So today I enrolled in a 401(k) so that when I'm 60 I can retire with $800,000 at the rate I'm putting in now and my projected rate of salary raise. Unfortunately, if I will want to live off of 90% of my income at time of retirement and I expect to die at 77, I'll need to have 1.2 million dollars in that puppy. Seems a little excessive.
Saving for retirement seems a little stupid right now, but I'm motivated by my Grandpa Martin who retired young as an executive for John Deere. I think he's been retired my whole life and he's almost 80. I'm pretty sure he retired in his mid-50s and they always been able to live at a very nice lifestyle. So for that reason, we shall save save save and hope that we can live long enough to enjoy and spoil our grandkids and if not then our kids will be rich!
I'm a little fried right now, so sorry for if this was poorly written. Off to dinner and Big Brother -yeah! See ya'll in A-Town tomorrow night!
Love,
Berg
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
"The rest is still unwritten"
I'll admit it. I'm addicted to a few things right now: Ice Cream & TV. Not a good combination. Sounds like the making of a couch potato. I'd like to go ahead and put to rest any roomers right now though. I am, in fact, not a couch potato. Neither have I gained 20 pounds since marraige. Maybe two or three, and I think those were just from 9 Coldstone visits in the first 20 days of marriage. We've only had like 4 in the two weeks since that point. Well maybe that's not so much better. Anyway, I'm addicted to my bowl of 2.5 scoops of no-fat vanilla ice cream with plenty of fat caramel and chocolate on top and a Rogers' Brownie on the side while sitting down to watch my two current favorite shows: Big Brother & The Hills (a Laguna Beach spin-off). Both stupid reality shows that suck you in. We find ourselves discussing the show at the end...what the contestants or kids should or should not do. While I used to only watch Scrubs and Big Brother on their first-run on TV, I'm now watching Big Brother, The Hills, Simple Life, America's Got Talent (whenever I get a chance) and still managing to catch quite a few re-runs of South Park on DVD.
The reason for this new rash of television intake? Well, one reason is we've got to do something while we eat our ice cream...and we DO have to eat our ice cream.
#2 is DVR (same as Tivo). With DVR we can watch the Hills in 22 minutes or the Simple Life in, well, 22 minutes. By the time an hour's passed we've almost watched 3 shows where we used to watch only 2.
#3 is that I no longer have video games. Haven't shot any MasterChiefs with my MasterChef since well before marriage. I haven't played Super Mario Brothers since my college days. My video game days are not over. I'm just on an unwanted and unnecessary hiatus. I actually received two games for getting married: The Godfather (thanks George) and Call of Duty 2 (thanks K-Hink and E.T.).
Nevertheless, a junky I am not. In fact, I'm going to run right now, even though it's almost 11 p.m. and remember folks - it's fat free ice cream.
The reason for this new rash of television intake? Well, one reason is we've got to do something while we eat our ice cream...and we DO have to eat our ice cream.
#2 is DVR (same as Tivo). With DVR we can watch the Hills in 22 minutes or the Simple Life in, well, 22 minutes. By the time an hour's passed we've almost watched 3 shows where we used to watch only 2.
#3 is that I no longer have video games. Haven't shot any MasterChiefs with my MasterChef since well before marriage. I haven't played Super Mario Brothers since my college days. My video game days are not over. I'm just on an unwanted and unnecessary hiatus. I actually received two games for getting married: The Godfather (thanks George) and Call of Duty 2 (thanks K-Hink and E.T.).
Nevertheless, a junky I am not. In fact, I'm going to run right now, even though it's almost 11 p.m. and remember folks - it's fat free ice cream.
Saturday, July 22, 2006
"3 ooh it's the magic number"
Today was Friday and a day that Shannon was in town, thus a good day. We went to Benihanas and Coldstone and You, Me, and Dupree out of respect for Shannon's visit. For those who might not check Facebook, here's my new profile pic.
Thanks to Berg for au naturale and Phil for the extra Brows!
Thursday, July 20, 2006
"Where we should be for now"
The last breakfast before the Rogenberg Wedding on June 24...then we had our first supper. Maybe we can post that tomorrow.
We honestly had no idea that Philip was there. I love that guy.
They're together again at last. Tonight we have our first guest with us. Yea. Shannon Alien Sharp decided to visit Novi, Michigan and take off work tomorrow...which was a total surprise to Lisa. She had a good old-fashioned jaw drop. And Shannon rocks. She had Reeces and Flowers for a housewarming gift. Take notes, friends. You do want to out-do each other right?
Today was Office Outing day so we went to a Tigers game and had an open bar and food bookending the event and $15 worth of anything in the park...so I got a nice Tigers ball cap for practically free ($10), but it'd be $20 anywhere so it was still cool. I left the bar at like 6:15 and the party was still going strong, but I had to get home to Miss Rogers and Shannon. Anyway I felt guilty for not driving anybody home. I would've offered, but I didn't really want to wait around until they were done. There was even talk of karaoke. So it could have gone all night. I guess I'll find out tomorrow. Lisa will get the rest of the Polaroids up for y'all too. We just got a scanner and are working on it. Thank Wilbe for the awesome Polaroids. That guy rocks. He is the King. Happy last night at Target, Wilbs.
Monday, July 17, 2006
"All these places feel like home"
If you have 2 minutes click on this: http://zachbraff.com/ then go to the part that says Last Kiss Trailer and click on it and press play. The movie looks awesome. Which could actually be a bad thing, because with Zach B. in it I'm already assuming it's awesome. Well I know the soundtrack's awesome too. So basically, I'm stoked. Oh yeah, it's written by Paul Haggis too, who is golden (Million Dollar Baby, Crash...and one of the creators of Walker Texas Ranger...) Simply golden.
Enough of that. Tomorrow is back to work, bright and early. Week 2. The good news is Wednesday is off-site client meeting day, which will go quickly and Thursday is Tigers baseball game day, which should be a good time to meet a few people and take it easy for a day.
Before you know it the weekend will role around again. I honestly think I'm going to like this job though, which I'm very happy about.
Well we made some progress on cleaning up today. One step at a time. We'll be there before you know it and probably be packing up to move onto the next place. But I guess by next year (if we decide to move into a house or condo) we'll be experienced movers so it will go smoother right? I hope y'all squeezed in some ice cream before midnight as according to Mr. Ricky it was National Ice Cream Day. I had a big bowl with some of Lisa's super-delicious brownies on the side.
Watching: lots of South Park these days
Listening to: Chocolate by Snow Patrol (because it's on the Last Kiss Soundtrack)
Reading: Escape from Alcatraz and Restoring Your Spiritual Passion (two completely separate books)
Enough of that. Tomorrow is back to work, bright and early. Week 2. The good news is Wednesday is off-site client meeting day, which will go quickly and Thursday is Tigers baseball game day, which should be a good time to meet a few people and take it easy for a day.
Before you know it the weekend will role around again. I honestly think I'm going to like this job though, which I'm very happy about.
Well we made some progress on cleaning up today. One step at a time. We'll be there before you know it and probably be packing up to move onto the next place. But I guess by next year (if we decide to move into a house or condo) we'll be experienced movers so it will go smoother right? I hope y'all squeezed in some ice cream before midnight as according to Mr. Ricky it was National Ice Cream Day. I had a big bowl with some of Lisa's super-delicious brownies on the side.
Watching: lots of South Park these days
Listening to: Chocolate by Snow Patrol (because it's on the Last Kiss Soundtrack)
Reading: Escape from Alcatraz and Restoring Your Spiritual Passion (two completely separate books)
Sunday, July 16, 2006
"Standing on a building I am a lightning rod"
So one week of work is down. Most of the week was spent reading materials and participating in conference calls with another new hire or two. Actually the gal that's in Cincinatti. A lot of reading and frankly not all that exciting. I did get a few free lunches, which was great. Also on Friday, the office leader bought smoothies for everyone, so that was cool....seems like a great atmosphere for work. People seem to get along pretty well etc.
Well my boss works from home on Fridays, so on Friday she asked me to handle something for her, which made my not too exciting week very interesting all of a sudden. I was on the phone with a client and acting as the go between with a layout person in Chicago who was trying to get the materials to us. At the end of the day this role and project was similar to what I used to do at the School 'o Business so that was cool. I have a bit of experience with it and don't feel to overwhelmed. But I did think for a bit that I might be working past 6 on Friday. Instead I got to bring some work home with me for the weekend. Not too fun, but potentially a norm, so I guess I'd better get used to it. This weekend only a couple of hours, so not too bad. And it's also helpful that I'm getting paid for it.
After a day of unpacking and shopping for a few more essentials (like our brand new 19" flatscreen monitor...to replace the ancient and supersmall hand-me-down from Josh + it was only going to be $70 after we used our gift card from a bunch of the guys at Best Buy, but unfortunately we couldn't find it...which I guess means I'll just put it towards on XBox 360 when I do find it, right?) it's time to pack it in for the night (please see pre-parenthesis to make sense of that last in-between parenthetical phrases phrase).
Goodnight and thanks for all the comments. Miss y'all.
Currently Listening to the new Guster CD: Ganging up on the Sun - got to get ready for the show!
Well my boss works from home on Fridays, so on Friday she asked me to handle something for her, which made my not too exciting week very interesting all of a sudden. I was on the phone with a client and acting as the go between with a layout person in Chicago who was trying to get the materials to us. At the end of the day this role and project was similar to what I used to do at the School 'o Business so that was cool. I have a bit of experience with it and don't feel to overwhelmed. But I did think for a bit that I might be working past 6 on Friday. Instead I got to bring some work home with me for the weekend. Not too fun, but potentially a norm, so I guess I'd better get used to it. This weekend only a couple of hours, so not too bad. And it's also helpful that I'm getting paid for it.
After a day of unpacking and shopping for a few more essentials (like our brand new 19" flatscreen monitor...to replace the ancient and supersmall hand-me-down from Josh + it was only going to be $70 after we used our gift card from a bunch of the guys at Best Buy, but unfortunately we couldn't find it...which I guess means I'll just put it towards on XBox 360 when I do find it, right?) it's time to pack it in for the night (please see pre-parenthesis to make sense of that last in-between parenthetical phrases phrase).
Goodnight and thanks for all the comments. Miss y'all.
Currently Listening to the new Guster CD: Ganging up on the Sun - got to get ready for the show!
Thursday, July 13, 2006
"We were merely freshmen"
Not to be overdramatic, but it's odd moving away when no one seems to want you to go, and your wife doesn't want to go, but you think it's the right thing to do. You think it's progress. You think it's a step forward instead of a step sideways. Here comes the overdramatic part, but it's odd to think of our great great grandparents who not that long ago came across the ocean, some with little thought of ever returning home. They came because of opportunity, which is what brought us to Detroit. But the sad part is the thought that financial / social / etc. opportunity or stepping forward might not really be a step forward. Is it better to step forward by rejecting what society (or anyone over the age 0f 25 [besides Andy Eck] says you'd be a fool not to do)...to step forward by staying and not going?
These are thoughts that I have. Not to say, I regret that we're in Detroit. I regret not having my friends around. I regret feeling sad for doing what I feel is the right thing. I'm going to love this job. I really do think so. It's what I've wanted to do since last summer, before I even knew that this specific type of job in the Consulting industry existed. I feel bad for Rogers because she doesn't want to be here too much, but she's good to come and put her interests aside. Some things would have been easier if we'd stayed, but some things would have been harder to.
So this is not a fun update, but it's an update on a frequent state of mind. If you're in the viewing area of these words, don't be a stranger. We'd love to show you the Novi ropes. The best way to describe where we live for those whom I haven't talked to, is like a Castleton type of area. There's shopping and restaurants about 10 minutes in most directions. Lisa hasn't even been to Detroit yet. I might try to show her the office sometime soon though. Tomorrow night: Date Night. Have fun and give a toast in our absence! Love, Berg Ros Rosenbagger Shlozzendonger Andrew
These are thoughts that I have. Not to say, I regret that we're in Detroit. I regret not having my friends around. I regret feeling sad for doing what I feel is the right thing. I'm going to love this job. I really do think so. It's what I've wanted to do since last summer, before I even knew that this specific type of job in the Consulting industry existed. I feel bad for Rogers because she doesn't want to be here too much, but she's good to come and put her interests aside. Some things would have been easier if we'd stayed, but some things would have been harder to.
So this is not a fun update, but it's an update on a frequent state of mind. If you're in the viewing area of these words, don't be a stranger. We'd love to show you the Novi ropes. The best way to describe where we live for those whom I haven't talked to, is like a Castleton type of area. There's shopping and restaurants about 10 minutes in most directions. Lisa hasn't even been to Detroit yet. I might try to show her the office sometime soon though. Tomorrow night: Date Night. Have fun and give a toast in our absence! Love, Berg Ros Rosenbagger Shlozzendonger Andrew
"We won't stop til we get underpants"
Hello friends. After a prolonged silence, I am back. I feel like an infamous terrorist or something with that sentence. So much to talk about, so little time to do it. But the good news is, I've got the internet again and since my last post I've also gotten a wife and a job and an apartment and a vacation and a whole lot of things to go into the penultimate item in that list. I've also got a couple of new blogs to read thanks to my two good girl-friends Lisa Ann and Shannon www.xanga.com/lisarosenberg and http://www.xanga.com/ssharper respectively. You all have already found it anyway. So I guess I need to join xanga so I can finally post on Wilb's and Par's blog as well as my new xanga buddies and not to mention Andrea. I've been trolling their blogs for ages.
Anyway: Marriage = exciting / interesting / odd feeling at times / fun / lots of laughing / lots of ice-cream / good times
Job = feeling lost / sometimes board / tired / interesting / learning a lot / seems like it's going to be challenging and fun / seems like it will pay well in a couple of years (it does now too, but I've got a wife and all of a sudden a bunch of bills...boooo)
Novi, MI = awesome / lonely / tons of shopping / commercialized / affluent / no hacienda / no friends / nice place / Macaroni Grill, Chilis, Carabas, Bennihanas, On the Boarder, etc. (all within 10 min.) / Coldstone 10 - 15 min. in any direction!!!!!!
So that's the quick run down. It definately is an odd adjustment to be in a new place with no friends around except my wonderful wife who takes good care of me. I miss you guys a lot and can't wait for many mutual visits we'll be in A-town monthly at least I think, and hopefully a couple or a bunch of you can make it up every so often. It's only 4 hours, which is twice as far as Brian's Cincinnati, but we offer twice the friends to visit!!!! So it's worth it.
Time to got to sleep. 6:40 a.m. sucks. Earliest I've been up since high school. booo!
Currently listening to: Keane / Eminem (he's Detroit you know) / Jack Johnson (all the way up California's coast baby)
Currently watching: Big Brother All-Stars / Hills / America's Got Talent / Arrested Development / South Park.
So spread the word that I'm back on and leave comments folks, because I haven't gotten too many calls from y'all (although Squatch did invite me to play basketball on Monday, which I tried to make it back for, but they had just quit) so I need comments.
The title of this blog post was brought to you by South Park. Anyone remember the first two lines of that stanza in the song? Then the post title might make more sense. Cheers.
Anyway: Marriage = exciting / interesting / odd feeling at times / fun / lots of laughing / lots of ice-cream / good times
Job = feeling lost / sometimes board / tired / interesting / learning a lot / seems like it's going to be challenging and fun / seems like it will pay well in a couple of years (it does now too, but I've got a wife and all of a sudden a bunch of bills...boooo)
Novi, MI = awesome / lonely / tons of shopping / commercialized / affluent / no hacienda / no friends / nice place / Macaroni Grill, Chilis, Carabas, Bennihanas, On the Boarder, etc. (all within 10 min.) / Coldstone 10 - 15 min. in any direction!!!!!!
So that's the quick run down. It definately is an odd adjustment to be in a new place with no friends around except my wonderful wife who takes good care of me. I miss you guys a lot and can't wait for many mutual visits we'll be in A-town monthly at least I think, and hopefully a couple or a bunch of you can make it up every so often. It's only 4 hours, which is twice as far as Brian's Cincinnati, but we offer twice the friends to visit!!!! So it's worth it.
Time to got to sleep. 6:40 a.m. sucks. Earliest I've been up since high school. booo!
Currently listening to: Keane / Eminem (he's Detroit you know) / Jack Johnson (all the way up California's coast baby)
Currently watching: Big Brother All-Stars / Hills / America's Got Talent / Arrested Development / South Park.
So spread the word that I'm back on and leave comments folks, because I haven't gotten too many calls from y'all (although Squatch did invite me to play basketball on Monday, which I tried to make it back for, but they had just quit) so I need comments.
The title of this blog post was brought to you by South Park. Anyone remember the first two lines of that stanza in the song? Then the post title might make more sense. Cheers.
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