Slacker

Sorry I'm such a slacker. I'll post trip reports from San Antonio and Boston when I return on Saturday if not before. In the mean time, here's my states visited map with the new addition of Texas which holds the distinction of the first state in the contiguous United States west of the Mississippi River graced with my presence.

Fore!!!

Yesterday was a great day. A coworker, our company president, and I went to Williamsburg for the annual VHDA Charity Invitational golf tournament. The weather was absolutely beautiful, 70s, Virginia (Carolina) blue sky, a slight breeze, and no humidity. It was one of those days that you don't want to go inside and feel blessed to not have to be in the office. There were over 300 golfers playing captain's choice on three courses. Our foursome shot a 72 which was +1; unfortunately, it was nearly good enough to beat the teams that shot 60 to win their flights. This was my first official golf tournament to play in which was good to do because I'm heading up (with great help) the organizing of our first company tournament which will be at the end of June.

In the past I haven't been a fan of the charity party scene, thinking that it was a waste of money to have a big party and then pass on less money to the cause, but I've kind of had a change of heart. I don't know if it's because I've now been the beneficiary of the party/golfing (probably some of it) but I've realized that the funds may not have been raised if VHDA had just asked the developers, bankers, and other companies for the money. As a result of the tournament almost $1,000,000 has been raised for homeless charities throughout Virginia over the last 15 years. This year five charities each received $22,000 to use to serve their missions.

Congrats!

Congratulatinos to the Lady Jackets Tennis Team on winning the national championship tonight in Athens!!! It's Tech's first official team national championship (not counting the 4 football national championships). We've had many individual champions and have come close in several sports but tonight's victory over UCLA proves Tech is #1.

Here's a screenshot from Rambling Wreck.com. Check it out!

Substantial Completion

On Friday I went to Greensboro for the grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony for my first project. Even though I wasn't the developer it was very satisfying seeing the fruition of our labors turn into the best place some of the tenants have ever lived. My part of the project involved the underwriting of the equity based off the tax credit syndication for a total of about $3.6 million out of total project cost of $8 million or so. The development is a second phase of project we financed about six years ago and features 64 one and two bedroom units and are affordable to those making less than 60% of the area median income. Additionally, the developer is a nonprofit organization which is pretty cool. Here are a few pics and the rest can be seen here.

The developer

Argh

I really don't like losing. At softball last night we were up 6-2 going into the the top of the 7th and we were the home team. As predicted by the jokster infield umpire we collapsed. ARGH. So frustrating. I played pretty well at first fielding a couple of hard, skipping grounders including knocking one down with my chin. Hitting on the other hand wasn't so great. The other team had a pretty good pitcher who threw everything inside with some funky spin. I should have backed off the plate after I figured that out but whatever. I went 0-3. First hit was to short and was beat by half a step, second shot was a deep hit that felt great to left but was caught. My third AB was a fielders choice but was the third out. After the collapse we ended up losing by 8-6. Two losses this week...not good. I still had fun though.

How Much Have You Changed in Four Years?

Saw this as a bulletin on Myspace so I decided to take the plunge. Probably one of those "around graduation" things but still interesting.

HOW MUCH HAVE YOU CHANGED IN 4 YEARS

---- 4 Years Ago -------

1.) How old were you? 22

2.) Where did you go to school? Georgia Tech (just graduated)

3) Where did you work? J. Smith Lanier in Carrollton for the summer

4.) Where did you live? At home in Carrollton

5.) Where did you hang out? In Atlanta

6.) Did you wear glasses? Yes, college made my eyes get worse

7.) Who was your best friend.? Josh, Shaun, Mark

8.) How many tattoos did you have? None

9.) How many piercing did you have? None

10.) What car did you drive? The Tan Van! 1986 Chevy Astro CL

11.) Had you been to a real party? Probably not

12.) Had You had your heart broken? No

13.) Single/Taken/Married/Divorced? Single

14.) boyfriend/girlfriend- N/A

-------------2 years ago-----------

1.) How old were you? 24

2.) Where did you go to school? UNC-Chapel Hill (just graduated)

3.) Where did you work? Was interviewing

4.) Where did you live? At home in Carrollton for the summer

5.) Where did you hang out? In Atlanta

7.) Who was your best friend? Josh, Shaun, and Mark

8.) Who was your crush? Jennifer Anniston

9.) How many tattoos did you have? None

10.) How many piercings did you have? None

11) What car did you drive? 1995 Willow green metallic, 4wd Ford Explorer XLT

12) Had your heart broken? Yes, but learned a lot about myself

13.) Single/Taken/Married/Divorced? Recently broken up

14.)boyfriend/girlfriend?: See #13

--------------------Today--------------------

1.) How old are you? 26

2.) Where do you work? CAHEC, real estate underwriter

3.) Where do you live? Raleigh, NC

4.) Where do you go to school?: I learn new stuff everyday at work

5.) Who are your best friends? Josh, Shaun, Mark, and growing closer to Tech friends everyday

6.) Do you talk to your old friends? Yes

7.) How many piercings do you have? None

8.) How many tattoos? None

9.) what car do you drive? 1995 willow green metallic, 4wd Ford Explorer XLT

10.) Has your heart been broken?: Not since two years ago

11.) Single/Taken/Married/Divorced? Single and ready to mingle

12.)boyfriend/girlfriend?: N/A

Now Repost this How much have you changed in 4 years?

Where Have I Been?

It's been a busy few days. Friday I went to the DCRP graduation to see Katie and Joel off into to the wicky wicky wild wicky wild wild west. After graduation I went with their family to dinner at The Weathervane at A Southern Season. It was pretty good but the service left something to be desired, but the best was the atmosphere. We sat on the patio on a beautiful evening and had a great time. After I left dinner, I got stuck in traffic on I-40 between 54 and the Southpoint exit due to re-paving of the sorry road expansion completed a year or so ago. It was rediculous with only one out of three lanes open. It took me a whopping 1.5 hours to go 4 miles. ARGH. I think it wouldn't have been as bad if people would have just stayed in the open lane instead of zooming ahead and creating a bottle neck trying to merge. An IE out there needs to research the efficiency of that.

Saturday was a fun day. Andrew S. flew up from Orlando on a $50 RT ticket on Southwest for the day. We went to the Tech vs. UNC baseball game in Chapel Hill. Unfortunately we only saw 2 innings as the umpires postponned the game due to lightening. Since we were rained out I gave Andrew a tour of campus and Chapel Hill. I even subjected him to a tour of Meadowmont, a semi-new urbanist development. He lives in Celebration, FL so he was somewhat interested.

After dropping Andrew off I headed to Elon to spend Mother's Day with the G-units.

Yesterday, I moved into Johan's old office and now have a little bigger digs. The downside is that the new office is warmer than my old office. After work I went suit shopping in hopes of getting something new to wear to Meagan and Eric's wedding. As I anticipated I left empty handed. My shoulders are too buff, my arms are too long, and I'm not fat enough. I'm not giving up yet but it's incredibly frustrating to find clothes that fit.

Fun times

I've been a blogging slacker, but it's because I'm having fun! The trip to OBX with Katie, Jac, Ben, and GJ was a ton of fun and a great respite from a stressful week at work and prep for more long days this week. Unfortunately I didn't catch any fish but I had fun driving on the beach and not getting stuck (other than having to attempt the dune crossing several times)! Also I finally got to climb the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse and it was a great view as expected.

Supposedly I won our mini golf competition but after a quick glance at the score card I think I may have put a score or two in the wrong column. Based on this unaudited assesment I'll do a more thorough accounting of the score for the crowning of the proper champion.

It was good we hit the road when we did on Sunday after getting soaked at night and the winds picked up. According to weather reports it's been brutal on the OBX since Sunday. Here's an N&O article and photos of the weather and natural sandblaster: "Rough Storm Whips Coast".

Here a few pics, the rest can be viewed here: OBX Camping Gallery

Oh yeah!


Flying down the original flight path at the Wright Bros. Memorial


Wright Bros. Memorial

Road Tripper

Yesterday I headed west to Corbin, KY to visit an apartment complex for which I'm underwriting the equity for an acquisition and rehab. It was an absolutely beautiful day to drive through the mountains and definitely made the seven hour drive worthwhile. Another plus was that I had a Toyota Highlander rental which was a great driving vehicle. While in Corbin I visited the KFC museum (not worth the trip) but figured I'd see the main tourist attraction while I was in town. I finished my site visit around 5:00 so I hit the road and made it Morganton, NC which is about 3.5 hrs west of Raleigh. I think I could have drive to Raleigh but it was already 9:30 and the first yawn and the subsequent onset yawns had started so I stopped for the night. This morning I drove downtown to see the mill rehab we financed and it looks great. Morganton would be a neat small town to live in if there were some jobs. The downtown has undergone a complete rehab and looks great.

In other news, softball tonight was great! We won 15-4! I went 3-3 with a triple, single, and a double. One more at bat and I could have hit for the cycle. It feels good to be able to contribute to the team.

The original KFC




Mountain View on I-40


Col. Sanders head