December 2001's News

Start from the beginning, go to November 2001's news, or go to the main page.

December 26-January 1, 2002:

Great Jekyll Island vacation to go see my sister Amy get married. Airplane travel is like eating dog food; it might not hurt you, but it's gross and I don't want to see anyone's kids doing it. Due to my new job, Christmas preparations and being out of town, I have been neglecting my web page, which I hope to change soon. In other news, I'm on the wagon, and this time, I mean it.

December 21, 2001:

The instructor of my second class this week said he thought I added a lot to the class. That was neat. I am headed to a party with my department tomorrow night. The Hollywood Video near our house is still causing me trouble, and I have been writing a letter to their corporate office.

December 19, 2001:

Brownies were a hit; I'm conking out early to rest up for the end of the week.

December 17, 2001:

Stayed up late baking a triple batch of chocolate brownies. One half of the pan has a coconut layer in the middle.

December 16, 2001:

Lee and I checked out of the Hyatt. It was more low-key than last year. We had a good time.

December 15, 2001:

I did make it to work all week, although I did it by going to bed as soon as I got home two nights this week. Lee and I will be at the company Christmas party, drinking like lords that like to drink a lot. I've already had one nap today, and am going for two.

December 11, 2001:

I am circling the drain, getting progressively sicker by the day. Mike came over and had a low-key evening with Lee and I. He agreed to play The Big Cheese, and appeared to enjoy it. I think some sort of gaming thing might happen on the afternoon of December 23rd, barring family obligations.

December 10, 2001:

Yeah, I'm sick. I went to work sick, and I came home slightly sicker. Training class was less fun with a slight ringing in my ear, which drifted on and off. Bleah. I have gotten confirmation that my renewal of Asimov's Science Fiction went through. I enjoyed it so much throughout the year, I couldn't risk giving it up. I'm going to soak in hot water, then go to bed.

December 9, 2001:

Our phone is back up and running. Lee and I had a great time at Dylan's Brit, then went with Michael to Home Depot for an employee party. It was great food, but I was feeling sickly all day, with a vague tickle of a sore throat. Michael won a small frozen turkey in a raffle at the party.

December 8, 2001:

Our phone is not working. Lee's cel appears to be working, although Sprint is also having problems. I'm going to the bank and the post office. I'm trading a pile of X-Files card game cards for other card games. I'm also considering going to the office to pick up the accounting practice set I need to finish [that I need to start...].

December 7, 2001:

Ugh, training class today dragged on and on. I've got other, more interesting stuff to learn on my own, at my own pace. I also have an accounting practice set that involves posting to journals, making a balance sheet, putting together a financial statement, etc. I could do it nine years ago in high school accounting, so surely I can do it now... serious classes start on Monday; should be exciting. Picked up my laptop, left it locked up at work so I wouldn't break it this weekend. Lee and I went to a departmental Christmas party that had quite a few people there. It was north of Tomball, so we drove about an hour to get there, and then drove back after several hours of fun conversation. Wow, my supervisor was knocking back the booze.

December 6, 2001:

I entered the building at 7:55 a.m. and left at 8:20 p.m. A new-guy orientation class went very well, and I made myself look good without really being pushy or annoying. My energy level was still high, so I polished off some classes and did some required reading.

December 5, 2001:

Time at work today in one-on-one training with another supervisor in my department: 25%. Time in departmental meetings: 25%. Time devoted to researching, or reading online help: 25%. Time devoted to being confused: 25%.

December 4, 2001:

I'm getting a laptop! I got my badge, and I spent the day taking computerized instruction courses. My supervisor left at five-ish, and my teammate left at noon. Tomorrow is the department meeting and my first training session with another supervisor. Classes to go: 7 full screens plus a smidgen.

December 3, 2001:

My first day of work went well. I have my own cubicle, about twelve passwords written on a business card, and an ID number, and I'll pick up my badge tomorrow. My supervisor said, "Well, I come to work before seven, and try to get out of here a little after four. Tracy [my team member] comes in about nine, so she's got to stay to six. You can try what you want. I don't care when you come in as long as you put in an eight-hour day, and your work gets done." I am still mystified by what it is I will eventually be doing. I have six pages of listed computer-terminal training courses to take. I also met about fifty people (name/handshake/short bio). Also, there are ten thousand acronyms. It will come as no surprise, I'm part of the SIN group (Software INstall).

December 2, 2001:

Held Jacob and Julie's baby briefly, and am pleased to report he is adorable. I can wait....

December 1, 2001:

My laziness in creating archive pages continues unabated! I bought The Big Cheese today, and Michael, Lee, and I played it until we couldn't play it any more. Amazing value. We liked playing with lots of dice sizes instead of just 6-sided dice, but your mileage may vary. I started my day with a trip to a grocery store, went to two libraries, a used book store, a garage sale, a computer junk shop, and two gaming stores, before hitting a video store and closing with another grocery store. I was like little Billy in a horribly unfunny 'Family Circus' cartoon, and I still have folding cash money in my pocket. I need to fill out my pre-employment paperwork, but I'll do it tomorrow. I baked a small batch of brownies. In closing: the good folks at Hollywood Video made sure my visit was every bit as fun as 'The Grapes of Wrath,' without the farming; not even the horror of the grizzling children and disgruntled hot-check-writing patrons and non-moving line was enough to keep me from redeeming a free DVD rental for Planet of the Apes. Michael watched it, Lee went to bed, and I sat around reading an Andrew Tobias book I bought for a dollar.

Start from the beginning, go to November 2001's news, or go to the main page.