I just had one of those days where I realized how much I love my job. I know it sounds kind of corny but I really do. I seriously cannot sleep right now because of all the stuff I have rolling around in my dome.

Usually when I get asked what I do for work, I can't really explain it. After I tell them I work for Yamaha, and then have to explain that we sell outboard engines and not electronics, I tell them my title is Supervisor of Business / Market Planning and they want to know what a Supervisor of Business / Market Planning does. And honestly, I can't give them an answer. My job description is a blank sheet of paper. And today was a perfect example of that and I really do have to share...

We have had our three boat companies in that we own as well as our newly purchased propeller manufacturer discussing year end for 2008 and the forecast for 2009. And if you hadn't noticed, it's kind of a tough market out there right now and we sell a product that isn't really a necessity. So we have to drastically change our course to survive...So between these meetings as well as the other things I have going on right now, here's a random smattering of things that I did today...

1) Discussed the timing of new EPA regulations and how it pertains to the pricing, programs and new product launches for this year and beginning of next.
2) Dug through different HR stuff (ie work share programs and WARN act) as we deal with staff reductions at some of our facilities
3) Talked through aluminum ingot prices and how they are affecting gross profit at our boat builder in Missouri. We use several million pounds of aluminum each year at this factory so you can do the math when we have a penny swing per pound in aluminum pricing.
4) Had a conversation with a web designer in Southern California who I am working with and talked through the layout of a new product we are trying to get introduced in about a month.
5) Worked with our product manager on the copy for a brochure we are getting ready to pull the trigger on...Need to finish this one first thing in the morning.
6) Had to explain what is going on with the Yen vs. the dollar and how that affects cost of goods. If you didn't know, Yamaha is built in Japan where the Yen is kicking the dollar's ass right now.
7) Attended a video conference with another boat builder in Vonore, TN and was given the lead on reducing our emission footprint at each of our group's five locations.
8) Drew up a new process for our monthly financial meetings...First one due on Wed.
9) Starting pulling data for 50 different markets in the US for a huge competitor of ours to find out their market penetration and how we can combat.
10) Worked with our boat builder GMs on contingency plans on wholesale and retail financing of boats and motors (If anyone has any good ideas, I would love to know it because getting money right now sure isn't easy)
11) While giving a tour of our new warehouse, saw that some product I just had brought in had a wrong label and had to call our supplier in Indy stat...This one kind of sucked...
12) Talked with a boat designer in Florida about our schedule moving forward on some really cool stuff...
13) Began making plans for a couple of focus groups in Dallas and Shreveport for above said "cool stuff"...
14) Learned about acid passivation on stainless steel boat propellers and how to combat rust
15) Ended the night with a video conference with some super cool electic Japanese boat designers on some new concepts

Whew!!! What a day...It's typically not that crazy where I'm juggling so many things at once. I'm usually working on two - three of those things a day but nothing like today...But seriously, I loved today. That's pretty much why I can't explain to anyone what I do or what my job title means. I really just want to put "Dude" down on my business card. I think it would better suit me anyways and I wouldn't have to really explain it.

I'm so thankful that I have a job that isn't boring. I'm so thankful for my bosses for letting me run with some of this stuff and letting me make big decisions. I'm so thankful for the incredibly smart people I get to work with and absorb stupid amounts of knowledge.

Anyways,,,just wanted to get that mind dump on paper while I was rollin' around...Time to go back and spoon with the missus...

Fun Little Grubbage...

Hooked up a fun little meal for Amanda and I on Thursday night...

Here's the scoop:

Ground Turkey (85/15)
Diced Onion (White)
Diced mushroom
Diced water chestnut
Grated carrot
Romaine Lettuce leaves
Hoison Sauce (Asian sauce, really good)

Throw all of the above, save the carrot and lettuce, into a frying pan. Cook til' Turkey is good to go. Spoon out some of the meat stuff onto the romaine lettuce leaf and sprinkle some carrot on top for color. Eat like a taco...

This is a super easy recipe. It's good. It's healthy. And there are probably like 8 million combination's based on your tastes...

Andy bros down with Barack...

The Pastor of the church that I go to, Andy Stanley, encouraged us to pray for the new President. Well, apparently, he walked the talk...Andy was invited to say one of the few prayers said at the National Prayer Service the day after the inauguration.

It's also pretty cool that he's the only dude that's not rockin' a robe or a crazy hat. I'm sure Andy wanted to pimp some jeans and a polo but went with a suit instead...

Check out below...

Mountain of Stone

Late this week we finally got some weather that didn't require parkas and long johns...Thank gosh...

So Amanda and I decided instead of hitting the gym yesterday that we hike up Stone Mountain. Absolutely beautiful day. It was great to see so many people outside. It was great to see so many families hanging out with each other. It was great to get outside with Amanda...

Although I've been working out the past three weeks, I'm still incredibly out of shape and thought I was going to die going up but made it. I was kind of glad to see Amanda and others on the way up kind of winded as well...Made me feel less of a sissy boy.

Me and my baby boo....
Stuff like this never gets old...Amanda, I can't tell you how much you make me laugh...
Here's the view from the top looking into Buckhead. You can see Amanda's place of employment.
And this is the opposite view that was taken today from Amanda's office looking out at Stone Mountain. Is that just coolness or what?

A bit of a Problem....

I have a problem...And it's a pretty lame one at that...I really like to read...

How lame does that sound?

So far in 2009, I've been on team read...Amanda and my friends said that's all I blog about now. So I'll pair it down a bit...

Here's a quick glimpse into the few that I've read in 2009 thus far...

The Audacity of Hope by President Barack Obama
Pretty good book. Will be looking forward to his book after his time in the Oval office.
Favorite lines of the book: "Identities are scrambling, and then cohering in new ways. Beliefs keep slippin though the noose of predictability. Facile expectations and simple explanations are being constantly upended. Spend time actually talking to Americans, and you discover that most evangelicals are more tolerant that the media would have us believe, most secularists more spiritual. Most rich people want the poor to succeed, and most of the poor are both more self-critical and hold higher aspirations than the popular culture allows. Most republican strongholds are 40% democrat, and vice versa. The political labels of liberal and conservative rarely track people's personal attributes."

Flight of Passage: A Memoir by Rinker Buck
A little dandy of a great adventure of two young kids in the 60s...Fix up an old Piper Cub and fly it to Southern California from New Jersey. Fun read.

Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore
Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh...Phenom book about an incredible lady, husband and former slave. Modern day story that will make you cry your face off. I read this book last Sunday. Yeah, just one day. I'm a tool but it's that good of a book. If you don't cry, you may not have a heart...

Through Painted Deserts by Donald Miller
Another great cross country adventure...This time in a volkswagon bus. Nice read. Fun. Funny at times. Liked Blue Like Jazz better but nonetheless enjoyed this one as well...

Those are in the complete box of 2009...

I'm currently in the middle of Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell and am also going through Francis Chan's Crazy Love with our small group. Both are drastically changing the way I view life...

J-Dub and T-Ro

My good friend Jim (J-Dub) got married last weekend to his lovely bride Toni (T-Ro, now T-Ro Dub)...

Those two are like peas and carrots...

They had a great weekend planned out that I was stoked to be a part of. Friday night consisted of a faux rehearsal party at Taverna Plaka. Goodness is all I have to say about that. And we got to enjoy the antics of another young buck named Jonathan as well...Dude is hilarious...

The ceremony itself was small and intimate. Pasta Da' Something. It was a perfect setting for their wedding. Food was stupid good. We're going back sometime. Had a blast catching up with folks that I don't see enough.

Super stoked for both of them as they travel down this thing called marriage together...

The bride and groom...Much like myself, Jim married way out of his league...
My bride...Freakin' love you girl...
Our small group from back in the day, save Curt...

My Holy Molie

On November 5, 2007, I made my first journal entry into my first moleskine...At the end of 2008, I filled the remaining pages with thoughts, prayers, drawings, etc...
Looking back on these pages of the last year, it's so ridiculously evident that God answers prayers and takes away our burden...Most of the journal entries at the beginning of the year were filled with anxiety, worry and doubt...It's crazy to see the transition of where I'm at now. It's also crazy to see when there's gaps in journaling and Bible reading, I come back crying in a fetal position. When there's consistency, there's a lot more joy and gratitude...

I just started a new moleskine for 09'...One of the things I want to focus on in 2009 and the rest of my life for that matter is giving God my time in the morning...I usually read and journal at lunch in a secluded cul-de-sac behind where I work. It's awesome and all but I want this to happen first thing in the morning and I want to be more consistent...When I say consistent, I mean everyday...even when I'm traveling and on the weekends...

I'm looking forward to a great 09' and beyond of going through His Word and putting these thoughts on a piece of paper...

My little Sis in Africa...

Just got off the phone with my sister to hear about here trip to Cape Town, South Africa. Wow, Wow, Wow...
Really inspires me to go on a mission trip this year...
Here's a few pics of the gospel in South Africa...





Check out all the pictures HERE
Absolutely Incredible!!!!

BlueLand...

Brown Man's chick-a-dee hooked up some ridiculously good tickets for last night's Thrasher's game. Section 104, Row G...Yeah, that's 7 rows from the glass at mid ice...In fact, just 4 or 5 steps down was the box for all the dudes that did bad stuff on the ice...

It was a fun game to watch...Even if you're a non hockey guy...Game went into overtime and eventually to a shoot out where the Thrasher's came through...Huge thanks to Terry for hooking these up...

Couple pics...

Me and my little lover...
Just a couple of rows down was the penalty box...Seriously, these seats were absolutely ridiculous...
The Thrashers after their big shootout win...Good stuff...Tough break Canoockers..
So after the game, the police officer that guards the penalty box hands Amanda a puck and tells her "That he enjoyed watching her tonight." Little creepy....
The homeboys...