Some people pole vault.......

I'm a limbo guy myself.

I don't care for my BB job that much. The work is easy, and most of the people a very pleasant to work with, but the hours are too few. I work 12 this week and 16 the next. Before that I was working 28 - 35, which is a bit much. I wanted 20 - 25, that would give me plenty of cash to piss away at BB with my discount AND keep all my bills in check comfortably. Some manager came into the warehouse and said some nonsense about "time to raise the bar" I said " cool! I'm a limbo kinda guy.". There was an open box TV that was sold that had to be bubble wrapped. The bubble wrap spool is about the size of two refrigerators and weighs nearly 4 lbs. I pulled the spool of it off the second shelf, which is about 8' high. The girl who was barking orders all night freaked when she saw me doing it. I acted like it crushed me. She really freaked then. I got up and laughed, and so did most everyone watching.......except her. Me and another guy started tossing it back and forth in a manner that made us look like two monsters training to take on Godzilla at the next pay-per-view. We left very late, not because I was assing off, but because there was no clear idea of what we needed to be doing until near closing. We were scheduled to leave at 10:30, at 11:45 I clocked out. Poor management on their part will not result in an emergency on mine. Many were still there when I left. I might be accused of not being a team player, but that's just because I don't play for the team they think I should be on.

Even in all that fun, the girl said she would talk to the manager about getting me more hours. If it happens, I'll stay. If my hours stay low, I'll get what I need on discount, and bail out.

Paul sounds like he's got himself a girlfriend, and pretty happy with the whole thing. Just a word of advise, don't over analyze it, you'll kill the magic.

Nathan seems to be quite happy in Chicago. So much so that I might make it a point to visit over the summer, money permitting.

I'm starting to get ISS kids now. So I'm happy. When the teacher's nerves are frazzled, and they are tossing kids out, I'm in the zone. I get mad kids who can't tell right from wrong, spoiled rotten thug-brats who have been raised by their grandmothers. Skater punks that don't give a damn at all, and they come to me. They're mad, huffing and stomping and I give them hell, make them do work, and then I lecture them after they calm down. I tell them what is expected of them, and send them back to class. If they don't calm down, I keep them all day.

I doubt it will help many of them at all, we are even fast-tracking one to alternative education already. I try to change them all, but I don't get my hopes up. I think we got to a few last year, they are behaving much better, and seem happier for it. I think everyone wants to be accepted and well adjusted. When a misguided kid straightens up and sees how much easier it makes their life, they don't want to go back to their deviant ways. If I have to work with the type of kids that want to turn it into "us vs. them", I make sure my side wins......Damn, I love my day job.

the quiet before the storm......

So far, the kids are tame. No real problems have hit my door. I hope they buck up just a little bit so the administration doesn't feel I'm needed.

Who am I kidding? I'll get kids real soon, they just have to get bored enough to cause problems. and problems will happen.

I got my stuff together to fix my truck and lost the keys, and my mind. Found the keys, but they were not where I left them.
My hours picked up at BB, but the check will still be less than I hoped to be receiving. I should probably think about doing a roommate. Nah, I'm not ready for that, but boy, it sure would help to split my bills in half. Hell; I could buy a car!

This gas crisis is getting me primed to write in my political blog. I'm getting really sick of it all. I won't elaborate because I need to post to the other blog and I don't want to type it twice.

I feel pretty good, I have just entered a transitional period, so I'm not sure how things will work out here shortly.

Back to the old grind.......

After a few days of floating around and helping where I could, a few kids are finally starting to "test" their limits and coming to in-school suspension. This means I'm in my own room, doing my own stuff and not trying to maintain someone else's stuff. I don't mind helping, but it's good being back in MY room.

I finished my application papers to Guilford College, I'll be setting that up in a few days. I like the program they offer, and I've heard nothing but great things.

I'll be taking my new ranger to be repaired today after school. I'm planning on just doing a few things to it at a time. It might just become a nice little truck. I need a pickup anyway, but if I can make it better, why not?

My lawnmower died in mid-mow yesterday. It made me very sad. I might try to take it apart and learn how to fix it, if possible. If not, I need to buy a new mower.

I'm still appalling this Suzuki Sidekick on a used car lot not too far from my house. When I join the credit union (as early as Thursday) I might just look into getting it. I'd love to have a decent car to tool around in.

I'm disappointed with my fitness level. I ballooned up over the summer and I've dropped a good chunk of it since, but I'm still not too happy with where I'm at physically. I MUST make a personal commitment to improving my health. I'll wind up being one of those guys that was hard-working and such and keels over dead at 45. I never thought I'd live past 30. I made a mistake on that one. I think I need to plan for the future. I want a narrow waistline again. I have a spare tire and a double chin. That just too many spare parts. I'm going to start slow, I've dieted, but I think a little muscle mass will go a long way for me.

We'll see how it goes.

more busy than before

But I have a few moments to spare.

Life is interesting. After BB had its grand opening, the job actually got easier. We warehouse people were relegated to the warehouse, only to make occasional sweeps of the store to clean or help someone move something very heavy. Otherwise, we sit in the back, look out for the manager, and talk $#!7 all night. I Kinda thought we were going to get into trouble goofing off so much, but alas, it seems as though we are doing great. Go figure. The girl that I got mad with last Sunday was fired. Life is good.

The first two days of school were interesting. We have an 8th grade retention room. That being the room where all the kids who failed this past year are isolated from the rest of the school. Due to scheduling issues, there was a 3 hour gap in that room with no faculty there. I was all over that three hours and it was no fun. I know all the kids.....very well. It seems as though the summer months did nothing to mature them or give them the resolve to make it through. I know a few of them will be with me before long. The saddest part is that due to the new credit system in high school, they can do it much like college, (x) many credits in (x) different subjects will get you a diploma. It is possible to get a diploma in 3 years. If these kids do well up until the second semester, they get their walking papers to high school and have the option to buckle down and graduate in 2010.

The bad part is, no matter how much we coax of coddle or attempt to inspire these kids, either they want it or they don't, and they won't know what they've screwed up until it's too late to fix it. The truth is we need all types. We need doctors and janitors, lawyers and burger flippers. Some people are not meant to be successful. That being said, we never give up on any of them. When they are ready to achieve(if ever), we do everything to give them the tools to do it and encourage them all the way.

I'm going to start getting regular checks again, my summer of discontent is at an end. I'm actually toying with the idea of getting a decent used car. I'll be joining the state employee's credit union soon. They will give you a loan if you can prove you can pay it. I might just have to get me a good car. If I get the financial aid for school, it'll be a definite. I'm looking an older Suzuki, like a four door sidekick. The four bangers had great mileage and were well put together. That would be my first choice.

I will admit sometimes I have doubts about teaching the rest of my life. I could do it, but to babysit low achievers like I was doing last week would depress me. I often wonder what would be a better way of getting these kids on track, but then, I think of the fact that not all of them were meant to achieve anything, I just don't want the knuckleheads screwing the opportunities up for the rest of the students.

busy

"The problem with having alot going on to post in your blog," to quote Paul,"is that you don't have time to write about it all." This has been a very hectic week. But I will most likely be posting more on the recent happenings very soon, by Sunday I hope.

more fun than a punch in the neither-region

Sometimes this job is ok. Today it was crap. I have yet to learn all the particulars of the job, so today, when the two people who shared my responsibilities setting the store up for Sunday sales were out today, I was screwed. I managed to make an enemy on the warehouse team and it seemed like all my price tags were wrong and it made me look bad. Add to that fact I needed help and got a new employee that knew less than me and you have an idea of how bad the day went.

I now have an urge to up my lottery ticket purchasing.

There are some decent guys there, but most are the worthless teenager-thug types. I relate to the people in the sales dept. much better. I now know what will happen soon. I won't be getting 30+ hours a week. We're just over-staffed until everyone gets the hang of their jobs. Instead of 20 people, their will be 5 or 6 and we'll all take turns. If I go under 20 hours consistently, I'll need to get another job. But we'll see...

In day job news, my room is almost finished. I don't have any great pics yet but I have a few to show what I've been doing. School starts again this week, I'm really excited to be back. I was placed in a mobile unit this year(trailer). Outside is good. It adds to the feel of isolation for behavioral problems.






These are my "cubbies" 4'x5' walls on either side. There are 10 isolation booths in all.

The theory behind it all is that middle school students are such social creatures, nothing is worse to them than no contact from their peers. Punishment is not so bad if you are in trouble with a friend. They will all be separated now. This is the "all day" part of the room.




This is the "chill out" side. Students will come here for one class period. They can be made to stay longer if they don't behave here. I figure by the first few weeks, if the new disciple plan is kept, the kids will get the point and my attendance will drop.

Isolation and consistency are the keys to success. Strong teachers + consistent discipline = better students. I'll have to work hard to keep my end up.


I'll be filling out college forms very soon. I must get ready for the return in January. No excuses, no procrastination. I'll be getting paid for BOTH jobs very soon. One this Friday, the next on Wednesday. The first time I've had any real money coming in since June. I'll get my ducks in a row, and join the credit union. Then I might be able to buy a car. I'm feeling really good about the future. It's all still up in the air, but it has vast potential. And a clear route to follow. I know that the days ahead with be very stressful and put me to the ends of my wits. The reward for persisting will be well worth it. So here's to my sanity, I will miss it most of all.

Can't pray for rain and gripe about the mud......

I got next week's schedule for BB. I was hoping for 20-25 hours a weeks, I got 32. If that remains a constant, between school and best buy, I'll be hitting 72 hours a week......damn. I'll try to keep it up through January until I get back to school to get caught up.

I was working at school today, a talked to one of the better teachers we have at GMS. She told me she had to end her employment because she couldn't get her work permit renewed. She hard working, a pleasure to be around, and her tough-love-no-nonsense approach to dealing with her kids gets great results. The immigration dept screwed up her paperwork and let her permit lapse. She can stay, but she can't work for the school until her paperwork is cleared, and that will be a month. It makes me sick when people who come here legally get a hard time and there is nothing done to the illegal immigrants. What the hell is wrong with these people? If I were as inaccurate at my job, I'd lose it. I hope she gets sped along the process and gets back into a classroom where she can do good things.

My dad went in for a 3 vertibrae spinal fusion today, he'll be on his back for a few weeks. I imagine he's in alot of pain and I can't help but feel really bad for him. When I say "dad" he's actually my stepdad and we didn't get along too good when I was growing up, so we never did "bond". Can't say I blame him, I was a little bastard and my grandparents didn't help either. I could turn everyone against each other alot of times. But I was a kid, I was getting by the only way I knew how.

When I was a child, I had a grudging respect for him. He was the strongest man I knew, he could do anything, and he made all kinds of sacrifices for the family. I remember him doing without so I could have goos school clothes. I remember hime working two jobs, laying out in the driveway working on a broken down car all night in whatever kind of weather: rain, snow, blistering heat, or freezing cold and go straight to bed and get up at 5:30 am to do it again. I think I tried to have him as a role model. I saw him as what a man should be: strong, tough, smart, talented, hard-working, and surly. I notice I have done alot of thing he did for us in recent years. When I did, no matter how much it sucked to do it, I felt really good. I felt like a real man. I've seen his health decline in recent years and with his back problems now, it's sad. I'm now way stronger than my dad. He comes to me for help with his cars and computers. I build or fix things all the time. Kristin (sister), Lena, and Cora (Robyn's kids) look up to me probably the way I looked up to him my entire life. Sometime I feel bad that we were never closer. I remember the first back surgery he had, he walked outside with me and told me that he was scared and if he died, I was to take care of mom and Kristin, then he cried and walked off. That was the third time I ever saw him cry. The first was when he got into a very bad argument with mom and they both cried while they were apologizing. The second was his dog died. My mom has accused me of having no feelings, I wonder if I got that from him also.

Some thirty miles away, my dad lies in a hospital bed, in pain. I'm sitting here still thinking about it all, and what he has meant to me my whole life.

feeling good.....

I have to be at BB shortly so I doubt this will be very long. I've been working my ass off at School and Best Buy. I think I enjoy stocking. My back and neck were starting to give me lingering problems. I knew I needed to keep up the pace and today, after working through nagging pains, I feel pretty damn good. This is encouraging me to actually do my workout room. I've just been so busy the past few weeks and it doesn't look like it's letting up.

I talked to the recruiters at Guilford College Monday, I've sent off for my financial information since I lost the originals in the fire. I'll be talking to someone real soon about going back full time. I will make it happen.

I have a lot of dreams for myself. Where I want to be in 5 years, how I want to live, ect. Dreams are great, they give you hope. Hope is a very powerful thing. You can lay on you back and dream all day. To make my dreams come true, I'll need a lot of sweat, tears, and sacrifice to get there.

I don't do many thing just for me. This is my thing and I don't think it too much to want.

Hidden talent

I've been making my own partitions for my ISS room this next school year. It has come to my attention that I had nay-sayers doubting I could do it all along. One fellow said he thought it looked way better than he imagined and it would look like a professional had built them if I had molding to go around it. I only received 10 plywood sheets, 12 2x4's, and 3 lbs of 8-penny (2 1/2") nails. I think I'm damn resourceful given my constraints.

It makes me sad to realize that I have alot of talents that are extremely handy, but not really marketable. I need to work on that.

A short list of things I have done for free that most people pay others to do.

1. Re-shingle a roof
2. Build cubicle partitions
3. Built a computer
4. Repaired numerous computers
5. Collected on past due bills for an independant contractor
6. Re-upholstered cars
7. Repaied countless cars (mostly minor repairs, some extensive)
8. Hauled dry goods
9. Cooked
10. Cleaned
11. Lawn care
12. Tutored
13. Babysat (or is it babysitted?)
14. Fixed furniture.
15. Re-wired a house for phone lines.
16. Swapped out all the power recepticles and light fixtures in a house
17. Repaired a cable tv line.
18. Contribute regularly to a blog.....mine

I now see that living off paychecks is going to be an awkward transition. Living off of tips and paying bills with my checks was the standard MO. Now, I must buget & ration my cash. Not difficult, just a different way of living. It will be better in the long run just by the sheer stability of the income.

I am ashamed to say I didn't call a college today. I woke up feeling horrible, and by the time I nursed myself into functionability, I was running late on my "to do" list. I'll try again tomorrow.

more best buy goodness

Well, today we actually worked. We started to prepare the store to take merchandise by setting up racks and moving boxes. It was very refreshing, I was ready to quit from all the BS cheering. A lot of the older employees were sick of it too. You can't force team spirit in Burlington, NC.

I need to be in another department. If all they asked me to do all day was to move heavy stuff, I'd be ok. I'd rather be selling computers or upgrading them. Not too sure I want to be on the geek squad, I have an ounce or two of dignity left. However, I am easily bought, so....

In my area, even the management won't do the cheers when nobody's looking. In fact, they roll their eyes. I like working with realistic people. The GM seems to be all about that crap. If I were getting paid 90k annually + benefits, I'd do all sorts of nonsense and love the Hell out of it. I'd make a fool of myself for half that. To be honest, I made a fool of myself for 9 years delivering pizza for about 15% of that.....

On the ISS front, I'll most likely finish my basic room prep this week. I'll have a whole other week to fine tune and prepare and I'm usually dead the first few weeks anyway, so I'll have more time than I actually need to finish.

I feel guilty, but I have yet to make an appointment with a recruiter for college. I know it is a major goal, but I'm limited in my resources right now anyway. Other than taking one class, I don't see how I could cope with everything. I WILL call tomorrow.

I'll have my new (to me) pickup diagnosed tomorrow also. I'll find out what I need to get it to full capacity, then when I get a good chunk of school & best buy money in, I'll fix'er up....nice stereo, new seats, carpet, restore the AC, then a nice little paint job, and maybe one of those spray-on bedliners. That would be sweet.

School is my first goal, must not lose focus.........

brainwashed

I did another new employee/store opening training meeting today for best buy. It was from 8-5. I think there are human rights policies against such things. We were made to cheer as if in a pep rally and constantly being made to participate in some "game" or chant and being saturated with best buy propaganda. It was seemingly endless. There were refreshments offered, but given the level of intensity of their "training" and team building exercises, I decided to only drink from sealed soda cans that I myself opened.

All joking aside, it doesn't seem too awful bad yet. I can imagine when we actually get in there, it will be Hell. Burlington doesn't have anything else like it, everyone will come in and gawk at all the shit they don't need.

I was reminded of last year when my house & truck burned down within months of each other. I realized what I could live without and what was most important to me. I'll be working in a place that sells things to make life "fun and easy". They intend on selling you things that will beep and flash at you and keep you occupied until the next better gizmo comes along.

There are quite a few things I would like, but the only thing I'm really into is computers, and they just about sell them at cost....no discount.

I no longer even miss TV, I might like some choice stereo equipment for my vehicles. We'll see what happens.

Speaking of vehicles, I bought another '85 ford ranger for next to nothing today. It fired rigtht up, but seemed to only need a few choice parts to complete. I've already bought them, and may have it road ready in a week or so. I need a pickup so badly....

My school project, aka the new ISS room is coming along quite well. I'll be finished with the basic construction in a few days of good effort. It is going to be great. I can't wait to actually have decent resources at my disposal. I'll try to post some pics of the finished product.

Wow. So much to do & so little time.....

Best Buy N.E.T. experience

I went to the four hour new employee training meeting today. It was very interesting (sarcasm). I think I like the ideals BB tries to foster, we'll see if they actually come about in practice and application.

All the people seemed down to earth, decent folks. They tend to want personable people in the stores. I have learned to mimics that trait well. Most people who know me know I'm not really a people person, but I can be kind and friendly when needed.

The management was a pretty lively bunch, the manager of my area seemed the most laid back, so it could be a very good thing. I've noticed that most higher corporate management types look so washed out, like they put almost every ounce of heart and soul into "the company" and leave so little for themselves. Corporate zombies....sounds like a B-movie. But they made choices they look happy with, and most likely it's just something I don't get.

their was some sort of executive there that was almost comical he looked so fake. Orange dye tan, hair replacement & dye job. He seemed a nice enough guy, but just looked so phoney, ah.....Corporate America. We were led off in a pep-rally style cheer. Obviously, moving boxes all day is something to look forward to.

Five years ago, I would have rolled my eyes and probably walked out. I've never been a "believe the hype" type of person and my sour experience with Papa John's cemented this paradigms for me. Now I see it as a stepping stone. Hell, I just might like it. When the you-know-what hits the fan and that door swings open for the first time, we'll see how much of that spirit stays in tact.

I 've always known I can deal with whatever comes my way. I see their rigid corporate standards as a good thing, rigidity is rigid both ways; do the job, show up on time, and keep your mouth shut and nothing bad happens. If I don't like it, there are four other stores in that plaza I could go to.

I found out tonight they stay open until 9 mon-thurs, 10 fri-sat, and 8 on sunday. Not shabby hours, not like I'll be there all night. Hell, retail might even give me new things to write about.

The big surprise is we all work THIS Sat & Sun, and then it's a seven days a week jobsite. Kinda puts the kie-boash on my two week notice for Domino's, I didn't realize pizza would come to such an unceremonious end.... life without pizza.....

Very soon I just might write some of my pizza anecdotes on here. I've had almost ten years doing it, quite a few things happened in my day.

In a few short years, I hope to look back on all of it and know it was just means to an end. And then I can rest, at least work in a way that means more that base survival.

Comic Strip

My new hobby is going to be writing comics. My art is not so great, but I think I have some good ideas. You never know, I could do it and sombody could actually want to pay me for the honor. I've done about 10 one-pannel comics in rough form and I might start putting them online. The only thing I can do is stuff based on my life and all the siclkly ironic thing that have happened to me.

School will be starting about the same time I start best buy, It'll be life without pizza from there on out. It's such a big step that it makes me nervous. I've done the math over and over and it seems as though I'll make more money. Mosty since I'll work more hours, and the other because I won't be burning out so much gas or tearing up my cars.

If things work well, come tax time I'm going to try to get a better car. So far, I've lost 10 pounds on my diet. So far so good. I've been making a genuine effort to clear off the back porch so I'll have a workout area. Being active will be the ultimate catalyst for me not being a lard ass anymore.

Today I call GC to set up an appointment to talk to a counsellor about the college return.

2004 was the phoenix year. Everything had burst into flames around me. 2005 is the year I reinvent myself and start the slow process of becoming who I want to be.

these times are a-changin'

With Nathan being back in town, it has given me a chance to look inward. I've noticed how much I've changed. Besides being older, fatter, and going bald. I'm way more conservative now. Last night, a group of kids on bikes rode down into my area that I didn't recognize and I called the police. Now, my thing is A). I live on a dead end surrounded by a creek. B). I don't think that many kids that age live anywhere near here. C). It was 1:00 A.M.

No kids riding bikes have any buisiness being out at one in the morning, not to mention in a neighborhood thay don't belong in, not to mention you can't just be "passing through" since I live on a dead end.

I go into a job I can't stand because I know I need the money. I stay there because I know not to quit until I find better money elsewhere.

On another note, it has been hot as hell this past week 100 + several days straight. Just feels like being in an oven all day long. I've been wanting to go out and clean my yard, but not at the risk of heat stroke! So, I'll be taking it easy for the next few days. I wanted to start working out, but not in that heat. I'd kill myself.

Robyn's kids came over and they are so tired, they want to take naps....I think I'll join them.

the game of kings

I've been playing more chess with Nathan, as of right now I am one game ahead in our little rivalry. I credit my victories to him getting too tired to make good moves and me getting hella better. He actually has a basic knowledge of how to play that I never possessed. His tips and our practice have made me a much better player. After a game or two, I expect he'll start beating me again, and I'll have to learn more.

He's been my house guest for the past few days, and a welcomed one at that. Too bad my life is way too hectic to spend much quality time hanging out. Soon he'll be in Chicago for however long, and the group will have parted ways yet again. I hope we don't wait another 10-12 years.

Speaking of groups parting ways, I realized the other day that between School (job), college, and working for best buy, I'll probably have to give up my D&D game soon. I don't want to, but I can't really give up all my free time. And free time will be in short supply. As much as I love playing, I can't stop enjoying real life to play pretend. I hope the guys continue on with new games and maybe during breaks, I can sit in from time to time.

I think of all I'll have to give up to get where I need to go and I hope it's all worth it. I read "A framework for understanding poverty". It's a book written by an educator to try to help schools come to terms with "the rough kids".

It says that in order to make it from one social class to the other, a person must be willing to make sacrifices.

I've been toying with the idea of working elsewhere other than best buy. If it come to the point of it not being flexible with my school schedule, it'll have to go anyway. I just know delivering pizza ain't the way to do it anymore. With luck and hard work, in a few short years I'll have an income that will allow me to only work one job. What a dream.....

Finished book 6

I might tell too much of the book, don't read if you don't want any clues or spoilers.


After reading in my spare time since Sunday evening, I finished the Half Blood Prince. I liked the book as a whole, but hated how it ended. I waited for the "big twist" Rowling seems to enjoy adding in, but it never came. It's a grim book, not as grim as book 5. I can see how it has set up book 7 and I have a few ideas as to what will happen.

I will admit, Harry is not my favorite character. I like him, I read his exploits and enjoy his story, but I don't enjoy the books for Harry Potter.

What I wonder is, how much facination will the next book hold? It looks like many of the things I liked the most will not be present in book 7 and I don't really know how I feel about that. I guess that, in JKR's mind, after the ending of book 6, the Potter fans will be ready to see if book 7 will give them the satisfaction to make up for all the tradgedy that was in HBP.

The sad note is, bookwise, this seems like filler to me. It, unlike the other 5 books, couldn't stand on its own as a good book in itself. I liked it as a whole BECAUSE I had already read the others.

So I sit here typing, with that "punched in the gut" feeling, digesting how I feel about it all.

Higher education and hogwart's

I spent most of the day calling schools about returning for my BA degree, and calling about finacial aid. This will continue tomorrow. I discovered if I go the easiest route to get financed, I have to take a leave of absence to student-teach one school semester. I was floated several options otherwise, but more infomation will come tomorrow.

It seems funny, they WANT people to work their way up in the schools, predicting less turnaround. But I either:

A. Go the traditional route and leave my full-time job as ISS co-ordinator which is hard since I depend on that money. Or,

B. Take a BA in a related field and possibly become qualified to do a better paying job.

I have about two years to decide my fate. Nathan and I discussed education in great length, he is sick of it, I love it. I see the downside as minor, bad kids come and go, I feel an efficient class management approach could do away with alot of the "headache" that makes teaching miserable. I like guaranteed holidays off, long summer vacations, and incredible job security. Nathan sees it as another dead-end job. I don't.

Besides, honestly, I see teaching as a means to an end. I will most likely continue my education after that as well. Who really knows where I might end up

My first session with Best Buy will be in two weeks. I get to be brainwashed by the four hour in-processing/ re-education center. Means to an end, means to an end......

Re-started my low-carb diet from last year. So far, so good. When I get a slight sugary craving, I turn up a diet rootbeer/carbsmart icream float. Good stuff. Robyn had an impropteau birthday cake for her youngest daughter, and oh it looked so tasty! I was almost misty-eyed trying to reassure myself I didn't NEED cake. But oh, I wanted just a sweet little taste. The next few weeks will be Hell as I wait to get my body acclaimated to fat-burning before I can have an occasional treat. I wanted to start exersicing today, but with more college knowledge-seeking afoot, I won't likely get the area I need cleaned off.

Also, hampering progress is the new Harry Potter book. So far, I've enjoyed reading it, and I'm about halfway in. I'll be finished in a day or so if I don't pace myself. I like to read slow and savor the imagry. I took a week to read book five, limiting my self to only reading at bedtime for about an hour.

I never had a chance to read much when I was a kid. My folks would constanly be running me around to fetch their stuff. Couldn't sit in one spot long enough to read many books. Ironicly, I'm a very good reader, and not a bad writer either. Sometimes I wonder what I could do if I could nurture a few talents.

I saw a few people I graduated with this past week, and most of them looked bad, REALLY bad. Some of them seemed ashamed to be in a sorry state and avoided speaking. I know one of them was while I was delivering pizza, so he had to have felt abit better about himself, I didn't. Nate said something about feeling comfort knowing people are doing worse than you, I think he's right.

Speaking of him, our little Chess rivalry is fun. He's got a slight leg up on me in total wins, but we seem to be much more evenly matched that I originally thought. He is a much more cautious player than I, and I am a quicker thinker than he. I look forward to our next games as I've soaked up a bit of his strategy. More fun & games to come.

The north virginian trek

I went on Sunday to help Robyn get her kids from Luray, Virginia. It was in the heart of the Apalachian Mountains and it was mostly a breathtaking trip. I had not been more than 150 miles from home more than once in 8 years. We took 5 hours to get there and stayed at a KOA, which was a first, and I kinda liked the feel of the place. I could be talked into it again.

Robyn also popped for tickets into the Luray Caverns. Not too shabby a site, I was a little diappointed with the sheer number of people that went on the tour at one time. At $20 a person and a group goes down every 10-20 minutes, I estimated there was no less than $4k an hour running through there. Then the shops, then the concessions. That one place even had a full service gas station! Made me want in on the action. You know, make a hokey tourist trap out somewhere past civilization......Wilsonland! I could have the "Robert E. Lee memorial tire pile" and a walkthrough maze walled with junk cars. I could sell mosquito repellant and tetnis boosters at the concession stands. Perhaps have some piece of rotting detralus that is kinda starting to look like Jesus and the mysterious penis tree. I could open up a KOA nearby too....... Money Money Money!!!!

I do think there are some awesome things to behold with nature. I would have enjoyed hiking through the mountains we drove through for free. I would have given anything for my old motorcycle up there.

Other than that, I'm as broke as ever. I had a bill collector try to scare the bejesus out of me. Damn near worked too. Refused a payment settlement, told me they were filing a lawsuit against me if I didn't pay in full. I told him go ahead, if I see papers, I'll have to file bankruptcy. I damn sure don't have it and can't even start on it untill September. I did find out that if they threaten a lawsuit , they have to follow through or its harassment. We'll see what happens.

The day after the trip, I woke up in so much pain, I could barely get out of bed. Now that scared the Hell out of me. I thought I was dying for awhile. With advil, hot showers, and lethargy; I'm almost back to my normal 55%.

I'm kind of nervous about the whole Best Buy thing. After the whole neck pain thing on Tuesday made me realize I'm not young or in great shape. I'll have to pace myself and hope for the best, no pun intended.

School will be back soon and I must be prepared to start my return to college. I'm making the calls tomorrow. I'll also talk to Jim, a teacher friend about it. The past year was a total waste. I must not waste any more time. 33. I must be done at 33.

.....and miles to go before I sleep.....

got it

I was hired for the new best buythis past Friday. I will soon be ending the long pizza saga of my life. I probably won't be piutting in my notice at Domino's until the last minute, if at all. They'll "notice" I stopped showing up.

I'm still not too sure how to feel about it. I guess the job will speak for itself. Means to an end really, I'll eventually get to the point where I only need to work my day job with the school. Then it's an easy sail to retirement.

I played Nathan for the first time at chess yesterday. We are 1-1. I'll admit he is probably the better player, but I never get to play "real" opponents and he may very well be smarter, definitly more educated. Here comes the rivalry........just like the street fighter days. Hell, it's all in good fun and I look forward to it.

After the game we talked politics....for HOURS and never really agreed, well, I lie. I do like his viewpoint, and I think we agreed on my key issues, but I just think we see the way to get there is different. I would have love to hear Paul's views on the subject, he tried, but he was SOOOOO wasted by that late hour.

Speaking of looking forward to things, I'm going to help Robyn go get her kids tomorrow. We are going to Nothern Virginia to meet her relatives halfway. Then on Monday we are going to some caverns then back home. I hope I bring enough cash for a few lottery tickets, and then I hope I win. We'll return in a Hummer, if not it'll have to be the Maxima. At least the company will be good either way.

I guess as far as the BB job goes, I don't consider it a step up so much as preserving my car while I finish (start) my BA in education so I will only HAVE to work at one job. Who knows what the future holds. But I know I'll be glad to see it when its here. I think that's the secret to life. Preparing for the worst, hoping for the best, counting your blessings, and working towards your goals.

people skills

I'm fairly confident I will get a job at best buy this Friday. I had an interview this today, I discovered it was a three-part interview process. I interviewed with a department manager, we got along great, then the assistant manager came through went well. I didn't want to work Sundays, and she told me that they work in three piles: yes, no, and maybe. I was a maybe for wanting Sundays off. If I agreed to work some, but not every, Sunday I was in the "yes" group. The yes people (which I guess means "ass-kisser") go on to interview with the GM of the store for a final decision on hiring. They were intrigued with my ISS coordinator position. They asked me what made me want that job. How did I get into it. All I could say is it was a career move and that I love it.

So, I get to go interview again, and probably get the job, starts out better than I thought, so my money will be looking good.

Now, back to the issue of college.