Brilliant!
A single person living alone generally doesn't go through a full loaf of bread without it spoiling or having to freeze some of it. Ah, but yesterday I found it at the store...a mini-loaf of bread! Half the size!
Finally, some help from the grocers!
It probably won't last. I may never find them again, but here's to hoping.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Monday, February 26, 2007
You don't have to
You don't have to put it out there for everyone to see. You shared it with me and that was enough. Thanks you.
Looking forward to the next thought you have to write (especially if it turns into something about living in a shoe named Ritz)...
Looking forward to the next thought you have to write (especially if it turns into something about living in a shoe named Ritz)...
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Beginnings and Endings
I can't stand Stephen Covey's books and his 7 habits. One of the tidbits that did stick with me from his premier book is this...
Begin with the end in mind.
While that concept was nothing terribly new to me, it was the most applicable and relevant of his not-new concepts that I read and I've applied it in a good many things...mostly at work, but some personal stuff too. It applies in a great many areas. In any case, that's old news. It's what happens when I begin a good many things.
Anywho, I was watching Mr. & Mrs. Smith for the first time on my recently re-acquired digitally broadcasted HBO tonight and heard a line I liked about endings. Forgive me if it's not an exact quote...
When you're at the end, you start thinking about the beginning.
For me, that's very true. When I come upon the end of something, regardless of whether it's a favorable ending or less than, I tend to think about how it started. Relationships. Sports seasons. Races. Projects at work. On new year's eve my buddy and I are thinking about how we started the year. When I move out I think about when I moved in. The end of school years I thought about the first time I saw the students.
Now that I'm aware of this tendency I'm afraid to start anything. If I begin with the end in mind, and I know that in the end I'm going to be thinking about the beginning...well, insert feedback loop here. I don't want my brain to melt out my ears as I'm picturing myself thinking about picturing myself thinking.
Begin with the end in mind.
While that concept was nothing terribly new to me, it was the most applicable and relevant of his not-new concepts that I read and I've applied it in a good many things...mostly at work, but some personal stuff too. It applies in a great many areas. In any case, that's old news. It's what happens when I begin a good many things.
Anywho, I was watching Mr. & Mrs. Smith for the first time on my recently re-acquired digitally broadcasted HBO tonight and heard a line I liked about endings. Forgive me if it's not an exact quote...
When you're at the end, you start thinking about the beginning.
For me, that's very true. When I come upon the end of something, regardless of whether it's a favorable ending or less than, I tend to think about how it started. Relationships. Sports seasons. Races. Projects at work. On new year's eve my buddy and I are thinking about how we started the year. When I move out I think about when I moved in. The end of school years I thought about the first time I saw the students.
Now that I'm aware of this tendency I'm afraid to start anything. If I begin with the end in mind, and I know that in the end I'm going to be thinking about the beginning...well, insert feedback loop here. I don't want my brain to melt out my ears as I'm picturing myself thinking about picturing myself thinking.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
A bad Twilight Zone episode
I turned on my cable box to watch me some free HBO only to find out that the single channel I now receive is 94 (which didn't previously exist). And the feed that's displayed on channel 94 is PBS.
Getting more than you paid for is the good. Not getting what you paid for is the suck. Getting nothing Bronk paid for make Bronk maaaaad!
Getting more than you paid for is the good. Not getting what you paid for is the suck. Getting nothing Bronk paid for make Bronk maaaaad!
Teaching without teaching
I'm a good teacher. Present tense. And yes, banking is currently my profession. But I'm still a good teacher.
I found out that my alma mater is using my student teaching videos as something of a case study for "what to do," and that one of my former high school English students is now in the education program where I graduated. One of her assignments was to watch me teach. I called the school and asked them to exempt her from it since she'd already watched me for months. This was after the fact so it's not like my request had any impact (doubt that it would have had any even if it was prior to).
Then the Dean of Education asked me to give a guest lecture to the students in the College of Education sometime in March or April. Me. Guest lecturer. That's cooooool!!! In a dorky sort of way, yes, but still cool.
I'm a good teacher.
I found out that my alma mater is using my student teaching videos as something of a case study for "what to do," and that one of my former high school English students is now in the education program where I graduated. One of her assignments was to watch me teach. I called the school and asked them to exempt her from it since she'd already watched me for months. This was after the fact so it's not like my request had any impact (doubt that it would have had any even if it was prior to).
Then the Dean of Education asked me to give a guest lecture to the students in the College of Education sometime in March or April. Me. Guest lecturer. That's cooooool!!! In a dorky sort of way, yes, but still cool.
I'm a good teacher.
The non-typical man
I realize I'm not your average bear in most any sense of the term as applied to modern American society. I was both an athlete and a performing artist. A Marine and connoisseur of role-playing games. I have a stuffed dog on my entertainment center and a collection of shot glasses. I've worn hats ranging between baseball caps to snowboard hats to fedoras and everything in between - to work. I love both show tunes and action movies.
I'm not typical and I know this, so it comes as no surprise when others make mention of it.
What I didn't know, however, is just how non-typical I am. I recently came across this little list of the top 15 men's fears according to Men's Health magazine. Of these 15, 12 seemed serious (look at the list and you'll see what I mean). Of these 12, only 4 or 5 apply to me. One that does apply is my father dying; one that definitely does not apply is fear of hair in the drain.
Then I see another similar article on what girls should get for their guys on Valentines Day. It says that I should have received a big ol' movie poster to hang in my office, a scalp massage, a gift cert to a hardware store, a gift cert to a sports place, and a hot lather machine for shaving. Only 1.5 ideas of that list are things that I'd want at all, and neither are things I'd want for Valentines. It'd be two, but there's not a razor I've found on this planet that can shave through my beard on a daily basis without ripping flesh and whisker out so no lather is necessary...'lectric razor for daily use, please. Oh, and it says I'm also supposed to hate Valentine's Day. I love it. Favorite holiday ever.
Now don't get me wrong - there are some things I'm VERY typical guy about. I'm a big fan of chicks, sex, sports, cars, electronics, things that blow up...stuff like that. I just have no desire for a 18 volt cordless drill. I cook, and cook pretty well. I clean and do laundry and iron. I've sewn a couple of my own pillowcases. I've painted. I've sang both punk and barbershop.
It probably has a lot to do with my folks. In most married households either the father or both the mom and dad work. My father is disabled. He could never teach me stuff like how to change the oil in my car or how to change a tire...I bought a book and learned myself. My aunt taught me how to throw a football as well as everything I needed to know about microbiology, cellular structure, DNA/nucleotides, etc. Mom wasn't around much in the evenings so I had to cook dinner and clean. It just wasn't typical.
And neither am I.
I'm not typical and I know this, so it comes as no surprise when others make mention of it.
What I didn't know, however, is just how non-typical I am. I recently came across this little list of the top 15 men's fears according to Men's Health magazine. Of these 15, 12 seemed serious (look at the list and you'll see what I mean). Of these 12, only 4 or 5 apply to me. One that does apply is my father dying; one that definitely does not apply is fear of hair in the drain.
Then I see another similar article on what girls should get for their guys on Valentines Day. It says that I should have received a big ol' movie poster to hang in my office, a scalp massage, a gift cert to a hardware store, a gift cert to a sports place, and a hot lather machine for shaving. Only 1.5 ideas of that list are things that I'd want at all, and neither are things I'd want for Valentines. It'd be two, but there's not a razor I've found on this planet that can shave through my beard on a daily basis without ripping flesh and whisker out so no lather is necessary...'lectric razor for daily use, please. Oh, and it says I'm also supposed to hate Valentine's Day. I love it. Favorite holiday ever.
Now don't get me wrong - there are some things I'm VERY typical guy about. I'm a big fan of chicks, sex, sports, cars, electronics, things that blow up...stuff like that. I just have no desire for a 18 volt cordless drill. I cook, and cook pretty well. I clean and do laundry and iron. I've sewn a couple of my own pillowcases. I've painted. I've sang both punk and barbershop.
It probably has a lot to do with my folks. In most married households either the father or both the mom and dad work. My father is disabled. He could never teach me stuff like how to change the oil in my car or how to change a tire...I bought a book and learned myself. My aunt taught me how to throw a football as well as everything I needed to know about microbiology, cellular structure, DNA/nucleotides, etc. Mom wasn't around much in the evenings so I had to cook dinner and clean. It just wasn't typical.
And neither am I.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Testify, President. Testify...
"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem."
--Ronald Reagan
--Ronald Reagan
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Mildly surreal
I'm here in my new living room, my new apartment, my new home.
I have a home. That's just weird to me.
I hate moving to the point where I throw myself at it until either it's done or I exhaust myself in the process. None of this taking weeks to pack and prepare. Screw that. If my moves take more than 24 total clock hours then something has gone seriously wrong. It also means that I pass out because I can't do it any more...and yes, I've found this out from experience. I've moved 17 times in 29 years, only 4 of which were family moves (I don't count the military moves because I didn't have to pack up the entirety of my possessions). The rest were just me, and I've got it down to a science.
This time, from starting to pack the first box to moving the final box into the new place, the total clock time was a little more than 19 hrs. which included buying and building an entertainment center. It would have been a little longer but this time I had 4 sets of hands moving instead of the usual 2 sets, and to those folks who helped I'm highly grateful.
They say that something always breaks in a move. I've never had anything broken.
I haven't left the apartment since I arrived on Sat. morning around 8am. What's more strange is that I haven't watched a single minute of Sportscenter. Instead it's been filled with movies and stations I never ordered but have been mysteriously gifted with, albeit temporary, which brings me to my points of note...
- So far everyone's been impressed w/the apartment in spite of its few subtle (or not so subtle) quirks. The fact that it has quirks tells me I belong here. Joe liked it so much that he volunteered it for a poker night in March. We'll see if that happens.
- The cable box they gave me was programmed with a few extra channels - HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, the various Encore's, and some other package that I have no idea what to do with. What they DIDN'T give me, however, was internet. The tech had to come back out to adjust the signal or something.
- I have a couch now. I haven't had a couch since March of 04. It's cool. You can draw pictures on it with your fingers (seriously...it's cool). I had to jump up and down on the cushions for about 15 minutes in order to break them in which was something of an unusual sight in itself. Fifteen minutes of couch cushion DDR. Okay, enough about that.
- I haven't had wall hangings up since August of 05. Now my pennants are back up, as are my flags and Blues Brothers poster. It's nothing fancy, but it's mine. I do need to get something to hang over my entertainment center. I'd like a panoramic picture/poster of The Horseshoe or some other cool stadium where OSU wins a big game.
- With the exception of 2 kitchen boxes I'm completely unpacked.
- I don't need to go shopping for a bit because mom went kinda crazy at the store and bought me supplies for a week or so, plus all the cleaning supplies I need. She didn't check to see that I actually already had half the stuff she bought, but it wouldn't have mattered if she did. The stuff she bought was on sale...how is she supposed to pass up a sale?
- So yeah, no Sportscenter. It's been strictly movies for me, mostly on the premium channels. Last night I passed out in the middle of Goblet of Fire after about 80-90 minutes of it. I finished it today. Kinda dark. I watched Lost Boys which was a significant waste of time, but it was a vampire movie and a couple of my readers had mentioned it recently so I figured I owed it to them (Corey Haim AND Corey Feldman...I should have been drunk and high before I started watching). The Three Musketeers...Wedding Crashers...Napoleon Dynamite...stuff like that.
- My apartment has crown molding and a chair bar (or is it a rail...I can't remember). I didn't notice these, however. Joe pointed them out to me. Apparently they're good things. Eh. Shows what I know or care about. I'd be happy with four walls and a ceiling.
- I was exhausted the first night but didn't want to go to bed. It was a new location, and there was nobody else here. It wasn't scary or anything like that. No weird noises. Just empty-feeling. Really empty. I stayed up until I passed out on my new couch.
- It doesn't feel real yet. Maybe it's because I haven't been outside other than to take out the trash. Maybe it's because I haven't gotten anywhere close to starting a routine yet, particularly without having gone to work from here. It just feels like I'm staying in someone else's place. In fact, when I woke up after passing out last night I had no idea where I was for a few seconds.
- You're all welcome to come over! Hope to see you here soon...
I have a home. That's just weird to me.
I hate moving to the point where I throw myself at it until either it's done or I exhaust myself in the process. None of this taking weeks to pack and prepare. Screw that. If my moves take more than 24 total clock hours then something has gone seriously wrong. It also means that I pass out because I can't do it any more...and yes, I've found this out from experience. I've moved 17 times in 29 years, only 4 of which were family moves (I don't count the military moves because I didn't have to pack up the entirety of my possessions). The rest were just me, and I've got it down to a science.
This time, from starting to pack the first box to moving the final box into the new place, the total clock time was a little more than 19 hrs. which included buying and building an entertainment center. It would have been a little longer but this time I had 4 sets of hands moving instead of the usual 2 sets, and to those folks who helped I'm highly grateful.
They say that something always breaks in a move. I've never had anything broken.
I haven't left the apartment since I arrived on Sat. morning around 8am. What's more strange is that I haven't watched a single minute of Sportscenter. Instead it's been filled with movies and stations I never ordered but have been mysteriously gifted with, albeit temporary, which brings me to my points of note...
- So far everyone's been impressed w/the apartment in spite of its few subtle (or not so subtle) quirks. The fact that it has quirks tells me I belong here. Joe liked it so much that he volunteered it for a poker night in March. We'll see if that happens.
- The cable box they gave me was programmed with a few extra channels - HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, the various Encore's, and some other package that I have no idea what to do with. What they DIDN'T give me, however, was internet. The tech had to come back out to adjust the signal or something.
- I have a couch now. I haven't had a couch since March of 04. It's cool. You can draw pictures on it with your fingers (seriously...it's cool). I had to jump up and down on the cushions for about 15 minutes in order to break them in which was something of an unusual sight in itself. Fifteen minutes of couch cushion DDR. Okay, enough about that.
- I haven't had wall hangings up since August of 05. Now my pennants are back up, as are my flags and Blues Brothers poster. It's nothing fancy, but it's mine. I do need to get something to hang over my entertainment center. I'd like a panoramic picture/poster of The Horseshoe or some other cool stadium where OSU wins a big game.
- With the exception of 2 kitchen boxes I'm completely unpacked.
- I don't need to go shopping for a bit because mom went kinda crazy at the store and bought me supplies for a week or so, plus all the cleaning supplies I need. She didn't check to see that I actually already had half the stuff she bought, but it wouldn't have mattered if she did. The stuff she bought was on sale...how is she supposed to pass up a sale?
- So yeah, no Sportscenter. It's been strictly movies for me, mostly on the premium channels. Last night I passed out in the middle of Goblet of Fire after about 80-90 minutes of it. I finished it today. Kinda dark. I watched Lost Boys which was a significant waste of time, but it was a vampire movie and a couple of my readers had mentioned it recently so I figured I owed it to them (Corey Haim AND Corey Feldman...I should have been drunk and high before I started watching). The Three Musketeers...Wedding Crashers...Napoleon Dynamite...stuff like that.
- My apartment has crown molding and a chair bar (or is it a rail...I can't remember). I didn't notice these, however. Joe pointed them out to me. Apparently they're good things. Eh. Shows what I know or care about. I'd be happy with four walls and a ceiling.
- I was exhausted the first night but didn't want to go to bed. It was a new location, and there was nobody else here. It wasn't scary or anything like that. No weird noises. Just empty-feeling. Really empty. I stayed up until I passed out on my new couch.
- It doesn't feel real yet. Maybe it's because I haven't been outside other than to take out the trash. Maybe it's because I haven't gotten anywhere close to starting a routine yet, particularly without having gone to work from here. It just feels like I'm staying in someone else's place. In fact, when I woke up after passing out last night I had no idea where I was for a few seconds.
- You're all welcome to come over! Hope to see you here soon...
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Agreement fulfilled
Twelve months ago my mother asked me to continue living with them so that I could help take care of dad a little longer. Regardless of how easily we got along - or didn't - they've been as good of parents as anyone can hope to have and I felt like I owed it to them for the assistance they've provided me. Twelve more months it is, madre.
It's been a long twelve months. I wouldn't have made it to thirteen.
Looking back on it, I'm not sure if agreeing to that extra year was the right move. As of tomorrow, though, it doesn't matter. I will have kept my word and satisfied my agreement.
I'll be in my new apartment by the next time I post, crooked toilet and all (yes, it's crooked).
(But it won't be for long.)
It will be uncomfortable to live alone again to be sure, but I can't wait to get my life back.
It's been a long twelve months. I wouldn't have made it to thirteen.
Looking back on it, I'm not sure if agreeing to that extra year was the right move. As of tomorrow, though, it doesn't matter. I will have kept my word and satisfied my agreement.
I'll be in my new apartment by the next time I post, crooked toilet and all (yes, it's crooked).
(But it won't be for long.)
It will be uncomfortable to live alone again to be sure, but I can't wait to get my life back.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Happy Valentines Day!
Wooohooo!!! It's Valentines Day!!! Hope it's a great one for ya'! Here's just a couple fun facts for the day. According to Lifestyles Condoms...
- The average male spends $127/year on Valentines Day
- On average, 87 condoms will be used per second in America today.
PER SECOND!!! That's absolutely mind-boggling to me. Now consider that the majority of us are at work right now, so taking time zones into consideration there's a 6-8 hour window when the vast majority of those condoms are being used. OMG!
- The average male spends $127/year on Valentines Day
- On average, 87 condoms will be used per second in America today.
PER SECOND!!! That's absolutely mind-boggling to me. Now consider that the majority of us are at work right now, so taking time zones into consideration there's a 6-8 hour window when the vast majority of those condoms are being used. OMG!
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Finally some vindication
After all the media coverage about providing accounts to illegal immigrants (which, once again, was not a practice where I work) we finally see a little vindication and clarification on the subject. Talton is a well-respected journalist in the valley and, while the article isn't entirely without spin, provides a much more balanced and accurate account of things than was previously reported.
Strangely enough, Reuters recently reported on Bank of America offering credit card accounts to folks with no Social Security number. Note that this isn't necessarily illegal as people only have to have a taxpayer ID number, yet the article takes the liberty of editorializing on this and asserts that the majority of these people are illegal immigrants. Where this gets really hairy is that while respectable financial institutions take every effort to validate the legitimacy of the information and documentation applicants provide, they aren't the INS nor any other extension of law enforcement. The same is true of the post-secondary public school system - they are now being taxed with asking folks for for proof of citizenship even though the schools aren't trained in such measures.
The more I see stuff like this, the more I wonder if we're not moving closer to a world more like the one depicted in Children of Men. I sure hope it doesn't come to that by my faith in such matters does occasionally waiver.
Strangely enough, Reuters recently reported on Bank of America offering credit card accounts to folks with no Social Security number. Note that this isn't necessarily illegal as people only have to have a taxpayer ID number, yet the article takes the liberty of editorializing on this and asserts that the majority of these people are illegal immigrants. Where this gets really hairy is that while respectable financial institutions take every effort to validate the legitimacy of the information and documentation applicants provide, they aren't the INS nor any other extension of law enforcement. The same is true of the post-secondary public school system - they are now being taxed with asking folks for for proof of citizenship even though the schools aren't trained in such measures.
The more I see stuff like this, the more I wonder if we're not moving closer to a world more like the one depicted in Children of Men. I sure hope it doesn't come to that by my faith in such matters does occasionally waiver.
Monday, February 12, 2007
The Best
Number 1 in the world for 430 consecutive weeks. Tiger Woods has been the best for over 8 straight years.
Dominance. Sheer dominance.
And yet he's still only sponsored Buick (instead of a Honda, Acura, BMW, or something sexier) and is afraid of a little heckling from the fans. I guess even the best in their craft have their weaknesses.
If I were the best in my craft, I'd be sponsored by Chevy (specifically the Corvette - black with 5 coats of clear coat) and my weaknesses would be many.
Dominance. Sheer dominance.
And yet he's still only sponsored Buick (instead of a Honda, Acura, BMW, or something sexier) and is afraid of a little heckling from the fans. I guess even the best in their craft have their weaknesses.
If I were the best in my craft, I'd be sponsored by Chevy (specifically the Corvette - black with 5 coats of clear coat) and my weaknesses would be many.
Crooked
(Not to be confused with Wicked or Illegal)
I stood in my apartment for the first time on Sunday afternoon, and I'm rather pleased with it. New flooring, new paint, new appliances, full size refrigerator, strong water pressure, great hot water, etc. There are a couple of minor inconveniences but for the price and the size I'm pretty happy. There are only two things that need addressed.
One is minor - the light on the fixture in the patio needs replaced.
The other...well...
The water closet on the commode is way crooked. I mean seriously tilted, so much so that you can't help but laugh when you first see it.
Ima get that fixed. The toilet, not the laughter.
I stood in my apartment for the first time on Sunday afternoon, and I'm rather pleased with it. New flooring, new paint, new appliances, full size refrigerator, strong water pressure, great hot water, etc. There are a couple of minor inconveniences but for the price and the size I'm pretty happy. There are only two things that need addressed.
One is minor - the light on the fixture in the patio needs replaced.
The other...well...
The water closet on the commode is way crooked. I mean seriously tilted, so much so that you can't help but laugh when you first see it.
Ima get that fixed. The toilet, not the laughter.
It's starting to get real...
You may have heard or seen some press about a financial institution or institutions in AZ offering a special savings account for undocumented immigrants. It's not true. Let me just be clear on that one more time.
It's. Not. True.
The institution I work for doesn't offer any such product, nor does any other institution in the state. To do so would not only be unethical, but highly illegal and very much outside of CUNA regulations. What we are focusing a portion of our advertising on right now is a segment of the people out there that are undocumented workers (not immigrants as they don't live here) that have what's called a Matricula Consular. Basically it's a fancy right-to-work permit in the states, issued by the Mexican Consulate and commonly accepted for proof of identification for establishing new accounts at federally insured institutions. That, a taxpayer ID, and a little bit of money gets you an account where I work as well as any other major bank or credit union in the state. The reason they can access these accounts from Mexico is because THEY LIVE THERE AND THEY HAVE A DEBIT CARD!!! Duh!
The problem is that I'm using logic and rational thought right now. The press doesn't do so well with that and cares far more about spin than fact. People both locally and nationally have gone out of their mind over this with both immigration and right to privacy vs. terrorism debates being hot topics right now. At first folks just used nasty words. Then it escalated to violent threats. Over the weekend one commonly used banking facility was lightly vandalized in protest (no permanent damage or defacement). Employees are leaving where they work.
One misheard/misunderstood word irresponsibly reported in a regional publication turned into national backlash. And I get to watch it all happen up close and personal.
It's. Not. True.
The institution I work for doesn't offer any such product, nor does any other institution in the state. To do so would not only be unethical, but highly illegal and very much outside of CUNA regulations. What we are focusing a portion of our advertising on right now is a segment of the people out there that are undocumented workers (not immigrants as they don't live here) that have what's called a Matricula Consular. Basically it's a fancy right-to-work permit in the states, issued by the Mexican Consulate and commonly accepted for proof of identification for establishing new accounts at federally insured institutions. That, a taxpayer ID, and a little bit of money gets you an account where I work as well as any other major bank or credit union in the state. The reason they can access these accounts from Mexico is because THEY LIVE THERE AND THEY HAVE A DEBIT CARD!!! Duh!
The problem is that I'm using logic and rational thought right now. The press doesn't do so well with that and cares far more about spin than fact. People both locally and nationally have gone out of their mind over this with both immigration and right to privacy vs. terrorism debates being hot topics right now. At first folks just used nasty words. Then it escalated to violent threats. Over the weekend one commonly used banking facility was lightly vandalized in protest (no permanent damage or defacement). Employees are leaving where they work.
One misheard/misunderstood word irresponsibly reported in a regional publication turned into national backlash. And I get to watch it all happen up close and personal.
Negative
That's what the biopsy results were for Lenore, and I couldn't be happier. I don't hear that result enough.
I've known two people that have received this good news; one is a buddy of mine from college, the other is Lenore. Both were younger than 26.
Had the results been positive the cancer would very likely have been treatable but the effects of the treatment/surgery would have been life-changing. But no. Negative. No cancer.
F you, cancer. You lose this time.
I've known two people that have received this good news; one is a buddy of mine from college, the other is Lenore. Both were younger than 26.
Had the results been positive the cancer would very likely have been treatable but the effects of the treatment/surgery would have been life-changing. But no. Negative. No cancer.
F you, cancer. You lose this time.
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Roots
Ahhh, here's to simpler days...
Almost bought one today while waiting for the end of work. Pretty cheap, they are. I'm moving soon, though, so I'll save my money for that. Something's bound to come up in that whole process that I'll need money for.
Almost bought one today while waiting for the end of work. Pretty cheap, they are. I'm moving soon, though, so I'll save my money for that. Something's bound to come up in that whole process that I'll need money for.
Chemically-induced nausea
I seem to remember you saying a few weeks ago that you would never drink that much again...looks like your ol' stomach is wishing you would have listened to yourself!
Sorry man...I know it sucks to have to go to work like that but I know your co-workers appreciated it. You're a trooper! A nauseated, uncomfortable trooper, but a trooper nonetheless!
Sorry man...I know it sucks to have to go to work like that but I know your co-workers appreciated it. You're a trooper! A nauseated, uncomfortable trooper, but a trooper nonetheless!
Ugh...make it stop!!!
It's 3:20 PM. I've been here at work since 9AM and still have 4 hours to go. We haven't received a call in 70 minutes.
Soooo bored.
Please...make it stop! Make this day end!
Soooo bored.
Please...make it stop! Make this day end!
Thursday, February 08, 2007
Hey! Teacher! Leave those kids alone!
I taught high school English for a living right after I graduated from college. I was damn good at it, too. A slew of factors moved me back to banking after only a couple of years teaching, though, one of which is the current state of edu-political affairs in the state of Arizona.
The AIMS test is Arizona's high-stakes graduation exam. If you pass it, you can graduate assuming you pass your classes. If you don't, you can't. The test started off on the wrong foot, though (too difficult in some parts, too porous in others), and has devolved into a steaming pile of educational BS. A freakin' joke. I'm not opposed to the idea of holding kids to standards and having a high-stakes exam of some sort, but this is ridiculous.
Educators educate, and the majority of them do that pretty well. The government writes, enforces, and interprets laws, and some politicians do that well. Unfortunately the government is trying to educate and the educators have started trying to govern. That doesn't work so well...at least not for us here in AZ.
Sometimes I wish the public school system were run by private, not-for-profit companies...
The AIMS test is Arizona's high-stakes graduation exam. If you pass it, you can graduate assuming you pass your classes. If you don't, you can't. The test started off on the wrong foot, though (too difficult in some parts, too porous in others), and has devolved into a steaming pile of educational BS. A freakin' joke. I'm not opposed to the idea of holding kids to standards and having a high-stakes exam of some sort, but this is ridiculous.
Educators educate, and the majority of them do that pretty well. The government writes, enforces, and interprets laws, and some politicians do that well. Unfortunately the government is trying to educate and the educators have started trying to govern. That doesn't work so well...at least not for us here in AZ.
Sometimes I wish the public school system were run by private, not-for-profit companies...
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Real
As humans we have ways we memorialize folks. Some of us are dearly fond of pictures and take/display them for folks we love. Others use mementos and keep them near. Still others use people, introducing folks to their best friends and loved ones to be judged and deemed worthy or wanting. Most of us use some combination of these methods.
When you're memorialized, you by definition become more unforgettable. There becomes a more significant body of evidence that you existed in that person's life. You become more real.
Today I became more real when I met someone's mother. There was nothing fancy or formal about the meeting. Nothing fake. I was me and, as far as I can tell, she was her. But now she's seen me. Now I'm no longer electrons or light waves...now I'm more than just a voice in the background. Now I'm real.
And that, by far, is the coolest thing that's happened to me so far this year.
(To be even more clear, I actually met the 2nd mother as well, and nearly met the long-time friend. The mother even suggested we all have dinner some time! Sooo cool! Dinner or no dinner, it's just good to be more real :-) )
When you're memorialized, you by definition become more unforgettable. There becomes a more significant body of evidence that you existed in that person's life. You become more real.
Today I became more real when I met someone's mother. There was nothing fancy or formal about the meeting. Nothing fake. I was me and, as far as I can tell, she was her. But now she's seen me. Now I'm no longer electrons or light waves...now I'm more than just a voice in the background. Now I'm real.
And that, by far, is the coolest thing that's happened to me so far this year.
(To be even more clear, I actually met the 2nd mother as well, and nearly met the long-time friend. The mother even suggested we all have dinner some time! Sooo cool! Dinner or no dinner, it's just good to be more real :-) )
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
The Game
In college, I couldn't stand Payton Manning. He played for Tennessee who seemed to beat OSU in every big game and I'm just not kosher with that. When it came to must-win SEC games, though, he could never come through. So he was a choker when it counted most, but somehow beat my team for the best of the second-best.
In the NFL, I've been rooting for Payton since he arrived. Classy. Smart. Damn good. I dig it. It killed me that he consistently was kept out of the Superbowl for years because of the shortcomings on the other side of the ball...because of things he had absolutely no control over. This year they finally got it right, though, and the defense came through when they needed to. At the very least I wanted Manning to get his shot. He did, and he made the most of it.
One of the more famous quotes from this football season - and maybe in all of NFL history - is "They are who we thought they were!" Well, Grossman proved he was who he thought I was, and that's an inconsistent quarterback who becomes absolutely nothing better than mediocre at best when pressured in between his flashes of brilliance. He's from the same tree as Jake Plummer when it comes to football ability and consistency. I bet $25 that he would throw an interception that was returned for a touchdown, and my boy delivered. That was a $125 return, thank you very much. He's my favorite player!
Lovie Smith had success with the run, then put the ball into Grossman's hand. On third and 2? Really? I'm not a head coach and goodness knows I don't know what was going on down there on the sidelines. From my ignorant opinion, though, it seems like both the game situation and weather conditions lent themselves to the running game and Smith got away from it. Eh, who knows. Again, I'm no NFL head coach.
The Colts really put together a team effort. Payton had a good game...not great. Receivers did their best to get open when they needed to. Addai warmed them up, then Rhodes shut them down (this really reminded me of what they hoped Barber and Dayne could turn into). And their defense rattled the bears instead of the other way around. On the other hand Chicago just seemed to melt down on offense, got worn down on defense, but got down the damn field on special teams.
Devon Hester....sweet geebis, that guy is good. In all honesty I think he has an argument, albeit mild, for the MVP of the game. He pretty much accounted for 37 yards of field position just because he was on the field for kickoff returns. When you start your drives from the 37-45 yard line area that can wear on a defense's psyche a bit. Fortunately the Colts handled their business well and Grossman didn't.
Droping a snap, good times. Hiking the ball into yourself, great times. Tripping over your own freakin feet as a professional football player in the NFL, priceless.
Vinatierri makes a 40+ yard field goal down the middle in the snow, but he misses a 20+ yard field goal in the rain. Wait, forget the distance and conditions...he missed a field goal in the playoffs! What the heck? Oh well...I guess it had to happen sometime.
In the NFL, I've been rooting for Payton since he arrived. Classy. Smart. Damn good. I dig it. It killed me that he consistently was kept out of the Superbowl for years because of the shortcomings on the other side of the ball...because of things he had absolutely no control over. This year they finally got it right, though, and the defense came through when they needed to. At the very least I wanted Manning to get his shot. He did, and he made the most of it.
One of the more famous quotes from this football season - and maybe in all of NFL history - is "They are who we thought they were!" Well, Grossman proved he was who he thought I was, and that's an inconsistent quarterback who becomes absolutely nothing better than mediocre at best when pressured in between his flashes of brilliance. He's from the same tree as Jake Plummer when it comes to football ability and consistency. I bet $25 that he would throw an interception that was returned for a touchdown, and my boy delivered. That was a $125 return, thank you very much. He's my favorite player!
Lovie Smith had success with the run, then put the ball into Grossman's hand. On third and 2? Really? I'm not a head coach and goodness knows I don't know what was going on down there on the sidelines. From my ignorant opinion, though, it seems like both the game situation and weather conditions lent themselves to the running game and Smith got away from it. Eh, who knows. Again, I'm no NFL head coach.
The Colts really put together a team effort. Payton had a good game...not great. Receivers did their best to get open when they needed to. Addai warmed them up, then Rhodes shut them down (this really reminded me of what they hoped Barber and Dayne could turn into). And their defense rattled the bears instead of the other way around. On the other hand Chicago just seemed to melt down on offense, got worn down on defense, but got down the damn field on special teams.
Devon Hester....sweet geebis, that guy is good. In all honesty I think he has an argument, albeit mild, for the MVP of the game. He pretty much accounted for 37 yards of field position just because he was on the field for kickoff returns. When you start your drives from the 37-45 yard line area that can wear on a defense's psyche a bit. Fortunately the Colts handled their business well and Grossman didn't.
Droping a snap, good times. Hiking the ball into yourself, great times. Tripping over your own freakin feet as a professional football player in the NFL, priceless.
Vinatierri makes a 40+ yard field goal down the middle in the snow, but he misses a 20+ yard field goal in the rain. Wait, forget the distance and conditions...he missed a field goal in the playoffs! What the heck? Oh well...I guess it had to happen sometime.
The Vegas trip
Many of you know I went to Vegas for the Superbowl - good times! While I won't be disclosing all the details of the trip (uh, duh!), here are a few tidbits...
- I was originally told it was going to be 9 guys, 4 of which were my friends and the other 4 being total strangers to me. It ended up being 19 guys and six girls in three different cars. *sigh*
- All the guys on the trip ranged from 22-38 in age and spanned the majority of the professional realm. Medicine, technical, legal, banking, education, various engineering fields, and the like. Get us all on a trip to Vegas, though, and our collective age becomes 17 at best.
- We stayed at the Orleans which really was a pretty nice place for the price. The rooms and the casino were clean and well kept, the table minimums were comfortable (not too cheap, not too expensive), the drinks were mixed well, and the cocktail waitresses were much attractive. I'd definitely recommend it.
- Vegas was kind to me this trip. Maybe it felt like it owed me from last trip for taking me for $350. This time I took it for $215. Of course I gave $115 back immediately after the Superbowl, but they gave me one of the best full dinners I've ever had for it. Mmm...surf n' turf...
- I just don't like the sweet liquors. Whiskeys, rums, brown liquors...nope. Vodka and gin are for me. Oh, and Grey Goose really is that good. Really. Good.
- Latneau's been incognito for a good long while, but it was kinda like he was there because I won a Jagermeister t-shirt for screaming the loudest in the crowd at the bar. Let's see...Jager, random obnoxiousness, Vegas, alcohol, cards...yup, that's Latneau's crowd. Or at least it used to be - maybe he's changed?
- One of the guys wore velvet Corona pajama bottoms and slippers for a day on the strip. Another guy wore a yellow t-shirt, black sport coat, work out shorts, black dress socks, and brown dress shoes. Neither were me (seriously...if I were gonna do something like that, I would walk to game convention in a shower cap, shades, bathrobe, flip flops, and nothing else).
- I had a club/dance beat in my head for about 96 straight hours. A constant barrage of Usher, Nelly, Justin, new Madonna, Black Eyed Peas/Fergie, Sean Paul, and the like.
- Coming back from Vegas was like coming back from a foreign country. I had no access to the world other than the Superbowl and one hour of Sportscenter, no internet/email access, everyone spoke a foreign language, and all the landmarks were from other parts of the world.
- I. Love. The Food. Mmmm..... I really started getting used to Raspberry tarts and mochas for breakfast.
The trip wasn't insane, but it teetered on the edge of out-of-control on multiple occasions. I'm actually mildly shocked that nobody got arrested or kicked out of any establishments. It was a great freakin' time, tho...good times indeed!
And I'm glad to be back home.
- I was originally told it was going to be 9 guys, 4 of which were my friends and the other 4 being total strangers to me. It ended up being 19 guys and six girls in three different cars. *sigh*
- All the guys on the trip ranged from 22-38 in age and spanned the majority of the professional realm. Medicine, technical, legal, banking, education, various engineering fields, and the like. Get us all on a trip to Vegas, though, and our collective age becomes 17 at best.
- We stayed at the Orleans which really was a pretty nice place for the price. The rooms and the casino were clean and well kept, the table minimums were comfortable (not too cheap, not too expensive), the drinks were mixed well, and the cocktail waitresses were much attractive. I'd definitely recommend it.
- Vegas was kind to me this trip. Maybe it felt like it owed me from last trip for taking me for $350. This time I took it for $215. Of course I gave $115 back immediately after the Superbowl, but they gave me one of the best full dinners I've ever had for it. Mmm...surf n' turf...
- I just don't like the sweet liquors. Whiskeys, rums, brown liquors...nope. Vodka and gin are for me. Oh, and Grey Goose really is that good. Really. Good.
- Latneau's been incognito for a good long while, but it was kinda like he was there because I won a Jagermeister t-shirt for screaming the loudest in the crowd at the bar. Let's see...Jager, random obnoxiousness, Vegas, alcohol, cards...yup, that's Latneau's crowd. Or at least it used to be - maybe he's changed?
- One of the guys wore velvet Corona pajama bottoms and slippers for a day on the strip. Another guy wore a yellow t-shirt, black sport coat, work out shorts, black dress socks, and brown dress shoes. Neither were me (seriously...if I were gonna do something like that, I would walk to game convention in a shower cap, shades, bathrobe, flip flops, and nothing else).
- I had a club/dance beat in my head for about 96 straight hours. A constant barrage of Usher, Nelly, Justin, new Madonna, Black Eyed Peas/Fergie, Sean Paul, and the like.
- Coming back from Vegas was like coming back from a foreign country. I had no access to the world other than the Superbowl and one hour of Sportscenter, no internet/email access, everyone spoke a foreign language, and all the landmarks were from other parts of the world.
- I. Love. The Food. Mmmm..... I really started getting used to Raspberry tarts and mochas for breakfast.
The trip wasn't insane, but it teetered on the edge of out-of-control on multiple occasions. I'm actually mildly shocked that nobody got arrested or kicked out of any establishments. It was a great freakin' time, tho...good times indeed!
And I'm glad to be back home.
Friday, February 02, 2007
It just doesn't make sense
The reserves for the NBA All-Star game were recently announced and on the list for the Western Conference are three names you may recognize...
Amare Stoudamire
Shaun Marion
Steve Nash
Yes, all three are from the Phoenix Suns. No, I'm not a Suns fan. Heck I'm not even an NBA fan and I actually actively boycott it. I do hear information and see highlights on SportsCenter and other local news, though, and I know this - there's NO WAY Steve Nash should be a reserve on the Western Conference All-Star team.
He should be a starter.
In fact, he should have been the first point guard in the entire league selected. How the heck can the two-time running MVP of the league (and one of the top two candidates for the award this year) be a BENCHWARMER???
Ugh. The NBA is retarded enough...evidently the voters are, too.
(Note: the voters for the four major sports are generally retarded when it comes to the all-star games, not just for the NBA. This particular oversight or "snub" if that's what you can call it just seems particularly silly)
Amare Stoudamire
Shaun Marion
Steve Nash
Yes, all three are from the Phoenix Suns. No, I'm not a Suns fan. Heck I'm not even an NBA fan and I actually actively boycott it. I do hear information and see highlights on SportsCenter and other local news, though, and I know this - there's NO WAY Steve Nash should be a reserve on the Western Conference All-Star team.
He should be a starter.
In fact, he should have been the first point guard in the entire league selected. How the heck can the two-time running MVP of the league (and one of the top two candidates for the award this year) be a BENCHWARMER???
Ugh. The NBA is retarded enough...evidently the voters are, too.
(Note: the voters for the four major sports are generally retarded when it comes to the all-star games, not just for the NBA. This particular oversight or "snub" if that's what you can call it just seems particularly silly)
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