It's In The Stars Baby!

From my birthday astrology report for those who believe in such.

A configuration involving Mercury, Jupiter and Pluto in your Solar Return has you thinking in big terms. Big ideas and plans are on your mind, perhaps even to the point of obsession! ...

With the Sun sextile Saturn in your Solar Return chart, work you have done begins to pay off this year. You may be recognized or rewarded in some way for the efforts you put forth. Because you project a more responsible and credible “you”, people in authority tend to be more inclined to appreciate you and recognize your work. This is a year when you put your life in order in some significant manner. Improved concentration, a more realistic outlook, and a practical awareness of the limits of time all help you to make steady progress, particularly in your career.... [ I HOPE!!!]

2006 is a Number Eight year for you. Ruled by Saturn. This is a year of power and accomplishment. Actively seeking to expand, taking educated risks, and moving forward are highlighted. This is a year of opportunity, particularly in the material and business world, and opportunities need to be seized. It's generally not a year to find a new love partner [I disagree with this as there are glimpses of new women in my life and after the past 6 years I'm not going to turn down potential opportunities], simply because the focus is on the material world and your place in the world. This is a problem-solving year in which you can expect real, tangible results. Advice - take action, plan ahead, seize opportunities.

Time to prep for my interview today. I'll recap stuff tomorrow.

Ropeless Jump Rope?

It is the jumping that is the exercise, not the rope. You can't trip on the rope because it isn't there. The inventor has weights that move in the handles to simulate the weight of a rope going around. Actually he only has one handle and is needing money to manufacture the second handle.

It still looks silly to me though.

From The Wiley T.

After moving a bunch of the Wiley T's stuff in the Mighty Green Ranger yesterday.

"How did man advance without bungee cords? They're just so darned useful."

I hope he gets the rest of the small stuff because I'm way too busy tomorrow between another interview and celebrating my birthday afterwards. If the weather cools down a bit I'm thinking someplace al-fresco like Rick's Boatyard Cafe or Mama Corolla's. Does anyone else have any suggestions?

Checklist.

Typed out directions in large print.
Made copies of various things in triplicate in case I need to hand something to one of the three interviewers.
Set alarm for early.

Okay I have nothing to really blog about and no time lately to do so. I'm ashamed of the complete lack of quality this blog has become.

Now THAT Was A Race!

I'm exhausted so this is a quickie.

WOW what a great race that ended up being. Dan Wheldon dominated, Danica Patrick was never a factor, Michael Andretti comes out of retirement and is leading with 4 laps to go, 19 year old Marco Andretti can push the gas pedal through the firewall, and somehow Sam Hornish Jr wins the wholed damned race by 6 feet!

I'm so thankful for the SPF 15 and long sleeve shirt I wore. I'm not too badly burnt by the insanely hot sun we had today.

Have A Great Memorial Day Weekend!!!

Have fun, but don't forget to take a moment to remember those whose sacrifice paid for our liberty.

Friday Quotes: Frasier Style

[about Frasier's agent Bebe Glazer]
Niles: You're still consorting with that barracuda?
Frasier: Well, a barracuda is what you want in an agent, Niles. Well, it's just that the station's been sold, I was hoping she might have some scuttlebutt on the new owner. I must admit she's rather hard to get a hold of these days.
Niles: Oh really? I thought one just drew a pentagram on the floor and chanted "I summon thee" three times.


Sherry Dempsey: I just love making people laugh. I think humor is like medicine.
Niles: [aside] Oh, we must be in the placebo group.


Niles: What's this about?
Lilith: Well, it's about an attraction that I thought was over and now I'm beginning to think, maybe it's not.
Niles: Usually in my dreams, this is where I try to run and can't.


[Frasier tries to comfort Daphne who's unhappy with her love life]
Frasier: I know how bleak these times can be, but believe me, they will come to an end sometime or later. I remember a time back in Boston, I was going through exactly what you're going through now. Just a week later I met a lovely barmaid, sophisticated if a bit loquacious. We fell madly in love and we got engaged... 'course, she left me standing at the altar. But the point is, I didn't give up. I took my poor battered heart and handed it to Lilith... who put it in her little Cuisinart and hit the puree button. But I rebounded! and look how far I've come. I'm divorced, lonely, and living with my father.


Bebe Glazer: Do you have any idea how hot you are? I get offers everyday from other stations offering the moon for you.
Frasier: Good Lord, am I really that hot?
Bebe Glazer: Are you kidding? If I were a pot roast, I'd be done.
Niles: Hello, I'm Niles, a person at the table.
Bebe Glazer: Niles, thank God you're here. Back me up. Give him some sound, brotherly advice.
Niles: She's the Devil, Frasier. Run fast, run far.

School's Out For The Summer!

Though unemployed now I'm glad I will not be dealing with the youth of America on a daily basis. Most of them have issues. You're coming in late to your last final, but you want to talk to your friend. You know how long your skirt is supposed to be, yet you dress in something 3 inches above it. You're coming in late because you took your daughter to the doctor and you're a freshman. You never want to deal with an adult for you ignore everything we say. You have 15 minutes to go and you get into a fight.

Two days ago we had a girl fight and those are the worse. Guys understand combatants and non-combatants, but a girl will go through me to get to that bitch. Poor Harry was knocked onto the floor and he's a former 'Nam marine! The female deputy used her taser on one of them. I wish I had seen that.

Children no longer want to think and expect answers to be given to them. They really don't care about putting forth any effort.

Oh well I'm going to have a good weekend and my time for the next 4 days is booked. I'll see you all later. I'm having fun and enjoying the race.

See you on the flip side.

When It Rains It Pours...

...but in a good way at least. Within an hour I've arranged two interviews for next week. The downside is they both involve an hour drive and are in opposite directions or I would have tried to schedule them both on the same day. Wear a good suit for only one day ya know?

This will not stop the letters I'm sending out tonight though. Interviews are merely a rest stop on the long journey.

To balance out the good karma I did get a ding mail today. The universe is satisfied I believe.

EDIT: Karmic balance must be maintained properly. Now I have a dingmail to go with my ding letter. Two dings received and two interviews scheduled in the same day. What the heck is my job search, a centrist middle of the roader?

My Birthday Wish List

Since you have exactly one week until my birthday I figured I should post my list for anyone who is thinking of gifts.

1. A well paying job that makes use of my law degree.
2. Paying off my student loans. If you don't want to write a check to Sallie Mae then get the Corvette pace car to this year's Indy 500. They're equivalent in value.
3. Pay off my slowly rising credit card debt.
4. Build a new shed, fencing, and patio to replace my dilapidated ones.
5. Repair the upstairs bathroom leak. After 4 years I'm tired of it.
6. A replacement dryer. After 3 months I'm tired of having a washer, but no dryer.
7. Cable TV. We're getting that Friday. First time in 2 years I'll have History, Discovery, ESPN, and Sci-Fi. Having a new roomie does have advantages.
8. One black Chrysler 300C SRT-8. Does that thing have a HEMI? Why yes, yes it does.
9. One paid two week vacation to Hawaii.

Looks like I'm in a mostly practical mood this year. Can I go back to the days when I wanted a doggie?

You Really Don't Want To Hire Anyone Do You?

One resume emailed last night. One resume printed off and mailed this morning before I left for work (I was up a bit early). I decided to go for the trifecta this afternoon. That was my first mistake.

The place doesn't accept emails, phone calls, online applications, or mailed items. They want you to apply in person. What is this, the 1950s? I knew they closed for lunch but I wasn't sure when they closed in the afternoon. They seemed to have bankers hours. My ad only had the morning hours printed, but I knew that was incorrect. Luckily I got out of work an hour early.

I put $1.50 in the meter because I had no idea how long this would take. I get into the room listed and am informed Human Resources has moved to a different room on a different floor. I wandered over to the new location and saw the big sign: closed at 3 P.M. I was almost a half-hour too late. HR isn't open on Wednesdays either.

My Thursday is going to be so cramped. Last day of work, hopefully lunch with a friend, go apply for job, have dinner with a very cute and intelligent female (crosses fingers), and who knows what else. At least part of Thursday should be fun!

EDIT: Okay I emailed 3 other applications. That makes 5 total in 36 hours. Is that a quintfecta?

32 Cars In.

The Speedway wanted to get all 33 cars in today. They came close. I wish I could have been there to see it. Instead of the normal 4 to 5 hour lull in the afternoon I'm betting the track was busy all day to qualify 32 cars. I know the Indy 500 has lots of tradition, but I've been bored for years by having quals spread out over 4 days. Having the first weekend rained out might be a good thing.

*I know the downside is the teams had virtually no practice but it isn't my fault it rained for nearly 2 weeks straight. Some dude named Noah started building a boat next door.

The Whumpa Has Landed.

Whumpa needed nothing in the bedroom and nothing along the family room wall. I managed to accomplish that. The rest of this place looks like a tornado went through it. What began as a reasonable clean out, toss out, and organization exercise ended up becoming a shove stuff where it fits and sort it out later exercise.

*Sigh* I've accumulated much crap over the 8 years I've lived here. I am going to be very busy the next week or two just going through all this stuff. With someone else living here I don't want to appear the Oscar to his Felix. Amazing how much stuff you accumlate that you don't really need.

Part of the problem is attempting to recycle things. I (try to) shred the paper products and toss them in the recycling bin. I had a dozen cardboard boxes easily recycleable, but I ended up tossing them in the trash. My green principles can be compromised by a tight deadline. OTOH I did drop off some batteries and paint cans to our local TOX-DROP this morning.

Some recycling will be done in-house. The shelves I dismantled in my dining room I may reassemble in my bedroom or above my computer in the living room. Two large corkboards I took down in the second bedroom may split up and set up in my bedroom and next to the computer. Redocorating on a dime so to speak.

I should have started this 2 months ago when we first entertained the idea. I didn't want to put any effort into such a herculean effort until I knew Whumpa was indeed moving in. He confirmed it only two weeks ago. Luckily Whumpa will be spending most of his time at his old place cleaning it out and bringing over the small stuff. I'll have a chance to at least reorg the living room to something functional (I hope).

Dingmail

At least the Head Honcho himself emailed me. They want to keep my resume on file in case something opens up. I really wanted this job because it seemed almost perfect. Not simply-workable or I-had-no-other-choice, but almost perfect.

369 days since I've graduated and I'm starting to think attempting to change my career path was a big mistake. Where did I go so wrong? Have the efforts of the past 5 to 6 years been for naught? Over the past month or two I simply don't know anymore.

Does Anyone Else Think Boston Legal Is The Refuge Of Star Trek Actors?

Seriously, think about it. You have Kirk, Odo, and now 7 of 9 a.k.a. William Shatner, Rene Auberjonois, and Jeri Ryan in one episode. I think they need Avery Brooks (Cisco) to be a tough prosecutor. Picard can be a judge because he's British and gets to wear the cool wig. Obviously that needs to be a Denny and Alan go to England episode.

As a Trek aside this is one hilarious video.

Back to Boston Legal, what's up with getting rid of all the female leads? Looks like we're going to need another blonde female to be a foil. Bye bye Denise???

Denny Crane: Are you in heat?
Alan Shore: Yes.
Denny Crane: So am I. We must be on the same cycle.

Can I work for a firm that whacked out?

Catch You All Later

I'm going to be insanely busy this week so I foresee light to no blogging. Actually no blogging. Catch you all later.

Rainy Days Can Be Productive.

The light constant drizzle is screwing up opening day of qualifications at the track, but it is good at keeping me home and doing work. With Whumpa moving in next week I need some solid time by myself to clean out the second bedroom. Between today and a fair chunk of tomorrow I reckon I can get a lot done. Hopefully Mother's Day celebration will be later in the afternoon tomorrow.

Wish me luck. There is sooooooo much to do around here.

Friday Quotes: Just LIke Conversations I Have With Friends.

Jack O'Neill: The hell with culture. A member of my team has been neutralized. That's a hostile act.
Daniel Jackson: How is it that you always come up with the worst case scenario?
Jack O'Neill: I practice.

Jack O'Neill: Actually, it's called the Accretion Disk.
Daniel Jackson: Well, I guess it's easy to understand why the local population would be afraid of something like that... *what* did you just say?
Jack O'Neill: It's just an astronomical term.
Samantha Carter: You didn't think the Colonel had a telescope on his roof just to look at the neighbors, did you?
Jack O'Neill: Not initially.

Samantha Carter: Maybourne, you are an idiot everyday of the week, couldn't you have taken just this one day off?

I Want As Many Wind Farms As Possible.

Texas, not the most environmentally friendly state, wants to build up to five hundred 400 foot tall windmills of the shore of Padre Island. Houston based Superior Renewable Energy will spend one to two BILLION dollars on the project. The wind farm could power 125,000 homes with 500 megawatts of power. (No I don't know how close to 1.21 jigawatts that is.)

One funny thing about the entire situation concerning wind farms is one group of environmentalists is far clean energy and another group is concerned about bird kill or ruining natural views. No one lives on that section of Padre Island so the view problem is eliminated. One group is concerned about migrating birds.

I feel sorry for any birds hit by a blade, but Darwin happened in that case. I want as much wind, water, and solar juice I we can get.

Timing Is Everything.

Yesterday after work on gas station had $2.85 a gallon. Across the street was $2.58 a gallon. I still had a half tank, but I pulled 4 G's making that left turn!

Today that gas station had $2.99 a gallon. Geez!!! I'm glad I stopped yesterday.

In other news the local media has been heralding the arrival of E85 pumps. One last week in Carmel, and today the west side Meijirs debuted one. Every time I watch the fanfare I have this mental image of redneck proudly proclaiming, "Yep we got ourselves a stoplight AND a gas station here!"

One day I hope the novelty wears off as the pumps become common. If you have a flexfuel vehicle help a farmer out and pump some E85.

It Went Well If Quickly.

My interview lasted around 12-15 minutes I think. I meet with the Head Honcho and another VIP. VIP used to be a substitute teacher once upon a time. They were just meeting all the people who applied but they seemed interested in my school internships and the fact I published a paper. My previous job experience seemed helpful as well. In the end much of the law is troubleshooting a problem and I have lots of experience troubleshooting! The position would fit my skills and mindset very well. I would ENJOY this job.

The downside is a position doesn't actually exist yet. They may decide to create an opening this week, sometime this summer, or perhaps not at all. Ugh. I'm ready now so if they can create the position sooner rather than later I would appreciate that.

They wanted a copy of my note and thanks to Robin I know have one. Why I didn't save a PDF of my note once it got published I'll never know. I mailed thank you notes and the note yesterday afternoon so I prove I have good manners and quick follow up. I did my part, but now it is out of my hands. If you have any spare good karma please send it my way. Thanks.

Season Finales Are Like A Family Reunion.

EVERYONE shows up for the finale. If you don't want any spoilers for Veronica Mars just skip this post and go to the next blog.



I told you to go to the next blog if you don't want spoilers.



If you made it this far you must have watched or just don't care.



Holy crap Beaver is evil!!!! He seemed so nice and geeky. He loved our resident geekette Mac and who wouldn't. He was smart and felt like a almost regular kid. Nope, he's raped our heroine, passed on STDs, killed a busload of people, blew an airplane out of the sky (holy crap Keith is dead?!?!), tortured Veronica. At least Beaver had the courtesy of avoiding a criminal trial by imposing his own death penalty. Did ANYONE see Beaver as the big bad this season?

The odd thing is Kendall the vamp is sitting pretty with 8 million in cash thanks to the dwebby stepson she hated.

I guess we had to have a 20 second Duncan Kane scene to let us know what he was up to. (Which I'm okay with as I did wonder where did he end up.) Does anyone see Duncan's actions as illegal (because assasination usually is) or simply avenging the family honor (assasination: the policy of who do we have to kill to make good things happen)?

Sheriff Lamb is an incompetent ass. You feel sorry for Weevil not graduating. The person you want to arrest isn't going anywhere so why not arrest him quietly when no one is around.

Looks like the epic love between Logan and VM is on...again!!! Would those two wacky kids make up their minds? Uh-oh Logan may need himself checked out by the doctors. Now we know where she's been.

The upcoming CW network better pick up Veronica Mars for a third season or I'm protesting. After BSG this is the best drama currently on television.

PS for lawgeekgurl: yes Joss Whedon would have killed Keith off. I still haven't forgiven Joss for killing off Jenny Calendar and Wesley. Are British guys not allowed to get some lovin' in the Whedonverse?

PPS: I'm so glad Boston Legal is on tape for tomorrow.

Today Will Be A Big Day.

The interview is today. It was scheduled in the late morning so it didn't make sense to work even half a day once you factor in changing clothes time, drive time, parking time, walking into the building time. I'm honestly excited about this position. I believe it suits my skills and temperament well. I will learn more about it as the job description was simply the job title. Wish me some GOOD luck please. I always seem to need more of that than I have.

In other news the season finale of Veronica Mars is tonight. Whodidit??? Was it Mayor Woody? How about Kendall Casablacas with help from a Fitzpatrick brother (nice to see Cordy back as a vampy vixen)? Will Aaron Echolls get killed by Veronica in a fit of self-defense? BTW: I'm not certain Mr. Echolls lawyer can discredit Veronica's testimony the way he did last week. What does her sexual history and health have to do with the murder case? I kept thinking "OBJECTION, relevance of the question" last week, but hey I'm not a trial lawyer so what do I know.

Gag, the third season better be picked up is all I'm saying.

PS: yes I am that much of a dork to combine job interview with Veronica Mars. My stream of consciousness has some interesting eddys.

Roommates???

I haven't had a roommate in 11 years. He was a high school friend so he, his wife, her child, and myself moved into a large 3 bedroom apartment. That ended up not working out very well. At $10/hour I had the highest paying job of the 3 wage-earners, and when they decided to get a divorce suddenly I was the one paying most of the bills till we could break the lease.

Grandma's old 2 bedroom condo isn't a bad place especially since I did some renovations to it before going back to school. However lots of things fell apart these last 4 years and I haven't had the time/money to truly fix them. Once I get a job this place will be a construction zone to fix the deferred maintenance.

However I'm getting a break. The Wiley T is moving in with his girlfriend and Whumpa needs a place to stay. Whumpa is like me (recently finished with education) and has a starting job in his field (unlike me). I made him a good deal by simply splitting the expenses and a modest rent. Whumpa is officially moving in.

This is going to be one hell of an adjustment for me. He's trustworthy and will pay the rent so I don't have to worry about money. I'm going to have to get used to someone being here. I'll have to clean and organize (should have been doing that for years now so I have an incentive). On the other hand I'll have someone to chat with on occasion. Sometimes I'm bored because virtually everyone I know is married, has kids, and in that life stage where you just don't hang around each other a lot. Whumpa has his own life, but I suspect we'll get to hang around a bit.

I've been cleaning a bit the past few weeks when the possibility of a roomie came up. The problem with cleaning is the place looks like a disaster zone until it is finished. Ugh.

The best thing about Whumpa moving in is the following equation: Whumpa = Cable TV :-)
I miss cable TV!!!

My Finger Broke The Sound Barrier Reaching For REPLY.

Brian, do you have 15 minutes for an interview next Tuesday?

Why yes I think I can clear my schedule. Woo-hoo!

Friday Quotes: Broken Arrow

In what has to be the best bit of advice I've ever heard from a movie. From a John Travolta character no less:

Vic Deakins: Would you mind not shooting at the thermonuclear weapons?

"Major" League Soccer?

Jewboy, who teaches us all things concerning Judaism hence the nickname designed to protect his identity, has been on a kick concerning Major League Soccer. I'll concede it is a professional league, but on a professional level I don't believe you can call it MAJOR League Soccer. The oblong football far exceeds it, men's basketball, baseball, NASCAR, and I'm guessing hockey (there are rules in hockey I discovered last night) are sports larger than soccer (on a professional level).

Jewboy: "members of this group can name 3 MLS teams."
Thoughts in my mind but didn't say them for his safety: "umm..Rhine Fire, Barcelona Dragons, Ford Galaxie, Battlestar Galactica???"

Jewboy always defends his position passionately, but sometimes he needs to pick his positions better. Soccer??? Unless you're a passionate fan, no one really cares about it.

Born In The USA

You Belong in the USA

Sweet! People either love you or hate you And you really don't care what anyone thinks Big and bold, you do things your way

What English Speaking Country Do You Belong In?

The Wisdom Of Denny Crane: Flaring Star Edition

Best lines all season.

Denny Crane: You’re thinking. There was a day I used to do that.

Denny Crane: As you get older your priorities change. You realize what’s important: money!

Denny Crane: Big star. I blow solar flares out my ass.

Denny Crane: We’re lawyers. We aid and abet crimes. We do that all the time. The key is to cover our asses. He did that. Ass covered. Over and out. Not guilty. [This could possibly be the best closing argument I’ve ever seen.]

Alan Shore to the trial judge referring to Denny Crane: I get him off he gets me off.
Alan Shore: Not guilty by reason of the district attorney’s insanity.
Judge Thompson: That’s not a real plea.

Shirley Schmidt: Edwin you were less crazy with your pants down.

Brad to Denise Bauer: You’re a hypocrite. You talk about expressing emotions and your keep yours bottled up like one of Denny’s kidney stones.

For those who are Brad/Denise shippers you got your wish tonight. Wow my TV was steaming after that into the bedroom scene. Why is Boston Legal far better than Ally McBeal (hated it) and The Practice (barely watched that one too)?

Free At Last! Free At Last!

The voting results are in. I love being rid of her. I've been completely free of her for a few weeks now. Given today is election day and her birthday I voted her out of my life and off the island. I figure it falls under write-in ballot.

I'm completely amazed at how good I've felt lately. Instead of dealing with two impossible situations now I only have one impossible situation (to find a job). I tried to be nice. I tried to always be there for her and support her. I always accommodated her. It always had to be her way and never an explanation as to why. I'm willing to be flexible, but I like a decent explanation.

Over a third of my life this schziophrenic woman has been screwing with me. If she couldn't trust me by now then what does it take to earn her trust? At what point would she truly open up and decide what she wanted? One hand beaconing; one hand in the halt position. I kept watching the emotional armor get thicker and higher. A wall no one could penetrate. You can't live life and maintain complete control. To be with people you have to give up some control. I can't see her doing that. She lost control once, got burned, and now has retreated to stoic, studied, restrained position. That armor kept getting thicker and higher.

I finally got tired of being there when it was convenient for her. She kept herself so busy that you had to schedule things weeks in advance sometimes. Yet this wasn't new behavior, not really. "I'm in the state for a month, but I can only see you at the airport as I fly out." "I only call you when I have a major problem." "Nice to know you'll be in town Saturday, but I'm busy with family because we're celebrating my cousin's brother's nephew's former roommate's birthday." She said I was important to her, but she didn't act that way.
I'm tired of dealing with the broken women. Women that seem good on the surface, but are fractured underneath. Everyone has baggage, but steamer trunks full are too much. The past few years I've gotten good at finding broken women, much to my detriment. I wouldn't mind so much if only you screwed yourselves over, but you screw me over far worse. For now I'm celebrating her birthday by deleting her phone number from my cell, deleting her from my address book and instant message software.

A shame she doesn't read this blog anymore. Happy birthday and buh-bye! I should have punted your butt years ago.

White House Correspondents Dinner.

The President, a comedic look-alike, and Comedy Central's Steven Colbert at the White House Correspondents Dinner. I don't care what side of the political aisle you're on the video is funny.

**If I could link drectly to the video I would, but I can't :-( Just look in the left hand column.