9.30.2005
No more temping for me...
...because I got a job!
The company that I temped at earlier in the month had wanted to interview me for an open position. That interview finally happened Monday afternoon. The interview was okay, but the pay they were initially offering was too low for my liking. So, when the temp agency asked me if I was interested in the job, I told them that I was, but not for the money they were offering. So, we did a bit of back-and-forth yesterday...and I got what I wanted. I'm still making less than I was in Philadelphia (when factoring in the cost-of-living adjustment--St. Louis is 20% cheaper to live in than Philadelphia), but given that my expenses are lower than they were in Philadelphia, it actually works out better in the end. Plus, I'm still going to be working at the pizza shop 2 nights a week...unless school becomes too demanding.
The job is with a company that distributes phone books across the country. Basically, as I understand it, I'll be playing with databases--building, manipulating, etc. Something I actually like doing. And I'll make decent money to do it. Can't complain there.
I start on October 10th. If you'll excuse me, I'm going to go enjoy my last week of unemployment...
The company that I temped at earlier in the month had wanted to interview me for an open position. That interview finally happened Monday afternoon. The interview was okay, but the pay they were initially offering was too low for my liking. So, when the temp agency asked me if I was interested in the job, I told them that I was, but not for the money they were offering. So, we did a bit of back-and-forth yesterday...and I got what I wanted. I'm still making less than I was in Philadelphia (when factoring in the cost-of-living adjustment--St. Louis is 20% cheaper to live in than Philadelphia), but given that my expenses are lower than they were in Philadelphia, it actually works out better in the end. Plus, I'm still going to be working at the pizza shop 2 nights a week...unless school becomes too demanding.
The job is with a company that distributes phone books across the country. Basically, as I understand it, I'll be playing with databases--building, manipulating, etc. Something I actually like doing. And I'll make decent money to do it. Can't complain there.
I start on October 10th. If you'll excuse me, I'm going to go enjoy my last week of unemployment...
9.29.2005
Time to get familiar with...
...another fucking hospital. :P
I've been having arm and chest pains for the past 4 days. I didn't think it was anything heart-related...I know what those kind of pains feel like...these pains felt nothing like that. It doesn't take much for me to strain the left side of my upper body, so I suspected that that was what I did. But the pain persisted. And then I noticed that I had what appears to be a spider bite on my left bicep...and some of you know what happened the last time I got bitten by a spider.
I have insurance, but it's an HMO, and does not cover physicians here in St. Louis. I'm going to see if the insurance company will work with me on this (perhaps letting me convert to a PPO, since I had a "life-changing event" in June), but until then, my best resort is the ER. So, April took me to Forest Park Hospital this afternoon.
Forest Park is a medium-sized hospital on the west side of the city. It used to be owned by Tenet, but is now independent. I took my Aunt Bette there when she broke her ankle two months ago, and I was highly impressed by their service and their speed.
We were there for about 3 hours. They ran tests, took x-rays, etc...nothing new for me these days. The conclusion: well, they didn't really seem to know what was wrong. Apparently, it could be irritation from a mild chest cold I have. But they did know that there was nothing wrong with my heart. Whew!
Funniest moment while there: I was asked by the registrar if I had ever been there before. I replied no. Then she read back my old address to me (the place where I lived before we moved to our current house in 1998). Holy shit...I had been there before...in 1997, when the place was known as Deaconness Hospital. I'm still not sure why I was there then...more than likely, it was due to a lung infection. I used to get those on occasion when I smoked--and wound up in the ER at least a couple of times in the mid-90s because of them.
And April...I already knew she was a keeper, but if I didn't know that before today, I certainly do now. She picked me up and took me to the hospital, stayed with me the whole time, took me to lunch after we left and stayed with me for most of the night. She really is the greatest thing to ever happen to me, and I'm very blessed to have her in my life.
So...how was everyone else's day? :)
I've been having arm and chest pains for the past 4 days. I didn't think it was anything heart-related...I know what those kind of pains feel like...these pains felt nothing like that. It doesn't take much for me to strain the left side of my upper body, so I suspected that that was what I did. But the pain persisted. And then I noticed that I had what appears to be a spider bite on my left bicep...and some of you know what happened the last time I got bitten by a spider.
I have insurance, but it's an HMO, and does not cover physicians here in St. Louis. I'm going to see if the insurance company will work with me on this (perhaps letting me convert to a PPO, since I had a "life-changing event" in June), but until then, my best resort is the ER. So, April took me to Forest Park Hospital this afternoon.
Forest Park is a medium-sized hospital on the west side of the city. It used to be owned by Tenet, but is now independent. I took my Aunt Bette there when she broke her ankle two months ago, and I was highly impressed by their service and their speed.
We were there for about 3 hours. They ran tests, took x-rays, etc...nothing new for me these days. The conclusion: well, they didn't really seem to know what was wrong. Apparently, it could be irritation from a mild chest cold I have. But they did know that there was nothing wrong with my heart. Whew!
Funniest moment while there: I was asked by the registrar if I had ever been there before. I replied no. Then she read back my old address to me (the place where I lived before we moved to our current house in 1998). Holy shit...I had been there before...in 1997, when the place was known as Deaconness Hospital. I'm still not sure why I was there then...more than likely, it was due to a lung infection. I used to get those on occasion when I smoked--and wound up in the ER at least a couple of times in the mid-90s because of them.
And April...I already knew she was a keeper, but if I didn't know that before today, I certainly do now. She picked me up and took me to the hospital, stayed with me the whole time, took me to lunch after we left and stayed with me for most of the night. She really is the greatest thing to ever happen to me, and I'm very blessed to have her in my life.
So...how was everyone else's day? :)
9.28.2005
Charlie Murphy!!!
Dear Tim,
I hope you had a nice birthday. You're a bastard, but you're my brother...you're MY bastard.
Love,
your older brother
*big smooch*
I hope you had a nice birthday. You're a bastard, but you're my brother...you're MY bastard.
Love,
your older brother
*big smooch*
9.27.2005
The last hurrah
22 years ago, I went to my first ever baseball game at Busch Stadium: The Cardinals got beat by the Pirates 5-0 on a Sunday afternoon that summer. Since then, I've been to quite a few games, primarily due to my stepdad or friends being in the know.
Tonight will mark my final one at the current Busch Stadium. As some of you might know, the current Busch Stadium will be demolished shortly after the Cardinals' season ends (which will hopefully be with a World Series win in November). The new Busch Stadium is being built right next to the current one, and the current one must be demolished in order for the new one to be finished. The whole family is going, primarily to celebrate my stepdad's birthday--he turned 61 today.
The current Busch is such a prominent part of St. Louis and Downtown...and baseball lore. Mark McGwire broke Roger Maris's record there. The Cardinals won the 1982 World Series there, and the Red Sox broke their curse there last year. Not to mention, it was the home of the football Cardinals from 1966 to 1987, and played host to the Rams' first 2 games in St. Louis in 1995. And with its demolishing, RFK in DC will be the lone cookie-cutter stadium left from the late 60s/early 70s.
It'll be missed...but it has served its purposes well. Now I just hope it goes out on a good note with a World Series win.
Tonight will mark my final one at the current Busch Stadium. As some of you might know, the current Busch Stadium will be demolished shortly after the Cardinals' season ends (which will hopefully be with a World Series win in November). The new Busch Stadium is being built right next to the current one, and the current one must be demolished in order for the new one to be finished. The whole family is going, primarily to celebrate my stepdad's birthday--he turned 61 today.
The current Busch is such a prominent part of St. Louis and Downtown...and baseball lore. Mark McGwire broke Roger Maris's record there. The Cardinals won the 1982 World Series there, and the Red Sox broke their curse there last year. Not to mention, it was the home of the football Cardinals from 1966 to 1987, and played host to the Rams' first 2 games in St. Louis in 1995. And with its demolishing, RFK in DC will be the lone cookie-cutter stadium left from the late 60s/early 70s.
It'll be missed...but it has served its purposes well. Now I just hope it goes out on a good note with a World Series win.
9.26.2005
Trailer trash chic?
From MSNBC: There’s word that Wal-Mart is interested in acquiring clothing designer Tommy Hilfiger.
Women’s Wear Daily is reporting on its Web site that the world’s largest retailer is believed to have initiated the idea of a buyout, and will start conducting due diligence as early as this week. The industry publication says a deal could be signed before Thanksgiving.
I'm not a Tommy fan, but his shit is pretty popular. Imagine how much cred this could give Wal-Mart. Or, imagine what a downfall Mr. Hilfiger himself could take from this.
And read that first paragraph again...I thought the buying and selling of people was outlawed during the Civil War. :)
Women’s Wear Daily is reporting on its Web site that the world’s largest retailer is believed to have initiated the idea of a buyout, and will start conducting due diligence as early as this week. The industry publication says a deal could be signed before Thanksgiving.
I'm not a Tommy fan, but his shit is pretty popular. Imagine how much cred this could give Wal-Mart. Or, imagine what a downfall Mr. Hilfiger himself could take from this.
And read that first paragraph again...I thought the buying and selling of people was outlawed during the Civil War. :)
9.25.2005
The interview
Tomorrow, I have a job interview...my first real job interview in 4 years. I never had one with Radian since I started there as a temp, and I'm not counting the interviews at temp agencies or at the pizza shop.
It's with the company I temped at earlier this month. A week after I started there (my start date was August 24th), they apparently got a copy of my resume from the temp agency, and wanted to interview me for this open position they had in the department I was working. Things were so hectic there, though, that the interview hadn't taken place...until now.
To be honest, I'm not sure exactly what the position is. I do know that it involves building and playing with databases--one of my specialties. My suspicion is that the position will not pay anywhere near what I'm looking for (and that it will not be worth driving 30 miles each way every day to do it), but I really have nothing to lose other than some gas tomorrow, so I might as well do the interview.
Wish me luck...pizza delivery is alright, but I'd much rather have a nice stable real job finally. And I'm tired of paying $386 a month for COBRA.
It's with the company I temped at earlier this month. A week after I started there (my start date was August 24th), they apparently got a copy of my resume from the temp agency, and wanted to interview me for this open position they had in the department I was working. Things were so hectic there, though, that the interview hadn't taken place...until now.
To be honest, I'm not sure exactly what the position is. I do know that it involves building and playing with databases--one of my specialties. My suspicion is that the position will not pay anywhere near what I'm looking for (and that it will not be worth driving 30 miles each way every day to do it), but I really have nothing to lose other than some gas tomorrow, so I might as well do the interview.
Wish me luck...pizza delivery is alright, but I'd much rather have a nice stable real job finally. And I'm tired of paying $386 a month for COBRA.
9.24.2005
Shock, disappointment and acceptance
As some of you might know, I am a big Stevie Wonder fan. His new CD comes out via iTunes on Tuesday, and what I've heard so far (2 singles released earlier in the year) is great.
While several of his songs have been used as samples for hip-hop songs ("I Wish," "Pastime Paradise," "Do I Do"), and several have been covered by other artists (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Mary J. Blige), the only time I can remember a Stevie Wonder song in a commercial was when he was hawking Casio keyboards in the 1980s.
Two weeks ago or so, I'm watching TV, and a commercial comes on for The UPS Store. The theme of the commercial is essentially, "Don't worry about your shipping needs...UPS has you covered." And the song that they used in the commercial? "Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing," from Innervisions, Stevie's 1973 release.
Immediately, the words "What the fuck?!" came out of my mouth. It's one of my favorite Stevie songs, and just seems so inappropriate for a commercial. How the fuck are you going to take a beautiful song like that and make it the theme of a UPS commercial? Who's the ad wizard that came up with that crap? I wanna have a chat with him.
On one hand, I'm kinda disappointed that Stevie would do that sort of thing. But why should I be? Moby licensed every one of the songs from his CD Play for placement. And The Stones' "Start Me Up" was the theme for the release of Windows 95. Plus, this commercial exposure helps expose Stevie to a new generation of fans. In fact, it may have been smartly planned, given that this new CD of his was originally supposed to be released in the spring of 2004...he decided to keep tinkering with it.
And it's not the worst use of a song in a commercial...did you see the Gap commercial where they used Depeche Mode's "Just Can't Get Enough?"
While several of his songs have been used as samples for hip-hop songs ("I Wish," "Pastime Paradise," "Do I Do"), and several have been covered by other artists (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Mary J. Blige), the only time I can remember a Stevie Wonder song in a commercial was when he was hawking Casio keyboards in the 1980s.
Two weeks ago or so, I'm watching TV, and a commercial comes on for The UPS Store. The theme of the commercial is essentially, "Don't worry about your shipping needs...UPS has you covered." And the song that they used in the commercial? "Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing," from Innervisions, Stevie's 1973 release.
Immediately, the words "What the fuck?!" came out of my mouth. It's one of my favorite Stevie songs, and just seems so inappropriate for a commercial. How the fuck are you going to take a beautiful song like that and make it the theme of a UPS commercial? Who's the ad wizard that came up with that crap? I wanna have a chat with him.
On one hand, I'm kinda disappointed that Stevie would do that sort of thing. But why should I be? Moby licensed every one of the songs from his CD Play for placement. And The Stones' "Start Me Up" was the theme for the release of Windows 95. Plus, this commercial exposure helps expose Stevie to a new generation of fans. In fact, it may have been smartly planned, given that this new CD of his was originally supposed to be released in the spring of 2004...he decided to keep tinkering with it.
And it's not the worst use of a song in a commercial...did you see the Gap commercial where they used Depeche Mode's "Just Can't Get Enough?"
9.23.2005
Do I look like have...
..."salesman" written on my forehead?
In the summer of 1991, I started umpiring baseball games for Catholic Youth Council here in South St. Louis, and have been working ever since...18 jobs, from restaurants to retail to banking to marketing. My primary specialties are operations development and management, training and customer service. Never...never...have I had a job where I've done any real work involving sales.
When I worked for a now-defunct Wal-Mart-esque company, I would sometimes work in the electronics and jewelry departments. And I would make various recommendations and give opinions, but I wasn't commissioned, so I was totally honest and forthcoming. When I moved to banking, my bosses would try to get us to do a small amount of upselling (getting people to sign up for credit cards or for more information about money market accounts...shit like that). But IIRC, only the branch got credit for that, not the individual tellers, so I didn't really do much of that. And when I worked at CVS, our bosses used to tell us to hype up the CVS brand items...cookies, juices, water, etc. What my district manager didn't seem to understand was the fact that I was working at a store in one of Philadelphia's wealthiest areas (I was at the 2nd and Lombard store at the time, in Society Hill). People there don't want knock-off shit, even if it is just as good as the real thing. And the fucker even lived in the neighborhood.
I hate sales for the most part. If I really like something, I might try to "sell" it to you...e.g. "Wolf, you have got to buy the new Ministry CD. It's their best CD in 10 years." Or, "April, how the fuck can you not like Oreos?! They're the greatest cookies ever created!" :) But if my life depended on me selling things, like cars, I'd be fucked. I don't like to be intruded upon by sales people for the most part (beyond "Can I help you with anything?"), and I wouldn't want to be intrusive like that to anyone.
So, you can imagine my irritation when job hawkers call, wanting to offer me jobs involving sales. "I saw your resume online, and I think the position I have open is right up your alley. It involves financial/insurance sales..." I used to get a ton of calls from Primerica (Citigroup's version of Edward Jones or Charles Schwab, from what I gather)...got calls from them in each of the 4 cities in which I've lived. Fortunately, I haven't heard from them in forever...probably b/c I got really pissed off at one of the guys from there that called me when I lived in Philly. I think I got calls from 3 of those guys in the Philadelphia area in one day, and that's what set me off. Hopefully, they blackballed me.
I don't know where these sales folks are getting their information. My suspicion is that they are just pulling out a big hunk of resumes from job sites under certain job categories (e.g. people who classify their resumes under Clerical/Administrative on Careerbuilder) and calling people, without really looking at the resumes. Since I've moved back home, I've gotten 6 phone calls for jobs--one from the temp agency I've worked for recently, one from another office of the same agency, a headhunter for a company looking to fill positions in the future and 3 sales hacks...2 such calls in the past 2 days.
In the title of my resume on Careerbuilder, I believe I have "NO SALES" listed in my resume title. Perhaps I need to do that to my resumes on the other job sites I frequent...
In the summer of 1991, I started umpiring baseball games for Catholic Youth Council here in South St. Louis, and have been working ever since...18 jobs, from restaurants to retail to banking to marketing. My primary specialties are operations development and management, training and customer service. Never...never...have I had a job where I've done any real work involving sales.
When I worked for a now-defunct Wal-Mart-esque company, I would sometimes work in the electronics and jewelry departments. And I would make various recommendations and give opinions, but I wasn't commissioned, so I was totally honest and forthcoming. When I moved to banking, my bosses would try to get us to do a small amount of upselling (getting people to sign up for credit cards or for more information about money market accounts...shit like that). But IIRC, only the branch got credit for that, not the individual tellers, so I didn't really do much of that. And when I worked at CVS, our bosses used to tell us to hype up the CVS brand items...cookies, juices, water, etc. What my district manager didn't seem to understand was the fact that I was working at a store in one of Philadelphia's wealthiest areas (I was at the 2nd and Lombard store at the time, in Society Hill). People there don't want knock-off shit, even if it is just as good as the real thing. And the fucker even lived in the neighborhood.
I hate sales for the most part. If I really like something, I might try to "sell" it to you...e.g. "Wolf, you have got to buy the new Ministry CD. It's their best CD in 10 years." Or, "April, how the fuck can you not like Oreos?! They're the greatest cookies ever created!" :) But if my life depended on me selling things, like cars, I'd be fucked. I don't like to be intruded upon by sales people for the most part (beyond "Can I help you with anything?"), and I wouldn't want to be intrusive like that to anyone.
So, you can imagine my irritation when job hawkers call, wanting to offer me jobs involving sales. "I saw your resume online, and I think the position I have open is right up your alley. It involves financial/insurance sales..." I used to get a ton of calls from Primerica (Citigroup's version of Edward Jones or Charles Schwab, from what I gather)...got calls from them in each of the 4 cities in which I've lived. Fortunately, I haven't heard from them in forever...probably b/c I got really pissed off at one of the guys from there that called me when I lived in Philly. I think I got calls from 3 of those guys in the Philadelphia area in one day, and that's what set me off. Hopefully, they blackballed me.
I don't know where these sales folks are getting their information. My suspicion is that they are just pulling out a big hunk of resumes from job sites under certain job categories (e.g. people who classify their resumes under Clerical/Administrative on Careerbuilder) and calling people, without really looking at the resumes. Since I've moved back home, I've gotten 6 phone calls for jobs--one from the temp agency I've worked for recently, one from another office of the same agency, a headhunter for a company looking to fill positions in the future and 3 sales hacks...2 such calls in the past 2 days.
In the title of my resume on Careerbuilder, I believe I have "NO SALES" listed in my resume title. Perhaps I need to do that to my resumes on the other job sites I frequent...
9.22.2005
Either an angel is watching over me...
...or Parking Enforcement on South Grand is awful.
April works in an area known as Grand South Grand...it's a commercial strip of 5 blocks along South Grand Blvd. near Tower Grove Park (one of St. Louis's largest parks) on the South Side. It was getting pretty run down in the mid-80s, but a turnaround ensued (in part, due to the growing Vietnamese and gay communities in the area at the time), and it's now a cool little area where lots of different people hang out.
When I'm just schlepping pizzas, April and I usually have lunch together a few days a week. Or, I'll just stop by and hang out for a bit. And in both cases, I seem to get drawn into doing work...I should start billing the organization for my services. :) Anyway...
All the streets in the immediate area are metered, as well as the parking lot next to April's office. The max time on the meter is 2 hours, and I usually go ahead and pay for that amount of time, since it only costs a dollar.
In 2 recent cases, I've wound up staying well past my 2 hours...but haven't gotten a $10 ticket on my windshield.
Last Monday, after I was let go from my temp job, I stopped by her office. I wound up being there for over 2 hours, assisting her with printing letters and envelopes for an upcoming fund raiser for the organization. I had parked on the parking lot, and put in enough change for 45 minutes or so. I was sure I'd have a ticket on my car when I got back.
Nothing. Though to be fair, by the time I got there, it was around 2:30, and I left around 5. Though the meters run until 6 here, I figured maybe they finished early for the day.
Today, I was let go early from the pizza shop, so I headed down to the office around 12:30 to have lunch with April. I put enough in the meter for 2 hours. I wound up being down there until 4:30, hanging out, looking at various career help sites with her and doing some odds and ends stuff around the office. This time, my car was right out on South Grand, across the street from the office. Surely, I'd get busted this time.
Nothing...again. Maybe Parking Enforcement officers don't do shit after lunch...I dunno.
I would say that I'm not gonna take any more chances with the meters, but April's last day at her job is next Friday, so I don't much care at this point. But it'll be my luck that I get a ticket tomorrow or next week...
April works in an area known as Grand South Grand...it's a commercial strip of 5 blocks along South Grand Blvd. near Tower Grove Park (one of St. Louis's largest parks) on the South Side. It was getting pretty run down in the mid-80s, but a turnaround ensued (in part, due to the growing Vietnamese and gay communities in the area at the time), and it's now a cool little area where lots of different people hang out.
When I'm just schlepping pizzas, April and I usually have lunch together a few days a week. Or, I'll just stop by and hang out for a bit. And in both cases, I seem to get drawn into doing work...I should start billing the organization for my services. :) Anyway...
All the streets in the immediate area are metered, as well as the parking lot next to April's office. The max time on the meter is 2 hours, and I usually go ahead and pay for that amount of time, since it only costs a dollar.
In 2 recent cases, I've wound up staying well past my 2 hours...but haven't gotten a $10 ticket on my windshield.
Last Monday, after I was let go from my temp job, I stopped by her office. I wound up being there for over 2 hours, assisting her with printing letters and envelopes for an upcoming fund raiser for the organization. I had parked on the parking lot, and put in enough change for 45 minutes or so. I was sure I'd have a ticket on my car when I got back.
Nothing. Though to be fair, by the time I got there, it was around 2:30, and I left around 5. Though the meters run until 6 here, I figured maybe they finished early for the day.
Today, I was let go early from the pizza shop, so I headed down to the office around 12:30 to have lunch with April. I put enough in the meter for 2 hours. I wound up being down there until 4:30, hanging out, looking at various career help sites with her and doing some odds and ends stuff around the office. This time, my car was right out on South Grand, across the street from the office. Surely, I'd get busted this time.
Nothing...again. Maybe Parking Enforcement officers don't do shit after lunch...I dunno.
I would say that I'm not gonna take any more chances with the meters, but April's last day at her job is next Friday, so I don't much care at this point. But it'll be my luck that I get a ticket tomorrow or next week...
9.21.2005
Here we go again
Looks like Rita is going to be a bitch, just like Katrina...from MSNBC:
Hospital and nursing home patients were evacuated and as many as 1 million other people were ordered to clear out along the Gulf Coast on Wednesday as Hurricane Rita grew to a Category 5, 165-mph monster that could pummel Texas and bring more misery to New Orleans by week’s end.
It seems like Katrina scared the shit out of people, if only for this season. North Carolina seemed well-prepared for Ophelia, and Texas, Louisiana and the Feds seem ready to go for Rita.
I pray that it impacts as few people as possible...and gets nowhere near southeastern Louisiana.
I was listening to MSNBC in my brother's truck earlier today, and they were playing back some testimony given earlier in the week from one of the big hurricane guys to a Senate committee--I'm not sure if he was with the NOAA or what. But this guy was saying that we might be in a cycle where we see these kinds of hurricanes for the next 10-20 years.
Almost makes me glad that I live away from the coast now. Of course, I live right over the New Madrid Fault (which makes the San Andreas look like a pussy) and St. Louis hasn't been struck by a big tornado in 40 years...
Hospital and nursing home patients were evacuated and as many as 1 million other people were ordered to clear out along the Gulf Coast on Wednesday as Hurricane Rita grew to a Category 5, 165-mph monster that could pummel Texas and bring more misery to New Orleans by week’s end.
It seems like Katrina scared the shit out of people, if only for this season. North Carolina seemed well-prepared for Ophelia, and Texas, Louisiana and the Feds seem ready to go for Rita.
I pray that it impacts as few people as possible...and gets nowhere near southeastern Louisiana.
I was listening to MSNBC in my brother's truck earlier today, and they were playing back some testimony given earlier in the week from one of the big hurricane guys to a Senate committee--I'm not sure if he was with the NOAA or what. But this guy was saying that we might be in a cycle where we see these kinds of hurricanes for the next 10-20 years.
Almost makes me glad that I live away from the coast now. Of course, I live right over the New Madrid Fault (which makes the San Andreas look like a pussy) and St. Louis hasn't been struck by a big tornado in 40 years...
9.20.2005
Running in circles
I actually took today off, because Depeche Mode tickets were supposed to go on sale at 10am, though no one had any work for me anyway. Tickets for the show in Chicago go on sale Saturday, but if you pre-buy the new CD in advance on iTunes, you get to buy your tickets early. The band did something similar for their 1998 tour with Tower Records and Music Boulevard--and things got a bit fucked up. Hopefully, there will be fewer kinks this time.
So, I was looking at the seating diagram for Allstate Arena, and I thought I'd double-check the pre-sale date, just to make sure I had the right date.
Tuesday September 27th.
What the fuck?! Are you serious? I took today off for nothing? (Well, I do go to work at the pizza shop at 11, but...) I could have sworn that the pre-sale date for Chicago was today.
Then I check DM's website.
Wednesday September 21st.
Goddamnit...good thing I'm off tomorrow, too. (Well, I work at the pizza shop tomorrow, but...)
DM's site has the correct info, so I'll be up and ready to buy the tickets again tomorrow morning. And hopefully, I'll have some whoopass seats...I have had them for their last two tours.
So, I was looking at the seating diagram for Allstate Arena, and I thought I'd double-check the pre-sale date, just to make sure I had the right date.
Tuesday September 27th.
What the fuck?! Are you serious? I took today off for nothing? (Well, I do go to work at the pizza shop at 11, but...) I could have sworn that the pre-sale date for Chicago was today.
Then I check DM's website.
Wednesday September 21st.
Goddamnit...good thing I'm off tomorrow, too. (Well, I work at the pizza shop tomorrow, but...)
DM's site has the correct info, so I'll be up and ready to buy the tickets again tomorrow morning. And hopefully, I'll have some whoopass seats...I have had them for their last two tours.
9.19.2005
Sycamore Day 30 is coming
Our PB friends might not know, and everyone else might have forgotten, but a certain someone here has a birthday coming up on October 12th...birthday #30.
I'm pretty fucking stoked about it, to be quite honest. Maybe it's because I'm back home, maybe it's because my life is quite different than it was a year ago, maybe it's just because I fucking rule...I dunno. In any case, I want to make your shopping easier, so I've created this list of things that I would like to have:
--CDs: There are some awesome box sets I'd like...among them, any Miles Davis set, the Stevie Wonder box set from 1999, Aerosmith's Pandora's Box and EWF's The Eternal Dance.
--Car accessories: I'd like to get the windows in my car tinted. Maybe put a better sound system in it. Or hook it up with XM. And a set of 15-inch Chevy rims would look sharp.
--iPod: Preferably the 60 GB version...I have almost 700 CDs, you know. But I'd even be happy with the Mini or Nano versions...so long as it's not the Shuffle.
--iBook: With all the bells and whistles...I'm going back to school, you know.
--A 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS: V-8, 303 hp, 28 mpg highway...yeeeeaaayah!
--Large sums of cash: $10,000 would pay off my car. $30,000 would pay for grad school. $1 million would pay off all my debt, my parents' house and debt, April's debt, any debt her mom has, buy April and I brand new cars and the house of our dreams.
Please PM me for an address to send all cards and gifts. :)
I'm pretty fucking stoked about it, to be quite honest. Maybe it's because I'm back home, maybe it's because my life is quite different than it was a year ago, maybe it's just because I fucking rule...I dunno. In any case, I want to make your shopping easier, so I've created this list of things that I would like to have:
--CDs: There are some awesome box sets I'd like...among them, any Miles Davis set, the Stevie Wonder box set from 1999, Aerosmith's Pandora's Box and EWF's The Eternal Dance.
--Car accessories: I'd like to get the windows in my car tinted. Maybe put a better sound system in it. Or hook it up with XM. And a set of 15-inch Chevy rims would look sharp.
--iPod: Preferably the 60 GB version...I have almost 700 CDs, you know. But I'd even be happy with the Mini or Nano versions...so long as it's not the Shuffle.
--iBook: With all the bells and whistles...I'm going back to school, you know.
--A 2006 Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS: V-8, 303 hp, 28 mpg highway...yeeeeaaayah!
--Large sums of cash: $10,000 would pay off my car. $30,000 would pay for grad school. $1 million would pay off all my debt, my parents' house and debt, April's debt, any debt her mom has, buy April and I brand new cars and the house of our dreams.
Please PM me for an address to send all cards and gifts. :)
9.18.2005
Don't give Mother Nature any ideas...
...or terrorists for that matter.
The front page of MSNBC.com last night:
The front page of MSNBC.com last night:
9.17.2005
Please help me understand, Mr. President
New Orleans is going to be rebuilt better than ever...we're going to pour a fuckton of money into it. Okay...great. I don't know if I totally agree with that, but if it can be better than ever and not sink into the sea, fine.
Urban Homesteaders Act...Student Loan forgiveness...hey, that's great. If it'll help get those folks back on their feet...
So, no tax increases to pay for this...eh...well, if I don't have to fork over any extra money...
Wait...more borrowing. Are you serious? Have you looked at our national debt lately? Cut more Federal spending...where? Medicare is going up a double-digit percentage for the second straight year. And you've already cut a shitload of funding. I bet those pork projects and your buddies are still getting their money though, aren't they? And we're still going to keep pouring ridiculous amounts of money into Iraq, aren't we?
I hope you and your posse know what you're doing, Mr. President. Our economy still looks awfully soft. And I hope you're not overcompensating for your administration's initial fuck up.
Urban Homesteaders Act...Student Loan forgiveness...hey, that's great. If it'll help get those folks back on their feet...
So, no tax increases to pay for this...eh...well, if I don't have to fork over any extra money...
Wait...more borrowing. Are you serious? Have you looked at our national debt lately? Cut more Federal spending...where? Medicare is going up a double-digit percentage for the second straight year. And you've already cut a shitload of funding. I bet those pork projects and your buddies are still getting their money though, aren't they? And we're still going to keep pouring ridiculous amounts of money into Iraq, aren't we?
I hope you and your posse know what you're doing, Mr. President. Our economy still looks awfully soft. And I hope you're not overcompensating for your administration's initial fuck up.
9.16.2005
Back to school
For some time, I've thought about going back to school to get my Masters degree. I got my Bachelors at the end of 1998, and at the time, I needed a break. I probably started thinking about going back a couple of years ago, but would quickly put the thoughts out of my mind because of the amount of debt I had at the time and the time involved.
Then after I split up with Rhoda, I gave it some more thought. Once I moved home, I decided that I would indeed go back no later than September 2006.
April just completed her Masters in May through the Options program at Fontbonne University, a small Catholic university here in town. They have a good reputation, and the Masters of Management program through Options is only 18 consecutive months long. There's no GRE involved, and I qualify to be in the program.
Wednesday, I filled out my FAFSA. Today, I went up to my college alma mater to have a transcript sent to Fontbonne. I'll have the application completed and faxed in by Monday. Classes start Thursday December 1.
I'm ready...it's time.
Then after I split up with Rhoda, I gave it some more thought. Once I moved home, I decided that I would indeed go back no later than September 2006.
April just completed her Masters in May through the Options program at Fontbonne University, a small Catholic university here in town. They have a good reputation, and the Masters of Management program through Options is only 18 consecutive months long. There's no GRE involved, and I qualify to be in the program.
Wednesday, I filled out my FAFSA. Today, I went up to my college alma mater to have a transcript sent to Fontbonne. I'll have the application completed and faxed in by Monday. Classes start Thursday December 1.
I'm ready...it's time.
9.15.2005
Good food, good people, good cause
Yesterday, April, her mother, her friend and I had lunch at McMurphy's Grill in Downtown St. Louis. McMurphy's is run by the St. Patrick Center, and you can learn more about how both work by clicking the above link.
Given the purpose and functioning of McMurphy's, April and I were expecting something a bit low-end, and I figured that the people working there would be rather...earthy...that's the word I'll use.
We couldn't have been more wrong.
The place looks upscale...it actually sticks out in the neighborhood. Lots of light. Good atmosphere. And the staff was clean and friendly. You could tell that some of them were a little slow in the mind, but that was to be expected.
And the food wasn't bad. I had the cajun pasta...it was a bit bland and rather greasy, but not bad. And everything else I saw looked good. The prices were reasonable--nothing over $10. Plus they serve alcohol. And today, all the proceeds went to help Katrina victims. How can you go wrong?
I'll definitely go down there again...too bad they're only open for lunch.
Given the purpose and functioning of McMurphy's, April and I were expecting something a bit low-end, and I figured that the people working there would be rather...earthy...that's the word I'll use.
We couldn't have been more wrong.
The place looks upscale...it actually sticks out in the neighborhood. Lots of light. Good atmosphere. And the staff was clean and friendly. You could tell that some of them were a little slow in the mind, but that was to be expected.
And the food wasn't bad. I had the cajun pasta...it was a bit bland and rather greasy, but not bad. And everything else I saw looked good. The prices were reasonable--nothing over $10. Plus they serve alcohol. And today, all the proceeds went to help Katrina victims. How can you go wrong?
I'll definitely go down there again...too bad they're only open for lunch.
9.14.2005
I'll probably never see it, but...
...it's nice to know what I might get.
Most of you probably get annual Social Security statements...mine arrived yesterday. For those of you not familiar with them, every year, you should get a statement from Social Security, telling you how much you would receive if you started collecting SS at various ages or SSDI. In addition, it lists the amount of money you've made during your working career, which is important in determining your monthly benefit amount. To be eligible for Social Security, you essentially have to work for 10 years. I started getting them in 2001, so I guess you get them when you are officially eligible.
According to the fine folks at the SSA, I would receive just under a grand a month if I retire at 62 and $1745 if I work until 70. I'd like to retire early (Who wouldn't?), but given how long people live these days, I expect to work until 70.
If I would have went on SSDI earlier in the year (which was a possibility), I'd be raking in $1077 a month. Whoopeefuckingdo! Rhoda currently gets $864 a month...I've made more money during my working career than she did, apparently.
I like the little disclaimer that they put under the benefit numbers:
Your estimated benefits are based on current law. Congress has made changes to the law in the past and can do so at any time. The law governing benefit amounts may change because, by 2041, the payroll taxes collected will be enough to pay only about 74 percent of scheduled benefits.
I think it should read:
If you are under 50 and think you're ever going to see any of this money, please seek psychological help immediately.
But at least the Feds are trying to keep us in the loop. It's like a security blanket. They'll snatch it away from us later, but it's nice to have for right now.
Most of you probably get annual Social Security statements...mine arrived yesterday. For those of you not familiar with them, every year, you should get a statement from Social Security, telling you how much you would receive if you started collecting SS at various ages or SSDI. In addition, it lists the amount of money you've made during your working career, which is important in determining your monthly benefit amount. To be eligible for Social Security, you essentially have to work for 10 years. I started getting them in 2001, so I guess you get them when you are officially eligible.
According to the fine folks at the SSA, I would receive just under a grand a month if I retire at 62 and $1745 if I work until 70. I'd like to retire early (Who wouldn't?), but given how long people live these days, I expect to work until 70.
If I would have went on SSDI earlier in the year (which was a possibility), I'd be raking in $1077 a month. Whoopeefuckingdo! Rhoda currently gets $864 a month...I've made more money during my working career than she did, apparently.
I like the little disclaimer that they put under the benefit numbers:
Your estimated benefits are based on current law. Congress has made changes to the law in the past and can do so at any time. The law governing benefit amounts may change because, by 2041, the payroll taxes collected will be enough to pay only about 74 percent of scheduled benefits.
I think it should read:
If you are under 50 and think you're ever going to see any of this money, please seek psychological help immediately.
But at least the Feds are trying to keep us in the loop. It's like a security blanket. They'll snatch it away from us later, but it's nice to have for right now.
9.13.2005
Off and on
I'm off from the temp assignment...again.
I started this assignment on August 24th...a Wednesday. That Thursday, everyone except me was asked to stay home on Friday because they didn't want to start the next phase of work until the following Monday. I worked Friday because the work I was doing was in Excel and independent of everyone else--I just got lucky and wound up doing that particular job.
Then last week, we were off Wednesday and Thursday because the databases we needed to do the next part of the project weren't ready--I believe this is the actual reason why everyone but me was given off the 26th. So, we started the next phase on Friday...and finished it at 2:00 yesterday afternoon, because two more databases we needed weren't ready, and our supervisor is out of the office until Thursday. They told us (there are 6 of us from the same agency there) that we'd be called when it was time to come back for the rest of the project.
There's only a small amount of work left--I could probably polish it off in one day or less. I've never worked in a temp situation where it's been on-again, off-again like this...and while I understand the situation, I don't like it. I worked 43 1/2 hours the week before Labor Day, but just 15 1/2 last week and only 5 1/2 hours thus far this week. And the pizza shop has been so-so. I've been so tired and lazy that I've taken early out shifts the past 2 weeks, except for Friday--and business wasn't so great then.
I told my boss at the temp agency of the situation, and they're looking into another assignment. And I'm still supposed to be interviewed by the company for a permanent position. But I doubt if I'll hear anything for the rest of this week.
I just have to stay positive and focused...something's bound to break right on the job front sooner or later. And it was nice to have today off--April wound up needing an ultrasound today (for a potential blood clot), and I was able to go to that with her. Fortunately, it came back negative.
I started this assignment on August 24th...a Wednesday. That Thursday, everyone except me was asked to stay home on Friday because they didn't want to start the next phase of work until the following Monday. I worked Friday because the work I was doing was in Excel and independent of everyone else--I just got lucky and wound up doing that particular job.
Then last week, we were off Wednesday and Thursday because the databases we needed to do the next part of the project weren't ready--I believe this is the actual reason why everyone but me was given off the 26th. So, we started the next phase on Friday...and finished it at 2:00 yesterday afternoon, because two more databases we needed weren't ready, and our supervisor is out of the office until Thursday. They told us (there are 6 of us from the same agency there) that we'd be called when it was time to come back for the rest of the project.
There's only a small amount of work left--I could probably polish it off in one day or less. I've never worked in a temp situation where it's been on-again, off-again like this...and while I understand the situation, I don't like it. I worked 43 1/2 hours the week before Labor Day, but just 15 1/2 last week and only 5 1/2 hours thus far this week. And the pizza shop has been so-so. I've been so tired and lazy that I've taken early out shifts the past 2 weeks, except for Friday--and business wasn't so great then.
I told my boss at the temp agency of the situation, and they're looking into another assignment. And I'm still supposed to be interviewed by the company for a permanent position. But I doubt if I'll hear anything for the rest of this week.
I just have to stay positive and focused...something's bound to break right on the job front sooner or later. And it was nice to have today off--April wound up needing an ultrasound today (for a potential blood clot), and I was able to go to that with her. Fortunately, it came back negative.
9.12.2005
How Deep is Your Flood?
Sycamore's third favorite woman (Wolf) is at the helm for this Manifesto
From New Orleans? Can't get home? Afraid of what you might find when you finally do get there?
Just take a peek at this Clickable Flood Depth Map.
It will tell you your max flooding depth, as well as the latest update. Many sections of the city are back to being dry, but some still have a significant amount of water sloshing around.
This is one of those projects that I think will go like clearing the site of the WTC ... a seeminging insurmountable task that's suddenly finished.
I was talking with my mom yesterday, trying to figure out which disaster is worse ... ETC or Katrina. I think the answer is both, for different reasons. At least with the WTC you have an identified enemy ... the hand of man, while Katrina is an "Act of God" disaster. Folks have a much harder time coming to terms with the Act of God types, because they can experience a crisis of faith, a factor that would ordinarily be a support through this kind of thing.
From New Orleans? Can't get home? Afraid of what you might find when you finally do get there?
Just take a peek at this Clickable Flood Depth Map.
It will tell you your max flooding depth, as well as the latest update. Many sections of the city are back to being dry, but some still have a significant amount of water sloshing around.
This is one of those projects that I think will go like clearing the site of the WTC ... a seeminging insurmountable task that's suddenly finished.
I was talking with my mom yesterday, trying to figure out which disaster is worse ... ETC or Katrina. I think the answer is both, for different reasons. At least with the WTC you have an identified enemy ... the hand of man, while Katrina is an "Act of God" disaster. Folks have a much harder time coming to terms with the Act of God types, because they can experience a crisis of faith, a factor that would ordinarily be a support through this kind of thing.
9.11.2005
(link to the forum version)
9.10.2005
Cielo's return
I am pleased to announce that Cielo (my 2-year old computer built by Undertoad from Cellar) is back up and running again...it crashed 2 weeks ago. I was missing it too much, and didn't want to wait any longer to get it fixed.
About a week ago, after my stepdad and I inspected it, we suspected that the real problem was the power source, and not the processor or HD. I was concerned about trying to do it myself, and I don't know anyone here in St. Louis that is more proficient with computers than me, so I took it to Geek Squad at Best Buy on Thursday. They were really cool when I took May's computer up there, so I decided to use them again.
So I went out there, and the guy I talked to was pretty sure it was the power supply as well. So I bought a power supply and paid for that plus $40 for the install. Total cost: $109.
As I'm standing there talking to the guy, I noticed how easy it looked to remove the supply. I felt a bit stupid, but figured I'd rather be safe than sorry.
I got a call yesterday from someone at Geek Squad, telling me that the machine was powering up, but not recognizing my HD. I'm no expert, but it seemed like a possibility, given that I had removed the HD and attempted to put it in my parents' computer. They wanted to run a diagnostic to double-check it--$59. And the guy on the phone was a real piece of work. Fine...do it.
(I originally paid $320 for the entire computer...though I only paid $20 for XP, and had a monitor already.)
It was ready last night, but given that I had to work last night and today, I wasn't able to pick it up until this afternoon. And guess who I had to deal with at the counter? Ol' Asshole...what a dickhead.
He shows me that it powers up, but doesn't proceed past the XP profile screen...they didn't want to have to break in and change my password. What the fuck?! You could have easily called me and told me that you wanted to do it, and I would have let you. And you could have easily told me what the password was, and I could have changed it later.
Then, as I'm taking it out to the car, I hear something moving around inside the box. When I got to the car, I broke out my screwdriver and opened it up.
The motherfuckers didn't reattached the drives to the box. Plus, they disconnected my second HD.
He also told me that they cleaned up the inside of the box. Nope...still as dirty as it was when I took it out there.
Goddamnit...I almost took the computer back in the store, but I just wanted to get it home at that point, so I just brought it home.
Everything seems to be in working order. The only problem I had was with my firewall--apparently a piece of spyware or something got to it and jacked it up. So I had to go through 25 steps to fix my root certificate, download the firewall again and fire it up. Now it works fine.
I'm supposed to be interviewed for a permanent job at my temp assignment. If I take the position, the first thing I'm buying (besides taking April out for a nice dinner) is that iBook I've been wanting since the spring. And I need to make some friends that know computer shit. I don't want to go through this shit again.
About a week ago, after my stepdad and I inspected it, we suspected that the real problem was the power source, and not the processor or HD. I was concerned about trying to do it myself, and I don't know anyone here in St. Louis that is more proficient with computers than me, so I took it to Geek Squad at Best Buy on Thursday. They were really cool when I took May's computer up there, so I decided to use them again.
So I went out there, and the guy I talked to was pretty sure it was the power supply as well. So I bought a power supply and paid for that plus $40 for the install. Total cost: $109.
As I'm standing there talking to the guy, I noticed how easy it looked to remove the supply. I felt a bit stupid, but figured I'd rather be safe than sorry.
I got a call yesterday from someone at Geek Squad, telling me that the machine was powering up, but not recognizing my HD. I'm no expert, but it seemed like a possibility, given that I had removed the HD and attempted to put it in my parents' computer. They wanted to run a diagnostic to double-check it--$59. And the guy on the phone was a real piece of work. Fine...do it.
(I originally paid $320 for the entire computer...though I only paid $20 for XP, and had a monitor already.)
It was ready last night, but given that I had to work last night and today, I wasn't able to pick it up until this afternoon. And guess who I had to deal with at the counter? Ol' Asshole...what a dickhead.
He shows me that it powers up, but doesn't proceed past the XP profile screen...they didn't want to have to break in and change my password. What the fuck?! You could have easily called me and told me that you wanted to do it, and I would have let you. And you could have easily told me what the password was, and I could have changed it later.
Then, as I'm taking it out to the car, I hear something moving around inside the box. When I got to the car, I broke out my screwdriver and opened it up.
The motherfuckers didn't reattached the drives to the box. Plus, they disconnected my second HD.
He also told me that they cleaned up the inside of the box. Nope...still as dirty as it was when I took it out there.
Goddamnit...I almost took the computer back in the store, but I just wanted to get it home at that point, so I just brought it home.
Everything seems to be in working order. The only problem I had was with my firewall--apparently a piece of spyware or something got to it and jacked it up. So I had to go through 25 steps to fix my root certificate, download the firewall again and fire it up. Now it works fine.
I'm supposed to be interviewed for a permanent job at my temp assignment. If I take the position, the first thing I'm buying (besides taking April out for a nice dinner) is that iBook I've been wanting since the spring. And I need to make some friends that know computer shit. I don't want to go through this shit again.
9.09.2005
Have you ever...
Miss April is at the keyboard today.
Have you ever…Quit a job with nothing lined up? That’s what I did today.
Syc’s working a double tonight so he asked me to do a guest manifesto.
So yeah, I’ve worked at my current job for about six months now. I’m the Director of Operations for a small non-profit. I LOVED it the first two months – I was super productive, always chipper and bound out of bed in the mornings ready for work (which says a lot since I am so not a morning person). I even quit a big time director postion at the YMCA for this job. I wanted to make a bigger impact on my community...blah blah blah.
Then things started to slowly change…my boss (there’s only 5 employees in the whole company) started saying random bizarre shit to me. :shock:
For example:
• “Why should I give you a big raise? It’s not like you have a family or a mortgage.”
• “You know, if you would budget your money better you wouldn’t even need a raise”.
• “Are you on your period? You seem cranky. What do you mean I can’t ask you that? I ask my wife all the time.”
• Reason for not using his office key and making me get up and open the door for him every day “Oh she doesn’t mind, this is her workout since she can’t make it to the gym”.
• And today’s quote : “Wow, you sure do look pretty in pink. Is that sexual harassment?”
Long story short, there were other issues – I’m over qualified and under paid, the company has poor management, their structure sucks etc. But something inside of me has been building up all week. This man is obviously bi-polar and very unstable. I just decided I couldn’t take it any more.
And I put in my three week notice.
With no job lined up.
Now I’m scared as all hell, but overall relieved. I’m hoping I can find something decent. I have 10 years of management experience and a master’s degree.
Hopefully Syc and I will find good jobs soon. If not, then I guess were going live in our cars.
Have you ever…Quit a job with nothing lined up? That’s what I did today.
Syc’s working a double tonight so he asked me to do a guest manifesto.
So yeah, I’ve worked at my current job for about six months now. I’m the Director of Operations for a small non-profit. I LOVED it the first two months – I was super productive, always chipper and bound out of bed in the mornings ready for work (which says a lot since I am so not a morning person). I even quit a big time director postion at the YMCA for this job. I wanted to make a bigger impact on my community...blah blah blah.
Then things started to slowly change…my boss (there’s only 5 employees in the whole company) started saying random bizarre shit to me. :shock:
For example:
• “Why should I give you a big raise? It’s not like you have a family or a mortgage.”
• “You know, if you would budget your money better you wouldn’t even need a raise”.
• “Are you on your period? You seem cranky. What do you mean I can’t ask you that? I ask my wife all the time.”
• Reason for not using his office key and making me get up and open the door for him every day “Oh she doesn’t mind, this is her workout since she can’t make it to the gym”.
• And today’s quote : “Wow, you sure do look pretty in pink. Is that sexual harassment?”
Long story short, there were other issues – I’m over qualified and under paid, the company has poor management, their structure sucks etc. But something inside of me has been building up all week. This man is obviously bi-polar and very unstable. I just decided I couldn’t take it any more.
And I put in my three week notice.
With no job lined up.
Now I’m scared as all hell, but overall relieved. I’m hoping I can find something decent. I have 10 years of management experience and a master’s degree.
Hopefully Syc and I will find good jobs soon. If not, then I guess were going live in our cars.
9.08.2005
The destruction of a mecca?
From MTV: If it wasn't obvious to Hilly Kristal last week that his landlord was serious about wanting to cut its ties with CBGB, it is now.
Wednesday afternoon — one week after his lease with the nonprofit homeless services organization the Bowery Residents' Committee expired — Kristal was served with an eviction notice to vacate the building where he established the club more than three decades ago. Muzzy Rosenblatt, the BRC's executive director, revealed last week that his organization intends to find a new tenant for the space which has always housed CBGB, considered the birthplace of the American punk movement.
It would be a real tragedy to see another great American institution disappear. Kristal is willing to move, though, so hopefully CBGB won't die.
Wednesday afternoon — one week after his lease with the nonprofit homeless services organization the Bowery Residents' Committee expired — Kristal was served with an eviction notice to vacate the building where he established the club more than three decades ago. Muzzy Rosenblatt, the BRC's executive director, revealed last week that his organization intends to find a new tenant for the space which has always housed CBGB, considered the birthplace of the American punk movement.
It would be a real tragedy to see another great American institution disappear. Kristal is willing to move, though, so hopefully CBGB won't die.
Apologies
If you read the blog version of the Manifestos instead of the forum version, I apologize for not having updated here the past couple of weeks. I always write the Manifestos to the forum and post there first, and unfortunately, I get lazy on this side at times. In addition, I'm the only person with access to post to the blog version, which is why guest hosts' posts are almost never posted same day.
I'll try to be more vigilant about making sure that this side of the Bosque is more up-to-date in the future.
Peace.
I'll try to be more vigilant about making sure that this side of the Bosque is more up-to-date in the future.
Peace.
9.07.2005
A closet country fan?
We still have a couple weeks of work left at the temp assignment, but it requires entry into a different program that the bosses have to find...so I have today off.
My cousin Michael is over here at the house painting the kitchen. So we've been shooting the breeze, while one of St. Louis's country stations plays in the background. As I'm listening to the radio, I hear a song that sounds familiar--the new Gretchen Wilson single. April is a Gretchen Wilson fan, and I happened to notice that the single was available on Rhapsody last night, so we listened to it.
Then I noticed a second song...Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA." Who doesn't know that one? Then a third one...this was a newer one by Keith Urban that is on a compilation that April made for me. Then a fourth one...an older one. Not that old--maybe mid-90s. Forgot who it was. Then a fifth...a Randy Travis song from the late 80s.
I'm currently up to song 12 since 10:00 or so.
If you know me and my CD collection, you know that I'm not the biggest country fan. I like old-school country, but don't care much for newer country. I don't mind some of it...I even like some of it, like Dixie Chicks, Tim McGraw and Garth Brooks. But not much. 4 of the Ex Eight liked country, and so does April, so I've picked up a decent amount of country over the past dozen years. But neither Mimi nor Rhoda liked country, so there was a 7-year "drought." Thank God April is bringing me back up to speed! :roll:
;-)
She's now threatening to buy me cowboy attire...and if she does, she'll find herself back on the market. ;-) But to be fair, even without the compilations I've gotten from her, I still know 9 of the songs...jeez! Maybe I do need a cowboy hat!
My cousin Michael is over here at the house painting the kitchen. So we've been shooting the breeze, while one of St. Louis's country stations plays in the background. As I'm listening to the radio, I hear a song that sounds familiar--the new Gretchen Wilson single. April is a Gretchen Wilson fan, and I happened to notice that the single was available on Rhapsody last night, so we listened to it.
Then I noticed a second song...Lee Greenwood's "God Bless the USA." Who doesn't know that one? Then a third one...this was a newer one by Keith Urban that is on a compilation that April made for me. Then a fourth one...an older one. Not that old--maybe mid-90s. Forgot who it was. Then a fifth...a Randy Travis song from the late 80s.
I'm currently up to song 12 since 10:00 or so.
If you know me and my CD collection, you know that I'm not the biggest country fan. I like old-school country, but don't care much for newer country. I don't mind some of it...I even like some of it, like Dixie Chicks, Tim McGraw and Garth Brooks. But not much. 4 of the Ex Eight liked country, and so does April, so I've picked up a decent amount of country over the past dozen years. But neither Mimi nor Rhoda liked country, so there was a 7-year "drought." Thank God April is bringing me back up to speed! :roll:
;-)
She's now threatening to buy me cowboy attire...and if she does, she'll find herself back on the market. ;-) But to be fair, even without the compilations I've gotten from her, I still know 9 of the songs...jeez! Maybe I do need a cowboy hat!
9.06.2005
2 months...finally!
Greetings from April's laptop...at April's work. Interesting b/c this Manifesto involves April...
As of Friday, April and I have been a couple for 2 months. Now, I'm not one to keep track of monthly anniversaries, but I'm glad we've finally passed another month.
I have never been in a relationship where time goes so slowly. I'm not complaining about this, per se. On the contrary, it's a wonderful thing. Usually, time seems to go so fast when you're having a lot of fun...or at least, it does for me.
The problem--if you could call it a problem--is that April and I have grown particularly close over the past 2 months. We've been friends for 7 years, and spent most of June acclimating ourselves romantically, so we bypassed a lot of the growing pains that many couples go through. And if you could see the way we are with each other, and how we talk and what not, it would seem like we've been together longer. Upon knowing the actual length of time of our relationship, eyebrows might get raised. And so on, and so on.
It's all good though. I just wish the 6-month mark would get here...then I'd be truly content with time moving so slowly. :)
As of Friday, April and I have been a couple for 2 months. Now, I'm not one to keep track of monthly anniversaries, but I'm glad we've finally passed another month.
I have never been in a relationship where time goes so slowly. I'm not complaining about this, per se. On the contrary, it's a wonderful thing. Usually, time seems to go so fast when you're having a lot of fun...or at least, it does for me.
The problem--if you could call it a problem--is that April and I have grown particularly close over the past 2 months. We've been friends for 7 years, and spent most of June acclimating ourselves romantically, so we bypassed a lot of the growing pains that many couples go through. And if you could see the way we are with each other, and how we talk and what not, it would seem like we've been together longer. Upon knowing the actual length of time of our relationship, eyebrows might get raised. And so on, and so on.
It's all good though. I just wish the 6-month mark would get here...then I'd be truly content with time moving so slowly. :)
9.05.2005
Labor Day
Today's Manifesto was written by Wolf
It's the end of summer, although fall won't actually start for another 16 days.
School starts tomorrow (last week for districts fearful of too many snow days extending the school year beyond the second week of June), community pools get closed down today, and the last few Labor Day Sale bargains will be flying off the shelves at the major retailers.
It's the first holiday after the long summer month without holidays ... and it celebrates Labor. The workingman (and woman).
It's actually one of our older holidays, originating in 1882, which is probably why few people understand why we celebrate working by not working. It became a Federal Holiday in 1894.
The Department of Labor has a pretty nice history of the holiday page. They make note of the McGuire/Maguire controversy (each man has a fairly stable claim to being the originator of the celebration) but leave out some of the juicier bits.
Although today Labor Day is the time for the last barbeque of the summer, traditionally there were parades of the various labor unions and worker's guilds, proudly showing their skills and solidarity to all the town ... sounds familiar you say? Puts you in mind of the old May Day celebrations in Moscow?
The first May Day Celebrations occured in the US. The murder of a policeman by a still-unknown bomb thrower at the event caused significant problems for the labor movement of the day.
Labor Day may have been promoted as a means of diminishing the Communist/Socialist celebration of the international class struggle. May Day in the Socialist sense is virtually uncelebrated in the US, but we do still set aside this day to honor our laborers, the working guys that actually make stuff and make stuff happen.
It's the end of summer, although fall won't actually start for another 16 days.
School starts tomorrow (last week for districts fearful of too many snow days extending the school year beyond the second week of June), community pools get closed down today, and the last few Labor Day Sale bargains will be flying off the shelves at the major retailers.
It's the first holiday after the long summer month without holidays ... and it celebrates Labor. The workingman (and woman).
It's actually one of our older holidays, originating in 1882, which is probably why few people understand why we celebrate working by not working. It became a Federal Holiday in 1894.
The Department of Labor has a pretty nice history of the holiday page. They make note of the McGuire/Maguire controversy (each man has a fairly stable claim to being the originator of the celebration) but leave out some of the juicier bits.
Although today Labor Day is the time for the last barbeque of the summer, traditionally there were parades of the various labor unions and worker's guilds, proudly showing their skills and solidarity to all the town ... sounds familiar you say? Puts you in mind of the old May Day celebrations in Moscow?
The first May Day Celebrations occured in the US. The murder of a policeman by a still-unknown bomb thrower at the event caused significant problems for the labor movement of the day.
Labor Day may have been promoted as a means of diminishing the Communist/Socialist celebration of the international class struggle. May Day in the Socialist sense is virtually uncelebrated in the US, but we do still set aside this day to honor our laborers, the working guys that actually make stuff and make stuff happen.
9.04.2005
Toast
Today's Manifesto was written by Wolf
Today, I have to return the toaster.
This will be the first in a series of returns and purchases, if I know my mother.
Mom liked the last toaster. The last toaster lasted for 8 years. It was a Krups and had a quartz toasting element instead of the wires that most toasters have.
It made the best toast in the world.
Until 6 months ago.
How could I wait 6 months to replace a toaster?
$7.99 toaster from K-Mart. Bread doesn't fit into the slots. you have to toast it sideways. There is a dial on the front where you can suggest to it that you want you toast somewhere between not toasted at all to black. Basically, it's the toaster you grew up with, only painted white.
It is the perfect emergency toaster.
But woefully inadequate once one has seen the beauty of the $60 toaster.
With the quartz element.
That is no longer made.
I assume that there was some inherent danger to the quartz element toasters. They must have burned down houses throughout the world.
I don't care. I loved that toaster.
I finally got around to doing something about the emergency toaster, and got a beauty ... high tech Krups toaster, looks like an toast silo. An ICBM that will launch perfect toast onto your plate.
And it did.
It had a bagel setting, and a warmer grid on the top so you could warm your muffins and croissant.
It sat in stainless steel glory on the counter.
And was two and a half times as large as the emergency toaster.
It was the Leviathan of toasters. It had the pull out crumb tray in the front for easy access.
And it made good toast.
Made.
It's back in the box, ready for it's trip back to the store. Mom doesn't like it. She doesn't like the emergency toaster either. But at least it fits on the countertop and she won't have to move the breadbox.
I fully expect that after three or four more rounds of this, the Krups FEM-2(Black) will be back in the house.
Today, I have to return the toaster.
This will be the first in a series of returns and purchases, if I know my mother.
Mom liked the last toaster. The last toaster lasted for 8 years. It was a Krups and had a quartz toasting element instead of the wires that most toasters have.
It made the best toast in the world.
Until 6 months ago.
How could I wait 6 months to replace a toaster?
$7.99 toaster from K-Mart. Bread doesn't fit into the slots. you have to toast it sideways. There is a dial on the front where you can suggest to it that you want you toast somewhere between not toasted at all to black. Basically, it's the toaster you grew up with, only painted white.
It is the perfect emergency toaster.
But woefully inadequate once one has seen the beauty of the $60 toaster.
With the quartz element.
That is no longer made.
I assume that there was some inherent danger to the quartz element toasters. They must have burned down houses throughout the world.
I don't care. I loved that toaster.
I finally got around to doing something about the emergency toaster, and got a beauty ... high tech Krups toaster, looks like an toast silo. An ICBM that will launch perfect toast onto your plate.
And it did.
It had a bagel setting, and a warmer grid on the top so you could warm your muffins and croissant.
It sat in stainless steel glory on the counter.
And was two and a half times as large as the emergency toaster.
It was the Leviathan of toasters. It had the pull out crumb tray in the front for easy access.
And it made good toast.
Made.
It's back in the box, ready for it's trip back to the store. Mom doesn't like it. She doesn't like the emergency toaster either. But at least it fits on the countertop and she won't have to move the breadbox.
I fully expect that after three or four more rounds of this, the Krups FEM-2(Black) will be back in the house.
9.03.2005
You Can't Choose Your Friend's Friends ...
Today's Manifesto was written by Wolf
If only people would listen to me.
I have this kind of 6th sense when it comes to people. Sort of an empathic thing, you know. It's helpful, given what I do. I have a pretty good idea of the story I'm going to get from someone as I see them walking across the parking lot.
Of course, sometimes they are just coming in to drop off cigarettes and money, but I get their stories right anyway.
So, I have this friend, who I will call Sara, because her name is Kim.
Sara is a nice lady, but not terribly adventurous.
So we were all quite surprised when she excitedly announced that she had met a man, and they were dating.
We knew Sara had the capacity to date. She had been married previously. But, well, she didn't really get out much. A big day for her involved taking her elderly mother out of the senior community to go to the supermarket.
The bigger surprise came when she announced that Man-of-her-dreams was moving in with her.
She spent less and less time with our little group, because she was having to work extra hours to keep the bills paid, as Man-of-her-dreams didn't work and didn't qualify for public assistance. She had some vague justification for all of this, but I can't quite remember what it was because it made absolutely no sense.
Everybody but Sara knodded knowingly and said "drugs."
She told tales of mysterious car trips (in which she had to drive) into the Poconos "to pick up some money owed to him by some guy" that never resulted in any help with the bills or the rent for her.
Everybody but Sara knodded knowingly and said "drugs."
Man-of-her-dreams would have really varying levels of energy in the course of a week, or month.
Everybody but Sara knodded knowingly and said "drugs."
The latest chapter has taken the cake.
Man-of-her-dreams is in jail.
Breaking and entering ... of their neighbor's apartment.
Everybody but Sara knodded knowingly and said "drugs."
I am hoping to get additional details at tonights scheduled hen-party, but I'm expecting to hear about her justification that "it was all just some big misunderstanding, they asked him to take care of their cat and forgot to leave him a key."
If only people would listen to me.
I have this kind of 6th sense when it comes to people. Sort of an empathic thing, you know. It's helpful, given what I do. I have a pretty good idea of the story I'm going to get from someone as I see them walking across the parking lot.
Of course, sometimes they are just coming in to drop off cigarettes and money, but I get their stories right anyway.
So, I have this friend, who I will call Sara, because her name is Kim.
Sara is a nice lady, but not terribly adventurous.
So we were all quite surprised when she excitedly announced that she had met a man, and they were dating.
We knew Sara had the capacity to date. She had been married previously. But, well, she didn't really get out much. A big day for her involved taking her elderly mother out of the senior community to go to the supermarket.
The bigger surprise came when she announced that Man-of-her-dreams was moving in with her.
She spent less and less time with our little group, because she was having to work extra hours to keep the bills paid, as Man-of-her-dreams didn't work and didn't qualify for public assistance. She had some vague justification for all of this, but I can't quite remember what it was because it made absolutely no sense.
Everybody but Sara knodded knowingly and said "drugs."
She told tales of mysterious car trips (in which she had to drive) into the Poconos "to pick up some money owed to him by some guy" that never resulted in any help with the bills or the rent for her.
Everybody but Sara knodded knowingly and said "drugs."
Man-of-her-dreams would have really varying levels of energy in the course of a week, or month.
Everybody but Sara knodded knowingly and said "drugs."
The latest chapter has taken the cake.
Man-of-her-dreams is in jail.
Breaking and entering ... of their neighbor's apartment.
Everybody but Sara knodded knowingly and said "drugs."
I am hoping to get additional details at tonights scheduled hen-party, but I'm expecting to hear about her justification that "it was all just some big misunderstanding, they asked him to take care of their cat and forgot to leave him a key."
9.02.2005
He Should Have Stayed on Blueberry Hill
Today's Manifesto was written by Wolf
Coming into work today I heard the sad news that Fats Domino was among the missing in New Orleans. One of my incoming coworkers at midnight tonight was able to provide the joyous news that he has been found. We sang a couple lines of "Blueberry Hill," which was a song he heard played on the radio often as a young man, and one which I knew means that Richie Cunningham was hoping to get lucky.
This is going to be one of those little stories of hope and good fortune that arises from the devestation. But, you know, just for a moment there, when I heard the report he was missing, I thought "Wow, I didn't know he was still alive."
From FoxNews
Good News: 'Fats' Domino, Irma Thomas Found
'Fats' Domino was finally rescued tonight in New Orleans, according to wire reports. And Irma Thomas, the Queen of New Orleans soul, has reported in from Baton Rouge where she escaped to the home of her aunt.
Both music legends were missing as of yesterday. This column broke that story this morning, Sept. 1, at around 6 a.m. Thanks to all the news outlets that picked up the story and made it their own. In the end, the whole point was to get the word out. And it worked.
Rescuers picked up the legendary 77-year old musician from his home in a flooded section of New Orleans and delivered him to safety, his daughter Karen Domino White reported.
Thanks also to Jason Hughes in Gov. Blanco’s office in Baton Rouge. His efforts, at our request, expedited what was turning into a terrible situation. Luckily, Jason had gone to school with two of Domino’s grandchildren, and felt a personal attachment to the story.
How is it that a member of the Rock Hall of Fame could have gotten stuck in New Orleans when most luminaries evacuated early? The answer is: easy. Domino had told his agent, Al Embry, on Monday that he planned to ride out Hurricane Katrina at his home in the 9th Ward. Both Embry and I feared the worst on Tuesday when it was clear that the 9th Ward was filled with water. It didn’t seem possible Domino could have survived. But it’s a happy ending for the 76-year-old rock legend.
For Thomas, “time” was really on her side. The original singer of the Rolling Stones hit, Thomas is considered one of New Orleans’ crown jewels. Hopefully, when each of these performers has recovered from their ordeals they’ll be invited to play at one of the celebrity telethons scheduled in coming weeks.
Sycamore emailed me at the last minute asking for a Manifesto today
Coming into work today I heard the sad news that Fats Domino was among the missing in New Orleans. One of my incoming coworkers at midnight tonight was able to provide the joyous news that he has been found. We sang a couple lines of "Blueberry Hill," which was a song he heard played on the radio often as a young man, and one which I knew means that Richie Cunningham was hoping to get lucky.
This is going to be one of those little stories of hope and good fortune that arises from the devestation. But, you know, just for a moment there, when I heard the report he was missing, I thought "Wow, I didn't know he was still alive."
From FoxNews
Good News: 'Fats' Domino, Irma Thomas Found
'Fats' Domino was finally rescued tonight in New Orleans, according to wire reports. And Irma Thomas, the Queen of New Orleans soul, has reported in from Baton Rouge where she escaped to the home of her aunt.
Both music legends were missing as of yesterday. This column broke that story this morning, Sept. 1, at around 6 a.m. Thanks to all the news outlets that picked up the story and made it their own. In the end, the whole point was to get the word out. And it worked.
Rescuers picked up the legendary 77-year old musician from his home in a flooded section of New Orleans and delivered him to safety, his daughter Karen Domino White reported.
Thanks also to Jason Hughes in Gov. Blanco’s office in Baton Rouge. His efforts, at our request, expedited what was turning into a terrible situation. Luckily, Jason had gone to school with two of Domino’s grandchildren, and felt a personal attachment to the story.
How is it that a member of the Rock Hall of Fame could have gotten stuck in New Orleans when most luminaries evacuated early? The answer is: easy. Domino had told his agent, Al Embry, on Monday that he planned to ride out Hurricane Katrina at his home in the 9th Ward. Both Embry and I feared the worst on Tuesday when it was clear that the 9th Ward was filled with water. It didn’t seem possible Domino could have survived. But it’s a happy ending for the 76-year-old rock legend.
For Thomas, “time” was really on her side. The original singer of the Rolling Stones hit, Thomas is considered one of New Orleans’ crown jewels. Hopefully, when each of these performers has recovered from their ordeals they’ll be invited to play at one of the celebrity telethons scheduled in coming weeks.
Sycamore emailed me at the last minute asking for a Manifesto today
9.01.2005
$2.999
That's the cost of a gallon of regular unleaded gas at every gas station in St. Louis I've passed since 4:30 yesterday afternoon.
I filled up yesterday morning at 7:00...$2.659. When I filled up before delivering pizzas last Friday, it was $2.449. If I'm not mistaken (and I'm too lazy to look it up), we are now officially paying the most we've ever paid for gas...at least, we are in St. Louis.
Don't get me wrong...I'm not complaining per se. I work 35 miles from home, then deliver pizzas 2 night a week...this is the price I have to pay for doing what I do. And I know we don't pay as much as many other countries do.
But does it seem like we're taking it in the can under the guise of Katrina? I realize that Katrina has really fucked a lot of things up...but gas has gone from $2.40 to $2.60 to $2.45 to $3.00...and that's just in the past 3 weeks. I understand that there are a lot of factors that affect gasoline prices, but I can't help but wonder if we actually are getting gouged.
Maybe we really should start getting used to such prices...or maybe I need to break out that tinfoil hat...I smell a c-o-n-spiracy.
I filled up yesterday morning at 7:00...$2.659. When I filled up before delivering pizzas last Friday, it was $2.449. If I'm not mistaken (and I'm too lazy to look it up), we are now officially paying the most we've ever paid for gas...at least, we are in St. Louis.
Don't get me wrong...I'm not complaining per se. I work 35 miles from home, then deliver pizzas 2 night a week...this is the price I have to pay for doing what I do. And I know we don't pay as much as many other countries do.
But does it seem like we're taking it in the can under the guise of Katrina? I realize that Katrina has really fucked a lot of things up...but gas has gone from $2.40 to $2.60 to $2.45 to $3.00...and that's just in the past 3 weeks. I understand that there are a lot of factors that affect gasoline prices, but I can't help but wonder if we actually are getting gouged.
Maybe we really should start getting used to such prices...or maybe I need to break out that tinfoil hat...I smell a c-o-n-spiracy.
