Bloomberg's in Spanish

So the bloomberg terminal is now in spanish. the functions are all the same, everything's in the same place, but now all the menus and commands are in spanish. We can still use it, I, for one, understand a little spanish, and the group, as a whole, knows where the menu items we use all the time are located, so things haven't slowed down. They've just been in spanish.

It's sort of funny. Every couple hours I sit down over there and start poking around, looking for the command that controls what language the menus are in. I haven't found anything that looks like "settings" or "idioma" so it's still in spanish.

This episode has made me realize how valuable my three semesters of foreign language were not. It's also made me aware that my affinity for software is not limited by my native tongue, but my ability is. therefore, I am going to make a half-hearted effort to use computers in other languages. I'm sure that if I don't have to go out of my way to do so, it will still happen.

This reminds me of the time my sister changed my cell phone display to hebrew. That lasted two weeks.

-Tom

DEBT FREE!

I have student loans (I know, I know, who doesn't) a bunch through the federal government and a smaller bunch from BU.

I paid off the BU loans! woohoo!

now I'm debt free :-D (only BU debt.) The point is: I now no longer owe money to the school I graduated from. Way to go, me.

Still, with the federal loans, but whatever.

Embracing my new found financial freedom I am now contemplating getting a credit card (or two) and purchasing a car or truck (today I am thinking about a GMC Sierra even though it gets a dismal 13.1 mpg) or possible a Dodge Dakota or maybe a corvette. There's lots of stuff out there that costs money I don't have, and I'm thinking about buying the lot.

-Tom

recommended download:
Barenaked Ladies, If I Had A Million Dollars.

I've got another creepy stalker

So the first creepy stalker found me on the facebook. started IMing me, and hey, I'm a friendly guy, I appreciate the random IM every now and then. We chatted off and on through the summer, she was going to school in NC she thought my picture was "cute" and took it from there. I haven't heard from her in a while, I understand that, a year at school changes people, you make new friends, that you've seen face-to-face, you know.

But now, I've got a new creepy stalker (hi there c.s.) New creepy stalker found me through Blogger. There's a nifty little button on the top of these blogs ("Next Blog") that takes you to a random blog on the blogspot server. She hit next blog, my web log came up, she commented. Naturally curious, naive, and unsuspecting me sent an IM, just to be friendly (I'm a friendly guy).

we have a pleasant conversation (she's a comic book fan) and then she hits me with this:
ncs: I didn't know you were in boston!
me: um, it says that in my profile
ncs: where do you buy your comics? I work at the new england comics on harvard ave!
me: um
ncs: so, are you social?
me: social?
ncs: you know, do you live alone or with people? do you go out with friends?
ncs: because you seem like a semi-intelligent person, and I usually enjoy talking to people like that

I sort of missed having a stalker. Not.

-Tom
recommended downloads:
Reliant K, I'm Lion-o

Cornered?

So when pressured, when backed into a corner, what are your options?
1. give up
2. flee
3. fight
or
4. take another look at your resources, both personal and in the surrounding environment. We humans are tool-users, reevaluate the tools at your disposal.

In this particular instance, the manager sees an AIM window up on your screen. It appears your initial efforts at keeping it hidden (hide taskbar button when buddylist is minimized, hide windows while away) weren't good enough (also, it's entirley possible, and entirely likely the whole reason he saw an AIM window on your screen and not the black, powered-down, sleep-mode monitor is because he was trying to mess with your computer while you were at lunch, but that's a fight for another day). He tells you to get rid of AIM.

Resources.

Clearly AIM's own camoflauge isn't enough. So you look for more effective ways of keeping the program hidden. Since you've had a computer since freshman year of high school you're pretty familiar with the Window operating system, this leads you to explore your Start Menu and Taskbar options.
First, you didn't know this before, but you can choose which icons appear next to the clock, or how often they appear. Normally the little AIM buddy is chilling down there next to the time, but you switch his command to "always hide" and click, he's gone! Also, you alter a few of the other icons commands from "hide when inactive" to "always show" to keep the taskbar busy-looking with business related icons.
Second, you change the Taskbar setting from "always on top" (Adina I know what just ran through your mind) to "autohide the taskbar" thus keeping that out of sight as well.
Third, and I'm very pleased I thought of this, change the name of the folder that opens from the Start button from "AOL Instant Messenger" to something inoccuous and business sounding like "AlphaComm" or "SecCom (SM)" so that even people taking a quick look at your list of available programs won't see it.

Granted, none of this will keep someone determined to find AIM from finding AIM. If someone were to be hell bent on discovering the program, they would only need to be at the terminal and conduct a search, or look through the Program Files folder. So, manager, you'll have to either be very timely to catch me chatting online, or very at-my-desk-while-I'm-not so you can search my files to catch me with the program. But try doing that when I put my Ctrl+Alt+Del lock on the terminal. Ha.

Well, you'll be seeing me, maybe not as often
And I hope that spy-manager over there won't be seeing any more of you.
The end.

-Tom
recommended download:
Eve 6, There's A Face

happy fractional birthday!

There should be a better way to say that.
Today is March twenty-fourth, today I am twenty-one and eight-twelfths -- wait, no no, no, today I am twenty-two and eight-twelfths, (reduced to twenty-two and two-thirds). Congratulations to me on making it through sixty-six percent of another year. It seems like a good time to talk about some highlights.

since being twenty-two and zero-twelfths (highlights include):
-getting a job: this really was a highlight, it reaffirmed my belief that I am wholly employable, and led to the second highlight,
-starting a web log!: for without such a decision I wouldn't have anywhere to post highlights.
-going to Rome: this one was pretty recent, it's the first time I've ever travelled far enough away that they speak a different language, and it was the reason for,
-buying a digital camera!: a real beauty too, 4.0 megapixels, 10x optical zoom, all that good stuff
-seeing Venture Bros. for the first time: it's a fun show, I like it, just like
-watching Robot Chicken!: this one just started, I don't know if it will last, but the fact that the stop animation relies heavily on gi joe action figures puts it way up there in my book, and speaking of books,
-reading lots of books!: it's been a while since I've read as much as I have these past few weeks, and I enjoy reading tremendously. The reason I haven't been reading is because the next highlight is
-getting an iPod!: these things are great. music, whenever, wherever you want it.
-watching the first couple seasons of The Shield on dvd: it's a good show, now I can watch it in primetime on FX. go commish!
-getting a Nextel phone: I love that walkie talkie feature, everybody I know is getting them, just like when we were kids playing guns in the back yard. The only thing that could make this sweeter is laser-tag
-getting invited to the Texas Rangers' Home Opener!: I love baseball :-D

Well, those are just some of the highlights. There were others. This being my seven thousand nine-hundred fourteenth day (I'm estimating) it's also a good time to look forward. Here are some goals:

from being twenty-two and two-thirds (going forward)
-buy a car!: this is the biggest goal.
-finish the one-thousand five-hundred piece puzzle we started yesterday!: it's from Rome
-make it another one hundred twenty-two days: so I can make it to the rangers game, make to the fourth of july bash (in austin), and to my next birthday.

-Tom
recommended download
Jason Mraz, On Love In Sadness

Pissed

Is my work suffering? Are you dissapointed in the quality of my results? Am I missing deadlines? Did I forget to print something out? Did I not run a report I should have? Am I a below-average employee? AM I?! No. I'm a good employee. I know, because I'm a smart guy. Here's how I figured it out, two things: People have always told me I'm a good employee. -and- I haven't changed or altered the way I work.

So why the static? Look. I'm not walking in here demanding you make me happy. All I'm asking, asking, is that you stop going out of your way to make me unhappy. My work is being handed in on time, right? It's correct, right? I'm learning everyday, making less mistakes than when I started, right? I elevate problems when I know I can't deal with them, right? I'm a beacon of positive light and energy in this workplace and especially this group filled with nay-sayers and pessimists, right? RIGHT. SO WHY DON'T YOU JUST GET UP OFF MY BACK?

So, manager guy, here's what you do. Pull me aside "Hey, can I see you a minute [awkward pause] Nothing bad." Walk to your office, out of ear shot, close the door. Say, "Listen, I saw an AOL Instant Messenger window on your screen while you were at lunch, I think the AVP might have seen it to. Instant Messenger isn't approved software, you know? I've had to talk to some other people about it. I'm telling you now, as like, you know.. I don't want to have to do something about it. If the AVP says something to me, then, you know... So just, get it off the computer. I don't want to him say something to me, before, you know..."

Gee, what a well delivered warning. I'm glad my boss can communicate at a level on par with high school freshman, like, you know? I'm glad his primary concern is the state of his group, the well-being of the employees directly under his supervision, and not, like, you know, company policies and procedures that, are (1) stupid and (2) not enforced by anyone anywhere except, aparently, my manager and the AVP.

So make your case. If it's not approved software, then get it the hell off the computers, it would take three seconds to add aim.com to the company firewall's restricted list. They've got control of all the computers on their network too, with a five line program they could sweep the nation wide network and have any instance of AIM on any terminal hooked up to the system uninstalled overnight. Don't give me this "not approved" line. If it weren't approved, it wouldn't be allowed. These are the same IT guys that have blocked hotmail, yahoomail, gmail, and every other online email site that exists. These are the guys that have blocked azlyrics.com (and what the hell is that about?).

What's the real issue? You want us concentrating on mutual funds and only mutual funds? Why not say that then? Because you don't have a leg to stand on, that's why. Because I'm doing my job, I'm not costing the funds any money, I'm efficient, I'm correct, I'm on time. What is your problem. When it becomes an issue, when I'm not completing work because I'm online, that's when you say something. Otherwise back the hell off.

-Tom
recommended download:
Flogging Molly, Screaming At The Wailing Wall

UVA/UVB

My eighth grade class took a week long trip to Washington D.C. The school provided a list of items that would be necessary or useful on the trip to our parents, so that they could send us off well-prepared. One item on the list was sunglasses. So, while we were out shopping for stuff I needed for the trip I found a really nice pair of shades. They cost something like $15. My mom refused to buy them based on the belief that they were being taken to the airport, on a plane, on a bus, to a hotel, to a strange city for a week, worn by a perhaps absent-minded eighth grader surrounded by his at least as, and probably slightly more, absent-minded classmates. $15 was too much money to waste on glasses that would be lost before I even got on the plane. I argued my case, mostly with "I won't lose them!" but in the end she purchased me a pair of $5 glasses. Metallic green, black lenses, small X-games logo on either earpiece of the plastic so called "sports" frames (and this is back when the x-games were just starting out). So they were a little big for my tiny eighth grade cranium, not yet filled with the knowledge high school would try to cram in there and college would let seep out. They made me look like a bug. Giant bug eyes. But whatever, always one to make the best of any situation I wore them the whole trip, and was glad I had them, because Washington D.C. is sunny in the spring - but, the whole time, every day, I would think to myself, "mom thought I was going to lose the fifteen dollar sunglasses, I'll show her, I won't lose these, proving I did, in fact, deserve the more expensive pair." (That's almost an exact excerpt from my eighth grade brain, back then I thought with many dependent clauses). I didn't lose the glasses. I had them with me safe and sound when we returned to Boston. I kept them and wore them the following summer. I threw them on a shelf or someplace for the winter, and still had them the following summer, and so on...

Since my eighth grade year, and especially since my freshman year of college I've purchased many more pairs of sunglasses. Through it all I've kept the five dollar bug glasses. I've still got 'em. For the first few years they were my "I'm going to know where these are every moment of every day to make sure I don't lose them to prove mom wrong" glasses, later, they became the "junk" pair, the one's I'd wear if I thought there would be a danger of scratching, bending, breaking, or losing. Mountain biking, camping, vacations at the beach. I saved my other, nicer glasses for looking good, going out, weddings, birthdays, and so on. I've gone through maybe twenty pairs of "nice" glasses. I've still got the bug glasses.

I think, that if it ever happens, I'm going to be really upset if I lose them.

-Tom B-)

recommended download
Bob Schneider, I'm Good Now

So I pushed lunch back today, to run a few programs on the system. Added benefit is that while the programs run I can't use excel, which means basically I get an hour or so to screw aroud online while I'm "working" After the programs finished I was going to just run out and grab something to eat. Too late I realized that by not being able to use excel I was unable to work on my budget (due today) so now I'm not getting food, because of the stupid budget. Come on. These things are supposed to be done in the second week of the month, why give this one to me?

-Tom
I recommend that somebody bring me a pizza.

Like a true nature's child...

So I don't know what's been going on lately. My head isn't in the game. And I like it - because it's not ponderously sluggish thinking or anything, my synapses are firing at top speed, it's an unfocusability, like my head's floating over there, just behind me to my right, thinkin it's own thoughts, chillin, wheels spinning.

That's not the best way to get a budget done, but who cares? I'm like superman on gold kryptonite, without the super powers. I'm like a dream. I'm all over the place. Is any of this making sense? It's ok if it's not, I doubt you've read this far anyway (ADINA)

Maybe I'll get a croissant or a danish, mabye some coffee will alter my state of mind (but push it into focus? no way). My computer is spooling very slowly to the printer today, Jonathan, the Opie&Anthony fan is out, I've got my iPod and I'm about to hook it up to the computer, I've got a budget to finish, I could really go for a nap right now, I'm heading to the pub tonight, my hair is looking ridiculous again (I've realized I have too much hair to wear it long. That's right, too much. I'm enjoying it.), and the only thing I have left to do is budgets, yield checks, and archiving, oh, and actually applying for the job that it was suggested I apply for, which is such a proccess I might not even do it. Shouldn't the internal application be easier than the external? I think so. Anyway, I'm going to go chat online. If you've made it this far (ADINA) you don't have to comment, but if you're looking for something interesting to read, try the posts from last week, there are a couple good ones - I think.

lookin for adventure, and whatever-comes-our-way!
-Tom

liek a true-nature's-child
I was born-born to be wild
gonna climb so high think I'm never gonna
d-i-e
born to be wi-i-ild

what can I say, it just popped into my head. get your motor runnin, head out on the highway!
somebody stop me, this could go on forever. I don't even remember what I was going to post, my brain's been taken over. music music everywhere and not a note to drink. the who, bob schneider, donna summer, bowling for soup, madonna, pearl jam, just bouncing around. it's like my mind is on shuffle and I'm too impatient to listen to a whole song.

so I guess I'm a U2 fan

I watched a little bit of U2's induction into the rock and roll hall of fame last night, mostly the springsteen intro, he was great. I guess I'm a fan. There was a time (high school) that I didn't like U2, and I can tell you exactly why: Sunday, Bloody Sunday. That song drove me crazy, it was the only lyric I knew, and it just repeated repeated repeated. So I didn't give them a chance. Even if I had I don't know if I would have appreciated them, or if I do even now. There were two camps in my high school, Dave Matthews fans, and U2 fans, and they were mutually exclusive, not one person liked both groups, it was either hate-love, or love-hate. As I grew older, and was exposed to more music I began to lose passion for dmb and at some point thought I would give U2 a try. It probably wasn't the best time, it was just after the release of the single Wild Honey which is not their best, or even close, but I was listening to them.

So here I am again, listening to U2, now maybe I'll make an effort and get some more songs from their early years, see what they have to offer.

-Tom
recommended download
U2, New Year's Day
and
Bruce Springsteen, Santa Claus Is Comin' To Town (Live)

I believe you'd get your ass kicked saying something like that, man.

Hell of a way to start a week. Up til now Ihaven't really felt the urge to quote office space, but here I am, monday morning, that's all I can think about. These last few weeks have been like a kid rollercoaster, up and down, up and down, in a little circle - never to high up, never too far down, and you never go anywhere. today I'm thinking about quitting again. not because I dont like the work, not because my coworkers are giving me a hard time, just because I don't really feel like coming in. I'd rather not be in the office today, I'd rather be out, say, driving, or wandering around fanueil hall, just not doing anything. I had a couple problems early this morning, and rather than do some research and fix them, I just sat here, because I didn't want to. Fifteen minutes later I did the research, and they got fixed, but that's fifteen minutes I'd spent kinda "spacing out," you know where you're not actually doing any work, but it looks like you are. So to end this post, here's another office space quote:

Peter Gibbons: So I was sitting in my cubicle today, and I realized, ever since I started working, every single day of my life has been worse than the day before it. So that means that every single day that you see me, that's on the worst day of my life.
Dr. Swanson: What about today? Is today the worst day of your life?
Peter Gibbons: Yeah.
Dr. Swanson: Wow, that's messed up.

Tom
recommended download
Jack Johnson, Sitting Waiting Wishing

so I guess I haven't told you

I haven't told you about how well my camera performed in Rome. It was awesome. Definitely a great purchase. I love the feature that diverts the view from the lcd screen on the back to the electronic viewfinder eyepiece, makes it feel like a "real" camera. plus the new memory card held 280 full 4.0 megapixel resolution photos, that's huge. and finally, and this is great, I bought eight rechargeable batteries and charged them all up before the trip, and the first batch of four lasted me the whole week! that's 280 photos, plus flash support, plus all the editing and viewing I did on the camera. they're still going strong. great purchases all around. to sum up, I love the charger and batteries, I love the memory card, and the fujifilm finepix series are a good line of cameras.

-tom
recommended download:
billy joel, only the good die young
and
fuel, last time

master of HTML

lo and behold, the brand new links section on the sidebar, containing links to blogs.

ok, but really I'm not a master of html, I didn't even write my own code this time, just copied and pasted, on the pyramid of html scribes I'm a lot closer to the office temp guy than the executive vp of writing html. but whatever - links section. now active.

-hTOMl

recommended download
pearl jam, ghost
incubus, drive
goldfinger, superman

friday, after work

fact: oreos are comfort food.

-tom
recommended download
amy dalley, men don't change

there's a lot of college left in me

today I learned a little more about ky30, one of my funds. I was told two pieces of information, once part in the morning, the other this afternoon, when I heard the second bit, they clicked, to make sense of each other, and as a result I know a little more about my fund.

there's a lot of college left in me. you see it in the way I dress (hooded sweatshirt) the way I make decisions, the way I act on decisions, I'm the same guy I was in college, but now I'm not paying tuition. and it seems someone/something is trying to suck me into this next world, of apartments, of cars, of responsibility...and i'm not saying I don't want to join up, I'm just saying, quit pulling me. I'll get there eventually, and everyone there will enjoy themselves a little more once I get there, because I'm a cool guy. Until then though, I'm just going to stick with the status quo. sweatshirts, gatorade, AIM. not button-down, coffee, email. and hey, you girls out there, start asking guys out. don't wait for them. and also, when they do ask you out, say yes, and - I can't stress this enough - after you've said yes, go.

my head is all over the place today.
-Tom
recommended download:
Counting Crows, Another Horsedreamer's Blues

I'm done

That's it, I'm done proving myself. I'm done trying. So I'm out, I'm trying to impress you, it's how I am, it's what I do. I'm out, I'm on. Witty, clever, sarcastic, intelligent, whatever the situation calls for, that's what I am. All I need is for you to just for one second step back and notice, "hey, he's clever/witty/smart" and be impressed, or startled, or whatever, just enough that you reconsider, just enough that you say to yourself, maybe I should give this guy another chance, maybe he is "boyfriend material" maybe I was wrong to dismiss him outright. There's more there than I thought.

Fuck it. I'm done.

I'm not "on" anymore, I'm not proving myself, I'm not trying. I'm just going to be me, the me that doesn't care, and if you're not impressed, if you don't want to see what else is there, fine. it's you're decision. Because when it comes down to it I don't really need someone who's impressed when I'm trying, what I need, what we all need is someone impressed with who we are when we aren't trying, when we're just on standby. So now it's cruise control, and we'll see where it goes.

-Tom
recommended download:
Counting Crows, Have You Seen Me Lately

ahahahahaha

So here at work we have security doors, magnetic IDs allow you to pass through them.
To enter the building there are three of these revolving doors. Fully automatic. You swipe your id, step into the RIGHT HAND SIDE of the door, and it turns one quarter turn, allowing you inside. This is also how you exit the building.

So just went to get coffee. I came back, several people were exiting the building as I was entering. This happens a lot. You take turns, one goes in, one comes out, back and forth. So I step up, swipe my ID, step into the door, and, just as it is about to turn a woman jumps in from the other side! hoping to piggy-back my ID swipe and just scoot through the other side of the door to get out.

Well, the door is having none of that. It stops mid turn, trapping both the woman and myself. I look through the glass at her, she's embarassed and upset. I look at my own reflection, I am composed, good-looking, and holding a small coffee from Dunkin Donuts. Other people near the entrance are also looking at us. No doubt they can see my composure, and her lack of composure. She motions to me from the other side of our little glass apartment. "Push" she mouths and indicates the door. Duh, lady, I was going to push on the ground.

So she heaves at the door, I push a little too, the door moves. I enter the buidling, she scurries past security with her head down. Two other people who have entered with me laugh, good and long and hard. I laugh too.

Now I'm enjoying my coffee

happy st. patrick's day,
Tom

luck o' the irish

belushi isn't irish. but he's a funny guy.

"When I think of Ireland I think a lot of colorful Irish expressions like, "Top of the morning to ya," "Kiss the barney stone," "May the road rise to meet ya," "May you be in heaven an hour before the devil knows you're dead," "I'd like to smash you in the face with my shillelagh," "Danny-boy," "Begorra," "Wail of the banshee," and "Whiskey for the leprechauns, whisky for the leprechauns." But the expression I think most people identify with the Irish, is, of course, the luck of the Irish...Let's talk about the bad luck of the Irish, all right? How about this, POTATO FAMINE!! How about that? It scares them, doesn't it? Well, it should..."
-John Belushi

a penny saved

Funny how money saved is money earned, but time can only be well spent. You just can't save an hour of your day for later. I spent this morning reorganizing my daily reports for the last three months, order from disorder, but I'm not getting that time back. I can't sit back right now, decide to do nothing for a while because I want to "save this hour" for tonight, and it's a real shame it doesn't work like that, since I won't be doing anything anyway.

If I had more drive I would invest this time wisely, say in an anthopological study of the workplace.

"day one-ninety-seven, the natives seems to have accepted me into their community. recall that they are timid, but usually friendly with outsiders, it is often observed that most newcomers will be invited to the daily rituals "coffee" or "smokes." Now, however, I seem to have gained admittance to their upper echelon, I have begun to receive correspondence from some of the "cube-dwellers" through their electronic communitcations system. Normally a means for mass communication, this "email" can also be used to send individual messages. I was overjoyed to receive my first "forward" from a member of the local tribe, or "group." These "forwards" are apparently a type of communication meant to be humorous or satirical in nature, usually containing observations of the surrounding environment, or "office," which are often contradictory in nature. For example, this first forward I have received notes that the "manager" (a dominant member of the species) appears to demand that group members be responsible for their work, while acting in a contradictory manner and not taking responsibility for his own. It may take many more years of study to fully understand this culture and its practices, but I feel confident that the natives, desperate for contact with the outside world, will continue to aid and accept me. I must end my entry here, it is time for this morning's "coffee run" in which I have been invited to participate."

-Tom

Tied up in knots.

Celtic knots to be exact. Received a package today in the mail, book on constructing celtic knots, supposed to be very good. very not.

basically a book full of illustrations sans instructions or guidelines or hints. some "artist" decided to mimeograph his lecture slides and call them "directions." not so. however, there are a few panels that hint at an actual method. will be attempting this new method at work for the next few weeks. what else would I be doing, certainly not work. just knot work.

-tom

recommended download
flogging molly, factory girls

I am so bored that...

today I've actually read all of the blogs linked through john's blog
I never read all those

Miya-hee

So I've got that Romanian pop song stuck in my head. I don't mind really. It's not annoying. But I would like to say that if my likeness was as well known as this fellow's I'd be out there marketing the snot out of it. T-shirts with my face on it with a big "Miya-hee" written out underneath it. Come on kid, exploit the capitalist marketplace you call home, you don't know how long your fifteen minutes will really last, so might as well start cashing in now. Let me know if you get around to making those shirts, I'll buy one for all my friends.

-Tom
recommended:
watch the kid
read the lyrics
watch the music video

Stupid Americans.

Honestly, stupid fucking americans. If I were European I'd hate them on principle. Here we are, a group of about sixty parents and siblings, in Rome to see our sons or brothers sing for the Pope, for the Pope. And we get to like, tour Rome and see Pompei and stuff too, this should be a pretty happy group, right? Stupid. Fucking. Americans. I hate 'em.

Now here I am, just me, and I think a certain way. Something like "We're going to a different country on a different continent, I bet the culture and customs will not be the same as they are at home." Now, maybe that's obvious to you, but maybe that's because you're intelligent and open-minded. Not these parents though. Stupid Americans.

We had lunch in a resturant in Pompei, billed as a "traditional italian meal." It started with melted cheese and tomato sauce on flatbread, very similar to what we call pizza, then pasta, wide noodles stuffed with a meat and cheese mixture, then a salad of lettuce, tomato, and mozarella chese doused in oil, finished with a small dish of vanilla ice cream.
As soon as we got back on the bus they started bitching and complaining "Oh, that food was terrible, I couldn't even eat the pasta, what did they put in that?" while on the other side of the bus some pompous jackass was saying "Give me ten minutes in the kitchen I'll whip up something better than that, they'll lock the doors to keep me inside and keep cooking for them!"

What the hell? It seems that to you stupid Americans if something is different it's automatically bad. It occurs to me though, that they've beens serving food here in Italy for something like three thousand years, don't you think that if it was bad they would have changed it? Yeah.

Stupid parents in the group alternating between mocking the tour guide's accent and calling out italian phrases for no reason. Parents pestering the hotel staff with questions and not waiting for answers because they've already started asking the question again, louder and much more slowly. Hey, I'm not saying you have to be fluent in the native language of the country you're visiting, I'm saying remeber you're a visitor, a guest in that country. How about treating people with some respect and not your American "you're obviously here to make my stay easier and if everything isn't exactly as I expected it to be it's your fault" attitude. These are adults. We had dinner with the kids one night, it looked like they didn't like the food either (I half forgive them, kids are picky eaters anyway) but you know how they handled it? They pushed the food to the edge of their plate and waited for the next course. They said "please" and "thank you" to the waiters, in english. They were polite, quiet, courteous and respectful. I spent most of the time looking around trying to figure out how the hell these kids were raised by this obnoxious rude and disrespectful bunch of parents. Stupid Americans.

This entry would have been two pages longer if I'd written it last week. This is just the leftover frustration.

-Tom

Dublin

Well, I've wanted to go to Dublin for a while, sort of a "yeah it would be nice to go, I've heard it's a really nice place" want. But I've never wanted to go more than when I was in Rome. It may have been due to the fact that I was in Italy, oh so close to the rest of europe, it may have been that the only alcohol we drank over there was wine, and while it wasn't bad wine, it certainly wasn't guiness, or it may just have been that the music I had with me on the trip was Flogging Molly, who technically are an irish rock band from california, but it's irish rock, and everybody knows that's from either dublin or boston, and I've seen boston.

But man, I certainly wouldn't want a whirlwind sightseeing tourist trip to Dublin. That would be the worst thing ever. We were in Rome for a week and saw something like sixty of the 900 churches plus the ancient ruins plus the food plus bus trip to pompei, plus mass at st. peter's plus mass at st. susanna's etc etc etc etc. We were running around for the whole week. No, when I go to Dublin it should go something like this:
irish guy "welcome to dublin"
me "thanks, does dublin have 'sights'?"
irish guy "well, sure, I can show 'em to you if you like"
me "no sights, where's the nearest pub?"
irish guy, smiling "right this way"

That would be cool. Sit, relax, divide my time between resting and drinking at a pub. And that would be all, a real vacation. Ah, Dublin.

-Tom

A game of baseball...in texas.

I've never met a texan I didn't like. There's John, Rosa, Karen, Sylvia (who I just learned yesterday hailed from texas), Kelly, Liz, and a few more. I like 'em all. So it was with great excitement yesterday that I accepted an invitation to the Texas Ranger's home opener in Arlington, Texas on April 11th. Which means two things: first, I get to go to a baseball home opener, which I have never done before (also we'll be going in style and "rubbing elbows" with the "movers and shakers" to borrow a phrase); and second, I get to fly to texas, which is cool, because I've never been there before.

Baseball. In Texas. How exciting is that? I love baseball.

And for you readers who are fans of full disclosure, it didn't hurt that the extra ticket to the home opener was offered to me by a pretty good-looking texan, which didn't make my decision to skip work to see a baseball game in a state I haven't visited yet any harder ;)

Peace out, yo
-Tom

recommended download:
Take Me Out To The Ballgame

"Now"

So I'm a little jet-lagged, I think. Well, probably. I was on the other side of the globe for a week and adjusted to the local time, so now, back home, I don't know what time my body thinks it is, I only know it isn't "now."

Day one, Monday: We left the airport in the afternoon, five o'clock or thereabouts and flew for what seemed like a 38 hour day. For the rest of the week some of the other parents on the trip were referring to the first two days of our trip as "Moosday." Once in Rome we began a foot tour of the city on day two, I mean day three, we walked all over and visited many many churches. My favorite was St. John Lateran, the Pope's parish church. We also viewed acnient ruins and crumbling temples from the Roman empire's prime. I took lots of pictures with my digital camera (which was great).

The next day we took a bus trip to Pompei and explored the city. Vesuvius kicked its ass. Since the disaster that destroyed Pompei the volcano has erupted about once every fifty years, the next expected eruption is like, now.

The next day (Friday?) we took a bus tour of Rome, this was nice because we had a tour guide with us pointing out important things, like Mussolini's balcony and Sofia Loren's penthouse apartment. On this trip we got to go inside the Colusseum and the Sistine Chapel.

Finally on our last day we hit the few remaining spots we'd missed, took three taxis and the subway where I almost lost a leg and a grandparent in the quickly closing doors. Capped off with a view of Rome from the top of the dome on St. Peter's Basillica we finished our vacation with an even longer flight home.

So I still don't know what time it is, but I'm slowly adjusting, I'll get there.

-Tom

woohoo I got a raise

ok, so they announced our annual "merit increases" today. and they bumped up my salary! by a whopping 1.5% which, as two people have already pointed out, is just lower than inflation. As Erika put it "it doesn't even cover the increase in the cost of living...so we're actually poorer now than we were before" which is true. but hey, more money is more money.

The highlight of the merit increase one-on-one with my manager however was not more money, but a glimpse at some heretofor only suspected confidence in my ability. He hinted that I should apply for the senior fund accountant position that just opened up in our group, that I have what it takes because I'm "a pretty bright guy." Well there you go. He would like to have given me a bigger raise (I'm sure they always say that) but the company didn't allocate enough, instead though, you should apply for this better job, which comes with more money, so it'd be almost the same thing. cool.

-Tom
recommended download:
whatever you want, go ahead, download anything, really.

back.

So I'm back from Italy. It's nice to be home. There were a few posts I would have shared if I had had internet access while over there. As it is, I wrote one of them down longhand and jotted some notes on the other two or three. I may transcribe them, if I have time, or if people pester me with comments like "so what did you think of your trip?" or "share your thoughts on touring Rome, please please please" or something like that. Right now it's back to work. Like I never left. I didn't get the group hug I was hoping for, with my coworkers cheering simultaneously "We had such a hard time here without you! Welcome back!" but who are we kidding, I hardly ever get that sort of reception. ;)

ok, can't post much more, still got budgets to do. how bout leaving some comments about how your week has been without me keeping you entertained (or without me bugging you online)

-Tom

recommended download:
Flogging Molly, Tomorrow Comes Too Soon

When in Rome...

So I'm going to Rome. Fly there, take in the sights, take lots of digital photos, fly back. I hear the food is good, I'm very excited about the artwork. I'm looking forward to super jetlag when I get back. Look for the next post about the Tuesday after my return.

ciao,
Tom


until then, recommended purchase: Flogging Molly, Alive Behind The Green Door
:)

semicolon, hypen, end parenthesis

Smiley faces should not be used in company emails. :-)

But today, that's what I feel like doing. For quite a few reasons. But first, a little about my day.
Today on the train were the two cutest little girls to ever exist in the history of the world. Riding in on the orange line with their mother, three and a half, and two years old in little winter coats and little scarves and little boots with cute little dimples counting down stops. "twooo more!" and one girl's courdoroys had flowers on them and the other's jacket had flowers, and they had pictures that they drew with them with cute little handwriting. just adorable. also the littler one's name was Dora, and she had little gloves with her name on them in sparkles and she couuldn't get al her fingers into the gloves, she kept getting two stuck in one of the gloves fingers, a-dorable.

Then meeting at work 10AM sharp so I didn't even open excel or look at my funds, just threw up an away message and went to the meeting. Which was pretty good. Until right at the end when one of the manager's mentioned the hyper-six-coffee-a-day manager isn't in today, so it may seem less stressful, or some lighthearted comment like that. At which point Amy busted out laughing. Out loud. Which causes the rest of the group to start laughing too. I guess they all feel a little stressed with hyper coffee manager hovering over them all the time. busted out laughing because things "might be less stressful today"

And, to cap it all off. As we were coming back from the meeting the prettiest girl in the whole wide world called me over to her cubicle. Not for anything grand or important, just to ask about which of my group is handling which of her funds today (since we rotate the funds frequently). But, she did ask me. And not anyone else in the whole group, as we were all walking past her desk. She did call my name. There were just some adjustments to be made on the funds, and could I please email her when the adjustments were finished, thanks. No problem at all.

Smiley faces do not belong in company emails.
But man I felt like typing one in there. ;-)
They're just not really professional, you know? So I didn't. Ah well.
On the other hand, her "THANKS SO MUCH!" reply did seem a little, well, a little excited.

-Tom :-Þ

recommended download:
Flogging Molly, Whistles The Wind, Drunken Lullabies, and Every Dog Has His Day

well today sucked.

here's what I'm thinking, 10am thursday morning:

what the hell man. I'm going to Rome in like three days. It's the day after a fuckin awesome live show and almost no sleep. And what the hell.

So the Ireland fund didn't tie last night, which means big problems today. I've got a budget due friday which means every spare moment I have today has got to be budget related or I'll be staying late the friday before a week long vacation (and how does that make any sense). And I was supposed to get a ticket to the BU hockey game tonight (last home game of the season) but that ends up not happening.

And then Joe doesn't come in. He missed a train, or something, or whatever, so the manager is like "can you tie out Joe's funds?" and I'm like "yeah fine whatever" cuz it takes like two minutes and I have two minutes before I start my budget, so I can handle it. Except Joe sucks and his funds suck and it was the worst time to say "yeah fine whatever" ever. Two major problems with the funds took up my whole morning, plus figuring out the Ireland fund and totally ignoring the budget (say hello to a late friday). What the hell. And Joe doesn't come in at 11:30 when they said he would. Which means I've gotta get the rates for his funds too, which is a huge pain on thursdays cuz that's when all the manual rates update. Plus one of Joe's funds has like ten trades in the middle of the day (we usually get, um, zero). Argh.

He finally shows up, at three fifteen. What the hell man, why not just stay home all day? why not call in and be like, hey listen, why not just double Tom's work load today, cuz I know he's going on vacation and he might miss working on mutual funds. What the hell.

This could have been a post about the totally awesome Flogging Molly show last night.
But no. What a limgatoraidass day.

-t

recommended download
Flogging Molly, Light Of A Fading Star, and Whistles The Wind

they're beautiful songs.
or you could download some of their songs that really rock
like Black Friday Rule, Devil's Dance Floor, The Kilburn High Road, or Tobacco Island

holy crap I make a good jesus

hey 18a, this is from the freshman year "let's recreate works of art with live models" night, I had no idea this stuff was online anywhere, (thanks for the link adina) (thanks for uploading the pics c-koch)

pieta

-Tom

waiting for gouda

I am very sleepy. I would most like to take a 20 minute nap. Maybe on the T, let the swaying of the train lull me to sleep. that would be nice.

Jill gave her notice. She's gone next monday. Today they showed me how to run a few new programs, ones she used to run. Chuck is now complaining that I'll be gone all next week and he'll get stuck with all the bad funds. "You're the only reliable one here, he won't do it, she doesn't do anything, Skip is sort of reliable but he's always so late." he said, rolling his eyes to indicate who "he" and "she" were.

Tonight is the Flogging Molly concert, and I'm really excited. I may have mentioned before that I can't actually remember the last live show I went to, but I'm sure I will tomorrow. Joey's coming in for the show, driving down from school this afternoon.

My hair is getting in my eyes. A lot. My eyes are always bloodshot now. I think maybe in a few weeks it'll be where I want it to be, until then I'm just dealing with the pain and pokey-ness.

and here are some follow ups:
my stapler is working well
I still don't have caller ID
the archive boxes have not arrived to date
today's simpsons trivia calendar question is:
In "Who Shot Mr. Burns? Part One," while forcing Smithers to ride the exercise bike in the Executive Spa, what does Mr. Burns do?"
a) he counts his loose change
b) he exercises his "foreclosure finger"
c) he reads the paper and plays pinball
d) he eats condor eggs and caviar

this is tom, saying goodnight, and have a pleasant tomorrow.


recommended download:
The Shins, Caring Is Creepy
and
Flogging Molly, The Devil's Dance Floor, and Salty Dog

I knew this was coming

I am going to claw my eyes out. The girl that only watches tv is talking about the oscars. I knew she would be, television is the highlight of her day. I knew it was coming, and I knew it would be annoying, and it is, argh. I know, I should probably claw my ears off if I don't want to hear about it, but I think that would be more painful and disturbing. "claw my eyes out" at least that's something you hear every now and then, getting ears cut off only happens in torture scenes or in ultimate fighting. gah.

I just keep thinking to myeslf: I won't be here next week, I won't be here next week. It's keeping me going so far, but I don't know how long it will help, since "so far" has been the first half hour of the work week. I have to go get some coffee or something.

Also, the girl I was going to ask out, who turned me down, or whatever, I thought I'd let you readers know, the magic's gone. No more nervousness, no more hopefulness, none of that crap. I couldn't talk to her before because when I got near her I'd get this buzzing in my ears, I couldn't hear anything, it was the blood pounding through my veins. Doesn't happen anymore. And I'm glad. I was half convinced that's what happens when you like somebody a whole lot. It couldn't be though, because then every guy on the planet would be dropping dead of hypertension by the age of twenty-three. True love must have other symptoms.

-Tom

recommended downloads:
Three Doors Down, Ticket To Heaven

People I hate

Do any of you out there have a friend or two, probably someone you've known for some time, probably someone you met at college, some frend out there, who you just, you know, hate?

I do.

Now, it's tough saying you hate a friend, because well, that's just this side of contradictory, how could you hate someone and also call him a friend? Well, here's how.

You meet the person, maybe you have the same class freshman year, maybe he lives the floor below you in the dorm, maybe you know a girl and she starts dating this kid and he's accepted into the group. The relationship grows, as it would with any other friend (the ones you don't hate)- he invites you to a superbowl party, you see him at social gatherings, etc. You're certainly under the impression that he counts you as a friend, and so you think to yourself, sure, why wouldn't I think of him in the same capacity. At this point the relationship plateaus. Maybe you've graduated, or moved away, perhaps you don't see each other as often, maybe only online occassionally or perhaps at a holiday gathering. That's where you start to realize. You might be having a better time at this holiday party if maybe this "friend" of yours wasn't there. Maybe it's you, maybe he's just having an off night, but you inexplicably find him a constant annoyance. Maybe then you start seeing him a little more often, not as frequently as back in the day, but more than once-in-a-great-while, and you continue to realize, you don't really like him as much as you expect to like a friend, as much as you thought you liked him while he was away, you find this perplexing, but not overly so.

It's a very gradual process. You've known this person for four years, lived with them, worked with them, hung out with them, and so on, and yet, and yet, you are more and more aware of how much they get on your nerves, of how, at this point, there's no way you'd start up a friendship with a person like this. So why do you consider him a friend now? Has he changed? Have you changed? No. It's just that way back when you were open and friendly and not really paying that much attention to the people you welcomed into your circle. Now, you're older, more experienced, and you know that there are people that, while they may be good people in their own right, are people you hate. And guess what. You hate this kid.

Not that there's anything wrong with that. You've just come to the full realization of your feelings toward this individual, and also possibly his girlfriend who is the reason you know him in the first place. Nothing wrong with hating people. So maybe you have this person you know, and maybe you've known him for a while, and maybe you see him off and on now, and maybe he's more and more unlike people you want as friends every time you see him, and maybe his name's John, and maybe you can't stand the sight of him, and maybe well, maybe it's time you delete that name on your buddy list, and maybe stop taking his calls, and maybe just let this guy fade away. Because, man do you hate him.

The end.

-Tom
recommended downloads
The Doors, People Are Strange

so this is the deal

my big plans for tonight? to sleep.
You may not think that is fun and exciting. You may say, Tom, what if some hot girl were to ask you out? would you forego sleep then?
No. I would not.
This is the deal, if an attractive woman were to ask me out I would tell her that my plans for tonight were sleeping, sleeping and sleeping in, in that order. However, I would allow for the possibility that the hot girl had similar plans. In which case I don't see why we couldn't pursue the same (in)activity together. Just a few rules: one, comfortable bed; two - well, no, I guess that's it. Tonight I am going to sleep, wherever.

-Tom
recommended download:
The Beatles, I'm Only Sleeping

I bought a digital camera (again...sort of)

ok. So maybe you read about the...difficulty... I had when purchasing a camera online. Maybe you figured, yeah, it probably is a better idea to go to a real live store, where they have the real live camera in stock, even if it means paying full price, since you'll walk in, pay the money, and have the camera in like four to six minutes, not like four to six weeks.

And, I'd have agreed with you.

So last night I go to [NAME OMITTED!]. I had called them from work. I said "do you have this camera in stock, in your store, right now?" and they said "yes, we'll hold it for you." When I arrived I stopped at customer service, they directed me to the digital camera section, they remembered me and had my camera, "here you go," they said, "let me ring you up right here," they said. So they did. Camera, a bajillion dollars. Warranty plan, sixty dollars. Movie, (since I was there anyway, why not grab a dvd), twenty dollars. Total, a bajillion and twenty dollars.

No problem, that is under my debit card's $500.oo limit. Swipe the card. Print the receipt. AND CRASH THE DAMN COMPUTER.
"I'm sorry, the transaction didn't go through. We'll have to run it again."
"ok, no problem, as long as I get my camera."

nope!

Because they swiped the card the card company now has a hold on that money. They can't swipe the card again for the same amount because that would put me over my five-hundred dollar limit, I can't pay with cash I don't carry that kind of money, I can't pay with a credit card I don't have, AND THEY WON'T GIVE ME MY CAMERA

"So let me get this straight guys; You charged my debit account for the camera, and the bank has now set that money aside. But, your computer system crashed, and is unable to verify that this transaction ever took place, so you won't be contacting the bank for that money. And, since you didn't get the money, even though it was your system that screwed it up, you're not going to give me the camera."
"that is correct."

What the hell man. Bank's closed, can't clear the hold, which is probably a 48 hour hold, so if you'd like to come back in two days you can get your camera then. Thanks but no thanks. I've now been in the store for an hour, digital camera section, customer service section, manager's office. Nothing.

Finally, finally, someone says "you could get a store credit card and purchase the camera with that, then pay the balance after the hold on your account clears." gee, now that's an idea. granted I don't want a credit card, and certainly don't want your credit card, but, I do want my camera. so fine.

I sign up for a card, which should take three mintues. it takes another half hour. fine. get the card. ring up the camera (and movie) pay for the camera and movie. leave the store.

But whatever, you know what? fine. whatever. I have the camera. and DON'T say "looks like the big guy upstairs doesn't want you to have this camera" or anything similar to that.

IT IS NOT THE CAMERA'S FAULT.

It is stupid www.[@#&$%^].com's fault and stupid [NAME OMITTED]'s fault. I mean seriously, it you're a store that sells digital equipment and computers shouldn't you have a computer system that, you know, works? Yes. You should. Idiots.

ok, done. I now refer you to my earlier post: I bought a digital camera!

-Tom

zzzzzz..

I think I'm carrying about three hours of sleep-debt. I woke up this morning and couldn't open my eyes. My eyelids were just too heavy. You've had that experience, where you're thinking in your head "the alarm is going off. open your eyes. lift your head. move arms and legs." and all of your etremities are too heavy to move. I don't understand where it came from, I've been getting approximately the same amount of sleep I usually get. I do know, however, that tonight I am going to go to sleep, and wake up exactly eleven hours later. That will help a lot.

-Tom

recommended downloads:
Veggie Tales, His Cheeseburger
The Who, Anyway, Anyhow
Pearl Jam, Evenflow

there will be a reckoning

...were that I had it in my power.

So let me get you up to speed.
The other day I was shopping for a digital camera. I analyzed and compared numerous cameras before determining which camera I would like to purchase. I chose the Fuji FinePix s5100. Great reviews, pleasing to the eye, priced well. I then began searching the internet for the best deal. Some sites offered the camera near retail price ($399.99) others offered discounts, or package deals with chargers and batteries and memory cards. The best price I found was $241.00, no packages, just savings. So I ordered the camera from this website [name withheld, reason to follow]. And, since I was saving some money, I opted for 3-day shippping, instead of regular ground, which upped the total to approximately $275.00 (US).

**At this time I would like to acknowledge all readers who have low-paying jobs, no jobs, or bills/rent/expenses. I do not mean to imply that a matter of $275.00 is insignificant, or trifling. It is a lot of money, money I would not normally be able to spend, save for living at home with little to no other expenditures. However, it is the appropriate amount of money to spend on this particular digital camera.**

Now, I wait. Camera purchased, I wait, anxiously. For those of you out there like me, I do not recommend online purchases, the waiting is troubling. I expected to see the camera waiting for me that night, or the next morning, like christmas presents magically found under the tree. Of course, shipping from Illinois, this did not happen. Instead I occupied myself with reading the online reviews of the camera I just selected, and then purchasing a battery charger and a memory card for the new camera.

Then, today, at approximately 3:00 PM (EDT) [aside, is that the abbreviation for Eastern Daylight Time? Also, are we still on daylight savings in this time zone?] I received a call from home, they were just contacted by Sean, who works for [name omitted] to confirm shipping address, and would I please call them back at this number and that extension. Well, yes, of course I would, since it's the second day of what should be a 3-day shipping cycle, so I would like to make sure it's going where I told them to send it.

So I call Sean, at extension 241. And he's happy to confirm the shipping address. And he's happy, and maybe speaking a little too quickly to be a normal customer service representative, and maybe a little too...off...

And that's when I realize it's a scam! "AHA!" I cry, "You're found out!" And proceed to the reckoning.

No, just kidding. There was no reckoning. Here's how the conversation played out
He asks to confirm the address, and then offers me the bonus package: memory card, batteries, charger, shoulder strap, warranty, upping the price from $241.00 to $320.00. I decline. "No," I say, "I don't want the warranty, I don't need the batteries, I don't need the memory card." Sean informs me that the camera doesn't come with any of these accessories. I maintain my position, having already secured the necessary items at a lower cost elsewhere, currently being shipped (as promised) to my home. Not so with the camera. The camera hasn't left the warehouse. The camera doesn't leave the warehouse until Sean calls the purchaser to offer them the complete package. Now, me, being knowledgeable in the digital-camera-and-accessory-purchasing field, know that I don't need the bells and whistles. I just want the bare bones camera.

This is the part of the story where Sean and his evil website choose to punish me, the wily consumer, for my knowledge.

"That camera ships directly from the factory," he says. Ok, I respond, I don't care where it comes from, as long as it's going where it's supposed to, and getting there when you told me it would.
"Ah," he says, "that camera ships from the factory in 4-6 weeks." Excuse me? I respond, I've paid for 3-day shipping, an extra $40.00 charge.
"No no," he says oily, "three day shipping only applies to the US-bundle, with batteries, memory card, and warranty. If you'd like that package for only $320.00 it will ship in three days." I don't want that package, I say.
"So four to six weeks for your camera then?" he maintains. No, I respond, Cancel the order.
"Cancel your order?" he hollowly exclaims. Yes, I say. Cancel the order.
"Ok" he intones as he disconnects the phone.
"Thank you." I respond to the dead line.

That's right folks. We'll give you your precious three day shipping if you pay an exorbitant amount of money for items you can find much cheaper almost anywhere else! It's sort of like blackmail, except if you're smart like me, you recognize it for what it is and cancel the order then tell your friends to NEVER EVER EVER ORDER ANYTHING FROM WWW.[name omitted].com -damn extortionists.

Because the suck.

So now I'm going to Best Buy to pay retail price of something like $314.00 so that I will have the camera and can take it home with me on the same day. and they'll give me the stupid warranty and crap.

Death to www.[*&%@^#].com

-Tom

go ahead, you can laugh all you want...

ok, so, I ordered a digital camera. like three days ago. it didn't even occur to me that the camera wouldn't be like, waiting at home for me after work. which I expected, and was looking forward to. ok ok I'm lying. I did, on an intellectual level, understand that I paid for 3-day shipping, and when a piece of expensive digital equipment is coming from Iowa or wherevere that it will take a while, since they haven't developed insta-matter transporters (yet). but come on man, where's my camera!? I want to like, play around with it, read the user manual, mess with all the controls! take pictures of my brothers, and the dogs, and my friends, and say things like, "oh, let me get my camera" haha. but no... still have to wait. maybe in my downtime at work I can think about inventing an insta-matter transporter. btw, I totally dibs that name. copyright, stamp it, double stamp it. (you can't triple stamp a double stamp).

Since, after all, my ideal career would be as an evil mad scientist. There's this very clever spreadsheet at work (ok, it's only regularly clever, but compared to the rest of the stuff here at work, regularly clever is exemplary), this spreadsheet returns your ideal job when you input your name. so, I typed in my name, and it returned "Evil Mad Scientist" which is funny, because first, it's totally correct, and second, it's not the first time I've thought about taking over the world while I'm at work (amazo posted something about my babe-magnet plan). Now, playing aroud with the spreadsheet, inputting first name only, last name only, nicknamese and so forth, I learned that, depending on how I refer to myself, my ideal career could also be Top Gun Pilot, Computer Nerd, or Lumberjack. I have to say, this spreadsheet is pretty good. pretty darn good - It described Donny's ideal career "In A Far Away Land" real good. As an evil mad scientist (with a minimal understanding of mutual funds) and friends in the texas legistlature, I'll be unstoppable.

So get on board now, if you have any requests, like countries you'd like to rule over, or impossible machines you'd like to see built, or you know, words of encouragement, get 'em in early; maybe I'll name a doomsday device after you or something.

-Tom


recommended download:
REM - it's the end of the world as we know it (and i feel fine)
Flogging Molly - The Likes of You Again

now, it's personal

Well, I'm glad I didn't write about how I asked the pretty girl to a hockey game, and she accepted, and I was all excited to take her and explain the game of hockey. BECAUSE NOW ITS NOT HAPPENING.

What the hell?
"so, hockey game tonight."
"oh, no sorry, I have to work my second job...thanks for inviting me though."
WHAT THE HELL??

is this just a terribly scheduling conflict? or is it more what it sounds like, an outright LIE to get out of going to the game with me? I am so pissed. Incredible. I got worked up for this crap? No way. No eff-ing way.

Because now, it's personal.
She's not getting a moment's peace. I'm gonna be all over her. I am going to be so charming, so smooth, so confident, so cool, that she won't even recognize me. Game on. I am in the zone. Nothing like a social affront to pick you up out of the well of personal psychosis and anxiety. It's been kicked up a notch. Screw the funds. Screw archiving. Screw office politics and managerial dissaproval. No inter-office dating? Screw it. I'm all over this situation now. Drinks after work? Plans for the weekend? How about dinner tomorrow night? I bought more hockey tickets, and I'd still like to take you. EVEN AFTER YOU TOTALLY LIED TO AVOID ME LAST TIME.

I'm going mad. Mad I tell you.
Bwahahaha-ahahahah-ahahaha!

love,
Tom

recommended downloads:
Cake, Haze of Love
Cake, She Ain't No Good For You
Cake, Open Book
Cake, Italian Leather Sofa
Judas Priest, You Got Another Thing Comin'

oh-ho-ho, it's on now.

I bought a digital camera!

woohoo, I'm all excited.
this is the camera I've purchased, scheduled to arrive on friday. 4.0 megapixels, 10x optical zoom, and a host of manual controls. I'm all excited.

I'll be taking the camera with me to Rome. Which is what prompted the purchase. I was all, "we'll take timmy's camera when we go" and my mom was like "timmy's going to be in washington, he'll be using his camera" and I was like, "oh, we'll take carolyn's then, did she get it fixed?" and my mom was like "she's on spring break, she'll probably be taking it with her to florida" and I was like "oh, damn" and my mom was like "don't you have a camera?" and I was like "yeah, a real camera, 35mm." and my mom was like "oh, ok, you don't have a digital camera?" and I was like "nope. [gleeful smile] I guess I'll have to buy one"

and so now I have.

Tom

recommended downloads
Weezer, Photograph
Paul Simon, Kodachrome
John Mayer, 3x5
Feeder, High (I was about to recommend "take my picture" but I hate that song and don't recommend it, high is a good feeder song, so is Insomnia)

...and tired

I know I'm different when I'm tired. But I hope to avoid being labeled. "oh, he's mean, he must be tired." I hope to avoid the obvious conclusion that based on the way I act, I missed a good night's sleep. I hope that I have the control to pull that off; that I can recognize that I'm not at my best, and make up the difference through force of will. And man, am I tired today.

Three-day weekend, and it's school vacation week. I woke up today and I didn't even know what year it was. I wasn't sure if I had to get up and go to work, get up and shovel out the elderly neighbors, or remind myself to stop setting the alarm, because it's february vacation. There are two things keeping me from quitting right now: I want to buy a car, and to do that I need more money; and I'm going to Rome in like, two weeks. Though, if Rome isn't a relaxing, reinvigorating, rejuventating vacation, then I'm definitely quitting sooner.

I'm more negative when I'm tired. My thoughts take a pessimistic slant, and I'm more apt to be angry and short tempered with others. I'm sullen. Usually, after a few waking hours I recover pretty well; I stop staring silently at the walls, I start moving again, I start speaking. Tonight, I'm going to bed at ten.

-t

recommended downloads:
Oasis, Hello
Lucky Boys Confusion, Atari

HA!

Why I love corporate america (today)

I found a guy who knows what he's doing. It is a breath of fresh air. He's part of the audit team, sort of in our group, but not really. He is a link in the archive chain, in charge of getting boxes and labels for our group. So I went over today to ask for some boxes and labels, and to determine if we already have a supply here in the office to use. And then, he said he believed we've switched over to a new archiving system, no more boxes or labels through him. and that's when the girl across from him leaned over and said, "actually, we're still using labels, we switched through a different format." and he said "oh, ok, I was wrong." I was wrong. That is incredible. Just incredible. I was so excited to hear that I almost started a carthwheel (but I didn't). He said "let me call the supply manager about the labels, we can have them for you tuesday, and I know where you sit, so I'll check on the boxes and let you know." Al-right.

This brings two points into relief:
1. first, how much does it suck in corporate america that one "I was wrong" evinces such a strong positive reaction? (is envinces a word? what the hell word is supposed to go there?). corporate america sucks a lot. which brings me to point two, why I love it
2. even though it sucks, there are still people who don't suck working there. the second point is that I should be trying to open up a little, try to discover who these people are - it really brightens up a day when you know the person or people you'll be working with are competent, willing, and not corporate stooges. you know what I'm talking about.

-Tom
recommended download
Queen: The Show Must Go On

blogging.

Bloggers made the news again last night, getting a mention from the Daily Show. Kudos atrios.blogspot.com

In other news, I'm going to Rome, and am pumped. I may have mentioned this earlier, and if so tough. I'm still excited. When in Rome I'm going to do everything the Romans do, and also touristy type stuff. Maybe I'll learn some italian, maybe I'll wow them with my juggling skills. Maybe I won't. We'll see. When I'm in Rome.

Also, Flogging Molly is coming to Boston, and I'm pumped. I got tickets to the show, and it's the week before Rome. So I'm all excited about the first two weeks of March. I haven't been to a live show in a while, and I think this is an excellent way to get back into things.

Finally, they are doing construction on the other side of the wall in our office. I think there's another office over there, but I'm not sure. The construction related noises seem to be bugging my coworkers, "gee, I didn't know we were working next to This Old House" and other such derisive comments. I don't mind though. I love construction. I just wish we had like, a window or soemthing so we could watch. It's better than television (even the television about construction, cuz those shows especially suck...As Jason Bateman said of his show Arrested Development "we're up against extreme makeover-home edition, who'd watch comedy when you can see a shirtless carpenter say 'hey, let's build a skate ramp for a kid with no bones!'"

Anyway, this post was mostly an excuse to recommend some downloads:
Red Hot Chili Peppers, On Mercury
Marcy Playground, The Devil's Song
and
Weezer, Say It Ain't So

-Tom

mind-numbing bore

I'm pretty bored today. Well, right now. Earlier I wasn't bored. But now I am. Bored.

So, I'm going to Rome. Rome, Italy, where the Pope lives. Vatican city. I don't know what to pack for the trip. Is it warm in Italy? Should I bring a camera and eighteen rolls of film? Should I swipe my brothers digital camera instead? What are they wearing in Rome these days (I mean, regular people, not the Pope, his style never changes) Should I bring loose baggy clothing? Bright colors? I don't want the Romans laughing at my lack of style. Maybe best if I just stick with the traditional toga. That will be a good way to travel on the plane, very comfortable. Also, good defense against pickpockets, as togas have no pockets.

Ah, to be young and in love.

Tom
recommended download
Marcy Playground, Hotter Than The Sun

make it official

ok, so it's official. I officially have a crush on this girl at work. It's not like ajoking around, oh I think she's cute, or oh, that's the cute girl at work. It's a legitimate crush. And I know this because she's not in today. And I don't want to be here.

Really, it has become apparent to me, that over the last few weeks, the only reason I don't moan and complain about work all day every day with no time for anything else is because she's here, and maybe I'll have the chance to like, get to see her today.

So today when I found out she wasn't here. Well, that was a huge let-down. How did I let things get like this?

-Tom
recommended download:
Marcy Playground, Hotter Than The Sun

not Valentine's night, Beanpot night!

Way to go BU. here are some quick thoughts on the game. BU jumped out to a quick 2-0 and made me, and everyone else, think they were going to walk away with this one. Then in the second period Northeastern got a goal (which, I think should have been stopped, but somebody help me out here: Curry got beat glove side, was that the shoulder that he separated? because it looked like he should have stopped that goal.) Anyway, Northeastern came out really hungry in the third period and got a bounce to tie the game up. I don't think it ever would have happened, except with about six minutes left BU started playing conservative hockey. "let's not try and score, let's just keep them from scoring" that is no way to win a tournament, as evidenced by the NU goal with 2 minutes left. That leaves the game tied at 2-2 and sends it into overtime. And it was a well played overtime. Northeastern came out with their goal-scoring line led by captain Gurrierra, BU did the same, goalscoring line. The Terriers dominated play for four minutes I think without a line change, and led shots on net 6-3. Then BU decided to rest its starters and put out a different line who basically iced the puck whenever they touched it, for about four minutes. Then, with the starters rested BU put them back on the ice and pushed play back into the Huskies zone. Then a quick shot from left wing off the goalie's pad, rebound shot by the center off the post kicked out to the right cirlce where Bourque rifled one into an undefended net. Game over. Way to go terriers.

Ok, so last night, out of a possible two long shots, one short shots, and one sure shot, only one came through. I had (almost) asked that girl out again. I think she gave me an opening. I swear, I'm getting better at spotting them, this time I realized it was an opening only like three minutes after the conversation. Anyway, I think she gave me an opening, and I missed it, but it's ok, cuz next time I'll be on the look out for one. That was a long shot, didn't come through. Then Kate got tickets to the beanpot. and man what a game. otherwise we were all going to meet at whitehorse to watch the game. instead they went to the fleetcenter. that was a short shot, but I would never, ever, ever begrudge anyone a chance at live hockey. and man what a game. and the other long shot was that the cute waitress would be working at whitehorse, the one that hit on donny a couple weeks ago. no dice, though. instead I got the hovering waitress of doom. she didn't give me more than thirty seconds between "are you all set honey?" "do you want another drink sweetie?" "have you made up your mind honey?" she was talking like Dot the fifty year old waitress at the 24 diner with all the honeys sweeties and, she may have called me "doll" once too. not a moment's peace.

And then the game ended and I had to take the T home. the green line, second stop, two homeless guys got on, clearly they knew each other, and sat next to me. Then, for three stops the bigger one, with the beard, who was on my right just mumbled a lot and tried to hug the smaller one, on his right. The smaller one proceeded to whack the bearded one in the face with his folded up newspaper. All the while both of them swaying drunkenly with the motion of the train. They got off at Arlington.

Then waiting for the Orange Line at Downtown Crossing a sketchy looking vendor with a giant plastic bag full of valentine balloons was trying to hustle passengers while two crazy guys yelled at each other at the end of the platform. Then one of the crazy guys bought a balloon and gave it to a girl sitting on one of the benches. then he left.

the weirdos really come out at night on the orange line.

Happy Beanpot BU.

-Tom

Valen-tine.

Today has been very pleasant. I am mildy surprised. The best thing is that here, we use dates a lot. I input today's date (2/14/05) like a hundred times a day. And, well, today, each time I type it in 050214 (yearmonthday format) I get a little pick-up. "oh, hey, today's valentine's day" Really, like every time. It's been nice.

Also a good way to feel good on valentine's day, is to send somebody a valentine, or some chocolates, or tell them you like them a lot. Or that it was them in the dream you had about drinking and tearing off each other's clothes. That'll make them smile. And that'll make you smile. It's a good idea.

Also a good idea is to take tonight off (if you're single) and just hang out, and then hit on other people who are single and hanging out (and cute, duh). That's what I'll be doing tonight I think. Just a "hey, how you doin?" could really give someone's night a little lift. And well maybe it'll get you their phone number too, peolpe are more friendly on valentine's day.

unless they're that bitter "I hate all men" type. stay away from them, really the best thing for you to do if you find yourself in a situation with that type, is to leave and find another bar with cuter patrons. or cuter waitresses. oh yeah, that's another thing. if there's a cute waitress out working on valentine's night that means she's just recently broken up with her boyfriend (because honestly, we all know cute girls who'd like to go out on valentine's don't have much trouble finding someone to ask them) anyway, recently broken up, but not devastated (or she wouldn't be working) so you can try and get their number too. That does not go for hot bartenders however. Ladies, be careful of overly-friendly servers. They're hoping to prey on young vulnerable or bitter females. if this happens to you, mace 'em.

ok, that's it for Tom's romantic valentine advice
I recommend you download a song about a guy who kills his ex's new boyfriend and then calls and tells her about it. (no really, that's what this song is about...I had no idea until started paying attention to the lyrics)

Good Charlotte: My Bloody Valentine
:)

happy valentine's day.

a random collection of junk

A.) so I've been called twice by this recruiting firm. "we specialize in the placement of financial professionals like yourself" that kind. anyway, this guy calls me at 4:15 last friday. on my cell. "Hi Thomas, blah blah blah, resume, blah blah blah." and I'm like "um, yeah, what?" and he's all "is this a bad time?" and I'm like "yeah" and he's like "because you're at work?" and I'm like "yeah." you moron, you're looking at my resume. you know I'm a "financial professional" (which is debatable) of course I'm at work. idiot. 4:15 on a friday? did you think I'd be at lunch?

So then he calls this morning, at 9:30. what the hell buddy? first of all, I'm certainly not a "professional" anything, so why the hot pursuit? second of all, if I was at work during normal business hours on friday and it wasn't a good time, what the hell makes you think 9:30 monday morning is a good time!? I hung up on him.

2.) here are some things I want in a relationship.
I want to be the reason she smiles
I want to make her happy
I want to teach her something important
I want to learn something important

d.) speaking of girlfriends, and valentine's, I had a dream last night and you were in it. we were playing a drinking game, it was something like "Six shots to sex" or maybe seven. Basically you do a shot of tequila and for every shot you take off an article of the other person's clothing. you and I had a lot of fun. (haha, just kidding, you don't know who "you" is do you? you'll just have to wonder)

ok, that's all for now, if I've got some time I might post something about valentine's day later..

later,
Tom

recommended download:
Sugarcult Champagne
Dropkick Murphy's Walk Away

Sausalito

I am sitting in my living room on my couch eating pepperidge farm cookies and drinking milk from a glass with pictures of cows on it. I am watching Saturday Night Live. Tonight is a good night.

Tonight would be better if I had a date. Or a car. If I had a car I could drive to my date's house and pick her up. Then drive to a nice resturant, have a nice dinner. Maybe take a drive to get ice cream, or coffee for dessert. That would be a better night.

Tonight would be the best ever if maybe I had a car and a date with the girl that turns out to be the love of my life, and we jumped in the car and drove and drove and drove, then head back to her apartment and throw on a movie, sit on the couch, have some jack daniels... That'd be a real good night.

-Tom

recommended downloads:
Cake Love You Madly
Green Day When I Come Around

Things are alright

Updates:
Cute girl is in Hawaii.
There are no problems on my new funds.
Most of my budgets are finished.
Things are going well with the girl, except that it is impossible for me to speak to her.


So today, I feel pretty good. Today is the first Friday of Lent, and it's the second day of Lent we Catholics aren't supposed to eat meat. It's the second time during the current Lenten season I've forgotten that and had meat for lunch. I haven't given up anything to this point for Lent, I was thinking about giving up coffee, or maybe caffeine. I am about to run to dunkin donuts, or maybe have some tea here at my desk. My hair looks great today (I think, I haven't looked in a mirror since I got out of the shower this morning). It's getting colder, and icy, outside. But most importantly, it's the weekend! I am so pumped for football. Oh, wait. No football, season's over. And no, the Pro Bowl doesn't count, that's an exhibition, and, since the career ending injury sustained by a promising rookie in the then mandatory flag football game, I've sort of loathed the Pro Bowl. I mean come on, they guys aren't even trying. Asking grown men who risk devastating injury on a weekly basis throughout the fall and winter to play their hardest weeks after their seasons have ended? in hawaii? no way are they going to give their all. and I would hope they don't. This is their livelyhood, after all, I wouldn't put my body on the line for a game that doesn't mean anything if it meant I might end my career, or delay my offseason training to recuperate. I'll stop there. You didn't come here to read a sports opinion column. If you wanted to do that you'd've stopped by espn.com and read Bill Simmons, the Sports Guy. He's pretty good.

So, have a good weekend you young unprofessionals, I hope I do.

this is Tom, signing off.

recommended downloads:
Counting Crows, Wiseblood
Flogging Molly, Swagger
Oasis, Supersonic
The Clash, I Fought The Law

Rates aren't in

Ok, so I never do any work at work. Except the first week of each month when budgets are due. The only other thing that I would be working on is archiving the stupid funds. But, I can't do that until my ID for the online archiving system comes through, and it hasn't, so I'm off the hook for that.

We have a group next to us, they're some sort of Cash group, they reconcile bad trades, it's what they do. Cute girl's group. Jonathan(the opie&anthony fan)'s group. Here's the thing. I think their manager likes the same girl I like. The really pretty one. The one by the printers. This is causing me to feel more anxious than I normally do. And normally, around her, I feel anxious.

It's not her fault. It's not like I'd go up to her and say "You make me nervous when I'm around you." Because that's not true. She doesn't make me nervous. I'm nervous on my own. To be accurate I would have to say "I'm nervous around you." That way I avoid mentioning the cause of my nervousness, which is, I believe, a feeling of inferiority. I'm not as attractive as she is, as well dressed as she is, as knowledgeble, as smart, as cool, etc etc etc etc.

None of this helps me. I find it difficult to be myself here at work. I find it especially difficult to be myself around her at work. I believe that is maybe the greatest hinderance to actually making it to dinner with her. Were I myself I'm sure I'd be charming and clever, she would warm up to the idea of a dinner engagement, and we'd be set. Not myself I'm sulky, quiet, reserved, shy, passive, and all other bad ways to be if you want the girl to like you. Plus this stupid manager over at her cube chatting all the time and reeking of Old Spice. Stupid other manager.

My only hope is that we (the girl and I, not the manager an I) get trapped in an elevator together for hours, then I can just relax and be myself. And after that if she doesn't want to go out, that's fine. But then it'll be because she didn't like me, not because she didin't like the me I was around her at work. Trapped in an elevator....

We work on the first floor.

-Tom
recommended downloads:
AC/DC, Thunderstruck, TNT
Oasis, She's Electric, Helter Skelter, and Force of Nature
Bowling for Soup, On and On (About You)

Lock your door cuz rain is pouring through your window pane

Last night I had a really great deam. It was like an action/thriller movie dream. Some experimental war plane was in danger of being hijacked, the daughter of a world leader was in danger of being killed, only she was living in the US under an assumed name. The movie opens in the military hangar where the experimental war plane is being kept, and there's this kid there, some engineering whiz kid talking about some problems with a design he's had with the colonel in charge. He mentions he discussed the problem with this girl, the daughter of the world leader, he figured out who she was. This causes a huge problem for the colonel, as the plane and the girl are linked, and if this kid could figure out who she was, then their enemies might also. The rest of the movie is the bad guys chasing the kid and the girl all over the place trying to kill them. I kind of zoned out during that part of the dream. I think in the end the plane gets destroyed.

-Tom
recommended downloads
Queen, Hammer To Fall (the live version is a good one)
The Offspring, Gotta Get Away
and
Pearl Jam, Of The Girl

Shirking

Here's a question for you readers: do you every so often look at the headline of my post and think "that sounds familiar, was it in a movie?" or something along those lines? I'm curious. Because every so often I do use a movie line, or reference to pop culture as a headline, and wondered if people were getting that. Not that it's intentional, or intended to relate to the theme of the post, just that it's what I'm thinking when I start writing. Yesterday's post, for example, from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

And now having said that I've forgotten what I was going to write. Ok. I'm off then. Start getting psyched up for Valentine's day.

-Tom
recommended downloads:
Mighty Mighty Bosstones: The Impression That I Get
NOFX: Gin and Juice (Snoop Dogg cover)

Strike that, reverse it

It's fat tuesday. Cute girl is in Hawaii. The Patriots are in Boston. I am at my desk.

So, that's where everyone is today. I hope you've all remembered to gorge yourselves on sugar and dessert stuffs, and carbonated beverages, and chocolates and anything else you may have decided to give up for Lent. My suggestion is to eat absolutely as much as possible, an orgy of gluttonous consumption. Then, you'll be so sick of the sight of food you'll coast through the first half of these forty days without even thinking about it. An orgy of gluttonous consumption.

Later today I think I will try and buy a coffee. Also I think I'll bring in some tea so I can drink tea here at my desk in the mornings. I like tea almost better than coffee. Maybe I like them an equal amount in different ways. That's possible - liking two things the same amount, but differently. Tea, and coffee. Tony Hawk Pro Skater, and blue hooded sweatshirts, for example, I think my life would be changed if either were taken away from me, but for different reasons. They mean about the same, but in different ways. Let's not think about that.

So the Patriots are world champs. Go Pats. That's a world series, a superbowl, also I'll mention (though I hate them) the celtics are in first place in their division (the weak division), and technically, as was pointed out earlier, the bruins are undefeated. The players association needs to smarten up. It's hockey for crying out loud, stop whining like the nba. You play on ice and get concussions regularly, plus missing teeth and rabid fans - you sound more like major league baseball. suck it up and play. Hell, I'd be ok with a salary cap if that meant I could play hockey for a living. Stupid nhl.

In other news: I haven't been back to white horse, I did not get tickets to the beanpot (go bu!), and I have not filed taxes. Speaking of income tax, I should get back to work.

-Tom

recommended downloads:
Queen, It's A Beautiful Day
Cake, You Turn The Screws
and
Pearl Jam, Patriot (Steve Van Zandt cover)

I have a dream

Everyone should -and I have one.

I want to own and operate a successful community theater. That's my dream. One of those tiny theaters made from a converted victorian house, with seating for only about a hundred, with a big lawn outside that's used as a parking lot on show nights. Where during intermission the audience is encouraged to go downstairs to the snackbar. There isn't any room so they go in single file down narrow stairs into the basement and file past a counter or a table with small cups of homemade trailmix and drinks poured from giant three liter soda bottles. They shuffle past a small jar labeled "donations appreciated" on a stand with playbills and schedules for upcoming shows. A little place. Where we can produce plays that mean something. Where actors, and directors, and crew can come and create, bring the written word to life. I want to find theater people, who love what they do, and who are good at it, whose only concern is putting on a good show. Sound guys who do things the old fashioned way, with props and not synthesizers. Lighting guys who can create scenery and set changes using just spots, filters, and highlights. But most of all, most of all actors and writers. People who know the theater and who have plays they love as much as breathing. Those are the people I want to put on stage. In plays that mean something. Because theater is an art in danger of dying out. It's not something you do on a friday night to kill some time. You don't just decide to go out to a play. I want to put on plays with meaning. So when you do stop by, you leave with something, you feel something. I want to be a part of that. I'd like to be a major part of that. That's my dream.

Tom
recommended download:
Cake, Opera Singer

May I never blog again

I have so much work to do.

I can't even believe it. So much work.
We switched funds. I thought I was getting easy ones. Nope, the Ireland fund is crazy. And totally not balanced. And hasn't been balanced for like three years. That's trouble.
We have to do budgets. Budgets eat up a lot of time. A lot of time. I hate budgets.
I'm also in charge of this stupid archiving crap. That's just stupid. But I'm in charge. I hate corporate america.

Is it because I'm a good worker? The managers recognize my diligence and get-it-done-ed-ness? maybe. Or maybe I just lucked out with the exact perfect amount of work that fills up my day and eats into (get it?) my lunch hour.

I have had time today to do these unrelatedtowork things:
read the Sports Guy column on espn.com
write this blog entry.
eat a powerbar for lunch.
that's all.

This is my first post in what feels like a week. I hope I don't have any fans out there clamouring for more posts. I'm swamped.

Oh, also, I haven't had time to make any more paper clip sculptures. My art is suffering. And I still need to find some crazy glue.


Ok, back to the Ireland fund. And the work that I'm not doing. And those budgets.
this is Tom
signing off...
for good?

Sayanora.

recommended downloads:
bowling for soup, emily

reread

My posts lately suck. I don't think I've written a decent post in like a week. I was just rereading a few of the more recent entries and they suck. It's stress. Stress is killing me. Me, The-Guy-Who-Doesn't-Understand-The-Meaning-Of-The-Word-Stress. Everyone else's stress is killing me. Working next to Chuck who complains all the time. And with hyper-manager who berrates all the time. and budgets at the begining of the month which would be easy except the clients don't ever send updated expense information. and the recent promotion of a lowly fa to senior fa threw the group out of whack. Everyone else's stress is killing me. You know that daffy duck cartoon where he's fighting with the animator, and the screen starts falling on him, the black borders droop and he's holding them up and flipping out? man I love that cartoon.

-Tom
staying with the poppy-punk bandwagon
greend day: american idiot

Chicken

Busy. That's the best way to describe the last few days.
Really busy. That's the best way to describe the next few days.

This might be my only post for a while (I hope none of you go into withdrawal)
We've got budgets to do, we've got trades to fix, one of our group was just promoted, so the rest of us have way more work.

Two weeks from now they're switching funds. I'll have less to do, significantly less I think. Except I am getting one trouble fund, so that one might eat up some of my time. On the other hand, it might be cool because it's based in Ireland and I'll have to email Irish guys all day. Well, ok, that's not very cool at all. Anyway. We're really busy. Stupid funds.

-Tom

and, despite being labeled a bandwagon jumper
recommended downloads:
green day: boulevard of broken dreams

lucky boys confusion: hey driver
judas priset: the green manalishi
third eye blind: something from the first album, like burning man, london, jumper, or graduate

Why I hate my job (today)

Can We Please--
For The Love Of...
Can we please-
aaarrrrgghhh!!

I was hired to do a specific task. I'm supposed to balance mutual funds. It's not a hard thing to do. I'm entry level, low man on the totem pole, I understand this. I have zero responsibility. I copy and paste numbers from one program to another all day. Then I subtract. No, that's a lie, Excel subtracts, I dont' even do second grade math.

I just spent the morning in an archiving seminar. An hour to learn how to label boxes so they don't get lost. I swear to you I understand the need for archived backup files. What I do not understand is an hour long seminar that could have been replaced by a fifteen minute power-point slide show. You log on to the website. You input the important info, like: contents of the box, box number, and contact name. You download the file, mail merge in Word, and print. Input. Download. Print. Did I say fifteen minutes? That might be too long.

ARGH. Archiving? archiving. really. What the hell. Hire a damn secretary. Let him know up front: Your job is to do the brain-numbing work no one else wants. It'll be a hugely high turnover, whatever, at least he'll know up front. The only reason I had to go to the stupid seminar is because I was working late when my boss got the email. Working late. On these stupid funds that I hate. Making sure there wouldn't be any problems the next morning. Double checking. So what do we do? Let's reward the diligent young employee with greater responsibility and place him on the road to management. -or, or!- We could sign him up for a mindless administrative task! That's great! Now he can respond to questions from the other members of the group "Hey, does my name go in the first box or the second box?" with clever answers like "Your name goes in the box labeled NAME!" ARGH!!.

If I didn't want to buy a car I'd quit right now.

-Tom

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