So with less than a few hours to go before I start working again, I spent the last couple of days playing pop-psychologist and answering the 'every guy' comments and questions thrown at me. One of these lines of questioning involved a friend and former co-workers asking me what I thought of her new work nickname (it's bullshit, and I stand by my commentary that she should be in HR and/or punch the assclown who made it up). The rant you are about to read is not about that. Why not? Mostly because that question was a layup for me, and I rarely take kindly to people being offensive in the workplace. That, and I know if any of these people continue to piss this friend off at work, well, they've been warned, and best of luck.
No, this is more about someone else I've been giving counsel to, and how by the end of Friday night I had had about enough. First things first-the back story. I have somehow allowed myself to be the guy who answers a question that turns into a thousand questions about men, or someone's boyfriend, or life in general. Laugh if you want, but I've made it this far. But, I am not thrilled with myself because I'm almost certain somewhere in this blog I've mentioned that I am NOT the everyman. I have no clue why other guys do things. I don't know what hair 'product' is, as I'm bald. Nor do I care.
So I've answered every dumbass question there could possibly be about a new relationship. Mind you, I have no desire to date anyone right now. And no, it's not because I'm licking my wounds, or spending time 'finding myself', the 2nd greatest cop-out ever (The first? "I'm really busy focusing on...", it's bullshit, you know it, I know it, it's crap). I am perfectly content being single, and only in the last couple of days have I even had the desire to go out into the world. Now that I've been out there the last couple of nights, someone is going to have to clue me in on why some guys think skinny jeans are a good idea??! I saw some guy who was huge wearing skinny jeans-dude looked like a peach on toothpicks, and not comfy.
You've got the backstory, and while you may think I don't know much about relationships, I'm actually quite versed in them. Mostly, that if you don't think it's worth it, walk the hell away. That the first 3 months of any relationship are bull-you're both putting on your best front so that the other person doesn't find out how insane you truly are. Truthfully, you're hiding your crazy. I'm not saying there isn't anything to go nutso over, but you have to pick your battles.
What it all boils down to is this-I've been nothing but polite and honest, sometimes brutally, to this young lady about her relationship and almost anything else she's asked me about. I have nothing to hide, never have, never will. I honestly could care less about what anyone thinks about my past. I've definitely made some mistakes, but I refuse to dwell on them. Learn from 'em, and move on. This is all a part of the maturation process. Also, the fact that I'm 35 now weighs in my favor. It's not that I don't care about certain things, it's that I refuse to get all fired up about things that don't matter. In this light, I found something to get fired up about. In running into this woman at a bar, she has been asking everyone she can find what she should do. To boil the situation down, it goes like this: the guy chose snowboarding over a full day of being lazy and having sex. A choice I don't understand, never have, and I doubt I ever will. I can't for the life of me think that the mountains will miss me enough. I told the woman, to the point, she's getting blown off, the guy doesn't want a full on relationship, simply some of the benefits of a girlfriend without the real commitment. He wants to be boyfriend-lite.
Well, in the course of her asking someone else what their thoughts were (and this is not where I get upset, hell, seek the counsel of any and every one whose opinion you value) I overheard the following, "Oh don't listen to him, he's always been bitter and jaded about dating."
Uh, excuse me? Look, I think I'm impassioned about the process, and while you may not appreciate my outlook on it, if you don't like it, don't ask me about it. Don't ask me if I've ever been engaged (no, but I did go ring shopping-a looooong time ago) and then think me odd because I haven't been. I have no qualms about the decisions I've made in my love life, because that's what I've been mostly about (sorry, I can't say always, that'd be a lie. Always is an absolute, as in 100%), so if you want to judge me, go right ahead. But be prepared, I will do the same in turn.
So I sternly stood up for myself. I don't like being asked if I'm bitter or jaded. I don't feel that I am. You may think I come across that way, and that is your take. My take? I have no issue at all with what I've done, or haven't done, so far in my life. But if you ask me about the mundane crap that goes on out there, the game playing, the texting instead of calling, the lack of a spine in most people nowadays, you're right, I get fired up. Step up or step off. Simple as that. I get that the direct approach throws most people (especially you ladies) way off, may even scare a little bit. But I liken it to my approach on a daily basis-did I give it my best? If that answer is 'yes', then I left it out there. If the answer is 'no', then try again, but make a better effort.
Under this whole thing, as I stated above, I stood up for myself. I spend countless hours with my 3 yr old niece, love her to pieces. She's adorable. I would hang out with my Godson if I lived anywhere remotely close to him. I take my roommates dog out to the dog park down the street. I'm polite to strangers. I call my Mom every Sunday. Jaded? Bitter? I would give anyone the shirt off my back if they needed it. I hope to someday be able to just give the shirt off my back just because I can. And yet for some dumb reason someone actually has the nerve to question my sincerity, my counsel, and think because of my past that my advice is beyond skewed? Well guess what? You no longer get to have said counsel.
I was asked after explaining most of the above if I was upset about being questioned. My answer? "You're damn right I'm upset, I'm upset that you have the nerve to ask my advice on things, take it, use it and feel better and comforted by it, then turn around and question-in public no less-if I even have any real life experiences or if I'm bitter."
Truth be told, this book is writing itself. Better yet, if I continue to meet people like this, you're all going to want front row seats to the next open mic night I do, it's going to be a learning experience like no other.
And as always, I'm reminded of something I learned a long time ago-'People are stupid.' Yup, they sure are.
Oh snap, I start working in about 10 hours....more about that later. Sorry, had to get that little story off my chest.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Oh now this is just stupid...I thought people next to Canada were smarter than this. All I can think about during the reading of this article is this:
Here's hoping, if his account of the alleged incident is true, that actor Gary Valentine wins and this woman goes bankrupt. If she's lying, serves her right.
My days (thanks for asking) have been filled with stuff I've always wanted to do but never got off my butt long enough to do, until recently. Yesterday I went on the Hammond's Candy tour. Yeah, the tour was short, which was fine by me. Hammond's has been featured once on 'Unwrapped', (oh, and yes, my dear friends, that is the former host of Nickelodeon's "Double Dare"-like you and your siblings didn't want to be on that show?) and the tour guide told me that they are coming back in the next week or so to film a longer special. Pretty cool stuff to see how candy is made (sure beats watching old ladies in pilgrim outfits making rock candy in Sturbridge Village-booooring), and they sure as hell got me in the retail store on my way out. Why? Are you nuts??? Let's see, candy cigarettes (check), Necco Wafers (made in Revere, MA-and, check), Fruit Stripe gum? Hells Yeah! And then of course had to buy a lollipop (grape) and root beer drops, and dark chocolate cherry cordials. Don't judge me, I have weaknesses.
Oh, and then I went over to my buddy Dan-O's for Taco salad dinner, and was, ahem, 'forced' to play with my favorite 3 yr old. If we're on facebook as friends, you saw the picture.
The only other thing I did yesterday was replace my windshield wipers and get some other stuff for the car. Today I spent an hour washing and vacuuming the dang thing. The good thing about washing your car is that it gets all that dirt and muck off of it. The bad? Noticing more dings from grocery store parking lots and seeing where someone keyed said car. Fantastic.
I got nothing else to report on at the moment. Oh wait, 2 album reviews!
1. Talib Kweli-Gutter Rainbows: download it. It's good, really good, you won't be disappointed in most of the songs. There was only one I didn't really like. That's a good showing by an album nowadays, right?
2. Cold War Kids-Mine Is Yours: completely different genre, and yet another good showing by this band. Kinda mellow, kinda grunge-y, but overall, it's solid.
----------------
Now playing: Cee Lo Green - Bright Lights Bigger City (Produced By Ben H. Allen Co-Produced By Graham Marsh)
via FoxyTunes
Here's hoping, if his account of the alleged incident is true, that actor Gary Valentine wins and this woman goes bankrupt. If she's lying, serves her right.
My days (thanks for asking) have been filled with stuff I've always wanted to do but never got off my butt long enough to do, until recently. Yesterday I went on the Hammond's Candy tour. Yeah, the tour was short, which was fine by me. Hammond's has been featured once on 'Unwrapped', (oh, and yes, my dear friends, that is the former host of Nickelodeon's "Double Dare"-like you and your siblings didn't want to be on that show?) and the tour guide told me that they are coming back in the next week or so to film a longer special. Pretty cool stuff to see how candy is made (sure beats watching old ladies in pilgrim outfits making rock candy in Sturbridge Village-booooring), and they sure as hell got me in the retail store on my way out. Why? Are you nuts??? Let's see, candy cigarettes (check), Necco Wafers (made in Revere, MA-and, check), Fruit Stripe gum? Hells Yeah! And then of course had to buy a lollipop (grape) and root beer drops, and dark chocolate cherry cordials. Don't judge me, I have weaknesses.
Oh, and then I went over to my buddy Dan-O's for Taco salad dinner, and was, ahem, 'forced' to play with my favorite 3 yr old. If we're on facebook as friends, you saw the picture.
The only other thing I did yesterday was replace my windshield wipers and get some other stuff for the car. Today I spent an hour washing and vacuuming the dang thing. The good thing about washing your car is that it gets all that dirt and muck off of it. The bad? Noticing more dings from grocery store parking lots and seeing where someone keyed said car. Fantastic.
I got nothing else to report on at the moment. Oh wait, 2 album reviews!
1. Talib Kweli-Gutter Rainbows: download it. It's good, really good, you won't be disappointed in most of the songs. There was only one I didn't really like. That's a good showing by an album nowadays, right?
2. Cold War Kids-Mine Is Yours: completely different genre, and yet another good showing by this band. Kinda mellow, kinda grunge-y, but overall, it's solid.
----------------
Now playing: Cee Lo Green - Bright Lights Bigger City (Produced By Ben H. Allen Co-Produced By Graham Marsh)
via FoxyTunes
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
you people are actually awake at this hour?
That's what I thought of as my clock read '6:45', which is really 6:30. It's been damn near 18 months since I've had to be up at anytime for any significant reason. I know, I know, some of you get up even earlier than that. You've got an important job, family, kids, blahblahblah. Again, this is not a 'whoa-is-me' thing, just a shock to my system. I feel like a damn zombie. That means I need to get to bed earlier. Oh, why am I doing this? Rumor has it I should be employed next week. And I wanted to gauge how long it would take me to get to this place, so I took a trial run this morning. Now I will be getting up at this time. More about the job stuff and why I haven't stated much in a later post.
Album Review-The Lady Killer by Cee-Lo Green is awesome. Buy it, download it, whatever. It's the best thing I've heard in a long time and can't stop playing it.
Movie Review-500 Days of Summer is a great film. Please, don't give me crap that it came out 2 years ago, some of you still haven't seen 'Tao of Steve' or even 'Clerks', so can it.
I saw this happen on TV Saturday and thought, AGAIN???? Does Marc Savard need to wrap his head in bubblewrap? Is he just unlucky when it comes to the head injuries? Part of me is curious, and part of me just wants him healthy, for his own sake. Oh, and in case you haven't notice, the Bruins are doing quite well.
Yes, I flipped double birds to my friends TV when the Jets lost to the Steelers. And then I read that the FootBlaster said no one had any right to criticize his team...uh, excuse me? Sorry, you can't flap your gums all year 'round and not expect anyone to come after you, especially after all the talking they did as a team at the Patriots. It was such a dumb comment that the FootBlaster even retracted it yesterday.
Dear CU-expel the bums! Question-would they still be in school if they didn't play football?
The Jay Cutler experience doesn't sound like a fun one. Way to see the brotherhood and camaraderie of the whole NFL backing Cutler up. Oh, wait, that was Deion 'we get paid to knock down passes, not tackle' Sanders questioning toughness. And right along side him was Michael 'that is my cousin's crack pipe in the console, officer' Irvin. Add to it all the other current players, and I was kind of shocked to see the bile spew on Twitter. What happens when any of these guys see Brian Urlacher in the next day or two at the Pro Bowl? Cutler has a Grade II sprain of the MCL, a 3 to 4 week healing process type injury. And there were quite a few guys calling him 'soft' in so many words. I wish the NFL luck in trying to gel the image of concussions and getting back in the game and various injuries. I thought the emphasis was 'are you injured or are you hurt?' because you can play hurt, but you can't really play injured. Also, this notion that Cutler didn't appear injured-uh, has anyone seen Cutler's facial expressions? He looks like a prep school punk, constantly smirking and/or aloof. Nothing surprised me. Not his appearance on the sidelines, not his play before he got hurt, nothing. While I'm not a fan of his, nor will I ever be, I can't imagine how he felt after being told quite a few players in the league, tried to call him out for not playing injured. That's rugged, don't you think?
Alright, time to go get some lunch....
Album Review-The Lady Killer by Cee-Lo Green is awesome. Buy it, download it, whatever. It's the best thing I've heard in a long time and can't stop playing it.
Movie Review-500 Days of Summer is a great film. Please, don't give me crap that it came out 2 years ago, some of you still haven't seen 'Tao of Steve' or even 'Clerks', so can it.
I saw this happen on TV Saturday and thought, AGAIN???? Does Marc Savard need to wrap his head in bubblewrap? Is he just unlucky when it comes to the head injuries? Part of me is curious, and part of me just wants him healthy, for his own sake. Oh, and in case you haven't notice, the Bruins are doing quite well.
Yes, I flipped double birds to my friends TV when the Jets lost to the Steelers. And then I read that the FootBlaster said no one had any right to criticize his team...uh, excuse me? Sorry, you can't flap your gums all year 'round and not expect anyone to come after you, especially after all the talking they did as a team at the Patriots. It was such a dumb comment that the FootBlaster even retracted it yesterday.
Dear CU-expel the bums! Question-would they still be in school if they didn't play football?
The Jay Cutler experience doesn't sound like a fun one. Way to see the brotherhood and camaraderie of the whole NFL backing Cutler up. Oh, wait, that was Deion 'we get paid to knock down passes, not tackle' Sanders questioning toughness. And right along side him was Michael 'that is my cousin's crack pipe in the console, officer' Irvin. Add to it all the other current players, and I was kind of shocked to see the bile spew on Twitter. What happens when any of these guys see Brian Urlacher in the next day or two at the Pro Bowl? Cutler has a Grade II sprain of the MCL, a 3 to 4 week healing process type injury. And there were quite a few guys calling him 'soft' in so many words. I wish the NFL luck in trying to gel the image of concussions and getting back in the game and various injuries. I thought the emphasis was 'are you injured or are you hurt?' because you can play hurt, but you can't really play injured. Also, this notion that Cutler didn't appear injured-uh, has anyone seen Cutler's facial expressions? He looks like a prep school punk, constantly smirking and/or aloof. Nothing surprised me. Not his appearance on the sidelines, not his play before he got hurt, nothing. While I'm not a fan of his, nor will I ever be, I can't imagine how he felt after being told quite a few players in the league, tried to call him out for not playing injured. That's rugged, don't you think?
Alright, time to go get some lunch....
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Cleanup, Aisle 18
Things to look over while pondering why someone would invite me to a seminar that starts with the words 'Weight Mastery....' (as in, who the hell are you calling fat?):
Vince Young loves him some Vince Young...um, unless I missed something, his career completion percentage isn't exactly stellar. Other than that, yup, VY is great-if you like a QB who walks out on his team, gets a tattoo of his name & number on his back, and beats someone up at a strip club. Sounds like the guy I want to go into battle 16 weeks in a row with...yikes.
Now for something more serious....I don't understand certain types of behavior, nor will I pretend to. But I can say this-I think some ladies need a reality check, big time. College age ladies need to stop drinking to the point of blacking out with people they don't know. Granted, I've never been a college-aged woman nor do I know what it's like, despite my 'meh' looks, to have multiple ladies trying to get me drunk enough to take advantage of me. But this story about a former University of Iowa player gives me the creeps. Not just for the girl, but more for the guy. I want to ask him, "dude, did you really just tap your boy out of bed and get some secondary nasty in used sheets with a used girl?" Don't think me insensitive towards the girl, but if she woke up with a different guy than she went to bed with, how is she not supposed to freak out? Add to that this story about former Broncos LB Kevin Alexander, and I'm starting to wonder about the psyche's of these particular women, and the men involved. The DA thought they had sufficient evidence to move forward, but the woman wouldn't cooperate. Some may suggest she got paid off, others may say they are in love. I don't know, I don't care. I know this, ladies, if your man hits you once, he'll hit you again. No joking-get the hell out. Or else, you might get to meet this guy-sure, the headline is funny, but read the article, and even I'm kinda scared.
My point is this, either we've become so skewed to certain words and actions, or more stuff is starting to get out there in the view of the public. I fall on the side of 'petrified' when it comes to making any type of move on a woman, for general fear of being slapped with the term of pervert, pushy or any remote type of sexual aggression. Where's the line? I'm not saying any of the athletes mentioned above are right or wrong. Nor am I bringing Kobe Bryant's sexual assault charge here in Colorado up (oops, by stating that I think I just did). I have no idea what happens to any athlete, or actor or celebrity. None of us do, unless you've been them or seen what happens.
I can only tell you years ago I went to a club that a lot of pro football players frequented. I could not believe the way women would just throw themselves at these guys. I've seen it happen to pro basketball players. I haven't seen it happen to baseball players or guys that don skates for the admiration of pucksluts, but I can only imagine.
We can have an idea of what goes on, but celebrity and some small token of fame does weird things to people, those that have the talent and those that are enamored with the talented. Anyone that knows me knows whom I admire for their talents, but I ain't blowin' them in the bathroom stall because they can shoot a ball thru a hoop, chuck a football 60 yards, stop a 98 mph slapshot, hit towering homeruns or make me laugh (although if Whitney Cummings or Sarah Silverman show up at my door, I'm open to suggestion).
This whole idea of athletes pushing themselves on the ladies is an old one. But I can't help think that somewhere along the lines there is something terribly amiss here. And I don't know which side is right, which one is wrong, which one was at the wrong place at the wrong time and which one keeps putting themselves in a bad spot. Here the local U, Colorado, has yet more recent former players in trouble for sexual assault. All I can think is, "didn't we (in the state) just get done with this crap, like had what seemed like the first season without any of this embarassment? Lo and behold more of the bullshit!" It boils down to this-I want to sit in on the CU sexual harassment seminar, because there should be a 0.0% chance of anything like this garbage happening. I'd address them and tell them to think for 5 seconds with their brain before their dicks. Don't think this as a weak statement, what if one of these guys has the potential to go pro? Do they have any clue what a sexual assault charge looks like to the NFL right now? How about anywhere from a 2 round drop to not getting drafted at all, how's that grab ya?
So why does this stuff concern me? Easy, it affects my life in some way, shape or form. I've got friends that get harassed, and it pisses me off. Women, great women, smart, beautiful and fun to be around, have clowns who don't get it when someone tells them, politely, to back off. Instead, they get a probing email, or worse, a letter, or a new email handle trying to IM them. Fellas, leave it alone. Look, I can make the joke that all sexual harassment is is when you're being hit on by someone you don't find attractive. But it's more than that. Some people do really get harassed. I might not be making my point clearly, but for me, I can only say that jagoffs like these guys that are out there are making it a freakin' minefield for those of us who understand the art of flirting. Or in my case, used to. Now? Nope, not talking. I've taken myself out of that race for various reasons, but one of those reasons is that no one knows what bullshit game is going on. Don't believe me? Go to a bar on a Friday or Saturday night, sit back and watch. You'll learn a ton. Actually, you won't, you'll become more and more baffled. My married friends, some of them, think that being single is great. Really? Dump your significant other and watch the paralysis of overanalysis seep in, rendering me deaf & dumb. This is the truth. A guy who used to have a blast is now stunned into silence. Sure, I could just 'go out and have a good time', but I don't trust what I'm seeing anymore. And no, this has nothing to do with previous attempts at 'the Woo'-child please. This is from someone who accepted the terms & conditions laid out by a society that doesn't know what it wants. You want me to respect feminism but go too far in one hand yet still aspire to capture the bad boys in the other. Make up your mind, so I can make up mine. Otherwise, I sit at this keyboard and type, damn near afraid to make any type of connection to the world outside my window. Hell, I like to think I have something to offer, but wouldn't know it.
Now, for something less serious...Kobe says fans in Denver shouldn't boo the MeloDrama. Kobe, keep your mouth shut about something you know nothing about. Today after practice Carmelo didn't want to talk. And mad props to the Big Russian for telling his management team to quit chasing Anthony. This is tough for me to say, as a big Syracuse fan and being a huge Carmelo Anthony fan since November of 2002-this guy has either got to man the hell up and apologize to Denver as a whole or tell everyone that this is a business and move on. Anthony is trying to play all sides and it's not working. I loved Melo, but I'm done. He can't tell me his wife has no say in his career, does he think we're all that stupid? I got married friends, and believe me, the wife definitely has some say-so in the career decisions. If that woman is buying your drawers, you can best believe she's going to have some input into where you're living. Quit playing us for fools. Anthony then states he never got the chance to talk to New Jersey, or then it was he wasn't allowed. But he'd love to move closer to his Brooklyn roots...wait a minute, here. I thought Anthony was brought up in Baltimore, or was I mistaken by the 'WB' tattoo that reps West Baltimore, or that lame 'Stop Snitchin' video that he was in that took place in some street-cred-infested place in the 'more? Where the hell is this guy from? Why hasn't anyone called him out on this? Are people so invested in their own careers that they don't want to piss off the star? I'll piss him off, and I was one of his biggest supporters. He clearly has the dumbest management team around. "I want to win". Fine, do it here in Denver. It can be done. How does going to the Knicks help him closer to a championship? Follow my logic-the Celtics are built for this year and next, Miami has at least a 3 year window, Orlando and maybe even Atlanta the same. In the West, how much longer do you think Kobe can keep pushing those knees? Tim Duncan and the Spurs have maybe this year. Dallas? Come on. Portland is cursed or something, maybe the sports gods are still making them pay for the Jail Blazers days, who knows. The Clippers and the Thunder are the only 2 up and coming teams. So why not stay in Denver, get some of the riff-raff on this team off of it, stay and build something? Does Anthony really think that by going to the Knicks he gets closer to a ring? Because he won't. Funny thing about talent in the NBA-if you're good, the public knows. How else is Kevin Durant a stud in Oklahoma City, Chris Paul in New Orleans, Kevin Love in Minnesota, or Tim Duncan in San Antonio? I hate to quote a baseball movie in this case, but 'if you build it, they will come'. I wish Carmelo the best, but holding this great sports city of Denver hostage pulling the Favrelike will he/won't he dance is crap. Grow a set and lay it out for us. Kobe, shut up. You have no say in this discussion, this is between Carmelo and the fans in this city. He wants to take a giant dump on all the support this town has given him, that's his call. If he doesn't want to be here, then leave, but leave with some dignity for crying out loud. And with a new collective bargaining agreement coming soon in the NBA, the question has been asked, is Anthony really willing to leave some $80 million on the table to leave?
here's some old school for you to reminisce about....
----------------
Now playing: Bobby Brown - On Our Own
via FoxyTunes
Vince Young loves him some Vince Young...um, unless I missed something, his career completion percentage isn't exactly stellar. Other than that, yup, VY is great-if you like a QB who walks out on his team, gets a tattoo of his name & number on his back, and beats someone up at a strip club. Sounds like the guy I want to go into battle 16 weeks in a row with...yikes.
Now for something more serious....I don't understand certain types of behavior, nor will I pretend to. But I can say this-I think some ladies need a reality check, big time. College age ladies need to stop drinking to the point of blacking out with people they don't know. Granted, I've never been a college-aged woman nor do I know what it's like, despite my 'meh' looks, to have multiple ladies trying to get me drunk enough to take advantage of me. But this story about a former University of Iowa player gives me the creeps. Not just for the girl, but more for the guy. I want to ask him, "dude, did you really just tap your boy out of bed and get some secondary nasty in used sheets with a used girl?" Don't think me insensitive towards the girl, but if she woke up with a different guy than she went to bed with, how is she not supposed to freak out? Add to that this story about former Broncos LB Kevin Alexander, and I'm starting to wonder about the psyche's of these particular women, and the men involved. The DA thought they had sufficient evidence to move forward, but the woman wouldn't cooperate. Some may suggest she got paid off, others may say they are in love. I don't know, I don't care. I know this, ladies, if your man hits you once, he'll hit you again. No joking-get the hell out. Or else, you might get to meet this guy-sure, the headline is funny, but read the article, and even I'm kinda scared.
My point is this, either we've become so skewed to certain words and actions, or more stuff is starting to get out there in the view of the public. I fall on the side of 'petrified' when it comes to making any type of move on a woman, for general fear of being slapped with the term of pervert, pushy or any remote type of sexual aggression. Where's the line? I'm not saying any of the athletes mentioned above are right or wrong. Nor am I bringing Kobe Bryant's sexual assault charge here in Colorado up (oops, by stating that I think I just did). I have no idea what happens to any athlete, or actor or celebrity. None of us do, unless you've been them or seen what happens.
I can only tell you years ago I went to a club that a lot of pro football players frequented. I could not believe the way women would just throw themselves at these guys. I've seen it happen to pro basketball players. I haven't seen it happen to baseball players or guys that don skates for the admiration of pucksluts, but I can only imagine.
We can have an idea of what goes on, but celebrity and some small token of fame does weird things to people, those that have the talent and those that are enamored with the talented. Anyone that knows me knows whom I admire for their talents, but I ain't blowin' them in the bathroom stall because they can shoot a ball thru a hoop, chuck a football 60 yards, stop a 98 mph slapshot, hit towering homeruns or make me laugh (although if Whitney Cummings or Sarah Silverman show up at my door, I'm open to suggestion).
This whole idea of athletes pushing themselves on the ladies is an old one. But I can't help think that somewhere along the lines there is something terribly amiss here. And I don't know which side is right, which one is wrong, which one was at the wrong place at the wrong time and which one keeps putting themselves in a bad spot. Here the local U, Colorado, has yet more recent former players in trouble for sexual assault. All I can think is, "didn't we (in the state) just get done with this crap, like had what seemed like the first season without any of this embarassment? Lo and behold more of the bullshit!" It boils down to this-I want to sit in on the CU sexual harassment seminar, because there should be a 0.0% chance of anything like this garbage happening. I'd address them and tell them to think for 5 seconds with their brain before their dicks. Don't think this as a weak statement, what if one of these guys has the potential to go pro? Do they have any clue what a sexual assault charge looks like to the NFL right now? How about anywhere from a 2 round drop to not getting drafted at all, how's that grab ya?
So why does this stuff concern me? Easy, it affects my life in some way, shape or form. I've got friends that get harassed, and it pisses me off. Women, great women, smart, beautiful and fun to be around, have clowns who don't get it when someone tells them, politely, to back off. Instead, they get a probing email, or worse, a letter, or a new email handle trying to IM them. Fellas, leave it alone. Look, I can make the joke that all sexual harassment is is when you're being hit on by someone you don't find attractive. But it's more than that. Some people do really get harassed. I might not be making my point clearly, but for me, I can only say that jagoffs like these guys that are out there are making it a freakin' minefield for those of us who understand the art of flirting. Or in my case, used to. Now? Nope, not talking. I've taken myself out of that race for various reasons, but one of those reasons is that no one knows what bullshit game is going on. Don't believe me? Go to a bar on a Friday or Saturday night, sit back and watch. You'll learn a ton. Actually, you won't, you'll become more and more baffled. My married friends, some of them, think that being single is great. Really? Dump your significant other and watch the paralysis of overanalysis seep in, rendering me deaf & dumb. This is the truth. A guy who used to have a blast is now stunned into silence. Sure, I could just 'go out and have a good time', but I don't trust what I'm seeing anymore. And no, this has nothing to do with previous attempts at 'the Woo'-child please. This is from someone who accepted the terms & conditions laid out by a society that doesn't know what it wants. You want me to respect feminism but go too far in one hand yet still aspire to capture the bad boys in the other. Make up your mind, so I can make up mine. Otherwise, I sit at this keyboard and type, damn near afraid to make any type of connection to the world outside my window. Hell, I like to think I have something to offer, but wouldn't know it.
Now, for something less serious...Kobe says fans in Denver shouldn't boo the MeloDrama. Kobe, keep your mouth shut about something you know nothing about. Today after practice Carmelo didn't want to talk. And mad props to the Big Russian for telling his management team to quit chasing Anthony. This is tough for me to say, as a big Syracuse fan and being a huge Carmelo Anthony fan since November of 2002-this guy has either got to man the hell up and apologize to Denver as a whole or tell everyone that this is a business and move on. Anthony is trying to play all sides and it's not working. I loved Melo, but I'm done. He can't tell me his wife has no say in his career, does he think we're all that stupid? I got married friends, and believe me, the wife definitely has some say-so in the career decisions. If that woman is buying your drawers, you can best believe she's going to have some input into where you're living. Quit playing us for fools. Anthony then states he never got the chance to talk to New Jersey, or then it was he wasn't allowed. But he'd love to move closer to his Brooklyn roots...wait a minute, here. I thought Anthony was brought up in Baltimore, or was I mistaken by the 'WB' tattoo that reps West Baltimore, or that lame 'Stop Snitchin' video that he was in that took place in some street-cred-infested place in the 'more? Where the hell is this guy from? Why hasn't anyone called him out on this? Are people so invested in their own careers that they don't want to piss off the star? I'll piss him off, and I was one of his biggest supporters. He clearly has the dumbest management team around. "I want to win". Fine, do it here in Denver. It can be done. How does going to the Knicks help him closer to a championship? Follow my logic-the Celtics are built for this year and next, Miami has at least a 3 year window, Orlando and maybe even Atlanta the same. In the West, how much longer do you think Kobe can keep pushing those knees? Tim Duncan and the Spurs have maybe this year. Dallas? Come on. Portland is cursed or something, maybe the sports gods are still making them pay for the Jail Blazers days, who knows. The Clippers and the Thunder are the only 2 up and coming teams. So why not stay in Denver, get some of the riff-raff on this team off of it, stay and build something? Does Anthony really think that by going to the Knicks he gets closer to a ring? Because he won't. Funny thing about talent in the NBA-if you're good, the public knows. How else is Kevin Durant a stud in Oklahoma City, Chris Paul in New Orleans, Kevin Love in Minnesota, or Tim Duncan in San Antonio? I hate to quote a baseball movie in this case, but 'if you build it, they will come'. I wish Carmelo the best, but holding this great sports city of Denver hostage pulling the Favrelike will he/won't he dance is crap. Grow a set and lay it out for us. Kobe, shut up. You have no say in this discussion, this is between Carmelo and the fans in this city. He wants to take a giant dump on all the support this town has given him, that's his call. If he doesn't want to be here, then leave, but leave with some dignity for crying out loud. And with a new collective bargaining agreement coming soon in the NBA, the question has been asked, is Anthony really willing to leave some $80 million on the table to leave?
here's some old school for you to reminisce about....
----------------
Now playing: Bobby Brown - On Our Own
via FoxyTunes
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
alright, I'm Tiyad
That's supposed to read 'Tired' up there for you non-New England type folks out there.
Points of contention-why ask me to an interview and then spend most of the time talking about what the company is about?? Do ya think I'm a dunce? That I don't have no crazee innernet konexccion? I just got home a little bit ago from a 95 minute interview, of which I think I spoke maybe 20 minutes. That's a lot of gum-flappin there, folks. The interview went well (for a mute), but something must have worked, I'm already moving on to the 2nd round. The role is an IT Account Exec for a very small company. Lots of room for potentially movin' on up if I'm a good boy and finish all the cookies on my plate.
I have an interview tomorrow for a completely different role, a business analyst role. If it's the highest paying job, they win. It's for a healthcare company, and they need serious help with data integrity...shocking, with all the new systems and legacy data out there.
I know it snowed barely out here in Denver, but because my interview ran long on time, I got to get stuck in rush hour. This is not a 'whoa is me' tale, but I haven't been stuck in rush hour in almost 18 months, let alone in the snow. Does everyone eat the other half of their retard sammiches before trekking out in snow out here? Christ!! Put the car in drive, look out for the dummies, be polite and share the road. When did this get difficult? And I just rediscovered how much I don't like being in a car that doesn't move, even if I'm the one making it go nowhere. Just mooooove already, dummies!
Add to it that tomorrow or on Friday I'm driving up to my old neighborhood and finding the nitwit that sold me those fantastic wipers. DO NOT BUY the DuraLast Flex Wiper blades. They suck donkey nuts. I admit, I didn't care much when the passenger side would skip, I'm in the drivers seat. But after today? Screw these things, they wiped virtually nothing, except maybe the section way beneath my line of vision. Fantastic if I wanted to see the part of my hood closest to me. Considering we get like 330 days of sunshine in this beautiful part of the world, I'm ticked that these things didn't work when I needed them. Moreover, the guy at AutoZone told me to get these instead of the Rain-X flex wipers. I'm taking these things off and I'm going to shove them up someplace uncomfortable (yup, like the back of a VolksWagen). And why did I listen to this guy? Well, if someone looks like a grease-monkey or like me, who are you trusting with info on the car? I know how to change the oil, brake pads, rotors, sparkplugs and headlights. Never really worried about the damn wipers. Until now. Oh, danger!
----------------
Now playing: Metallica - Cyanide
via FoxyTunes
Points of contention-why ask me to an interview and then spend most of the time talking about what the company is about?? Do ya think I'm a dunce? That I don't have no crazee innernet konexccion? I just got home a little bit ago from a 95 minute interview, of which I think I spoke maybe 20 minutes. That's a lot of gum-flappin there, folks. The interview went well (for a mute), but something must have worked, I'm already moving on to the 2nd round. The role is an IT Account Exec for a very small company. Lots of room for potentially movin' on up if I'm a good boy and finish all the cookies on my plate.
I have an interview tomorrow for a completely different role, a business analyst role. If it's the highest paying job, they win. It's for a healthcare company, and they need serious help with data integrity...shocking, with all the new systems and legacy data out there.
I know it snowed barely out here in Denver, but because my interview ran long on time, I got to get stuck in rush hour. This is not a 'whoa is me' tale, but I haven't been stuck in rush hour in almost 18 months, let alone in the snow. Does everyone eat the other half of their retard sammiches before trekking out in snow out here? Christ!! Put the car in drive, look out for the dummies, be polite and share the road. When did this get difficult? And I just rediscovered how much I don't like being in a car that doesn't move, even if I'm the one making it go nowhere. Just mooooove already, dummies!
Add to it that tomorrow or on Friday I'm driving up to my old neighborhood and finding the nitwit that sold me those fantastic wipers. DO NOT BUY the DuraLast Flex Wiper blades. They suck donkey nuts. I admit, I didn't care much when the passenger side would skip, I'm in the drivers seat. But after today? Screw these things, they wiped virtually nothing, except maybe the section way beneath my line of vision. Fantastic if I wanted to see the part of my hood closest to me. Considering we get like 330 days of sunshine in this beautiful part of the world, I'm ticked that these things didn't work when I needed them. Moreover, the guy at AutoZone told me to get these instead of the Rain-X flex wipers. I'm taking these things off and I'm going to shove them up someplace uncomfortable (yup, like the back of a VolksWagen). And why did I listen to this guy? Well, if someone looks like a grease-monkey or like me, who are you trusting with info on the car? I know how to change the oil, brake pads, rotors, sparkplugs and headlights. Never really worried about the damn wipers. Until now. Oh, danger!
----------------
Now playing: Metallica - Cyanide
via FoxyTunes
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
It's not my fault, I swear
So one of the fun things about moving is the change of address form. I've yet to fill this form out and not been smiling. Moving means on to better things. In my case, it meant out of the Shire! So many good things have happened since I left that place, and I will list them once all the dust settles on the job search/hunt.
But one of the funniest things that has happened has to do with my mail, or lack of. I moved around Christmas time, which clearly put my mail in some type of weird vortex. I now have 5 people that have called, emailed or texted me to let me know that they got their Christmas card rejected by the post office. Yet, lucky for me, my bills managed to make it to the new address. Gee, thanks. I know the bills I get every month, believe me it wouldn't have killed them to lose the delivery on that. But the picture of my Godson??? Oh come on!
It still doesn't beat the fire and brimstone my GramGram threw my way, however. Last week she called me and YELLED at me, wondering why the post office rejected her Christmas card. Uh, why would I know that? It's something that's baffled me, too. As much as I've moved (quite a bit) I've never had this much trouble getting my mail. Not the end of the world, but would you want an 83 yr old woman screaming at you? Especially someone that bakes as awesome as she does? I didn't think so. The woman makes homemade pizzelles, sooooooo good. On top of the homemade Italian-style chicken soup, which kicks the crap out of any cold or flu I've ever had in my life. On top of all of this, she told me to quit being 'a damn gypsy' and quit moving around so much. I laughed after I hung up the phone. Why not laugh at her while on the phone? Are you nuts??!! She can still bust me up with a wooden spoon from 1800 miles away-I'm not kidding.
So today her card arrived in the mail, and she clearly wrote the P.S. after she sent it the first time but before she mailed it to my new address-"Your Auntie Debbie got her card returned also". Yup, the guilt was oozing off the ink.
I love you GramGram!!!! That's one hilariously awesome lady there.
So, if you've sent me something (other than bad thoughts and/or the plague, which you can keep) and it got returned, let me know and I can give you my new address. Just a heads up, I'm in the city now, and it's been good to me so far. I don't see that part changing.
But one of the funniest things that has happened has to do with my mail, or lack of. I moved around Christmas time, which clearly put my mail in some type of weird vortex. I now have 5 people that have called, emailed or texted me to let me know that they got their Christmas card rejected by the post office. Yet, lucky for me, my bills managed to make it to the new address. Gee, thanks. I know the bills I get every month, believe me it wouldn't have killed them to lose the delivery on that. But the picture of my Godson??? Oh come on!
It still doesn't beat the fire and brimstone my GramGram threw my way, however. Last week she called me and YELLED at me, wondering why the post office rejected her Christmas card. Uh, why would I know that? It's something that's baffled me, too. As much as I've moved (quite a bit) I've never had this much trouble getting my mail. Not the end of the world, but would you want an 83 yr old woman screaming at you? Especially someone that bakes as awesome as she does? I didn't think so. The woman makes homemade pizzelles, sooooooo good. On top of the homemade Italian-style chicken soup, which kicks the crap out of any cold or flu I've ever had in my life. On top of all of this, she told me to quit being 'a damn gypsy' and quit moving around so much. I laughed after I hung up the phone. Why not laugh at her while on the phone? Are you nuts??!! She can still bust me up with a wooden spoon from 1800 miles away-I'm not kidding.
So today her card arrived in the mail, and she clearly wrote the P.S. after she sent it the first time but before she mailed it to my new address-"Your Auntie Debbie got her card returned also". Yup, the guilt was oozing off the ink.
I love you GramGram!!!! That's one hilariously awesome lady there.
So, if you've sent me something (other than bad thoughts and/or the plague, which you can keep) and it got returned, let me know and I can give you my new address. Just a heads up, I'm in the city now, and it's been good to me so far. I don't see that part changing.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Divisional Round picks
I'm not talking about how I only picked 1 game right last weekend...I'm not!!
Baltimore @ Pittsburgh (-3): The only thing I hated more about 3/4 of the matchups last week was that I knew KC wasn't going to show up at home. I hoped they would, but NOOOO, they had to have coaches bickering like an episode of 'DeGrassi'. No worries about Baltimore getting to punch their opponent in mouth this week and that opponent backing down. You've heard it all week, these teams don't like each other, they always play it close, usually a 3 point game (how tricky Vegas-putting the spread at 3, that way it's a push in your world), blahblahblah. Does Baltimore's D scare you? It's not the same as years passed. They can be beaten if you get to the 2nd level in the running game. Pittsburgh, on the other hand, has let it be known that you pretty much cannot run the ball on them. And the game will be at Heinz Field, I'm curious to see how the turf looks. And it's Roethlisberger at home. He may throw a pick to Ed Reed, but Baltimore will make more mistakes. Pittsburgh.
Green Bay @ Atlanta (-2 1/2): I want to pick Green Bay. Everyone is picking the Pack. No one thinks Atlanta wins this game. That game back in week 12 was a fluke. Meanwhile, Matt Ryan has lost 2 games at home in his career. Is this one of those games where everyone is right, do you pick against the grain just to be different? Have I seen anything in the last couple of weeks that makes me think Atlanta is a good team masquerading as a great one? Hmmm. Green Bay found a running game last week-the only problem is that Philly could be run on all year. I could copout and tell you this game will be about special teams, but both have very good return games. I'm trying to talk myself into Atlanta, but I just can't...I'm riding the wave! Green Bay.
Seattle @ Chicago (-10): And this is the gift of the week. Do you trust Jay Cutler? I do. I trust him to do what he does. I want to know where he's been a winner. He wasn't here in Denver, wasn't in college, and seems indifferent to playing for a team he loved as a kid. Makes no sense to me. If any of my favorite teams said they want me I'd be beyond excited. No way I'd be as cool as Jeter is with the Yankees, that is for damn sure. Seattle is riding the shock and awe vibe, has already beaten Chicago this year, and maybe QB Matt Hasselbeck signed a 2 game deal with the devil. I'm not sure, but getting 10? Yes, please! Seattle.
NY Jets @ New England (-8 1/2): I'm not picking this game as someone who pretends to be informed. I'm doing this as a fan. And as a fan, I hate blowhards. I hate yappers. Always have, always will. I don't do the smack talk thing. Anyone who knows me knows you get 2 things-the glare from when you're yapping at me, and the smirk when I'm done annihilating you. I hate the Jets, but not the way I used to hate the Colts. I used to be afraid of Peyton Manning (still am, a little bit). But someone, outside of Jersey, tell me what on God's green earth have the Jets done? Other than sign a bunch of all-stars, become TV stars thru a preseason show, beaten some crappy teams in OT and win the week 2 super bowl? If this game comes down to a talking match, Rex Ryan wins on style. But there are no style points in the playoffs. Also a note to any Jets fans, and pass this along to one if you hear one in your office this afternoon-the Jets have 2 players playing important roles for their team, two former Chargers, CB Antonio Cromartie and LT2-have either of them been on a team that has beaten the Pats in the playoffs? That puckering noise you just heard was every butthole in LoudTown tightening. I can't stand yappers, as stated a few sentences ago. Nothing better than smirking in a way that tells someone 'shut up, you're coming off as stupid'-you'll see that look on Sunday. New England.
Like I was picking it any other way??? Puh-lease.
----------------
Now playing: Kanye West - All Of The Lights
via FoxyTunes
Baltimore @ Pittsburgh (-3): The only thing I hated more about 3/4 of the matchups last week was that I knew KC wasn't going to show up at home. I hoped they would, but NOOOO, they had to have coaches bickering like an episode of 'DeGrassi'. No worries about Baltimore getting to punch their opponent in mouth this week and that opponent backing down. You've heard it all week, these teams don't like each other, they always play it close, usually a 3 point game (how tricky Vegas-putting the spread at 3, that way it's a push in your world), blahblahblah. Does Baltimore's D scare you? It's not the same as years passed. They can be beaten if you get to the 2nd level in the running game. Pittsburgh, on the other hand, has let it be known that you pretty much cannot run the ball on them. And the game will be at Heinz Field, I'm curious to see how the turf looks. And it's Roethlisberger at home. He may throw a pick to Ed Reed, but Baltimore will make more mistakes. Pittsburgh.
Green Bay @ Atlanta (-2 1/2): I want to pick Green Bay. Everyone is picking the Pack. No one thinks Atlanta wins this game. That game back in week 12 was a fluke. Meanwhile, Matt Ryan has lost 2 games at home in his career. Is this one of those games where everyone is right, do you pick against the grain just to be different? Have I seen anything in the last couple of weeks that makes me think Atlanta is a good team masquerading as a great one? Hmmm. Green Bay found a running game last week-the only problem is that Philly could be run on all year. I could copout and tell you this game will be about special teams, but both have very good return games. I'm trying to talk myself into Atlanta, but I just can't...I'm riding the wave! Green Bay.
Seattle @ Chicago (-10): And this is the gift of the week. Do you trust Jay Cutler? I do. I trust him to do what he does. I want to know where he's been a winner. He wasn't here in Denver, wasn't in college, and seems indifferent to playing for a team he loved as a kid. Makes no sense to me. If any of my favorite teams said they want me I'd be beyond excited. No way I'd be as cool as Jeter is with the Yankees, that is for damn sure. Seattle is riding the shock and awe vibe, has already beaten Chicago this year, and maybe QB Matt Hasselbeck signed a 2 game deal with the devil. I'm not sure, but getting 10? Yes, please! Seattle.
NY Jets @ New England (-8 1/2): I'm not picking this game as someone who pretends to be informed. I'm doing this as a fan. And as a fan, I hate blowhards. I hate yappers. Always have, always will. I don't do the smack talk thing. Anyone who knows me knows you get 2 things-the glare from when you're yapping at me, and the smirk when I'm done annihilating you. I hate the Jets, but not the way I used to hate the Colts. I used to be afraid of Peyton Manning (still am, a little bit). But someone, outside of Jersey, tell me what on God's green earth have the Jets done? Other than sign a bunch of all-stars, become TV stars thru a preseason show, beaten some crappy teams in OT and win the week 2 super bowl? If this game comes down to a talking match, Rex Ryan wins on style. But there are no style points in the playoffs. Also a note to any Jets fans, and pass this along to one if you hear one in your office this afternoon-the Jets have 2 players playing important roles for their team, two former Chargers, CB Antonio Cromartie and LT2-have either of them been on a team that has beaten the Pats in the playoffs? That puckering noise you just heard was every butthole in LoudTown tightening. I can't stand yappers, as stated a few sentences ago. Nothing better than smirking in a way that tells someone 'shut up, you're coming off as stupid'-you'll see that look on Sunday. New England.
Like I was picking it any other way??? Puh-lease.
----------------
Now playing: Kanye West - All Of The Lights
via FoxyTunes
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot
So I do a little research on the snowstorm that hit NYC a couple of weeks ago...maybe you saw this video, maybe you didn't:
And wouldn't you know it, there's a chance that the moron union heads decided to engage in 'Operation Slowdown'....just curious, does anyone else think these people should be brought up on corruption & civil endangerment charges, along with RICO statute violations?
This better not happen in Boston, I got family and friends there!
Don't worry about it happening in Denver, the snow we got here on Monday will be gone by tomorrow (wish you were here!!).
And wouldn't you know it, there's a chance that the moron union heads decided to engage in 'Operation Slowdown'....just curious, does anyone else think these people should be brought up on corruption & civil endangerment charges, along with RICO statute violations?
This better not happen in Boston, I got family and friends there!
Don't worry about it happening in Denver, the snow we got here on Monday will be gone by tomorrow (wish you were here!!).
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Honest to goodness requirements!
Yes, these are really under the 'Physical Requirements' section of an IT job I have applied for, read thru the whole list, it will be worth your while:
The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Guess I better track down that old lady at the park, trip her and get her ankle weights just to make sure I can get my limits up to 10 lbs....wait, 25? I thought this was an office job???
Specific vision abilities required by this job include: close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. So this pretty much isn't the type of work for a blind person, huh?
While performing the duties of this Job the employee is regularly required to sit, use hands to finger, handle or feel, and talk or hear. I'm sorry, what am I fingering? This is an IT role, is it not? What kind of sick twisted freak wrote this job description? I swear this reads like a rider for a gloryhole production, not that I would know....
The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms. As opposed to me using my feet? And I've been trying so hard to use the 'monkey feet' technique, damn it!!
The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, and taste or smell. Wouldn't it have been easier to just ask me if I were a ninja? Or a disciple of Chuck Norris? I would have made a reference to David Carradine, but you know, he's dead in the closet, mistook his belt for a necktie...what, too soon?
I do what I can, feel free to post your own commentary.
----------------
Now playing: The Black Keys - Have Love Will Travel
via FoxyTunes
- The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
- Specific vision abilities required by this job include: close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
- While performing the duties of this Job the employee is regularly required to sit, use hands to finger, handle or feel, and talk or hear.
- The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms.
- The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, and taste or smell.
The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Guess I better track down that old lady at the park, trip her and get her ankle weights just to make sure I can get my limits up to 10 lbs....wait, 25? I thought this was an office job???
Specific vision abilities required by this job include: close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. So this pretty much isn't the type of work for a blind person, huh?
While performing the duties of this Job the employee is regularly required to sit, use hands to finger, handle or feel, and talk or hear. I'm sorry, what am I fingering? This is an IT role, is it not? What kind of sick twisted freak wrote this job description? I swear this reads like a rider for a gloryhole production, not that I would know....
The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms. As opposed to me using my feet? And I've been trying so hard to use the 'monkey feet' technique, damn it!!
The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, and taste or smell. Wouldn't it have been easier to just ask me if I were a ninja? Or a disciple of Chuck Norris? I would have made a reference to David Carradine, but you know, he's dead in the closet, mistook his belt for a necktie...what, too soon?
I do what I can, feel free to post your own commentary.
----------------
Now playing: The Black Keys - Have Love Will Travel
via FoxyTunes
Monday, January 10, 2011
cleanup, aisle 17
Just a few things for you to read and/or comment on...
Elizabeth Edwards left nothing to her d-bag former husband. And no one feels bad. At least no one I know. There's a special place in hell for someone who cheats on their spouse, while they have cancer, then deny the affair and the child sired from said affair. Oh, and did you know John is an attorney? I know, I'm baffled, too.
Boston Herald reporter Steve Buckley owned his gayness. Sorry, I'm done with 'coming out of the closet', it's overused. I wish Steve well in being an 'out there' homosexual, which I know plenty of people that have been doing it forever. But in Boston, as a sports reporter? Best of luck, no sarcasm, because that's a tough market and not every sports fan has the palate to accept a person's sexuality. Sorry, but I know my people back in the Hub, not all can be enlightened. I've got bigger things to worry about than what someone does in their own house.
Patton Oswalt, a fantastic comic who apparently had his time to be cool because only comics thought he was cool (think J. Dilla for hiphop junkies), thinks it's time for geek culture to die. I think he's right, because he kind of rode the same wave. He's still an awesome comedian, but after reading this even I'm wondering if geek cache has run its course?
Job front
I'll have more news in a few days, but I will tell you that things are starting to pick up very heavily for me in the last few days. It's nice to be recognized and even spoken to. Hopefully some of these recruiters that I'm dealing with have started to see a spike in business, which will in turn spike for my opportunities.
The Tragedy in Tuscon
I'm going to state the following-those that believe the initial reports and perpetuated the drivel that it was anything political, or Sarah Palin's fault, should have press credentials revoked yesterday. This guy was a nut. What I read immediately afterward made me shake with fury. Not everything has a political slant, and if I want an opinion piece, I turn to the editorial section. What the AP did and certain major networks picked up and chose to spew on TV and the internet made me nauseous, but not as bad as what I've read on chats, commentary and facebook. So much for getting facts straight. The tragedy for me was the 9 year old little girl, who was born on 9/11/2001, of all days, and knew how blessed she was to have her family. I've already seen a mugshot of this guy, and he needs either serious psychotherapy or a bullet, you decide. I can only say that my opinion would be a bullet if it were my daughter that died by the hands of a maniac.
Those that use this story for anything other than a notice to treat those with serious mental disorders are assholes, and that type of self-serving behavior, conservative or liberal, are the same reasons that crap keeps happening. Hug your friends, check on them and let them know you're there for them.
I'm not a therapist, but I can tell you that through my time of not working there have been a few dark moments-nothing like that guy, not remotely close-but I had a fantastic group of friends who went out of their way to check in on me. I am paying that forward as best I can. Moving out of the Shire has done me wonders and allowed me to be a much nicer person. Relax, if you're a dick to me I can still bury you in a second, there's just not that aggravation at the surface anymore. I live in smaller quarters but there was no space big enough to get me any distance from someone who is depressed and an alcoholic...and a slob. My new place is fantastic because of the people I live with and how I fit, how much I like my neighborhood, how much closer I am to some friends and that I am closer to being employed. Heck, I think my more upbeat attitude is coming thru in phone conversations and emails. I've even kinda helped 1 friend get over the hump of interviewing. See, I helped!
Elizabeth Edwards left nothing to her d-bag former husband. And no one feels bad. At least no one I know. There's a special place in hell for someone who cheats on their spouse, while they have cancer, then deny the affair and the child sired from said affair. Oh, and did you know John is an attorney? I know, I'm baffled, too.
Boston Herald reporter Steve Buckley owned his gayness. Sorry, I'm done with 'coming out of the closet', it's overused. I wish Steve well in being an 'out there' homosexual, which I know plenty of people that have been doing it forever. But in Boston, as a sports reporter? Best of luck, no sarcasm, because that's a tough market and not every sports fan has the palate to accept a person's sexuality. Sorry, but I know my people back in the Hub, not all can be enlightened. I've got bigger things to worry about than what someone does in their own house.
Patton Oswalt, a fantastic comic who apparently had his time to be cool because only comics thought he was cool (think J. Dilla for hiphop junkies), thinks it's time for geek culture to die. I think he's right, because he kind of rode the same wave. He's still an awesome comedian, but after reading this even I'm wondering if geek cache has run its course?
Job front
I'll have more news in a few days, but I will tell you that things are starting to pick up very heavily for me in the last few days. It's nice to be recognized and even spoken to. Hopefully some of these recruiters that I'm dealing with have started to see a spike in business, which will in turn spike for my opportunities.
The Tragedy in Tuscon
I'm going to state the following-those that believe the initial reports and perpetuated the drivel that it was anything political, or Sarah Palin's fault, should have press credentials revoked yesterday. This guy was a nut. What I read immediately afterward made me shake with fury. Not everything has a political slant, and if I want an opinion piece, I turn to the editorial section. What the AP did and certain major networks picked up and chose to spew on TV and the internet made me nauseous, but not as bad as what I've read on chats, commentary and facebook. So much for getting facts straight. The tragedy for me was the 9 year old little girl, who was born on 9/11/2001, of all days, and knew how blessed she was to have her family. I've already seen a mugshot of this guy, and he needs either serious psychotherapy or a bullet, you decide. I can only say that my opinion would be a bullet if it were my daughter that died by the hands of a maniac.
Those that use this story for anything other than a notice to treat those with serious mental disorders are assholes, and that type of self-serving behavior, conservative or liberal, are the same reasons that crap keeps happening. Hug your friends, check on them and let them know you're there for them.
I'm not a therapist, but I can tell you that through my time of not working there have been a few dark moments-nothing like that guy, not remotely close-but I had a fantastic group of friends who went out of their way to check in on me. I am paying that forward as best I can. Moving out of the Shire has done me wonders and allowed me to be a much nicer person. Relax, if you're a dick to me I can still bury you in a second, there's just not that aggravation at the surface anymore. I live in smaller quarters but there was no space big enough to get me any distance from someone who is depressed and an alcoholic...and a slob. My new place is fantastic because of the people I live with and how I fit, how much I like my neighborhood, how much closer I am to some friends and that I am closer to being employed. Heck, I think my more upbeat attitude is coming thru in phone conversations and emails. I've even kinda helped 1 friend get over the hump of interviewing. See, I helped!
Sunday, January 9, 2011
day 2 of wild card round
yesterday's picks...let's just not talk about them.
Baltimore (-3) @ Kansas City: I like the home team, I don't know why. Kansas City.
Green Bay @ Philadelphia (-1 1/2): I'm taking the road team, Philly gives up too much in the passing game. Green Bay.
I wouldn't trust my picks, though.
Enjoy Sunday!!
Baltimore (-3) @ Kansas City: I like the home team, I don't know why. Kansas City.
Green Bay @ Philadelphia (-1 1/2): I'm taking the road team, Philly gives up too much in the passing game. Green Bay.
I wouldn't trust my picks, though.
Enjoy Sunday!!
Saturday, January 8, 2011
1st round Saturday picks!
New Orleans (-10) @ Seattle: Haha, quit playin'. Blowout city. New Orleans.
NY Jets @ Indianapolis (-2): Peyton Manning, spotlight game of the day, with all the distractions the Jets have been going thru, plus the coach saying "it's personal". I don't like either team, in case you forgot, but since I should pick someone...Indianapolis.
NY Jets @ Indianapolis (-2): Peyton Manning, spotlight game of the day, with all the distractions the Jets have been going thru, plus the coach saying "it's personal". I don't like either team, in case you forgot, but since I should pick someone...Indianapolis.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
a few notes for this new year
I won't do any New Years resolutions-they rarely stick and I feel like I'd be setting myself up for failure. That can't be a good thing.
New Years Eve was spent dining with friends at an awesome restaurant where the food and the service were both excellent. It's a rarity, but a refreshing change. Granted, my dining experience in the last few months has been more of the '$7.86 at the first window', but still. Great food and great company with damn good conversation always makes for a fine evening, especially now. Face it, New Years Eve is great if you're 21, maybe up until you're 25. But after that, do you really want to go out, spend $100 to walk into a club, then have to sit in the cold trying to hail a cab to get you and your drunk friends home? When you could already stay home and/or have friends over and tie one on and pass out in your own bed? I was home before midnight and thought nothing of it.
New Years Day, however, was another story. I had a wedding to go to. I know, new year, new start, it's a nice touch. The ceremony was good, a few nice subtle touches to the whole shebang...but the reception? Now that's where things got fun. I will only give the highlights:
1. 4 (!!!!) speeches/toasts....what, the cast and crew from 'Lord of the Rings' wasn't around?
2. Speech #1 was by the best man, and oldest brother to the groom. Other than some drunken rambling about welcoming to the family (of folks who are extremely proud of their heritage-I thought those people only existed in movies...nope, they're real).
3. Speech #2 was by drunk brother #2, who for me, had one of the biggest mistakes/awesome lines I've ever heard at a wedding. He said, to the groom mind you, "Man, your new bride is like a 12. She's awesome. You've all met my wife, she's great, a 10, but this girl you married is fantastic!" Oh yes, it was that awkward, I cannot lie to you. Here's the sign you know it's going downhill, fast-when everyone at the your table is looking at each other mouthing 'is this really happening?' Better than that, maybe, was discussing how many girlfriends his brother didn't have and how picky he was. I can relate, on the picky part, but this started to feel like a roast.
4. Speech #3 by drunker brother #3. Pretty much rambling the same 3 phrases over and over. 'Thank you all for coming out. This has been a great evening. So nice that our families will be joined together forever.' In various tones, inflections and in different orders, but those were the three strong sentiments, over and over and over and over again.
5. Speech #4, delivered by the maid of honor, and sister of the bride. It clocked in at 8 minutes and other than calling the groom 'Charlie Brown' (for real, no man wants to be called Charlie Brown, especially on his wedding day-what possible good connotation can be gleamed from that?), the moment that may stick around for awhile, like a stale beer fart, is the notion that this woman called her own sister a ho. And I quote, "my sister has had a LOT of boyfriends, A LOT..." I couldn't see the look of horror on the bride's face, but the groom did shout out a quick, 'Thanks, sis' for her noting the amount of men her sister seemed to have around. This turned to a bad sitcom episode, fast.
6. The drunk couple sitting to my right, the guy who wore the douchey suit-an embroidered suit jacket, like out of a bad Ed Hardy collection. And the woman, who decided to sing every song the DJ played and screw up the words. I appreciated when her date/boyfriend left the table and she asked me if I wanted her number, because I was cute. Flattered, slightly, but more horrified that some people don't believe in the philosophy of dance with who brung ya. Stay classy, honey.
7. The highlight of the night, for me, however, was the drunk girl pole-dancing. Well, more like column-dancing. There were 4 columns surrounding the dance floor in this ballroom, this woman, wearing what I can only describe as a sweater dress, was dancing like she was in a music video or working at a strip club. Mouthing all the words and showing some part of the control top portion of her panty hose. It was a car wreck, I didn't want to see it, but I couldn't look away.
After all that fun, I had to go. I love that I live downtown now and just took a cab to and from this event, cost about the same as a valet and I didn't have to warm up a car or risk anything.
The job front
I stated before that something good was going to happen soon, and I still believe that it will. I had a phone interview for a cool little company downtown this morning, and that is promising.
In other news, I think that the Business Intelligence sales/biz dev dream has fought the good fight and lost. I don't have what companies are looking for. While I was very successful in that role in the past, companies can't look past the duration of that role. I was laid off, thru no fault of mine, for that job. I was offered to move to Tampa to keep that job, I just made the choice not to move to Florida at that time. I stand by that decision. I knew what was keeping me in Denver at that time, or where else I was considering I would go. Tampa just wasn't it. I listened to my gut, and would again given that chance. And I have to state, I don't blame companies for not wanting to take a chance on me in that environment. They are looking for someone with more experience and a little bit safer. I don't knock them for it. But I look at my numbers, and what I did with all that was going on in my life, and I can smile. I did the best I could, was the only salesperson to make goal, all while my Pops was diagnosed with lung cancer, going thru treatment across the country and then passing away. I left it all on the floor/table/ice/field, no regrets. I'll consider that a success in my life. Now, I move on to another endeavor, hopefully soon.
Football
Cleveland fires Mangini-should have done that last year, Holmgren.
Carolina let's Fox go-it was time, I look for John Fox to end up as a great D-Coordinator somewhere (Houston?)
Cincinnati retains Marvin Lewis-uh, ok. But they better get an indoor practice facility and that GawdAwful WR sideshow needs to be shown the door, too.
Oakland fires Tom Cable-this goes into the 'WTF?!' file. Makes absolutely no sense. He just led them to a sweep of the division.
Kathy Griffin takes on a 16 year old. This is how you know your time on the D-List is officially over. Someone else call the T.O.D., it's too embarrassing to even discuss any further. I believe the term you're searching for is 'hack'.
and I'm out this mofo.
New Years Eve was spent dining with friends at an awesome restaurant where the food and the service were both excellent. It's a rarity, but a refreshing change. Granted, my dining experience in the last few months has been more of the '$7.86 at the first window', but still. Great food and great company with damn good conversation always makes for a fine evening, especially now. Face it, New Years Eve is great if you're 21, maybe up until you're 25. But after that, do you really want to go out, spend $100 to walk into a club, then have to sit in the cold trying to hail a cab to get you and your drunk friends home? When you could already stay home and/or have friends over and tie one on and pass out in your own bed? I was home before midnight and thought nothing of it.
New Years Day, however, was another story. I had a wedding to go to. I know, new year, new start, it's a nice touch. The ceremony was good, a few nice subtle touches to the whole shebang...but the reception? Now that's where things got fun. I will only give the highlights:
1. 4 (!!!!) speeches/toasts....what, the cast and crew from 'Lord of the Rings' wasn't around?
2. Speech #1 was by the best man, and oldest brother to the groom. Other than some drunken rambling about welcoming to the family (of folks who are extremely proud of their heritage-I thought those people only existed in movies...nope, they're real).
3. Speech #2 was by drunk brother #2, who for me, had one of the biggest mistakes/awesome lines I've ever heard at a wedding. He said, to the groom mind you, "Man, your new bride is like a 12. She's awesome. You've all met my wife, she's great, a 10, but this girl you married is fantastic!" Oh yes, it was that awkward, I cannot lie to you. Here's the sign you know it's going downhill, fast-when everyone at the your table is looking at each other mouthing 'is this really happening?' Better than that, maybe, was discussing how many girlfriends his brother didn't have and how picky he was. I can relate, on the picky part, but this started to feel like a roast.
4. Speech #3 by drunker brother #3. Pretty much rambling the same 3 phrases over and over. 'Thank you all for coming out. This has been a great evening. So nice that our families will be joined together forever.' In various tones, inflections and in different orders, but those were the three strong sentiments, over and over and over and over again.
5. Speech #4, delivered by the maid of honor, and sister of the bride. It clocked in at 8 minutes and other than calling the groom 'Charlie Brown' (for real, no man wants to be called Charlie Brown, especially on his wedding day-what possible good connotation can be gleamed from that?), the moment that may stick around for awhile, like a stale beer fart, is the notion that this woman called her own sister a ho. And I quote, "my sister has had a LOT of boyfriends, A LOT..." I couldn't see the look of horror on the bride's face, but the groom did shout out a quick, 'Thanks, sis' for her noting the amount of men her sister seemed to have around. This turned to a bad sitcom episode, fast.
6. The drunk couple sitting to my right, the guy who wore the douchey suit-an embroidered suit jacket, like out of a bad Ed Hardy collection. And the woman, who decided to sing every song the DJ played and screw up the words. I appreciated when her date/boyfriend left the table and she asked me if I wanted her number, because I was cute. Flattered, slightly, but more horrified that some people don't believe in the philosophy of dance with who brung ya. Stay classy, honey.
7. The highlight of the night, for me, however, was the drunk girl pole-dancing. Well, more like column-dancing. There were 4 columns surrounding the dance floor in this ballroom, this woman, wearing what I can only describe as a sweater dress, was dancing like she was in a music video or working at a strip club. Mouthing all the words and showing some part of the control top portion of her panty hose. It was a car wreck, I didn't want to see it, but I couldn't look away.
After all that fun, I had to go. I love that I live downtown now and just took a cab to and from this event, cost about the same as a valet and I didn't have to warm up a car or risk anything.
The job front
I stated before that something good was going to happen soon, and I still believe that it will. I had a phone interview for a cool little company downtown this morning, and that is promising.
In other news, I think that the Business Intelligence sales/biz dev dream has fought the good fight and lost. I don't have what companies are looking for. While I was very successful in that role in the past, companies can't look past the duration of that role. I was laid off, thru no fault of mine, for that job. I was offered to move to Tampa to keep that job, I just made the choice not to move to Florida at that time. I stand by that decision. I knew what was keeping me in Denver at that time, or where else I was considering I would go. Tampa just wasn't it. I listened to my gut, and would again given that chance. And I have to state, I don't blame companies for not wanting to take a chance on me in that environment. They are looking for someone with more experience and a little bit safer. I don't knock them for it. But I look at my numbers, and what I did with all that was going on in my life, and I can smile. I did the best I could, was the only salesperson to make goal, all while my Pops was diagnosed with lung cancer, going thru treatment across the country and then passing away. I left it all on the floor/table/ice/field, no regrets. I'll consider that a success in my life. Now, I move on to another endeavor, hopefully soon.
Football
Cleveland fires Mangini-should have done that last year, Holmgren.
Carolina let's Fox go-it was time, I look for John Fox to end up as a great D-Coordinator somewhere (Houston?)
Cincinnati retains Marvin Lewis-uh, ok. But they better get an indoor practice facility and that GawdAwful WR sideshow needs to be shown the door, too.
Oakland fires Tom Cable-this goes into the 'WTF?!' file. Makes absolutely no sense. He just led them to a sweep of the division.
Kathy Griffin takes on a 16 year old. This is how you know your time on the D-List is officially over. Someone else call the T.O.D., it's too embarrassing to even discuss any further. I believe the term you're searching for is 'hack'.
and I'm out this mofo.
Monday, January 3, 2011
17
numbers, nothing but numbers...
17 months unemployed, total number of jobs applied for: 856
For the calendar year 2010: 704
For the month of December, 2010: 58
Something good is about to happen, I'm telling you
17 months unemployed, total number of jobs applied for: 856
For the calendar year 2010: 704
For the month of December, 2010: 58
Something good is about to happen, I'm telling you
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)