I know, I know, I haven't posted anything in a while. Yes, a lot has happened but at the same time, not much has changed. I've moved out of my parents home, and into an apartment. My girlfriend and I are mostly settled in, though there are a few things we have yet to move. My work schedule just hasn't allowed it yet but hopefully soon.
Work sucks as work tends to do. The heat sucks, the rain sucks, the customers suck... all the usual.
Oddly enough I don't have all that much to say, which is why I haven't posted anything in a while. Oh well, thought I would let people know I was still alive. More when there is more.
Another year, and all that
Well, a few hours ago my 30th birthday ended. I am a 'thirtysomething' now. I'm even less able to get away with being 'silly' now or at least I will be when people realize how old I am. So far I've not managed to look much older than 25 but I'm sure that will end soon enough.
Oh well... this old body needs its sleep...
Oh well... this old body needs its sleep...
From the mouths of babes
My son just uttered the words 'I don't like cheese on my cheeseburgers'.
Why me?
Why me?
Weekends... wasted time?
I'm not sure why but it seems that no matter how much I look forward to the weekend, I never actually have reason to. Sure, it's a few days off from work; which with my job is a nice thing. I don't actually do anything though.
It's not as though that's abnormal for me. I haven't really done anything other than eat, work, sleep, repeat in a long time. Only when I go to see my girlfriend is that any different. I suppose it's logical to assume that when she moves down here, which she will be doing in a few weeks, that I'll actually get out and do things, but there's something in me that wonders about that. Am I really that boring that I can never think of anything to do or is it just that I don't like doing things alone that keeps me home all the time?
I really don't have much of an answer for that, though I suppose I'll find out very soon. I'd like to think that it's just my lack of companionship that keeps me homebound but I'm a little worried that I really am that boring.
Any thoughts? Or am I better off not knowing?
It's not as though that's abnormal for me. I haven't really done anything other than eat, work, sleep, repeat in a long time. Only when I go to see my girlfriend is that any different. I suppose it's logical to assume that when she moves down here, which she will be doing in a few weeks, that I'll actually get out and do things, but there's something in me that wonders about that. Am I really that boring that I can never think of anything to do or is it just that I don't like doing things alone that keeps me home all the time?
I really don't have much of an answer for that, though I suppose I'll find out very soon. I'd like to think that it's just my lack of companionship that keeps me homebound but I'm a little worried that I really am that boring.
Any thoughts? Or am I better off not knowing?
Getting out, going deaf
Ran into a guy I used to work with a few weeks ago and he invited me to see a showing of his art at a local café. I'd seen his stuff before and thought it might be cool to see what he had out on display.
Well, looking at what he's done over the last year I really think he has a future with his photography. His other work is quite good too but the way he sees life through a viewfinder is truly inspired.
Decided to stay a while and sample some of what the café had to offer. Why I picked cheesecake I don't know but it's actually quite good. Starting to think that maybe I've just had bad cheesecake in the past.
Wish I could say the same for the band though. Now it isn't so much their playing ability as it is their total lack of understanding of the size of the room they are playing. Amps were not needed.
Did get to meet up with the guy whose work I'm here to see, so all is not lost. Except maybe my hearing.
Suppose I should wrap this up, finish my cake, and get going. Bad Christian music is one thing, really loud bad Christian music is quite another.
Well, looking at what he's done over the last year I really think he has a future with his photography. His other work is quite good too but the way he sees life through a viewfinder is truly inspired.
Decided to stay a while and sample some of what the café had to offer. Why I picked cheesecake I don't know but it's actually quite good. Starting to think that maybe I've just had bad cheesecake in the past.
Wish I could say the same for the band though. Now it isn't so much their playing ability as it is their total lack of understanding of the size of the room they are playing. Amps were not needed.
Did get to meet up with the guy whose work I'm here to see, so all is not lost. Except maybe my hearing.
Suppose I should wrap this up, finish my cake, and get going. Bad Christian music is one thing, really loud bad Christian music is quite another.
A few days off
It's the end of day two of my three days off. I suppose I should enjoy it while it lasts as starting May I only get two days off. I kind of feel as though I've waisted these last two days, though. Just sat around and more or less did nothing.
It's time I crawled in bed, though, I suppose. Else I'll never be able to get up early enough to get on schedule for Wednesday. So g'night world, I'll catch you later.
It's time I crawled in bed, though, I suppose. Else I'll never be able to get up early enough to get on schedule for Wednesday. So g'night world, I'll catch you later.
Been a long time
A lot has happened since my last entry but at the same time, things are pretty much the same.
I finished the formal training at work and come Wednesday I'll be set lose upon the world with nothing more than a ladder, a bag of tools, and a head full of things that made sense when I was in class.
I'm currently in NY spending the weekend with my girlfriend. Apparently, I was actually supposed to start my new shift Saturday but do to some communications problems I wasn't aware of that until I was halfway through Pennsylvania. Since I wasn't the only one that was under that impression (which I was under because I was told that by one of the training supervisors) the only repercussion will be that I'll be short a day on my next cheque. Not great but a lot better than it could be.
I think I'm going to start looking for something to eat now. Didn't have much for breakfast, and I'm starting to feel a little icky.
Later...
I finished the formal training at work and come Wednesday I'll be set lose upon the world with nothing more than a ladder, a bag of tools, and a head full of things that made sense when I was in class.
I'm currently in NY spending the weekend with my girlfriend. Apparently, I was actually supposed to start my new shift Saturday but do to some communications problems I wasn't aware of that until I was halfway through Pennsylvania. Since I wasn't the only one that was under that impression (which I was under because I was told that by one of the training supervisors) the only repercussion will be that I'll be short a day on my next cheque. Not great but a lot better than it could be.
I think I'm going to start looking for something to eat now. Didn't have much for breakfast, and I'm starting to feel a little icky.
Later...
Trying to make sense of it all
I've been saying it for a long time now and got tired of just saying it. I'm going to actually start cleaning up the mess that is my room and to that end, I've decided to attack what makes up most of the clutter. The papers that I 'need' to keep. It's not so much the papers that I need but the information on them. So I'm going to start scanning everything, make PDFs of them, and then throw out the actual documents.
I know it's going to take some time, and that even when I'm done I'll still have a lot of stuff to do, but it's a start, and I need to get started. So away I go.
I know it's going to take some time, and that even when I'm done I'll still have a lot of stuff to do, but it's a start, and I need to get started. So away I go.
"and he had high hopes"
Today was the end of my ladder training, which means today I had to climb up a 28' extension ladder that I propped against a suspended steel cable, tie myself off to the top of it, then come back down and bring the ladder back down.
This was NOT something I was looking forward to. It's not so much that I'm afraid of heights, it's unstable structures that unnerve me. When you're climbing up that ladder, and that steel cable is moving around more like cotton thread, it doesn't feel too stable.
Anyway, it wasn't a pretty sight, but I did it all, didn't really mess anything up, and came back down under my own power. So all is well.
Over time it's something I'll get used to, but it will never be something that I'll like.
This was NOT something I was looking forward to. It's not so much that I'm afraid of heights, it's unstable structures that unnerve me. When you're climbing up that ladder, and that steel cable is moving around more like cotton thread, it doesn't feel too stable.
Anyway, it wasn't a pretty sight, but I did it all, didn't really mess anything up, and came back down under my own power. So all is well.
Over time it's something I'll get used to, but it will never be something that I'll like.
I remember why I didn't like school
Day two of my training is over and so far it's mostly been a waste of time. Sure, it's all been important stuff but out of the whole group the person with the least amount of customer service experience is four years, so it's just been a lot of review so far.
Tomorrow they start showing us how to use the software we'll be using from the truck's terminals. Then Thursday and Friday I have Defensive Driving one and two. Next week I report to a new location, where they have their installation training and from what I understand it's where I'll be based from when I finish training.
About half of the people in my class (of 35 people) are phone support, so this will probably be the last week I see them, at least for a while. I don't see many field reps in the building. At least I won't have a chance to really get to know any of them before we get separated.
I still haven't gotten used to this whole bed before midnight, up at dawn thing. Not sure I ever really will but I'm trying.
On brighter notes, I've started the process to get some of my job perks. I put in the form to use the gym, though I don't know if the location I'll be based out of has it's own facilities or if I'll have to use the main office ones, though it's not that far away. So no big deal there. I also started the process to get my nearly free services. I had to have the accounts transferred to my name, which should happen tomorrow, then I can get analog and digital cable for free, all channels (except the Filipino channel, which would cost a few dollars if I wanted it) and most PPV free. I just have to pay rental on the digital boxes. I'll also get my internet for free. So the bill is going to drop from about $87 to about $12 after taxes. That is cool. And since most PPV content will be free I might actually be able to catch up on all those years of movies that I haven't seen. *smirk*
Well, it's bedtime for me. G'Night everyone.
Tomorrow they start showing us how to use the software we'll be using from the truck's terminals. Then Thursday and Friday I have Defensive Driving one and two. Next week I report to a new location, where they have their installation training and from what I understand it's where I'll be based from when I finish training.
About half of the people in my class (of 35 people) are phone support, so this will probably be the last week I see them, at least for a while. I don't see many field reps in the building. At least I won't have a chance to really get to know any of them before we get separated.
I still haven't gotten used to this whole bed before midnight, up at dawn thing. Not sure I ever really will but I'm trying.
On brighter notes, I've started the process to get some of my job perks. I put in the form to use the gym, though I don't know if the location I'll be based out of has it's own facilities or if I'll have to use the main office ones, though it's not that far away. So no big deal there. I also started the process to get my nearly free services. I had to have the accounts transferred to my name, which should happen tomorrow, then I can get analog and digital cable for free, all channels (except the Filipino channel, which would cost a few dollars if I wanted it) and most PPV free. I just have to pay rental on the digital boxes. I'll also get my internet for free. So the bill is going to drop from about $87 to about $12 after taxes. That is cool. And since most PPV content will be free I might actually be able to catch up on all those years of movies that I haven't seen. *smirk*
Well, it's bedtime for me. G'Night everyone.
This is why birds fly SOUTH
I lived through my last day at Food Lion, turned in my keys, reset my passwords, and said my g'byes. I don't know if they'll ask me to come in to help out or not but I left the offer there if they want me to every now and then. One, the extra money would be cool and two if I can stay on the payroll until this time next year I can cash out my profit sharing. Wouldn't be a whole lot of money but if I could get it that would be cool.
For now, I'm in the great white north. Well close enough. It's north and it's certainly white; snow everywhere. I am close enough to Canada that I 'could' walk there if I wanted to and it wasn't so damn cold.
I don't mind the cold so much, really, it's the bloody wind that bothers me. Mostly just my sinuses and my eyes. A good gust of wind in the face and I can't see anything until my eyes stop watering. Other than that, though, everything is good.
My girlfriend is at work and I'm just chilling here playing around with Phoebe (her iMac). brought my tax info so I could file while I was here. Have to have something to do to kill the time while I'm waiting for her to come home. It's been a long time since I've had NOTHING to do all day and I'm going to try to enjoy it while it lasts.
I start at Cox on the 9th. It's all official and everything. They asked me today if I could come in on Friday to fill out papers but seeing that I won't be coming home until Saturday that's not going to work out. They said that would be o'kay, just would be easier if I could get there Friday is all. So much to get done Monday but it'll work itself out as it's supposed to.
For now, I'm going to look over my tax info, grab last years return off my server and decide if I want to do it today, or wait, and give myself something to do tomorrow.
For now, I'm in the great white north. Well close enough. It's north and it's certainly white; snow everywhere. I am close enough to Canada that I 'could' walk there if I wanted to and it wasn't so damn cold.
I don't mind the cold so much, really, it's the bloody wind that bothers me. Mostly just my sinuses and my eyes. A good gust of wind in the face and I can't see anything until my eyes stop watering. Other than that, though, everything is good.
My girlfriend is at work and I'm just chilling here playing around with Phoebe (her iMac). brought my tax info so I could file while I was here. Have to have something to do to kill the time while I'm waiting for her to come home. It's been a long time since I've had NOTHING to do all day and I'm going to try to enjoy it while it lasts.
I start at Cox on the 9th. It's all official and everything. They asked me today if I could come in on Friday to fill out papers but seeing that I won't be coming home until Saturday that's not going to work out. They said that would be o'kay, just would be easier if I could get there Friday is all. So much to get done Monday but it'll work itself out as it's supposed to.
For now, I'm going to look over my tax info, grab last years return off my server and decide if I want to do it today, or wait, and give myself something to do tomorrow.
Background checks and other things
Got two calls today; well two voicemails, because no one calls me about business stuff when I'm not at work. One was from Cox, they didn't say what they wanted, just that they wanted me to call them back. The other from a company that does background checks on contract.
The background check people keep hours that are reasonable for 'normal people'. So I called them. They wanted a way to confirm some of my past employment info. With a little digging, I was able to give them some phone numbers that I hope will help.
Cox, of course, does all their 'office' business 9 to 5, so I have to wait till tomorrow to see what they wanted. I'm hoping it was just to let me know that they were still waiting on my background check, but I don't know. Trying not to think about that too much.
I'm planning to go see my girlfriend next week, as once I start with Cox (or maybe if) I don't know when I'll be able to go see her again. Now if Cox was calling me to say that they won't be able to hire me for whatever reason; well I'll prolly still go see her. I miss her a lot.
The background check people keep hours that are reasonable for 'normal people'. So I called them. They wanted a way to confirm some of my past employment info. With a little digging, I was able to give them some phone numbers that I hope will help.
Cox, of course, does all their 'office' business 9 to 5, so I have to wait till tomorrow to see what they wanted. I'm hoping it was just to let me know that they were still waiting on my background check, but I don't know. Trying not to think about that too much.
I'm planning to go see my girlfriend next week, as once I start with Cox (or maybe if) I don't know when I'll be able to go see her again. Now if Cox was calling me to say that they won't be able to hire me for whatever reason; well I'll prolly still go see her. I miss her a lot.
When it rains...
It seems that they like me.
I got a call today at around 11:30 asking if I could start Monday, but I wanted to give two weeks notice and they had already finished and posted the schedule for next week, so I'm just going to wait until the 9th of February. Also, the more I think about it I really don't want to just up and leave Food Lion. All else aside, I will miss some of the people there and it would be nice to have time to be able to see everyone and say g'bye first. Sure I could come in after and talk to them but it's kind of rude. Besides, I would like to have the option to come back if that should be necessary, in the future. Don't want to burn your bridges and all that. The thought of telling my manager exactly what I think of her, though, is very appealing.
Naw... I'll play the grown up here, and hold my tongue. *smirk*
Now I just need to get the drug test done (wanted to get that done today but ran out of time, so that's tomorrow) and wait for them to get my background check. Guess they want to make sure I haven't stolen anything or killed anyone. Customers can get kind of annoying so someone with a history of violence wouldn't be a good choice to send into people's homes.
I got a call today at around 11:30 asking if I could start Monday, but I wanted to give two weeks notice and they had already finished and posted the schedule for next week, so I'm just going to wait until the 9th of February. Also, the more I think about it I really don't want to just up and leave Food Lion. All else aside, I will miss some of the people there and it would be nice to have time to be able to see everyone and say g'bye first. Sure I could come in after and talk to them but it's kind of rude. Besides, I would like to have the option to come back if that should be necessary, in the future. Don't want to burn your bridges and all that. The thought of telling my manager exactly what I think of her, though, is very appealing.
Naw... I'll play the grown up here, and hold my tongue. *smirk*
Now I just need to get the drug test done (wanted to get that done today but ran out of time, so that's tomorrow) and wait for them to get my background check. Guess they want to make sure I haven't stolen anything or killed anyone. Customers can get kind of annoying so someone with a history of violence wouldn't be a good choice to send into people's homes.
Will it ever end...
Well, I went for my interview today but silly me forgot to take my driving record with me, so I have to go back tomorrow and drop that off. I felt o'kay-ish about it mostly but I hate typical interview questions, which these all were. I hate interviews period. Anyway. They said that they would pass their recommendations (there were two guys doing the interview, they were both field service reps, prolly level two or three guys) on to HR. I'm not sure that they 'liked me' but I know that they at least didn't 'not like me'.
I guess on a positive note they did have me pick-up a drug test packet on my way out. I assume they wouldn't spend the money on testing me if they weren't at least interested in hiring me. Yes?
Anyway, when I got home from work I noticed that someone from HR called me, and the message was from the woman that conducted the pre-interview testing. She just left her direct phone number and said that she wanted me to call her. I left a message, but it was well after 8pm, so I'll call her tomorrow before I leave for there, just in case she wants to tell me that they decided not to hire me so I won't waste a trip out there.
I'm going to see what's on TV. Wish me luck.
I guess on a positive note they did have me pick-up a drug test packet on my way out. I assume they wouldn't spend the money on testing me if they weren't at least interested in hiring me. Yes?
Anyway, when I got home from work I noticed that someone from HR called me, and the message was from the woman that conducted the pre-interview testing. She just left her direct phone number and said that she wanted me to call her. I left a message, but it was well after 8pm, so I'll call her tomorrow before I leave for there, just in case she wants to tell me that they decided not to hire me so I won't waste a trip out there.
I'm going to see what's on TV. Wish me luck.
Step by step
Well, apparently I do know my phone number. I have an appointment on Tuesday at 10:00a. Not sure how I feel about it but there it is all the same. I know I'm supposed to be happy and all that, but I hate interviews, so there ya go.
Had to get a copy of my DMV record, which seeing that the DMV is all on it's a holiday thing I had to get a copy off of their website. The woman I talked to on the phone said that would be o'kay but at the same time seemed surprised that I could do that. Oh well, I'm having them mail me a copy too, so if they have a problem with it I'll have a copy from them a few days later, so I'll just tell them that.
They seem to want people with no more than four negative points on their record, and I'm at a positive one. So unless they have a problem with the accident I have over a year ago, that shouldn't be a problem.
I've decided that I don't want to go to work tomorrow. I'm going but I decided I don't want to. I usually wait till it's time to leave to do that. *shrug* Oh well, maybe if I'm lucky by this time next month I'll be wanting to not go to work at a new place. *smirk*
Had to get a copy of my DMV record, which seeing that the DMV is all on it's a holiday thing I had to get a copy off of their website. The woman I talked to on the phone said that would be o'kay but at the same time seemed surprised that I could do that. Oh well, I'm having them mail me a copy too, so if they have a problem with it I'll have a copy from them a few days later, so I'll just tell them that.
They seem to want people with no more than four negative points on their record, and I'm at a positive one. So unless they have a problem with the accident I have over a year ago, that shouldn't be a problem.
I've decided that I don't want to go to work tomorrow. I'm going but I decided I don't want to. I usually wait till it's time to leave to do that. *shrug* Oh well, maybe if I'm lucky by this time next month I'll be wanting to not go to work at a new place. *smirk*
Being a dork
Well, today I went for a pre-interview screening for a job with Cox Communications. I'm applying for Field Service Rep 1, which means if I get the job I'll be running drops and crawling under people's houses so they can get their hundreds of channels of nothing to watch.
How is this being a dork, you might ask? (Well you might not, but go with me here.) Simple, first I was certain I screwed up the tests. They were timed tests and I got not even halfway through most of them and was sure that I messed up the questions that I did answer. I was told that I 'passed' though. Not sure just what passed means but at least I didn't fail. To top that off, later after I got home I started second guessing my ability to correctly write my own phone number. Now I've had my phone number for years; you would think that it would be something I could do without thinking about it. Well, it is and that's what's worrying me. I remember seeing the blank on the form and just starting to write but can't for the life of me remember what I wrote.
I was told that they would call me tomorrow to schedule an interview, assuming they want to interview me. Now if they don't call I'll sit around and wonder if maybe they tried but my dumb arse couldn't write my own number down right. I'll probably try calling them tomorrow afternoon, if I don't hear from them, and give some silly line like I just changed numbers and wanted to be sure that I wrote the new one down or something like that. Oh well, that's just a part of being me. I second guess myself about stuff like that all the time. Some people worry about not turning off the stove or unplugging the iron, I worry about writing my phone number down correctly.
Welcome to my world.
How is this being a dork, you might ask? (Well you might not, but go with me here.) Simple, first I was certain I screwed up the tests. They were timed tests and I got not even halfway through most of them and was sure that I messed up the questions that I did answer. I was told that I 'passed' though. Not sure just what passed means but at least I didn't fail. To top that off, later after I got home I started second guessing my ability to correctly write my own phone number. Now I've had my phone number for years; you would think that it would be something I could do without thinking about it. Well, it is and that's what's worrying me. I remember seeing the blank on the form and just starting to write but can't for the life of me remember what I wrote.
I was told that they would call me tomorrow to schedule an interview, assuming they want to interview me. Now if they don't call I'll sit around and wonder if maybe they tried but my dumb arse couldn't write my own number down right. I'll probably try calling them tomorrow afternoon, if I don't hear from them, and give some silly line like I just changed numbers and wanted to be sure that I wrote the new one down or something like that. Oh well, that's just a part of being me. I second guess myself about stuff like that all the time. Some people worry about not turning off the stove or unplugging the iron, I worry about writing my phone number down correctly.
Welcome to my world.
When is a new year not new anymore?
Nearly two weeks since 2004 started and it seems like it's been here for a long time. *shrug* I'm not sure if it's just me, or what, but this year seems to have just carried over from last year.
I'm not saying it's a bad thing, or even a good thing, it's just a thing. The good, the bad, it's all still here. I suppose it's always been like that, but this year I seem to be noticing it more. Not sure why, but there it is all the same.
Work is going; not sure where, but it's going. I'm still looking for something else, maybe come this time next year I'll be making something close to a decent amount of money for a person who will then be in their thirties.
I'm not saying it's a bad thing, or even a good thing, it's just a thing. The good, the bad, it's all still here. I suppose it's always been like that, but this year I seem to be noticing it more. Not sure why, but there it is all the same.
Work is going; not sure where, but it's going. I'm still looking for something else, maybe come this time next year I'll be making something close to a decent amount of money for a person who will then be in their thirties.
All that new year stuff
I'm home on my lunch break. One of the very few advantages of working where I do is that I'm only a few minutes from home. Literally. This morning was painful. Slow doesn't cover it, dead doesn't even do it justice. There were a total of twenty-one customers from 07:00 till 09:00, and five of them were employees getting something for breakfast because unlike the rest of the area we had to be awake that damn early in the morning.
Dumb arse me forgot my car's state inspection, so it's overdue now. Tried to get that done today, but every place I tried was useless for one reason or another. Most either had wait times that were WAY too long, or the guy that did them wasn't in, but Merchants Tire had the best *cough*mostannoying*cough* reason of all. I was told, and I quote "We were going to do them today, but we can't get any outside parts in today, so if something was wrong we couldn't fix it." Argh!! Did I say I wanted them to fix it? Would I let a non-VW tech work on anything more complex than my tires while it's still under warranty? No way in hell. But that's o'kay. I know where I'm going to take it, just have to wait till tomorrow morning.
In other news, the little lizard doesn't think I'm up to the task. Oh well, that's o'kay, never liked that damn gecko anyway. *smirk*
Back to work for me... should have just stayed there and got something to eat, at least I wouldn't be hungry now. *shrug*
Dumb arse me forgot my car's state inspection, so it's overdue now. Tried to get that done today, but every place I tried was useless for one reason or another. Most either had wait times that were WAY too long, or the guy that did them wasn't in, but Merchants Tire had the best *cough*mostannoying*cough* reason of all. I was told, and I quote "We were going to do them today, but we can't get any outside parts in today, so if something was wrong we couldn't fix it." Argh!! Did I say I wanted them to fix it? Would I let a non-VW tech work on anything more complex than my tires while it's still under warranty? No way in hell. But that's o'kay. I know where I'm going to take it, just have to wait till tomorrow morning.
In other news, the little lizard doesn't think I'm up to the task. Oh well, that's o'kay, never liked that damn gecko anyway. *smirk*
Back to work for me... should have just stayed there and got something to eat, at least I wouldn't be hungry now. *shrug*
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