1. The total number of books I own:
No idea. Lots? A few? I own some, I borrow some, I don't think I've ever stolen any.
2. The last book you bought:
Last time out I got five books. They were: Heretics of Dune, and Chapterhouse:Dune, by Frank Herbert; A Storm of Swords, by George R. R. Martin; Eight Million Ways to Die, A Matthew Scudder crime novel, by Lawrence Block; and The High Window, by Raymond Chandler.
Unless we count trade paperbacks, then I'd have to include:
New X-men Academy: Choosing Sides, by Nunzio DeFilippis and Christina Weir, illustrated by Randy Green and Staz Johnson; Planetary: Leaving the Twentieth Century, by Warren Ellis, illustrated by John Cassady; and Phantom Jack, by Michael San Giacomo.
3. The last book you read:
Heretics of Dune. I loved it. After God Emperor of Dune almost bored me to death, Heretics really picked this series back up. Currently I'm reading the last book of the science fiction series,Chapterhouse: Dune, and it does not dissapoint. Unless we count comic books (again), then it's Phantom Jack. It was good enough that I'm going to get the second tpb.
4. Five books which are particularly meaningful to you:
I'm not going to talk about comics here, it would take too long, (but for those interested I'll throw out a few writers and illustrators: Mike Mignola, Warren Ellis, Bendis, Ennis, Morrison, Quigley, Risso, Romita)
a.) The Thirteen Clocks, by James Thurber: My favorite book of all time. Sure, it's a kids' story, sure it's only like fifty pages, but it's magic. And it's also out of print, which sucks, because there are some really great illustrations in it too. So if you happen to have a copy, send it on over.
b.) Stories of the North, by Jack London: A book I can read over and over and over and over and over, and in fact did, for years. Recently I've had some success tracking down other collections of London's short stories and have enjoyed them as I enjoy all his work (White Fang). But really To Build A Fire could be the best of the bunch.
c.) The Princess Bride: S. Morgenstern's Classic Tale of True Love and High Adventure (The 'Good Parts' Version), by Wiliam Goldman: As much as you love the movie, the book is better. How much better I won't say, because really, you should read it for yourself. I mean really. It's funny, it's clever, and is better than the movie - don't kid yourself, just read it.
d.) Where the Red Fern Grows, by Wilson Rawls: I still, that's right still, cry at the end of this book. I know what's coming, I've read it before, and still, tears. I can't help it. Go ahead, try and read this book without weeping openly. You can't, or you haven't got a shred of humanity in you.
e.) A Prayer For Owen Meany, by John Irving: So maybe some of these books are "kid stories," because it's never too late to have a happy childhood. But, this is probably the best "grown-up" book I've ever read, and almost certainly my favorite. I've read other Irving books, but nothing else comes close to the achievement of this novel. It's a complete story, comprehesive, full. It's a beautifully constructed narrative.
f.) Jitterbug Perfume, by Tom Robbins: It's another book full of magic and whimsy. It's a feel good story, it's about (like his other books) the betterment of everyday life, about how good things can be. And it's funny too.
Ok, that was six. Tough.
In conclusion, you should read all of these books. You should read all of these books and more. You should read every book you can get your hands on, because weaseling out of things is what separates us from the animals...except the weasel.
-Tom
*I was asked (told?) to post this. And it's a good thing I was limited to these specific questions, because man, if we started talking about favorite books, or favorite authors, or any other number of related topics, it might never end.
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
It's been a weird couple of days
Nothing has happened, which really isn't at all unusual, I do have a boring job. But. I haven't written about nothing happening, and that is a little unusual. Because I write just to hear myself talk most times. So why the lapse?
Honestly, I have no idea.
Everybody can take a break from time to time, right? Even if it's unintentional, right? I didn't mean to take two days off, but I did, and that should count as a break either way....right?
Whatever. Who cares? (That was rhetorical.) Not me. (I answered it anyway.)
So now I'm working at my boring job, doing even more boring things than I used to do, the discernable difference being that these boring things I'm doing now are much more important than the boring things I was doing before. That is, if I screw these up I'll probably get fired. But you know? Meh. Except for the car payment/student loans/food and clothing thing, I don't really need the money. After all, I have you, right? And blogger is free!
So if I do get fired (and I know there are some of you out there rooting for me) you'll have many many many posts to look forward to; whiny posts about how bored I am without a job.
-t
recommended download:
Our Lady Peace, Clumsy
Honestly, I have no idea.
Everybody can take a break from time to time, right? Even if it's unintentional, right? I didn't mean to take two days off, but I did, and that should count as a break either way....right?
Whatever. Who cares? (That was rhetorical.) Not me. (I answered it anyway.)
So now I'm working at my boring job, doing even more boring things than I used to do, the discernable difference being that these boring things I'm doing now are much more important than the boring things I was doing before. That is, if I screw these up I'll probably get fired. But you know? Meh. Except for the car payment/student loans/food and clothing thing, I don't really need the money. After all, I have you, right? And blogger is free!
So if I do get fired (and I know there are some of you out there rooting for me) you'll have many many many posts to look forward to; whiny posts about how bored I am without a job.
-t
recommended download:
Our Lady Peace, Clumsy
Monday, August 29, 2005
Book Update!
Ok, so you all may not care a bit about what I'm reading. Tough.
I finished A Storm of Swords, the third in George R. R. Martin's series "A Song of Fire and Ice" and it was amazing and I'm pissed the fourth book won't be in paperback for another two years nevermind the fifth book which probably hasn't even been written yet, because dammit I want to finish the story.
I finished Heretics of Dune, which follows the most boring book of the Dune Chronicles: God Emperor of Dune. Heretics was superb, accelerated pacing, concise storytelling, reinvigorating the series. Now, I'm reading the next (and last) book, Chapterhouse: Dune. So far it's living up to my expectations.
[aside: I'm not going to review these books, it's really more of a list to help sort things out in my own mind...on the other hand, I wouldn't say no to a review, if it were desired...but that's up to you all]
I have not finished Asimov's Foundation novels. Because they are quite dull compared to the stuff I've been reading recently. They aren't bad, cornerstone of science fiction and all that, and I have no doubt the end of the series (two and a half books away) will be interesting, so I can look forward to that whenever it is I find myself without more interesting options.
I also read a detective novel by Lawrence Block (of the "Burglar" series of books) and it was phenomenal. Eight Million Ways To Die is a detective novel in the American tradition whose main character is a recovering alcoholic. This narration adds dimension and humanity to the story, providing a new look at this genre. Kudos to Block.
Next on the list is either more of the Foundation series or possibly book one in the Wheel of Time series. Unless I stumble upon something else before that.
happy reading,
-tgme
recommended downloads:
Bowling For Soup, Self-Centered
Finch, Letters To You
Everclear, Amphetamine
I finished A Storm of Swords, the third in George R. R. Martin's series "A Song of Fire and Ice" and it was amazing and I'm pissed the fourth book won't be in paperback for another two years nevermind the fifth book which probably hasn't even been written yet, because dammit I want to finish the story.
I finished Heretics of Dune, which follows the most boring book of the Dune Chronicles: God Emperor of Dune. Heretics was superb, accelerated pacing, concise storytelling, reinvigorating the series. Now, I'm reading the next (and last) book, Chapterhouse: Dune. So far it's living up to my expectations.
[aside: I'm not going to review these books, it's really more of a list to help sort things out in my own mind...on the other hand, I wouldn't say no to a review, if it were desired...but that's up to you all]
I have not finished Asimov's Foundation novels. Because they are quite dull compared to the stuff I've been reading recently. They aren't bad, cornerstone of science fiction and all that, and I have no doubt the end of the series (two and a half books away) will be interesting, so I can look forward to that whenever it is I find myself without more interesting options.
I also read a detective novel by Lawrence Block (of the "Burglar" series of books) and it was phenomenal. Eight Million Ways To Die is a detective novel in the American tradition whose main character is a recovering alcoholic. This narration adds dimension and humanity to the story, providing a new look at this genre. Kudos to Block.
Next on the list is either more of the Foundation series or possibly book one in the Wheel of Time series. Unless I stumble upon something else before that.
happy reading,
-tgme
recommended downloads:
Bowling For Soup, Self-Centered
Finch, Letters To You
Everclear, Amphetamine
Overslept
I was supposed to sleep in Saturday. That was my big plan. It was going to be great.
My brother Joe, down at the beach this past week, was going to come home Sunday, pack, and move back to school.
Instead, Joe, me, and the rest of the gang were hoodwinked into building a patio in our backyard.
They woke me up. Early. "Tom, we need you to move your truck." A simple request. What they didn't tell me was they needed me to move my truck from the driveway to Home Depot and pick up thirty bags of crushed stone.
It took all day, dig a big hole, measure, measure again, cut the frame, level the dirt, level the crushed stone, place the bricks, dump and sweep the stone dust. Ugh.
On the other hand, I really do feel like we accomplished something. Hooray for us.
Then the new dog started freaking out. She went nuts, like she was flea-infested, which we don't think is the case becase the old dog hasn't had a hint of fleas. She's biting and scratching and whimpering for hours, so we don't know what's going on there, but we're hoping the vet will. That was pretty much the weekend. Woo weekend.
More updates later.
-t
recommended download:
Green Day, Jesus Of Suburbia
My brother Joe, down at the beach this past week, was going to come home Sunday, pack, and move back to school.
Instead, Joe, me, and the rest of the gang were hoodwinked into building a patio in our backyard.
They woke me up. Early. "Tom, we need you to move your truck." A simple request. What they didn't tell me was they needed me to move my truck from the driveway to Home Depot and pick up thirty bags of crushed stone.
It took all day, dig a big hole, measure, measure again, cut the frame, level the dirt, level the crushed stone, place the bricks, dump and sweep the stone dust. Ugh.
On the other hand, I really do feel like we accomplished something. Hooray for us.
Then the new dog started freaking out. She went nuts, like she was flea-infested, which we don't think is the case becase the old dog hasn't had a hint of fleas. She's biting and scratching and whimpering for hours, so we don't know what's going on there, but we're hoping the vet will. That was pretty much the weekend. Woo weekend.
More updates later.
-t
recommended download:
Green Day, Jesus Of Suburbia
Friday, August 26, 2005
Adorable
Adorable
Originally uploaded by a20261.
Here's a photo, as promised. Now we need a name for her!
Don't even bother suggesting people names (Donny) because I'll veto those outright. But come on, look how cute she is!
Preliminarily we were thinking Cassidy (because she's replacing Butch) or maybe Sundance and call her Sunny. But Sunny doesn't seem right.
Also out there are Lady, Buttons, Missy (Mischeif), and Sophie (which, techinically is a people name)
Check out those paws...it's like she's been splashing in a puddle of ink. Everybody say it with me "Awwww..."
-t
Poppies
We got a new puppy! She's adorable. A cocker spaniel, springer mix, mostly black, with black and white paws. A-dorable.
But we don't have a name for her yet...
So, quick with the suggestions, and I'll throw some pictures up later!
-t
But we don't have a name for her yet...
So, quick with the suggestions, and I'll throw some pictures up later!
-t
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Typical Situation
I’m in a tenuous situation. The new guy, that took over for the pretty girl?, is starting to ask me questions. He seems to think I know how things work, that I’m friendly enough and knowledgeable enough to help.
But really, I’m not. I am not friendly, and, with most people here, I go out of my way to be cold and unfeeling, to discourage friendliness. I am certainly not helpful, because I don’t know what the hell is going on, there is no way I could answer his questions accurately. Do I stay quiet? Do I give him incorrect info which will only end up making everyone’s job harder? Mostly I’ve been trying to avoid him. Because then he can’t ask…plus, he’s starting to creep me out.
The best thing to do is to tell him to shut the hell up, I’m not your manager, I’m not here to hold your hand, and stop asking me your stupid moron questions I’ve got my own work to do, this isn’t my job!
I haven’t said that, and it probably has something to do with actually being a nice guy in real life. I’ve gotta find a way around that.
-tgme
recommended downloads:
The Beatles, For No One
The Flaming Lips, Fight Test
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Getting Started
Getting started.
The Rolling Stones are in town, or were the last two nights, and I’ve been singing Start Me Up in my head all week (not the Folksmen cover from the Mighty Wind soundtrack).
Things are moving slowly here today. Hypermanager is out interviewing prospects, Shayna is out today so I’m covering the giant fund she normally does, and my duties as senior are slowly making more sense to me; by sometime next week I should have a regular workflow all worked out.
The newbies are all struggling to log in to the system after yesterday’s software update. IT really is earning their money lately.
Ok, I’ve got nothing, I’m just killing time. Enjoy the day.
Travis, Pipe Dreams
Counting Crows, Hanginaround
Incubus, Priceless
Sliders
I just watched Harold and Kumar Go To Whitecastle, and now I really want to go too.
Also, in relation to the title of this post, remember that show Sliders? It was about some parallel universe jumping time travellers and may or may not have starred Jason Bateman, who is also in Arrested Development, an episode of which was directed by Danny Leiner, the same guy who directed episodes of Felicity, Sports Night, Gilmore Girls, and you guessed it, Harold and Kumar
-t
Also, in relation to the title of this post, remember that show Sliders? It was about some parallel universe jumping time travellers and may or may not have starred Jason Bateman, who is also in Arrested Development, an episode of which was directed by Danny Leiner, the same guy who directed episodes of Felicity, Sports Night, Gilmore Girls, and you guessed it, Harold and Kumar
-t
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Shine on
Read the countrymen links. Or don’t, because today’s blog entries, suck.
Because it’s Tuesday? Maybe. Or, because everybody has a bad day once-in-a-while? Probably. But, and this is important, it’s not everyday that everybody has a bad day.
I’ve just skimmed through those linked blogs, and let me tell you: Boring.
Hey, I sympathize. Lord knows I’m not Chaucer over here, gold dripping from my fingers, your eyes lapping it up over the world wide web. I’ve had stretches of weeks at a time when posts seemed so mundane, so devoid of spark and energy I had to resort to Gilmore Girls to breathe life back into this thing.
But what I’m saying now? Is that you have to pick your spots. This is how you get a following. This is why people who don’t deserve renown get it. A good eye, and patience.
For you bloggers: Find people who write well. Keep up with their posts. Notice that every so often one of those authors will have missed something. Their post will lack. Then notice that the others, the three or four or eight or twenty-two you follow haven’t missed anything, and write as well as ever. So you forgive the boring guy, and read the rest.
Then there comes a day when all twenty-two flop. It happens. Slumps overlap, people get distracted, that sucking sound you hear is the talent draining from the talent pool.
Now is your time to shine.
Get out there, post post post. Make it creative, make it silvery, make it funny and witty and thoughtful. And who cares if your best post can’t compete with any other post on a mediocre day? This isn’t some mediocre day! This is a boring day! Post that sucker and just sit back and wait.
Soon, much sooner than you’d think possible, others will come. They will read blogs and be bored, they will check other blogs, and remain bored. Tedium will set in. The readers fear this. Blogging is the only thing that keeps them alive at work. The only distraction. What if everyone’s posts are boring today?! WHAT. OF. DONUTS?!
Then, lo: your blog. They read the first paragraph. Not boring. They read the second. Not boring. Hope begins to build within them. They run their eyes down the page, smiles tug at the corner of their lips. Salvation!
And oh, how the comments do grow.
And as easy as that, you’ve earned yourself a bookmark. Or maybe a link. You’ve got people reading, people who know they can count on you when all else fails. You may not be the best of the best, but a walk’s as good as a hit sometimes.
Welcome, blogger, to the public eye. Isn’t it grand?
-t
Because it’s Tuesday? Maybe. Or, because everybody has a bad day once-in-a-while? Probably. But, and this is important, it’s not everyday that everybody has a bad day.
I’ve just skimmed through those linked blogs, and let me tell you: Boring.
Hey, I sympathize. Lord knows I’m not Chaucer over here, gold dripping from my fingers, your eyes lapping it up over the world wide web. I’ve had stretches of weeks at a time when posts seemed so mundane, so devoid of spark and energy I had to resort to Gilmore Girls to breathe life back into this thing.
But what I’m saying now? Is that you have to pick your spots. This is how you get a following. This is why people who don’t deserve renown get it. A good eye, and patience.
For you bloggers: Find people who write well. Keep up with their posts. Notice that every so often one of those authors will have missed something. Their post will lack. Then notice that the others, the three or four or eight or twenty-two you follow haven’t missed anything, and write as well as ever. So you forgive the boring guy, and read the rest.
Then there comes a day when all twenty-two flop. It happens. Slumps overlap, people get distracted, that sucking sound you hear is the talent draining from the talent pool.
Now is your time to shine.
Get out there, post post post. Make it creative, make it silvery, make it funny and witty and thoughtful. And who cares if your best post can’t compete with any other post on a mediocre day? This isn’t some mediocre day! This is a boring day! Post that sucker and just sit back and wait.
Soon, much sooner than you’d think possible, others will come. They will read blogs and be bored, they will check other blogs, and remain bored. Tedium will set in. The readers fear this. Blogging is the only thing that keeps them alive at work. The only distraction. What if everyone’s posts are boring today?! WHAT. OF. DONUTS?!
Then, lo: your blog. They read the first paragraph. Not boring. They read the second. Not boring. Hope begins to build within them. They run their eyes down the page, smiles tug at the corner of their lips. Salvation!
And oh, how the comments do grow.
And as easy as that, you’ve earned yourself a bookmark. Or maybe a link. You’ve got people reading, people who know they can count on you when all else fails. You may not be the best of the best, but a walk’s as good as a hit sometimes.
Welcome, blogger, to the public eye. Isn’t it grand?
-t
Luffing
My boss just sent out an email to gauge interest in a harbor cruise for the floor. I’m having a real hard time thinking up reasons this would be a good idea.
Reasons an Office Harbor Cruise is a Bad Idea:
On the other hand, I guess I wont’ be doing anything else on a Thursday night in September, so why not?
-t
recommended download:
Pearl Jam, In Hiding
Reasons an Office Harbor Cruise is a Bad Idea:
- People from work will be there.
- There is no way off the boat.
- I might need to get drunk to have a good time (or to block it out).
- Drinks will be very very expensive.
- I don’t do well drinking at office parties.
- I do not want to see seasick coworkers.
- cute girl won’t be there.
- Pretty girl probably still has a boyfriend.
- People from work will be there.
- There’s no way off the boat.
On the other hand, I guess I wont’ be doing anything else on a Thursday night in September, so why not?
-t
recommended download:
Pearl Jam, In Hiding
Monday, August 22, 2005
Somebody save me
I hate the new guy. All of them. Well, ok, I only hate three of the four new guys, but majority rules.
They’re so stupid.
I can’t stand it. It’s not like this is a difficult job. I’ve said it before, and I maintain, that trained monkeys could do this job. I know I wasn’t this bad when I started. I asked questions. They do not. They sit, blissfully unaware in their ignorance, and it’s driving me nuts. (like the steering wheel sticking out of the pirate’s pants – ha!)
The stupider the new guys are the more I want to quit. I don’t ever want to be in a position where I will be responsible for training these morons. (that’s twice in one day I’ve used that word…that’s a word I almost never use). I have this deep-seated fear that their stupidity is going to suck the intelligence out of me. Like a black hole.
I’m lining the walls of my cubicle with aluminum foil right now.
They better smarten up soon. If I’m subjected to this sort of environment every day for an extended period of time things could get real bad. Real bad. I bet you’d even see it in my posts; rambling, incoherent diatribes stringing meaningless relations between nonsensical and sparsely related subjects. The pacing would probably increase too; multiple posts in a day, distracted musings, posts railing against coworkers…posts talking about lack of windows…
paranoia…
about people leaving me…
oh no.
It’s already started.
-t
recommended downloads:
Ani Difranco, Superhero
Sugarcult, Insane, and Bouncing Off The Walls Again
They’re so stupid.
I can’t stand it. It’s not like this is a difficult job. I’ve said it before, and I maintain, that trained monkeys could do this job. I know I wasn’t this bad when I started. I asked questions. They do not. They sit, blissfully unaware in their ignorance, and it’s driving me nuts. (like the steering wheel sticking out of the pirate’s pants – ha!)
The stupider the new guys are the more I want to quit. I don’t ever want to be in a position where I will be responsible for training these morons. (that’s twice in one day I’ve used that word…that’s a word I almost never use). I have this deep-seated fear that their stupidity is going to suck the intelligence out of me. Like a black hole.
I’m lining the walls of my cubicle with aluminum foil right now.
They better smarten up soon. If I’m subjected to this sort of environment every day for an extended period of time things could get real bad. Real bad. I bet you’d even see it in my posts; rambling, incoherent diatribes stringing meaningless relations between nonsensical and sparsely related subjects. The pacing would probably increase too; multiple posts in a day, distracted musings, posts railing against coworkers…posts talking about lack of windows…
paranoia…
about people leaving me…
oh no.
It’s already started.
-t
recommended downloads:
Ani Difranco, Superhero
Sugarcult, Insane, and Bouncing Off The Walls Again
Superficial
New guys, new guys, everywhere. Another new hire. That’s four in six weeks. The new FA’s outnumber the veterans 4:3, unless you count me and the other senior, Betty, because we really just started and aren’t much more than FA’s with new titles. Then it’s 5:4 in favor of the old guys.
Too much change, I tell you. The group behind us lost a manager and cute girl within a week. The Opi&Anthony fan is taking over, and the stupid guy is taking cute girl’s cube. The pretty girl is switching jobs and will be on the other end of the floor from now on, so I won’t be working with her day-to-day anymore, and the new guy taking over her job is a moron. I’m not kidding, he talks to his plants. No, he doesn’t talk to them, he converses with them. He carries on conversations with his plants. Out loud. Weirdo.
This is insane. I’m sure it’s not a big deal. Just my brain slowly getting back into work mode. Just gotta deal with it I guess. After all, I can’t quit, then I’d never be able to afford a Big Drive to Milwaukee.
-t
Blues Traveler, Hook, and Run Around
Sugarcult, Champagne
Phantom Planet, Always On My Mind
Too much change, I tell you. The group behind us lost a manager and cute girl within a week. The Opi&Anthony fan is taking over, and the stupid guy is taking cute girl’s cube. The pretty girl is switching jobs and will be on the other end of the floor from now on, so I won’t be working with her day-to-day anymore, and the new guy taking over her job is a moron. I’m not kidding, he talks to his plants. No, he doesn’t talk to them, he converses with them. He carries on conversations with his plants. Out loud. Weirdo.
This is insane. I’m sure it’s not a big deal. Just my brain slowly getting back into work mode. Just gotta deal with it I guess. After all, I can’t quit, then I’d never be able to afford a Big Drive to Milwaukee.
-t
Blues Traveler, Hook, and Run Around
Sugarcult, Champagne
Phantom Planet, Always On My Mind
Friday, August 19, 2005
Picasso
Today, while I was “working,” I found a website with instructions. Origami instructions.
I made an origami frog.
They pay me twice a month, for what I don’t know.
-t
recommended download:
Counting Crows, Angels Of The Silences
I made an origami frog.
They pay me twice a month, for what I don’t know.
-t
recommended download:
Counting Crows, Angels Of The Silences
The End of an Era
So I may have mentioned the high turnover rate. Nobody lasts for ever, and it increasingly seems that nobody lasts at all. I bring it up now because it relates to the blog: I started this web log to chronicle my adventures at work, and my relationship with cute girl. (You may recall the first few months when cute girl didn’t know my name, or the next few months when I’d critique her ugly blue coat.) Y’all (this really feels like a “y’all” moment),
Cute girl is leaving.
I’m beside myself, much like my cube is beside her cube (well, actually diagonally across an aisle) – I am diagonally across an aisle from myself. An end of an era. Cute girl. Gone. Does this mean an end to the blog as well? Is there nothing worth carrying on? What of donuts!? WHAT. OF. DONUTS?!
She announced yesterday. This may be the last time I see her, ever. There won’t even be a goodbye sendoff, because that’s not how her group operates. (Their manager takes them out for a group lunch, that’s it, no drinking, no embarrassing drunken confessions at the bar.) I’ll miss that opportunity to express my true feelings for her (that she’s cute), and how I really feel about her engagement (disappointed).
Y’all, cute girl is leaving.
And stupid Stupid Guy is going to take her cube. Her cube.
I’ll be honest here, I’m sort of falling apart a little.
This came as quite a shock.
I don’t know how to conduct myself around her (not that I did before). I don’t want to wish her good luck with her new job, because if she has bad luck and hates it, wouldn’t that mean she’d come back here? Right? I am weeping openly at my desk. No, no, don’t worry, I’ve got my head turned so she won’t see me cry. We have to stay strong. I have to stay strong, dammit. It’s not the end of the world.
Just the end of an era. A really cute era.
-tgme
recommended downloads:
Ani Difranco, Face Up And Sing
Our Lady Peace, Neon Crossing
The Dropkick Murphys, The Fields Of Athenry
and
Lucky Boys Confusion, 50 Of My Closest Friends And A Keg Of Killians (Do You Miss Me)
Cute girl is leaving.
I’m beside myself, much like my cube is beside her cube (well, actually diagonally across an aisle) – I am diagonally across an aisle from myself. An end of an era. Cute girl. Gone. Does this mean an end to the blog as well? Is there nothing worth carrying on? What of donuts!? WHAT. OF. DONUTS?!
She announced yesterday. This may be the last time I see her, ever. There won’t even be a goodbye sendoff, because that’s not how her group operates. (Their manager takes them out for a group lunch, that’s it, no drinking, no embarrassing drunken confessions at the bar.) I’ll miss that opportunity to express my true feelings for her (that she’s cute), and how I really feel about her engagement (disappointed).
Y’all, cute girl is leaving.
And stupid Stupid Guy is going to take her cube. Her cube.
I’ll be honest here, I’m sort of falling apart a little.
This came as quite a shock.
I don’t know how to conduct myself around her (not that I did before). I don’t want to wish her good luck with her new job, because if she has bad luck and hates it, wouldn’t that mean she’d come back here? Right? I am weeping openly at my desk. No, no, don’t worry, I’ve got my head turned so she won’t see me cry. We have to stay strong. I have to stay strong, dammit. It’s not the end of the world.
Just the end of an era. A really cute era.
-tgme
recommended downloads:
Ani Difranco, Face Up And Sing
Our Lady Peace, Neon Crossing
The Dropkick Murphys, The Fields Of Athenry
and
Lucky Boys Confusion, 50 Of My Closest Friends And A Keg Of Killians (Do You Miss Me)
Why, tell me why
Interesting note. I got home from work and we threw on the Muppet Show season one dvds (which I recently purchased) and guess what one of the very first musical numbers was?
Ghosts, singing I'm Looking Through You. It was hilarious, and timely, and supercoincidental. No kidding.
-t
Ghosts, singing I'm Looking Through You. It was hilarious, and timely, and supercoincidental. No kidding.
-t
Thursday, August 18, 2005
I thought I knew you
Well, they finally picked up over at the Help Desk. They didn’t know what the hell I was talking about. So I tried to explain (very slowly) that I needed a password for the new web-based review system. It’s pretty simple, it’s like “MyReview.com”
At first they explained my manager would need to submit a request to have my ID added to the system, wait one business day, then call back (and wait on hold for forty minutes) to get my password (which would then need to be changed).
But that’s not right, because all I need now is the password.
So they figured out what I needed. Gave me a string of upper- and lower-case letters and some numbers, told me that was my password, and wait ten minutes before logging in.
But no. They gave me a password for the wrong system. A system I don’t even use, and will not ever use.
So I’m calling back and maybe this time we can work through this.
I sort of wish they had some fun music playing in the background instead of this dead silence.
-tom
recommended downloads:
The Muppet Show, Rowlf, Eight Little Notes, and I Never Harmed An Onion (So Why Do They Make Me Cry?)
At first they explained my manager would need to submit a request to have my ID added to the system, wait one business day, then call back (and wait on hold for forty minutes) to get my password (which would then need to be changed).
But that’s not right, because all I need now is the password.
So they figured out what I needed. Gave me a string of upper- and lower-case letters and some numbers, told me that was my password, and wait ten minutes before logging in.
But no. They gave me a password for the wrong system. A system I don’t even use, and will not ever use.
So I’m calling back and maybe this time we can work through this.
I sort of wish they had some fun music playing in the background instead of this dead silence.
-tom
recommended downloads:
The Muppet Show, Rowlf, Eight Little Notes, and I Never Harmed An Onion (So Why Do They Make Me Cry?)
Looking through you
I’m on hold with the help desk. It could be a while.
It seems they never pick up the phone for password support. Blown passwords, setting up new IDs, and login help are tough to come by.
On the other hand, if you’re calling for hardware support, like a printer that’s gone down, they’re all over it. They’ll pick up the call after ten seconds on hold, and have a guy down here in ten minutes to fix the printer, or to replace an old hard drive, anything. And at any time of the day. Call them at noon, they’re not out at lunch, call them at five-thirty, they’re on the job almost at once, making sure no one misses a deadline.
But a new ID for the UNIX system? Well, it’s been about ten minutes now. Pre-recorded “all of our representatives are still busy…” and two minutes of silence; repeat; repeat; ad infinitum.
It’s all fine though, I don’t have anything else to do while I wait. Because THEY TOOK ALL OF MY FUNDS!
That’s right, I’ve now moved into full-blown, all-out, senior-in-training mode. No more funds, now it’s just learning all the end-of-the-night stuff that keeps managers here until six-thirty or seven every night. Nothing to do for long stretches in the day except troubleshoot the newbies’ funds, and then very important stuff to do at the end of the day. So, while my time commitment has dropped considerably since last week (when, you may recall, I was super busy; so busy, in fact, that I only had time to post things like “I CANT BELIEVE HOW BUSY I AM ALL THE DAMN TIME” and that was it).
But, as my time commitment has decreased, my responsibility has increased, and increased dramatically. If I screwed up before there was a senior or a manger that would catch it, fix it, and then give me a hard time about it the next day. Now, if I screw up, the transfer agent, and the client are the ones who’ll see it, there’s no umbrella. It’ll all fall on me.
Which I’m totally ok with. Because I’m good at this. (That’s not to say I understand it, but I’m good at it.) And, if it turns out I screw up irreparably and get fired, well then, I’ll have tons of free time to drive places and see people, right? It’s win-win.
Ok, I’m still on hold, but my shoulder’s getting tired from holding the phone up to my ear while I type…I’m going to take a break.
BAM!
-tom
recommended downloads:
The Beatles, I’m Looking Through You
Fountains of Wayne, Leave The Biker, and Maureen
and Rhett Miller, Hover
It seems they never pick up the phone for password support. Blown passwords, setting up new IDs, and login help are tough to come by.
On the other hand, if you’re calling for hardware support, like a printer that’s gone down, they’re all over it. They’ll pick up the call after ten seconds on hold, and have a guy down here in ten minutes to fix the printer, or to replace an old hard drive, anything. And at any time of the day. Call them at noon, they’re not out at lunch, call them at five-thirty, they’re on the job almost at once, making sure no one misses a deadline.
But a new ID for the UNIX system? Well, it’s been about ten minutes now. Pre-recorded “all of our representatives are still busy…” and two minutes of silence; repeat; repeat; ad infinitum.
It’s all fine though, I don’t have anything else to do while I wait. Because THEY TOOK ALL OF MY FUNDS!
That’s right, I’ve now moved into full-blown, all-out, senior-in-training mode. No more funds, now it’s just learning all the end-of-the-night stuff that keeps managers here until six-thirty or seven every night. Nothing to do for long stretches in the day except troubleshoot the newbies’ funds, and then very important stuff to do at the end of the day. So, while my time commitment has dropped considerably since last week (when, you may recall, I was super busy; so busy, in fact, that I only had time to post things like “I CANT BELIEVE HOW BUSY I AM ALL THE DAMN TIME” and that was it).
But, as my time commitment has decreased, my responsibility has increased, and increased dramatically. If I screwed up before there was a senior or a manger that would catch it, fix it, and then give me a hard time about it the next day. Now, if I screw up, the transfer agent, and the client are the ones who’ll see it, there’s no umbrella. It’ll all fall on me.
Which I’m totally ok with. Because I’m good at this. (That’s not to say I understand it, but I’m good at it.) And, if it turns out I screw up irreparably and get fired, well then, I’ll have tons of free time to drive places and see people, right? It’s win-win.
Ok, I’m still on hold, but my shoulder’s getting tired from holding the phone up to my ear while I type…I’m going to take a break.
BAM!
-tom
recommended downloads:
The Beatles, I’m Looking Through You
Fountains of Wayne, Leave The Biker, and Maureen
and Rhett Miller, Hover
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Downhill
Commenting has dropped off of late. Here and everywhere else it seems. Take Amazo’s shaving post. Ample fodder there for chiming in, and yet, nothing. So I’ve decided to step up my own commenting on other blogs, because hey, getting comments is like getting a postcard in the mail. Very exciting, even if it’s not very informative and the picture on the front is crappy and out of focus so you can tell it was one of those cheap twenty for a dollar postcard deals and not a fancy $2.59 postcard from a posh gift shop.
Comments is comments.
-t
recommended downloads:
Sarah Harmer, Open Window (that’s a female artist who hasn’t sold out kate…though she sings about weddings and stuff, so maybe it’s not really your thing…best thing to do is give it a listen! bam!)
Comments is comments.
-t
recommended downloads:
Sarah Harmer, Open Window (that’s a female artist who hasn’t sold out kate…though she sings about weddings and stuff, so maybe it’s not really your thing…best thing to do is give it a listen! bam!)
The Tomorrow People
The Chicago Blackhawks will be in Calgary when I am in Chicago. I will save approximately $40 on tickets.
But, maybe the Bucks will be in town when I reach Milwaukee...not that I particularly look forward to watching a basketball game, especially a pro basketball game, especially a pro basketball game featuring the Milwaukee Bucks, but it would be nice to attend some sporting event maybe. Or, maybe I can use the time to fit in extra brewery tours.
Speaking of the Tomorrow People, have any of you seen that miniseries? It ran on Nickelodeon and followed a group of teens who had the ability to teleport. I remember thinking it might be a cool series and wanting to sit down and watch it, but I never did. So I don't know if it was any good.
Speaking of Nickelodeon and good things on it, I learned last weekend that Danger Mouse, season one is available on dvd. I'm pumped. I won't be going out to buy it right away because I'm saving money for the Big Drive (that's what I'm calling it for now), but later, when I decide I can spend money again? Totally getting Danger Mouse. Because he's the greatest, he's the ace, he's the strongest he's the quickest he's the best. How can you beat a secret agent mouse with an eyepatch and his helpful friend Penfold fighting to save the world from Baron Greenback (von Greenback? it's been a while).
Plus, plus, the Danger Mouse cartoon is responsible for introducing Count Duckula who earned himself a spin-off series that was incredibly funny. A vegetarian vampire duck, his castle could fly around the world, and every episode he, his butler, and his gigantic maid would find themselves in a new place where wacky new adventures would happen. Man I loved that show.
Shoutout to everybody who remembers and loves childhood cartoons.
-t
recommended download:
The Danger Mouse Theme
But, maybe the Bucks will be in town when I reach Milwaukee...not that I particularly look forward to watching a basketball game, especially a pro basketball game, especially a pro basketball game featuring the Milwaukee Bucks, but it would be nice to attend some sporting event maybe. Or, maybe I can use the time to fit in extra brewery tours.
Speaking of the Tomorrow People, have any of you seen that miniseries? It ran on Nickelodeon and followed a group of teens who had the ability to teleport. I remember thinking it might be a cool series and wanting to sit down and watch it, but I never did. So I don't know if it was any good.
Speaking of Nickelodeon and good things on it, I learned last weekend that Danger Mouse, season one is available on dvd. I'm pumped. I won't be going out to buy it right away because I'm saving money for the Big Drive (that's what I'm calling it for now), but later, when I decide I can spend money again? Totally getting Danger Mouse. Because he's the greatest, he's the ace, he's the strongest he's the quickest he's the best. How can you beat a secret agent mouse with an eyepatch and his helpful friend Penfold fighting to save the world from Baron Greenback (von Greenback? it's been a while).
Plus, plus, the Danger Mouse cartoon is responsible for introducing Count Duckula who earned himself a spin-off series that was incredibly funny. A vegetarian vampire duck, his castle could fly around the world, and every episode he, his butler, and his gigantic maid would find themselves in a new place where wacky new adventures would happen. Man I loved that show.
Shoutout to everybody who remembers and loves childhood cartoons.
-t
recommended download:
The Danger Mouse Theme
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
Thank goodness I work with financial types
I just realized I've been carring three pens in my shirt pocket for probably an hour and a half. No doubt these finance geeks are smirking behind my back thinking "what a loser." If these were normal people I'd be embarassed.
To be considered a loser by this crowd is pretty low, but is it how I'm carrying the pens or are they smirking because I'm not using a pocket protector?
-t
To be considered a loser by this crowd is pretty low, but is it how I'm carrying the pens or are they smirking because I'm not using a pocket protector?
-t
Da Bears
Ok, so, I'm really going to drive to the middle of the country. I can't believe how excited I am. It's like "woo, I get to sit in my car for fifteen hours!" That's just a rough estimate, I haven't planned out exactly what route to take yet. I know I will be leaving from Boston, swinging up through Chicago, and ending up in Milwaukee. It'll be in November so there won't be any Brewers games, but it would be really sweet to see the Blackhawks.
Which brings me to another point. I have no idea how much this is going to cost me. Figure 2400 miles, round trip, getting about 17 mpg. Which works out to (you see, it that math degree really is useful) 141 gallons of gas, going for the national average of... well, I don't know what the national average is, let's call it $2.50 for easy numbers: $352.94
Ok, so budget wise. $400.00 for gas, $150.00 for food, $40.00 for a hockey ticket. What else? I'll be in Milwaukee, so I'll probably be drinking...$100? I'll factor in a hotel stay along the route in case I get sidetracked, lost, delayed, or too tired to drive, but how much will that be? $25 bucks at a sleazy motel? $200 a night at a sweet place in a big city like Chicago? No idea.
So, call it a thousand dollar trip. I should start saving now.
-t
recommended downloads:
Midtown, Help Me Sleep
The Promise Ring, Happiness Is All The Rage
and
Bob Schneider, Lonely Land
Which brings me to another point. I have no idea how much this is going to cost me. Figure 2400 miles, round trip, getting about 17 mpg. Which works out to (you see, it that math degree really is useful) 141 gallons of gas, going for the national average of... well, I don't know what the national average is, let's call it $2.50 for easy numbers: $352.94
Ok, so budget wise. $400.00 for gas, $150.00 for food, $40.00 for a hockey ticket. What else? I'll be in Milwaukee, so I'll probably be drinking...$100? I'll factor in a hotel stay along the route in case I get sidetracked, lost, delayed, or too tired to drive, but how much will that be? $25 bucks at a sleazy motel? $200 a night at a sweet place in a big city like Chicago? No idea.
So, call it a thousand dollar trip. I should start saving now.
-t
recommended downloads:
Midtown, Help Me Sleep
The Promise Ring, Happiness Is All The Rage
and
Bob Schneider, Lonely Land
Monday, August 15, 2005
Odds on
There are some strange people out there, and there are a lot of strange people in here. Specifically the strange financial professionals who work in this office.
I can give you odds. If you meet a random coworker of mine the odds are 3-1 in favor of them being socially awkward.
Hey, I'm not here to judge. A lot of these folks are financial professionals because they're better with numbers than with people. And that's fine, if you have to work with them, odds are real good they know what they're talking about and can get stuff right the first time.
It's not so fine when they try and make small talk waiting for the printer, at the water cooler, OR WHILE USING THE RESTROOM.
Honestly! I don't even let cool people talk to me in the bathroom (Ray). NO CONVERSATIONS IN THE BATHROOM. I just want to wash my hands and get back to my desk. Don't talk to me while you're using the urinals, don't talk to me while you're in a stall, don't TALK TO ME AT ALL WHILE YOU'RE IN THE BATHROOM.
eugh.
-t
I can give you odds. If you meet a random coworker of mine the odds are 3-1 in favor of them being socially awkward.
Hey, I'm not here to judge. A lot of these folks are financial professionals because they're better with numbers than with people. And that's fine, if you have to work with them, odds are real good they know what they're talking about and can get stuff right the first time.
It's not so fine when they try and make small talk waiting for the printer, at the water cooler, OR WHILE USING THE RESTROOM.
Honestly! I don't even let cool people talk to me in the bathroom (Ray). NO CONVERSATIONS IN THE BATHROOM. I just want to wash my hands and get back to my desk. Don't talk to me while you're using the urinals, don't talk to me while you're in a stall, don't TALK TO ME AT ALL WHILE YOU'RE IN THE BATHROOM.
eugh.
-t
Black days
Well I began the day in a black mood.
And I made it through most of the day in a black mood.
It was in this mood that I thought to throw on the headphones and listen to some music from the iPod, to further isolate myself from the people around me. And it killed my black mood.
This is why I love the shuffle feature. At first I just wanted to listen to The Who. But after You Better You Bet I decided to shuffle, and got, in order, Marcy Playground Cloaking Robe of Elven Kind, the theme to Mysteries Cities of Gold (which you all may remember from Nickelodeon in the old days), followed by AC/DC Hells Bells, then capped with CCR's Looking Out My Back Door. That was it. Black mood gone. How can you feel down with Creedence Clearwater Revivial playing? I don't know.
I love it when it rains. I'm walking home tonight. I hope it pours.
-t
recommended download (obvisouly):
Creedence Clearwater Revival, Looking Out My Back Door
Simple Plan, I'd Do Anything
The Who, Magic Bus
And I made it through most of the day in a black mood.
It was in this mood that I thought to throw on the headphones and listen to some music from the iPod, to further isolate myself from the people around me. And it killed my black mood.
This is why I love the shuffle feature. At first I just wanted to listen to The Who. But after You Better You Bet I decided to shuffle, and got, in order, Marcy Playground Cloaking Robe of Elven Kind, the theme to Mysteries Cities of Gold (which you all may remember from Nickelodeon in the old days), followed by AC/DC Hells Bells, then capped with CCR's Looking Out My Back Door. That was it. Black mood gone. How can you feel down with Creedence Clearwater Revivial playing? I don't know.
I love it when it rains. I'm walking home tonight. I hope it pours.
-t
recommended download (obvisouly):
Creedence Clearwater Revival, Looking Out My Back Door
Simple Plan, I'd Do Anything
The Who, Magic Bus
I miss norm macdonald
So I just took this quiz
First, I don't know where Philadelphia is coming from. I'm sure it's a nice city, cheesesteaks, liberty bell, will smith and the sixers, but I wouldn't really get by in a town that roots for the eagles and the phillies (though I do love that philly phanatic).
But, I think it's pretty interesting that this anonymous internet quiz ranks Boston, Chicago, and San Francisco even. It's interesting because I know I love living in Boston, and whenever I've thought about another city I might be ok with living in, it was either Chicago or San Fran.
And, I'm too tired to really be working any harder than I have to this morning. Either because I'm tired (maybe) or because I'm sinking into a shallow depression (maybe), or maybe it's all this rain.
-t
recommended downloads:
Social Distortion, Angels' Wings
Sugarcult, Hate Every Beautiful Day
and
Brian Webb, Martha
American Cities That Best Fit You: |
| 65% Philadelphia |
| 60% Boston |
| 60% Chicago |
| 60% San Francisco |
| 55% New York City |
First, I don't know where Philadelphia is coming from. I'm sure it's a nice city, cheesesteaks, liberty bell, will smith and the sixers, but I wouldn't really get by in a town that roots for the eagles and the phillies (though I do love that philly phanatic).
But, I think it's pretty interesting that this anonymous internet quiz ranks Boston, Chicago, and San Francisco even. It's interesting because I know I love living in Boston, and whenever I've thought about another city I might be ok with living in, it was either Chicago or San Fran.
And, I'm too tired to really be working any harder than I have to this morning. Either because I'm tired (maybe) or because I'm sinking into a shallow depression (maybe), or maybe it's all this rain.
-t
recommended downloads:
Social Distortion, Angels' Wings
Sugarcult, Hate Every Beautiful Day
and
Brian Webb, Martha
I'm sitting here with nothing to say...
I'm the only one on my side of the group today. Felix, who sits next to me, is out this week. Humphrey, who sits behind me, left friday for two weeks off and a job with a new company.
So this week the new guys outnumber the verterans three to two. That means a lot more work is going to be shuffled my way.
I wouldn't have to be here if I won the lottery.
-t
recommended download
Green Day, Minority
So this week the new guys outnumber the verterans three to two. That means a lot more work is going to be shuffled my way.
I wouldn't have to be here if I won the lottery.
-t
recommended download
Green Day, Minority
Friday, August 12, 2005
Ah, just as I suspected...
Hello, readers. Happy friday. How have you been? I must admit, I was a little dissapointed by the lackluster response to the muppet post. I was actually quite surprised; judging solely by the number of comments it would appear you all love Gilmore Girls more than The Muppets. I, personally, feel this is a tradgedy, as the Muppets should rank at least as high, on almost any scale, as the Gilmore Girls.
But I'm not here to criticize your likes and dislikes, nor chastise you in a manner suggesting your childhood was poor and terrible because you clearly were not exposed to enough muppetry or encouraged to love the whimsical worlds created by Jim Henson. No, rather, I am here to talk about something else entirely...
So, people like me. [This is our first premise.] How do I know this? Inference. People do not (usually) run away when the see me coming. Often, people actually seek me out. Therefore, I am not unliked.
People like doing things. [No illustration here, we live in a world where people do things, and I firmly believe that many of these things would not get done if people didn't like to do them. Like juggling. Nobody does that if they don't like it.]
The question, then, is this: Why does it seem, sometimes, that if people like to do things, and people like me, people do not like to do things with me?
Case in point: Julie - college friend, invited to umpteen (umpteen, really...I kept track) outings with yours truly. Attended a grand total of none of said outings. Which is ridiculous.
Case in point (2): Pretty Girl At Work - When asked do dinner, by me, she said "ok, when?" and then did not ever have dinner with me.
Case in point (3): L-dog - invited to movies (again, with me), and the postponed. Actually, postponing is not quite the same thing, and L-dog (I firmly believe) is not thinking about avoiding me, she is just busy, so this example really doesn't count at all, but I thought an argument with only two cases seemed a bit weak so I threw an irrelevant case three in here.
Conclusion: Something is clearly wrong with people who do not wish to spend time with me doing things.
I blame the media. (and the parents, for not instilling the appropriate amount of love and apprecaition for the muppets)(and also violent vido games, like GTA) (oh, and also the violence inherent in the system...help help I'm bein' repressed!)
Cascadingly,
Tom
recommended downloads:
Cake, Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps and Satan Is My Motor
and Marcy Playground, Bye-Bye
But I'm not here to criticize your likes and dislikes, nor chastise you in a manner suggesting your childhood was poor and terrible because you clearly were not exposed to enough muppetry or encouraged to love the whimsical worlds created by Jim Henson. No, rather, I am here to talk about something else entirely...
So, people like me. [This is our first premise.] How do I know this? Inference. People do not (usually) run away when the see me coming. Often, people actually seek me out. Therefore, I am not unliked.
People like doing things. [No illustration here, we live in a world where people do things, and I firmly believe that many of these things would not get done if people didn't like to do them. Like juggling. Nobody does that if they don't like it.]
The question, then, is this: Why does it seem, sometimes, that if people like to do things, and people like me, people do not like to do things with me?
Case in point: Julie - college friend, invited to umpteen (umpteen, really...I kept track) outings with yours truly. Attended a grand total of none of said outings. Which is ridiculous.
Case in point (2): Pretty Girl At Work - When asked do dinner, by me, she said "ok, when?" and then did not ever have dinner with me.
Case in point (3): L-dog - invited to movies (again, with me), and the postponed. Actually, postponing is not quite the same thing, and L-dog (I firmly believe) is not thinking about avoiding me, she is just busy, so this example really doesn't count at all, but I thought an argument with only two cases seemed a bit weak so I threw an irrelevant case three in here.
Conclusion: Something is clearly wrong with people who do not wish to spend time with me doing things.
I blame the media. (and the parents, for not instilling the appropriate amount of love and apprecaition for the muppets)(and also violent vido games, like GTA) (oh, and also the violence inherent in the system...help help I'm bein' repressed!)
Cascadingly,
Tom
recommended downloads:
Cake, Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps and Satan Is My Motor
and Marcy Playground, Bye-Bye
Thursday, August 11, 2005
Learn well, Grasshopper
Today my training begins in earnest. No longer am I burdened by the giant fund as I have been the last three weeks. Now I begin to focus on the real actual aspects of my new job. At long last, new job, new responsibilities.
First up, expenses. Right now we've got a program that runs expenses for us, so I'll be learning which buttons to press and in which order.
Then, comes yields, real end-of-the-night stuff (which is the most important kind of stuff). Yield worksheets, and yield monitor (which, as you may guess, monitors the yields from the yield worksheets).
That's it for today, except for some interest rate problems I had to deal with before I finished the budget (that was due monday) and tied out the one tax-free fund remaining to me.
All-in-all, a good morning. Time-consuming, but good.
-t
recommended downloads:
Coheed & Cambria, Bye-bye Beautiful
Good Charlotte, Riot Girl
Midtown, Empty Like The Ocean
and
Rufio, Just A Memory
First up, expenses. Right now we've got a program that runs expenses for us, so I'll be learning which buttons to press and in which order.
Then, comes yields, real end-of-the-night stuff (which is the most important kind of stuff). Yield worksheets, and yield monitor (which, as you may guess, monitors the yields from the yield worksheets).
That's it for today, except for some interest rate problems I had to deal with before I finished the budget (that was due monday) and tied out the one tax-free fund remaining to me.
All-in-all, a good morning. Time-consuming, but good.
-t
recommended downloads:
Coheed & Cambria, Bye-bye Beautiful
Good Charlotte, Riot Girl
Midtown, Empty Like The Ocean
and
Rufio, Just A Memory
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
Electric Mayhem
Dr. Teeth and his Electric Mayhem (Floyd, Janice, Animal, Zoot, and that trumpet player with the shaggy yellow hair whose name I don't know) are being excluded from this discussion, because, well, they already have a musical niche to fill: The crazy-muppet-rockers-who'll-paint-your-car-to-help-you-escape-the-bad-guy-and-know-when-to-read-ahead-in-the-script-to-save-the-movie niche.
But, everybody else is fair game, so here we go
Muppets and Music: Suggested Genres for Our Childhood Favorites
Kermit the Frog: Kermit, the leader of our gang and part-time field reporter, is an avid banjo player, even going so far as to record an unplugged version of Wild Thing, thus placing himself squarely in the Bluegrass family. I'd name a specific artist, but I'm not that familiar with bluegrass...maybe a counterpart to an Alison Krause type.
Miss Piggy: The diva of the Muppet Show cast, or any other production she finds herself in, Miss Piggy is undoubtedly a musical diva as well. She is big name, big fame, and big show - Cher, Madonna, Aretha Franklin. Everybody knows when she walks into a room (or falls down a set of stage stairs)
Rolf: Rolf is awesome. He's a piano playing dog. It doesn't get much better than that. Ragtime, classical pieces, or folk ditties, he's always ready. He has been known to cut loose from time to time, but is more driven by entertaining his audience than by an internal artistic drive. Rolf is a cross between Jerry Lee Lewis, and Victor Borge.
update: Rolf is Ray Charles. [Thanks Kate]
Hoot the Owl: Hoot is a saxaphone playing owl. He is the muppet equivalent of Coltrane. Don't think his influence is lost on the other muppets either... Ernie plays a mean trumpet, and Big Bird has dabbled as a jazz singer.
Rosie: The spanish speaking muppet. She is Shakira, a crossover who is spunky, but (no doubt due to the culture gap) still a little misunderstood.
Grover: He's blue, he's a superhero, a waiter, he's near and far, he's got a real emo feel to him. A skinny, dorky kind of monster with a soft heart. Grover could be Dashboard Confessionals
Elmo: Popular with the underage crowd, way too bubbly for his own good, not intelligent enough to have a conversation in the first person. He's a pop star. N'SYNC, Hilary Duff, toge+her, etc.
Scooter: Clearly, clearly, Rivers Cuomo from Weezer.
Gonzo: Gonzo is the muppet equivalent of Marylin Manson.
update: Gonzo is Alice Cooper. [Thanks John]
Camilla the Chicken: Camilla is a punk rock chick(en). She's a Good Charlotte fan, Bowling for Soup, New Found Glory. Studded bracelets, pink feathers.
The Count: Remember when he rapped with Kid and Play? I do. Count's the next Flava Flav
more to follow, I'm taking suggestions and criticisms:
-t
recommended downloads: Jude, Oh Boy, and Rock Star
and The Old 97's, Won't Be Home
But, everybody else is fair game, so here we go
Muppets and Music: Suggested Genres for Our Childhood Favorites
Kermit the Frog: Kermit, the leader of our gang and part-time field reporter, is an avid banjo player, even going so far as to record an unplugged version of Wild Thing, thus placing himself squarely in the Bluegrass family. I'd name a specific artist, but I'm not that familiar with bluegrass...maybe a counterpart to an Alison Krause type.
Miss Piggy: The diva of the Muppet Show cast, or any other production she finds herself in, Miss Piggy is undoubtedly a musical diva as well. She is big name, big fame, and big show - Cher, Madonna, Aretha Franklin. Everybody knows when she walks into a room (or falls down a set of stage stairs)
Rolf: Rolf is awesome. He's a piano playing dog. It doesn't get much better than that. Ragtime, classical pieces, or folk ditties, he's always ready. He has been known to cut loose from time to time, but is more driven by entertaining his audience than by an internal artistic drive. Rolf is a cross between Jerry Lee Lewis, and Victor Borge.
update: Rolf is Ray Charles. [Thanks Kate]
Hoot the Owl: Hoot is a saxaphone playing owl. He is the muppet equivalent of Coltrane. Don't think his influence is lost on the other muppets either... Ernie plays a mean trumpet, and Big Bird has dabbled as a jazz singer.
Rosie: The spanish speaking muppet. She is Shakira, a crossover who is spunky, but (no doubt due to the culture gap) still a little misunderstood.
Grover: He's blue, he's a superhero, a waiter, he's near and far, he's got a real emo feel to him. A skinny, dorky kind of monster with a soft heart. Grover could be Dashboard Confessionals
Elmo: Popular with the underage crowd, way too bubbly for his own good, not intelligent enough to have a conversation in the first person. He's a pop star. N'SYNC, Hilary Duff, toge+her, etc.
Scooter: Clearly, clearly, Rivers Cuomo from Weezer.
Gonzo: Gonzo is the muppet equivalent of Marylin Manson.
update: Gonzo is Alice Cooper. [Thanks John]
Camilla the Chicken: Camilla is a punk rock chick(en). She's a Good Charlotte fan, Bowling for Soup, New Found Glory. Studded bracelets, pink feathers.
The Count: Remember when he rapped with Kid and Play? I do. Count's the next Flava Flav
more to follow, I'm taking suggestions and criticisms:
-t
recommended downloads: Jude, Oh Boy, and Rock Star
and The Old 97's, Won't Be Home
Monday, August 08, 2005
If heaven was an hour, it would be twilight
I hate this job (again).
I went for a while there not hating it. But it didn't last. So, instead of sitting here and thinking hateful thoughts, I've been sitting here thinking about lyrics to country songs. Also a little bit of acoustic rock. It's a very mellow time here at Tom's Desk.
I tend to drift toward other musica styles when under the influence of different emotions...punk rock when I'm in a romantic mood, soft rock when I'm happy, heavy metal when I'm indifferent, kid stuff when I'm feeling goofy.
And, every so often I'll catch myself whistling showtunes. Because who doesn't love showtunes?
Nobody. That's who.
-tom
recommended downloads:
Andy Griggs, If Heaven
and
Bowling For Soup, On And On (About You)
I went for a while there not hating it. But it didn't last. So, instead of sitting here and thinking hateful thoughts, I've been sitting here thinking about lyrics to country songs. Also a little bit of acoustic rock. It's a very mellow time here at Tom's Desk.
I tend to drift toward other musica styles when under the influence of different emotions...punk rock when I'm in a romantic mood, soft rock when I'm happy, heavy metal when I'm indifferent, kid stuff when I'm feeling goofy.
And, every so often I'll catch myself whistling showtunes. Because who doesn't love showtunes?
Nobody. That's who.
-tom
recommended downloads:
Andy Griggs, If Heaven
and
Bowling For Soup, On And On (About You)
A long way to get, before I get back home
An Annual Dan Goldin Day celebration will be taking place again this year (you know, becuase it's annual).
This year Dan Goldin Day (November 17th) falls on a Thursday, so we will be observing it Friday, November 18th to encourage use of the long weekend. Recently, however, I have been toying with the idea of taking the Thursday, Friday, and possibly the next Monday too (in recognition of Dan Goldin's monumental contribution to my education, of course), and driving to a faraway place. Like Milwaukee, or possibly Chicago, or, maybe both, because they're close by (relatively speaking).
Why Milwaukee you ask? Why, because Donny's out there. (by the way, Donny, I might be driving out to Milwaukee the weekend of November 18th) And why Chicago? Because that's where ER is filmed, and that was my favorite show on television for a while (it was the period between the end of Star Trek, The Next Generation and the opening of The West Wing - and I think I mean favorite hour-long show on television, because otherwise I'd have to start sorting through half-hour sitcoms like Friends, Titus, Malcom In The Middle, Futurama, etc, and also have to consider shorts like Celebrity DeathMatch, and Banana Man, but this is all a little off topic) . Chicago also seems to be a favorite city of a number of people (Kelly and Samantha among them), so why not give it a shot? Maybe I can catch a Blackhawks game.
Plus, I'll get to, you know, drive my new truck. Woohoo!
-tom
recommended downloads:
Ryan Adams, The Bar Is A Beautiful Place
Bob Schneider, A Long Way To Get
This year Dan Goldin Day (November 17th) falls on a Thursday, so we will be observing it Friday, November 18th to encourage use of the long weekend. Recently, however, I have been toying with the idea of taking the Thursday, Friday, and possibly the next Monday too (in recognition of Dan Goldin's monumental contribution to my education, of course), and driving to a faraway place. Like Milwaukee, or possibly Chicago, or, maybe both, because they're close by (relatively speaking).
Why Milwaukee you ask? Why, because Donny's out there. (by the way, Donny, I might be driving out to Milwaukee the weekend of November 18th) And why Chicago? Because that's where ER is filmed, and that was my favorite show on television for a while (it was the period between the end of Star Trek, The Next Generation and the opening of The West Wing - and I think I mean favorite hour-long show on television, because otherwise I'd have to start sorting through half-hour sitcoms like Friends, Titus, Malcom In The Middle, Futurama, etc, and also have to consider shorts like Celebrity DeathMatch, and Banana Man, but this is all a little off topic) . Chicago also seems to be a favorite city of a number of people (Kelly and Samantha among them), so why not give it a shot? Maybe I can catch a Blackhawks game.
Plus, I'll get to, you know, drive my new truck. Woohoo!
-tom
recommended downloads:
Ryan Adams, The Bar Is A Beautiful Place
Bob Schneider, A Long Way To Get
EVERYBODY READ ADINAS BLOG
http://www.livejournal.com/users/craziasian/44465.html
so, I'm at home, standing around, and my brother calls me over to the computer and says "hey, is this a joke? is this Dan guy made up? or is this real?"
so I come over to look, at this: http://www.livejournal.com/users/craziasian/44465.html
Woo! Yes, Dan's a real guy. For sure. Congratulations Adina :-D
When I called to congrautlate her over the phone she was all "I called like fourteen people, but I knew you'd probably be checking online so I put that up too!"
http://www.livejournal.com/users/craziasian/44465.html
congrats dan! and adina!
-t
recommended download: (duh) Billy Idol, White Wedding
so, I'm at home, standing around, and my brother calls me over to the computer and says "hey, is this a joke? is this Dan guy made up? or is this real?"
so I come over to look, at this: http://www.livejournal.com/users/craziasian/44465.html
Woo! Yes, Dan's a real guy. For sure. Congratulations Adina :-D
When I called to congrautlate her over the phone she was all "I called like fourteen people, but I knew you'd probably be checking online so I put that up too!"
http://www.livejournal.com/users/craziasian/44465.html
congrats dan! and adina!
-t
recommended download: (duh) Billy Idol, White Wedding
Friday, August 05, 2005
It's dead in here
Everyone just left for lunch. There are three people left on the floor, none of them are in my group.
It is dead, totally empty. I could go mess with everyone's office supplies if I wanted. Instead I'll buzz around online, and when the group gets back I'll take my lunch. it'll be like a two-hour break.
I think people are feeling it's friday. So tomorrow's the wedding in RI. And tomorrow night, I don't know...crazy providence parties and crashing there? drive back up and head to the beach? (with sunscreen this time I swear) maybe just head back home? We'll see. But for now, I'm taking a
nice
long
break.
-t
recommended downloads:
The White Stripes, Hotel Yorba
Bob Schneider, A Long Way To Get
and
Pete Yorn, Black
It is dead, totally empty. I could go mess with everyone's office supplies if I wanted. Instead I'll buzz around online, and when the group gets back I'll take my lunch. it'll be like a two-hour break.
I think people are feeling it's friday. So tomorrow's the wedding in RI. And tomorrow night, I don't know...crazy providence parties and crashing there? drive back up and head to the beach? (with sunscreen this time I swear) maybe just head back home? We'll see. But for now, I'm taking a
nice
long
break.
-t
recommended downloads:
The White Stripes, Hotel Yorba
Bob Schneider, A Long Way To Get
and
Pete Yorn, Black
Thursday, August 04, 2005
First Message: 3:46PM, Thursday...
"Hey Tom, it's Adina, um, I just was calling because I spent the last hour reading Maggie Mason's and other assorted blogs. And, I didn't realize what a subculture blogging is until, I think, today. I knew that people did it, I knew that it like, I did it with my friends to keep up - but they have like a BlogHer confrerence and I really wanted to go to that, and I really wanted to meet Maggie Mason and make her laugh, and I wanted to like surf the web and learn all these new things and post them on the journal and be witty and sarcastic and wonderful and... I just wanted to thank you for opening me up to this world of what marriage life will be whenI have children and, you know, nothing else to do but do laundry and go online. Um, so now I have like a jumpstart on it and I'm prepared, um, anyway, I just wanted to call and talk about how wonderful Mighty Girl is and just wanted to see how you're doing and how the job's going considering you have no time to post except for like a little one-liners about nothing that, you know, maybe one day over the weekend you can update more thoroughly. But anyway, I miss you online, I will conitinue to post feverishly, I'm getting interent tomorrow at my house so, I hope your'e doing well and I hope you're peeling thoroughly and evenly, and I will talk to you later. Bye!"
Thanks Adina :)
Thanks Adina :)
Schmoke and a pancake
The skin on my upper arms, back and chest is going to peel. This is what happens after a sunburn like that (see previous post for picture link). It is going to peel off in sheets I tell you. Itching, scratching, shedding the damaged skin for some bright new skin.
I'm starting to feel very reptilian.
-t
recommended download:
Dynamtie Hack, Dear Kate
I'm starting to feel very reptilian.
-t
recommended download:
Dynamtie Hack, Dear Kate
Well, that was my suit
So, wedding this weekend (Saturday afternoon). woohoo! Congrats to Amanda and that guy she's getting hitched to.
The best part is, it's an out of state wedding! I get to drive from Boston all the way to Providence (Rhode Island) in my new truck. I'll get to wear a suit (I look good in suits...but who are we kidding, I look good most of the time ;). It'll be an adventure! Though, unless something crazy happens it will be a short adventure, I plan on driving back that night.
On the other hand, crazy things have been happening more often than they used to, so I'm not going to rule it out. I may bump into someone I went to high school with, or played little league with, or maybe some stranger will introduce themselves and invite me to an after party in the hotel which will lead to a midnight snack run to a seven-eleven but before we get there we'll decide to hit a bar and do a shot or two first and while we're doing that some strange girl will come over and start making out with me then invite me back to her place, but I'll say "no, sorry, we really should get to know each other first"
or, maybe, at the wedding there will be games (like a limbo contest?) and I'll win a puppy.
woo! providence!
-t
recommended downloads:
Social Distortion, Don't Drag Me Down
Jude, Out Of L.A.
Lucky Boys Confusion, Commitment
and
Vanessa Carlton, Ordinary Day
The best part is, it's an out of state wedding! I get to drive from Boston all the way to Providence (Rhode Island) in my new truck. I'll get to wear a suit (I look good in suits...but who are we kidding, I look good most of the time ;). It'll be an adventure! Though, unless something crazy happens it will be a short adventure, I plan on driving back that night.
On the other hand, crazy things have been happening more often than they used to, so I'm not going to rule it out. I may bump into someone I went to high school with, or played little league with, or maybe some stranger will introduce themselves and invite me to an after party in the hotel which will lead to a midnight snack run to a seven-eleven but before we get there we'll decide to hit a bar and do a shot or two first and while we're doing that some strange girl will come over and start making out with me then invite me back to her place, but I'll say "no, sorry, we really should get to know each other first"
or, maybe, at the wedding there will be games (like a limbo contest?) and I'll win a puppy.
woo! providence!
-t
recommended downloads:
Social Distortion, Don't Drag Me Down
Jude, Out Of L.A.
Lucky Boys Confusion, Commitment
and
Vanessa Carlton, Ordinary Day
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
adendum
AAARRRGHGH!
I CANT KEEP UP WITH PEOPLES BLOGS ANYMORE
adina, donny, john, etc. just started posting again. and not a any sort of crazy rate, they're posting at a regular, normal, posting rate AND I CANT KEEP UP BECAUSE IM SO BUSY AT WORK
this is going to be a running theme now. No more long-winded posts from me, I have not the patience or the time. Instead, expect lightning posts. Every free fifteen seconds I have I'll spin off some quick ideas, or maybe it'll just be a clever title and in the body of the post it will say
I HATE BEING THIS BUSY ALL THE DAMN TIME UNQUOTE
times up.
-t
recommended download: (for stella)
Veggie Tales, The Dance Of The Cucumber
I CANT KEEP UP WITH PEOPLES BLOGS ANYMORE
adina, donny, john, etc. just started posting again. and not a any sort of crazy rate, they're posting at a regular, normal, posting rate AND I CANT KEEP UP BECAUSE IM SO BUSY AT WORK
this is going to be a running theme now. No more long-winded posts from me, I have not the patience or the time. Instead, expect lightning posts. Every free fifteen seconds I have I'll spin off some quick ideas, or maybe it'll just be a clever title and in the body of the post it will say
I HATE BEING THIS BUSY ALL THE DAMN TIME UNQUOTE
times up.
-t
recommended download: (for stella)
Veggie Tales, The Dance Of The Cucumber
Remember, bee yourself
I am so busy. This is the least amount of fun I've had at work ever. I used to have hours of free time at work, now I have minutes, at most. Instead of fifteen minutes of work in the morning I now have two hours. Instead of taking two hour lunches I'm taking lunch at my desk.
They haven't taken anything off of my desk. I'm now doing two jobs, my old job, and my new job. If they'd taken away the old stuff I'd be ok with the new stuff, but they didn't, they just gave me the new stuff too. So now instead of going from an hour of work at the end of the day at my old job, to two hours of work at the end of the day at my new job, I have three hours of work at the end of the day that I have to finish in two hours time. It's not just the end of the day, it's the same for every part of the day. If I were two people this wouldn't be a problem.
BUT IM NOT TWO PEOPLE
I'm just me. Sure, I may have amazed you with my efficiency, and how quickly I grasped the workings of the entry-level position I was hired to fill. BUT, that's because a trained monkey could do that job. This new position could not be filled by a trained monkey. [I really think this is an administrative problem, bureacracy inaction, if you know what I mean, but that's a separate post] Work sucks.
I swear, if I didn't need money for car payments, gas, insurance, food, books, comic books, dvds, and phone service, and if this place weren't air-conditioned, I'd walk out right now. Screw two-weeks notice. I'd just walk out, step on the train, get back to my house, change into some comfortable travelling clothes, throw some stuff in my truck and drive to chicago. or montreal. or seattle. or baton rouge. or pheonix.
Instead I'm going to sit here, try my very best to do eight things at once, continuously, until the end of the day. Then, I'm going to walk out the door, have a drink, and make a phone call.
and then see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
and then show up to do it all again tomorrow.
-tom
recommended downloads:
Fountains of Wayne, Leave The Biker
Liz Phair, Why I Left California
and
Dashboard Confessional, Again I Go Unnoticed
They haven't taken anything off of my desk. I'm now doing two jobs, my old job, and my new job. If they'd taken away the old stuff I'd be ok with the new stuff, but they didn't, they just gave me the new stuff too. So now instead of going from an hour of work at the end of the day at my old job, to two hours of work at the end of the day at my new job, I have three hours of work at the end of the day that I have to finish in two hours time. It's not just the end of the day, it's the same for every part of the day. If I were two people this wouldn't be a problem.
BUT IM NOT TWO PEOPLE
I'm just me. Sure, I may have amazed you with my efficiency, and how quickly I grasped the workings of the entry-level position I was hired to fill. BUT, that's because a trained monkey could do that job. This new position could not be filled by a trained monkey. [I really think this is an administrative problem, bureacracy inaction, if you know what I mean, but that's a separate post] Work sucks.
I swear, if I didn't need money for car payments, gas, insurance, food, books, comic books, dvds, and phone service, and if this place weren't air-conditioned, I'd walk out right now. Screw two-weeks notice. I'd just walk out, step on the train, get back to my house, change into some comfortable travelling clothes, throw some stuff in my truck and drive to chicago. or montreal. or seattle. or baton rouge. or pheonix.
Instead I'm going to sit here, try my very best to do eight things at once, continuously, until the end of the day. Then, I'm going to walk out the door, have a drink, and make a phone call.
and then see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
and then show up to do it all again tomorrow.
-tom
recommended downloads:
Fountains of Wayne, Leave The Biker
Liz Phair, Why I Left California
and
Dashboard Confessional, Again I Go Unnoticed
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
Where to
I miss summer vacation. I've tried my best to approximate it this year, but no matter how many weekends I spend at the beach, or fly to texas, I'm still working through the summer. I want one more summer escape. And now that I'm driving a car of my own there are options open to me that weren't before.
It's been my goal for a long time to drive cross-country. That trip would take more money that I currently have, so it's still a goal. Maybe, though, I could drive across half of the country. Or down to D.C. Maybe a few days off work, instead of the few weeks (months) that I'd really like to take. You know, start small.
I'm not talking road trip here, this isn't some crazy grab to pile as many people as I can into the car and drive until we run out of gas then drink til dawn. Next week I'm driving to a wedding in Rhode Island, and then my weekends start opening up. But where to?
-t
The Julianna Theory, Duane Joseph
James Taylor, Mexico (Live)
It's been my goal for a long time to drive cross-country. That trip would take more money that I currently have, so it's still a goal. Maybe, though, I could drive across half of the country. Or down to D.C. Maybe a few days off work, instead of the few weeks (months) that I'd really like to take. You know, start small.
I'm not talking road trip here, this isn't some crazy grab to pile as many people as I can into the car and drive until we run out of gas then drink til dawn. Next week I'm driving to a wedding in Rhode Island, and then my weekends start opening up. But where to?
-t
The Julianna Theory, Duane Joseph
James Taylor, Mexico (Live)
Monday, August 01, 2005
Almost purple
Let the sun burn down on me
I went to the beach Saturday. I went in my brand new four-wheel drive truck. I. Got. Sunburnt.
This is the worst sunburn of my adult life. People who know me know I burn easily. They also know that I know this, and lather up with the sunscreen, and the long-sleeve t-shirts, and the sunglasses, and the hat. People who know me make fun of "the ghost" the "pale kid" they tell me to "turn down the glare," but they also know that this doesn't bother me, that pale is the new tan, and that I don't mind a few taunts because it means I won't be getting skin cancer twenty years from now.
People who know me may also know that sometimes I forget stuff. Like Saturday, when I was going to go put on some sunblock, but then started playing horseshoes. I never make that mistake more than once a summer.
I am sunburnt. I can't lift my arms above shoulder height. Yesterday it hurt to breathe. It hurt to sleep. I couldn't lie down, I couldn't roll, I couldn't close my eyes without hurting. I'm sitting here at work and cringing in pain as I type, two days later, because moving my fingers hurts my back.
My shoulders got it the worst, but I'm burnt from my waist up. Bright red. Instead of turning my head to look at people behind me I'm using my swivel chair to turn completely around.
Only a few people are laughing at me at work, which is nice, and even they are laughing sympathetically. I'm in pain, and everyone can see that. Two of our group took vacation days today, otherwise I would have called in and just stood in my living room, sans shirt, so that I wouldn't even have to feel that irritating cotton fabric on my oh so sensitive skin.
I hate UV rays. My body is radiating heat. You can feel it if you put your hand within half an inch of my skin. I'm like the human torch here.
Bright red is not the new tan.
-tom
recommended downloads:
Fuel, Sunburn
Judas Priest, Diamonds and Rust (Live)
Pearl Jam, Brain of J.
This is the worst sunburn of my adult life. People who know me know I burn easily. They also know that I know this, and lather up with the sunscreen, and the long-sleeve t-shirts, and the sunglasses, and the hat. People who know me make fun of "the ghost" the "pale kid" they tell me to "turn down the glare," but they also know that this doesn't bother me, that pale is the new tan, and that I don't mind a few taunts because it means I won't be getting skin cancer twenty years from now.
People who know me may also know that sometimes I forget stuff. Like Saturday, when I was going to go put on some sunblock, but then started playing horseshoes. I never make that mistake more than once a summer.
I am sunburnt. I can't lift my arms above shoulder height. Yesterday it hurt to breathe. It hurt to sleep. I couldn't lie down, I couldn't roll, I couldn't close my eyes without hurting. I'm sitting here at work and cringing in pain as I type, two days later, because moving my fingers hurts my back.
My shoulders got it the worst, but I'm burnt from my waist up. Bright red. Instead of turning my head to look at people behind me I'm using my swivel chair to turn completely around.
Only a few people are laughing at me at work, which is nice, and even they are laughing sympathetically. I'm in pain, and everyone can see that. Two of our group took vacation days today, otherwise I would have called in and just stood in my living room, sans shirt, so that I wouldn't even have to feel that irritating cotton fabric on my oh so sensitive skin.
I hate UV rays. My body is radiating heat. You can feel it if you put your hand within half an inch of my skin. I'm like the human torch here.
Bright red is not the new tan.
-tom
recommended downloads:
Fuel, Sunburn
Judas Priest, Diamonds and Rust (Live)
Pearl Jam, Brain of J.
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