The above is a cheap reference to a vehicle that is otherwise described as being held together by duct tape, squeezing every last use out of it until it can't push anymore. An old New England proverb that my friend Pam always uses comes to mind:
"Use it up, wear it out; make it do, or do without."
Well, I've done all the four when it comes to my stupid car today, and the fourth one keeps biting me where it hurts.
Two weeks after the car originally took a dump on me, it's done so again with the same symptoms it had before. For sanity's sake, it better not be the darned starter again. Irregardless if I could get it replaced for free this time; shoddy repairs that don't last two weeks will not add to my trust level of the car. I ended up being seven minutes late for work yesterday, and my thin ice on that issue continues to weaken. It took a literal vote of confidence from the supervisor for me to get through the day.
Then my friend who got me the car said he had a 2000 Ford Taurus he could get me, with only 60,000 miles on it. I shuddered at the price, even when he told me the truth: to get quality, you have to pay for quality. I'm still scared to spend too much for quality because people in my situation have been burned plenty of times before via word of mouth. It's likely a mutual distrust of society and the people who occupy it, but personal feelings about safety must be observed.
Today was payday, so car fixes & transportation arrangements will not be a concern tomorrow as they were today. I just have to get up earlier tomorrow and be better prepared than I was today.
December 1, 2006
November 30, 2006
Farewell to Maddie
Since June, I have been riveted to a tender, yet gut-wrenching human interest story in the Detroit Free Press detailing the struggle to survive for seven-year old Maddie Trudel, a victim of bone cancer.
The stories in this series, written on & off since June, wonderfully portray the thoughts of a loving, caring father as he adjusts his life to his beloved daughter's condition; sharing her agony, and also her little triumphs in life. Maddie's father defined the term brilliantly: as great a dad to his offspring as you will find.
Maddie lost her battle with the bone cancer on Sunday, with services held yesterday. And the Free Press didn't disappoint with their last story in the installment. Written from the heart as were the others, it brought a tear to my eye.
In a world and in a newspaper always filled with bad news, these stories stood out. Readers actually had a feeling they were there in the house, hospital, or Disney World with Maddie & her father.
The media seems to make a "made-for-TV" movie out of every life story that's sensationalized. If one were made of Maddie, it would be one I would watch. My blessings to her and the family - she is reaping the joys of eternal life now with a smile on her face.
You can link to the latest article here. The page also features links to all the other articles in the series (in the grey sidebar).
The stories in this series, written on & off since June, wonderfully portray the thoughts of a loving, caring father as he adjusts his life to his beloved daughter's condition; sharing her agony, and also her little triumphs in life. Maddie's father defined the term brilliantly: as great a dad to his offspring as you will find.
Maddie lost her battle with the bone cancer on Sunday, with services held yesterday. And the Free Press didn't disappoint with their last story in the installment. Written from the heart as were the others, it brought a tear to my eye.
In a world and in a newspaper always filled with bad news, these stories stood out. Readers actually had a feeling they were there in the house, hospital, or Disney World with Maddie & her father.
The media seems to make a "made-for-TV" movie out of every life story that's sensationalized. If one were made of Maddie, it would be one I would watch. My blessings to her and the family - she is reaping the joys of eternal life now with a smile on her face.
You can link to the latest article here. The page also features links to all the other articles in the series (in the grey sidebar).
Turn the compass around
So much for looking out west.
I have currently changed directions as far as my job search goes thanks to my father, who has been proven right for what he says is the second time in his life.
The old job which I had originally wanted to try out for in the early 1990s has come up in two Massachusetts locations with the help of Monster.com: one in Dexter and the other near Hyannis Port: that of cable access coordinator for Comcast. So now I go from the west coast job search (which looked futile at first) to a possible east coast job. I always knew I had to go to one of the coasts to find something.
Comcast was even notified of my interest in the posts faster than I imagined. I filled out the sample resume on the site just thinking I'd be creating an account, and then fill out a job-specific resume when I had the chance. But an email popped up yesterday saying "Thank you for your interest." Wow.
As far as television production goes, I still have no shortage of ideal references. I just wish two of the people I did most of my work with were still living in the area. One is in Chicago working on a local station; the other is still in training to become a lawyer. The two of them became part of my life during my three years as a most-active volunteer. And by "most active", I mean I was at the studio more than they were!
I started out just like any other volunteer there: showing up when they had a production to shoot. But they became so used to me as I was trained so well, they would sometimes go for an extended lunch break and I would end up doing some of the projects myself. My parents would always complain about the experience being unpaid, but it did directly lead to the job I treasured most of all from 1996-1998.
There was some turnover in the coordinator's position at Comcast while I was there, although I figured I was out of the running: they wanted a bachelor's degree & I never got past an associate's. Now an associate's is all Comcast Massachusetts requires. They listed about 20 different duties & requirements, and I qualified for nineteen of them (the only one I missed: robotics experience).
The three coordinators I knew best weren't totally into what they were doing. Paul became a lawyer; Rob had too much of a social life to be serious about his job, and Colleen just wasn't a people person. Comcast would be getting someone totally devoted to the job and the people involved. I'm the guy, after all, who can't stand working ten minutes' overtime at the airport, but would be restless as local cable technician during the holidays, wondering why I couldn't go in.
I keep a realistic opinion about my chances. But any headaches I would endure in moving, how to get there, etc., would be well worth the self-recognition I've desired for years -- not to mention (finally) use of my degree I worked so hard & enjoyed so much getting.
I have currently changed directions as far as my job search goes thanks to my father, who has been proven right for what he says is the second time in his life.
The old job which I had originally wanted to try out for in the early 1990s has come up in two Massachusetts locations with the help of Monster.com: one in Dexter and the other near Hyannis Port: that of cable access coordinator for Comcast. So now I go from the west coast job search (which looked futile at first) to a possible east coast job. I always knew I had to go to one of the coasts to find something.
Comcast was even notified of my interest in the posts faster than I imagined. I filled out the sample resume on the site just thinking I'd be creating an account, and then fill out a job-specific resume when I had the chance. But an email popped up yesterday saying "Thank you for your interest." Wow.
As far as television production goes, I still have no shortage of ideal references. I just wish two of the people I did most of my work with were still living in the area. One is in Chicago working on a local station; the other is still in training to become a lawyer. The two of them became part of my life during my three years as a most-active volunteer. And by "most active", I mean I was at the studio more than they were!
I started out just like any other volunteer there: showing up when they had a production to shoot. But they became so used to me as I was trained so well, they would sometimes go for an extended lunch break and I would end up doing some of the projects myself. My parents would always complain about the experience being unpaid, but it did directly lead to the job I treasured most of all from 1996-1998.
There was some turnover in the coordinator's position at Comcast while I was there, although I figured I was out of the running: they wanted a bachelor's degree & I never got past an associate's. Now an associate's is all Comcast Massachusetts requires. They listed about 20 different duties & requirements, and I qualified for nineteen of them (the only one I missed: robotics experience).
The three coordinators I knew best weren't totally into what they were doing. Paul became a lawyer; Rob had too much of a social life to be serious about his job, and Colleen just wasn't a people person. Comcast would be getting someone totally devoted to the job and the people involved. I'm the guy, after all, who can't stand working ten minutes' overtime at the airport, but would be restless as local cable technician during the holidays, wondering why I couldn't go in.
I keep a realistic opinion about my chances. But any headaches I would endure in moving, how to get there, etc., would be well worth the self-recognition I've desired for years -- not to mention (finally) use of my degree I worked so hard & enjoyed so much getting.
November 28, 2006
Bush & Lions: Something in common
Another Lions football game, another Lions loss.
Another Lions loss, another (head coach) Rod Marinelli press conference saying "this team is coming together."
Another Lions loss, and another week that people wonder why CEO Matt Millen hasn't been canned long beforehand.
As an average person, you can be sure that watching the Lions every week is a wretched waste of time. The constant losing has not watered down the fan base, amazingly enough. They do talk about organizing marches, or leaving in the second quarter of games, or wearing opposing teams' outfits in order to take a stand. The passion is there and the audience still fills the seats, although some of the comments regarding their 2-9 start this year are getting agonizing - for the ones doing the commenting.
What international instances are reminding people of the Lions conducting business as they do? That's right; the war in Iraq gone horribly wrong.
Take away video of two press conferences between President Bush & Millen; you'd swear they're interchangeable. We know the war in Iraq is going to kill thousands more people unless the president changes the course & breaks up the troops. We know that will not happen - but we hope for at least some concedement that things aren't all beans & gravy.
It doesn't happen: Bush says we are winning, they are getting the people trained, violence is down, and the public shouldn't be saying anything. People wish it was just a bad dream, but it's reality.
The Lions don't warrant a story as serious - yet it's pathetic all the same. Supposedly, they're playing well (uh, dropped pass or sack), they don't get the referee's whistles (ten penalities a game will do that), and watch Millen in the 2007 offseason try to draft another wide receiver.
What's the common link? Both people say things that antagonize the viewing public, making them turn red under the collar, while both men portray the look of innocence.
There' s a reason there was a party change in Congress, and all Lions fans hope for a good reason to change parties (owners) at Ford Field in Detroit.
Until then, there's only so much hair left to pull out no matter which issue interests you more.
Another Lions loss, another (head coach) Rod Marinelli press conference saying "this team is coming together."
Another Lions loss, and another week that people wonder why CEO Matt Millen hasn't been canned long beforehand.
As an average person, you can be sure that watching the Lions every week is a wretched waste of time. The constant losing has not watered down the fan base, amazingly enough. They do talk about organizing marches, or leaving in the second quarter of games, or wearing opposing teams' outfits in order to take a stand. The passion is there and the audience still fills the seats, although some of the comments regarding their 2-9 start this year are getting agonizing - for the ones doing the commenting.
What international instances are reminding people of the Lions conducting business as they do? That's right; the war in Iraq gone horribly wrong.
Take away video of two press conferences between President Bush & Millen; you'd swear they're interchangeable. We know the war in Iraq is going to kill thousands more people unless the president changes the course & breaks up the troops. We know that will not happen - but we hope for at least some concedement that things aren't all beans & gravy.
It doesn't happen: Bush says we are winning, they are getting the people trained, violence is down, and the public shouldn't be saying anything. People wish it was just a bad dream, but it's reality.
The Lions don't warrant a story as serious - yet it's pathetic all the same. Supposedly, they're playing well (uh, dropped pass or sack), they don't get the referee's whistles (ten penalities a game will do that), and watch Millen in the 2007 offseason try to draft another wide receiver.
What's the common link? Both people say things that antagonize the viewing public, making them turn red under the collar, while both men portray the look of innocence.
There' s a reason there was a party change in Congress, and all Lions fans hope for a good reason to change parties (owners) at Ford Field in Detroit.
Until then, there's only so much hair left to pull out no matter which issue interests you more.
November 27, 2006
Health & decision update
The all-year sinuses, dizzy spells, and fear of spreading germs earned me an early trip home from work today. Coupled with a free off-day tomorrow and my regular off days on Wednesday/Thursday, this will give me 3 1/2 days to decide what to do about short-term life.
I do apologize for yesterday's entry, if it seems to be so bitter. But when you live paycheck to paycheck like I do, you tend not to be the most optimistic person in the world. Mind you, I don't label myself as pessimistic, but "realistic" these days, and fear of failure is always realistic. If I dwelled on it too much yesterday, please forgive me.
I have much cleaning & organizing to do, plus many people to talk to - not just the doctors. I have to know where my next steps will take me.
I do apologize for yesterday's entry, if it seems to be so bitter. But when you live paycheck to paycheck like I do, you tend not to be the most optimistic person in the world. Mind you, I don't label myself as pessimistic, but "realistic" these days, and fear of failure is always realistic. If I dwelled on it too much yesterday, please forgive me.
I have much cleaning & organizing to do, plus many people to talk to - not just the doctors. I have to know where my next steps will take me.
Gas research forthcoming
In the near future, I will be doing more research into a favorite subject of mine, gas station history. However, I will be profiling more of what's out there today as compared to yesteryear.
Considering the constant fluctuation of gas prices, I've wondered recently why the price displays don't go LED or digital. I've seen some stations change their prices three times in one day - and most always with an employee using one of those sticks to move plastic numbers around. Especially in frigid weather, why subject the employee to the elements just because gas became more (or less) valuable?
Were the gods listening to me? I doubt it, but there are two or three service stations around me now that are going the red LED route. Isn't it easier to control price displays with a remote control? You'd think many stations would have caught on by now... but a Google search into display signs turned up NO photos of digital displays. I guess they're not as popular as they should be.
This would be my only admittance that some modernization of gas stations is needed through time. But I still prefer the old friendly service stations. Those people my age will remember some of the great ones, including Texaco, Boron, Sohio and others.
But who's in charge of naming these places now? I can understand off-shoot brands & independent owners. But some of these names strike a nerve: "WOW!", "Fusion" (when seen from afar it looks like it reads "Tucson"), and the worst one I've seen yet: "Welcome".
Can you imagine these companies demanding royalty payments every time the words are used, LOL? It's no wonder, as I've said before, that petroleum companies are where the money ends up.
Considering the constant fluctuation of gas prices, I've wondered recently why the price displays don't go LED or digital. I've seen some stations change their prices three times in one day - and most always with an employee using one of those sticks to move plastic numbers around. Especially in frigid weather, why subject the employee to the elements just because gas became more (or less) valuable?
Were the gods listening to me? I doubt it, but there are two or three service stations around me now that are going the red LED route. Isn't it easier to control price displays with a remote control? You'd think many stations would have caught on by now... but a Google search into display signs turned up NO photos of digital displays. I guess they're not as popular as they should be.
This would be my only admittance that some modernization of gas stations is needed through time. But I still prefer the old friendly service stations. Those people my age will remember some of the great ones, including Texaco, Boron, Sohio and others.
But who's in charge of naming these places now? I can understand off-shoot brands & independent owners. But some of these names strike a nerve: "WOW!", "Fusion" (when seen from afar it looks like it reads "Tucson"), and the worst one I've seen yet: "Welcome".
Can you imagine these companies demanding royalty payments every time the words are used, LOL? It's no wonder, as I've said before, that petroleum companies are where the money ends up.
November 25, 2006
Friday's shoppers looked harmless
This was meant to be posted yesterday, but the question still lingers to me: Is it really true that the absolute busiest shopping day of the year is the day after Thanksgiving?
The newspapers make a big deal about this - usually they use front-page hype to promote the new "Elmo" doll (I could care less if he tickles, touches or swears). These articles give you the impression that you HAVE to be there to watch the hoopla, spend countless hours participating in it, and make your wallet ten pounds lighter.
Well... driving around after work yesterday about 2PM EST, I saw a mall that didn't even need their overflow parking area. I used to live near Southland Mall in Taylor, and they had a gravel patch, far away from the building, that they only used this time of year for overflow parking. I live near Westland Mall now, and I couldn't believe the amount of parking spaces available -- even halfway down the aisle. I don't consider this a rush; I really didn't note a drastic difference in car volume.
Then to K-Mart near my house to retrieve the roommate's forgotten items from an earlier trip. In addition to overflow parking lots, I always remembered long lines, and every cashier station open & operating. The K-Mart in Woodhaven used to have nineteen checkout lines, and it was so funny to see all of them operating. This K-Mart has twelve checkout lines, and four of them were still closed! I was in & out of the line in five minutes. These are not the "rushes" I remember.
You can throw out all the statistics the papers throw at you about the economy, and even forget the malaise that is Michigan's economy: if people want to buy, they will buy. Where were the buyers, then -- if indeed Friday was supposed to be the busiest shopping day of the year?
The holiday evidentally has gotten off to a flat start in '06 in spite of what the papers are saying (the papers are lying & sensationalizing -- gee, what a Christmas gift).
The newspapers make a big deal about this - usually they use front-page hype to promote the new "Elmo" doll (I could care less if he tickles, touches or swears). These articles give you the impression that you HAVE to be there to watch the hoopla, spend countless hours participating in it, and make your wallet ten pounds lighter.
Well... driving around after work yesterday about 2PM EST, I saw a mall that didn't even need their overflow parking area. I used to live near Southland Mall in Taylor, and they had a gravel patch, far away from the building, that they only used this time of year for overflow parking. I live near Westland Mall now, and I couldn't believe the amount of parking spaces available -- even halfway down the aisle. I don't consider this a rush; I really didn't note a drastic difference in car volume.
Then to K-Mart near my house to retrieve the roommate's forgotten items from an earlier trip. In addition to overflow parking lots, I always remembered long lines, and every cashier station open & operating. The K-Mart in Woodhaven used to have nineteen checkout lines, and it was so funny to see all of them operating. This K-Mart has twelve checkout lines, and four of them were still closed! I was in & out of the line in five minutes. These are not the "rushes" I remember.
You can throw out all the statistics the papers throw at you about the economy, and even forget the malaise that is Michigan's economy: if people want to buy, they will buy. Where were the buyers, then -- if indeed Friday was supposed to be the busiest shopping day of the year?
The holiday evidentally has gotten off to a flat start in '06 in spite of what the papers are saying (the papers are lying & sensationalizing -- gee, what a Christmas gift).
November 23, 2006
Ah, no cooking involved
Happy Turkey Day to all.
As I am under the weather due to persistent sinus & cough, I doubt I will be making it out to see people or to eat a full meal today. This is in stark contrast to the Thanksgiving meals I knew when I was growing up. We'd have my mother's immediate family over every year, and if we were lucky, we'd even get my father's mom over the house. She always accepted the first invite she was given... I think we only had her at the house twice all those years.
I enjoyed watching the preparation of the turkey & pumpkin pie, among other things. Fallen to me, I have not come close to preparing anything as complicated. But I have tried, twice.
The first year was at the Dearborn apartment, when co-workers sprung for me to cook a turkey for the department. The 22-pound bird actually turned out perfectly, although I made one fatal mistake. Though the pan I used was oven-safe, it wasn't your classic covered pan; it was something I picked up for about $4.00, and it bent too much.
Then, splash! All the turkey basting ended up on top of the stove when I took the pan out for the last time. Heck, the apartment smelled a lot nicer for days afterward, but try cleaning turkey baste off a stubborn stove.
Then in 2004, I bought a 17-pound turkey, determined to do things right this time. I carefully recalled all the preparation time my mother had put into it, and even double-checked with my aunt for the cooking procedure. Now I've been accused of rushing the cooking process by cranking the oven up 100 degrees to save time - but we all know that results in uneven cooking. I was to go by the book this time and slow cook it, so it would be the best experience possible.
I had the basting times down to a science: every 25 minutes. So the kitchen timer would buzz every 25 minutes, with the roommate thinking the turkey was done. About the ninth time, I just started rolling my eyes and saying "No Steve, the turkey's not done yet." To this day, whenever we set the timer for anything (even to reset the clock to DST), we both chorus those seven words.
But that story didn't have a happy ending. Despite the slow cook time at a good temperature, the inner workings of the turkey were hardly cooked. We ended up eating fragments of the skin & outer meat while spitting at the flat mashed potatoes. And this was after I found out I never even took the giblets bag out of the damn turkey! I was shocked & amazed it held out in the oven for so long without burning up.
This year? No encore, sorry to say. My parents & I went to a country club one year for Thanksgiving, and I remember complaining we were away from the family and the fuss. My mother reminded me that she needed to relax that year.
Having two, um, interesting experiences with turkey cooking myself, I can appreciate that need to relax.
As I am under the weather due to persistent sinus & cough, I doubt I will be making it out to see people or to eat a full meal today. This is in stark contrast to the Thanksgiving meals I knew when I was growing up. We'd have my mother's immediate family over every year, and if we were lucky, we'd even get my father's mom over the house. She always accepted the first invite she was given... I think we only had her at the house twice all those years.
I enjoyed watching the preparation of the turkey & pumpkin pie, among other things. Fallen to me, I have not come close to preparing anything as complicated. But I have tried, twice.
The first year was at the Dearborn apartment, when co-workers sprung for me to cook a turkey for the department. The 22-pound bird actually turned out perfectly, although I made one fatal mistake. Though the pan I used was oven-safe, it wasn't your classic covered pan; it was something I picked up for about $4.00, and it bent too much.
Then, splash! All the turkey basting ended up on top of the stove when I took the pan out for the last time. Heck, the apartment smelled a lot nicer for days afterward, but try cleaning turkey baste off a stubborn stove.
Then in 2004, I bought a 17-pound turkey, determined to do things right this time. I carefully recalled all the preparation time my mother had put into it, and even double-checked with my aunt for the cooking procedure. Now I've been accused of rushing the cooking process by cranking the oven up 100 degrees to save time - but we all know that results in uneven cooking. I was to go by the book this time and slow cook it, so it would be the best experience possible.
I had the basting times down to a science: every 25 minutes. So the kitchen timer would buzz every 25 minutes, with the roommate thinking the turkey was done. About the ninth time, I just started rolling my eyes and saying "No Steve, the turkey's not done yet." To this day, whenever we set the timer for anything (even to reset the clock to DST), we both chorus those seven words.
But that story didn't have a happy ending. Despite the slow cook time at a good temperature, the inner workings of the turkey were hardly cooked. We ended up eating fragments of the skin & outer meat while spitting at the flat mashed potatoes. And this was after I found out I never even took the giblets bag out of the damn turkey! I was shocked & amazed it held out in the oven for so long without burning up.
This year? No encore, sorry to say. My parents & I went to a country club one year for Thanksgiving, and I remember complaining we were away from the family and the fuss. My mother reminded me that she needed to relax that year.
Having two, um, interesting experiences with turkey cooking myself, I can appreciate that need to relax.
November 22, 2006
Pre-holiday fare
* What is it with new electronics equipment these days? We get a state-of-the-art DSL modem just a mere six weeks ago, and in that short time, the circuitry goes defective; costing us yet another week in lost internet time.
To the service provider's credit, however, they did provide immediate service and over-the-phone help. We just wish we could have had the thing Fed-Ex'd over here!
* Everything went wrong for me last week: got in trouble with poor attendance at work, the modem breaks down, and the car went out for three days as $180 had to be put into it for a starter. Every car I've ever had, save the van in the late 90's, has needed a replaced starter. It's not as if I grind the thing to the ground.
Come to think of it, I don't abuse my cars half as much as some people today who insist on being hot-rods. How long do brakes last in their cars?
* Today marks the 43rd anniversary of the JFK assassination. I'm a big buff on the case, and I HAD a comprehensive site linked to the right - but now it doesn't show up. I'll have another link posted soon. In the meantime, I added a few new ones.
In my opinion: JFK's actual assassin may be unknown (Oswald did participate), but I believe the killing was ordered by FBI director J. Edgar Hoover in order to keep (wink-wink) goodwill with crime lords from here & abroad. How else do you begin to explain the coordinated, out-of-character attitudes that all police authority seemed to exhibit on that day?
* Started talking to a real nice girl at work last week - her name is Sheila (same as my older cousin). If first impressions mean anything, she put forth a great one on Monday. She was smiling, asking me questions about my job, what I do for fun, what my plans were for Turkey Day, and how I felt relationships should be best conducted. This conversation lasted for over 20 minutes.
Heck! They wouldn't ask all these questions just to pass the time. There was substance beyond those questions; sincerety as well - plus an offer to hang out & shoot pool sometime. And cue the drum roll, please: Sheila's actually YOUNGER than me!
They say the true relationships that work are the unexpected ones. This came totally out of left field (at least I hope!).
To the service provider's credit, however, they did provide immediate service and over-the-phone help. We just wish we could have had the thing Fed-Ex'd over here!
* Everything went wrong for me last week: got in trouble with poor attendance at work, the modem breaks down, and the car went out for three days as $180 had to be put into it for a starter. Every car I've ever had, save the van in the late 90's, has needed a replaced starter. It's not as if I grind the thing to the ground.
Come to think of it, I don't abuse my cars half as much as some people today who insist on being hot-rods. How long do brakes last in their cars?
* Today marks the 43rd anniversary of the JFK assassination. I'm a big buff on the case, and I HAD a comprehensive site linked to the right - but now it doesn't show up. I'll have another link posted soon. In the meantime, I added a few new ones.
In my opinion: JFK's actual assassin may be unknown (Oswald did participate), but I believe the killing was ordered by FBI director J. Edgar Hoover in order to keep (wink-wink) goodwill with crime lords from here & abroad. How else do you begin to explain the coordinated, out-of-character attitudes that all police authority seemed to exhibit on that day?
* Started talking to a real nice girl at work last week - her name is Sheila (same as my older cousin). If first impressions mean anything, she put forth a great one on Monday. She was smiling, asking me questions about my job, what I do for fun, what my plans were for Turkey Day, and how I felt relationships should be best conducted. This conversation lasted for over 20 minutes.
Heck! They wouldn't ask all these questions just to pass the time. There was substance beyond those questions; sincerety as well - plus an offer to hang out & shoot pool sometime. And cue the drum roll, please: Sheila's actually YOUNGER than me!
They say the true relationships that work are the unexpected ones. This came totally out of left field (at least I hope!).
November 14, 2006
College sport feedback needed
I've recently marked the six-month anniversary of this blog. Things have gone rather smoothly throughout, as I've noticed not much of my material has been biased enough to warrant debate. Not that I'm complaining... but there is an issue I know I'll get hammered for, and I'll gladly accept any challenges on:
Why are college sports getting so much attention, and is it deserved attention?
I know & can appreciate one of the goals that publicizing college sports strives for: to show sports fans who the future generation of pro sports belong to. But I never understood why the hoopla goes so far, especially with college basketball. The season seems to last forever. You would think that seeing Duke win all those games, and teams such as UConn consistently defying odds & getting into the national spotlight were more important than anything going on in the pro level. Does interest in an athlete's talents automatically have to lose viewers because that person is no longer in college?
The headline making the local newspapers most of the week has been the Michigan/Ohio State football game coming up on Saturday. I am always shrugging and saying "so what?" I am more a die-hard pro fan, and my preference still includes watching a pathetic 2-7 Detroit Lions team than to see whether the Wolverines will wind up with a perfect record. I'd rather see a battle for the World Series crown than for the Little Brown Jug. But what do I seem to hear about more? Certainly not the former, with the media having its way.
Your job is to feel free and bash this entry as much as you can, trying to convince me why I should give college sports credit for more than constant front-page exposure and sports show leadoff subjects. How did you go about getting the fever for a college team to where the pep & enthusiasm show more in college basketball stands than NBA stands? Why are bettors more enthused to collect for college picks rather than pro picks? Aren't pro picks the cream of the crop?
It's not a guarantee that any one person or argument will make me ditch the pro gear I wear and go to college pennants. But I certainly would appreciate the perspective of ones who do. Heck, the only reason I wear a Michigan State jacket is to keep warm. Imagine that!
I'd like to give credit where it's due, but I want to know why I'd be doing so.
Why are college sports getting so much attention, and is it deserved attention?
I know & can appreciate one of the goals that publicizing college sports strives for: to show sports fans who the future generation of pro sports belong to. But I never understood why the hoopla goes so far, especially with college basketball. The season seems to last forever. You would think that seeing Duke win all those games, and teams such as UConn consistently defying odds & getting into the national spotlight were more important than anything going on in the pro level. Does interest in an athlete's talents automatically have to lose viewers because that person is no longer in college?
The headline making the local newspapers most of the week has been the Michigan/Ohio State football game coming up on Saturday. I am always shrugging and saying "so what?" I am more a die-hard pro fan, and my preference still includes watching a pathetic 2-7 Detroit Lions team than to see whether the Wolverines will wind up with a perfect record. I'd rather see a battle for the World Series crown than for the Little Brown Jug. But what do I seem to hear about more? Certainly not the former, with the media having its way.
Your job is to feel free and bash this entry as much as you can, trying to convince me why I should give college sports credit for more than constant front-page exposure and sports show leadoff subjects. How did you go about getting the fever for a college team to where the pep & enthusiasm show more in college basketball stands than NBA stands? Why are bettors more enthused to collect for college picks rather than pro picks? Aren't pro picks the cream of the crop?
It's not a guarantee that any one person or argument will make me ditch the pro gear I wear and go to college pennants. But I certainly would appreciate the perspective of ones who do. Heck, the only reason I wear a Michigan State jacket is to keep warm. Imagine that!
I'd like to give credit where it's due, but I want to know why I'd be doing so.
November 12, 2006
Consolation prize for Linus
Environmentalists lament about farmland, vineyards, and other fields being taken up by development called "progress". Detroit Metro Airport is no different. Though much of the land to the immediate north & south is vacant, plans are being made to further develop these plots and add to the sewer & utility woes some neighborhoods experience.
There's still some room for farming, allbeit limited. This small area includes a pumpkin patch which is alongside the airport's main route about fifteen blocks up.
It makes me somewhat amazed that as busy & as polluted as the general area is, that there's still soil in existence that's somewhat fertile. But for all the landowner's efforts in planting the pumpkin seeds (not to mention keeping the area from builders), are the efforts worth it?
They had their annual pumpkin pick & sale from around October 15th to the first of this month. I drove by the area on approximately seven occasions, and only twice did I even see any customers hunting around the area. Then today, driving home from work, I saw a pile of almost 100 pumpkins dumped in a corner of the lot: many smashed, others deformed & perhaps diseased.
Simply put, if they will not be used to make fresh pumpkin pie, then what is the point of planting them when half of them don't end up selling?
Or put it this way: Why sell them for carving at all?
I never got into the carving, much as I didn't get into the treats. At a young age, when I saw the pumpkin guts, my stomach turned. How could that "slop" turn out to be pie? And what do we do with the jack-o-lantern we can no longer have because it begins to sag?
Buying plastic props would be cheap and untraditional, but would certainly save some bucks for the consumer by using a reusable resource - not to mention the many pumpkins that could be saved & utilized the best way: the aforementioned pies.
See it as you will. It's likely if you took my word for it, you'd swear Halloween would join the long list of "Hallmark" or "Peanuts" holidays. Just don't tell Linus!
There's still some room for farming, allbeit limited. This small area includes a pumpkin patch which is alongside the airport's main route about fifteen blocks up.
It makes me somewhat amazed that as busy & as polluted as the general area is, that there's still soil in existence that's somewhat fertile. But for all the landowner's efforts in planting the pumpkin seeds (not to mention keeping the area from builders), are the efforts worth it?
They had their annual pumpkin pick & sale from around October 15th to the first of this month. I drove by the area on approximately seven occasions, and only twice did I even see any customers hunting around the area. Then today, driving home from work, I saw a pile of almost 100 pumpkins dumped in a corner of the lot: many smashed, others deformed & perhaps diseased.
Simply put, if they will not be used to make fresh pumpkin pie, then what is the point of planting them when half of them don't end up selling?
Or put it this way: Why sell them for carving at all?
I never got into the carving, much as I didn't get into the treats. At a young age, when I saw the pumpkin guts, my stomach turned. How could that "slop" turn out to be pie? And what do we do with the jack-o-lantern we can no longer have because it begins to sag?
Buying plastic props would be cheap and untraditional, but would certainly save some bucks for the consumer by using a reusable resource - not to mention the many pumpkins that could be saved & utilized the best way: the aforementioned pies.
See it as you will. It's likely if you took my word for it, you'd swear Halloween would join the long list of "Hallmark" or "Peanuts" holidays. Just don't tell Linus!
November 11, 2006
Want a diverse range?
Below I spoke of my love for popular music - all types & all eras.
From what I've seen, most music is typecast by the generation first hearing it. As they go on in life, they lose touch with the music that comes out later. Their music is referred to later as "oldies". I have always tried to escape that "dating" by diversifing my music tastes to accomodate all eras. I have wowed women and friends by showing them samples of what I've listened to. The woman I dated 12 years my senior (Bonnie) last year actually was won over by my liking The Carpenters. Yes, those Carpenters. Hey, they had great songs.
I like popular classic rock, B-sides, 1970s ballads, disco, and big-band 1940s-50s music the best, but will listen to anything once so I can note it. If a band is known for one major song, I'll download their other songs as favorites. The two types of music I will not make a habit of listening to: this so-called "gangsta rap" and any individual song that promotes exploitation or violence of women and children.
Want that diverse range? Here's ten songs I recently downloaded, with release years:
1. Black Crowes/"She Talks To Angels" (1990)
2. Jackson Browne/"She Must Have Been Somebody's Baby" (1981)
3. Celine Dion/"A New Day Has Come" (1999)
4. Vince Guilardi Trio/"Cast Your Fate To The Wind" (1963)
5. The Cars/"Drive" (1985)
6. David Baby Cortez/"The Happy Organ" (1959)
7. Indigo Girls/"Closer To Fine" (1996)
8. Fergie/"London Bridge" (2006)
9. Rolling Stones/"Miss You" (1977)
10. k.d. lang/"Constant Craving" (1991)
From what I've seen, most music is typecast by the generation first hearing it. As they go on in life, they lose touch with the music that comes out later. Their music is referred to later as "oldies". I have always tried to escape that "dating" by diversifing my music tastes to accomodate all eras. I have wowed women and friends by showing them samples of what I've listened to. The woman I dated 12 years my senior (Bonnie) last year actually was won over by my liking The Carpenters. Yes, those Carpenters. Hey, they had great songs.
I like popular classic rock, B-sides, 1970s ballads, disco, and big-band 1940s-50s music the best, but will listen to anything once so I can note it. If a band is known for one major song, I'll download their other songs as favorites. The two types of music I will not make a habit of listening to: this so-called "gangsta rap" and any individual song that promotes exploitation or violence of women and children.
Want that diverse range? Here's ten songs I recently downloaded, with release years:
1. Black Crowes/"She Talks To Angels" (1990)
2. Jackson Browne/"She Must Have Been Somebody's Baby" (1981)
3. Celine Dion/"A New Day Has Come" (1999)
4. Vince Guilardi Trio/"Cast Your Fate To The Wind" (1963)
5. The Cars/"Drive" (1985)
6. David Baby Cortez/"The Happy Organ" (1959)
7. Indigo Girls/"Closer To Fine" (1996)
8. Fergie/"London Bridge" (2006)
9. Rolling Stones/"Miss You" (1977)
10. k.d. lang/"Constant Craving" (1991)
Thankful for replay lists
Miscellaneous ramblings on a quiet Saturday before the DAY SHIFT resumes tomorrow:
* This chance wasn't going to pass me by again: I'm a overall popular music nut who has a computer collection of nearly 330 songs I've enjoyed from 1954 (Chordettes/"Mr. Sandman") to even the present day (Jesse McCartney/"Beautiful Soul").
One song had eluded me since the days before automated downloads (8-tracks); one of those annoyingly good songs which sound great, but I knew no lyrics to, no title for, and of course no artist information. The local classic rock station plays it about once a year, which made it more frustrating.
Finally, I caught the tail end of it last night while doing some running after work, finally now with the knowledge the radio station's website has a 24-hour database showing what was played. Just noting the time, I raced home -- found it -- and downloaded it. Now I'm playing it on a continuous loop until I tire of it -- which might not happen today, since it represents a 10-year victory for me!
FYI: Mott The Hoople/"All The Young Dudes" (1972), heavily influenced by David Bowie.
* Weird dream last night; a replay of a playground scene I knew from grade school in the early 80s, with my best friend at the time playing a supporting role. I often wonder what happened to the guy (Brad), who was a football player, but excelled at amateur wrestling and had his career apparently set up to be a stock broker. I've not seen him since 1993 at the mall, though I thought I saw him in 2003 at a media outlet. If it was indeed Brad, the wrestling literally ended up crippling him as he was struggling to walk with a cane. Too young (32 at the time) for that to happen to him.
Amazing, with all the time we spent together over the years, that 13 years have passed. Kids go into school claiming they have best friends, but so often that never lasts long. I always hoped it would, but I guess they've been proven right. It'd be great to get together, too. Hopefully I didn't turn out as bad as he thought I might!
* At least the supervisor at work last night told me he'd miss me on his shift. Doing the best you can for the supervisor counts for something.
* This chance wasn't going to pass me by again: I'm a overall popular music nut who has a computer collection of nearly 330 songs I've enjoyed from 1954 (Chordettes/"Mr. Sandman") to even the present day (Jesse McCartney/"Beautiful Soul").
One song had eluded me since the days before automated downloads (8-tracks); one of those annoyingly good songs which sound great, but I knew no lyrics to, no title for, and of course no artist information. The local classic rock station plays it about once a year, which made it more frustrating.
Finally, I caught the tail end of it last night while doing some running after work, finally now with the knowledge the radio station's website has a 24-hour database showing what was played. Just noting the time, I raced home -- found it -- and downloaded it. Now I'm playing it on a continuous loop until I tire of it -- which might not happen today, since it represents a 10-year victory for me!
FYI: Mott The Hoople/"All The Young Dudes" (1972), heavily influenced by David Bowie.
* Weird dream last night; a replay of a playground scene I knew from grade school in the early 80s, with my best friend at the time playing a supporting role. I often wonder what happened to the guy (Brad), who was a football player, but excelled at amateur wrestling and had his career apparently set up to be a stock broker. I've not seen him since 1993 at the mall, though I thought I saw him in 2003 at a media outlet. If it was indeed Brad, the wrestling literally ended up crippling him as he was struggling to walk with a cane. Too young (32 at the time) for that to happen to him.
Amazing, with all the time we spent together over the years, that 13 years have passed. Kids go into school claiming they have best friends, but so often that never lasts long. I always hoped it would, but I guess they've been proven right. It'd be great to get together, too. Hopefully I didn't turn out as bad as he thought I might!
* At least the supervisor at work last night told me he'd miss me on his shift. Doing the best you can for the supervisor counts for something.
November 10, 2006
The semi-annual semi-annual
The entire time I have been working the screwy afternoon shift, it seems there's no energy left in the tank when I stumble home. As a result, I make a full confession that I'm not the housekeeper I was at one time - but not due to lack of ability.
Okay, you're probably thinking, "A bachelor? Cleaning a bachelor pad?" I certainly got yelled at enough over my formative years for being, for lack of a better word, a pig. When I finally moved out on my own at the young age of 27, I decided I would be more of a cleaner than a "messer".
I remember starting out on my other cousin's house, beginning with the furniture arrangements ("Shouldn't the couch be resting against the wall?"), but then it ended up being general housecleaning. I'll never forget being in a panic just after Christmas, when my ex-girlfriend & her family were to pay a visit for a hastily-arranged holiday dinner. I managed to get the house spic & span through four hours of heavy cleaning, but it ended up taking its toll. And of course, when the cousin came home, she started asking where everything was. Turned out to be a trite embarassing.
When I lived at my Grandma's house, I kept the house clean as she would have, and it drew raves from everyone in the family. There was a sense of family pride in that house along with a lot of history, and that house never functioned as a bachelor pad before. Call it an appreciation of tradition, but I did my best.
The ex-girlfriend's house was a total loss thanks to the population there (two kids, the cats, the iguanas), and the apartment didn't count due to lack of space. The nine months I was there, it looked like a warehouse because I never bothered to unpack much of the stuff.
Flash forward to the house I've been in since 2003. This morning marked the first cleaning of the kitchen crevices in nearly two years. You'd swear I never lived in my Grandma's house. Questions were raised by the roommate about lack of cupboard space to place his food. Now there's no room for complaint: eighty percent of the boxes were junked due to expiration dates (the Science Experiment Society said "no thank you"), and the cans will be next. No one around here eats pineapple anyway, fresh or not.
Back to the question posed before: why clean it when it's a bachelor pad? Again, a matter of pride. As you know from reading, the landlord loves us here because we take good care of the place. Come again?
But with the shift back to days taking place at work beginning Sunday, I'll have more control over my day. And there won't be an excuse left. Family pride from the past will show from me no matter how the living quarters are classified.
Okay, you're probably thinking, "A bachelor? Cleaning a bachelor pad?" I certainly got yelled at enough over my formative years for being, for lack of a better word, a pig. When I finally moved out on my own at the young age of 27, I decided I would be more of a cleaner than a "messer".
I remember starting out on my other cousin's house, beginning with the furniture arrangements ("Shouldn't the couch be resting against the wall?"), but then it ended up being general housecleaning. I'll never forget being in a panic just after Christmas, when my ex-girlfriend & her family were to pay a visit for a hastily-arranged holiday dinner. I managed to get the house spic & span through four hours of heavy cleaning, but it ended up taking its toll. And of course, when the cousin came home, she started asking where everything was. Turned out to be a trite embarassing.
When I lived at my Grandma's house, I kept the house clean as she would have, and it drew raves from everyone in the family. There was a sense of family pride in that house along with a lot of history, and that house never functioned as a bachelor pad before. Call it an appreciation of tradition, but I did my best.
The ex-girlfriend's house was a total loss thanks to the population there (two kids, the cats, the iguanas), and the apartment didn't count due to lack of space. The nine months I was there, it looked like a warehouse because I never bothered to unpack much of the stuff.
Flash forward to the house I've been in since 2003. This morning marked the first cleaning of the kitchen crevices in nearly two years. You'd swear I never lived in my Grandma's house. Questions were raised by the roommate about lack of cupboard space to place his food. Now there's no room for complaint: eighty percent of the boxes were junked due to expiration dates (the Science Experiment Society said "no thank you"), and the cans will be next. No one around here eats pineapple anyway, fresh or not.
Back to the question posed before: why clean it when it's a bachelor pad? Again, a matter of pride. As you know from reading, the landlord loves us here because we take good care of the place. Come again?
But with the shift back to days taking place at work beginning Sunday, I'll have more control over my day. And there won't be an excuse left. Family pride from the past will show from me no matter how the living quarters are classified.
November 9, 2006
Photos by popular demand
Here are some photos that were requested by a blog reader, who asked me about the missing younger cousin in that family photo shown last week. Above is Brian, who was busy playing football when we finally got Susan, the guest of honor, to come outside & greet her guests. This young man is the reason I retired from basketball over the summer. He's tall & lean for his age, but I still have him in height by at least a foot. What the heck is he doing dunking over me? I laugh, but realize the NBA will never hire me for a thing.
And this is Lisa, the airport co-worker (though for another airline) that I've talked about several times here. She's a great friend and good company. This was a spur-of-the moment photo taken basically as a prank. She was on the floor cleaning her desk, but the office chair was indeed broken as well (sign on seat says "Chair Is Broken"). She protested this photo and said she look terrible. Now we all know that's not true. The best smiles are the natural ones, and this photo was taken with lots of laughter; never mind the protests. Just find me a girl with Lisa's personality, looks, and caring nature - I'll be the happiest blogger you can find.
Can't apologize for duties
Last night at work ended up being a wild one. Minding my own business while waiting for my final flight to come in, a cleaning lady with only three days on the job to her credit passed by. I only made note of her badge, knowing she was legal outside, and I went back on break.
Then, a loud "HONK!" I knew this to be a security door alarm and rushed outside. She tried to gain access through a sealed door that had never been opened in the five years I've been there (the door is reserved for emergency sheriff usage only). Obviously due to her lack of experience, she just stood there, shocked while continuing to hold the door open.
I told her to close it immediately, and followed it up with proper procedure: airport operations needed to be called, and she needed to stand by that door until security came to clear her. I obtained the number from operations solely so she didn't have to stand there all night waiting for them to arrive.
My flight then came in and we took care of it. Upon punching out, I found there had been much fallout: apparently, everyone that came to the scene (and by that I mean everyone) gave her the ninth degree, threatened suspension, firing, retraining; the whole nine yards. She was on the verge of a breakdown. I saw her later in the baggage claim area complaining to some co-workers about the incident; awaiting her boyfriend to arrive and take her home, because she swore she was quitting after this incident.
I only hope that if she's thinking along logical lines, she doesn't attempt to blame me. I feel bad for her for the discomfort she experienced.
But I can't apologize for doing my job. If we are to earn a badge and keep it, we have to challenge any unnatural situation or allegedly illegal person. This is the number one thing you are trained for in order to keep the facility secure. If the roles were reversed, I would certainly expect to be come down upon. I would actually have been in a thankful mood for operations giving me the number to call myself, so I could explain first-hand what had happened.
Since I am not actual airport security, I cannot judge the harshness of the punishment they may have handed down. This is totally up to them and can vary depending on the scenario. The responsibility was on them. Call me a "trouble-starter" if you will; but with my actions, I knew I was achieving the exact opposite.
Then, a loud "HONK!" I knew this to be a security door alarm and rushed outside. She tried to gain access through a sealed door that had never been opened in the five years I've been there (the door is reserved for emergency sheriff usage only). Obviously due to her lack of experience, she just stood there, shocked while continuing to hold the door open.
I told her to close it immediately, and followed it up with proper procedure: airport operations needed to be called, and she needed to stand by that door until security came to clear her. I obtained the number from operations solely so she didn't have to stand there all night waiting for them to arrive.
My flight then came in and we took care of it. Upon punching out, I found there had been much fallout: apparently, everyone that came to the scene (and by that I mean everyone) gave her the ninth degree, threatened suspension, firing, retraining; the whole nine yards. She was on the verge of a breakdown. I saw her later in the baggage claim area complaining to some co-workers about the incident; awaiting her boyfriend to arrive and take her home, because she swore she was quitting after this incident.
I only hope that if she's thinking along logical lines, she doesn't attempt to blame me. I feel bad for her for the discomfort she experienced.
But I can't apologize for doing my job. If we are to earn a badge and keep it, we have to challenge any unnatural situation or allegedly illegal person. This is the number one thing you are trained for in order to keep the facility secure. If the roles were reversed, I would certainly expect to be come down upon. I would actually have been in a thankful mood for operations giving me the number to call myself, so I could explain first-hand what had happened.
Since I am not actual airport security, I cannot judge the harshness of the punishment they may have handed down. This is totally up to them and can vary depending on the scenario. The responsibility was on them. Call me a "trouble-starter" if you will; but with my actions, I knew I was achieving the exact opposite.
November 7, 2006
Milk addicts in-training
... And everyone called me a nutcase for preferring milk over beer.
I may have started a new tradition at work. Ever since I worked at Calder Dairy in 2000 & 2001, I have sworn by the products they've made. They're very versatile, offering over a dozen different types of milk, plus orange juice, cottage cheese, sour cream, etc. They are very well known in a limited area of Detroit, but turns out nobody at work knew about them.
They know now. After I get out and vote today, I'll be headed to the dairy to give everyone their Tuesday treat. All it took for some of the workers was one sip of the chocolate milk, and now they keep bugging me as to when I'll get more. I take the orders on Monday and go get the product on Tuesday.
Some have even said they will start boycotting the pop products offered in the vending machines because the dairy provides better products. Better, as well as healthier. Within logical reason, milk can do a lot of good for you. Pop tends to rot the teeth; one of the two reasons I don't drink soda (the other being I can only feel the carbonation in the pop and can't taste the flavor).
See? I may be verafiably crazy, but not always totally so.
I may have started a new tradition at work. Ever since I worked at Calder Dairy in 2000 & 2001, I have sworn by the products they've made. They're very versatile, offering over a dozen different types of milk, plus orange juice, cottage cheese, sour cream, etc. They are very well known in a limited area of Detroit, but turns out nobody at work knew about them.
They know now. After I get out and vote today, I'll be headed to the dairy to give everyone their Tuesday treat. All it took for some of the workers was one sip of the chocolate milk, and now they keep bugging me as to when I'll get more. I take the orders on Monday and go get the product on Tuesday.
Some have even said they will start boycotting the pop products offered in the vending machines because the dairy provides better products. Better, as well as healthier. Within logical reason, milk can do a lot of good for you. Pop tends to rot the teeth; one of the two reasons I don't drink soda (the other being I can only feel the carbonation in the pop and can't taste the flavor).
See? I may be verafiably crazy, but not always totally so.
November 6, 2006
Drama unworthy of direction
My career choice (communications/video production) doesn't ordinarily make print unless they're in movie credits. This morning, however, I have to thank the Michigan city of Warren for resurrecting my career from the printed media dead.
As most people in this area know, Warren has been crushed by cronyism and backdoor politics for over a decade now. In an incident aired on city TV October 25th and accessed thru YouTube, we can find evidence of censorship, refusal to follow orders, and an attempted arrest.
None of this involved council or mayor; it involved the head of the Cable Communications department; a post I held for another entity some years back.
To sum up briefly: Each city has its own standards when it comes to cablecasting meetings. Particular in this instance is the audience commentary part of the meeting, where residents are free to address the council with their concerns. Where individual standards come into play is whether the camera shows residents' faces or not as the council is being addressed.
In my teachings, it is not always advisable to focus straight on a face, lest the person be accused of grandstanding & showing up the council. That, however, would be left to the higher-ups to decide & act upon should that situation arise. Residents must be respected, but the council body they elect should be shown that same level. I would "split the middle" and show a medium shot of the council and the person addressing. But I will never shoot the back of a person's head if I can help it.
This was the focus of the last fifteen minutes of the Warren meeting in question, as analyzed here. The resident demanded to be heard and seen; however the image remained in a wide shot where you could not tell who was talking. The council president agreed with the resident's concerns and asked the director for a closeup. That closeup was not provided, drawing the ire of the council. Even pleads & downright demands from councilpeople who walked over towards the cameraperson went unheeded. Shouts were made about censorship & discrimination; the resident requested the cable coordinator be removed from office, and that the cameraperson should be arrested for refusing to follow a direct council order.
That took total guts by whomever was in charge of the cablecast. The coordinator is hired at the pleasure of the council, and is expected to follow city rules & procedures as dictated by that body. A director cannot defy the council, chiefly because they are side-stepping the chain of command. Concerns are welcome, but must be addressed correctly. In being addressed, the director/cameraperson allegedly let profanity erupt, yet muted the sound when the council read the charge of the refusal.
There's no gray areas with government; things must be done their way because it's law. Profanity aside; meetings cannot be censored or cut in any way. FCC mandate specifies that once a meeting taping starts, the taping can only end by conclusion of the meeting, or under extreme circumstances such as power failure (and even then, reasonable explanation can be given). What if the outcry to arrest that cameraperson went through and authorities wanted to examine the evidence?
I'm pretty sure the two crewpersons in question have been cut; if not before now, in the next few days. I know what you're thinking: would I dare venture into a jungle like that? I certainly would.
I'd love the challenge. They need respect & professionalism. And that's what I would bring them.
As most people in this area know, Warren has been crushed by cronyism and backdoor politics for over a decade now. In an incident aired on city TV October 25th and accessed thru YouTube, we can find evidence of censorship, refusal to follow orders, and an attempted arrest.
None of this involved council or mayor; it involved the head of the Cable Communications department; a post I held for another entity some years back.
To sum up briefly: Each city has its own standards when it comes to cablecasting meetings. Particular in this instance is the audience commentary part of the meeting, where residents are free to address the council with their concerns. Where individual standards come into play is whether the camera shows residents' faces or not as the council is being addressed.
In my teachings, it is not always advisable to focus straight on a face, lest the person be accused of grandstanding & showing up the council. That, however, would be left to the higher-ups to decide & act upon should that situation arise. Residents must be respected, but the council body they elect should be shown that same level. I would "split the middle" and show a medium shot of the council and the person addressing. But I will never shoot the back of a person's head if I can help it.
This was the focus of the last fifteen minutes of the Warren meeting in question, as analyzed here. The resident demanded to be heard and seen; however the image remained in a wide shot where you could not tell who was talking. The council president agreed with the resident's concerns and asked the director for a closeup. That closeup was not provided, drawing the ire of the council. Even pleads & downright demands from councilpeople who walked over towards the cameraperson went unheeded. Shouts were made about censorship & discrimination; the resident requested the cable coordinator be removed from office, and that the cameraperson should be arrested for refusing to follow a direct council order.
That took total guts by whomever was in charge of the cablecast. The coordinator is hired at the pleasure of the council, and is expected to follow city rules & procedures as dictated by that body. A director cannot defy the council, chiefly because they are side-stepping the chain of command. Concerns are welcome, but must be addressed correctly. In being addressed, the director/cameraperson allegedly let profanity erupt, yet muted the sound when the council read the charge of the refusal.
There's no gray areas with government; things must be done their way because it's law. Profanity aside; meetings cannot be censored or cut in any way. FCC mandate specifies that once a meeting taping starts, the taping can only end by conclusion of the meeting, or under extreme circumstances such as power failure (and even then, reasonable explanation can be given). What if the outcry to arrest that cameraperson went through and authorities wanted to examine the evidence?
I'm pretty sure the two crewpersons in question have been cut; if not before now, in the next few days. I know what you're thinking: would I dare venture into a jungle like that? I certainly would.
I'd love the challenge. They need respect & professionalism. And that's what I would bring them.
Fourth PBA show is perfect
What a great experience I had yesterday over at Taylor Lanes, watching the Motor City Classic. And not just because I might end up being on 2/3rds of the camera shots, either! (For those interested, I'm in a beige two-tone sweater, sitting on the side, third row, in line with the foul line.)
Random thoughts on this day:
* Like most every other customer, I paid for my ticket to get in. But the money was refunded right away at the insistence of my cousin's sister-in-law, Erin, who runs the complex. She gave me a "what were you thinking" look, saying I could have held out for a VIP pass as well. Would've been nice, but I'd rather avoid the fuss. BTW, her father Ted kept asking me if I had a girlfriend, and later kept telling me where to find Erin. Like I stand a chance on that one...
* I am more amazed than ever at how accessible the bowlers are to the public. Without jepoardizing the conditions, there's virtually no barriers & no distance separating the bowlers from the fans. It's so easy to get autographs. But what got me the most was after the match, when I went to the grill for a good-old fashioned grilled cheese: the bowlers were in there, hob-nobbing with the fans and watching football games on the big screen. Bowling has always been a blue-collar sport, but I didn't realize how easy they'd fit in with the rest of us. Too bad three of the bowlers got drunk while playing darts! But they're human.
* ESPN shot two new segments: a skills challenge and a "Bust Your Buddy", which combines the elements of bowling with poker. I can't follow poker (which is overhyped), but just enjoyed watching the bowlers play off each other.
* There was some lane damage during one of the skills matches. Unlike the real world, however; no one was shown the door!
* Commentator Randy Pedersen is a total blatant idiot. I didn't like him on the telecasts, but this was my first live event since ESPN took over the shows; thought I'd give him a chance. Too bad. He's loud, obnoxious, and discourteous. His broadcast booth was 100 feet away from the bowlers & enclosed with plexiglass; yet you could still hear him plain as day as the bowlers were setting themselves up. It figures that he showed up in the bar before he left, looking like he had one too many.
* I witnessed history: the 17th perfect game rolled on TV, done by the eventual winner, Tony Reyes. Now I've always shown allegiance to the group known as the "Legends", instead of the other "Young Guns". But perhaps the PBA may be in good hands with its future. Reyes was amazing & cool under pressure, and is a natural camera talent. Oh, and his girlfriend puts all the other women I know (save Erin & Lisa) to shame; she is a knockout. Even offered to buy me a drink!
There's a reason the PBA keeps coming back to Taylor Lanes, this being their 22nd event they've hosted. This was my fourth event I've been to (1983, '95, '96, 2006), and this was the best one by far. Kudos to the Dobbins family for a job well done!
Random thoughts on this day:
* Like most every other customer, I paid for my ticket to get in. But the money was refunded right away at the insistence of my cousin's sister-in-law, Erin, who runs the complex. She gave me a "what were you thinking" look, saying I could have held out for a VIP pass as well. Would've been nice, but I'd rather avoid the fuss. BTW, her father Ted kept asking me if I had a girlfriend, and later kept telling me where to find Erin. Like I stand a chance on that one...
* I am more amazed than ever at how accessible the bowlers are to the public. Without jepoardizing the conditions, there's virtually no barriers & no distance separating the bowlers from the fans. It's so easy to get autographs. But what got me the most was after the match, when I went to the grill for a good-old fashioned grilled cheese: the bowlers were in there, hob-nobbing with the fans and watching football games on the big screen. Bowling has always been a blue-collar sport, but I didn't realize how easy they'd fit in with the rest of us. Too bad three of the bowlers got drunk while playing darts! But they're human.
* ESPN shot two new segments: a skills challenge and a "Bust Your Buddy", which combines the elements of bowling with poker. I can't follow poker (which is overhyped), but just enjoyed watching the bowlers play off each other.
* There was some lane damage during one of the skills matches. Unlike the real world, however; no one was shown the door!
* Commentator Randy Pedersen is a total blatant idiot. I didn't like him on the telecasts, but this was my first live event since ESPN took over the shows; thought I'd give him a chance. Too bad. He's loud, obnoxious, and discourteous. His broadcast booth was 100 feet away from the bowlers & enclosed with plexiglass; yet you could still hear him plain as day as the bowlers were setting themselves up. It figures that he showed up in the bar before he left, looking like he had one too many.
* I witnessed history: the 17th perfect game rolled on TV, done by the eventual winner, Tony Reyes. Now I've always shown allegiance to the group known as the "Legends", instead of the other "Young Guns". But perhaps the PBA may be in good hands with its future. Reyes was amazing & cool under pressure, and is a natural camera talent. Oh, and his girlfriend puts all the other women I know (save Erin & Lisa) to shame; she is a knockout. Even offered to buy me a drink!
There's a reason the PBA keeps coming back to Taylor Lanes, this being their 22nd event they've hosted. This was my fourth event I've been to (1983, '95, '96, 2006), and this was the best one by far. Kudos to the Dobbins family for a job well done!
November 4, 2006
Plot's there; let's add changes
Sometimes I think the original version of Star Trek (TOS: 1966-1969) doesn't get the widespread appreciation that it deserves. This is mainly attributed to William Shatner's supposed "over-acting", and that the special effects are grounded out by effects that appeared on subsequent shows.
But critics, from the beginning, still hail scripts from the original show as being very well-written. These are stories where you take actual notice of the plot, and not have to notice the thin backgrounds & props, limited by budget constraints.
However, even the most devoted "Trekkie" may notice similiarities in how a typical episode plot is constructed. This is almost seen for what it's worth as comedy in itself, and the real Trekkie will even acknowledge the comedic factor these days.
Here's a site designed for laughter, poking fun of the rigid plot course these stories seem to follow. Just click here.
-----------------------------
And guess what this leads to? Look for a new blog debuting this week in my profile dedicated to analyzing old television shows and commenting on new ones I may (or may not) have seen. With my 13-year background in television, it boggles my mind as to how I could have waited so long to come up with that one.
But critics, from the beginning, still hail scripts from the original show as being very well-written. These are stories where you take actual notice of the plot, and not have to notice the thin backgrounds & props, limited by budget constraints.
However, even the most devoted "Trekkie" may notice similiarities in how a typical episode plot is constructed. This is almost seen for what it's worth as comedy in itself, and the real Trekkie will even acknowledge the comedic factor these days.
Here's a site designed for laughter, poking fun of the rigid plot course these stories seem to follow. Just click here.
-----------------------------
And guess what this leads to? Look for a new blog debuting this week in my profile dedicated to analyzing old television shows and commenting on new ones I may (or may not) have seen. With my 13-year background in television, it boggles my mind as to how I could have waited so long to come up with that one.
Con-artists & Con-cars
(This concern comes from a law-abiding citizen with no bias towards anyone)
Modern life has taught us one thing: trust is not automatically earned or assumed in today's world. Built to a fever pitch, a person's overwhelming trust can be claimed as being naive - and these are the people who can end up being victims of con-artists... or con-cars, to quote a unique term.
If we remember our schooling, we were taught at a very young age that police are there to help us, and we must respect them in return. In my experience, I believe as such.
It says a lot, however, when senior citizens increasingly get hurt or conned out of their possessions by people posing as police officers. The hardware these con-men wear so closely resemble regulation police hardware at times, the victims can't tell the difference between what's real and what isn't. This does much to give police departments unfair & negative reputations they don't deserve.
I have never been the victim of a con, because I am too careful and wary when I'm out. As far as being had by a "con-car", though, it's happened to me a few times.
The experiences themselves were fortunately limited to instances where I thought a patrol cruiser was on my tail, and I would try to figure out what I did wrong. Instead, it ends up being some nut's joyride gag: a model car, with the patrol colors intact, the extra lights in the grille, and with those searchlights still mounted on the side doors. One time, after following me at a heart-racing distance of one mile, such a car cut back in front of me, with its occupants giving me the "salute", while laughing at my stone-white face.
What will happen to my trust factor the next time I'm in that area? Note that it will never disappear, but you can bet it will take a hit after awhile.
I now hear that many of the older patrol cars are available for purchase at local auto auctions with surplus sales. But I ask this: If these cars are now fit to be civilian mode, driven by regular people... why are all the extras allowed to be kept, as if the car were still under police service?
Years ago, I liked the idea of that bright neon tubing underneath the car as a "fashion statement"; turns out those lights are illegal. I therefore doubt they would let me put searchlights on my own personal vehicle. So why aren't they removed on these surplus vehicles? Once they're declared "civilian", they should conform to every condition a normal civilian car has been.
My heart is beating well and my skin color is normal. But "having eyes in the back of your head" is no longer just an expression: it's a reality to the law-abiding citizens such as myself who don't handle panic too well.
It's the lowest form of being a punchline to someone's sick jokes. You don't trample official authority through the mud.
Modern life has taught us one thing: trust is not automatically earned or assumed in today's world. Built to a fever pitch, a person's overwhelming trust can be claimed as being naive - and these are the people who can end up being victims of con-artists... or con-cars, to quote a unique term.
If we remember our schooling, we were taught at a very young age that police are there to help us, and we must respect them in return. In my experience, I believe as such.
It says a lot, however, when senior citizens increasingly get hurt or conned out of their possessions by people posing as police officers. The hardware these con-men wear so closely resemble regulation police hardware at times, the victims can't tell the difference between what's real and what isn't. This does much to give police departments unfair & negative reputations they don't deserve.
I have never been the victim of a con, because I am too careful and wary when I'm out. As far as being had by a "con-car", though, it's happened to me a few times.
The experiences themselves were fortunately limited to instances where I thought a patrol cruiser was on my tail, and I would try to figure out what I did wrong. Instead, it ends up being some nut's joyride gag: a model car, with the patrol colors intact, the extra lights in the grille, and with those searchlights still mounted on the side doors. One time, after following me at a heart-racing distance of one mile, such a car cut back in front of me, with its occupants giving me the "salute", while laughing at my stone-white face.
What will happen to my trust factor the next time I'm in that area? Note that it will never disappear, but you can bet it will take a hit after awhile.
I now hear that many of the older patrol cars are available for purchase at local auto auctions with surplus sales. But I ask this: If these cars are now fit to be civilian mode, driven by regular people... why are all the extras allowed to be kept, as if the car were still under police service?
Years ago, I liked the idea of that bright neon tubing underneath the car as a "fashion statement"; turns out those lights are illegal. I therefore doubt they would let me put searchlights on my own personal vehicle. So why aren't they removed on these surplus vehicles? Once they're declared "civilian", they should conform to every condition a normal civilian car has been.
My heart is beating well and my skin color is normal. But "having eyes in the back of your head" is no longer just an expression: it's a reality to the law-abiding citizens such as myself who don't handle panic too well.
It's the lowest form of being a punchline to someone's sick jokes. You don't trample official authority through the mud.
November 3, 2006
Language barriers
Nothing in the world these days seems to come without prejudice lurking about.
One of the proposals on our state ballot this Tuesday deals with banning Affirmative Action in state & local hiring practices. Without exactly saying how I would vote, A.A. is outdated at best and is not accomplishing what it set out to do. Bad feelings existed before it came into being in the 1960s, and bad feelings (from a different side) exist today. If only firms or colleges could hire or accept people based on their talent level, you would probably see some fairness that has long been absent.
Can it get any touchier? It can when your native tongue is threatened.
We had a meeting at work this week that touched off the non-native portion of our department when it was said that only English should be spoken whenever on the job; no native tongue allowed while within work boundaries.
This seemed like a good idea in private thought, and even when it was first mentioned. But there was some mild protest from the people affected, which should be no surprise. A few made mention that English is a hard language to master, and that some words are impossible for them to pronounce.
What upset me is that the ban goes so far as to ban translation at any time. English is needed to perform the job, but what if a translation is needed for one who can't understand an order? Wouldn't a word or two in their native tongue (in strictest, most private confidence) help them understand the job function, without standing there, feeling helpless, useless and embarassed?
You have to understand there is a certain paranoia that still exists at airports every day; simply because there is a need for precautions & thinking ahead. The overall ruling may seem biased, but everyone should be on the same page. No one should have to walk around wondering if the person next to them is bad-mouthing them without actually comprehending it. But when it involves being able to clearly understand a job function, you would think exceptions could be made.
Fortunately, I'm not in management, so I had nothing to do with the decision. I also give credit to those who might feel targeted: they handled themselves well at the meeting in question.
Is this another case of A.A. biting the face off the unintended group again? No wonder it's become the most interesting ballot issue out there in Michigan this year; one that will definitely encourage voter input.
Next Wednesday should be quite a day.
One of the proposals on our state ballot this Tuesday deals with banning Affirmative Action in state & local hiring practices. Without exactly saying how I would vote, A.A. is outdated at best and is not accomplishing what it set out to do. Bad feelings existed before it came into being in the 1960s, and bad feelings (from a different side) exist today. If only firms or colleges could hire or accept people based on their talent level, you would probably see some fairness that has long been absent.
Can it get any touchier? It can when your native tongue is threatened.
We had a meeting at work this week that touched off the non-native portion of our department when it was said that only English should be spoken whenever on the job; no native tongue allowed while within work boundaries.
This seemed like a good idea in private thought, and even when it was first mentioned. But there was some mild protest from the people affected, which should be no surprise. A few made mention that English is a hard language to master, and that some words are impossible for them to pronounce.
What upset me is that the ban goes so far as to ban translation at any time. English is needed to perform the job, but what if a translation is needed for one who can't understand an order? Wouldn't a word or two in their native tongue (in strictest, most private confidence) help them understand the job function, without standing there, feeling helpless, useless and embarassed?
You have to understand there is a certain paranoia that still exists at airports every day; simply because there is a need for precautions & thinking ahead. The overall ruling may seem biased, but everyone should be on the same page. No one should have to walk around wondering if the person next to them is bad-mouthing them without actually comprehending it. But when it involves being able to clearly understand a job function, you would think exceptions could be made.
Fortunately, I'm not in management, so I had nothing to do with the decision. I also give credit to those who might feel targeted: they handled themselves well at the meeting in question.
Is this another case of A.A. biting the face off the unintended group again? No wonder it's become the most interesting ballot issue out there in Michigan this year; one that will definitely encourage voter input.
Next Wednesday should be quite a day.
November 2, 2006
Body on web before the mind?
Sometimes, just for kicks, I'll call up Google and type in my name, just to see if I'm out there in cyberspace. To date I have noted only one entry: in the crew credits for a local Detroit-based wrestling show I helped out on in 1995-96 -- and I had to cycle to about the ninth page to find it. Discouraging, yes; but remember, perhaps I've not made my positive mark on the world yet.
Being a Niagara Falls historical buff, I found a great library of photos through their website, and under the "Clifton Hill" section, found this one which strangely looks like me from about 1985!
The scene is at the old Houdini Hall Of Fame museum, which since that time has been arsoned. You would usually see me parked in front of that museum, in that pose, wearing those clothes, listening to a talking head projection spew the highlights of what the museum had to offer. My father will remember those visits well, with the shake of his head, of course. For those interested, I still know the speech word for word, 20 years later.
The question begs to ask: Is that really me in the photo?
Wishing it was forever
Very sad news from the world of entertainment yesterday. Though predicted for years, the announcement of Bob Barker retiring from show business as of next June sent shock waves through the industry nonetheless.
On a personal side, it did not help my day yesterday either; which was filled with more of the usual confusion at work.
The old saying always mentioned there were two certainties in life. I always thought there were three; now I've been forcibly convinced there are only two. Bob Barker and The Price Is Right were as close to that third certainty as you could get -- and in a medium as unstable as television, no less.
Now, I'll admit I've not been a constant viewer since I first spotted the show in1975. There were long periods of inactivity due to being busy with school, work, or hobbies. The feeling was that the show would always be there, the way it was remembered in our youth. It was the perfect antidote for those sick days from school & work that all youngsters look forward to, and all parents shake their heads at. Why sit in bed looking at four walls, when you can guess what the price of something is?
Are people going to feel cheated, as if some prized possession is being taken from them? Absolutely. I will be dialing in on one of the show's top fan sites, goldenroad.net and I can only imagine the outpouring of shock, dismay, and posts mentioning "Now what will I do on my weekday mornings?"
In my recent case, perhaps sleep through them as usual. But sleep will not be the same, knowing that a true American icon has become a memory.
* And I must admit, in defense of his many fans, that a Price Is Right without Bob Barker will show the resilency of soggy bread. This was one true show where the host made it shine. It's not common for viewers to remember game show hosts before remembering what show they're best known for. People would make all sorts of observations about the game play, "hosted by what's-his-face." Will all these 75+ pricing games work with some dork (Todd Newton, Doug Davidson) at the microphone?
The show should simply go when Bob does - in much the same way the comic strip Peanuts was only drawn by Charles Schulz and no one else. It's not worth trying to keep the image alive when you have host candidates who couldn't be Bob's shadow on their best day.
On a personal side, it did not help my day yesterday either; which was filled with more of the usual confusion at work.
The old saying always mentioned there were two certainties in life. I always thought there were three; now I've been forcibly convinced there are only two. Bob Barker and The Price Is Right were as close to that third certainty as you could get -- and in a medium as unstable as television, no less.
Now, I'll admit I've not been a constant viewer since I first spotted the show in1975. There were long periods of inactivity due to being busy with school, work, or hobbies. The feeling was that the show would always be there, the way it was remembered in our youth. It was the perfect antidote for those sick days from school & work that all youngsters look forward to, and all parents shake their heads at. Why sit in bed looking at four walls, when you can guess what the price of something is?
Are people going to feel cheated, as if some prized possession is being taken from them? Absolutely. I will be dialing in on one of the show's top fan sites, goldenroad.net and I can only imagine the outpouring of shock, dismay, and posts mentioning "Now what will I do on my weekday mornings?"
In my recent case, perhaps sleep through them as usual. But sleep will not be the same, knowing that a true American icon has become a memory.
* And I must admit, in defense of his many fans, that a Price Is Right without Bob Barker will show the resilency of soggy bread. This was one true show where the host made it shine. It's not common for viewers to remember game show hosts before remembering what show they're best known for. People would make all sorts of observations about the game play, "hosted by what's-his-face." Will all these 75+ pricing games work with some dork (Todd Newton, Doug Davidson) at the microphone?
The show should simply go when Bob does - in much the same way the comic strip Peanuts was only drawn by Charles Schulz and no one else. It's not worth trying to keep the image alive when you have host candidates who couldn't be Bob's shadow on their best day.
November 1, 2006
It's good to retire happy
Following up on what you read above, there is a certain sadness about Bob Barker's upcoming retirement - almost as if life is taking away something or someone we cherish and are so used to for so long.
But we always have to look at the viewpoint of the one doing the change or retirement. And as described above, it is getting harder to keep with his routine at age 83 - but he has enjoyed every minute of his 50-year television career.
I consider this to be the only proper way to retire. Very few people, if following this reasoning, retire "properly". Much of it is out of our control. The only way to retire in the proper manner is to leave the job or field that you've enjoyed working at, and are a proven winner at.
Here's a passage I wrote last year on my defunct website's "About Me" page, which clued people in on my job goals:
The perfect job would be mine not foremost for the money, but for the reward in appreciating results of hard work. It's key to see your handiwork for more than five minutes... Feeling that you've accomplished nothing permanent over time leaves a very empty feeling... We do have to allow for money to pay bills; but I for one appreciate the long-term benefits job accomplishment can bring; it's more rewarding than anything else.
You will not see me grinning for the camera, holding a retirement watch in the shape of an aircraft, in the retirement section of the paper. As for retiring from a video career? You'd see a photo, and I'd probably be crying, but only because I would really miss what I do. The retirement would likely be forced, because I'd want to keep going until the undertaker called me.
Bob Barker was never forced to do Price Is Right or Truth Or Consequences. He did it because he loved the genre, the contestants, the fans, and the attention. It added quality to the quality person he already was, and still is. For this, we must respect his decision.
Decisions like that are also ample reason to start investing in TiVo's! But for Bob, it would be well worth the while.
But we always have to look at the viewpoint of the one doing the change or retirement. And as described above, it is getting harder to keep with his routine at age 83 - but he has enjoyed every minute of his 50-year television career.
I consider this to be the only proper way to retire. Very few people, if following this reasoning, retire "properly". Much of it is out of our control. The only way to retire in the proper manner is to leave the job or field that you've enjoyed working at, and are a proven winner at.
Here's a passage I wrote last year on my defunct website's "About Me" page, which clued people in on my job goals:
The perfect job would be mine not foremost for the money, but for the reward in appreciating results of hard work. It's key to see your handiwork for more than five minutes... Feeling that you've accomplished nothing permanent over time leaves a very empty feeling... We do have to allow for money to pay bills; but I for one appreciate the long-term benefits job accomplishment can bring; it's more rewarding than anything else.
You will not see me grinning for the camera, holding a retirement watch in the shape of an aircraft, in the retirement section of the paper. As for retiring from a video career? You'd see a photo, and I'd probably be crying, but only because I would really miss what I do. The retirement would likely be forced, because I'd want to keep going until the undertaker called me.
Bob Barker was never forced to do Price Is Right or Truth Or Consequences. He did it because he loved the genre, the contestants, the fans, and the attention. It added quality to the quality person he already was, and still is. For this, we must respect his decision.
Decisions like that are also ample reason to start investing in TiVo's! But for Bob, it would be well worth the while.
Wow - actual restraint
How about this? It took until today, November 1st, for me to see the personnel at Kroger break out the Christmas decorations. What a nice show of restraint, compared to what the department stores have likely been doing.
I may have touched on this before: It's a shame that department stores have to follow the credo of planning their sales two or three holiday cycles ahead of time. We had two nice days of Indian Summer this week, and I didn't want it polluted with reminders of snow, slush, and carols. That will come in due time.
I still admire professionally-created Christmas displays at stores & malls, especially when there's some depth & creativity to them. By "depth", I mean that the displays don't actually look like props; that they were just thrown there just to please the people. I see these displays from all angles and I appreciate depth, which shows actual care was taken when putting up the display.
When I actively decorated, I took great pains to make sure my little displays had that depth; even having a strategically-placed four way mirror in the display to reflect the images of the details in the back. This gave the display an illusion of being bigger than it really was.
Of course, that's when I actively decorated. I am sad to say I have not prepped for the holidays since 2000. Due to a rift in the family at that time, my Christmas stuff was repossessed and has never been seen again. This was a collection built over many years, dating back to my grandmother when she was in her 40s. A lot of those ornaments were glass, which you simply don't find today. I even got my late uncle to get on the family's case, saying the decorations could even go back to them, instead of me, due to the family meaning. That argument went nowhere, and I just gave up the chase a year later.
Then came the Christmas disaster of 2001 at my ex-girlfriend's, where I wasn't allowed to have a say in anything that went up. Half of what actually went up ended up broken due to two destructive kids, two hyperactive cats, and a loose iguana or two.
Since then, I've not decorated, save for an occassional wreath I might put up on the front door. My stepmother recently asked why I don't decorate much more. In addition to those reasons, I don't have the time, energy or desire to do it anymore. To get the collection back to previous levels would take an investment my budget can't handle. If I want to decorate, I'd like to go all-out. It just can't be done.
This self-practiced restraint was seen today at the Kroger, and made me smile. We still have over 50-some shopping days remaining until the actual holiday. I don't think stores are going to take that much of a budgetary hit just by using common sense.
I hope I can be proven right one of these days.
I may have touched on this before: It's a shame that department stores have to follow the credo of planning their sales two or three holiday cycles ahead of time. We had two nice days of Indian Summer this week, and I didn't want it polluted with reminders of snow, slush, and carols. That will come in due time.
I still admire professionally-created Christmas displays at stores & malls, especially when there's some depth & creativity to them. By "depth", I mean that the displays don't actually look like props; that they were just thrown there just to please the people. I see these displays from all angles and I appreciate depth, which shows actual care was taken when putting up the display.
When I actively decorated, I took great pains to make sure my little displays had that depth; even having a strategically-placed four way mirror in the display to reflect the images of the details in the back. This gave the display an illusion of being bigger than it really was.
Of course, that's when I actively decorated. I am sad to say I have not prepped for the holidays since 2000. Due to a rift in the family at that time, my Christmas stuff was repossessed and has never been seen again. This was a collection built over many years, dating back to my grandmother when she was in her 40s. A lot of those ornaments were glass, which you simply don't find today. I even got my late uncle to get on the family's case, saying the decorations could even go back to them, instead of me, due to the family meaning. That argument went nowhere, and I just gave up the chase a year later.
Then came the Christmas disaster of 2001 at my ex-girlfriend's, where I wasn't allowed to have a say in anything that went up. Half of what actually went up ended up broken due to two destructive kids, two hyperactive cats, and a loose iguana or two.
Since then, I've not decorated, save for an occassional wreath I might put up on the front door. My stepmother recently asked why I don't decorate much more. In addition to those reasons, I don't have the time, energy or desire to do it anymore. To get the collection back to previous levels would take an investment my budget can't handle. If I want to decorate, I'd like to go all-out. It just can't be done.
This self-practiced restraint was seen today at the Kroger, and made me smile. We still have over 50-some shopping days remaining until the actual holiday. I don't think stores are going to take that much of a budgetary hit just by using common sense.
I hope I can be proven right one of these days.
October 31, 2006
Trash day is truly dumpy
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.
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.
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.
September 24, 2006
Now: build a bonfire
I seemingly can't win these days. Twenty-five days after the gas was shut off, it was turned back on... and this was after that 41-degree night.
But now... the furnace doesn't work! It's a more modern electric start (which saves on gas, haha), and it does try to ignite, but the gas doesn't whoosh in like it should. The stove works, the water heater works, and one thing I don't do is play with gas, so the shutoff shouldn't be turned off. This is NOT something I really want to tell the landlord for fear of retribution!
The funniest news? I don't think my roommate can tell electric start furnaces from any other furnace, since a bunch of struck matches were found next to the furnace. I also found struck matches near the water heater, one week before the gas was turned back on. Somehow, he knew the stove was electric start. Wait, maybe I should move it just to find out!
Not much else to report, basically because of distraction. Too many loud people around me at the store where I'm typing this, though I observed with interest a young boyfriend/girlfriend combo at the computer next to me. They were looking up football stats, with the GIRL doing all the commands as to what team & what players to look up! I know we're not supposed to stereotype about genders these days, but it's still strange for me to see for some reason.
But now... the furnace doesn't work! It's a more modern electric start (which saves on gas, haha), and it does try to ignite, but the gas doesn't whoosh in like it should. The stove works, the water heater works, and one thing I don't do is play with gas, so the shutoff shouldn't be turned off. This is NOT something I really want to tell the landlord for fear of retribution!
The funniest news? I don't think my roommate can tell electric start furnaces from any other furnace, since a bunch of struck matches were found next to the furnace. I also found struck matches near the water heater, one week before the gas was turned back on. Somehow, he knew the stove was electric start. Wait, maybe I should move it just to find out!
Not much else to report, basically because of distraction. Too many loud people around me at the store where I'm typing this, though I observed with interest a young boyfriend/girlfriend combo at the computer next to me. They were looking up football stats, with the GIRL doing all the commands as to what team & what players to look up! I know we're not supposed to stereotype about genders these days, but it's still strange for me to see for some reason.
September 20, 2006
Update: Getting somewhat better
I deleted the last post because things are not as glum as they once were. For one thing, the power came back on after 17 days off. Yet the GAS is still not on after three days of promising it would be. With it getting down to 43 degrees tonight, I worry just a tad.
Everything else should be taken care of by the end of the week. And no, I'm not moving - yet. As for the roommate, who's off galavanting in the Phillipines again -- he may find things are a little different when he gets home. I've yet to speak to the landlord on this situation but will, and chances are he may take my side.
Sorry to be brief but I'm on one of those pay-as-you-go computers with three days remaining before the next paycheck! Hope to update soon. And I do have tons of blog info to share with you once the internet at the house gets back up!
Everything else should be taken care of by the end of the week. And no, I'm not moving - yet. As for the roommate, who's off galavanting in the Phillipines again -- he may find things are a little different when he gets home. I've yet to speak to the landlord on this situation but will, and chances are he may take my side.
Sorry to be brief but I'm on one of those pay-as-you-go computers with three days remaining before the next paycheck! Hope to update soon. And I do have tons of blog info to share with you once the internet at the house gets back up!
September 2, 2006
Six-week basic training in "roughing it"
I am sorry to report that my posts here will be fewer & more further between for this month and much of the next. Thanks to that bone-headed ex-roommate (who I believe I detailed about in June or July), our power at the house has been shut off for a minimum of six weeks. This is about how long the current roommate & I have calculated it would take to pay off a 4-figure past due balance, plus reconnect fees & service charges.
We thought at first this would result in our immediate eviction, but the landlord begged us to stay, simply because his name is involved in the electric as well; and he needs the electric turned on before he can re-rent the house.
I am sorry to say that I may sound self-centered, but this I cannot handle. I am in the process of relocating at this time, even if it's to a dingy hotel for a week at a time. A person needs to bathe, eat some meals in the house, and be able to read at night, or at least listen to the radio. In my case, if I don't have active room circulation while I'm sleeping, I will wake up in a cold sweat. It's happened the past three nights, and have been tempted to sleep outside each night.
I don't feel I will be necessarily disowning the landlord, since I will still be doing what I can to get that bill paid off. He's allowed us eight days' extra leeway in paying this rent. He does side with us, and all of us are SO against that ex-roommate, whom my father knows pretty darn well. (Apparently, those that learn the slowest learn the hardest.) And here's a funny follow-up: this person didn't know why I wouldn't smile at him when he passed me in the hallway at work that night.
But personal comfort always has been & always needs to be a first priority. One of my favorite sayings is that you are the only one who has to live with yourself 24/7/365, so you better make things good for yourself first. Am I not going to bathe but once a month for six weeks? How many cold sweats can I take before I really become sick? These are chances I cannot take, and I'm sure these are chances my landlord will understand.
This ex-roommate is a puppet for his father; at times I can see the strings coming out from the hands. Well, where's a pair of scissors to cut these ties that bind me and will allow him & his father to boldly go to where they deserve to go?
We thought at first this would result in our immediate eviction, but the landlord begged us to stay, simply because his name is involved in the electric as well; and he needs the electric turned on before he can re-rent the house.
I am sorry to say that I may sound self-centered, but this I cannot handle. I am in the process of relocating at this time, even if it's to a dingy hotel for a week at a time. A person needs to bathe, eat some meals in the house, and be able to read at night, or at least listen to the radio. In my case, if I don't have active room circulation while I'm sleeping, I will wake up in a cold sweat. It's happened the past three nights, and have been tempted to sleep outside each night.
I don't feel I will be necessarily disowning the landlord, since I will still be doing what I can to get that bill paid off. He's allowed us eight days' extra leeway in paying this rent. He does side with us, and all of us are SO against that ex-roommate, whom my father knows pretty darn well. (Apparently, those that learn the slowest learn the hardest.) And here's a funny follow-up: this person didn't know why I wouldn't smile at him when he passed me in the hallway at work that night.
But personal comfort always has been & always needs to be a first priority. One of my favorite sayings is that you are the only one who has to live with yourself 24/7/365, so you better make things good for yourself first. Am I not going to bathe but once a month for six weeks? How many cold sweats can I take before I really become sick? These are chances I cannot take, and I'm sure these are chances my landlord will understand.
This ex-roommate is a puppet for his father; at times I can see the strings coming out from the hands. Well, where's a pair of scissors to cut these ties that bind me and will allow him & his father to boldly go to where they deserve to go?
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