Happy New Year! I hope that everyone had a safe and fun New Year's Eve. I had a surprisingly good time on New Year's Eve. New Year's has traditionally been a quasi sad time of year, if you don't have someone to share it with you. Even though I spent the evening with 4 couples and myself, as well as a number of children, I was not in the least bit in bad spirits nor was there any malaise. Usually New Year's Eve is a time of reflection, which inevitably leads to some sort of analysis of all that I need to do in the New Year. I've spent a lot of time reflecting over the past few months so I certainly wasn't in the need of any more introspection, I just need to do what I don't like to do. Ok, back to my evening. New Year's is different when you're married with Children, fortunately, it was still a lot of fun. We had 9 people playing a board game called Cranium. Our team won, but barely. The game was a mixture of creativity, anagrams, facts, clay, yep, occasionally we had to build something with clay, and our partner had to guess what it was. We had a decided advantage because our team had 3 players on it, every other team had two. In any case it was both amusing and challenging. After that we played the Newlywed Game, I was the host Bob Eubanks. It was quite amusing seeing the couples alternately slap hands in glee when they got the right answer and complain to each other when they guessed wrong. In a surprising turn of events the ones who have been married the least amount of time won during the last round. I got all the questions off of the internet and gave each person a questionnaire when they arrived at the party. They were not happy with the questions, because some of them were decidedly difficult, the questions that is. The best part of New Year's Eve is that I did not have a hangover. I drank 4 Sams over the course of the night and woke up feeling just fine.
I worked on the site off and on today, mostly doing some little cosmetic changes in the U2 section. Most of my U2 stuff is in storage, so I'm still at a loss for what I really want to do with it. I have some unfinished parts which need attention, and I really need to redo some of the other bands, but the cases for those bands is also in storage. I need to take life off of hold and start motoring... and soon.
New Year's resolution: I don't really have one. I guess I should work on breaking the patterns that hold me back the most. In essence, I need to conquer fear every time I feel it. This could get very tiring, but so is waiting for the right job, and the right girl. Sometimes you need to reach out and grab what you want in life, and sometimes you need to figure out what it is you want. I like many others knows more about what I don't want. It's a familiar motto: I don't know what it is, but I'll know it when I see it.
Well, happy New Year to you all. The Millennium is upon us and I need to stoke the fires and get a little Carpe Diem in the blood. Goodnight all.
Nearly three weeks have passed and nary an entry in the diary. Well, it wasn't intentional. I wrote a pretty long entry about a week or so ago, but didn't finish it, and I walked away to watch ER or some other popular TV show. When I returned my computer had crashed. I suppose those thoughts weren't fit for printing anyway, so I guess it's all for the better. A lot has happened since I last wrote, and I'm going to try to reproduce the last three weeks in this diary entry. It will be no small feat, since it's sometimes hard to remember the highlights, when they are interesting for that day alone.
I've got a job! Since last we spoke, I've been on two interviews at a company near me. Both interviews went well and after the second interview, I was contacted quickly to finish the deal. I'll be starting on January 29. My new title will be Software Engineer, my duties will include writing programs in DCL (Digital Command language), managing a number of Open VMS systems, answering user requests as needed as well as anything else that falls inside of the purview of Open VMS systems management. I had wanted to stay away from VMS primarily because of the uncertain future of VMS. Since the contract that I will be working on is for the Postal Service then it doesn't appear that my future will be dim at all. At least, I won't be doing operations management, or operations work, this will be more challenging and will require a different level of responsibility. I'm excited by certain parts of this position, and hope that I will be able to find the same sort of fulfillment that I had in my last position. The company that I will be working for has a small company feel to it, which is a major plus (I'm not sure that I liked the larger company atmosphere as much). This week, I will be finishing up my day to day work with the wrestling team, working on solidifying my sleep schedule, purchasing new clothes and shoes, and making sure that all of my affairs are in order.
Today we have snow on the ground. Last night brought sleet and finally snowfall as it got colder. I have a slight cold, primarily in my throat, but I'm sure that it will eventually travel down to my chest, this will be my first head/chest cold of this winter. I hope it stops here. I've been sounding like Froggy in the morning for the past few days.
I replaced my front windshield on my car this past week. Because of the cold, my windshield had two long cracks that were getting longer. The guys who did it, finished it in less than 45 minutes. I never clean my windows, so visibility was like night and day. My car also hit 170,000 miles this week. This car just keeps going. I'm not going to get a new car immediately. I've decided to take everything one day at a time. I don't need a new car, so I'll just wait a bit longer. I'm also going to take my house hunting one day at a time as well. In the meantime, I'll keep paying toward my bills and actually start paying more than I have been on those bills. If I can pay one or both of the cards off, I'll be in really good shape when I look for a house. It doesn't appear to be a buyer's market right now, so why rush it. Plus, I need to concentrate on the new job and not worry about the housing situation at this time, I'll have plenty of time to work that angle.
I had to go to the hospital this week as well. Fortunately, it wasn't for me. One of our wrestlers was hit in the head during practice and blacked out briefly. I followed the ambulance to the hospital until his father arrived. He is fine, no concussion, just a bump on the head which is still sore to the touch. We were in the ER and I committed a NO-NO. I had my brother's cell phone on me and it wasn't turned off. He called me from the school, and it was ringing in my pocket. I didn't realize I was ringing until a nurse asked if it was me. I better get used to it, I'll be getting a cell phone soon, I'm sure of it. With the traffic problems in this area, it pays to have a cell phone. There are have been at least 6 occasions since I've been here, that I wished that I had one. I'll deal with that, after I start work.
U2 tickets have gone on sale all over the country. I keep missing the local sales, and now Washington D.C. is completely sold out for both shows. I ordered 4 tickets through the fan club, but that is no guarantee that I'll be able to see them here locally. I need to pick up more tickets for the Albany shows, which haven't gone on sale yet. This tour is selling like hotcakes so far. People who were turned off my Pop are now lining up to see how the songs on All That You Can't Leave Behind sound live. I would hate to spend money on a ticket broker, but it may be my only way to see them locally. I'll make that decision later on. Perhaps they'll come back with a stadium tour next year, so that I won't have to feel as though I've missed anything.
Postage rates have gone up and 1¢ stamps are hard to find in singles. I ended up buying a pack of 50 1¢ stamps. Can you imagine how expensive postage would be if everyone actually used all their stamps? The post office gets paid up front for future mailings. Some of these stamps are kept as collector's items. Some are lost or destroyed. Some are simply kept for that one day that you actually need to mail a postcard. I've heard that stores love selling gift certificates, because many people never redeem them. Thus the store gets to keep it's money. The post office is an odd arrangement, since it has a close relationship with the federal government. I'm about to find out how odd after I begin working on behalf of them. Fortunately, I'll be out of their political structure, because I'll be working for another company, but I will be working in the post office in the R&D department. Oh yeah, I forgot about one thing in relation to the job. I'll be traveling from time to time. Most of that travel will be because of upgrades to hardware and software. I'm actually looking forward to seeing more of the country this year.
Well, that's about it for today, I have to catch up on some e-mails and work on balancing my checkbook. Hope everyone is doing well.
I got my hair cut today. It was really overdue. Sometimes when I get my haircut the barber/stylist is chatty and thus I don't have much time to reflect on what is happening to me. Tonight, no such chat. I've realized that getting my haircut is pleasure and pain. Not actual pain, and not actual pleasure, but there are moments there that lean toward the extremes. First of all, I really dislike haircuts. I've resigned myself to the probability that they will not cut it like I want it, and that in a few short days it will look how I want it to. I'm not sure that I've ever walked out of a salon thinking "I look good!" or even "What a great haircut!", the best I can hope for is something that looks approximately like I would have it. I used to ask for the comb/brush to finish it myself since I never like what they do with it. I stopped doing that, primarily because it makes people feel bad or makes me look like I am high maintenance, which at times I am. Basically, if I set out to look good, I want to look really good, otherwise I'm pretty nonchalant about my presentation. Sort of like an all or nothing approach. Appearance isn't the only area that I do this in, this is pretty much a me thing all over. Back to the hair cut. Once I sit down, I give them a few instructions and hope that they don't get too artistic, unless of course they know what they are doing, but that has been few and far between for me, so I just hope that they dispense with the stylistic details, although I do appreciate it when they use the thinning shears, since my hair is pretty thick on top, hence the gel. The pleasurable part of all haircuts though is the washing of the hair, I don't care what the woman looks like, I just lay my head back, close my eyes and hope that they take their time, and that they use warm water, heck, I usually don't even care if it's a guy, although I'm sure that I would feel a bit uncomfortable if he were to spend undue time speaking while I'm getting laundered. The moment in which they really wash deep down into your roots is the best. I never do that when I'm washing my hair, perhaps I should. There is something so intimate about the whole washing your hair thing. Most times your eyes are closed to keep shampoo out, and there is a certain vulnerability in that. There is a Peter Gabriel line from a song "Secret World", it's a moody love song and the lyric is "As I watch you wash your hair, underwater, unaware". Since, I don't have a spouse, nor do I live with someone, it's still sort of fascinating ritual when a woman washes her hair, more care is probably needed because in general the hair is usually longer. I'm sure that when I become married and I see it a few times, that I'll probably detach myself from the romantic view portrayed in Peter Gabriel's song, but perhaps not. For now it's a nice thought.
I balanced my check book today, I actually did it with glee! Primarily because it's easier to watch the bills go out, when you know money will be coming back in. I hadn't balanced it since the end of December, and that's unlike me. I usually get it about once every seven to ten days. Speaking of money. I took a bath on my 401K, I had too much in the high risk stuff, I haven't changed any of my choices since I started it two years ago. I figured that I would change it when I got a new job, so thankfully, I'll be able to change it over to another firm soon. I had originally went for 40% on the emerging growth stuff since I just started and I was young. Last year it paid off big! This year, not so good. Thankfully, I'm in it for the long haul, so I'm not stressed about it. I'm not planning to touch it for a long time, so why not take a few gambles here and there. I'm going to reduce the percentage in those funds next time, but it was nice to see it double during the last quarter of last year. It's tax time soon. I'm curious as to what I will receive back. I was taxed really heavily on my bonus checks, so I'm hoping that I'll have a nice chunk of change to put back in savings. I'm beginning to save for that almighty down payment on a house. I'm also looking to clean up some of that credit card college debt that I accrued a couple of years ago. It's fun to pay stuff off and look at how much more money you have to play with. The sad thing is that I don't really need anything right now. I'd like a new computer, and it would cool to get a DVD player, but since I'm not using my TV here, then it seems like a premature investment. I try not to dream too much about the toys, I'll need them less when I'm happy doing my job again. It's amazing how much you save when you have a satisfying job. My hopes are that this job will be satisfying. As long as I don't get handcuffed under stupid rules and regulations, I should take great joy in working here. From the looks of it, I'll be treated like an adult and therefore enjoy the job to it's fullest. I point out the adult thing, primarily because the Air Force, didn't really treat you like an adult. They rigidly defined what was possible and what wasn't. It didn't give the power to the people, which all in all is a good thing for a branch of the military. Unfortunately, it didn't make me love my job, I worked 4 times as hard in the private sector.
Have a good evening, wherever you may be reading this. Hopefully you have stoked a fire and are reading by the glow of your computer screen, or if you are at work, I hope that it has tickled you enough, and made you smile at some of the things that you too have secretly felt. Aaahh, it's good to be in a good mood. I think that I'm heading out of my cave now. I'm thankful for that. Goodnight.
I finished my pre-employment shopping today. Yesterday I picked up 5 pairs of pants, 3 shirts, 2 pair of socks and a new belt. I don't know how women always know their size. I can only remember my neck size, once you buy a shirt that has too small a neck, you learn quickly. I couldn't remember how long my arms were, and when I asked the man at the counter if he had a tape measure, he looked me over and said, 32, 33? I nod in assent, because it sounds familiar, but I really don't have a clue. I do know my pants size, but I must be more unique than I thought, because I had a hard time finding the right length with the right width. Finding pants wasn't nearly as hard as finding shoes though. It turns out that department stores do not carry my shoe size. The smallest size they carry is 8. I'm a 7. It's official, I now know my shoe size. It's been debatable for a number of years, because size differs from country to country and Converse sizes their shoes larger. So I thought I was an 8, but I wasn't sure, in the Air Force I was 7 1/2, and my Doc Martens are size 6 (made in the UK). My friends have been telling me that I'm actual size, not pint size as I was told as a child. I think I know all my sizes now, so I can refer back to this page if I can't remember in the future. Well, finally found those elusive pair of shoes in my size. I got another pair of wing tips. I love wing tips, I can't tell you why. They sounded so goofy when I was a kid, but if I could wear fashions that were in vogue in the 40's I would. It would be great to wear a hat as well with a trench coat, looking like Bogart from the Maltese Falcon, accept with a better looking face and non-distinct accent.
On the way to purchasing shoes, I passed by Tower Records, let me rephrase that, I stopped at Tower Records. I picked up 4 discs. I'm listening to Babylon by David Gray right now, I almost picked it up two weeks ago when I read reviews in Q a European Music Magazine. I finally heard it on the radio this week, and I wasn't really impressed the first time I heard it, then I heard it again, and I haven't been able to get it out of my head. I haven't gotten through the whole album yet, but there is a great cover of Say Hello, Wave Goodbye by Soft Cell/ Marc Almond. (Marc Almond was the lead singer of Soft Cell (remember Tainted Love?) and I'm not sure if the song was recorded as Soft Cell, or if he was solo.) The song segues into "Into the Mystic" and "Madam George" by Van Morrison. There is a Bob Dylan grittiness to his voice, but Gray's range is better and sometimes more emotive. It's a little bit like folk music, but it has the added bits of percussion and beats, which makes it sound more modern. So far, I recommend it. I'm sure I'll say that I'll recommend it strongly once I finish listening to it. I also picked up Maroon by the Barenaked Ladies ("Pinch Me" got me, I found myself singing it in the car and wanting to hear it again.) The other two purchases were "Things Falling Apart" by NIN, this is a remix album of material from the Fragile. I still collect the Nine Inch Nails releases, though I haven't listened to them that much, although I can usually count on at least 1-2 keepers that will make a mix tape just right. He has some beautiful piano pieces and some thoroughly addictive dance songs for the right mood. I also picked up South Side by Moby featuring Gwen Stefani (from No Doubt). This one has a number of remixes and includes a B-Side that was recommended to me. (At least I think it was recommended to me, the song is called "The Sun Never Stops Setting") I'll be checking that one out later this evening.
I'm starting a new feature in my diary. I'll now be telling what I'm listening to. I've done that before while writing, but I didn't spotlight it, like I'm going to do here. I'd like to do more with this diary, and make it look spectacular, perhaps some borders or something like that, but until I experiment and find something that pleases me to no end, I'm going to go with this. I do like the bookmarks up top, I think it makes it easier on those who want to quickly scan for changes, and allows them to quickly get where they need to. I'm envious of some people's banner work, and realize how hard it can be to cleanly merge dissimilar images into something cohesive.
By the way, I've started reading Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt which is now a major motion picture, at a video store near you. I haven't seen the film, and I won't until I finish the book. The book brings you in rather quickly, which is a huge plus for me, I don't seem to have the patience to read a novel if it doesn't start off well these days. I recommend the first 71 pages. I can't recommend the rest of it, until I finish it.
Update, the first 6 tracks of White Ladder are easy to get into, so I can honestly say that I do recommend it. It's moody, but punctuated with soulful singing from time to time. This album reminds me of a lot of different things, but it doesn't sound exactly like anyone else. If you pick it up, let me know what you think.
| Now Playing: Babylon by David Gray from White Ladder |
I've started my new job. I've been there for two days thus far, and it's still too early to tell you much about it. Much of the first two days have been introduction. I've been doing a lot of reading thus far, and look forward to getting my teeth into the real meat of the job. I'm getting the impression that my predecessor was very skilled, but not as a diplomat. I have seen the type before, brilliant but socially difficult. It's an interesting set of shoes to fill. There is no doubt in mind that in certain areas I'll be more of an asset, I'm just hoping that it will be the right areas. I've met brains who make my mind spin a bit, but who don't make the right decisions in the right places and inevitably cost the company more than was intended in that gray area of what could have happened if someone else were doing the job.
In other news: I went to my storage place this week and picked out a few of my long lost favorites. I finally found my record player, and am now listening to one of my favorite 12"s (Full Albums are called LP's, Singles are called 12" Singles, there are also 45's which are commonly referred to as 7" Singles, *editor's note* ;-) I also picked up my tape deck, but have not used it yet. I think that I'll be making a mix tape soon, but I'm not sure when. It will be one of those days that I'm truly motivated and moved to come up with a killer mix. This is usually accompanied by an event, which is either a girl or a U2 concert.
Speaking of U2 concerts, I was able to pick up 4 tickets in Albany for the shows there in June. They are actually split up in sets of 2, so it will be interesting when I get there. I really want to bring my friends to the shows so that they can experience the joy of seeing U2 live. I'll have some vacation time saved up so I'll probably take a few extra days off when that arrives.
The Super Bowl and Survivor blew through this weekend, and one was interesting, the other not so much so. I'll admit it, I'm hooked on Survivor and I laughed at the final comments made by Debb as she was dismayed that she was the first one booted from the show. Debb didn't have a clue that Survivor has less to do with being a good worker than it does with being a good personality. In her final words she said "I truly in retrospect think back on it and I don't see what I could do, other than make stuff up to fit in, and go along with the conversations" Duh, it's Survivor! It's not just about the physical part of the game. Did you watch the first Survivor? The last 3 contestants were a dumpy gay man, a young thin woman and a 72 year old ex-military man. The strongest did not survive to the end, the craftiest did. Debb interpreted Darwin's survival of the fittest to be about the physical and mental toughness that would be required to survive through a world that can be brutal and harsh. But, if you look around at who is successful, you'll see that it isn't brawn that is sitting on the top of the economic pile. Salesman, Dreamers and Brains rules the world, not Hulk Hogan. Aside from the entertainment industry, there isn't a call for high paid laborers. I always though it ironic that those who toiled the most (physically), got the fewest spoils. It's how the world works. Concerning the Super Bowl... Sorry Giants, I was pulling for you, but it appears that the Ravens defense is for real. Better luck next year, though I don't expect them to make it to the big game two years in a row.
Idea of the week: (Actually, I had it over a month ago, but I thought I'd finally write it down for posterity)
Florida should auction off the voting equipment on Ebay. The machines in the disputed counties would go for a mint and would more than cover the cost of upgrading the machines to something else. Hey, it beats tossing them into a dumpster in 10 - 20 years when they have truly worn out.
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Now Playing: Can't Help Falling In Love (Mystery Train Dub) - Bono from Salome (Zooromancer) 12" |