Good thing that as house renters, we don't have to pay taxes on where my roommate and I live.
Tuesdays are trash days around the neighborhood. About seven months ago, the city changed garbage haulers, presumably for the reason that pick-up times were inconsistent. By "inconsistent", it could mean pickup anytime between 9AM and 3PM. Wherever I have been, I have noticed a wide gap in pickup times, but it really had no effect; at least I knew the trash would be picked up that day.
I actually favor later pickup times. If I didn't have time to take out the trash the previous day, or if I wanted to spend that pickup morning giving the house or refrigerator an extra cleaning, that chance ought to be afforded to me.
Not anymore with our current hauler. I could not tell you the last time I was successfully able to get our trash out more than two weeks in a row. I'm sorry I am not able to get up before 8AM half the time, since work dictates I work afternoons. Many times I am too tired to get right to the trash when I get home, figuring there'd be a window to get it out in the morning. I lose that fight more often than not -- like I just did moments before I began writing this entry.
This week there wasn't much - the house was in decent shape and the refrigerator holds fresh food. But had I been an actual taxpayer, I would have been beating down the doors of city hall seven months ago, asking why the change was necessary. Life schedules should not center around what time the trash is picked up.
October 31, 2006
Better treator than treatee
No, I've not gone through a spelling or dictionary usage complex. I believe the two words used in the title can be accurate descriptions of how I view Halloween these days.
In the nearly seven years that I've known my stepmother Marilyn, she has me beat all-time (and that's 35 years) in Halloween spirit. She sends cards, stickers & gifts like she would at Christmas. For some reason, I never really caught that Halloween bug, even at the prime child stage. When I first realized about Halloween, I was more content watching my mother pass out the candy & comment on costumes.
Only four occasions really stand out in my memory for going out trick-or-treating. The first was 1976, when I went as the cartoon character Underdog. Now I had an aversion to masks at the time, partially because of reduced sight, but also because I was scared to death of that rubber band in the back snapping & hitting my face. The alternative was to be dressed up in exaggerated makeup to match the costume. I hated being "made-up", and even at age 5, was dying from embarassment.
One year (1982) though, I was determined to wear the entire Snoopy costume that was purchased, including the mask... I didn't want to be recognized. Sure enough, approaching the second house and adjusting the mask for comfort, SNAP! Back came the embarassment, and I wanted to end the trek right there. Good thing I didn't, because my father really dug through the candy that year!
Then I went as Superman the next year, and I do have a photo of that one, but darned if I can't find the wires to hook up the computer scanner! I do hope to share that with you at a later date.
The last year I really went (1984), was last-minute with no signs of planning or preparation. Simply place two pillows on my belly, borrow one of my father's T-shirts, and bingo: a 350 pound fat man at no cost. If I really ate like I was supposed to, everyone would accuse me of not wearing a costume. By now, just the thought of going out was embarassing, knowing I would not eat the candy given me. I gave it up after that year.
It also didn't help that other kids in the neighborhood had a dying interest as well, replaced by transplants from other neighborhoods, some of whom would be college age, and with my luck in costume design. This really cheapened things.
The last time I handed out candy was in 2003, and this time I decided I would dress up as a Western outlaw in doing so. My roommate dressed as a ninja in full costume. His costume was a winner, as it scared all the kids. He finally took off the mask to quiet a doubting kid, and all the kid said afterwards was, "But where's the man?" You had to see this to appreciate the humor in it.
I tease him about it all the time, but I have more reason to be teased. He took a break from giving out candy, and I took over, sitting on the porch. Two entire groups of kids walked right past my house without noticing me! I was starting to throw candy in their direction (like they do in parades), and they never even noticed that either! So much for being an outlaw, I was the invisible man!
No, Halloween doesn't really hold a place for me, though I do appreciate all the little things my stepmom sends. I only note it for the day before, the so-called Detroit area "Angels Night"; always looking forward to the newscast that the inner city has been wiped out, thereby letting them start over from scratch again.
We could never be that lucky.
In the nearly seven years that I've known my stepmother Marilyn, she has me beat all-time (and that's 35 years) in Halloween spirit. She sends cards, stickers & gifts like she would at Christmas. For some reason, I never really caught that Halloween bug, even at the prime child stage. When I first realized about Halloween, I was more content watching my mother pass out the candy & comment on costumes.
Only four occasions really stand out in my memory for going out trick-or-treating. The first was 1976, when I went as the cartoon character Underdog. Now I had an aversion to masks at the time, partially because of reduced sight, but also because I was scared to death of that rubber band in the back snapping & hitting my face. The alternative was to be dressed up in exaggerated makeup to match the costume. I hated being "made-up", and even at age 5, was dying from embarassment.
One year (1982) though, I was determined to wear the entire Snoopy costume that was purchased, including the mask... I didn't want to be recognized. Sure enough, approaching the second house and adjusting the mask for comfort, SNAP! Back came the embarassment, and I wanted to end the trek right there. Good thing I didn't, because my father really dug through the candy that year!
Then I went as Superman the next year, and I do have a photo of that one, but darned if I can't find the wires to hook up the computer scanner! I do hope to share that with you at a later date.
The last year I really went (1984), was last-minute with no signs of planning or preparation. Simply place two pillows on my belly, borrow one of my father's T-shirts, and bingo: a 350 pound fat man at no cost. If I really ate like I was supposed to, everyone would accuse me of not wearing a costume. By now, just the thought of going out was embarassing, knowing I would not eat the candy given me. I gave it up after that year.
It also didn't help that other kids in the neighborhood had a dying interest as well, replaced by transplants from other neighborhoods, some of whom would be college age, and with my luck in costume design. This really cheapened things.
The last time I handed out candy was in 2003, and this time I decided I would dress up as a Western outlaw in doing so. My roommate dressed as a ninja in full costume. His costume was a winner, as it scared all the kids. He finally took off the mask to quiet a doubting kid, and all the kid said afterwards was, "But where's the man?" You had to see this to appreciate the humor in it.
I tease him about it all the time, but I have more reason to be teased. He took a break from giving out candy, and I took over, sitting on the porch. Two entire groups of kids walked right past my house without noticing me! I was starting to throw candy in their direction (like they do in parades), and they never even noticed that either! So much for being an outlaw, I was the invisible man!
No, Halloween doesn't really hold a place for me, though I do appreciate all the little things my stepmom sends. I only note it for the day before, the so-called Detroit area "Angels Night"; always looking forward to the newscast that the inner city has been wiped out, thereby letting them start over from scratch again.
We could never be that lucky.
October 29, 2006
Proof your writer has a face
(Front: Allison & Nicholas; Back: Yours truly, Mitchell & Susan)Ah, the blessings of upgrading software. Photos have been promised for a dog's age, and photos I've had; but I obviously couldn't follow directions on the old version of Blogger. I signed up for the new service, and geez, look how easy it was... And I went to COLLEGE??
The above photo was taken in August of this year at that graduation party I mentioned at the time. For 17 years after my birth, I was the baby of my mom's side of the family. Here, save Mitchell's brother and Lauren, the new addition, is everyone on that side that now post-dates me.
Have to admit, after some consideration, there were perks to being the youngest. At my age, I'm not the scene-stealer I used to be, considering the competition!
October 28, 2006
"Pigeonholed"
Random thought process runs amok on Saturday (although they come to you on Sunday thanks to system problems):
* I've spent much of this week focusing entries on neighborhoods. I neglected to mention that last weekend I was driving through my old neighborhood of 21 years, and was pleased to find that "pigeon-man" finally moved out of the house two doors north of my old one.
This man was a disaster the entire time I knew him. He ran a farmer's market in town that was seedy, dirty, and crude. He had the most un-color-coded house on the block, with pink brick, beige trim and brown roof. But the worst part of it was that he insisted on raising racing pigeons in his backyard.
Racing pigeons do not meet city pet criteria, to myself and everyone else. He had two ugly coops built on the easement line (read: illegal), and we had to shelter our pool from increased pigeon droppings. For two years, he had one of those electronic animal retardants which only dogs can hear. I am not a dog, but my hearing is so ultra-sensitive, I heard it, even while locked inside the house. I could not comfortably access the backyard for two years at the expense of these dumb birds, who only ran circular patterns & never were trained well enough to venture out of the neighborhood.
But on my last trip there, I noticed: no more coops! I wonder what drove him out of there: neighbor pressure, city ordinance, or the realization of his own glaring unpopularity.
* We had another phone installed on the premises last week, and as with the last phones we've had, the number is unlisted. But at no time have we had the barrage of calls from campaign candidates like there's been in the past two weeks. This is what we get when we obtain a recycled phone number that may have been listed before. Thank goodness for caller ID and voicemail. I lament voter apathy, but now know one of its potential causes. The constant flood of calls is not necessary.
* Did I say "flood"? The Detroit area is headed for a fifteen-year high in rainfall as the weather continues its misery. Only five years ago, boaters were being warned of dropping lake levels and possible shoaling of their vessels. Now, watch the sandbag industry turn into a bonanza.
* And, a possible drama-free month? There will be no hassle for rent money, and the roommate's share of the electric bill is already in my hands. Guess the Higher-Up In Charge thought I reached my gray hair quota for the month.
* I've spent much of this week focusing entries on neighborhoods. I neglected to mention that last weekend I was driving through my old neighborhood of 21 years, and was pleased to find that "pigeon-man" finally moved out of the house two doors north of my old one.
This man was a disaster the entire time I knew him. He ran a farmer's market in town that was seedy, dirty, and crude. He had the most un-color-coded house on the block, with pink brick, beige trim and brown roof. But the worst part of it was that he insisted on raising racing pigeons in his backyard.
Racing pigeons do not meet city pet criteria, to myself and everyone else. He had two ugly coops built on the easement line (read: illegal), and we had to shelter our pool from increased pigeon droppings. For two years, he had one of those electronic animal retardants which only dogs can hear. I am not a dog, but my hearing is so ultra-sensitive, I heard it, even while locked inside the house. I could not comfortably access the backyard for two years at the expense of these dumb birds, who only ran circular patterns & never were trained well enough to venture out of the neighborhood.
But on my last trip there, I noticed: no more coops! I wonder what drove him out of there: neighbor pressure, city ordinance, or the realization of his own glaring unpopularity.
* We had another phone installed on the premises last week, and as with the last phones we've had, the number is unlisted. But at no time have we had the barrage of calls from campaign candidates like there's been in the past two weeks. This is what we get when we obtain a recycled phone number that may have been listed before. Thank goodness for caller ID and voicemail. I lament voter apathy, but now know one of its potential causes. The constant flood of calls is not necessary.
* Did I say "flood"? The Detroit area is headed for a fifteen-year high in rainfall as the weather continues its misery. Only five years ago, boaters were being warned of dropping lake levels and possible shoaling of their vessels. Now, watch the sandbag industry turn into a bonanza.
* And, a possible drama-free month? There will be no hassle for rent money, and the roommate's share of the electric bill is already in my hands. Guess the Higher-Up In Charge thought I reached my gray hair quota for the month.
Still a great Tigers story
Word has just trickled in that the Detroit Tigers have lost the pivotal game five of the World Series, 4-2, giving the crown to the St. Louis Cardinals.
I truly thought that the St. Louis pitching staff was down to its last legs entering the World Series, and that the Tigers would maul them. The Cardinals had something up their sleeve, though, and proved their grit in giving their manager, Tony LaRussa, his second world title. St. Louis is a great baseball town and, other than my Tigers, is the ultimate place to hoist a championship banner.
In the end, I believe the Tigers were just gassed. They were leaving pitches up, losing control, making all those pitchers' errors, and suffering with quiet bats. Key pivotal players were nursing small injuries that may have limited their effectiveness.
Starting pitcher Justin Verlander, for example, was likely worn out about a month ago and really had nothing left. The young kids did all they could, but their formal training bit them. I don't expect to see pitchers pitch 300 innings these days no matter what the age, but the way bullpens have become so much a part of their strategy actually hurts the workhorse pitcher. They're on too many limits when it comes to innings and pitches thrown per game. The human arm is still built the same as it was back when 300 innings were the norm. It's just the training and limitations that make the young pitcher break down earlier these days.
With that being said, I still offer my heartfelt thanks to a Tigers club that has rediscovered old glory. How long has it been since Detroiters had a sport to cheer for in October? We had baseball's best record for 2/3rds of the season; led the league in pitching by far and provided an intimidation factor; acquired a magician in Jim Leyland, who got 25 bodies on the same page; got sellout crowds back to the home park; blew past the hated White Sox, Yankees & A's; showed class & emotion when they won big; rejuvenated Kenny Rogers, cheater or not; and made Commissioner Bud Selig beam with pride that his revenue sharing program is working.
The respect has come back. Forget the decade-long fix on "Hockeytown", or "Dee-troit Baa-sketball"... this has always been a baseball town from its roots. Nothing symbolizes the sports history of this town better than the hometown nine. And general manager Dave Dombrowski won't have to pull a 1997 Marlins while dismantling the team; we know the Tigers will be back, better than ever, in 2007.
Thank you, Tigers, for making baseball sit up & take notice. You were truly the story of the year no matter the series outcome!
I truly thought that the St. Louis pitching staff was down to its last legs entering the World Series, and that the Tigers would maul them. The Cardinals had something up their sleeve, though, and proved their grit in giving their manager, Tony LaRussa, his second world title. St. Louis is a great baseball town and, other than my Tigers, is the ultimate place to hoist a championship banner.
In the end, I believe the Tigers were just gassed. They were leaving pitches up, losing control, making all those pitchers' errors, and suffering with quiet bats. Key pivotal players were nursing small injuries that may have limited their effectiveness.
Starting pitcher Justin Verlander, for example, was likely worn out about a month ago and really had nothing left. The young kids did all they could, but their formal training bit them. I don't expect to see pitchers pitch 300 innings these days no matter what the age, but the way bullpens have become so much a part of their strategy actually hurts the workhorse pitcher. They're on too many limits when it comes to innings and pitches thrown per game. The human arm is still built the same as it was back when 300 innings were the norm. It's just the training and limitations that make the young pitcher break down earlier these days.
With that being said, I still offer my heartfelt thanks to a Tigers club that has rediscovered old glory. How long has it been since Detroiters had a sport to cheer for in October? We had baseball's best record for 2/3rds of the season; led the league in pitching by far and provided an intimidation factor; acquired a magician in Jim Leyland, who got 25 bodies on the same page; got sellout crowds back to the home park; blew past the hated White Sox, Yankees & A's; showed class & emotion when they won big; rejuvenated Kenny Rogers, cheater or not; and made Commissioner Bud Selig beam with pride that his revenue sharing program is working.
The respect has come back. Forget the decade-long fix on "Hockeytown", or "Dee-troit Baa-sketball"... this has always been a baseball town from its roots. Nothing symbolizes the sports history of this town better than the hometown nine. And general manager Dave Dombrowski won't have to pull a 1997 Marlins while dismantling the team; we know the Tigers will be back, better than ever, in 2007.
Thank you, Tigers, for making baseball sit up & take notice. You were truly the story of the year no matter the series outcome!
October 27, 2006
Solving - or hiding from - the problem
For those who have no luck, and even a little for those who intentionally made bad decisions in their lives, I feel bad for all the homeless in the country. How they got there would take millions of books. But methods to get out of those ruts don't even begin to cover a page - because no one seems to know what to do with these people.
There's action being taken in California, but the jury's out on what it will do to help. There's now a daytime sidewalk sleeping ban in effect along the infamous "Skid Row" in Los Angeles.
According to the article, whose link is at the bottom, area police believe now is the time to help rid the decades-old problem with fifty new beat officers bent on cleaning up the sidewalks & streets of the area. The area has seen some of the nation's worst drug trafficking in history, not to mention prostitution and other activities of grave concern. Such an effort should be applauded, standing on its own.
However, the old saying "one rotten apple spoiling the bunch" comes to mind. Many people are out there due to being poor or having mental illness. In other words, it may not necessarily be their fault they're out there. They can be a misunderstood group to society as a whole; with the indecisions not limited to what to do with them.
And indecision has played such a huge role. Detroit's slum areas, while not as big or infamous, still crowd with people desperate for a better day, or even just shelter from the elements. It came into the forefront during the recent Super Bowl. Yes, they wanted the homeless out of the way for the network cameras (such a cheesy reason), and yes, they were actually going to warm shelters. But would they stay there? The minute the cameras were packed away, these people were being sent away. What about a long-term solution?
The downtown vacancy rate is astounding in Detroit. Before former building "jewels" are torn down, they spend years in forlorn condition while bureaucrats battle it out. There should be no shame in at least having a building donated to help those in need. Not all people manage to succeed in life with a budget the size of Rockefeller's, or even the Jones'.
The A.C.L.U. has won small victories in this battle against the innocent, citing a violation to the Eighth Ammendment (cruel & unusual punishment). But still the debate rages on. If they are looking to rid the area of the criminal element, are they making sure to catch these people and send them to jail, or are they just being shoved out of sight for that day only, along with those smart enough not to engage illegally? What would that solve?
Yes, cities need to be safe from the elements. But so do those who do no harm otherwise.
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061026/NEWS07/610260455/1009
There's action being taken in California, but the jury's out on what it will do to help. There's now a daytime sidewalk sleeping ban in effect along the infamous "Skid Row" in Los Angeles.
According to the article, whose link is at the bottom, area police believe now is the time to help rid the decades-old problem with fifty new beat officers bent on cleaning up the sidewalks & streets of the area. The area has seen some of the nation's worst drug trafficking in history, not to mention prostitution and other activities of grave concern. Such an effort should be applauded, standing on its own.
However, the old saying "one rotten apple spoiling the bunch" comes to mind. Many people are out there due to being poor or having mental illness. In other words, it may not necessarily be their fault they're out there. They can be a misunderstood group to society as a whole; with the indecisions not limited to what to do with them.
And indecision has played such a huge role. Detroit's slum areas, while not as big or infamous, still crowd with people desperate for a better day, or even just shelter from the elements. It came into the forefront during the recent Super Bowl. Yes, they wanted the homeless out of the way for the network cameras (such a cheesy reason), and yes, they were actually going to warm shelters. But would they stay there? The minute the cameras were packed away, these people were being sent away. What about a long-term solution?
The downtown vacancy rate is astounding in Detroit. Before former building "jewels" are torn down, they spend years in forlorn condition while bureaucrats battle it out. There should be no shame in at least having a building donated to help those in need. Not all people manage to succeed in life with a budget the size of Rockefeller's, or even the Jones'.
The A.C.L.U. has won small victories in this battle against the innocent, citing a violation to the Eighth Ammendment (cruel & unusual punishment). But still the debate rages on. If they are looking to rid the area of the criminal element, are they making sure to catch these people and send them to jail, or are they just being shoved out of sight for that day only, along with those smart enough not to engage illegally? What would that solve?
Yes, cities need to be safe from the elements. But so do those who do no harm otherwise.
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061026/NEWS07/610260455/1009
October 26, 2006
Hide the wares; he's coming
For those who feel luckless in the world, allow me to pose this: Has any of this happened to you?
* On a routine trip to Taco Bell to get one of those burritos: "I'm sorry, sir; but we're out of ground beef."
* Trying to order a milkshake at McDonalds: "Sorry, we're out of mix for the shake machine." At 1:00 pm in the afternoon during the lunch rush? Who does the order placements?
* At Speedway gas station, trying desperately to get cheese for chili cheese fries: "We're out of cheese again." Three days in a row, no less. This happens to my roommate all the time. What's bothersome is that I go in a half-hour later to buy some milk, and there's somebody putting a boatload of cheese on his order. Bordering on conspiracy, I wonder?
* At KFC just a month ago, at 3:00 in the afternoon: "There's no chicken right now," later clarified to "Well, we just don't have any ready to go." Shouldn't a chicken place have chicken at all times?
* The Tim Horton's donut shop near me hasn't had my flavor of donuts four out of the last five visits.
* And the topper? Check out this exchange from a trip to Burger King:
Roommate: I'd like a Whopper, please.
Counter: We're out.
Roommate: How can you be out? I'll take onion rings.
Counter: We're sold out of those.
Roommate: What the ...? How about some fries?
Counter: Nope.
Roommate: What DO you have?
Counter: We have hamburgers.
Roommate (sarcastically): But you don't have Whoppers?
Counter (seriously): Nope.
The remainder of the exchange cannot be printed verbatim, because I value being on this blog.
-----------------------------
Also got a good laugh this morning. The roommate asked me to look up the word "failure" on Google. OK, I knew this was one of his showoff tricks, so I mumbled to myself "Okay, it will probably have President Bush on it."
It did. As the first entry on the first page. Underneath the website Whitehouse.gov! This in addition to the Wikipedia entry on the president no longer allowing changes or revises because of rampant "vandalism" throughout the entry. Wow. When the polls say only 40% of the nation approves what he's doing, they obviously don't seem to be wrong.
* On a routine trip to Taco Bell to get one of those burritos: "I'm sorry, sir; but we're out of ground beef."
* Trying to order a milkshake at McDonalds: "Sorry, we're out of mix for the shake machine." At 1:00 pm in the afternoon during the lunch rush? Who does the order placements?
* At Speedway gas station, trying desperately to get cheese for chili cheese fries: "We're out of cheese again." Three days in a row, no less. This happens to my roommate all the time. What's bothersome is that I go in a half-hour later to buy some milk, and there's somebody putting a boatload of cheese on his order. Bordering on conspiracy, I wonder?
* At KFC just a month ago, at 3:00 in the afternoon: "There's no chicken right now," later clarified to "Well, we just don't have any ready to go." Shouldn't a chicken place have chicken at all times?
* The Tim Horton's donut shop near me hasn't had my flavor of donuts four out of the last five visits.
* And the topper? Check out this exchange from a trip to Burger King:
Roommate: I'd like a Whopper, please.
Counter: We're out.
Roommate: How can you be out? I'll take onion rings.
Counter: We're sold out of those.
Roommate: What the ...? How about some fries?
Counter: Nope.
Roommate: What DO you have?
Counter: We have hamburgers.
Roommate (sarcastically): But you don't have Whoppers?
Counter (seriously): Nope.
The remainder of the exchange cannot be printed verbatim, because I value being on this blog.
-----------------------------
Also got a good laugh this morning. The roommate asked me to look up the word "failure" on Google. OK, I knew this was one of his showoff tricks, so I mumbled to myself "Okay, it will probably have President Bush on it."
It did. As the first entry on the first page. Underneath the website Whitehouse.gov! This in addition to the Wikipedia entry on the president no longer allowing changes or revises because of rampant "vandalism" throughout the entry. Wow. When the polls say only 40% of the nation approves what he's doing, they obviously don't seem to be wrong.
October 25, 2006
Orange bulbs hiding peeling paint
Sometimes I wonder about the attention span of homeowners, no matter what their age group. I live on the outer ring of Detroit suburbia, and any veteran of that area will tell you that more houses should be declared "condemned" than there already are. Lawn maintenance is one thing, but when you have shutters falling off the windows, gutters & downspouts draining nothing, shingles out of place, porch foundations crumbling (I can attest), and paint peeling from every visible spot, this points out the homeowner who doesn't take pride in what they own.
Outdoor decorations make me wonder further about their priorities. Coming home from work tonight, I saw a huge light display on top of a 60-foot tree outlining a ghost in orange. Never saw anything like it before, and it was easy to mistake for Christmas lights. But then you look at the house, as I've seen it during the day, and what's special about it? Nothing much.
This harkens all the way back at least fifteen years. The houses in my parents' subdivision were barely ten years old, but one house stood out as an eyesore. No maintenance work had been done on it since the people moved in. Never mind the underwear on the floor, the graffiti written through the dust on the garage door - we tried in vain to get these people out, or to get the city involved. Nothing was done for all those painful years.
All of a sudden, one Christmas, voila: a rather elaborate light display complete with all those cluttering lawn displays of reindeer. These people took no pride in their house, but they painstakingly made sure that their optional display looked perfect?
First off, I do believe in freedom of expression. As long as displays conform with code, you should be able to celebrate holidays as you want. I also understand that some residents are elderly or disabled, and may not have immediate help nearby with family, friends, or other handyman contacts. But the people cited above had no medical issues & had kids running around all over the place.
It must have taken them hours to put together all the display pieces. Couldn't a similiar amount of time have been used to actually spruce up the property and keep the city out of their hair? Painting the gutters, for instance, may have taken one afternoon, but that would have been a start.
Lining a property with colorful, flashing lights may dazzle, but they do not increase the property worth. Regular home maintenance does. Would you not go through with minor repairs if it would impact neighboring property values in a positive way?
I'll be watching this Christmas: Betcha not one reindeer or tin soldier will be out of place.
Outdoor decorations make me wonder further about their priorities. Coming home from work tonight, I saw a huge light display on top of a 60-foot tree outlining a ghost in orange. Never saw anything like it before, and it was easy to mistake for Christmas lights. But then you look at the house, as I've seen it during the day, and what's special about it? Nothing much.
This harkens all the way back at least fifteen years. The houses in my parents' subdivision were barely ten years old, but one house stood out as an eyesore. No maintenance work had been done on it since the people moved in. Never mind the underwear on the floor, the graffiti written through the dust on the garage door - we tried in vain to get these people out, or to get the city involved. Nothing was done for all those painful years.
All of a sudden, one Christmas, voila: a rather elaborate light display complete with all those cluttering lawn displays of reindeer. These people took no pride in their house, but they painstakingly made sure that their optional display looked perfect?
First off, I do believe in freedom of expression. As long as displays conform with code, you should be able to celebrate holidays as you want. I also understand that some residents are elderly or disabled, and may not have immediate help nearby with family, friends, or other handyman contacts. But the people cited above had no medical issues & had kids running around all over the place.
It must have taken them hours to put together all the display pieces. Couldn't a similiar amount of time have been used to actually spruce up the property and keep the city out of their hair? Painting the gutters, for instance, may have taken one afternoon, but that would have been a start.
Lining a property with colorful, flashing lights may dazzle, but they do not increase the property worth. Regular home maintenance does. Would you not go through with minor repairs if it would impact neighboring property values in a positive way?
I'll be watching this Christmas: Betcha not one reindeer or tin soldier will be out of place.
October 24, 2006
Gaming: Victories or realism?
I've owned a Playstation 2 (PS2) video system for about six months now. In that span of time, only two games have been purchased. Actually, I really don't go for those fantasy games which promote violence... and we all know what they are since the kids these days go for that sort of thing. So I've stuck with sports simulations (baseball & football) exclusively.
You would probably think I would be like most gamers who buy those games: a chance for me to take any team, whether bad or good, and make them invincible to where they never lose, players never get injured, and nothing but clubhouse or locker room harmony exists. In other words, simulate the everyday players NOT living everyday lives.
Do I? Nope, not so. If a team is a loser in real life and I play it out, I make them lose just as much! You can sense I probably take my gaming too seriously, although I don't classify myself as one who only likes losing teams.
I have allegiance to the Detroit teams, so I took the Tigers (who used to be bad), and the Lions (who have always been bad). Baseball came first, and the graphics, commentary & general realism on this game were great to see. Like most folks, I started on the beginner's level, then went to intermediate, and the same thing happened.
I won nearly 110 games while hitting literally ten homers every game. Now I've known gamers who love to stick it in their opponents' face by drubbing them by 30 runs every time. But these people are annoying & don't like challenges. My whole darn team was hitting .400. Baseball hasn't had a .400 hitter since Ted Williams. Only the brain dead couldn't guess I'd win. Interest would go out the window, by having it so easy that it took no thinking on my part to scratch out a close win. I like the competition and I like the CPU to be somewhat smart.
Same thing with the football game. Laugh and throw peanuts & fruit at me for picking the Lions - I simply know them best. They have been classic losers for three generations, and this year looks no different. So I said, "Ha ha, I'll make them suck, too."
What happened on the pre-season games? Lions win, 41-0 and 37-3. Will that ever happen in real life? The quarterback throws 20 straight completions? The wide receiver runs 80+ yards on consecutive possessions with nobody pursuing him?
Shocked you may be, but I hit the reset button and spent over an hour tweaking the settings to where that team would be today. As a result, the quarterback stinks, the running back isn't used enough... it's reality!
Everybody likes to win, but it's awfully hard to in sports & real life. To be a success you have to fight for what you want. Nothing comes to you on a silver platter. Oddly enough, I like my game playing to be the same way.
It may smack more of reality than fantasy, true. But I get the best of both worlds: a reality you can control without draining your pocketbook... and plenty of laughs, to boot.
You would probably think I would be like most gamers who buy those games: a chance for me to take any team, whether bad or good, and make them invincible to where they never lose, players never get injured, and nothing but clubhouse or locker room harmony exists. In other words, simulate the everyday players NOT living everyday lives.
Do I? Nope, not so. If a team is a loser in real life and I play it out, I make them lose just as much! You can sense I probably take my gaming too seriously, although I don't classify myself as one who only likes losing teams.
I have allegiance to the Detroit teams, so I took the Tigers (who used to be bad), and the Lions (who have always been bad). Baseball came first, and the graphics, commentary & general realism on this game were great to see. Like most folks, I started on the beginner's level, then went to intermediate, and the same thing happened.
I won nearly 110 games while hitting literally ten homers every game. Now I've known gamers who love to stick it in their opponents' face by drubbing them by 30 runs every time. But these people are annoying & don't like challenges. My whole darn team was hitting .400. Baseball hasn't had a .400 hitter since Ted Williams. Only the brain dead couldn't guess I'd win. Interest would go out the window, by having it so easy that it took no thinking on my part to scratch out a close win. I like the competition and I like the CPU to be somewhat smart.
Same thing with the football game. Laugh and throw peanuts & fruit at me for picking the Lions - I simply know them best. They have been classic losers for three generations, and this year looks no different. So I said, "Ha ha, I'll make them suck, too."
What happened on the pre-season games? Lions win, 41-0 and 37-3. Will that ever happen in real life? The quarterback throws 20 straight completions? The wide receiver runs 80+ yards on consecutive possessions with nobody pursuing him?
Shocked you may be, but I hit the reset button and spent over an hour tweaking the settings to where that team would be today. As a result, the quarterback stinks, the running back isn't used enough... it's reality!
Everybody likes to win, but it's awfully hard to in sports & real life. To be a success you have to fight for what you want. Nothing comes to you on a silver platter. Oddly enough, I like my game playing to be the same way.
It may smack more of reality than fantasy, true. But I get the best of both worlds: a reality you can control without draining your pocketbook... and plenty of laughs, to boot.
October 22, 2006
Paperwork said "Working Thru Pain"
Sorry, another work entry. But when you have so little enrichment in life like I do, there's nothing to talk about sometimes except "shop talk".
In the last entry, I gave the good news of that troublesome, meddlesome manager at work being canned. He was one of the most biased people I had ever met; he stood for all the cronyism the workplace seems to represent. Now that he's gone, I wonder if things will be treated more fairly at work, with preference placed to no one in particular.
Especially for those who may labor in general manual labor, don't you hate to see co-workers staring at you, doing nothing, but being the first to ask why you don't work harder, or that you missed a spot? We have two people who fit that bill, and I don't know how they get away with it.
They milk their injuries (in my opinion) in differing degrees. The one person, I semi-understand, since they truly aren't in their proper environment. People like this one are best suited for desk duty, or something else where you're not constantly lifting bags or being subject to fumes & pollution. Of course, anyone can do anything if they want to, but if they escape the heartache by not working those positions, more power to them. It's hard to help them sometimes when we're overloaded, but there's an understanding to that person.
The other person is something else. He does nothing except just sit at the desk, barking orders only when he doesn't fall asleep. We ask him to count bags, and he complains about his knee. Supposedly he needed major knee surgery just because he brushed it against a piece of equipment. Since the equipment wasn't a damned spear, I have my reservations. His attitude comes & goes with his sleep. But he will always be the first to say someone's not doing their job.
Excuse me? That person's doing their job AND your job.
If they can't physically work, they should rehab at a facility, do exercises at home, and otherwise rest up. Why is my workplace forcing them to work when they can't? Who does that hurt? The healthy workers!
And whenever conflict occurs, the aforementioned manager always sided with the injured person. Why were the healthy people always punished for, well, being healthy?
I've had two brushes with medical problems over my five years there: I've missed nine weeks with back trouble, and five months with another serious medical condition. They would not think of letting me back to work until I was 100% certified to come back. In other words, my restrictions were not subject to those around me, inconveniencing them.
To sum up, I look forward to work for a reason this week; to see if the attitudes will have changed. Perhaps the new management (who I know) will change that paperwork to actually enforce what it says.
Just think of what fairness in the workplace can do.
In the last entry, I gave the good news of that troublesome, meddlesome manager at work being canned. He was one of the most biased people I had ever met; he stood for all the cronyism the workplace seems to represent. Now that he's gone, I wonder if things will be treated more fairly at work, with preference placed to no one in particular.
Especially for those who may labor in general manual labor, don't you hate to see co-workers staring at you, doing nothing, but being the first to ask why you don't work harder, or that you missed a spot? We have two people who fit that bill, and I don't know how they get away with it.
They milk their injuries (in my opinion) in differing degrees. The one person, I semi-understand, since they truly aren't in their proper environment. People like this one are best suited for desk duty, or something else where you're not constantly lifting bags or being subject to fumes & pollution. Of course, anyone can do anything if they want to, but if they escape the heartache by not working those positions, more power to them. It's hard to help them sometimes when we're overloaded, but there's an understanding to that person.
The other person is something else. He does nothing except just sit at the desk, barking orders only when he doesn't fall asleep. We ask him to count bags, and he complains about his knee. Supposedly he needed major knee surgery just because he brushed it against a piece of equipment. Since the equipment wasn't a damned spear, I have my reservations. His attitude comes & goes with his sleep. But he will always be the first to say someone's not doing their job.
Excuse me? That person's doing their job AND your job.
If they can't physically work, they should rehab at a facility, do exercises at home, and otherwise rest up. Why is my workplace forcing them to work when they can't? Who does that hurt? The healthy workers!
And whenever conflict occurs, the aforementioned manager always sided with the injured person. Why were the healthy people always punished for, well, being healthy?
I've had two brushes with medical problems over my five years there: I've missed nine weeks with back trouble, and five months with another serious medical condition. They would not think of letting me back to work until I was 100% certified to come back. In other words, my restrictions were not subject to those around me, inconveniencing them.
To sum up, I look forward to work for a reason this week; to see if the attitudes will have changed. Perhaps the new management (who I know) will change that paperwork to actually enforce what it says.
Just think of what fairness in the workplace can do.
It went around, it came around
Even if I had stayed in bed all weekend instead of going bowling last night, this would rank as one of my best weekends in weeks. My harassing manager at work has been released!
Did something I write on my computer blog in April have anything to do with this? Here's some of that essay:
You should have heard our manager snap. "If this means you can't handle it, then you're going outside."... He's standing there doing nothing except observing the mess we're clearing up, and those are the only helpful words he can say? No motivation and no pick-me-up whatsoever. If you've got time to sit there, observe, and otherwise impede the operation, then there's plenty of time to offer a word of encouragement, as well as assistance to get our staff caught up.
(With regards to manager classifications) ... There are those who go strictly by the rulebook and never deviate; there are those who relate to their workers astonishingly well and never hesitate to help pick up the slack; there are those you never see; there are those that are not interested; and there are those who believe that adding pressure to an already filled pressure cooker makes workers work better.
"One hundred fifty percent effort is no longer acceptable here. We need 200%" is a saying he likes to bring up at inopportune times. Don't you think there should be a managerial declassification in the cards?
You pray for miracles, and sometimes you get them. I can only imagine that when I head into work tomorrow, you'd swear we work on a dance floor rather than an airline bagroom, with all the people bound to celebrate this elimination of a threat.
Sources say it was done to cut costs. Well, if there's a silver lining to Michigan's declining work opportunities & funding slashes... get my silver crayons now. "Good riddance" to the most non-people-person figure I've met in recent years!
Did something I write on my computer blog in April have anything to do with this? Here's some of that essay:
You should have heard our manager snap. "If this means you can't handle it, then you're going outside."... He's standing there doing nothing except observing the mess we're clearing up, and those are the only helpful words he can say? No motivation and no pick-me-up whatsoever. If you've got time to sit there, observe, and otherwise impede the operation, then there's plenty of time to offer a word of encouragement, as well as assistance to get our staff caught up.
(With regards to manager classifications) ... There are those who go strictly by the rulebook and never deviate; there are those who relate to their workers astonishingly well and never hesitate to help pick up the slack; there are those you never see; there are those that are not interested; and there are those who believe that adding pressure to an already filled pressure cooker makes workers work better.
"One hundred fifty percent effort is no longer acceptable here. We need 200%" is a saying he likes to bring up at inopportune times. Don't you think there should be a managerial declassification in the cards?
You pray for miracles, and sometimes you get them. I can only imagine that when I head into work tomorrow, you'd swear we work on a dance floor rather than an airline bagroom, with all the people bound to celebrate this elimination of a threat.
Sources say it was done to cut costs. Well, if there's a silver lining to Michigan's declining work opportunities & funding slashes... get my silver crayons now. "Good riddance" to the most non-people-person figure I've met in recent years!
October 21, 2006
I like the hometown's chances
What with the internet access we haven't had here in the past month, there's not been much I've been able to say about the surprising Detroit Tigers. No one expected them to even be on the post-season stage, but here they are about to face the St. Louis Cardinals in the WS.
National media outlets have all agreed that there may not be a better "feel good" story than the one the Tigers have provided. I am still somewhat cynical they will fall back to earth, but actually I like their chances more now than ever before.
The simple reason? That one-week break worked wonders for them. Not only did they heal their two injuries of record, but the seven-game series in the NLCS decimated both participants. The Cardinals are still scrambling to build a decent rotation. Ours is rested & refreshed. They lost their regular closer; we have about five of them we could use. And the mighty Albert Pujois has also been gimpy lately, so he's not at 100%. Look what the Tigers have done to 100% players, like, uh, Frank Thomas... Alex Rodriguez.
It's now official: Good pitching will win every time. This is what the Tigers have in their favor, in addition to rest. This series won't be over quickly, but will provide many magical moments, including the ultimate:
Tigers in seven games.
National media outlets have all agreed that there may not be a better "feel good" story than the one the Tigers have provided. I am still somewhat cynical they will fall back to earth, but actually I like their chances more now than ever before.
The simple reason? That one-week break worked wonders for them. Not only did they heal their two injuries of record, but the seven-game series in the NLCS decimated both participants. The Cardinals are still scrambling to build a decent rotation. Ours is rested & refreshed. They lost their regular closer; we have about five of them we could use. And the mighty Albert Pujois has also been gimpy lately, so he's not at 100%. Look what the Tigers have done to 100% players, like, uh, Frank Thomas... Alex Rodriguez.
It's now official: Good pitching will win every time. This is what the Tigers have in their favor, in addition to rest. This series won't be over quickly, but will provide many magical moments, including the ultimate:
Tigers in seven games.
A-ha, back to the everyday
Seven long weeks later, internet is back at the house. We decided to take the DSL route instead of the normal cable modem. Fact is, I am finding (as this is my first chance to really use it), it is faster than the modem was! Of course, what must be considered is the company that provided the old service. I've used them off & on for 25 years, and my customer satisfaction level has not upticked once that entire time. Thank goodness we're not subject to an internet monopoly in Michigan.
Tonight I hope to show off, as I am participating in the bowling party to end any party I've been with; at least ten other people plan to show up to watch me blow them away. I'm not one to brag, but see what happens when I actually tape old bowling shows from ESPN Classic and actually review the shots slow-motion? I can't believe the pointers I picked up about methods & execution. It seems so elementary, but somehow there was a block in thinking about that. No longer.
Work is still the same; I still can't get the day shift until we hire more part-timers to cover. What type of grown men are we hiring? One came in for an interview and was told he'd be getting the afternoon shift. "No, that's not acceptable. I'll have my mom call you! No, I'll have my mom call the manager!" If that is your only job, and you're a raw 20-year old not in college, what gives them the right to dictate shifts? I've been there five years and am 14th out of 60 in seniority, and still subject to the same rules everyone is.
They still hired the guy. Amazing.
And what happened to the flawless, all good-news day? The day we finally get the internet up, we lose half the lights in the house due to an electrical short! I can't use the kitchen at all with the exception of the stove & refrigerator. It's another landlord issue, and for readers keeping up, he hasn't stepped up yet. Remember, trust in us is important... but yet if you hold the deed, you should show some interest in your property.
Tonight I hope to show off, as I am participating in the bowling party to end any party I've been with; at least ten other people plan to show up to watch me blow them away. I'm not one to brag, but see what happens when I actually tape old bowling shows from ESPN Classic and actually review the shots slow-motion? I can't believe the pointers I picked up about methods & execution. It seems so elementary, but somehow there was a block in thinking about that. No longer.
Work is still the same; I still can't get the day shift until we hire more part-timers to cover. What type of grown men are we hiring? One came in for an interview and was told he'd be getting the afternoon shift. "No, that's not acceptable. I'll have my mom call you! No, I'll have my mom call the manager!" If that is your only job, and you're a raw 20-year old not in college, what gives them the right to dictate shifts? I've been there five years and am 14th out of 60 in seniority, and still subject to the same rules everyone is.
They still hired the guy. Amazing.
And what happened to the flawless, all good-news day? The day we finally get the internet up, we lose half the lights in the house due to an electrical short! I can't use the kitchen at all with the exception of the stove & refrigerator. It's another landlord issue, and for readers keeping up, he hasn't stepped up yet. Remember, trust in us is important... but yet if you hold the deed, you should show some interest in your property.
October 14, 2006
One exception to voting party lines
My father has been retired since 1998 (see Dad, I told you I'd edit it!), and has lived in Arizona since 2000. That's the year which featured the end of the dot.com boom, and when public & private businesses were at their peak. No real wars to speak up, and an unprecedented budget surplus on state & federal levels.
We know too many positives are too good to be true, but this has been ridiculous in Michigan the past four years. I have voted for the minority party (in national terms) the past four elections, but I may end up voting the majority party this time in the governor's race. This is where my father doesn't know truthfully how bad the past six years have been in Michigan. He can hear about the issues, but hasn't experienced them like I have.
The current governor (Granholm) has been poison to job creation. Perhaps she didn't start the downward spiral, but most of the "loops" have surrounded her. I laugh at a campaign commercial directed against her, where she had the sound byte: "Wait five years... we'll really blow you away!" I give credit to the commercial editor for originality! And no, we can't wait five more years for this state to recover itself!
Now, you must know that I never used to vote along party lines. I always believed the best candidate should win, even if I wasn't that informed about the issues. At least that is what people tell you. The current president has ruined all that IMO, so I have been voting against his party lately.
But there are always exceptions to every rule. In this day & age, it really surprises me... but when I look at the Michigan economy (and alternately laugh or sob), and actually find that it was someone in my preferred party who hasn't improved things much, then sometimes you DO have to vote bi-partisan.
Note: I could do without the junk phone calls, though. Three calls from candidates I've never heard of? I used to hate when candidates would shove flyers at you trying to campaign on Election Day itself. Now that doesn't seem that intrusive!
We know too many positives are too good to be true, but this has been ridiculous in Michigan the past four years. I have voted for the minority party (in national terms) the past four elections, but I may end up voting the majority party this time in the governor's race. This is where my father doesn't know truthfully how bad the past six years have been in Michigan. He can hear about the issues, but hasn't experienced them like I have.
The current governor (Granholm) has been poison to job creation. Perhaps she didn't start the downward spiral, but most of the "loops" have surrounded her. I laugh at a campaign commercial directed against her, where she had the sound byte: "Wait five years... we'll really blow you away!" I give credit to the commercial editor for originality! And no, we can't wait five more years for this state to recover itself!
Now, you must know that I never used to vote along party lines. I always believed the best candidate should win, even if I wasn't that informed about the issues. At least that is what people tell you. The current president has ruined all that IMO, so I have been voting against his party lately.
But there are always exceptions to every rule. In this day & age, it really surprises me... but when I look at the Michigan economy (and alternately laugh or sob), and actually find that it was someone in my preferred party who hasn't improved things much, then sometimes you DO have to vote bi-partisan.
Note: I could do without the junk phone calls, though. Three calls from candidates I've never heard of? I used to hate when candidates would shove flyers at you trying to campaign on Election Day itself. Now that doesn't seem that intrusive!
October 12, 2006
Hyperspace or "warp" out needed
Shock, surprise: Ramblings on a Thursday...
Excuse the gaps as always, but I've not been able to get to the store to get online, and my budgetary analysis dictates I don't get internet access on my own yet.
This is really peeving off the roommate, which is almost planned. His whole world revolves around the internet (gee I wonder why the electric bill was so high), and he would fake illness, depression, or a body funk until I got off the computer. Now I recall being selfish in my youth, but to go to great dramatics like that for a 40-year old man is plain hysterical. I just wish it was taking place on a theater stage where he could win a Tony for it.
I am also getting tired of playing messenger boy between the two people in question who can't get along now. Their problems (strictly financial) are between the two of them, but I've been caught in the crossfire, which has my financial situation on a shoestring. Ignorance is bliss, so I should just turn a deaf ear. If only this world wasn't about money... see what it's destroyed so far?
... Work is getting very stressful again, and once more I made the request to go back to day shift. They are really working me hard out there and I barely get up in time to go in the next day. On days, the pace was more controlled, and I didn't have to be shuttled everywhere. My left wrist is really bothering me now to the point I can't lift heavier bags with it anymore. As short as we are over there, though, I can't afford to break down yet.
... Under the title "Sometimes It Begins With The Smile" I authored some two months back, I wrote about a redhead named Lisa who works near me. We've grown to be excellent friends, something you can't have too much of. We got to talking last week and I once again made reference to the one girl I had truly loved. At Lisa's suggestion, I wrote a letter which is still pending a stamp, and hopefully it will be on its way by the weekend. Lisa's currently on the "hate men" phase, but suggested if I could wait... goose bumps, goose bumps!
Yet, never underestimate the value of friendship. I only wish it could affect certain people more quickly than the average one.
P.S. The title refers to my need to get out of my situation as quickly as possible (for those without Star Trek as a life influence).
Excuse the gaps as always, but I've not been able to get to the store to get online, and my budgetary analysis dictates I don't get internet access on my own yet.
This is really peeving off the roommate, which is almost planned. His whole world revolves around the internet (gee I wonder why the electric bill was so high), and he would fake illness, depression, or a body funk until I got off the computer. Now I recall being selfish in my youth, but to go to great dramatics like that for a 40-year old man is plain hysterical. I just wish it was taking place on a theater stage where he could win a Tony for it.
I am also getting tired of playing messenger boy between the two people in question who can't get along now. Their problems (strictly financial) are between the two of them, but I've been caught in the crossfire, which has my financial situation on a shoestring. Ignorance is bliss, so I should just turn a deaf ear. If only this world wasn't about money... see what it's destroyed so far?
... Work is getting very stressful again, and once more I made the request to go back to day shift. They are really working me hard out there and I barely get up in time to go in the next day. On days, the pace was more controlled, and I didn't have to be shuttled everywhere. My left wrist is really bothering me now to the point I can't lift heavier bags with it anymore. As short as we are over there, though, I can't afford to break down yet.
... Under the title "Sometimes It Begins With The Smile" I authored some two months back, I wrote about a redhead named Lisa who works near me. We've grown to be excellent friends, something you can't have too much of. We got to talking last week and I once again made reference to the one girl I had truly loved. At Lisa's suggestion, I wrote a letter which is still pending a stamp, and hopefully it will be on its way by the weekend. Lisa's currently on the "hate men" phase, but suggested if I could wait... goose bumps, goose bumps!
Yet, never underestimate the value of friendship. I only wish it could affect certain people more quickly than the average one.
P.S. The title refers to my need to get out of my situation as quickly as possible (for those without Star Trek as a life influence).
October 2, 2006
When short-term destiny is controlled
Well, we've got gas now after MUCH miscommunication with the gas company. As a communications major eons ago, I make note of the communication gaps moreso than the average individual.
Communication gaps here have been self-imposed because of my unwillingness to spend money. It doesn't help that 2/3rds of the paycheck has to be held for two weeks to cover rent in case the roommate can't come up with his share. This also means I would have to pay for him AGAIN. I have no kids, so I should be nobody's father or caretaker. Partially out of revenge, I decided to not sign up for alternate internet service at this time, since all the roommate cares about is being on the computer talking to his fiancee. There's a lesson to be learned here somewhere and he'll find out in due time what that lesson is.
The two people in the main equation expect me to take sides. Taking sides really hurts all those involved. I make sure I open my ears fully to hear all arguments; though that opening makes it "in one, out the other". Is it my fault the two of them aren't friends anymore? Should I be in the middle of their money problems? I am not a banker, for pete's sake.
Why don't I move? Well, I can't afford a moving van, I don't want to look through my stuff for the sixth time in eight years, and I'd be going to sharing a house with two roommates to sharing an upstairs area with five others that I DON'T know. Time for private contemplation would only be eliminated - although I've drove past the area in question, and it's nice to look out your window and see a horse pasture on one side, a forest on the other.
There's no room currently in my life for asthetics, though. Maybe when I win the lottery.
Must head to work now... but to all those concerned about me, thank you for that concern. I am still a very long way from getting back to where I was just three months ago, but the good news is that I've not dipped further away, and that everyone else I've talked to agrees with my viewpoints. Sometimes it helps to have people who think the same way you do - I thought I was all on my own.
Thank heavens for small favors.
Communication gaps here have been self-imposed because of my unwillingness to spend money. It doesn't help that 2/3rds of the paycheck has to be held for two weeks to cover rent in case the roommate can't come up with his share. This also means I would have to pay for him AGAIN. I have no kids, so I should be nobody's father or caretaker. Partially out of revenge, I decided to not sign up for alternate internet service at this time, since all the roommate cares about is being on the computer talking to his fiancee. There's a lesson to be learned here somewhere and he'll find out in due time what that lesson is.
The two people in the main equation expect me to take sides. Taking sides really hurts all those involved. I make sure I open my ears fully to hear all arguments; though that opening makes it "in one, out the other". Is it my fault the two of them aren't friends anymore? Should I be in the middle of their money problems? I am not a banker, for pete's sake.
Why don't I move? Well, I can't afford a moving van, I don't want to look through my stuff for the sixth time in eight years, and I'd be going to sharing a house with two roommates to sharing an upstairs area with five others that I DON'T know. Time for private contemplation would only be eliminated - although I've drove past the area in question, and it's nice to look out your window and see a horse pasture on one side, a forest on the other.
There's no room currently in my life for asthetics, though. Maybe when I win the lottery.
Must head to work now... but to all those concerned about me, thank you for that concern. I am still a very long way from getting back to where I was just three months ago, but the good news is that I've not dipped further away, and that everyone else I've talked to agrees with my viewpoints. Sometimes it helps to have people who think the same way you do - I thought I was all on my own.
Thank heavens for small favors.
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