Five Years...

Five years. This is a huge moment and milestone in my career. I am proud to work for a company that continues to innovate the way Apple does. I have grown more than I thought possible over the last half decade both personally and professionally. I am humbled, honored and lucky to have found a place where I feel challenged and appreciated daily. A collaboration like this is hard to find.

When I walked through the doors for the first time I was looking for a steady paycheck. Since then I have moved to across the country and back again. I have been encouraged to take on numerous roles throughout the years and coached along the way. Through these opportunities, I have sharpened life-long skills that make me a better person. I have made life long friends along the way that have no idea how much they mean to me. Thank you all.

This journey is just beginning. I am a true believer in you get what you give. The second I started treating my employment like I gave a damn, I got more. The more I gave, the more satisfaction and opportunity I got. I am also a believer in mentorship along the way. Thanks to anyone who poured into me over the last few years and I hope that one day I can pay you back for all you have done for me.

This accomplishment an awesome moment in my life, and I look forward to what the future brings.

-YourFriendMatt

Playlist Friday...

Let's travel back. Way back. All the way back to high school and the emotional tunes that shaped our route to art class. This playlist has it all. Sunny Day Real Estate? Check. Dashboard? Check. The Promise Ring?! Check. Sit back and enjoy!

Happy Playlist Friday!

Stopped by my buddy Steve's house...

"Do those signs say no trespassing?" I whispered. "Well, I mean, it can't be trespassing if I am just walking down the street right?"

A few years ago I hated technology, couldn't stand it. (Honestly, still not the biggest fan). The thought of typing on a keyboard and the frustration that comes when your computer isn't doing exactly what you want it to do in 10 seconds was enough for me to stay completely away from them. I had a dumb phone and I thought the internet was an evil place, mainly because I didn't understand it. And I was right...the internet can be an evil, dark, weird, scary place if you look in the wrong spots, you weirdo's. That all sort of changed when I got my first iPhone a few years back. The ease of use and craftsmanship that came went into every feature, button and app hooked me. I guess I drank the Kool-Aid and became a part of the worldwide cult.

Last weekend Jamie and I went up to San Francisco to visit with some friends and venture around a new city we haven't explored. We took he scenic route up the Pacific Coast Highway along the golden pacific coast on our way. It added about 3 hours to our trip so on our way back we decided to take the direct route back to Los Angeles. One scenic drive, and 8 hours in a car accompanied by our small dog, is enough for any road trip. Typically when we are driving around America, especially in a new city, we will do some research to see if there are any off-the-beaten-track attractions for us to check out. When we were driving through Cupertino on our way home, we used the RoadTrippers app to see if there was anything around that we could check out quickly for fun and get back on the road. "Steve Jobs Childhood Home" was the first thing that populated and it was .05 miles from us on the highway. So, we pulled over to check it out. 

I guess they had just wrapped up filming for the latest Jobs' movie because the small town was still in a buzz, but there were not cameras or film crews to be seen. As we pulled onto the neighborhood street I couldn't help but think "This is just a regular neighborhood." I guess when things seem bigger than life you expect them to be this grand experience. But, all the world's most famous people, leaders or your role models...are just that, people. They all came from some neighborhood somewhere.

We did a quick drive-by of the house and there we signs all over the street and front yard stating the house is under "surveillance" and "no photo please." Pfft. I can't help it if I take a photo from the street and your house happens to be in the background. We quickly jumped out of the car, ran down the street, got into position, snapped the photo and ran away like we had just played ding-dong-ditch (that game you play as a kid ringing someones doorbell, running away as fast as possible and then hiding behind something to see if they answer the door, such fun). Jamie took a bunch of great pictures and obviously in this day and age where instant gratification is a must we reviewed them while sitting in the car before we took off from this quiet neighborhood.

I love traveling and I love my phone. I use this technology to stay in touch with my family across the country. It's friggin' awesome.

Remember, when there is a sign that says don't take photos, pretend like you didn't see it.

Yo. I can’t read good...

There ain’t no shame in my game. I went to the reading trailer in middle school. You know, that tan trailer on wheels out back of the ‘real' school where they took the four or five students per grade that were…linguistically challenged. The place I learned how to say and read the word ‘vegetable’ as VAG-EH-TAB-EL. "Short ‘A’ sound Matthew and you almost have it.” The blonde language arts teacher endlessly wearing a navy sweater turtle neck would say. Emphasis on the almost. This was after weeks of work. "I fink I am wewwy startin' to get it." I would say in response as she made a sign of the cross and rolled her eyes. I was brought up Catholic.

I don't hate reading, never have. I actually love it, but when I was younger, I guess it was harder for me. As an adult (kind of) now I try to read as much as possible. There is even an alarm on my phone that goes off daily so I can make a point to try to find a half hour a day to read. Take that brain! And School! You'll never get the best of me!

I recently did an experiment to see how many words I read per minute now as a semi-function citizen of this beautiful America society. I thought it would be way harder to figure out. After googling for about 6 seconds I found a website that offers reading test for free, Staples.com. Sure, why not? The place that sells the Easy Button also provides thorough aptitude test for reading competency...for free? Sure, why not?

As it turns out I read at 237 words per minute. Which, if you can't deduce by the bold letters on the tablet shaped graph included above that clocks me in at 5% slower than the national average. Me can't read good...according to Staples extensive online testing. Welp, there goes the rest of my confidence. That's right, I am worst at reading than an average 8th grader. It says so on the tablet graph above. Go check.

I included the link below if any of you are interested it this the comprehensive analysis. Let me know how you do!

Can you read good? Click here to see...

-YourFriendMatt

Accidents Happen...

 "FUCK! THAT'S A LOT OF BLOOD!" She yelled. 'Remains calm under pressure' is not something stated on her resume.

Jamie had just cooked us a delicious pasta dinner. She cooks and I clean. It's how it works for us. And I have no problem with it. I eat well. After we engorged ourselves with rigatoni it was time for me to get the dishes done. I went to put the spices Jamie used away in our pantry and as I opened the cabinet door another spice bottle fell out tumbling to the ground. Normal and no big deal. I shut the cabinet door of our pantry (or so I thought) bent over to get the bottle and as I came back up BAM! I clipped the corner of the cabinet door that was now open unbeknownst to me. I hit the door so hard it knocked me back spilling the spices I was holding all over the floor. I put my hand to my head instinctually rubbing my injury. When I took my had off my head it was covered in blood and I could feel the top of head getting warm. I have never seen anything like this before on my life but I cocked my head and blood started pouring out to the floor like someone had turned on a faucet.

"Jamie!" I cry. She was on the couch Pinterest-ing on her iPad. She looked up from the flower arrangements and recipes glowing on her screen and responded with a quick "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?"  like I intentionally cut my head open to piss her off. "Oh, ya know, my normal 8:30 bleed-from-the-head routine, no big deal." I said sarcastically "Get me a towel!" I was now on one knee worried I would pass out from blood lose... if I was going to pass out I didn't want to fall that far. Head injuries are now joke. I can't believe how much blood flowed onto the floor. Jamie grabbed the roll of paper towels ripping a handful off and throwing them to me as fast as she could "OH MY GOD YOU ARE GOING TO DIE! SHOULD I CALL AN AMBULANCE! ARE YOU GOING TO DIE? THATS IT! I AM CALLING MY MOM!" She yelled so quickly it could be mistaken for one long incoherent run-on sentence. "Calm down. Relax." I ordered as I pulled the paper towel from my head "It's nothing, just a flesh wound..." I trailed off as more blood spilled on the floor and I reach for more paper towels.

Quick! Take my picture!

Jamie called her mom and I sat down on the floor. Not because I was light headed (pun intended) but because if anymore blood was going to spill on the floor I'd rather it was on linoleum. "MY MOM SAYS TO APPLY PRESSURE!" I heard from the other room. "What the hell did she think I was doing?" echoed in my head. At this point what else could I do? Yep, might as well grab a beer.

...HighLife or no life...

After a while the blood slowed to a stop and our night came to an end. Jamie and I agreed I should stay up a while just in case I had a concussion. I called my mother before bed for support and to fill her in on what was going on in my life. What better time than right now while my head is spewing blood? I woke up this morning feeling fine besides a minor headache.

Remember when all else fail...beer will solve everything.