Happy b-day to me
Mood:  celebratory
Topic: Life
Well, it's that time of year again...when everyone wants to pile huge, lavish gifts on top of me. (Yall did want to do that right?) A time when the world seems a little brighter, more peaceful, and friendlier than normal...oh wait, I think that's just my eyes & hearing getting worse...and my imagination making up what I think people are saying about me. Oh well...whatever the reason, things are going pretty good right now. I've been pretty busy and haven't had much time to post...why do I think I've seen that line before on here....hmm...

Some people!
Mood:  d'oh
So I'm at work today...at Wal-mart, it's around 8PM and we are pulling pallets to the floor like we always do. I roll by the photo lab center, and standing there in the wide open area is a lady with a baby.

Nothing strange right?

Anyway, she proceeds to lift her shirt and her bra...then attaches her kid and didn't bother to cover up at all.

Every time we went by we stared at her...thinking that she might get the hint. But nope. She stood there for like twenty minutes.

Had she been a hot mom...and left the other one out for show, I'm sure I wouldn't have minded...but she was kinda flabby and...no, on second thought, she should have at least thrown a blankie over it.

You don't do that crap in public!

Another successful ski trip.
Well, we got home very early this morning from CO. This year was a lot of fun. A little more snow would have made it perfect...but there was still a big base, and no major ice patches, so it is hard to complain.

So now we get to play catch up! The super secret projects were more or less completed in time...and the surprise party went well. One of the projects is done...the other threw me a major problem the night before the deadline. I built an arcade machine...a bartop model...and the computer I was using decided to blow out it's PCI slots. I thought that I would be dead in the water...but after a good meal out, and some time to think, I decided to use my laptop to power/run the whole thing. It ran at a diminished capacity with fewer games being available and no front end software...but it did work! And that is the main thing.

Anyway, I need to troubleshoot the PC and see if it can be fixed. If not...does anyone have an old PC or laptop laying around that they want to unload??

One of my next projects is to start working on our ski trip movie...as soon as I get pictures from everyone that went. After that...

New Furball in town.
Mood:  energetic
Topic: Life
Well today is Valentine's day...that day that was invented to keep greeting card companies and flower shops in business, but otherwise a useless holiday.

It did however give me an excuse to do something that I think needed to be done around here. With the big birds leaving last week, it has seemed a little empty...and quiet...around the house. My wife had mentioned previously that she had a bunny when she was a kid and would like to have another one some day. Well, I did some research on the net and found some helpful sites.

So today I stopped and pick up a little furball. It is tiny! It pretty much fits in the palm of my hand...and is nothing but a big fluffy ball of fur.


The little thing wouldn't look at the camera...great I get the one pet that is camera shy!!

Anyway...it was a hit...now we just have to name the little thing!

I'm holding myself back!!
Mood:  don't ask
Topic: Work
Today one of my co-workers got sent home for basically acting dumb. He got into a heated debate, with 3 managers, and when they would ask him questions and then wouldn't let him answer without interrupting him, he got a tad disrespectful.

I can understand that though, I know some one that constantly interrupts people...she talks over you as if you weren't there. It is infuriating!

However, my co-worker was correct for being miffed to begin with. Whenever any other department is short-handed, management pulls someone from my shift to cover. This in itself isn't a problem, but when management also wants us to finish the same amount of work with only half a team in the same amount of time...well, it doesn't take an advanced degree to figure out that it isn't going to happen.

Let's say it takes 10 people 2 hours to finish a job...now let's say management pulls between 2 and 5 people off that team. It is simply not possible for the same job to be finished (correctly & safely) in the same two hour time frame. In fact, I had to speak up to my supervisor about it as well. Why does it always seem that the people that get promoted to management always seem to lose whatever common sense they might have had??

You're Fired!!
Mood:  a-ok
Topic: Work
No...not me this time!

One of the guys I work with was fired today...and taken out of the store in handcuffs! Apparently the dumbass had been stealing iPods...7 over the last 6 weeks or so.

This kid is 19, not real smart (obviously) and pretty much headed nowhere.

My shift was all called into a meeting about the situation and told not to discuss the issue with anyone. Then we went to lunch, and I learned more in two minutes in the break room than I did in the meeting! People kept asking me (and others on my shift) what happened...I told them to ask the folks in electronics, they seemed to know the whole story!

Free as a bird...or two.
Mood:  down
Topic: Life
I know I haven't posted in awhile...I've been busy working on my projects...but I figured I needed to put this up.

Today, I was going to clean up around my big birds' cage when they apparently got spooked and took off. I had the garage door open at the time, and they flew out and down the street. I chased after them, but they took a turn over the water, and that was it. You might say, duh...you had the door open! But they have never shown any interest in leaving when the door was opened previously.

They have been in an open cage for months...with the garage door opened four times a day, and they never even went close to leaving. They would fly out from their little corner, see that the door was open, and turn around and fly back to the cage. I was completely shocked when they actually left and didn't turn right around.

Anyway, I heard them screaming a little bit later on, but I couldn't tell where they were with the sound echoing through the canal. I put their cage out back with a tortilla chip (one of their favorite snacks) on top hoping they would return if they got hungry...but so far, no sign of them.

We hope they are ok, they have never been out on their own. I hope they stay warm and find some food...or another person to take care of them. It would be pointless for us to try and put up signs or anything. There is no telling how far away they could be by now.

Although it is REALLY quiet around here now...

Fight night
Mood:  energetic
Topic: TV
The fights tonight were good...a nice warm up for UFC 67 next weekend.

I saw that the Pay per views are going to be in High Def...at least the next few I guess. I really need to get cracking on my bank heist plans so that I can afford HDTV and an HD projector!

I should be starting TKD again in Feb...I should then be able to get my black belt by April...assuming no more nasty surprises!

New year started out fast
Mood:  a-ok
Topic: Life
I got a call on the 2nd to remind me of the Windows XP Pro class that I had the 3rd (to finish out the class)...and it's a good thing they called to confirm, because I had completely forgotten about it.

After the class, the guy wanted us to start the Server class the 10th. But he hadn't received the books yet...anyway we started the class without having read anything...in fact both me and the other guy in the class hadn't finished reading the Win XP book yet. Tonight we finished off the Server class...and I never even opened the book...seems just like grad school...and undergrad...and high school...and middle school...I think you get the point. Anyway, I will actually have to read this book...and finish the XP one...before I take the actual tests though.

I've been keeping busy doing lots of research on a super secret project I'm working on. Actually, I'm working on a couple of super secret projects right now. I need to get them finished before my anniversary! Nearly every year we go skiing as a spring break/anniversary trip...and this year is no different! So I have a lot to do, and time is getting short! I think both will be a surprise...at least I'm hoping they will be.

I guess we'll see...

Been busy
Mood:  a-ok
Topic: Life
The holidays sure can be busy. I've had a bunch of stuff going on the last month...among other things, new job, training classes, putting up and taking down Xmas lights, and UFC 66! :)

Actually the last one there was fun...Lidell Vs Ortiz 2. The whole fight card was pretty entertaining actually. I think only two fights even went past the first round!

Anyway, I'm still here...and hoping to start the new year off with a few more posts...we'll see how long that lasts!

Hope every one had a great holiday, and has a great and safe new years.

Update
Mood:  a-ok
Topic: Work
Quick update...I got a call from Wal-mart the day after I took the drug test. I told you it would be a boring read! I then had orientation on that Friday. I've been working my normal shift now for about 4 days...I like my shift better. I have almost 0% chance of being asked anything by a customer. Most of the time I'm in the back unloading trucks and sorting freight.

It is extremely tiring work...purely physical! I have to take my electronic Sudoku to play during breaks and lunch to keep my brain awake! I come home dead tired. But I guess that should be expected...the heaviest pallet I've pulled to the floor by myself was 2965 pounds!! That will drain you pretty quickly! It is funny how after a load like that the 2400 pound pallet that followed seemed fairly light!

Welcome to Wal-mart!
Mood:  energetic
Topic: Work
Well, I had an interview with Wal-mart today...the job is mine, pending a drug test and background check. That would be a boring read...since I've never been arrested and never got into drugs.

I'll be starting as a second shift instocker...basically I get to unload the trucks and stock the shelves. Both of the guys I interviewed with asked me why I hadn't applied for the management position available. Considering the fact that I have zero retail experience, I wouldn't feel right taking a management position in that situation. So it seems that I will be on the fast track into management...as I'll be on one of their mentor lists.

Glenn Beck's special
Mood:  a-ok
Topic: Politics
You will notice on the left side of the page there are links under "Exposed: The Extremist Agenda"...these are videos to Glenn Beck's special that was shown on 11/15 on CNN Headline News.

This special should be seen by everyone in America...especially if you are one of those people that thinks we need to talk to our enemies rather than defeat them.

The video clips in the special should be aired on the nightly news...right after they announce that a roadside bomb killed so many people that day in Iraq. But, that would go against the media's agenda...so I guess I won't hold my breath!

Anyway, check out the special...it is broken down into parts, so you can watch it at your own pace. Please forward the links to your friends...these videos are the side if the story that the media won't show you!! This is an important part of the debate that has been hidden from us for far too long!

What a crappy week.
Mood:  don't ask
Topic: Politics
Dang, first I get laid off, then the Anti-American political party wins control of Congress...what's next?

And before anyone goes off the handle about the Dems being Anti-American...let's look at the facts. The best reference for what is "American" that I can think of is the views of the Founding Fathers (FF). Let's see, did they believe in a big federal government that was all powerful? The answer here, for those of you taught in the public school system, is NO!! In fact, they wanted the US to take after the confederacy model of government...powerful state and local governments and a weak federal government. The Left/Dems believe whole-heartedly that bigger government is always the answer. Sounds fairly counter-Founding Fathers to me. Of course, the current batch of Republicans in Congress could easily be mistaken for Dems....which is partly why they got voted out!!

But let's continue on the Dems being Anti-American. Second, did the FF believe in higher and higher taxes? Have you ever heard of the Boston Tea Party...or perhaps "no taxation without representation"?! But let's see, Dems want to tax and spend...and they want to steal as much as possible from the people that make this country run smoothly. (That's the rich, in case you didn't know -you know, the people that pay your salary!-...they are the ones paying the overwhelming majority of taxes in this country anyway. Don't believe it, check this out. If you don't want to believe that site, believe the numbers straight from the government.)

"But the Reps in Congress spent more money than Dems normally do!!" No kidding, this is another reason that they were voted out of office!

The main stream media would have you believe that this election was a referendum on Bush and Iraq...but that isn't anywhere near the truth. Hell, the media's own exit polls shows that isn't the truth...but that is the way it will be spun. This election was a statement by the American people that if you are supposed to stand for something, then damn it, stand for it; don't flip-flop once you are in office and do the opposite!

And anyone that still needs proof that the main stream media in the country is full of Liberals...did anyone else notice the beaming smiles on the faces of the reporters as they gladly stated that the Dems had taken back Congress?? Seems to me that when the Reps won the last 6 elections, they all looked like they were about to burst into tears when they had to report that the Reps had gained seats. I don't think that you need to work at the Jiffy-Lube to figure out that there is some serious bias there. But maybe that's just me.

That didn't take long...
Mood:  on fire
Topic: Work
Wow, it was just yesterday I posted about the crap I've been dealing with...and here it goes.

I was laid off today from work because my billable hours were too low. Now... ...they are supposed to give me the hours...I can't generate my own billable hours...at least not ethically. I could have always logged into a client's server and started shutting down services...that would surely generate help desk calls...and get me busy. But like I said that isn't ethical...nor legal I'm sure.

However, it isn't like I was sitting around twiddling my thumbs and picking my nose while I wasn't accruing billable hours. I was busy doing tasks that they asked me to do...they have a Visual Basic script that they use to document nearly everything that is on a client's network. It is a really neat script...I was also the only person that ever got into it and knew what the script did and how it did it. I'd been making changes to the script...cleaning it up some, fixing bugs, adding comments...none of which is in my job description.

Why did I do stuff that wasn't in my job description? Well, I had nothing to do that would have fit my job description...so rather than just sitting there scratching my ass, I decided to take it upon myself to get to know the script...and the corresponding Excel macros that imported all the data into a useful format.

Considering the fact that no one else there knows those scripts and macros very well, and that they still are not doing exactly what they want...because I wasn't able to complete my modifications...I guess they will keep wasting time doing it by hand. That is no longer my concern though.

I also, just this past week, wrote an Excel macro that searches the customer documentation folder for the licensing files, then runs a check and reports any clients that have software that is about to expire...so the company can call and sell them either an upgrade or renewal. This little program will generate new sales, but apparently I wasn't really working while I did that.

I hope they remember that I worked on those every time they are brought up. Maybe in time they'll realize that I was actually busy during all these "wasted" hours. I'm not going to hold my breath though!

The part that really sucks? I really liked all the engineers that I worked with...every one of them. They were all pretty cool...very diverse, but cool.

The part that rocks? (For those that don't know me, I generally can't look at the dark side for too long on an issue...I always look on the bright side of everything. Sometimes that leads me to be blindsided, because I always like to take people at their word, and I don't immediately assume that a comment is meant in a mean or hurtful manner.) But I've already set in motion the possibility for me to get my certification training paid for through unemployment. Once I get a couple of those (which this last company kept telling me that I needed to get, and said they pay for...but never did.) I should be making far more than I was!!!!

Well, I feel better now. What's for dinner?