I realize I haven't blogged in over a week. Have I been caught up in a whirlwind of activity? Not quite. My blog, just like so many other things, has simply fallen victim to my laziness. Why do today what you can put off another three or four days?
I can't say that anything eventful has happened since I last posted. I've gone to work at the Gap, sold a few things on eBay, and have generally been waiting for life to happen to me. I did get a good lunch courtesy of The Flying Dutchman, and hearing from him about the West Ottawa job fair next weekend has given me a less distant date to look forward to.
I'm going back to Kalamazoo on Sunday for a new study, though not in the same format as the last one. It's only a three day hitch, repeated over three weeks. So, $1500 for nine days of lab ratting seems like a good deal to me.
Thursday, February 24, 2005
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
Weird Day
I really do enjoy writing, the problem being that I more often than not find myself without anything to write about. I imagine that if put into a position where more writing were demanded of me, I would become a faster and more prolific writer. Well this morning I found myself coming up with things to write, but no time to do it. I spent the afternoon at the Gap, trying to nurture the ideas and keep them alive long enough to see the creative light of day once I got home. Luckily, I didn't lose them, and have since spent the evening in the rather enjoyable pursuit of actually writing.
Today's shift at the Gap wasn't anything unusual, except for a few comments made as I was leaving. The manager on duty was off in another part of the store, and so when my shift was ending I gave him a quick sitrep (situation report - I watch too many military related things) over our headsets. Apparently what I thought was just a standard list of things to do impressed the younger employees that were there, and two different individuals commented that I should be a manager based on my display of competence. They didn't put it in those terms, but apparently basic competence at one's job is all that they think is necessary for a managerial position.
Hey, if I could get paid a manager's salary without any commitment to stay there once a teaching offer comes along, I'd take it. Somehow I doubt they'd invest in a manager who may only be there for 4 more months.
Today's shift at the Gap wasn't anything unusual, except for a few comments made as I was leaving. The manager on duty was off in another part of the store, and so when my shift was ending I gave him a quick sitrep (situation report - I watch too many military related things) over our headsets. Apparently what I thought was just a standard list of things to do impressed the younger employees that were there, and two different individuals commented that I should be a manager based on my display of competence. They didn't put it in those terms, but apparently basic competence at one's job is all that they think is necessary for a managerial position.
Hey, if I could get paid a manager's salary without any commitment to stay there once a teaching offer comes along, I'd take it. Somehow I doubt they'd invest in a manager who may only be there for 4 more months.
Wednesday, February 09, 2005
No Refills
Not being Catholic, I've never really known what to do with Lent. Sure, we Protestants keep track of the 40 days and 40 nights leading up to Easter, but not to the same degree as Catholics. Growing up Methodist, I honestly don't know if we're supposed to observe the same sort of restraint and denial during the Lenten season. I know the parallels to Jesus' time spent in the desert have been mentioned during Lenten services, but I don't remember any guidelines being laid down for expectations during Lent. Really, everything I know about not eating meat on Fridays and making sacrifices during Lent has come second hand from Catholic friends rather than from a sermon.
That being said, I've decided to give up pop for Lent. Not being an overly hedonistic individual, I've never had an overwhelming vice to get rid of. Sitting at IHOP with Joe, giving up pop seems like one of the most beneficial things I could do. I don't drink a lot, but it is a very habitual thing that will take vigilance to adhere to. As a corollary to giving something bad up, I'm also going to try some self-improvement by rededicating my efforts to go to the gym. I say right now that I don't know if I can make the same sort of promise on this as I can for giving up pop, but it's on the agenda nonetheless.
That being said, I've decided to give up pop for Lent. Not being an overly hedonistic individual, I've never had an overwhelming vice to get rid of. Sitting at IHOP with Joe, giving up pop seems like one of the most beneficial things I could do. I don't drink a lot, but it is a very habitual thing that will take vigilance to adhere to. As a corollary to giving something bad up, I'm also going to try some self-improvement by rededicating my efforts to go to the gym. I say right now that I don't know if I can make the same sort of promise on this as I can for giving up pop, but it's on the agenda nonetheless.
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
Red Pill or Blue Pill
No matter what happens in life, you've only ever really got two options. Whether it's the most mundane task or a matter of life or death, you've got what you choose to do and what you didn't do. Right or left. Chocolate or vanilla. Right or wrong.
Whatever sequence of decisions, good or bad, has led me here is not the point. I'm here, in the same state I've been in for months, and as of yet the alternate option has not yet presented itself. All the opportunities I tried to create dissolved, crashed and burned on the runway, and suffice to say did not change the situation. Right now my options are to succumb to depression and disillusionment, or laugh at myself and press on.
Happy or sad.
Fight or flight.
Coke or Pepsi.
Make no mistake, I am angry and frustrated to no end about still being home and having no options but to substitute and keep working at the Gap. Crappy jobs or no jobs. Small paychecks or no paychecks. It's what I've got to work with, and so I'm trying to just plug away and get ready to strike at the next opportunity I can either find or make. All I can do is nurture the hope that there is hope.
Hope or despair.
Half empty or half full.
Paper or plastic.
It may be that I've become numb to it all. This may be what going mad feels like. But as down as I get, have gotten, and will still get in the next few months, I do still get excited about Job Fairs in April, and getting letters out to schools in other states this spring.
Stay or go.
Here or there.
For better or worse.
I'll keep on keeping on. Trying to find something positive, something that if it doesn't make me happy, at least makes me less depressed each day.
Because remember, monkeys are funny.
Red Pill or Blue Pill
Whatever sequence of decisions, good or bad, has led me here is not the point. I'm here, in the same state I've been in for months, and as of yet the alternate option has not yet presented itself. All the opportunities I tried to create dissolved, crashed and burned on the runway, and suffice to say did not change the situation. Right now my options are to succumb to depression and disillusionment, or laugh at myself and press on.
Happy or sad.
Fight or flight.
Coke or Pepsi.
Make no mistake, I am angry and frustrated to no end about still being home and having no options but to substitute and keep working at the Gap. Crappy jobs or no jobs. Small paychecks or no paychecks. It's what I've got to work with, and so I'm trying to just plug away and get ready to strike at the next opportunity I can either find or make. All I can do is nurture the hope that there is hope.
Hope or despair.
Half empty or half full.
Paper or plastic.
It may be that I've become numb to it all. This may be what going mad feels like. But as down as I get, have gotten, and will still get in the next few months, I do still get excited about Job Fairs in April, and getting letters out to schools in other states this spring.
Stay or go.
Here or there.
For better or worse.
I'll keep on keeping on. Trying to find something positive, something that if it doesn't make me happy, at least makes me less depressed each day.
Because remember, monkeys are funny.
Red Pill or Blue Pill
Wednesday, February 02, 2005
Fuck Fuck Fuckity Fuck Fuck
Fuck UPN.
Fuck Paramount Pictures.
Fuck Les Moonves.
It was officially announced today that at the end of this season, Star Trek: Enterprise has been canceled.
You may think I'm overreacting. While I may not serve jury duty wearing a Starfleet uniform, and can't speak Klingon, Star Trek has always been a part of my life. I watched reruns of the original series with my dad before I could sit up on my own. Unlike the finite existence of Star Wars, where there could really only ever be 6 movies, there has been new Star Trek without pause for the last 19 years. Star Trek IV: The Voayage Home premiered in 1986, and in 2005 Star Trek: Enterprise is in its 4th season. But there will be no 5th season. There may never be Star Trek again.
I took Enterprise for granted. I did not fully embrace it from the beginning, and I feel guilty for that. I watched the series premire, and then missed a lot of episodes during the first season. I eventually caught up through encores and TLAM's VHS library, but did not become a dedicated viewer until the 2nd season. During the 3rd season, it became known that the series' future was in question, and the Save Enterprise project was born. I quickly joined the forum and e-mail group, and began writing letters to the network executives in order to being the show back for a 4th season. We succeeded last year, and the current 4th season may be the best yet. Knowing that a full 7 year run was by no means guaranteed, the campaign continued this year to ensure a 5th season and beyond. Today marks the darkest hour in that struggle.
There is still a chance, however slim, that another network could pick the show up. There have been quite a few science fiction shows in the last few years that were cancelled, and then brought back for new episodes on another channel. I'm sure that this will be the new goal of the Save Enterprise campaign. But as much as I can hope for a miracle, there is the very real possibility that Paramount will not allow it. The odds are against us, and the situation is grim.
Enterprise NX-01
Fuck Paramount Pictures.
Fuck Les Moonves.
It was officially announced today that at the end of this season, Star Trek: Enterprise has been canceled.
You may think I'm overreacting. While I may not serve jury duty wearing a Starfleet uniform, and can't speak Klingon, Star Trek has always been a part of my life. I watched reruns of the original series with my dad before I could sit up on my own. Unlike the finite existence of Star Wars, where there could really only ever be 6 movies, there has been new Star Trek without pause for the last 19 years. Star Trek IV: The Voayage Home premiered in 1986, and in 2005 Star Trek: Enterprise is in its 4th season. But there will be no 5th season. There may never be Star Trek again.
I took Enterprise for granted. I did not fully embrace it from the beginning, and I feel guilty for that. I watched the series premire, and then missed a lot of episodes during the first season. I eventually caught up through encores and TLAM's VHS library, but did not become a dedicated viewer until the 2nd season. During the 3rd season, it became known that the series' future was in question, and the Save Enterprise project was born. I quickly joined the forum and e-mail group, and began writing letters to the network executives in order to being the show back for a 4th season. We succeeded last year, and the current 4th season may be the best yet. Knowing that a full 7 year run was by no means guaranteed, the campaign continued this year to ensure a 5th season and beyond. Today marks the darkest hour in that struggle.
There is still a chance, however slim, that another network could pick the show up. There have been quite a few science fiction shows in the last few years that were cancelled, and then brought back for new episodes on another channel. I'm sure that this will be the new goal of the Save Enterprise campaign. But as much as I can hope for a miracle, there is the very real possibility that Paramount will not allow it. The odds are against us, and the situation is grim.
Enterprise NX-01
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