Baby Finances

Each year I struggle with one simple thing: Do I make a resolution that I know I will eventually break in the hopes to improve myself? Or should I just not even try? In the end I typically make one in the hopes that I will, this year, carry it out and actually improve myself. I'm not sure that I need a lot of improving though (ha!) But not making a resolution would mean that I am giving up hope on myself, and that I don't think I will ever be able to improve. This thought, it a little sad to say the least. So, inevitablly I will make some resolution and really try to keep it for about three months. Three months seems to be my attention span for anything. Being really interested in going to the gym, wanting to learn german, learning to cook, etc. etc. etc. But at the same time, maybe this time, I really will be interested in something longer than three months this time. Maybe it will be my life's passion and I can figure out how to make money off of it and start my ow...

I might to get to do funner things at work soon. I talked to the engineering manager and we might try out some stuff that I get to do a little bit more analytical work. Which is exciting. I don't want to be stuck in Sales for the rest of my life. I know the money is good, and I know that I could be good at it, but it's not really what I want. At least I know one thing I don't want. The problem is finding what I do want. Neither of us has really talked about it to my boss... I'm not sure if he wants to let me go... but I really don't like what I'm doing. If it's a flat out no, I don't want to try it, then guess I don't want to try to continue to work at my current company. I can't wait for 5pm tomorrow. FREEDOM! Finally a few days off to go and just chill and have fun -- instead of work all day. My little "friend" at work is a little scared b/c they're got to basically replace me for a couple days -- and there's not real...

Welll.... you're never gonna get it. Who needs sleep tell me what's the for? This has been an awefully long week so far, I can't wait until it is over. It just seems to be endless - and I've accomplished nothing at night -- just bummed around watching TV's and playing on the computer. Nothing interesting or useful in any sense of the word. I'm dreading packing for home for a week and a half. That's a long time. And a lot of situations to plan for. I'll probably do my standard morning of routine (IE throw anything that's close into a bag and run out the door.) Maybe I'll be organized this time.... I really wish that life was simpler and simpler decisions could be made. But then again, maybe I'm the one making things complicated. Maybe it really is that simple. Is life really simple? It never really seems so. I know when I look back it seemed like things were complicated -- but now they just seem so easy and I don't know why it ...

So someone else from our Marketing Department is leaving this week. The person gave a week's notice -- so they could still have the week of Christmas off. It's kind of amusing b/c the other person in marketing that left like a week ago -- this new guy -- definately going to the same company. So guess what this means with a small company like the one I work for??? Oh -- that's right -- we don't have a marketing department after Friday! Awesome. I keep wondering if I'm smart for sticking around getting more vested in my stock options -- or if I'm dumb for not leaving like everyone else... I can't really decide. Since I started this will be the 33rd person since I started -- less than 17 months ago. That means I need one more person before the end of the year for me to get to 2/month since I started. It's kind of a sick goal to have - but there it is. Over half of our company is new since the begining of the year between the turn over and the excessi...

So after about three weeks of sketchy computerness at home, I decided that it would be a good use of my Christmas bonus to get a new computer. So I went out and got a nice laptop yesterday. It's nice to finally have a laptop -- though I think it's a good investment to buy because of all the time and money it would have taken to upgrade the desktop. It also comes with the ability to upgrade to vista when it comes out in like March or whatever for no extra charge. Sweet! This was a much easier way to upgrade. No hassle -- just a few extra $$'s. The only thing I need to work on yet is getting the wireless up and functioning. That will be fun... I tried a bit yesterday and was having issue with configuring the router. I then gave up and decided that it would be a much better use of my time to play on my new computer instead of struggling with the stupid wireless - I'd just plug in the cable and be done for the day. It's been a crazy month or so. During the last...

It's only 10am -- and I'm at work. But I really can't take it anymore. The thought of tasty turkey and gravy and mashed potatoes are calling my name. Not like leaving work early will make Thanksgiving come any faster -- but it doesn't stop me from wanting to leave already. I'm really confused by Amazon/USPS. I ordered some stuff months ago (like three) and they split up the order. (Okay -- whatever.) But the weird thing is I was supposed to recieve one package like a week ago -- but haven't gotten it yet. But the package that the USPS says was delivered yesterday -- was in fact delivered yesterday. The first package was supposed to be delivered on the 15th -- but I still haven't recieved it. I want my other books! Where are they? I hope that they are not lost. I emailed USPS -- but I haven't gotten anything back yet. If I dont' get anything by Monday -- I think I'm going to call them and see what I can find out. I want my books!

Well another two people got canned today. The one guy started in early June, the other one had started even more recently. I'm not quite sure how I feel yet. It seems like it's way too soon to be fired -- there wasn't enough chance to change things for the better or the worse. But at the same time I don't know what was agreed upon at the time of hire. It's all a little strange. There have been something like 29 people who have left since I started -- 9 of whom have been fired. That's a lot of people in a small company like mine. Oh well ... I guess if it's a game of Survivor I'm winning.

My boss (for the week at least -- who really knows who I'm supposed to report too, or when my new boss will actual return to being my new boss) the CTO told me straight up that he had seen my resume online. It was a very Bridget Jones' Diary moment. FUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCCCKKKKKKK! I posted it about a week ago after a talk with my then new boss (not my acting boss last week.) He had called me into his office earlier in the week for a "brainstorming" session on how the inside sales group would need to change to support all the new sales people we are trying to hire. The majority of the solutions that I offered were basically changing my position from a mainly technical position, to a mainly sales position. Then, later in the week, when we were meeting about something different I made a comment about how I knew I did not want to go into sales. He says "but all the suggestions offered up were basically making your position into more of a sales position." ...

I would like to throw one of my co-workers overboard of a cruise ship... Yet again, I had to suffer through a terrible smell of horrible fake maple syrup. Real maple syrup smells good, and real. Fake maple syrup smells .... fake. The secretary at work INSISTS upon eating a maple flavored oatmeal every few days. She absolutely refuses! to eat it in the cafeteria. Instead, she prepares it there, and then walks down a long hallway between cubes -- making the entire company able to smell it. I smell it in my cube, I smell it in the copy room, I smell it in the reception area where she sit. I smell it when I go to the bathroom. I litterally smell it everywhere in the company. Everyone else smells it too. The vast majority detest the smell, and have told her so (including me -- repeatedly.) I even went so far as to suggest that she eat it in the cafeteria to contain the smell. (I don't think this is unreasonable -- do you?) One person has said that they like the smell -- fuc...

What is up with people from high school and the facebook lately? I've had like a bigillizion people from high school request to add me as a friend or in some group, or some "friend detail" whatever the fuck that is. What is up with the re-hashing of high school? Do you people think that it was better times than now? Are you just nastalogic since you are a year out of college? Lonely? Bored? WTF is up with it this weekend? And what the fuck is up with everyone getting married already???? Jesus Christ -- it's like an epidemic. I know some people who read this will never understand the complete disinterest I have towards the facebook -- and others will totally relate. I have no want/desire to gain "facebook friends" IE people who I barely recognize pointing out that I'm their "friend" because it makes them feel more popular or something. I adimently refuse to add any friends on facebook -- and thus the only people I am "friends" ...

Well, DC was fun if you consider standing on your feet all day answering asinine questions and everything around you is soaking wet -- because you are in a tent in a parking lot. I did have a chance to go to downtown DC for a couple hours. Stopped by Neuhaus and bought a whole lot o' chocolate. Then walked down part of the national mall, but a lot of things were closed b/c it was like 5pm. Didn't take an pictures b/c I didn't have a camera. The first day of the show was pretty bad -- no demonstration stuff available b/c other people at the company hadn't gotten it together. There were a few people that stopped by -- and I got a little bit of market information. The second day was terrible. I didn't have access to email b/c the night beofre the hotel internet went out. It had rained that night, making everything in the booth wet -- soaking just about everything. Then the wind started to blow, not only making it cold -- but it tipped over a couple displays fro...

I bought the COOLEST kitchen gadet on the face of the planet. A culinary torch. At was a little fussy at first -- but once the flame really got going it was awesome. After eating tons of creme brulee in france, I knew that the next kitchen gadet i was going to buy would have to be the torch. It is litterally the most fun thing in my kitchen. Who needs a stove when I've got a torch! So after eating one of the three creme brulees I made yesterday (which were actually pretty easy to make -- email me if you want the recipe), it is very clearly that is is the best kitchen purchase EVER! Well my body definate does not like the excersize I've been making it do lately -- and has been protesting heartily in the form of shin splints. If you've ever had shin splints you know how disabilitating they are. Really freaking obnioxious. Just when you're getting into the swing of things -- your body bites back and basically just screams at you anytime you try to walk. I guess n...

My dishwasher takes, no shit, like 2.5 hours to complete the whole cycle. That's a freaking long time when you turn it on at 6:30pm and it's not done till 9pm. And this is without heat drying. (I personally am a fan of saving the energy and just letting them drip dry -- which also mean that any food bits that did not come off during washing are not plastered on to the dish FOREVER!) Was planning on doing my laundry today -- but never really got movated enough to go out and do it. Hopefully sometime later this week I will get to it. Tommorrow is the first day of my German class. I'm excited about ti. I hope that it is a lot of fun and that I hvae a good teacher (thought I kind of doubt the quality of teacher at a community college... but we'll see...) The big bosses are away this week -- some hopefully it will be a pretty chill week. Low stress, getting out relatively early -- and being able to not stress about things. I always like weeks like this. THought the ...

So ... come home today relatively early -- around 520pm or so. The plumber's "short-bus" (IE he bought an old tart cart and is now using it for his plumbing business) is parked outside the front of my appartment building. Okay -- so maybe he's just finishing up a bit. So I go into my appartment and look at the huge hole in my bedroom wall ripped from ceiling to floor (about 30-40cm wide or so) and a PVC pipe haphazardly lying inside the wall. Okay -- so I guess he's not done. About 20 minutes later I meet the plumber and he tells me a harrowing tale. They started ripping out the wall and they smelled gas coming from the heating vent (clearly nothing should be coming from the vent when it's 80 degrees F outside. So the landlord and the plumber search around and find that the gas fireplace in the appartment behind me -- (like a 100 year old gas fireplace) -- the gas line has corroded and is now leaking gas. So they turn off all the gas in the building and...

Let me prefece this conversation with I went into work two hours late b/c I had to update some stuff in a database after everyone else was done using it. Then after being at work for an hour and a half -- I had to leave for my dentist appointment. Then after everyone else left work (litterally I was the last one there today) I had to spend an hour longer than I had planned updating the damn thing. Then I was mad hungry -- so I picked up dinner and went home. Then the ineveitable happened -- really Murphy's law style: (22:10:44) Me: my landlord accidentally locked me out of my appartment tonight -- my neighboors had to help me break in through a window (22:10:53) Joshy: no way (22:10:55) Joshy: how the hell did he do that (22:12:01) Me: i have two locks on my appartment door -- and he's never been able to find the keys for both. So when I moved in I only got one of the two keys. Apparently one of the keys he had and wasn't labeled -- was the key to my other lock (22:12:2...

There is a tragic storry that I must tell (well... I don't really have to -- but I'm going to vent about it anyways.) Thursday of last week I ask my boss for Tuesday off (because I'm lazy and don't want to have to deal with the holiday traffic on Monday.) He says "I don't see a problem with that has long as your counterpart is planning on working." Sweet -- he is -- I get Tuesday off WOOHOO. Then Friday morning rolls around. The CEO heard about it and told my boss that I couldn't have the day off because it wasn't sufficent notice and it wasn't an emergency. Ok... so I can see that ... if there was no direct back up... or you didn't just say two weeks ago about how you needed to raise company morale.... I'm just waiting for the phone call from him about somethign completely assinine on Tuesday morning at about 10 after 8 -- just to check to see if I'm in. What a fucking asshole. To me -- I would think that you'd want to...

I have to say that I have had very few accomplishments since I graduated college -- much less ANY great accomplishments. Every once and a while I come up with an "okay" idea -- but nothing that's cutting edge or even close to patentable. It's kind of sad to look back on the past year and realize how little I have accomplished. I have worked for a year now and I've been able to buy some furniture, join a gym, meet some people, and basically work a lot. I hope that I can accomplish more in the next year -- because this last year has been pretty pathetic. Now let's get to the real topic of the day. Why Coke is better than Pepsi. You say that they are the same? Oh no my friend. There is a huge difference. Pepsi is vastly inferior to Coke for a variety of reasons. 1) Pepsi is only for the young. I work at a real job -- so I'm not allowed to like it. 2) Pepsi has to sponsor everything in order for people to drink it -- Coke is cool enough on its own th...

Paris was a lot of fun. It was amazing how much there was to do and see. You can see pictures here: I think the funniest moment was in a restaurant and an American guy at the table behind us said that two different french people had told him how excellent his accent was and how he sounded french. This was shortly followed by a "MERCY BEAU-COO." Yeah -- a couple french waiters told me I sounded french too -- they were screwing with us though. It was also amazing how rude some Americans were -- both the adults and the high school students. The complete lack of respect for others (IE you shouldn't shout to each other across the train when your on a subway -- in any city -- America included) and the expectation that everyone else should know english. You're in FRANCE! French people speak -- well -- french. Brussels had to be one of the most interesting on the trip. Not so much because of the sights and foods (which were tasty) but more because of the strange mix of a var...

At work I live in, what we un-affectionately refer to as, "the Trailer park." This basically consists of a lot of small cubes which lots of people around you -- so you can NEVER concentrate on anything. Rather you are stuck listening to eveyone in every office which surronds the "Park" and everyone else talking in the "Park." Along with all the other random work noises. It is litterally the worst lay out that I have EVER seen. I have given up on doing any work today -- because it's been so loud. I can't even hear myself think. Much less be able to do anything useful that takes any brain power. And they wonder why company morale is so low.

Planning a vacation is suprisingly difficult... well I guess not so suprising if you knew me very well. It would not be difficult for someone who plans things out regularly and has a schedule ... you know, "normal people." I, on the other hand, and not one of those. My idea of planning is putting on my shoes to go to the store, or googling directions to somewhere I want to go. Once I get there I'm never really sure what to do next. I don't write out grocery lists and I rarely look up the hours of which the stores are actually open. Which I'm sure would really piss off some people who are planners. You know the kind of people who always get up at the same time every morning, eat the same thing for breakfast, take a shit at the same time every day. The Planners . I'm sure this lack of planning -- or rather lack of liking to plan has been the downfall of at least one of the romantic relationships in my life. I guess it's for the best though. I can a...

Nothing much exciting has happened today at work. An annoying number of phone calls came in that could have been answered by ANYONE else in the company -- but the dumbasses at the bottom of the tree don't want to deal with things so they just pass the buck. Which annoys the crap out of me every day. It must be nice to just pass on anything you don't want to deal with. And they wonder why they don't get paid much -- because they never have to make the difficult decisions or calls or tell someone what they don't want to hear. I'm just about done cleaning everything up -- which has been really amazing. I love having things done and organized. I finally feel as if my feet are back on the ground. I've been purposefully avoiding the CSR's at work lately. The bitching has increased dramatically -- but I kind of feel like I'm an adult trying to break my child of a bad habit. I figure if I ignore it long enough and walk away whenever they start -- and bas...

I won't delude myself to think that people actually care about me not updating my blog in a long time. But I do have good excuses (yes -- excuses.) Work has FINALLY started into the August slow down. I've actually been able to catch up on all the stuff I should have been doing the last 5 months -- but hasn't been critical/"on fire" so it hasn't gotten done. It's nice to be able to clean up stuff and finally get it finished. I'm starting to not hate work again. When the stress decreases by spades it so much easier to like going to work. On one hand it's really nice to have a few slower days -- but I hope it doesn't continue for long. It's hard for me to try to accomplish anything when you're so used to only dealing with fires. When nothing is on fire I don't do anything -- including the stuff that's there -- but just not critical yet. Yesterday was also an earmarked? day -- I've now been working for a full year; both...

I'm going to Paris, I'm going to Paris!!! Aug 11-19th. Whoo hooooo! I'm excited. This week at work has sucked mainly because there's too much to do and not enough time to do it. Only having a three day week last week and a four day week this week really makes it difficult to keep up. To add to the fun we have people to interview tomorrow. Friday should be more chill since the Sales people are leaving. Crazy busy. Other than that life has been pretty chill. When to Josh's for the weekend of the 4th -- just hung out and chilled. Then went to Goetzfest on the 9th -- all my teams lost -- I think I jinked them -- or I'm just that bad at sport. It's amazing how a little vacation really helps your view on life. I don't totally and completly hate work anymore. I'm not super happy with it -- but it's dealable now. Won't completely give up the job hunt.

I have never ever felt as marginazlied as I have at work so far today. It is almost unfathomable. Part of me is mad, part of me is just really sad. I feel as if no solutions are being created. The problem exists -- but instead of facing it and doing something about it; the company ignores it and just hopes it goes away. I guess this is just another straw on the camel's back -- which just makes it ever apparent that there aren't many other options other than start looking for another job. It's funny how much has changed, yet how little. I feel as if I have done the best I can in the circumstances -- yet I am neither appriciated and only berated for mistakes. I don't know how to jump up and down any louder to get any relief. 6 months ago I felt like there were opportunities for me to advance in the company and in my career. In the last 3 months it seems as if all doors have been closed and I am only viewed in my current capacity rather than seeing my potential. ...

Joshy and I are planning a bender weekend for July 4th. At least I'm planning on a bender at his house -- I'm not sure what he's planning. Anyone wanna join? Nothing really exciting in my life has been going on lately -- thus the lack of posts. Though I have been biking a lot lately. I really like biking -- and have almost forgotten how much I like it. There are some really amazing bike/walking paths by my house that are like 10's of miles long and inter-connect with other paths. So I can easily go on an 1.5-2 hour ride and not hit a dead-end or some non-off the beatten path trail. It's really nice. This does have avoidable side effects like my slightly crispy shoulders are a 2 hour ride on Saturday. It's really obnoixious, mainly, because my bra straps go right over the burnt area. So all of you that do not wear bras or -- bro's or whatever Krammer on "Seinfeld" called the man-bra, let's just say it's like having someone poke and...

Anyone wanna go on vacation with me. I don't mean in like a month or two -- I mean like next week or the week after. I need a break from work. Vacation sounds like a good idea. Anyone up for Paris next weekend? I think I might have a sinus infection too -- this blows!

As of next Wednesday we will have 56 people working at my company. Let's just say I was the 37th employee about 10.5 months ago. That's almost 10 employees in less than a year. And people wonder why work is difficult -- there really is that much growth that needs to be managed. Though I think I've come up with a good analogy lately (and explination for my increasingly bad attitude at work.) I like to compare management with parenting. Parents tell their kids what is right and wrong, give them goals and guidelines for how they should live their lives, and let them go live it and just give guidance along the way. My work, however, is missing that critical 2nd step -- there is little goals or guidance given -- so it is hard to grow. It's like having a parent constantly yell at you -- but not knowing their expectations. It's difficult. *Sigh* it's hard to think back about what I've done in the last year -- and realized what/how little I've really acco...

Well folks, another person at my company left over the weekend (clearly gave no warning.) She is going to a place where the management style is "more conventional." Peace! That makes it 19 people since I've started 10 months ago. And people wonder why it's so hard to get anything done. Because NO ONE know's what they're doing!!!!! Joshy, you still appling for jobs in California? I think it might be in my best interest to join you in that quest.

Seriously am I? Is it bad to want it all and not want/be willing to settle? I feel like I'm too young to settle -- that life is all still out there for me to explore. Why shouldn't I have it all? I know I like things a certain way, but is that bad? I always thought of it as being decisive -- actually knowing what I want. The hard part is not knowing precisely what you want -- and then not knowing if you are settling or not. It's a tough call.

Ever interview someone and think afterwards... that was just a huge waste of my life? Definately how I felt today. Over 45 minutes of not getting my questions answered. I felt like after the interview I had more questions than before -- and I had a lot of questions before the interview. He was a really nice guy -- someone that could be cool to work with -- but just talked a lot and never really provided me any solid answers. He took every question to be a rehtorical question. So ... "how do you motivate your employees?" He then proceeds to go on a 20 minute speal about the yankees' manager and turned the question back to me asking me how to motivate super overpaid players who are premadonnas. Um excuse me -- this was your question and there is an answer. THings like "I prefer to motivate my employees by example." Or "I like to motivate people by rewarding them for good behavor/good work/etc." Not "how do you motivate the yankees baseball ...

I feel like there is something fishy going on at work... not somethign serious like the company going under or something. More on the order of hiring... like they are not telling me everything... If you read this I just want to know! It's like telling me that you have a big secret -- but refuse to tell me what the secret is. You tant me with things like "it's sooo good -- you'll be so suprised." But still don't tell me what it is! It's a bit annyoing. I have little patience and it displays itself in many ways. I think one of my biggest career fears is acting too hastily. While I don't want to wait around forever -- I know I'm impatient and thus I have to tough stuff out longer. I just want them to hire these people -- and quit fighting about it. Hire them -- I'll help train them and then start moving on to other things that are more interesting and less annoying. There are so many things I'd like to do if given the time to really do...

You've seen the Pixar film A Bug's Life right? The very first scene -- where the ant manger is coaching the ants to walk around the leaf -- that's my work life. So it basically goes down like this: OMG at leaf? What do we do? There's this small obsticle in our path!!! I have no idea what to do!! There's a leaf in my way. The line is getting even further ahead of me!! What do I do? There's a leaf in my path!!!! The manger comes along "Look in my eyes, follow my eyes -- we are going around the leaf!" Working ant: Around the leaf? We can do that? That's my job... in a nutshell. I lead people around the leaf. QED: I'm a bug.

Definately avoiding facing any issues lately -- avoidance seems like the best bet most of the time. The frusteration continues at work. Though some things seem to be getting better ... progress is so slow ... cover ups are going on and it just sucks. I want a vacation. Or maybe just a day off. I might just call in for a "personal" day tomorrow -- and take the day off work. I hate feeling checked up on and look over -- espeically by a person who is not my direct supervisor -- or even my supervisor's supervisor. It really pisses me off. If I was making mistakes or not getting my work done that would be one thing. If I'm not donig anythign wrong and you are just trying to get information out of me ... fuck you. And do not touch me ever at work. Don't pat me on the shoulder or the arm. I'm not your child. I'm an adult. Unless I'm dating you, have been close friends with you for more than a year, or are my mother -- don't touch me. I hate p...

Ever come home from work and just feel miserable about what you do and frusterating with work? Then you start thinking ... Why am I working here? Yeah it's definately been one of those days. Typically I really like where I work. I like the people. I like the product. I like most of our customers. I think our technology is really cool. Not today. Today I am fed up with the people and just shit. It's really frusterating to work your ass off to try to help the company -- and a select few drop the ball. Sadly, which such a small company, those few dropping the ball -- can mean a major drop in business. It's gotten to the point where the lack of a timely response from certain individuals is costing us business. That's just not acceptable. Needless to say -- I've been a little pissed today. This particular person is at the top of my fire/leaving list... I've gotten 2 so far since I've been at my comany. One other person has gotten two -- if I get t...

Okay -- so yesterday was weird -- but it was even weirder when you where at my gym AGAIN today. Wasn't yesterday enough of an embarassment for both of us? Do you like it so much that you wanted to repeat the whole thing all over again? Or are you just trying to annoy me? I beg of you please choose another time to go to the gym. Can the lack of stuff to do at work stop too... it's really starting to get boring If you ask me one more time to stop having so much fun I think I'm going to kick you. We girls like to have fun at work -- either work with us and relish it -- and have fun. But you're going to have to get over it -- we're not going to change -- because work should be fun. Just because you shedule things badly -- and don't have a lot of time doesn't mean that we're going to jump. Sorry -- sucks. Get over it.

So totally went to the gym after work like normal ... lalala just an easy day since I ran and lifted yesterday today was my light day.... Lalala playing at the gym --- then for a split second I thought I saw the new guy at work.. um weird... whatevers -- I'm way more interested in my work out and the news on Channel 8 to pay more attention. Definately was the new guy from work. I love when people see you at your worst moments -- sweaty -- gross -- in ugly gross gym clothes showing parts of your body not normally seen by your co-workers. AHHHH -- Definately didn't stay around and chat for long -- Peace I'm gross I'm going home and taking a nice hot shower. This is definately that motivation that I've been needing lately to go buy some decent looking work out clothes... maybe next time we're at the gym at the same time -- and he's done with his workout back in his button down shirt and jeans -- and me in my gym shorts and gross sweaty tee-shirt that I would...

So today was boring ... another crappy interview candidate .. and yes this was the same one as the Mini-V post a few days ago. I first asked him to describe his attention to detail skills. His response "oh... I have excellent attention to detail." Me: "interesting..." Him: Why's that. Me: Because I found a number of spelling and grammatically errors on your webpage. *Insert pregnant pause Him: That's embarrasing.... For you it was embarrasing... and one of my cube buddies found another spelling error in his portfollio he brought along... dun dun dun.... yeah definately out of the candidate pool. So at lunch my Cube Mate and I decided that going back to work was a bad idea ... and that neither of us felt like it. Since I had been lusting after an African Violet Pot and Home Depot was super close by ... we went there to buy one. Well... me having OCD -- not only did I buy my dying African Violet a Pot. .. I bought an Afrian Violet and pot to put on my d...

The fact that the days seem longer (note the seem in that sentace...) is amazing. If I get out of work at 6pm I feel like I can actually go to the gym and still get something done after work. For a couple weeks the gym feel by the wayside (very sadly) -- but now I'm back in the routine again. Hopefully with some semi-successful results. I'm kind of bored with life lately -- a new hobby is in order. Though what that hobby will be I have no clue. If you have any suggestions let me know. I need something entertaining. Now that it is almost summer -- and since I sold my Boston Bike in Boston ... I'm in need of some new wheels. I think I need to go bike shopping soon... ehhh Well work was same old same old today nothing interesting.

So at work we are looking to hire in someone to help with our website. That's awesome right? So our Marketing Manger gives us a couple of resumes and interview schedules -- okay -- great-- i don't know anything about websites -- but okay -- sweet. Interviewing people is always fun. My interview phillosophy? Give people enough rope and see if they hang themselves (which a lot of times, sadly, they do.) So clearly the first thing I do is go to their respective websites and see what skills they have to offer. The first person -- I start combing thruogh the site and see bad graphics along with --- what is that? SPELLING ERRORS! Not just one spelling error -- a total of NINE!!!! so far. That's ridiculous. So I am clearly concerned about this candidate's viability (aka why the fuck are we interviewing them... (this is the second interview round) ... did no one look at their webpages????? So I go up to the Marketing Manager and question her about this ... because clearly I...

Three-bean casorole is so tasty. It's next to amazing on the food chain. Tastyness that you have yet to experience if you're never tried it before. The only problem with three-bean -- is well... the beans. Beans can be a tasty item if prepared well (as in three-bean casorole.) However, the unfortunately bean side effects (beans beans the wonderful fruit... you get the picture.) SPeaking of bodily functions -- at work I think I get scared to pee if someone else is in the bathroom. If I know them well enough and we go into the bathroom at the same time -- it doesn't seem to be a problem. But if I walk in and someone is already peeing -- I think my pee get scared and doesn't want to come out. No matter how hard I try -- no matter how full my bladder is -- the pee just won't come until someone else either starts peeing or makes some other kind of noise. It's like this feeling of apprihension and ... scared pee. I just can't seem to go when someone else ...

Ever eat things together that just don't go together? Like today -- for dinner I had an amazing selection of a Hot Pocket and Russian Tea Cakes. For those of you who don't know, Russian Tea Cakes are those little hard powdered sugared covered cakes that you'd eat with ... you guessed it.. TEA! Things like these are not designed to be eaten together. The tea cakes would have gone well with milk ... if I actually trusted the milk in my fridge. The hot pocket --- well nothing really goes well with a hot pocket. Well the thought of this combination may have brought a little throw up into the back of your throught just thinking about it. Because it definately caused a little throw up inside of me. Say it with me now (in the voice of Napoliean Dynamite) Gross! Sadly two of my little fishes died over my long weekend home. I'm very sad. I even ran out to Wegmans at 10pm (because of course by 9:30 when I actually remember that I need to somehow feed my fish over the lon...

I know I'm a horrible person for not updating my blog lately. But I really do have so much to do... sadly ... pathetically... I work too much. This weekend was pretty chill. Didn't do much -- just hung around my house, went to the big GG's for Easter dinner. Hung around -- ate too much... nothing really interesting. It took me about 7 hours to get back to Rochester. Freaking ridiculous. I hate driving. I hate "Emergency road repair" -- it's such bullshit. Work is boring me again. There's lot of work and tons of stuff to do. But it's nothing new or interesting -- just the same old same old. I have been thinking more about moving my career towards sales. At least dealing with people would be challenging. I like trying to screw with people -- it's fun. We have had sooo many new people start lately. The amount of growth is kind of scary. But hopefully it will keep goign up -- then my stock options will be worth something. It's hard t...

So Netflix is totally suing the pants off of Blockbuster. It will be interesting to see if they actually win this IP case. It will be interesting to see what happens. I would personally not like to see that an infringment was found. Mainly because what they have tried to patent is a system for delivery -- not the actual product. While this is very similar -- and the software used to determine what movies go out when -- it's probalby not the exact same -- though it's similar. And it's not like Netflix was a revolutionary product -- just a different way to rent movie -- via mail instead of a store. I don't think that business should be able to hold a patent on a type of business. While McDonalds could patent their french fry maker -- Buger King can use a similar device to produce the exact same fries. I can't imagine that they way that Blockbuster picks movies from a customer's list is the EXACT same as Netflix -- similar and on similar basis. But those ...

So I totally haven't posted in a long ass time... the last time I posted was like the last time I did laundry... way too long ago. So I went to Boston and came back. It was really fun. It made me sad I was no longer living there. The lastest work update is that I got super pissed at our CEO. He actually called and semi-appologized to me. Which is honestly more than I expected from him. Though I of course played the passive aggressive angry employee -- and when he called my four times between 10am and 2:55pm I didn't pick up. But when 3pm hit -- I finally picked up the phone when he called. He was a little flustered that I actually picked up... it was funny. So both the VP of Sales and my boss the CTO has brought up a future career option: Eurpoean Sales. So the pluses are as follows: I'd get to travel to Europe a lot and I'd make a lot more money + quarterly bonuses if I exceed my Sales Targets. The minuses: The work could get really boring and old + I could b...

I know that I am typically the one in the relationship not ready for committment. But strikingly I've realized today that I am actually very committed to one in my life, and that is my Blog. It's kind of sad that my longest relationship of late has been with my blog .... poor me. A number of major milestones have been reached this week. The most of which is that the "Ugly Couch" is not resting in a better place -- in someone else's appartment. It is so amazing that the "Ugly Couch" isn't in my life anymore. We have had a rather tedious relationship and we never really did "hit it off" to begin with. I guess the "Ugly Couch" was just in my life while I was waiting around for something better to come along. I mean -- sometimes something gross is better than nothing at all. But now that the "Ugly Couch" is out of my life, I am extremely happy, my life has really turned a new corner. I feel such intense freedom for h...

One of the most shocking things I have ever seen before happened today. One of the uber irrevrent character voices from South Park has decided to leave the show because he was offended by the content ( http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4804334.stm ). Um... have you just flown by in life for the last 9 seasons or however long SouthPark has been in existance ... or did you actually pay attention to what you were doing? Because SouthPark has forever been insulting people via their irrevrence towards everyone and everything in all societies. Nothing is sacred. So why all of a sudden -- when they make fun of something -- which is not unlike the verbal ass whoppin' given to all things ridiculous in society -- is someone offended? It's absolutely ridiculous and hypocritical. Props to Matt Stone for saying what everyone was thinking "In 10 years and over 150 episodes of South Park, Isaac never had a problem with the show making fun of Christians, Muslim, Mormons or Je...

I'm so excited about visiting Boston this weekend. I can't wait to go back to a city that I actually like. It's been so long ... I really miss it. To make it even better I get to go over St. Patty's day! Got to love St. Patty's day. Just a really great excuse to visit. I guess that's really all I have going for me today. Work blows -- people are really impatient ("This seems simple. I don't understand why this takes a whole day to get done..." -- Well buddy, you are not our sole customer -- and your one filter you want -- is not that important to us. You're just going to have to wait until we process all the money items. Sucks man, sucks.) I just want to go home and sleep -- so sleepy...

The ride to work this morning was amazing. It was some of the nicest weather that I've seen in a long time. Almost 60 deg F, sunny, just nice. I want more of this weather. Bought tickets today for BOSTON! I'm in major need of a mini-break and in major need of getting away from work for a few days. I'm so excited to go back! I miss it sooo much. It's hard living somewhere you don't like. It just makes me think of looking for another job so that I don't have to live here anymore. But I'm not even partially vested yet -- so I need to stay at least a full year to become at least partially vested. *Sigh* Work stucks today for so many reasons. I'm glad it's friday. And I'm really glad I get to go to Boston next weekend. Yeah for Boston!

I'm trying to find some new hobbies to interest me --- as the Bacholor is over -- in more than one sense. Lately I've had a real urge to get back into doing something musicie. It started as wanting to buy a piano -- and now it's into taking clarinet lessons again. I've found a local music school which I can actually get a diploma from them after a few years. They make you take not only private lessons -- but also piano and theory... which might be fun. I think I might start out taking clarinet lessons and then see how it goes -- decide what I feel like doing. I've thought about tryign to go back and get an MBA -- but it seems a little premature as I still have little work experience. While I've basically worked since I was 16 -- they don't really count all those high school and college years on your resume. Maybe another year or so I'll try to go back to school. We'll see how interested I'm in in my present company in another 6 months and...

This makes me sad http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11712565/ Maybe I should move to Nashville and try to date and emergency room doctor.... or maybe I shouldn't act the crazed fan...

I only wish I had the ingenuity that Tina Fay has in her writing... I'm afraid I'm a desperate lot and most often any attempts at being humorous fall flatter than the breasts in the Itty Bitty Titty Committee. Fortunately (or unfortunately depending on how you look at it), this weekend was relatively tame. Lots of drinking -- but not that exciting. Didn't really get to meet a lot of new people. Though the highlight had to be the marriage proposal I got. Yes, that's right, a marriage proposal. While I'm waiting impatiently to get into the single stall in the ladies room -- I recieved the most amazingly wretched drunk pickup line weirdness. "Will you marry me." Me: "Excuse me are you talking to me?" Druken boy: "Yeah, will you marry me?" Me: "Um no, I don't even know you. I don't even live here." Drunken boy: "Me either." Me: "Um okay -- so I just want to pee." Drunken boy: "But will you ...

http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/science/03/07/mouse.ranching.ap/index.html Apparently you can buy your own fairy tale characters.... However -- they might not run after the farms wife when you want them to.

Aka 99th post.... I don't know about you -- but it really sucks when someone does not trust you -- espeically if there is no reason for them not to trust you. At work today a customer basically showed that he did not trust my judgement at all -- he was forgein and was have some language issues - - I was trying to be patient and explain why what he was thinking of doing was a bad idea -- and how it could affect his results -- but he was dumb -- and said -- "no, I don't want that." Okay buddy -- but if you call me in a week asking to return it, I'm not trusting you to return the product in a "sellable" condition -- so sucks -- you're not able to. Should have trusted me since I do this shit ALL DAY LONG -- and you've probably been in grad school for a little over a semester now -- in a field that is not at all realted to the nuiances of the business I'm in. Be nice to me, I'll be nice to you. Oh -- and if sexy phone voice man from Edinbur...

I really just did not get it today when some old lady held a friendly, abeit ugly, dryer hostage. Clearly there were no dryers left -- or the ones that were left were not functioning properly. You clearly were standing with your little wheely basket in front of the sole dryer that was NOT in use. So I polietly ask "are you using that dryer right now?" You then clearly stated "Yes. I think it is the last one left." Me thinking that you were nuts -- or your wash had just finished -- walked back to get some more of my wet clothes to wait. Did you go get your wash? No. You kept standing there. I walked by again -- "Excuse me do you need that washing machine? I have three more loads I need to dry." You then gainsay me with "I am using it! I got here first." I now realized that you were in fact holding the dryer hostage! Clearly I walked away and when I pasted you again with a large load of wet -- but clean clothes -- glared at you as if you...

I think there is a time in every girl's life when Jane Austen is her best friend. Not as in real true life friend -- more of "bosom buddies" on the order of Anne of Green Gables. Rather she feels such a kindship with Ms. Austen -- and can call herself no other but a great friend. Do boys do this with Lord of the Rings or the Chronicles of Narnia? Perhaps the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy? Which I might add had a dissapointing box office return. Somehow I don't think it's the same thing. Perhaps I should start reading about Archaeology again and stop philosophizing about Jane Austen....

Since I haven't posted in a while here's a quick update: Furniture: Being delivered tomorrow -- so if anyone wants to come visit you will actually have something to sit/sleep on -- other than the twin bed in my sun room (don't ask). Work: Going pretty well -- super busy -- don't even get a chance to read the news online at work anymore = way less blog posts. Gym: Didn't go much last week only like 2 times total -- I was a complete slacker. I feel a little guilty about it and have seen been working on making up the gym time I lost. My arm is still feeling a little weak -- but it's slowly starting to get better -- hopefully it will be fully back into form by spring... Vacation: I really need one. Work is so stressful lately -- I need a break. I'm done posting b/c TV is much more interesting than anything else right now. I know I don't watch a lot of TV but the Olympics can actually be interesting if they are like Ski Jumping or something cool -- like ...

Being at work all day -- and then not having any responsibilities to anyone or anything outside of it -- is rather refreshing at first -- but also allows much introspective time. Which in my case of over analysizing the things that should not be over analyzed -- and not analyzing at all the things that should be looked at more closely. I am thus left with a variety of ideas floating around in my mind of what I should really be doing with my free time. There are so many things that I have started on a whim and never finished -- or got to be really good and talented at something and then stopped (let's not even try to start analyzing any of those instances.) I need more focus in my life -- daily I feel like an ADD kid running around in an amusement park -- so many things to do -- but I can't do them all in a day -- so I pick a few and end up ultimately disappointed that I picked the things I did -- and chose not to do the things I didn't. It's not like if I had chose...