Midlands Business Journal 40 Under 40

A part of me still gets super giddy when I see an article, photo, or quote captured in print for all to read. I know it’s bragging and self centered to be excited when you get published or an article is written about you. So I apologize in advance for posting this photo/article. I figured I would share a recent article about my Midlands Business Journal 40 Under 40 award – that way years from now I can look back and remind my grandkids (or myself if I continue on with the no kids no marriage path) I used to be cool.

Sunflowers from the Garden

Are bringing me cheer today at the office! Nothing beats fresh flowers, especially those handpicked right from the garden or yard.

Slip Sliding Away

For a recent work trip we needed to view an old railroad bridge now a very cool walking path near the Niobrara State Park. It’s normally a fairly healthy hike downhill to visit.

However, this time of year it was covered in snow

Or so we thought. Turns out it was covered in ice. I biffed it once and also spent half the climb on all fours sliding down so I wouldn’t biff again – several others in our party also wiped out. Ouch!

Pain aside it was a pretty cool sight at the bottom, with bits of ice still lodged in the mighty Mo.

Up In the Sky

A very short work trip equated an opportunity to ride in the USACE plane which netted great views.

Not bad eh?



I wasn’t sure if snapping photos was permissible but figured I would take a chance to capture the gorgeous sun reflecting off our plane and the billowy clouds.

USACE Social 2011

Last Friday we had our annual USACE Social. I was one of the main event coordinators and had a great time planning the party and watching it be a huge success. Our budget was more or less nonexistent so we stole (errrr borrowed?) greenery from my parents back yard and mixed in a few roses.




Obviously nothing super fancy or showy but it went well with the room and the time of year. We had cocktail hour for an hour with over 100 of my co-workers mingling.
Along with a few of my family members and friends, pasta dinner, and




finally the main event. Jimmy Weber (who is amazing – you should all check his music out!) performing along with Kelsey Nord and Jason Clinton.


They did an excellent job and were able to keep people on the dance floor all night long.



No small feat, especially with my co-workers. Towards the end of the evening the dance floor was still hopping and not a single person was sitting down!


Thanks to those that helped me coordinate this event, thanks to our COL for supporting our event, to my co-workers, friends, and family that attended, and to our great band!

Back to work

After I left Kuwait I spent several weeks traveling and just enjoying life. I’ll post photos and updates soon. Today is my first day as an attorney for USACE. Back to real life. I was finally able to write “District Counsel” on the signature block of my email. I have a real office, not a cubicle. It has cherry wood furniture v the metal of the others. Funny how it’s the little things in life that can make you happy.

I am now counsel for all of my old real estate coworkers, to include my old bosses. That is the part that seems the strangest. Otherwise it feels like I am back to the same ol USACE I left a few years ago. We have moved into a new building (a remodeled version of the building I started in as a summer hire actually) so it looks different. But otherwise it feels as though nothing has changed, the people are the same as is the atmosphere. I was told by several today to not expect a lot of stress, a large workload, or crazy deadlines. I don’t know if I should rejoice or worry. For now I will rejoice and use this time to become reacclimatized to CB/Omaha. To enjoy having a life outside of work.

I do have one confession, I was given the option to trade in my CAC card for one without the Geneva Convention (in other words am I done deploying). I said no, just couldn’t quite do it. Sorry mom! No need to fret though – I wont be deploying anytime soon.

What I do all day...

Figured I would start with the important stuff – or at least what pays the bills and funds all the vacations and entertainment. So until I can open that Wedding Shop this is my life. Looong days are spent viewing loads of villas and apartments, picking out furnishings (my favorite part), negotiating deals, writing contracts and leases, researching relevant laws and regulations, and more or less babysitting and catering to a large number of grown adults. Never in my life have I dealt with so many interesting individuals. Crazy tenants aside I absolutely love my staff and the position. I have such a wide variety of nationalities on my staff so everyday is a learning experience. I have Americans, Kuwaiti's, Lebanese, Egyptians, Iraqi's, and Indians. I work with an even wider variety when negotiating and finalizing deals. It is great and keeps work interesting and entertaining.