First Time, Long Time

// It’s my first post on The Stream after being a long-time reader. So let’s get to it. What am I bringing to the table? I don’t have the writing abilities or humor of Mike. I’m more of a numbers guy. I probably won’t delve into my personal life and show you the inner workings of a major corporation like Kevin. And I certainly don’t have the knack for finding high-quality video clips like Brian. Thus, I won’t be the guy to put The Stream on this list, but I’ll help pass the time in between their posts. And bring some flavor along the way.

// How did I get here? Well, I grew up with the three guys on Grosse Ile and spoke the GINV. Then college happened and I enjoyed every bit of the ride. But after those days were over, I was at a crossroads. I decided it was time to relocate to a new city and see what the rest of America had to offer.

// I was out of college at 22 and outside of a short stint in Europe, I was living with my parents. Sidenote: I’m never living in Europe again...God bless the red, white, and blue. Anyway, I was worried that the living-with-my-parents situation could become a slippery slope. Fast forward eight years and would I still be that single 30-year old guy living in the bedroom I grew up in?

// A recent survey from the AARP discovered that one-fourth of the Generation X-ers (i.e. so-called slackers), those 28 to 39 years old, receive financial help from family and friends. That is not acceptable. Don’t turn to dad for a handout…get a job. I tip my cap to the guy who’s 25, earning a decent wage, and saving rent money by taking shelter with his parents. Times are tough right now. The job market is lousy. The economy is slumping while we’re in the midst of a credit crunch. We all have to scale back. But…once you hit 30, the coupon expires. You can no longer accept the parents offer to live in the basement and watch Entourage at 2am while dad pays the cable bill. It’s time to lick your wounds and save some cabbage to get your own pad. If you’re 27-28 years old, I’ll give ya a mulligan. But when the 30th birthday strikes, stop being lazy and get out.


// I got out early. I’m living in Chicago. My job pays the rent and I’m scraping by. The city life is cool, but the sports teams reek. I love to remind my co-workers of Detroit's recent success. They all say I’m living in the past, but…hell with ‘em. So, where to from here? Not exactly sure, but add my beloved Detroit sports teams to my friends in SE Michigan and I’ll be back one day. Just not in my parents’ house.