Let's get started...

So it's August 1, 2013, and though I've been on social media for a while through Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, I finally decided today is the day to start a blog.

Why? For starters, I'm currently between jobs, so it gives me something to do. And, through various publications and webinars, I've learned blogging helps your personal brand. At 41, I'm not part of the "Me Generation" but rather "Generation X." Nonetheless, I'll be sharing my thoughts and views, so let me start with a little about myself.

Education

Born and raised in San Antonio, I initially was enrolled in the Judson school district (Go Rockets!) before my parents moved to Bulverde to be closer to work at then-Southwest Texas State University (now Texas State). That put me in Smithson Valley High School, where I graduated fourth in the Class of 1990.

Thanks to a generous scholarship offer from Angelo State University and a desire to complete my education and get in the "working world" ASAP, I began my undergraduate studies at summer school just a week after high school graduation. Thanks to some advanced placement courses, heavy semester course loads and summer school, I graduated cum laude with a major in journalism in just 27 months (August 1992).

Now it was time to go to work (I'm still thinking about graduate school somewhere and perhaps one day will turn my thoughts into action).

Employment

Newspapers. That's where the money and prestige was - or so I first thought. Ready to set the world on fire, I landed a position at the Del Rio News-Herald. It was an interesting publication, to say the least, and I remember pages being laid out by hand (complete with pica poles and blue lines). It was a short one-year stint, followed by four years at the San Marcos Daily Record (affording me the opportunity to live close to my parents, who had moved from Bulverde to San Marcos) and The Monitor in McAllen. There, I met my wife of now almost 13 years, Erica Rodriguez Maier.

During this time, I covered a little bit of everything - sports, politics, government, spot news - and even did page layouts. But the hours were odd and pay poor, so I looked back into the world of academia with its higher salaries, 8-to-5 work schedule and full benefits. Thankfully, The University of Texas-Pan American in Edinburg was right up the road, and I was able to land a job in university relations.

After a couple years at UTPA, it was on to The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas for another two years. A brief trek into Austin, more than seven years at the Texas A&M Health Science Center in College Station and voila - here I am in the Brazos Valley typing a blog on a Thursday afternoon.

For those who are curious, I am interested in returning to communications/public relations, preferably at a higher education institution, and even have job applications out. But for now, going back to beginning of this post, I just decided I needed some "me" time. Thanks to the support of Mrs. Maier and our financial planning through Dave Ramsey, we've made it work.

Personal Interests/Hobbies

When it comes to personal interests and hobbies, my top two are travel and the Internet, which today are intertwined.

Of course, there are few things as exciting as hopping on a plane or in a car and going somewhere, especially new and/or exotic. All of my travels have been in North America - United States, Canada and Mexico. Still waiting for that first big trip abroad.

And with the Internet, you can visit anywhere without leaving the house (in our case, apartment). It's easier and cheaper but admittedly not as fun. The web also enables me to keep up-to-date on news, sports, professional development, networking and so much more. I'm just so glad we have instant access without dial-up and the lingering fear someone would call and break your connection.

Sports

My other primary passion is sports. I participated as a kid; covered them in high school, college and my newspaper days; and continually follow the latest games and related developments. While I'm a general fan of most sports, I have a few specific teams:

Football
Nebraska Cornhuskers and Miami Dolphins 
Been a fan of both since I was a little kid. I believe an admissions representative from Lincoln came to visit when I was in elementary school, and for some reason I took a liking to them. They were good, just good enough to make it to a major bowl game every year then lose. Tom Osborne got 'em rolling in the '90s, and after the disastrous Bill Callahan regime are respectable again under Bo Pelini. Still, I know they'll find a way to lose a game they should win, and this year, the Big 10 belongs to The Ohio State.

As for Miami, probably fell in love with them because of the cute dolphin on the helmet (and no, I'm not a fan of the new logo and design) and having the only perfect season in NFL history the year I was born. But it's been a while since they've been to, much less won, a Super Bowl. Heck, this century has been a struggle for them with the carousel of coaches and quarterbacks since Don Shula and Dan Marino. Still, one of these days they'll make it to the big game, and my wife already knows tickets are a must (those tickets might be more expensive on the moon once it's colonized, as one of my friends suggested that might be the next time they make it to the Super Bowl).

Baseball
Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox
I've followed the Astros since I was a kid, remembering the oh-so-close years of 1980 and 1986. Was so happy in 2004 and 2005 with their successes, even catching a 2005 World Series game (the first ever in Texas and the longest game in WS history). Now, they just struggle along with new managers, coaches and players, and another season of 100+ losses is guaranteed.

I started following the Red Sox about five years ago. My wife and I have been to Boston a few times, and few things are as magical as the history and nostalgia of Fenway Park. They've had a couple mediocre seasons recently but are back on track this year. In fact, a World Series appearance may be in the horizon. Three times in 10 years? Not bad for a franchise that went 80+ years between championships.

Basketball
Arkansas Razorbacks and no NBA

Really have waffled on following college basketball, and basketball in general. I finally settled on the Razorbacks after they won the 1995 championship. Now that seems just a distant memory, and I'll be happy if they just make March Madness next season. Woo Pig Sooie!

And, nope, no NBA. Living in San Antonio, I naturally gravitated to the Spurs. But, they weren't as exciting as "Showtime" of the Los Angeles Lakers, and even that finally got old to me. Probably because they were the Nebraska of the league - good, just not good enough - I decided to follow the Seattle SuperSonics. Then, good ol' Clay Bennett bought the team and moved them to Oklahoma City. Blech! And just when it looked like the city might get the Sacramento Kings earlier this year, that opportunity was denied. So, still waiting for Seattle to get its beloved SuupppperSonics back, unless Las Vegas (one of my favorite travel destinations) gets a franchise.

Hockey
None, though I do have an old Quebec Nordiques jersey that gets me a lot of comments (quite hard to wear in the heat of Texas except mid-winter)

Well, that's enough about me for now. There will be more to come on sports, current events and more - promise. I look forward to your comments. Now, I think it's about time for an afternoon nap - those things seemed to be frowned upon when I was working in an office.