley (henceforth known on this blog as SOX) Google "SOX 404" since I can't get the link to work for a exhilarating read. Basically, half if not more, of my job is based upon this U.S Federal regulation. My company has to comply with this as they are incorporated in, and owned by a larger company in the U.S. So, I am kind of joining the war in the middle of battle (not nearly as drastic or violent, but the quickest analogy I could think of) for the current year.

This position is brand new. I am the first internal auditor that has worked for this company directly. Therefore, it will be some time before I totally know how far my job and responsibilities extend. I definitely have some great ideas and thoughts about how things should be run and I'm not afraid of asserting my opinions, I just need to given the opportunity. All in time.

To sum up...things are going well. As I conclude this post (as exciting as it is for all you readers), I won't to make clear that things are going well. I am working on tasks and improving them with the freedom given from my supervisor. I do look forward to settling in and making thing my own in a way. Thanks to those who were thinking of me last week. Much appreciated!

----Oh, we went to Blockbuster this evening and I (we) got The Shawshank Redemption 10th Anniversary 3-disc set for under £13!

In rememberance of September 11, 2001 and the on-going relieff effort on the Gulf, I am copying a posting method from my friend Micheal Felker (see link on right).

Is it getting better
Or do you feel the same
Will it make it easier on you
Now you got someone to blame

You say
One love
One life
When it’s one need
In the night
It’s one love
We get to share it
It leaves you baby
If you don’t care for it

Did I disappoint you?
Or leave a bad taste in your mouth?
You act like you never had love
And you want me to go without

Well it’s too late
Tonight
To drag tha past out
Into the light
We’re one
But we’re not the same
We get to carry each other
Carry each other
One

Have you come here for forgiveness
Have you come tor raise the dead
Havew you come here to play jesus
To the lepers in your head
Did I ask too much
More than a lot
You gave me nothing
Now it’s all I got
We’re one
But we’re not the same
We hurt each other
Then we do it again

You say
Love is a temple
Love a higher law
Love is a temple
Love the higher law
You ask me to enter
But then you make me crawl
And I can’t be holding on
To what you got
When all you got is hurt

One love
One blood
One life
You got to do what you should

One life
With each other
Sisters
Brothers

One life
But we’re not the same
We get to carry each other
Carry each other

One

One.

One - U2


Sunshine, on the horizon_Over two young lovers, while its goin' down_Somewhere, the same sun rises,_on another two lovers, as the world goes around

Same scene, played over and over_Same sweet passion, same warm blood_Softly speaking, the universal language_So many lovers ............. One love

CHORUS:_One love, might make a difference_Might take the walls, and tear them down_One light, might keep on shining_If we take one love and we spread it around

Old religions, new generations_Caught in a struggle of righteous ways_Can't see the forest for all the frustrations_Too many lyin', too many dyin' .. but only one love

CHORUS:_One love, might make a difference_Might take the walls, and tear them down_One light, might keep on shining_If we take one love and we spread it around

Too many stories we've all come and shared_Too many roads untraveled always to see me ??_Same scene, plays over and over and over now_Same young passion, same red blood

Universal language, goes unspoken_Too much hatred, too much hatred now_.. but only one love

CHORUS:_One love, might make a difference_Might take the walls, and tear them down_One light, might keep on shining_If we take one love and we spread it around

Sunshine on the horizon_Over two young lovers, while its goin' down.

One Love – Hootie & The Blowfish

This is amazing. As a true Apple/Mac apologist, I am always interested/excited about the new products Apple has up its sleeves (even though I can't afford them). I was stunned by the introduction on the iPod nano. I read rumors and such about a new iPod mini, which we got Cheryl in June, and expected pretty much the same thing only slimmer and in color. The iPod nano is just flat out incredible. I own a 20 GB iPod and have never really been a fan of the other models since they hold much less music. However, the nano is the small iPod I would love to have. It would be great to have for working out/jogging.

Oh, I didn't mention that it is a photo iPod (which would be nice to have) and has a stopwatch on it, new to the iPod line. I have made a Wishlist at Amazon.com to distribute to family for Christmas and birthday ideas. I would add an iPod nano, however I would have to add it to my "Dreamlist".

Check it out for yourself here. Or better yet, go to an Apple Store and experience it for yourself.

On my previous post today, I mentioned that I would post some happier thoughts. Cheryl and I went out a bought a DVD player here in town. We had been using our iBook to watch stuff, but since we got a TV last weekend and our furniture arrived on Thursday, we have needed a DVD player to watch stuff (I kind of fried the cheap DVD player we brought over from America). But its all good, we got a multi-region DVD player for 30 pounds. Not too shabby!

We have to get a desk and some more and/or better kitchen supplies and we are set!

Ok, over the past couple of days I have been reading a few news articles about Hurricane Katrina's aftermath and watching BBC News in the evenings until I just can't take it anymore, which doesn't take long. It makes me sick hearing about and watching the chain of events that have unfolded.

Seeing the destruction of New Orleans immediately brought back my Senior English class in high school. Why do you ask? When I talk about the destruction of New Orleans, I don't mean the flood waters or the hurricane winds. I am talking about the destruction of people, of human behavior. I first read "Lord of the Flies" in 12th grade and we studied the depravity of man. In dire situations, the most basic human response is survival of the fittest, everyone for him/herself. This is what has become of New Orleans.

Or have we as a country been slowly edging our way towards this over the last several years?

As Americans, we have a created the "now, now, now" mentality and that mentality combined with a catastrophic event has created such unrest. I recognize that the government's relief efforts have not been adequate, however could our expectations be a little high. There is no electricity, no communications, roads are over-flooded, and people are still trapped on rooftops. This type of relief effort can't be thrown together at a whim. Especially, when the behavior of those wanting to be rescued has taken such a depraved turn.

I sympathize with every single victim that has suffered loss as a result of Katrina, and have no idea what I would do in their situation. I know what I would not do. I wouldn't loot. I wouldn't trample over others to get on a bus out of town. I wouldn't start shooting at people attempting to evacuate a hospital. I would hope that after I take care of my wife, I would help others as well, not only be concerned about me and mine, but again, I have never been in this situation.

I wanted to leave with a quote from a quality television show (wouldn't want to let people down) that tackled a similar subject. LOST "If we can't live together...then we're going to die alone."

This post may not make a lot of since, or flow very well, I just needed to put some of my thoughts down on "paper".