Vacation: Days 2-5

Sorry. I know I said I'd probably be able to update everyday since I would have some free time on my hands...but I never got around to it. But never fear, for now I can try and catch you up on everything that happened. Not like anything exciting happened though.

Got off to a great start with the 2-a-day runnings. Monday and Tuesday went fine, but the last on Tuesday was a killer. After that, I noticed that I had pushed myself too hard. My legs were too damned tight to run no matter how much I stretched. So I had to lay off for a day or so. Did get to go running this morning though. I did notice that it was still extremely hard to run, but not because of my legs, I was just winded from the beginning. I know I'm out of shape and all, but I generally don't get winded like that until about the 2nd mile or so. This started in the beginning and caused me to walk a bit after every mile. Pissed me off a good deal too. Oh, Jessica asked how far I run, and it depends (weather, health, etc..). But it's usually (and I'm guesstimating here) 3 1/2 to 4 miles each time I go. But that's if I can finish. If not, usually about 2 1/2 to 3 miles.

Clean apartment? Check. Of course I only ever think it's clean for that first day...then it's dirty again.

Washed car? Check. Then the lawn maintenance guys came by and dirtied it up again for me. Thanks guys.

Caught up on my reading? Sorta check. Got through my Erk Russell book. Have yet to start The Dark Knight Returns.

Wash the dog? I brushed him. Does that count?

Experiment with how much I can drink in one day in the middle of the week? Surprisingly, no. Ran through the beer I had on Wednesday night and never got around to getting more.

Going to see Serenity Friday night when it opens. Check? I mean, I still plan to. So does that count as a check?

Waiting and waiting and waiting for someone to come and fix the ceiling fan, door weatherstripping and pest control? Check. And still waiting. Friggin' bastards are pissing me off.

So basically you get the idea that I had an entire week off and accomplished absolutely nothing. Which was kind of the point really. But I was really starting to just lose my mind with boredom for a while. Then I would conjure up something else to do to keep me occupied for an hour or so. So all in all, I'll probably never take another week off to do nothing. Hell, I'll probably never take another week off period, unless I'm headed somewhere really cool and worth the week. Sorry I had nothing great this time.

D

Vacation: Day 1

Ahhhhh. Vacation. I had forgotten what this was like.

It's already off to a good start: I got up early this morning to start my 2-a-day running. And that may have been the best run I've ever taken. I didn't get winded at all. It's because it wasn't 90-something degrees and humid as Hell. It was perfect. And the first mile (which I hate more than anything) was a piece of cake. So I'm actually looking forward to tomorrow morning's run. Now this afternoon's run...not so much. That 90-something degrees and humid as Hell...yeah, that'll be then.

I am on campus right now and just finished my HR exit interview, so that's the only blemish on the vacation so far. But I'm willing to over look it because I know I get to walk by the Office and keep going to my car. Unfortunately, it'll be straight to the new job's HR so I can pick up insurance stuff and then head back over to here to drop off the COBRA and other forms that I need to. Fun!

I realized that my "to do" list will probably be finished today or tomorrow since I'll be up so early and will have a lot of time on my hands. In fact, I started on it last night because I just couldn't wait to get started on the cleaning. I know, OCD. Girls find it endearing at first, then just plain annoying.

And I am glad to report that I remained drama free this entire weekend. No new disasters were caused by me, or because of me. And my team is now sitting at .500, and hopefully ready to rattle off another 7 wins in a row. Go Eagles!

That's just a quick update of what I have right now. But I may be able to update every day here in the library if I do indeed get bored enough to walk over and check email and whatnot. We'll see.

D

Fin.

So it's my last day at work. And here I am hard at work. Oh so hard at work as you can see.

I have one of 2 exit interviews in a few hours and will get the full "I'm so disappointed in you" in person from my boss. Whatever. If I wasn't treated like an indentured servant for the last few months, then I might care a little. But I don't. The other exit interview with HR isn't until Monday. So I have a few days to decide if I want to blast my bosses on my way out, or just be happy with how pissed they are that I'm leaving right now in the middle of the season. Probably the latter.

Then I have to turn in everything that I was ever given to use for work (ID, calling card, office key, nametag, computer, etc...) so that I don't go around posing as an employee. I think that I've had quite enough of posing as an employee around here, thank you very much. Don't think I'll be doing it on my time off. But, turning in that shite will allow me to go around campus and visit people I haven't seen in a while and most importantly stay out of the office and possibly leave early to get my drink on. ****ATTENTION! Anyone in or around Statesboro should come to The Hat to see me get extra wasted tonight. Starting at 5:00 (or earlier). That is all. ****

So today I spend my time cleaning out my office, getting teary eyed from saying goodbye to those I care about, and swiping as much stuff as I can. I think I deserve some "going away gifts" from the office. When the hell am I ever going to go out and buy some nice pens or Post It Notes? I use those damned things like I own stock in 'em.

I do have next week off before starting my next job, so I find myself trying to think of things to do to keep me occupied. I unfortunately can't pull a Brad and go off on a great vacation before starting the new job, so I'm stuck with hanging around the 'Boro. So far I have come up with a few things to keep me occupied for the next week:

• Cleaning the apartment (over and over)- for those of you who know me, that's a given.
• Washing the car
• Running twice a day (hopefully)
• Renting some movies/games from Blockbuster
• Going to see Serenity when it opens on Friday.
• Washing the dog- that will take all day.
• Experimenting with how much I can drink in one day in the middle of the week.
• Getting my comics on time on Wednesday

And that's about all I can think of. Anyone got any suggestions? That'll only take up a few days out of the whole week, so I may be kind of bored.

Well, that'll do it for this update. I'll probably add some other things later though. OH! I almost forgot, since I have no access to a 'puter at home, I'll either have to sneak into the library to post and check on everyone or wait a week until I start at the new place. Just FYI.

D

Fruit basket turn-over

Sorry if this kind of comes and goes style-wise and/or just seems spotty at best. I'm watching TV and typing during commercials/the shows.


Ah, Fall. I love the fall and all the things that come with it: college football, girls returning to the 'Boro, and all the new shows on television. It's that last one that I'm gonna cover for a bit until I run out of things to say.

The new Fall line-up is a great and troubling thing of beauty. All the new shows that get cranked out to peak my interest and the return of some old favorites. It wouldn't be a problem if all the ones I wanted to watch came on at different times from each other, but I'm not that lucky. Instead, I have to try and pick between a new show that I think I might enjoy and the ones that have won me over in the past. I know, my life is so hard.

Formulating a plan to combat this onslaught of entertainment is tricky at best. I'm almost having to flip a coin to decide which ones to watch. However, I'm pretty much going with an hour long show if it's matched up against a half-hour one. I figure that the networks are more likely to show the half-hour ones again later, rather than the hour long ones. Logical enough, right?

It's just having to decide between genres or even actual actors that makes it hard to decide. Do I feel like a comedy or sci-fi? Really can't go wrong with either one. Mark Harmon or David Boreanez? It's a pick 'em. And having to figure out what comes on when is a pain in the ass too. Shows getting moved to another day and time, or new shows being thrown into an old shows' time slots.

I suppose that in the next few weeks I'll have my picks and settle into my nice, little routine (since I won't have to work nights any more); but I do so miss my old one. I knew exactly what was coming on, slid into my butt-groove on the couch and immersed myself in some good, old boob-toobery. But for now, it's weeding out all the shows that don't make the cut and establishing my new starting rotation. All I know is I need like 6 TVs, each with Tivo. ;)

D

Old favorites:
Lost
NCIS
Scrubs
Smallville
Justice League Unlimited

New potentials:
My Name is Earl
Supernatural
Bones
Threshold

The dearly departed:
Angel
Committed
Firefly

Yar!

Avast ye land lovers or I'll keel haul 'ya!

So I heard on the radio while I was driving up here (Fayetteville, GA) that today is national "Talk Like a Pirate Day". Hmmm. So today is the day when I would not sound so utterly ridiculous firing off my usual "yar!" to punctuate something. I swear I actually do it. I even called and left a pirate-style voicemail for a friend the other day.

I've even been involved in a discussion with said friend on what pirates prefer to be called. We decided that "pirate" is not the proper nomenclature, that they prefer "nautical bandit". And that it is highly offensive to them to be singled out as the unwelcome ones at movie theaters. You've seen the anti-pirate stickers, the ones with the pirate and the red circle and slash through it. It's really sad that discrimination is still present in our society. Those poor cargo transport specialists.

Then there's the whole pirates vs. ninjas debate that has raged for eons. I strongly back the pirate party. So the ninjas are stealthy, deadly, mysterious and dress in all black. Whoopity-doo. Pirates are loud, really freakin' deadly, scare the shit out of their victims and dress like they raided a Broadway dressing room. PLUS, those guys are all about the rum and booty. How can you not love guys that are all about rum and booty?

How do you not take this job??? http://forums.g4tv.com/messageview.cfm?catid=74&threadid=482620

So something is severely wrong with me then. I kind of came to terms with that a while back actually, but sometimes you have to admit it to others to begin the recovery process.

Ninjas or pirates?










<--- Cheap ploy to get at least 1 guranteed "pirate" vote.







D
"Ninja, please."

Helpless.

There's not much more that I can think of to make you feel so utterly helpless, as when your school's athletic team (ie, football) is losing. Especially when you're accustomed to winning. A lot.

So when my team is now currently 1-2, I don't know what to think. Do we have a good team that just can't get it together? Are we just too young across the board? Is this really a rebuilding year? Will THIS loss snap us out of the funk and get us back on the right track?

Then there's the blame game. There's always got to be someone to blame, right? Some people are blaming the coaches and some are blaming the players. It's hard not to try and blame someone, but who's to blame really? Ill advised play calling and lost fumbles will both cost you the game.

But I'm trying to remain optimistic. In 2000 we started 1-2 (losses to UGA and Delaware) and ended up winning the national championship. But we're a very far cry from that team in 2000.

Hey, I said I was "trying" to remain optimistic. I'll still be there this Saturday and scream myself hoarse again just like 2 weeks ago.

D

GO EAGLES!!!!

So...THIS is what causing the apocolypse feels like.

Main Entry: pa·ri·ah
Pronunciation: p&-'rI-&
Function: noun
Etymology: Tamil paraiyan, literally, drummer
1 : a member of a low caste of southern India
2 : OUTCAST
3: Derek in the Office now.

The main update you've all been waiting for: I got the job.

Not what I was hoping for financially, but it will allow me to finally come off the road (where I am right now as a matter of fact) and be able to function as a member of society at home. No more missing out on things, neglecting friends, leaving the dog for weeks on end, etc...

But, I'm having some serious mixed emotions right now. Happy, sad, excited, depressed and a little numb. I feel it all.

Just got off the phone with the boss' boss. Having to try and explain why I'm leaving now and tried to kind of hide the fact I was doing it really wore me out. I hate that kind of conversation/confrontation. And knowing that I'll be leaving an incredible group of people behind sucks, and the fact that I may be dooming some of them to what I was supposed to do in the next few weeks is killing me too.

So I'm pretty torn up inside right now...but I have to try and remember why I'm leaving in the first place: to do what is best for ME. Which isn't something that I do a whole lot. Which may be why I'm having such a hard time with this.

So I'll go back in the office and face the awkward questions and offer my awkward answers. I'll fully expect to be shunned for the most part because I'm leaving "at the worst possible time". And I'll even face any consequences that result from my decision. I just have to remember who I'm doing this for:
Me.
And him:













Thanks for the crossed fingers and all.

D

Telegrams are cool. STOP.

Don't have much to say right now, so I thought I'd do it akin to a telegram...but without all the "STOP"s. Insert them as you wish. :)


Back in office this week. Next week on the road again. And again after that.

Interview in 1 hour.

Getting a tad nervous now. Good nervous, not bad. Helps me out in interviews and public speaking sometimes.

Interviewing at "lunch" and running work errands afterwards so as not to arouse suspicions.

Will hopefully post an update below this (in blue) after the interview is done. Once I get a definite answer...will let you know.

Interview over. Only about 45 minutes long. Very comfortable. Well, as comfortable as an interview can be really. They are going to try to have an offer out to their selection ASAP.

That is all.

D

I will hopefully be a catagory 4 this weekend.

On the road in the Hotel lobby right now. Kind of killing time until they finish cleaning my room (God I love coming back to an spotless room every day!) and putting off running in the exercise room for a little while.

I can't believe that I have completely forgotten to throw any kind of content on here for the past couple of days, but that's what happens when you spend a lot of time driving around looking for schools and doing college fairs until 8:30/9:00 at night.

So, I'm in Tampa right now. It's actually a pretty great city: lots of good schools, several comic book shops, kickass football stadium, lots of strip clubs, couple of Petsmarts, etc... Just wouldn't want to live here because of the hurricanes. Speaking of which, I was dreading coming down here on Monday because of Katrina. Didn't know what to expect really. But the weather was absolutely beautiful for the first 2 days and only sporadic crappy rain yesterday and today. So not bad at all.

Speaking of Katrina: holy shit. I was just kind of oblivious as to how bad it was actually going to be before I left. Just kind of focusing on my own crap. It wasn't until I got here and started to see the aftermath on TV that I saw how bad she wrecked everywhere she went that I really saw how lucky I am. I've heard someone on TV say "This is our tsunami", and that's true. The amount of misery that is happening all over the Gulf Coast is scary. I have to constantly remind myself of how good I actually do have it: a stable job, place to live, my health, my friends, family and dog, etc... So when we start bitching about something, just remember exactly how much worse it could be right now.

As to not end on a crappy note, a small update on Job #2:
Got a call from the HR department at Job #2 the other night (right before the college fair too), and they were trying to set up an interview (whoo hoo!). For Thursday afternoon. The exchange was something like this:
D: "Um, I'm in Tampa right now."
HR: "Really? I'm from Clearwater!"
D: "Really? That's cool. But I don't think I'll be able to make that interview time."
HR: "Oh. I guess not, what with you being in Tampa and all."
D: "Um, yeah. Well, how about Friday afternoon? I'll be back by then."
HR: "Well, the committee won't all be there on Friday."
D: "Oh." (Well, shit.) "Well, how about Tuesday?"
HR: "Yeah, we can probably do it on Tuesday afternoon. I'll let you know."
D: "OK."

Nothing really funny or exciting, just a little more aggravating to me since I told my potential boss I wouldn't be back until Friday afternoon (and he won't be there). Just sucks to have to wait until Tuesday, but at least I have them scheduling me for an interview. See? Ending on a positive note. Keeps those fingers, toes and eyes crossed for me on this. But keep your prayers (if you do that) and thoughts with those who need them much more than I do.

D
Ready for some football, Georgia Southern Eagle football that is! And booze. Lots and lots of booze to drown the memories of me getting closer to 30. No offense.