Since Friday is a day off for the Fourth of July, one of the most important dates on the American calendar, today isn't quite Tuesday and it isn't quite Wednesday either. Hence Weusday.
I slept in about ten minutes later this morning than I usually do. Feel pretty good though! Took The Things to rehearsal last night for Into The Woods. Thing 1 is in the orchestra, Thing 2 is painting the set and both are enjoying it a lot.
This will be a massive show. Very complex as I blogged about before and lots of people and story to tell. I believe the light plot will be relatively easy over the course of two and a half hours. No major switches like Yes Virginia, the lights here will likely be on, off, one color or another representing the time of day or evening, and a spot light.
It'll be fun! I'll start next week turning the lights on while the actors are on stage and get it roughed out, then as the rehearsals go on I'll get it fine tuned to the cues, then its showtime!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
Two Kinds Of People
There really are two kinds of people in the world. There are people who have iPhones and people who lie about wanting one. Regardless of AT&T the iPhone is a marvelous device and once you drink the KoolAid you can't go back to not owning one.
So for all of you friends out there who know me, pick up your iPhone, turn it on, text someone you know and care for. You can be a little smug about owning an iPhone, its hard not to be when you hold in your hand a revolutionary device that finally caught up to a lot of people's dreams of owning a computer in your pocket.
Especially those of you with the new 3Gs which is the equivalent of the official Red Ryder carbine action two-hundred shot range model air rifle with a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time.
I'll have to hold off on getting my new 3Gs as I won't be eligible for the upgrade until January 8th, 2010. By that time I'm less than six months out from the new version of the iPhone so I'll hold out until next June and hope for something a little more revolutionary and maybe 64 gigs of storage which is what I really really want and a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time.
I bet you'll see online video uploads SOAR with the 3Gs, that is how powerful this device can be. You'll eventually see a front facing camera for video conferencing. With every upgrade you'll have noticed speed increases and battery life improvements. The potential is there for some really incredible things, air drop a crate of iPhones into the middle east and you might have a peace agreement between the Israelis and the Palestinians before long!
So for all of you friends out there who know me, pick up your iPhone, turn it on, text someone you know and care for. You can be a little smug about owning an iPhone, its hard not to be when you hold in your hand a revolutionary device that finally caught up to a lot of people's dreams of owning a computer in your pocket.
Especially those of you with the new 3Gs which is the equivalent of the official Red Ryder carbine action two-hundred shot range model air rifle with a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time.
I'll have to hold off on getting my new 3Gs as I won't be eligible for the upgrade until January 8th, 2010. By that time I'm less than six months out from the new version of the iPhone so I'll hold out until next June and hope for something a little more revolutionary and maybe 64 gigs of storage which is what I really really want and a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time.
I bet you'll see online video uploads SOAR with the 3Gs, that is how powerful this device can be. You'll eventually see a front facing camera for video conferencing. With every upgrade you'll have noticed speed increases and battery life improvements. The potential is there for some really incredible things, air drop a crate of iPhones into the middle east and you might have a peace agreement between the Israelis and the Palestinians before long!
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Great Set Call
Yesterday was really a lot of fun. I took Thing 2 up to set call for Into The Woods and within an hour or so she had settled in and was painting up a storm on Rapunzel's Tower!
She was doing textures on the stones with a paper bag and getting paint all over her, it was really funny but she loved it. She got over her shyness quickly and started to click with the group.
I mainly helped Skate on the grid above the stage and the placing of trees. That was a big job but we had a great time. My friends rock, that is why I wanted to be part of this show, almost everyone I know in the theatre group is going to be in this show, a few I really like aren't involved in this one but the majority is.
It is the most complex show I've been involved in but Misery is close but that was a lot more of a special effects show. We also had a cast of two so the set calls were a lot longer and tougher. We didn't have the people to help out. You can review all of my Misery posts if you really want to see the evolution of the set and tear down.
I'll start in the booth on the sixth of July, I won't be needed for much to start other than to get the light cues roughed out. It'll help out later on though.
She was doing textures on the stones with a paper bag and getting paint all over her, it was really funny but she loved it. She got over her shyness quickly and started to click with the group.
I mainly helped Skate on the grid above the stage and the placing of trees. That was a big job but we had a great time. My friends rock, that is why I wanted to be part of this show, almost everyone I know in the theatre group is going to be in this show, a few I really like aren't involved in this one but the majority is.
It is the most complex show I've been involved in but Misery is close but that was a lot more of a special effects show. We also had a cast of two so the set calls were a lot longer and tougher. We didn't have the people to help out. You can review all of my Misery posts if you really want to see the evolution of the set and tear down.
I'll start in the booth on the sixth of July, I won't be needed for much to start other than to get the light cues roughed out. It'll help out later on though.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Cool Friday
If you have been to my house in the past two years you'll have noticed a large blue and white bus in my back yard. It was my dad's bus. The city of Waukomis was hassling him about it so he moved it to my yard.
Well after his passing I decided to have it hauled off for scrap, then I decided against that since I know the engine is good and that the transmission is practically new. It only has like four or five trips on it. So now that it is my problem to deal with I decided to put it on Craigslist and see if maybe by a fluke I could get it sold for something I could put towards a new central heat and air unit or some needed things I've been putting off.
I put it in for two thousand dollars, the transmission alone was over three but in the shape the bus is in I figured two was reasonable. Got one email about it, he lost interest quickly. Got another and this guy was persistent. We emailed a couple of times, he sent me his phone number and I called him. He told me he was familiar with the area and that his parents had lived here at one time.
So he and his friend decided to road trip here from Missouri and look it over. I let The Date know that they will be at the house (shortly after she got backed into it in a parking lot, thankfully it was the other girl's fault and her insurance will pay for it) and to show them the bus.
The Date texts me and asks me if I knew they were from Trick My Truck on CMT, I reply I did not, the man didn't tell me and I can understand why. The Date had a good talk with them as they were here for about three hours. The bus fired right up for them even though it hasn't been started in months. They called me a couple of times since I was at work and asked questions about it. Couldn't get it to move forward or backward though. He told The Date they will go back and do some research on it and come back over with a mechanic.
I know my dad would love for his bus to have a new life instead of hauled off for scrap. I hope they buy it so that it could be remodeled and fixed up and I don't have to have it hauled off. Not even for the money I'm asking for it either, because those guys have the resources to make it a very nice bus again.
After I got home and after The Date got off of work we went to Shakespeare in the Park to see The Tempest, well the last act anyway. The whole gang was there from the next show I'll be involved with, Into The Woods. Hugs all around and then we enjoyed the last act. Good show, better friends!
Well after his passing I decided to have it hauled off for scrap, then I decided against that since I know the engine is good and that the transmission is practically new. It only has like four or five trips on it. So now that it is my problem to deal with I decided to put it on Craigslist and see if maybe by a fluke I could get it sold for something I could put towards a new central heat and air unit or some needed things I've been putting off.
I put it in for two thousand dollars, the transmission alone was over three but in the shape the bus is in I figured two was reasonable. Got one email about it, he lost interest quickly. Got another and this guy was persistent. We emailed a couple of times, he sent me his phone number and I called him. He told me he was familiar with the area and that his parents had lived here at one time.
So he and his friend decided to road trip here from Missouri and look it over. I let The Date know that they will be at the house (shortly after she got backed into it in a parking lot, thankfully it was the other girl's fault and her insurance will pay for it) and to show them the bus.
The Date texts me and asks me if I knew they were from Trick My Truck on CMT, I reply I did not, the man didn't tell me and I can understand why. The Date had a good talk with them as they were here for about three hours. The bus fired right up for them even though it hasn't been started in months. They called me a couple of times since I was at work and asked questions about it. Couldn't get it to move forward or backward though. He told The Date they will go back and do some research on it and come back over with a mechanic.
I know my dad would love for his bus to have a new life instead of hauled off for scrap. I hope they buy it so that it could be remodeled and fixed up and I don't have to have it hauled off. Not even for the money I'm asking for it either, because those guys have the resources to make it a very nice bus again.
After I got home and after The Date got off of work we went to Shakespeare in the Park to see The Tempest, well the last act anyway. The whole gang was there from the next show I'll be involved with, Into The Woods. Hugs all around and then we enjoyed the last act. Good show, better friends!
Friday, June 26, 2009
Jackals
So last night I'm watching the wall to wall coverage of the death of Michael Jackson. I've got to wonder many things about his death.
For a decade he was on top of the music world until the early nineties. He started to go from Michael Jackson to Jacko as stories surfaced and some of the oddest rumors you would ever hear about a man. If it was about him people tended to believe it. Was he a tragedy years in the making?
You have a superstar who wasn't really playing by rules anymore. With that kind of power, money, and fame the rules that apply to you and me just don't apply to someone like him. He was used to asking for what he wanted, getting it, and more than he wanted of it with no one telling him no.
After a few years of that you can lose touch with reality. None of us will likely ever know that kind of lifestyle. That might be why he got into so much trouble. No one told him no, likely to his own demise.
Forced into the limelight at a very young age by a domineering father, some say abusive, he brought his family out of poverty as the leader of the Jackson 5. He likely died with hundreds of millions of dollars of debt. On top of the world with a life full of chaos and disarray. From the brief marriage to Lisa Marie, to the dental assistant and mother of two children, to the surrogate child, this is one man who could not find solace at any price.
A great talent, a lonely man, a freak, a world class entertainer, an abused man child who never grew up. I'm sure he was all of that and more, but what you have not seen yet is the circus that will come over his estate, the custody of his children, the pot of gold at the end of Michael Jackson's rainbow. Squabbling will commence with the first lawsuit before his body is buried.
You will see jackals come out by droves, lured by the scent of money. The same kind of jackals who robbed my dad the night of the thirteenth of all of his cash while we went to the hospital.
That was just sixteen hundred dollars that someone just had to steal from a defenseless man while he was dying in the hospital.
That was vicious, greedy, and cruel but nothing compared to what will happen to the Jackson estate. I believe in an ultimate sovereign God. That everyone will eventually be judged by Him and justice and mercy will be rewarded then.
For a decade he was on top of the music world until the early nineties. He started to go from Michael Jackson to Jacko as stories surfaced and some of the oddest rumors you would ever hear about a man. If it was about him people tended to believe it. Was he a tragedy years in the making?
You have a superstar who wasn't really playing by rules anymore. With that kind of power, money, and fame the rules that apply to you and me just don't apply to someone like him. He was used to asking for what he wanted, getting it, and more than he wanted of it with no one telling him no.
After a few years of that you can lose touch with reality. None of us will likely ever know that kind of lifestyle. That might be why he got into so much trouble. No one told him no, likely to his own demise.
Forced into the limelight at a very young age by a domineering father, some say abusive, he brought his family out of poverty as the leader of the Jackson 5. He likely died with hundreds of millions of dollars of debt. On top of the world with a life full of chaos and disarray. From the brief marriage to Lisa Marie, to the dental assistant and mother of two children, to the surrogate child, this is one man who could not find solace at any price.
A great talent, a lonely man, a freak, a world class entertainer, an abused man child who never grew up. I'm sure he was all of that and more, but what you have not seen yet is the circus that will come over his estate, the custody of his children, the pot of gold at the end of Michael Jackson's rainbow. Squabbling will commence with the first lawsuit before his body is buried.
You will see jackals come out by droves, lured by the scent of money. The same kind of jackals who robbed my dad the night of the thirteenth of all of his cash while we went to the hospital.
That was just sixteen hundred dollars that someone just had to steal from a defenseless man while he was dying in the hospital.
That was vicious, greedy, and cruel but nothing compared to what will happen to the Jackson estate. I believe in an ultimate sovereign God. That everyone will eventually be judged by Him and justice and mercy will be rewarded then.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
I Slept
Last night I made a decent amount on tips. Almost enough to cover the fuel I put into my truck. The last tip of the evening I made nearly ten dollars on, rare but very nice when it happens! I put in my week and a half notice. I told the owner I could work for him until next Friday, that I had too much going on right now to hold down two jobs.
When I arrived back at the diner it was about a quarter until nine. They told me if I wanted to I could cash out and go home, which I promptly did as fast as I could.
I made it home right around nine. Tired. My mind was going as fast as it could. I decided to unwind a little with some surfing and reading, tended my Farm Town, two football franchises, and got my Mafia Wars family up to date.
Then I went to bed. I picked up South by Sir Ernest Shackleton and read for about twenty minutes.
Turned out the light and I slept. For the first time in over a month I had felt some relief. I felt a similar relief when we went back to work but last night was different. I was able to relax a little bit. It was great. I'm off tonight and tomorrow night from my second job, I do have to work the weekend though but it'll be for the last time.
Feel great this morning! I feel relaxed, like the problems I know that will arise will be easily handled. It feels good to know that I'm within four weeks of a real and full paycheck again. The next check will be tiny as I told you about but that is why I took the second job, my last day at the diner will be the same day I get that check so it will account for half of my pay with both added together.
I'm thrilled about that! The Date's magazine has gone nuts and they have sold a lot of advertising for two issues already! They are over half way to their goal and are STILL selling in town alone! Next week they will start to get the area towns sold! I told her she will have to hire more sales staff soon as they can't cover this much area by themselves!
I've never seen something take off as fast as what her magazine has. I'm really pretty honored to be a small part of it and right now it is so small that it really can't be measured, mainly just supporting her and telling her to get things done before they are due.
Hope you all out there have a great day! Twice as good as mine will be and I think mine will be good, I'm off tonight!!!! Woohoooo!!!!!
When I arrived back at the diner it was about a quarter until nine. They told me if I wanted to I could cash out and go home, which I promptly did as fast as I could.
I made it home right around nine. Tired. My mind was going as fast as it could. I decided to unwind a little with some surfing and reading, tended my Farm Town, two football franchises, and got my Mafia Wars family up to date.
Then I went to bed. I picked up South by Sir Ernest Shackleton and read for about twenty minutes.
Turned out the light and I slept. For the first time in over a month I had felt some relief. I felt a similar relief when we went back to work but last night was different. I was able to relax a little bit. It was great. I'm off tonight and tomorrow night from my second job, I do have to work the weekend though but it'll be for the last time.
Feel great this morning! I feel relaxed, like the problems I know that will arise will be easily handled. It feels good to know that I'm within four weeks of a real and full paycheck again. The next check will be tiny as I told you about but that is why I took the second job, my last day at the diner will be the same day I get that check so it will account for half of my pay with both added together.
I'm thrilled about that! The Date's magazine has gone nuts and they have sold a lot of advertising for two issues already! They are over half way to their goal and are STILL selling in town alone! Next week they will start to get the area towns sold! I told her she will have to hire more sales staff soon as they can't cover this much area by themselves!
I've never seen something take off as fast as what her magazine has. I'm really pretty honored to be a small part of it and right now it is so small that it really can't be measured, mainly just supporting her and telling her to get things done before they are due.
Hope you all out there have a great day! Twice as good as mine will be and I think mine will be good, I'm off tonight!!!! Woohoooo!!!!!
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Loooonngg Day
My day started around six thirty and ended at eleven last night. I went to my regular job (Woohoooo!!!!!) and after I clocked out had about twenty minutes to get home, change clothes, get a bite to eat, and get to my second job (Boooo).
I told the owner that after this week I needed my hours cut back. He seemed to be ok with it and was understanding. I closed last night which was why I didn't get home until after eleven. The tips were bad last night too. I even had to go on two deliveries twice as the people bagging up everything for the drivers missed some things. One tipped the first time so I couldn't expect a second tip. The other didn't tip at all, either time.
When the tips are good though then it is alright, they are cash and I need the extra money until my first full paycheck on the sixteenth of July. After that then I won't need the second job at all but might keep it for one night a week.
It was really good to get back into the groove at work. A strike is something I hope none of you have to experience. They aren't fun.
I told the owner that after this week I needed my hours cut back. He seemed to be ok with it and was understanding. I closed last night which was why I didn't get home until after eleven. The tips were bad last night too. I even had to go on two deliveries twice as the people bagging up everything for the drivers missed some things. One tipped the first time so I couldn't expect a second tip. The other didn't tip at all, either time.
When the tips are good though then it is alright, they are cash and I need the extra money until my first full paycheck on the sixteenth of July. After that then I won't need the second job at all but might keep it for one night a week.
It was really good to get back into the groove at work. A strike is something I hope none of you have to experience. They aren't fun.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Hi Ho!
This morning it's off to work I go! Finally after two weeks of no pay, feelings of worthlessness, and overall high stress level I get to go back to work!
I also believe that the transmission is not the problem I am having with my truck. I believe that the vacuum pump has gone out of it which is much cheaper and can be fixed in about ten minutes once I have a replacement.
A vacuum pump is about one tenth the price of a new transmission so I'm really pretty thrilled about that! My next paycheck will be for four days and on July third. That will make things tight for until the first full paycheck comes in but doable. Just have to be careful about spending right now.
The first full paycheck I'll get will be July seventeenth. Yeah it is three and almost two thirds weeks away but it will be a good day! I'm caught up on my bills which is good, I know a lot of people aren't. I took the initiative to get another job (which I work tonight until ten thirty) so I'll have some income to get us through.
A lot of other people didn't do that. I won't be able to keep up these hours for long though (six thirty until ten thirty at night) but as long as it takes to get my first full check from work.
So I'm off to work now!
I also believe that the transmission is not the problem I am having with my truck. I believe that the vacuum pump has gone out of it which is much cheaper and can be fixed in about ten minutes once I have a replacement.
A vacuum pump is about one tenth the price of a new transmission so I'm really pretty thrilled about that! My next paycheck will be for four days and on July third. That will make things tight for until the first full paycheck comes in but doable. Just have to be careful about spending right now.
The first full paycheck I'll get will be July seventeenth. Yeah it is three and almost two thirds weeks away but it will be a good day! I'm caught up on my bills which is good, I know a lot of people aren't. I took the initiative to get another job (which I work tonight until ten thirty) so I'll have some income to get us through.
A lot of other people didn't do that. I won't be able to keep up these hours for long though (six thirty until ten thirty at night) but as long as it takes to get my first full check from work.
So I'm off to work now!
Monday, June 22, 2009
The Strike Ends At Day Fifteen!
I just received the vote count, 705 voted 554 to accept the contract.
It isn't perfect as the second and third years of the insurance is uncapped, meaning we could pay for the entire premiums ourselves if the company mandated.
We'll deal with that when we come to that bridge though. I'm ready to get back to a normal job and normal hours and normal paychecks again!
I'm ready. I'm tired of the strike. I'm tired of it. Now its over with!
It isn't perfect as the second and third years of the insurance is uncapped, meaning we could pay for the entire premiums ourselves if the company mandated.
We'll deal with that when we come to that bridge though. I'm ready to get back to a normal job and normal hours and normal paychecks again!
I'm ready. I'm tired of the strike. I'm tired of it. Now its over with!
Strike Day Fifteen
And hopefully the last day of our strike. I'm really looking forward to clocking in to my regular job tomorrow and ending this thing! I'm sick of it, I was sick of it from the start and now I'm fifteen days into it and feel that no one has really won anything.
I read the proposal and it really isn't that far off from what was negotiated to start with. Mostly language changes and the way we are able to use our paid leave. There is actually more money in this contract which is a surprise to me. A quarter percent each year higher than the original offer and money going into the pension plan.
That is good but again the last two weeks is income we will never get back. It has set a lot of people back in their monthly bills, fortunately I'm not one of them. With my temp job, The Date's income from her three jobs, and family support I think we are fine.
If we go back to work tomorrow I'll get a half paycheck on July third and full paychecks after that! The half and next full paycheck will be tight but we can manage them well enough to keep everything up to date and eat well. I feel for the people who the strike really hurt who were living paycheck to paycheck. They will have a tougher time recovering but at least they will recover.
I hope everyone out there had a great Father's Day and really appreciated it. Sometimes you don't realize how important a dad is until they are gone.
I read the proposal and it really isn't that far off from what was negotiated to start with. Mostly language changes and the way we are able to use our paid leave. There is actually more money in this contract which is a surprise to me. A quarter percent each year higher than the original offer and money going into the pension plan.
That is good but again the last two weeks is income we will never get back. It has set a lot of people back in their monthly bills, fortunately I'm not one of them. With my temp job, The Date's income from her three jobs, and family support I think we are fine.
If we go back to work tomorrow I'll get a half paycheck on July third and full paychecks after that! The half and next full paycheck will be tight but we can manage them well enough to keep everything up to date and eat well. I feel for the people who the strike really hurt who were living paycheck to paycheck. They will have a tougher time recovering but at least they will recover.
I hope everyone out there had a great Father's Day and really appreciated it. Sometimes you don't realize how important a dad is until they are gone.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Strike Day Fourteen
And hopefully the penultimate day of the strike. Our negotiators reached an agreement with the company last night! I believe we did pretty well as all of the sticking points were talked about and resolved, hopefully to the satisfaction of our membership.
I want to get back to work at my normal job. I plan on turning in my two weeks notice on Monday to my delivery job if I get to go back to work on Tuesday. Which is fine, I believe my transmission in my truck is acting up and it could aggravate the problem if I drive it like that on a long term basis. So it isn't good on the wear and tear of my vehicle. I'll be putting my tip money towards the repair if needed.
Hopefully it will be a simple fix, filter, change the fluid, something like that, at most I guess I would have to have it rebuilt. Transmission repair is outside of my scope of mechanical skills. I can do many engine repairs but not the transmission.
It will be one more obstacle to overcome as if the past couple of weeks weren't enough. Not complaining though. I've got it better than a lot of other people who have been hit hard by the economy.
I've got the hope of a job to go back to once the vote is official.
I've got the bestest friends in the world who have been nonstop asking me if they could do something for me.
I've got the greatest The Date in the world who has been sticking by me through this rough and stressful time.
I've really got it pretty good in when I put things in perspective, mechanical problems just don't even show up on the radar!
I want to get back to work at my normal job. I plan on turning in my two weeks notice on Monday to my delivery job if I get to go back to work on Tuesday. Which is fine, I believe my transmission in my truck is acting up and it could aggravate the problem if I drive it like that on a long term basis. So it isn't good on the wear and tear of my vehicle. I'll be putting my tip money towards the repair if needed.
Hopefully it will be a simple fix, filter, change the fluid, something like that, at most I guess I would have to have it rebuilt. Transmission repair is outside of my scope of mechanical skills. I can do many engine repairs but not the transmission.
It will be one more obstacle to overcome as if the past couple of weeks weren't enough. Not complaining though. I've got it better than a lot of other people who have been hit hard by the economy.
I've got the hope of a job to go back to once the vote is official.
I've got the bestest friends in the world who have been nonstop asking me if they could do something for me.
I've got the greatest The Date in the world who has been sticking by me through this rough and stressful time.
I've really got it pretty good in when I put things in perspective, mechanical problems just don't even show up on the radar!
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Strike Day Thirteen
Talks are resuming as I am typing this. Work was pretty busy last night. I made close to forty in tips, which was very nice. It'll help a lot until I get a regular paycheck again.
It was a busy week. Thursday being the worst day of the lot in retrospect. It's over with now and time to move onto better weeks.
The Date has cleaned house in sales in less than two full days! It has been amazing how fast it has started!!!! That is just local too, she hasn't even started selling to the towns around here yet!!!!! I told her she will have to save room for the area towns to advertise at this rate!
She is selling a product site unseen, which is an extremely tough sell and she has done this well. It will explode when she gets a couple of issues out! She is having a meeting tonight with her writers and photographers and will either give them assignments or let them run with an idea or two.
This is going to be my fall back plan in case I'm laid off in October. I'll learn the software and layout design and do that for her. At two issues per month it will be a handful for one person to do. I'm very happy for her! It was a great idea and now it has really just started to grow!
It was a busy week. Thursday being the worst day of the lot in retrospect. It's over with now and time to move onto better weeks.
The Date has cleaned house in sales in less than two full days! It has been amazing how fast it has started!!!! That is just local too, she hasn't even started selling to the towns around here yet!!!!! I told her she will have to save room for the area towns to advertise at this rate!
She is selling a product site unseen, which is an extremely tough sell and she has done this well. It will explode when she gets a couple of issues out! She is having a meeting tonight with her writers and photographers and will either give them assignments or let them run with an idea or two.
This is going to be my fall back plan in case I'm laid off in October. I'll learn the software and layout design and do that for her. At two issues per month it will be a handful for one person to do. I'm very happy for her! It was a great idea and now it has really just started to grow!
Friday, June 19, 2009
Strike Day Twelve
Everyone is still excited about the talks that will go on tomorrow. We are at least hoping for a temporary agreement so that we can get back to work Monday morning.
I made just over thirty dollars in two hours last night with tips and my hourly wage. It got really slow and they sent me home. That was fine. It was a bad day working on Dad's estate. I was pretty stressed and just needed to be quiet, still, and alone for a while.
The Date pulled off a major deal yesterday on her first day of selling!!!! It will be very big for the area and signal a new direction for the area! It was very cool what happened but I really can't say more about it right now. She was very very excited! I was very very proud!
I've got picket line duty this morning from eight until noon. My Northern Brother is going home this morning and I'm expecting his phone call any minute. He is stopping by to say goodbye for now. When things settle down we plan on road tripping North and visiting for a few days! I can't wait, his company has been invaluable to me over this week. I love him and have appreciated every second of his visit, it has really helped the healing kick into high gear.
I made just over thirty dollars in two hours last night with tips and my hourly wage. It got really slow and they sent me home. That was fine. It was a bad day working on Dad's estate. I was pretty stressed and just needed to be quiet, still, and alone for a while.
The Date pulled off a major deal yesterday on her first day of selling!!!! It will be very big for the area and signal a new direction for the area! It was very cool what happened but I really can't say more about it right now. She was very very excited! I was very very proud!
I've got picket line duty this morning from eight until noon. My Northern Brother is going home this morning and I'm expecting his phone call any minute. He is stopping by to say goodbye for now. When things settle down we plan on road tripping North and visiting for a few days! I can't wait, his company has been invaluable to me over this week. I love him and have appreciated every second of his visit, it has really helped the healing kick into high gear.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Strike Day Eleven
Yesterday we received great news that the negotiations will go start up again on Saturday morning! Everyone I talked to was just really happy to hear that! There is hope of a resolution now and that we can get back to work as early as Monday or Tuesday!
I hope we get an agreement in place. As I said I would be happy with and vote for the same contract we have been working for the past six years. I'm not greedy, just want to work and get a paycheck going again.
I'm blessed right now to have a temporary job that will help me put gas in the tank and pay the bills! I'm also looking forward to turning in my two weeks notice to that job and just having one job to go to per day.
The Date is about ready to launch her major project and it will be spectacular. The word is officially out now about it so I can mention it here. She is the publisher of her own tabloid sized magazine! Not just for this town either but for the entire area code!!
Her initial run in which she is starting is going to be five thousand copies and her goal is to reach twenty thousand copies printed per run! It will run every two weeks and will have a color cover, back, and center spread.
This is also my job if I get laid off in October! By then the magazine will be a fixture in the area and hopefully very established! So Date get it in gear and get this off the ground!!!! I'll work for you then babe!!!!!
I hope we get an agreement in place. As I said I would be happy with and vote for the same contract we have been working for the past six years. I'm not greedy, just want to work and get a paycheck going again.
I'm blessed right now to have a temporary job that will help me put gas in the tank and pay the bills! I'm also looking forward to turning in my two weeks notice to that job and just having one job to go to per day.
The Date is about ready to launch her major project and it will be spectacular. The word is officially out now about it so I can mention it here. She is the publisher of her own tabloid sized magazine! Not just for this town either but for the entire area code!!
Her initial run in which she is starting is going to be five thousand copies and her goal is to reach twenty thousand copies printed per run! It will run every two weeks and will have a color cover, back, and center spread.
This is also my job if I get laid off in October! By then the magazine will be a fixture in the area and hopefully very established! So Date get it in gear and get this off the ground!!!! I'll work for you then babe!!!!!
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Strike Day Ten
My Northern brother came down to hang with me yesterday with his oldest. What a great pleasure that has been! I've enjoyed every minute of it! His support as well as everyone who has been in contact with me has been very helpful and needed. Not that there is anything anyone can do but just the thought that they are thinking of me and my family during this time is more than enough.
I have today off from my new job as well and don't go back to work until tomorrow. I'm good with that. I get paid on Friday so right now I'm not in desperate need of any cash. I'll have plenty to pay this month's bills and be fine.
Hopefully an end to the strike will come today, tomorrow, Friday....I don't care which but soon is all I want. A resolution is what I'm after and forty hours a week.
I've been on iTunes this morning, still no 3.0 iPhone update. It'll be soon I'm sure. I really kind of thought it would have released at midnight but alas no.
I have today off from my new job as well and don't go back to work until tomorrow. I'm good with that. I get paid on Friday so right now I'm not in desperate need of any cash. I'll have plenty to pay this month's bills and be fine.
Hopefully an end to the strike will come today, tomorrow, Friday....I don't care which but soon is all I want. A resolution is what I'm after and forty hours a week.
I've been on iTunes this morning, still no 3.0 iPhone update. It'll be soon I'm sure. I really kind of thought it would have released at midnight but alas no.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Strike Day Nine
No resolution yet. I'm hoping negotiations will be jump started soon.
I started my new temporary job yesterday evening. It was nice. I am a delivery guy for a diner in town. It felt good to get out and drive around town by myself. It was simple, quiet, and a little busy which was nice. I made over thirty dollars in tips and seven bucks per hour. I'm off tonight and tomorrow night.
After that I got a text from friends to go to BDubs and meet them after rehearsal. Ten showed up and everyone hugged me. It was the best thing in a week that happened. We laughed and had a good time.
I needed that, more than they know. It helped so much.
My Northern brother is coming down today to visit for a couple of days and hang out with me. I'm so looking forward to that.
I started my new temporary job yesterday evening. It was nice. I am a delivery guy for a diner in town. It felt good to get out and drive around town by myself. It was simple, quiet, and a little busy which was nice. I made over thirty dollars in tips and seven bucks per hour. I'm off tonight and tomorrow night.
After that I got a text from friends to go to BDubs and meet them after rehearsal. Ten showed up and everyone hugged me. It was the best thing in a week that happened. We laughed and had a good time.
I needed that, more than they know. It helped so much.
My Northern brother is coming down today to visit for a couple of days and hang out with me. I'm so looking forward to that.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Strike Day Eight
....And that concludes the worst week of my life thus far. Not kidding. I have never had a more terrible week in my entire life.
Anyone who knows me knows that I'm an optimist. I always try to be happy and look on the better side. This past week life threw everything at me. Still here. If it weren't for The Date, my family, and my friends I don't think I would be.
I've had rough times before without question, everyone does. When I was a landlord I used to live on twenty dollars per week. It was hot dogs and Ramen noodles every night. I was happier and in better shape then than I was in this previous week.
There is a lot of paperwork to fill out today. My dad wished to be donated to science. I made that happen yesterday. I have to go talk to his bank today, let them know what happened and what I can do for them. Then off to the funeral home and give them some information. Talk to the hospital's business office and then it is off to my new job at five.
A member of my Northern family is coming down to lend his support in a day or two. I'm grateful, very grateful.
Anyone who knows me knows that I'm an optimist. I always try to be happy and look on the better side. This past week life threw everything at me. Still here. If it weren't for The Date, my family, and my friends I don't think I would be.
I've had rough times before without question, everyone does. When I was a landlord I used to live on twenty dollars per week. It was hot dogs and Ramen noodles every night. I was happier and in better shape then than I was in this previous week.
There is a lot of paperwork to fill out today. My dad wished to be donated to science. I made that happen yesterday. I have to go talk to his bank today, let them know what happened and what I can do for them. Then off to the funeral home and give them some information. Talk to the hospital's business office and then it is off to my new job at five.
A member of my Northern family is coming down to lend his support in a day or two. I'm grateful, very grateful.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Strike Day Seven
Not a good night, last night. Got a call that dad needed some help so my mom goes down there to take care of him. I get there and she had just called the ambulance. He was having a hard time breathing.
They take him to the emergency room and I get there a little while later after locking his place up. They call me into the room and he talks to me a little bit and then things start crashing. I'm watching his numbers go way down. Alarms start going off. Lots of nurses and two doctors come in and he dies. No heartbeat, still breathing. Doctor tells me it is an autoresponse.
And just after I call my brother that dad has passed away, he wakes up and starts talking again! He asks my mom if she had put out his cigarette and his numbers go back up.
The doctors and nurses shrug, tell me they have never seen that before, ever. They said it just doesn't happen like that. So we get to to talk to him more, essentially we get a second chance to talk. I bring mom and The Date back into the room so they can visit. They decide to run tests and determine everything that's wrong.
He had a heart attack. They arranged to get a room and squared him away for the night at about one A.M.
I came home. I poured a scotch. I just had to decompress a little bit. I stayed up until a little after two.
This morning I talked to his nurse and dad is essentially in a coma. Strong heartbeat, just unresponsive. I'm glad I got to talk to him last night. It helped me square up a lot. I understand it might have been the last time I got to talk to him.
I pray none of you are ever in a similar situation with your parents. It has been really tough.
They take him to the emergency room and I get there a little while later after locking his place up. They call me into the room and he talks to me a little bit and then things start crashing. I'm watching his numbers go way down. Alarms start going off. Lots of nurses and two doctors come in and he dies. No heartbeat, still breathing. Doctor tells me it is an autoresponse.
And just after I call my brother that dad has passed away, he wakes up and starts talking again! He asks my mom if she had put out his cigarette and his numbers go back up.
The doctors and nurses shrug, tell me they have never seen that before, ever. They said it just doesn't happen like that. So we get to to talk to him more, essentially we get a second chance to talk. I bring mom and The Date back into the room so they can visit. They decide to run tests and determine everything that's wrong.
He had a heart attack. They arranged to get a room and squared him away for the night at about one A.M.
I came home. I poured a scotch. I just had to decompress a little bit. I stayed up until a little after two.
This morning I talked to his nurse and dad is essentially in a coma. Strong heartbeat, just unresponsive. I'm glad I got to talk to him last night. It helped me square up a lot. I understand it might have been the last time I got to talk to him.
I pray none of you are ever in a similar situation with your parents. It has been really tough.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Strike Day Six
I have a job interview today, delivery driver. The picket line will have to do without me today as well. I am hoping it won't be long and we will be back to work. I need that stability right now. Yesterday was pretty stressful with my dad but I got through it alright. He got out of the hospital, I was pretty upset with that because I was sure they would keep him a couple of days at least.
Had a great conversation and two cigars with Beersnob in the evening. That really helped to unwind like that. We talked for about four hours and just relaxed. No booze either, I had ice water, he had decaff coffee.
I had a CAO Brazila, Gol size which is a robusto. Dark, lots of flavor. I enjoyed it a lot. Beersnob had a Rocky Patel Edge Maduro, very full flavor. Then I had a Padron, one of the thousand series. It is hard to tell which one it was since I didn't purchase it but I'd guess it was a 2000 or 3000.
Padrons are always good. It is always money well spent.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)