AverageAndy

Hope everybody’s new year is off to a good start.    Mine is a little slow as Average Andy is still unemployed and looking for work.  There are opportunities out there, and hopefully I’ll land something soon.

One thing that has been keeping me optimistic is the following blog (http://www.entresting.com/blog/).   The author Jia Jiang is doing rejection therapy and documenting himself along the way.   It is really motivating to watch him see out rejections.   What I find most amazing is that most people are willing to help him instead of reject him.  Check out his journey if you get a chance.

With the NY Football Giants missing out on the NFL play-offs this year, I find myself not caring who wins or looses.  Sure I watch some, but not as much as when its the Giants, or seeing who will be playing the following week.  On the positive side, with the 2014 Super Bowl being played at Met Life Stadium, it was unrealistic to think the Giants would win back to back to back Super Bowls.  So they took this year off and will be back next year to become the 1st team to play a Superbowl in their home stadium.

Only a few more weeks until Pitches and Catchers start reporting for spring training.   Don’t know what to expect from the Mets this year.   Hopefully they can get off to a decent start since the 2013 All -Star Game is being played at Citi Field.   Would be nice to have the team still relevent at the time of the game.

Lehigh Basketball took a major blow when our star player C. J. McCollum broke his foot against VCU right before the Patriot League season started.   He will be out 8 weeks or so.  Hopefully the team can stay in the hunt for the League Title (It was going to be a 2 team race between Lehigh and Bucknell).  Would be a shame if Lehigh were unable to return to the NCAA Tournament after last years victory over Duke.

Survivor returns in February with another Fans vs. Favorites season.  Dont like to follow too much before the season airs, but I did see the list of Favorites who will be returning.   Dont want to spoil things here, so all I will say is there are a few I think deserve to return, but some I don’t even remember, and some would not make my list.  As a life long fan who still dreams of making it onto the show one day, it does get a little frustrating that so many players are now getting 2nd and 3rd chances, while fans like me are wondering what it takes just to get past the video submission.

Kind of like looking for a job.  In this day and age, everything seems to resolve around networking (who you know, and how well you interact with people, and how well you can sell your self).   These are not my greatest skills, so I am working on them to make my self better.   (Writing this blog helps, as well as watching things like the blog I mentioned above).

Time to make a few calls, and respond to a few e-mails

Warm Beans

Average Andy

The last few months have been tough for Average Andy.   I was let go from my job of 12+ years due to a reorganization / restructuring.   I enjoyed working there and wish all my friends still there the best of luck.   But we all must move on, so now its now on to bigger and better things.   As an IT professional there are many opportunities out there, and eventually AverageAndy will land back on his feet.

In the meantime, I still managed to watch both the Amazing Race and Survivor and really enjoyed both shows this season.  Was extremely happy that the Goat Farmers won the Amazing Race.   Was rooting for them as well as James and Jaymes, so it was a satisfying ending.   As for Survivor, I wasn’t a big Denise fan.  Would have preferred to see Lisa (I am old enough to remember her on Facts of Life) or Skupin (Still remember when he fell in the fire in Survivor Australia) win.    Have to admit I was a little sad when the vote was revealed.

Submitted my video again for Survivor a few weeks back.  I will continue to submit them with the hope of eventually getting a call.   I see that the next season will be another Fan vs. Favorites.  While I enjoy seeing returning players, it still makes me a little upset that there a people who get to play Survivor 2, 3, or 4 times while there are people like me who would give anything for the chance to play just once.  But I will continue to keep watching and applying.

Along a different, but related line, I have seen a few episodes of the Jeff Probst show and have to admit I really enjoy Jeff as a host.  He comes across as a very genuine and caring person, and I wish him and the show well.

I really enjoyed the show when Mark Cuban was a guest.   I think Mark is an extremely smart and interesting guy and would love a few minutes to simply pick his brain on thought about things from Sports to business to the world in general.    I also enjoyed the recent episode with Jia Jiang.  He started a blog to try and get 100 rejections from all types of people; (http://www.entresting.com/blog/).  Everybody who ever had a fear of rejection, or want to see that most people are willing to say yes and help instead of saying no should check it out.   It has been a shot in the arm for me as I look for my next job

In the world of sports, the NY Giants are again making things difficult.  Don’t know which team will show up each week.  Hopefully the good Giants show up this week against Baltimore so week 17 will mean something.   Lehigh Basketball is off to another good start.  It’s going to come down to Lehigh or Bucknell again for the Patriot League automatic berth.

As far as music, I am really enjoying the annual Marillion Christmas CD (Big thanks to the band for showing their appreciation to the fans every year).  I also listened to some Dave Brubeck last week.  I was never a big fan of Jazz, but have to admit it makes some nice background music while cooking dinner or relaxing by the fire.

In closing, if anybody out there is looking for a  knowledgeable and motivated IT professional with a passion for sports and music, I’m right here (NJ NY area).  I also recently talked to somebody who said they were going to work at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics.  Sounded great and would love that opportunity if anybody is working or knows of any possible openings.

Want to wish everybody wonderful Holiday and a safe and healthy New Year and I promise to write more in 2013

Stay Gold

Warm Beans

Average Andy

I have come to realize that the majority of people are just a bunch of suckers,  believing that the more somebody is paid, or the more expensive something is, the better it must be.   The corporations and people who have figured this out must go to be laughing as they take your (and to be fair my) money.

How else to explain why people will continue to by overpriced products and services like a bunch of drowns.   Add to this that most people are also hypocritical and you can see why we have become such a bunch of complainers

Thought about this with regard to the NFL replacement referees, the new American Idol Judges, and a bottle of wine

Sports fans cant wait to complain how bad the replacement referees have been.  Have they made some bad calls, of course, but nothing worse then the regular referees have made in the past.  But the replacement referees make less then the real referees, so they must be worse.  Bring back the real referees they cry, and pay them what they deserve.  But once they settle (and they will with the real referees making lots more money) the first time a real referee makes a bad call, people will scream that they suck, and anybody could be a referee.  But who really looses here.  The fans of course because it will not be the owners who pick up the additional cost.  It will be added to the price of tickets and merchandise.  So we all pay more for the same product.

American Idol just gave Nikki Manaj a 15 million dollar contract.  That along with Mirah Cares 17 million, Keith Urbans millions and now we are all supposed to flock to our TVs to watch.   The show has been on for 12 years, (and I have watched most of it).  Not because of how much they paid the Judges, but because the show was entertaining on its own.  They could get 3 low level musicians / music producers as judges and it would be the same.  Again, who is the loser here.  The fans again.  Those high salary’s will need to be paid, (and not by the Corporation). That means lots more commercials, and more product pushing (which people will complain about).

A good bottle of wine can cost anywhere from $10.00 to a few hundred dollars.   Again, you can get a good bottle of wine for around $10.00.  But for most people, $10.00 represents cheap, and cannot be as good as a $100.00 bottle.   The smarts ones buy the bottle of wine they like (regardless of price).  The suckers by the more expensive bottle of wine (even if they don’t like it) because it makes them feel better.   The corporations know this, so they slap higher prices on a few of their wines to make a some quick money.

Just some random thought today.

With the Mets failing off the side of a cliff (I think Terry Collins needs to go), its time to move to Football.   In the pros, the Giants got a good win on Sunday against the Bucs, and in college, Lehigh looks to improve to 4 – 0 this Saturday night against Liberty

Sorry I haven’t written more lately.   With Survivor starting again tomorrow and the Amazing Race in a few weeks, be sure to check back to see what Average Andy has to say

I have really enjoyed Big Brother this season, although I wish Mike Boogie would have made it farther (Still one of the best players from all Real Reality shows)

Stay Gold Pony Boy

AA

As we move towards the end of the summer, I hope everybody out there is doing well and enjoyed their summer.

Finally time to give up on the Mets (I held out as long as possible, but they are just too bad). After yet another 2nd half collapse it’s time to look in the mirror and really look at what they have. Might be time to realize the current group of players (including David Wright) are just not winners and need to go. Harsh reality

Really been enjoying Big Brother this summer. Was upset that Mike Boogie got voted of, but he is still one of the best players of all time. Would love to spend some time with him and ask how he always seems to be enjoying life and the people around him

Looking forward to both Survivor and The Amazing Race starting in September. Still the best of all the reality shows out there

With football season (both college – Let’s go Lehigh and pros – NY Giants) may need to finally need to get rid of the old 27 inch tube TV. If anybody out there wants to help (pay pal donations would be appreciated) feel free to send me an email at andyrupprecht@gmail.com

More to come

Think your happy’s

Average Andy