Thanks to all my friends for the well-wishes!

I would like to take the time right now to thank the many friends that remain supportive of my move to Illinois, as well as expressing their well-wishes for me.

I look forward to meeting you all again really soon, whether you're in sunny Florida or in feel-good Virginia.

Take care always. Till we all meet again.

Facing another new world

I've finally made it to the southwestern area of Chicago. It was a really long 15+ hour drive that started off in Virginia Beach, VA. The journey itself lasted around a day and a half, thanks in part to a brief stayover at a hotel in Bedford, PA [adjacent to the exit on the Pennsylvania Turnpike] ... Through all the driving can pose some challenges. That meant keeping caution to a clipper winter storm that was about to make its presence known during the time I'm about to leave. Originally, I was intending to cut through different states to avoid toll roads but someone thought about the latter. She said that it would be also adviseable to take those as a way to save an hour's worth of driving time, as well as go further on to avoid the worst weather coming in. The most intimidating parts to driving were the up & down, zig-zag roads on the Pennsylvania Turnpike AND the possible freeze of roads exiting Indiana towards Illinois on route 80 (while it was snowing) ... After that was all said and done, its now another chapter in my life. I'm facing another new world. I look back at my yesterdays in Hampton Roads, VA and in Orlando, FL - and I know exactly what's in store. Illinois will take some getting used to, for sure, especially having to know all the routes, places, and people, in general. The one thing I'm blessed so far is having the chance to work again. That feeling alone puts a big smile on my face because it's been a struggle not having to work since the first week of December, in addition to not getting unemployment benefits. I'm glad most of the frustration is gone now. I can start anew. It's time to script another chapter in life - and seeing how far this'll go.

Untitled Blog - 2/13/2010

Spent the whole day yesterday dealing w/ car fixtures. I'm surprised I wasn't even tired through it all, especially during the end. Midas did a wonderful job in getting my car's much-needed repairs done up until the last part: they couldn't do my alignment (as a way for the car's brand new struts to adjust). The last minute, the folks from Bert's Alignment came in to help me with the unresolved matter. All I needed was the front-end alignment and it was done in no less than 20 minutes tops. Bert's Alignment specializes in the alignment needs for my car because it had lower springs. They were so compassionate and helpful. I thank God that this adventure ended well ... With all of that done now, I was ready to do the rest this morning. I got new wiper blades (since my previous ones were worn out already). I also got rain-x to repel rain, sleet or snow on the windshield ... So what's next? Last minute packing. Here we go.

Our morals/values stooping low now

Looking at these crazy Super Bowl TV ads (including the sitcoms as well), it seems that our morals and values are stooping so low more than ever before. Mostly gone from TV are the random acts of kindness, looking out for one another, or simply delivering a good message one can learn from. Instead, it's all replaced by vulgarity, absolute crudeness, graphic violence, and sexual-related content. There are still a few good ads that show about caring - take for instance the AT & T commercial featuring NBA star Tyler Hansbrough. He was there at the very end giving the girl her lost dog. Here's hoping that someone in TV or TV ad land can bring about some decency on the TV tube in the near future. I think we've already gone way too far in making ourselves look so stupid.

Congrats to the Saints & the city of New Orleans!

Although I am a Buccaneers' fan by heart, I am happy for the city of New Orleans and to their football team - The Saints. They are the newly-crowned 2010 Super Bowl Champs winning 31-17 against the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl 44. With this victory now cemented in NFL history books, it was more than just a 'win' - but the team itself brought about hope for a city that had went through so much since the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina a few years ago. When the people needed the Saints, they were there - to help rebuild and restore the great city for its citizens. They had a chance to relocate somewhere in another state, but they put the concerns and cares on the New Orleans community rather than putting the emphasis and focus on themselves. QB Drew Brees and Coach Sean Payton, along with the team gave it their all to help and put into perspective the struggles that the city was going through. And in that, they all found inspiration - to play for the great city of New Orleans and to have the will-to-win. Sure, it took a while to get where they wanted to go but they pressed on no matter the outcome of the every season, every year. Their stepping stone to the top would later result to an impressive over-the-top 2009-2010 season in which they almost had an undefeated record towards the end (just like the Colts), as well as capitalizing victories in the playoffs against NFC rivals - the Arizona Cardinals and the Minnesota Vikings. And of course, the huge exclamation mark itself was the Super Bowl 44 victory in which the team gave it all back to the fans, the community, and the people of New Orleans for all that they've went through. Together, in unison, they emerge victorious through it all. Congratulations once again to the city of New Orleans, the Saints and the WHO DAT nation!

Possibility of 'Transformers 3' filming in Chicago, IL?

Besides the anticipated news of myself planning a move to the Chicago area in just a few more days from now, there is word that director Michael Bay is scouting some U.S. cities for his next TF movie - and it turns out that the Windy City itself may have the potential green light to be an ideal shooting location for 'Transformers 3' according to this article ... It would be awesome to see all the spectacular, high-octane action featuring all the autobot/decepticon vehicles right in the heart of Chicago. Filming is to take place sometime in the summer and here's hoping that Chicago will be one of the cities shown in 'Transformers 3.'

Should I be a car salesperson? Hmm. Let me think.

My friends have been in this type of profession. Some hang on - and they do so well. Some no longer have the means to do this - and they move forth into something else. But I ask myself, what if I had gotten into this? Can I ultimately succeed at auto sales? Do I have what it takes? With a voice like an on-air personality, looking the part w/ a suit, GQ-style and having a bald head as shiny as the new vehicles themselves (hehe), I think I just might have the chance to do well. But I think it's wise to do some in-depth online research regarding a career in car sales. This one link proves to have a fascinating insight letting me know what it's all about before jumping into it. Just imagine - Jonnyroobs - car salesman. Hmmm. Could be a possibility. Or just one of those 'what-if' stories.

Be careful of your movie career, Taylor Lautner.

Taylor Lautner is a respectable, decent actor playing the role of Jacob in Twilight. His character in that series would make every teenage girl swoon (maybe my 16-year old daughter would too if I had her in my family life right now..lol..then again, I don't have one) especially showing off too much of the dieseled, athletic physique he has (a 'hot-bod' in ladies' terminology..hehe). But after his SNL (Saturday Night Live) stint, he's now heading right towards the path of outrageousness - Max Steel, Stretch Armstrong, etc.? WHAT'S NEXT? PLASTIC MAN?????? Seems like Lautner's agent's not giving him a chance to develop his acting skills first with independent, low-budget type flicks. Instead he's trying to persuade him to take on these character roles possibly for quirky, corny kiddie movies making a star's quality in Hollywood stoop so low even though one has the $$$ -> the direction where Dwayne Johnson and Eddie Murphy are already now in, unfortunately ... Be careful on your film choices, Taylor Lautner, especially when you're just breaking through in Hollywood at a young age. Then again, you can always opt for the PLASTIC MAN character one day and keep going for more of these really outrageous crazy characters in the not-too-distant-future! lolz. I guess the more money offers Taylor Lautner can get - he can certainly play that part, too.

It's official: I'm moving to the Chicago area.

The 'official' word is out there now and the 'Jonnyroobs Centralized' banner says it all w/ it's images. I'm moving to the Chicago area and should arrive by the 16th (weather permitting). Here's to a great restart for 2010. Gonna make great things happen in my life, and most of all - rely on my faith more often.

GUEST BLOG: Biblical stuff from my friend Ken in CA...

"God controls all carnal resource on earth.. Once apply faith and Word that equals manfestation...All I'm sayin homie is this: your current circumstances don't determine your future outcome.. Your faith in the unthinkable determines your outcome... Which is Christ and his finish work.. John 19:30..There is only one Judge, and no man on this earth can bind you...Experience freedom and not bondage...Your life was determined from the begining of time and finished out..That was all holy spirit ma ninja... I'm just flowin formless......Just know that.. You will not perish in hell for your sins.. You will perish for not believing in Christ... We will always be sinners as long as we breathe air.. No one can escape the clutches of this world..However... Applying faith and Word you know be seen as righteous and in God's eyes
Word = Christ..The Law is bondage.. Thou shalt not steal.. thou shalt not kill...etc...Christ walked it out blameless and sinless and died a living sacrafice for all of mankind to return to there inheritence. Sin is a mistaken identity, not a bad deed... So you are free.. Know christ... Call on the Holy Spirit for daily direction, and you will begin to fall in to God's will which is a perfect equation that always equals LIFE and not death!...You cannot interupt the mistaken identity on your own accord. STOP IT! Your efforts to stop sinning will only futher but into shame and guilt...Confess to God in the name of Jesus.. God made flesh... Your are forgiven... No need to ask for forgiveness... Confess and then keep it pushin... Seek the Kingdom above all and God's perfect plan for your life will be be revieled...But wait... That sounds like a spiritual escape into fantasy right...Oh contraire.. Mon frair and Suer.... Once you become sick of being sick and reach the crossroads... which way will you go...Left... into No man's land, Back... into the same mess, Right ... into insanity... Or straight... Into freedom... God is simple... We are the only thieves who rob ourselves of that freedom... Not the devil.. He has no power.. He is a defeated entity... He only has power if you give him power... There isn't a battle between good and evil.. The student will never be greater than his master...The devil is a bad seed that has fallen... We are the carnal living in flesh, but dead in spirit.. Until u know Christ... God cannot see you... Because you are as filthy as rags to him... However, because God controls all resources on earth are a pond and and instrument for God's greater purpose... Wouldn't it be nice to know your position on the chess board and play your position instead of being simply used.. Which even that is awesome.. if you think about it... God has his hands on your life whether you want it or not... Like a dominoe effect...Once God can see your spiritual self you are now walking with him and beginning a journey back to Eden.. Which Eden literally means in his presence... We were never meant to know nothing but his grace and mercy.. and reflect on him like mirrors...watever God's mission is for those words... Let his will be down on earth as it is in heaven."

Centralized!

With my website of 6-years, JONNYROOBS.NET soon to reach its inevitable end on 2/14/2010, my blog page will now emerge to take its place on the spotlight - and even changing it's name, as well. Once called 'Jonnyroobs Central,' it'll now be referred as 'Jonnyroobs Centralized.' Besides the name-changing taking place, I have decided to also add some bells & whistles into the page's new layout scheme. To the right of the blog page, you'll now see a Twitter widget, as well as my other links that appeared immensely on JONNYROOBS.NET's main area ... I've decided to start my web project over by utilizing any economical means and approaches (having free accounts on Photobucket, YouTube, Blogger, etc). Being it that I'm one of the many people struggling to find a job these days, letting go of JONNYROOBS.NET was the right decision to make. Sure, I may have slipped down a notch from getting my name out there in the open on the internet, but I still continue to push forth the same dream - only this time on a smaller scale, as I've indicated on a previous blog entry. So here's to many more brighter days ahead :-) JONNYROOBS is now CENTRALIZED!