Hey Kids, Happy Hanukkah!!

Well howdy everybody.  Perhaps I have been a bit remiss in not posting since my initial entry since we've moved down to Flo-Rida. I really do apologize.  I hope that my friends and compatriots in climates much colder than I am in are enjoying their respites from Winter!!  Soon enough, y'alls will be getting your sidewalk salts, and your snowblowers set up,your ice scrapers, and your DeIcer (if you will). I feel for ya, I truly do.

It's 80 plus degrees here today in Jax! Gots to love it.  Reason enough to move down here!! Got to work on all the hyoooooge bible fans, and the Right Wing Fascists, but one thing at a time! My Dad says that "you don't move down here for the intellectuals, or for the liberal politics!!!"  You really have to represent that!!!   I do dig never having to worry about snow here again!!!

We had a good Thanksgiving. Went down to my Dad's w/ the family. Unfortunately, Toby was not feeling well! Vicki offered to stay home at Dad's with him, while I went out w/ Dad, Aunt Cynthi and cousin Sherri and her husband, David!  It was the first time since I saw Sherri and David since my wedding 8 yrs ago. We had a great time laughing, telling stories, and making fun of all the Republican candidates vying for the nomination

"NEWT GINGRICH" — a Bad Lip Reading Soundbite - watch more funny videos

Do you folks have Mitt Romney fever as much as I do?? What a well thought out individual, who is so sincere in his convictions, huh??!

Going off to Pennsyltucky come Dec. 28th to see Shirley K. (my M-I-L. Psyched to see her!) and the Divine Ms. Newcomer (and Family!!). Shirley is actually flying back with us to enjoy some sunshine and mild weather.  First time flying for her. Soon enough she will be a pro at it, and flying down all the time. Simply because she can, and she deserves nice weather!!

I've been really really bad.. There's this thing about Florida

In not writing anything the past several months!  There is soo much to catch up on.  I really enjoyed doing this whole blog thing, and I don't know why I have not been posting.  I think a portion of it had to do w/ m.   getting really bummed whenever I would vent like I used to . It's like, I have a pretty groovy life, why should I act like I'm miserable, y'know?? As a resut I came to a decsion where I just would not post while I worked on some things in my life.

I"m happy to report that there has been some exciting news in the past several months that I've been absent from blog land!!  We've moved to Florida. Jacksonville, to be precise! We moved back in July. I'd been looking for a job in a warmer part of the country for quite some time!  The past winter was just waaaaaaay too intense for my liking!! Vicki turned to me and went "Find a job where there is F*cking palm trees!" 

I'd been looking for a gig in the South for quite a while before that.  I just wanted to get to a place where I was closer to my Dad, and that had a better climate. I mean, why can't Tobin have a  relationship w/ his Grandfather, right? Nothing wrong w/ that! I wanted Dad to be more than just someone T saw on Thanksgiving, and once during the summer!

So I began to send my resume out (and out, and out and out). I interviewed all over the Southeast. From Florida, to Alabama, to Georgia.  I went on several interviews, until I landed the interview at this large retailer that eventually gave me a job offer.   They offered me the job on a Monday night, and I flew down on a Thursday, and found an apartment 2 days later.

3 weeks later we had a move planned, and we were on the road to Jacksonville. 2 cars, a wife, a son, 2 dogs, and a (sickly) cat all made the trip down. We all made it in one piece too.

The lifestyle down here is pretty chill. I do dig that it is the middle of November, and I'm wearing shorts and flip flops right now. While I still struggle w/ depression and emotions, it is not as intense. There is truly something about a warmer, sunnier climate making me feel better! There are tons of evangelicals, and conservative Republicans down here, but what can you do.

Tobin and Vicki love it here! Tobin will be a surf and skate punk in no time. I totally can see him borrowing my Black Flag tapes at some point!

More blogs will be appearing now that I'm back in it!

Props to:

• Vicki and Tobin for being the greatest Wife and Son ever!!
• Alfredo Angulo and James Kirkland for having the best fight I've seen in years on HBO last weekend.
• Canary in the Coal Mine for putting on a great show @ Mojo #4 the other night! It is soo awesome to move to a new place that you fear may be totally conservative, and to find a great band that can make the "scene" a littler more groovier!!

I suppose I should blog one more time before Christmas

Not too much going on here. The Sincoff family is preparing for its' trek to Grandma's house in Pennsylvania. Should be fun to see my mother-in-law, and Vicki's side of the family for a few. It's a total "Over the river and thru the woods" kind of trip. So, it's season appropriate. Should be good fun to get out of Jerz for a few days, anyway.

Work has been crazy busy. Another reason why I have not been posting as much of late. Every person and their sister brought down some invoice or another that needed processing. Alas, that is exactly the kind of stuff that hits my desk. It has been keeping me on my toes!! Thankfully, work is shut for a few days. I'll be able to max and relax & recharge the ol' batteries!!

Couple of the highlights of the PA trip (in addition to seeing my very groovy mother-in-law) will be not only the chance to see the FANTABULOUS NEWCOMERS on a couple of different occasions, but the yearly visit home of M from Hamburg, Germany. She's a cool chick. It'll be good to see her!!

Other than that, I'm spending time w/ V and T, working on being happy, and enjoying the holiday season! I hope everyone else does too!

The Work Christmas or Holiday Party

My work (the "drugplace") had its' Holiday party today. I just got back from it. It was a not bad affair actually. It was over at the Chart House Restaurant on the Hudson River in Weehawken, NJ. Like 100 years ago, I used to work across the street at Qwest. Being back on Harbor Blvd. brought back alot of memories. Alot of fun times were had at Icon CMT/Qwest. A great group of talented people were there. Some jerks too. All in all a good place.

Anyway, back to the party. It went well. Usually at these types of shindigs, you have to take a breath, and figure that you need to just relax, and enjoy yourself. As such, I actually got myself out on the dance floor and shook my moneymaker!! I represented the uncoordinated, Nice Jewish Boy posse while dancing to such gems as "Oh What a Night (1964)" by The Four Seasons and "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson. I think I truly represented as a result!

The best part of the whole party was seeing one of the executives dancing mightily to The Rolling Stones "Start Me Up". That alone was not too crazy. However when I listened to Mick and Keith's lyrics, I realized that they sing about necrophilia at the end of the song ("...you gave a dead man c*nt..."). That makes you see your co-workers in an entirely different light, let me tell you. Especially when they are a power executive type!

Other than the party, I'm hanging in there. I got home a little early from work, so I can write this. I'm gonna go walk the doggies, and chill out w/ Vicki and T. I'm waiting to hear some news about a project I'm involved in. Waiting to hear news when you want feedback is the hardest wait ever!!! I wish you could know stuff instantly, but alas you can't. It's t one of the harder lessons of adulthood that you can't make people work on your schedule sometimes, but that sometimes you have to deal with everyone elses' time frame. Bummer!!

Another Turkey Day is Finito!!!

Well, I just had to write a little something while my Dad is here visiting Tobin, Vicki and I. To say that it has been a good visit has been an understatement. While I would not recommend always having an elderly parent hang around your house, asking for food and beverages, Dad has been a perfect gentleman.

We've totally just hung out, and had a good time. Dad flew in last Monday, and has been here the whole week. We haven't done anything too rock n' roll. However, we were really busy w/ the Thanksgiving preparations. With both the layout of the table, and the actual preparation of the bird, my gorgeous wife, Vicki totally outdid herself!!! It was an amazing day, it really was a day where I actually took some time, and was thankful for friends and family.

Our West Coast chill friends, Abi, Andy (of Boy's Night Out Fame!!) and Aidan came over for the day. Football was watched, Turkey was eaten and many, many laughs were had, big time. In fact, I think that the day really could not have gone much better. There were no arguments, there was a lot of laughter and delicious food was had. What more could you want? The only thing that is slightly lame is that it's back to work tomorrow!!! I originally had the whole day off to take Dad back to the airport as he is flying home tomorrow.

Dad's visit was quite memorable. He gave Tobin his Hanukkah/Birthday present, which was a train set!!! It's great to see Tobe say "Choo Choo Daddy, CHOO CHOO" all the time. Vicki put it together, and he is LOOOOOOOOVING playing the conductor. Right now, the train clang clang clang noises are reverberating in my head :) Aaaah the joys of parenthood!!!!! In all seriousness, it's great to see Tobin to have such joy on his face!!! It makes all the aggravation of everyday life all worthwhile.

It's going to be sad to say goodbye to Dad tomorrow. I'm not good w/ goodbyes as it is. As we both get older, the distance between Florida, and New Jersey seems deeper, longer, almost a continent away. Getting older, and time going bye is the name of the game, I guess. It does not make it any more easier to deal with, however!!!

Congrats go out to Juan Manual Marquez and Michael Katsidis who fought a GREAT fight on HBO last night from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. JMM came out on top, but Katsidis has nothing to be ashamed of, he showed alot of heart!!!!