February 2006

It's 2006, a decade after the internet boom, and Matt Stayner, once hip and on top of the technology world, is finally blogging. Oh, and I own an iPod too, am I cool or what?

Here I am at 11,000 feet on Mt. Whitney July 2005. That's my "tent". I summited not (I get high altitude sickness at around 10,500), and since I have a 1% tolerance for pain, well, that is as high as I went. Cool picture though!

Life is fat, literally. I weigh 212 now, down from 214 at the beginning of the year. My goal is to lose 2 pounds a months this year. Yesterday we watched the Super Bowl (Pittsburg vs. Seattle) at our home on 82nd Street in Westchester. The SoCal "Stayners" were in tow, mom & dad, Liz & Alex Kopayghora (the newlyweds) and the Phelps (Rachel, Ryan & Mia). Of course my beautiful wife Kay, and son Zachary were there also. I probably gained back those 2 pounds yesterday, so my goal is to lose 4 pounds this month. That's me snoozing at the Neutrogena, IM BBQ. Tech nerds can be so boring.

I am busy as an Analyst at Neutrogena, working for NCS in the Networking & Computing Services division. I like my job, especially since Johnson & Johnson (it's confusing I know), is paying for my graduate school education. Um, wait, don't I already have a graduate degree? Well, yes, still have the MA from NYU in French, and the 2 1/2 years of PHd Studies at UCLA. But this degree has real career potential. I'm in my 2nd semester at Loyola Marymount University in Westchester, in B school. That's right, MBA. Just like the old man, and bros in law Andy, Josh & John.

I still surf, but not as often as I'd like. The key to life right now is "balance". Balance between work, family, school, church, sports, etc. Here is my favorite picture in the world. Talk about priceless. This is Zach's very first day of school. He is 2 years, 9 months old, starting Pre-School at Covenant Presbyterian in September 2003. And that's Kay, the most beautiful woman in the world. Good thing Zach looks like his mother! Zach loves to wrestle, play baseball, army solider. He is a really bright kid and is learning how to read. He starts Kindergarten in the fall. Kay is working part-time as a Research Analyst as Cedars Sinai Medical Center, and has worked there for the past five years. This year will be our tenth year anniversary!