Photo slideshow (via Samsung Galaxy S3): The Return to Chicago Botanic Garden - taken 10/2012

Photo slideshow: Springfield, IL trip - taken 9/2012

I'm here on assignment. I just drove the work crew to their destination. They have a lot of stories to tell that can go on forever. Its good to hear different perspectives. Comparing their experiences to mine's, my life is probably less interesting (lol). Just kidding. If it was, I wouldn't be blogging.

Sure has been a while since I have blogged actively. A lot has happened lately and I'm going to update all my loyal readers really soon perhaps maybe as early as this week. Definitely stay tuned. More to come.

I'm very thrilled to finally get the Samsung Galaxy S3. It will take some getting used to especially when it comes to texting. So far I am learning a lot the last few hours. And this is my first ever blog texted from this handheld device. Here's to more exciting things to come!

PSY - GANGNAM STYLE (강남스타일) M/V

This latest dance craze hitting the world and B96 FM in Chicago is already playing the song in heavy rotation. Love it! PSY is --- awesome!

9/11

We remember....the fallen on this day AND the heroes that were made.

It has been crazy the last few days. My '01 Honda Civic EX finally gave out on me after 2 major costly repairs in the last year alone. At 117,522 miles, it ends here for our adventures together and it is with profound sadness that she's likely headed to the nearest junkyard to be dissected and sold as parts (as a way to still live vicariously inside someone's 2001 or 2002 Civic) ... Holding my emotions back, I look forward to the future with my newly purchased metallic-silver colored 2012 Nissan Sentra 2.0 S (pictured above the Civic in this photograph), which will carry on the duties that the Civic has given to me all these years. She's performing well so far and I'm grateful to have her in my life. Like my Civic, I hope to take care of her BUT I promise this time, no more long out-of-state trips. My Civic and the car before that (the 1992 Ford Escort) have both suffered transmission problems and have driven to different states on a couple of occasions. If me and Rizz move to FL next year, the Sentra will in fact be transported there ... And so the great Civic passes the 'driving buddy' torch now to the Nissan Sentra who will now be helmed by yours truly here.

From my Uncle Phillip in the United Kingdom. He said it well. Let's all adhere to this message:

"Whatever country you live in and the colour of your skin, whoever you pray to at night, we all need the breeze, the flowers and the tree's, we all need the darkness and the light, we all need to breathe the air and show how much we care,the sun shining in the sky above, our hearts all beat the same, for in health as well as pain, what everybody needs is love."

RIP Neil Armstrong (1930-2012)

Credit to the original photographer as well as the person who posted this on Tumblr.

RIP Neil Armstrong - the first US Astronaut to walk the moon, in 1969. His feat will be forever remembered in NASA history, and space exploration as a whole. Truly an American hero and an important icon in our culture.

It's been a while since I've listened to the Def Leppard's greatest hits CD titled 'Vault.' To this very day, the quality of this band's hard-rocking, technological sounds of vocals/instruments never seem to age through the test of time. It still rocks just like it did back in the heydays of the 80s when they were very prominent among the metal/hair bands that were in existence ... My young brother, Jeff was given a chance to see them perform in Virginia Beach, VA recently. And from how he describes the concert, it seems that nothing is slowing them down and that they continue to show what they're made of recapturing the magic with loyal followers as well as winning a legion of new-generation fans......This 'Vault' CD rocks and I will continue jamming to it on the stereo deck as it's past 2AM now on the wee hours of early Friday morning.

(taken from my Facebook posting)

During a recent retail inventory, I was partnered with a young Chinese lady named Eunice who works as a sales associate at the nearest Bath and Body Works...She will be going back to school in Champaign for her sophomore year. She was born with a hole in her heart, had operations and is living through a pacemaker device. I feel so sorry for what she experienced in regards to her condition but its good to know that she's been continually blessed. I thank God for giving me the chance to meet individuals like her. It comes to show that we must make the most out of life while its there and not take anything for granted. I am very honored to have teamed up with her as well as giving the utmost respect. We had fun in this assignment. She seemed to be very friendly expressing a lot of enthusiasm and was most certainly a joy to have worked with :)

Music Track of the Day: Alex Clare - Too Close (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

I gotta admit I was hooked to this song when it was first featured on the Internet Explorer 9 TV commercial. And it stuck with me ever since. A masterful mix featuring powerful vocals, acoustic guitar and technological sounds.

Frustration mounts on the latest job search results (with most of these e-mail messages noting that I'm under-qualified for positions I applied for) but I strongly believe that the ode of opportunity in working for another company is still within reach in spite of it all. What I have to continue doing is maintain the consistency in applying and believing in the ratio that 1 out of 10 employers can be the opportunity presented to me. Its still early in the game and any moment can be a gamechanger. I'm hoping for something that's office-related in which I can wear a suit-and-tie again as well as going for a career in sales, real-estate, and/ or financial.


Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®

A HUGE CONGRATS to my SFC (Singles For Christ) brother, Cromwell E. on finally making it to the United States Navy after successfully completing boot camp in Great Lakes, Ilinois. May God continue blessing him on his budding Navy career. What's next for him is submarine school in Connecticut.

Courtesy of my You Tube channel - Jonnyroobs TV, here's vintage footage of Crom singing and playing a guitar, taken back in 2010.

It just came to my knowledge that I work alongside Taylor Lautner. His disguise of eye glasses, facial piercings and big holes in his ears couldn't fool me. LOL. Just kidding, folks. Actually, he's a dude named Vince and we all jokingly call him Taylor Lautner because he has such an uncanny resemblance to that actor/idol many 'tween' girls would die for. His facial looks and hairdo are so spot-on! Now, that part I'm not kidding. Even his best friend Josh would agree with me.

My post on the Orlando Magic Facebook page:

We've all seen changes happening in the weeks already. And for us, we're still dealing with the loss of Dwight Howard who decided to find greener pastures and his version of happiness elsewhere. But I think it's time for us to move on as the Magic Nation with what we have in front of us and it is this latest version of the Orlando Magic. Many of us are already basing negative judgment or reactions on the latest acquisitions (because they are not too well-known) and some names still remaining in the squad from last season. But we haven't even seen them mesh or gel yet, especially with a new coach. Who knows what kind of season they'll be facing because it's still too early to tell what they can do. Most certainly they are no big-names but clearly what's the emphasis here is teamwork and skills (and experience). And that's what win championships. True fans have allegiance to Magic Nation. And they'll go through any challenges that the team and management faces. I like the template that Hennigan is working on and that's to rebuild. He's a good guy. Hang on Magic Nation. Keep believing!!! Don't hold out hope just because we don't have big names acquired :)

adidas Basketball: The Return of Derrick Rose Launch Video

I felt so sorry for what happened to D-Rose when he fell to injury during the middle of the playoffs between the Bulls and the Sixers at the United Center....I'm happy to know he's doing okay since then and has been rehabbing during the offseason with intense workouts. This is a great adidas basketball ad especially coming from an athlete who's so focused and determined to come back - and not the 'other adidas guy' (Dwight Howard) who had been whining all year about wanting to be traded, probably faking rehab appointments to his back so he won't go back to his old team (Magic) or city (Orlando)...D-Rose is the real deal. It's all about going out there on the court and giving it all for a chance to win the championship and making a legend out of himself. D-Rose will rise. Expect him to be at his best, that's for sure!

Music Track of the Day - La Bouche - Sweet Dreams (Lane McCray Rap vocals version) US video edit ...

Ahhh, 90s music. Those were the days. The infectious vocals, hard rhymes and pulsating sounds. La Bouche was a group that defined that dance genre for what it was. I can still dance to it like it was yesterday, probably not as fast like I used to be (LOL)....The downside to this group is that the lead singer (Melanie Thornton) later died in a plane crash in 2001. She was only 33 years old.

Last night and this morning - it is relatively cool. The first time in a long time! And I love it!