tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65730512024-02-28T11:45:07.940-05:00Confessions Of An Exhausted MindThis here is my sanctuary. See this is where I chill. Where I relax. Where I chillax.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1638125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573051.post-1161580683805557132006-10-27T01:36:00.000-04:002006-10-27T12:06:13.410-04:00And So It Begins. Again.<a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7457/357/1600/100_0121.jpg"><span style="font-size:85%;"><img style="CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7457/357/400/100_0121.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><br />This was supposed to be the last post for <em>Confessions</em>. I hoped to post some nostalgic piece with some feel good wisdom. I hoped to show that blogging was so easy even a dog could do it. See, the dog found a laptop and is about to blog. <em>Confessions</em> represented a phase of my life, but my life had <em>finally</em> moved on. I had a job that would be interesting once I was integrated in. I wouldn't be desperate for money or health insurance. I could starting thinking of dating again. I liked dating this spring, but it proved that women have gotten more expensive, and the poverty level wages of a substitute teacher wouldn't sustain such an extravagance. As I've aged I've discovered women have an inflationary index. Yet I digress. I could finally fix the leaking bathroom pipe after 4 years. I could repair to rotten shed and fence. I could redo the entire patio with cobblestone pavers. The VISA statement could be lowered. Perhaps next Spring I could take a vacation for the first time since 2001. At the very least I could take weekend trips and not worry about the gas money. My life was finally moving on and in a good direction. I was looking forward to the new journey with sweet anticipation. It was an appropriate time to shut this blog down.<br /><br />Then last Friday happened.<br /><br /><em>I WAS LET GO</em>. The problem with non-profit groups is their cash flow tends to be very bad. How does a business pay the bills when income doesn't exist? It appears the cash flow for non-profit, public interest group went from bad to horrendous. Like any business in bad financial straits, they cut costs. <em>They cut me</em>. In 3 weeks I didn't have time to really do anything special. I helped with some Board members on some projects they needed performed. I spent a good deal of time helping clean up the small details for our fundraising conference and dinner. That final Thursday I spoke with my boss on various projects that looked like they needed to be done. I wanted to make sure we were on the same page. I updated the webpage. An intern was scheduling speaking engagements for me. They won't be done now.<br /><br />I'm very angry at the entire situation. The good news is the boss agreed to be a reference. <s>I have a box of new business cards</s>. They paid for my bar license renewal. I did get chocolate cake that Friday to celebrate the new attorney getting sworn in. (<em>The new attorney has a grant for nine more months.</em>) The bad news: 500 newly sworn in attorneys with who knows how many of them looking for a job. Great, I have to compete with the numerous leftover 2005 grads and all these new 2006 grads. Now I'm back to where I was last month: NOWHERE!<br /><br /><strong>And Now For Some Commentary</strong><br /><br />One small sliver of good luck is I have this one month project for a night job. It goes to early November and could be extended. A small sliver of income for a short time. Next to me is a 2006 grad of the law school and on my other side is a student of the law school who is taking a year off to get in-state designation. They agree with my take on things so now I'll share with you.<br /><br />THE ENTIRE SYSTEM IS SCREWED UP! Law schools are only concerned about one thing: money. Money comes from letting in as many students as possible. Obviously the profession can't handle the number of graduates exiting the schools. I don't hear about doctors unable to find employment. Med schools actually limit the number of students to what they feel the profession will need in a few years. Thank you law schools for flooding the market.<br /><br />Some students are a problem. While in school I heard numerous fellow students state they came to law school <em>to find themselves</em>. This was <strong>ALWAYS</strong> from a 20-something who realized they were going to graduate from college and didn't know what to do next. The real world is icky. Med school meant dealing with icky blood. Business college meant dealing with icky math. Law school didn't seem icky. Thank you early 20-somethings with no real world experience for flooding the market.<br /><br />The State of Indiana is a problem. This state simply doesn't care about smart people. For my entire life I've heard of this brain drain. It is so difficult to keep the people with degrees in this state. Not enough jobs exist for them. College graduates leave the state in droves. I wonder now if post-college grads should leave the state in droves. The culture of Indiana doesn't even care about educating people. 3 out of 10 freshmen will NEVER GRADUATE from high school. With that kind of attitude is it obvious why so many educated compatriots flee? Indiana keeps claiming it will diversify the manufacturing economy to a more skilled one. They've claimed that my entire adult life. Yet the recession is still here for us. The first to lose jobs and the last to recovery because we're so dependent on the almighty factory. When I began this process in 2000, I seriously thought about where I wanted to go to school. I did apply to several out of state law schools. I chose Indiana as a statement to fight the brain drain. I would help change this state to what it needed to be. When I wondered what bar exam to take I thought about my plan: should I continue to fight the brain drain? I said yes, I will be the change this state needs. Here we are 17 months later and I very much regret that decision. Now I'm overqualified for part-time jobs I want to take just get some cash. Now I keep fighting for a job that makes use of this degree. Thank you Indiana for reducing the degreed labor market to the size of a postage stamp.<br /><br />The Catch 22 is a problem: we want people with experience, but you don't get experience until you're hired! I'm a nuts and bolts type of guy. That's why I enjoyed my computer classes. We mixed theory and reality. Law school is far too theoretical. Even my internships didn't provide much real world practicality. Once again, the medical profession has it right in my opinion. You get your degree and then you're matched with your apprenticeship aka residency. I truly believe it would be far better for students, graduates, and the entire profession if someone could figure out a way to have law graduates apprentice for 2 years or so. At the end of the apprenticeship the lawyer knows the day to day nuts and bolts of the profession. Doctors to brick layers and plumbers have more real world how-to experience in their respective professions than lawyers do. Thank you legal profession for being backwards from every other professional school I know.<br /><br />These are the thoughts and feelings I've tried to hide from you for about a year now. Frustration, anger, exasperation, confusion. Those feeling are so unlike me. This is why I didn't really blog much the past year. I didn't want that negativism to seep into the writings. In the end I feel betrayed. Betrayed by my own ideals. Betrayed by a system that is run amok. Betrayed by all the conventional wisdom that failed me. You need to make your resume stand out. Be involved in student government. I did that! You need to get some pseudo-real world experience though a few internships. Been there, done that! You need to get onto law review and get published. I wrote the note on that and cite checked it! I did everything I was told to do and it hasn't worked at all. The American ideal is that you didn't have to be the best and the brightest (<em>I never claimed I was</em>), but if you work hard and do what you're supposed to do you will have success. I always believed that until now. I didn't expect acquiring the first job to be easy, yet has it become impossible?<br /><br />Winston Churchill said, "<em>Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts</em>." Great words, but easier said than done. Courage is in short supply at the moment.<br /><br />Which brings me back to <em>Confessions</em>. I've said before this blog is no longer a good vehicle for the journey I'm on. As a public blog I wondered if it was a boat anchor on my job hunt. As a public blog I felt it constrained my writing too much. As a public blog I can't show the gritty reality that needs to be shown sometimes. Humans like the rose colored glasses too much. In the end I'm more the darkness than the light, or perhaps the gray in between. Is that just a fancy way of saying I'm extremely cranky at the moment? I want to say controversial things. I want to analyze taboo subjects. You can't do that in the politically correct environment we live in now. At least you can't do it when you're a powerless person dependent on forces greater than you to reach your goals. A instructor at the CLE class I took a few weeks ago told a tale of a new attorney being fired for his blog. Their presence makes employers nervous. To a potential employer why take the risk in the first place is what my paranoid mind thinks.<br /><br />Regardless after 968 days (2 years, 7 months, 24 days) and 1,643 posts this blog stops. Where I'm going now, you can't follow. For the most part I don't want you to come with me, not right now. I found instructions on how to archive <em>Confessions</em>. It will be like the pictures of an ex-girlfriend. That chapter passed long ago, but you can't throw her out completely as she changed who you are. In order to prevent cybersquatting by some porn site (<em>a process I find abhorrent</em>) I will not <em>entirely</em> delete this blog. I'll leave up a few good posts as a reminder of what once was. The rest will be dismantled starting soon.<br /><br />Concerning the new virtual Batcave I don't know when and if it will be built, or if I've already laid the foundation. When I'm ready and willing I'll let those who expressed interest earlier know where to go for a good drink. You can be on the next phase when I'm ready.<br /><br />As this is Friday I need another quote to maintain the tradition. This one sums up so much. This one might be perfect for this final day.<br /><br />"<em>If there's no great glorious end to all this, if nothing we do matters...then all that matters is what we do</em>." </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573051.post-1161343986962439592006-10-20T07:25:00.000-04:002006-10-20T07:33:06.966-04:00For Buffy Fans Only.<span style="font-size:85%;">If you don't understand or like Buffy please move along.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">For the rest of us, are you aware </span><a href="http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0610/16/index.htm"><span style="font-size:85%;">Joss Whedon is producing a Season 8 of Buffy as a comic book mini-series</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;">? It appears the first issue is already drawn and will be in stores March 2007 to coincide with the TV series launch anniversary.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Cool.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573051.post-1161314631689553742006-10-20T07:11:00.000-04:002006-10-19T23:23:51.733-04:00Friday Quotes: Useful Advice Of Legal & Nonlegal Nature.<a name="qt0144564"></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Dr Ray Stantz</strong>: Gozer the Gozerian... good evening. As a duly designated representative of the City, County and State of New York, I order you to cease any and all supernatural activity and return forthwith to your place of origin or to the nearest convenient parallel dimension. </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Dr. Peter Venkman</strong>: [Sarcastically] That oughta do it. Thanks very much, Ray. </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Gozer:</strong> [Evil voice] Are you a God? </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Dr Ray Stantz:</strong> [Peter nods] No. </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Gozer:</strong> Then... DIE! </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">[Electrocutes the Ghostbusters; pushing them to the edge of the apartment building; people screaming] </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Winston Zeddemore:</strong> Ray, when someone asks if you're a God, you say "Yes"! </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><br /><a name="qt0144516"></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Winston Zeddemore:</strong> Hey, wait a minute. Hey. Hey. Hey. Hey. Hey. Hold it. Now, are we actually gonna go before a federal judge, and tell him that some moldy Babylonian God is going to drop in on Central Park West, and start tearing up the city? </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Dr. Egon Spengler:</strong> Sumerian, not Babylonian. </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Dr. Peter Venkman:</strong> Yeah. Big difference. </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Winston Zeddemore:</strong> No offense, guys, but I've gotta get my own lawyer. </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><br /><a name="qt0144551"></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Dr Ray Stantz:</strong> Where do these stairs go? </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Dr. Peter Venkman:</strong> They go up. </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"> - Ghostbusters</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573051.post-1161343515768894112006-10-20T07:10:00.000-04:002006-10-20T07:25:15.810-04:00The Next Big Thing.<span style="font-size:85%;">Good morning. Between non-profit job and a short term temp assignment at night (<em>a.k.a. VISA relief fund</em>) I've been BUSY!!! When I arrive home I wind down a bit and collapse onto my bed. No blogging for you in other words. However, I can take writings from other places and post them here as fresh posts. I'll explain the story. A certain wannabe environmental lawyer (who will rename nameless) was feeling a bit frustrated by the tack his/her career went. Environmental Lawyer asked for various opinions. Below is my response.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">______________________________________________________</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">The next big thing is already occurring, but you can help add to the critical mass of it: the growing acceptance and development of "green" energy sources, construction, and lifestyle choices.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Help promote development and acceptance of solar,wind, geothermal, and water power on both large and small scales. Yes the big wind farms off of Padre Island and the Columbia River valley are a good start, but how about promoting and writing local building codes to have hi-tech windmills attached to every new home in suburbia? Promote the use of solar roofing shingles that are flexible like asphalt ones, but generate electricity instead of sucking up solar heat. Promote underground parking garages to prevent heat sink conditions in an urban environment instead of paving it all. Promote new commercial buildings to collect rain water in cisterns for use as toilet water and watering the surrounding landscaping instead of using treated city water from a public utility.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Promote a 10% increase in the CAFE standards in 5 years. Encourage tax credits for new diesel engines using low sulfur fuel and manual trannys in cars to increase fuel economy. Promote the use of lightweight materials in automotive construction in place of steel.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Encourage recycling programs for paper, metals, plastics, electronic waste (e.scrap), batteries, etc. Encourage rails to trails development for better health and alternative transportation needs. Establish high speed rail. Fund nature conservatories to purchase land to make parks, wetlands, leave or turn back into a natural state.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Is this really ONE BIG THING or lots of little things that add up? I guess it depends on how closely you look at the paint stroke instead of the entire picture. I feel the shifting of societal attitudes towards a more green friendly outlook is the next big thing.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573051.post-1161259157886862352006-10-19T07:46:00.000-04:002006-10-19T07:59:17.930-04:00Randomness<span style="font-size:85%;">I was born in the 31st Century before Chuck Norris roundhouse kicked me back into the 20th.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">I am the Seventh Beatle. The lads were deciding on who should lay the bass line down for the songs. Paul has the bass guitar and I had the tuba. Paul got the gig because he could play <em>and sing</em> at the same time so he was more useful.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">The gust of wind that blow the side off a downtown skyscraper during the Final Four was my burp after consuming a Mt. Dew Baja Blast too quickly.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">I really need to find some free time soon. 15 hour days are not fun.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573051.post-1160971290545098392006-10-15T23:59:00.000-04:002006-10-16T00:01:30.593-04:00Wipeout!<span style="font-size:85%;">I leave house at 7:30 am for the conference. I get back just before midnight. Do I feel bad for sleeping 10 hours today? NO!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573051.post-1160739681179018532006-10-13T07:38:00.000-04:002006-10-13T07:41:21.223-04:00Chef Makes Edible Wedding Gown For His Bride.<a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061012/ap_on_fe_st/wedding_cake_bride"><span style="font-size:85%;">This one was so weird</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> I had to share. This Ukrainian chef has some skills. He made a 20 lb, 1,500 cream puff dress for his bride. She liked wearing it, but how did it taste?</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573051.post-1160710731222591252006-10-13T07:35:00.000-04:002006-10-12T23:38:51.266-04:00Friday Quotes: What Goes Through Your Mind.<span style="font-size:85%;">I admit this sounds like a conversation I would have.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001872/"><span style="font-size:85%;">Al Giordino</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;">: Hey, you know how it is when you see someone that you haven't seen since high school, and they got some dead-end job, and they're married to some woman that hates them, they got, like, three kids who think he's a joke? Wasn't there some point where he stood back and said, "Bob, don't take that job! Bob, don't marry that harpy!" You know? </span><br /><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000190/"><span style="font-size:85%;">Dirk Pitt</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;">: Your point? </span><br /><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001872/"><span style="font-size:85%;">Al Giordino</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;">: Well, we're in the desert, looking for the source of a river pollutant, using as our map a cave drawing of a Civil War gunship, which is also in the desert. So I was just wondering when we're gonna have to sit down and re-evaluate our decision-making paradigm? </span><br /><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000190/"><span style="font-size:85%;">Dirk Pitt</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;">: [coming up on the fortress seen in the cave painting] I don't know - it seems to be working so far. </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"> - </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0318649/"><span style="font-size:85%;">Sahara</span></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573051.post-1160622157202428962006-10-11T22:55:00.000-04:002006-10-11T23:02:37.240-04:00The Perfect Day.<span style="font-size:85%;">1. Get that first paystub.<br />2. Call bank just to make sure something is getting deposited today.<br />3. Official business cards arrive.<br />4. 2007 appointment book the paralegal ordered for me arrives. It even has the quarter hour system I love.<br />5. Correctly balance my checkbook <em>on the first try</em> today.<br />6. Create a rough budget and see it is <em>possible</em> to get out of credit card debt in less than a year.<br />7. Finish several big and small projects today.<br />8. Get a preemptive jump on a future project. At least I know what is broke and what I'll be fixing in a few weeks.<br />9. Listen to the falling rain hit my vent.<br /><br />I think I'll start feeling like a professional soon. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573051.post-1160110237162243822006-10-06T07:48:00.000-04:002006-10-06T00:50:37.210-04:00Friday Quotes: For Love Or Money Edition<span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Jimmy "The Tulip" Tudeski:</strong> You're a lucky guy, Oz. </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Nicholas "Oz" Oseransky:</strong> Why would you say that? </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Jimmy "The Tulip" Tudeski:</strong> You're about to find out if the woman you love loves you. You know, if it were me, in her position, I'd just take the money and run. </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Nicholas "Oz" Oseransky:</strong> So what are you betting on? </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Jimmy "The Tulip" Tudeski:</strong> I'm betting on love. Love for you means money for me. And like I said before, I'd really hate to have to kill you. </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"> - The Whole Nine Yards</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573051.post-1160107955224459292006-10-05T23:58:00.000-04:002006-10-06T00:17:04.850-04:00Just Another Day In The Office.<span style="font-size:85%;">Though absent from the blog I've not been swamped with work. I simply haven't felt like blogging. <a href="http://briansfrazzledmind.blogspot.com/2006/08/leave-no-trace.html">I told you earlier this ship is going down soon</a>.<br /><br />In case you're curious work has been exciting so far. Public Interest Inc! is slowly getting me into the mix of things. As a few projects come in and my phone number and email address get out there I'm sure things will pick up quickly. Right now I'm picking up a few pieces from the previous occupant of my position.<br /><br />I've never worked for a small office before in any job. I'm more hands on in ways I never realized before. I had to set up my own email accounts and learn my phone system. Luckily the phone's user manual is on my desk. The office staff is curious if I can be the on-site tech guru. I'll eventually perform website maintenance, create email lists, and I already solved a Excel spreadsheet issue. If I can find a battery backup somewhere I'll hook it up to our main lawyer's PC. The power died for a split second and we learned the hard way he didn't have a battery backup on his PC. Strangely enough I do. The lack of standardization in IT equipment is a first for me. This is a small shop so they ordered stuff when they needed it. I have Windows 98, another has Windows 2000, some have Windows XP. Perhaps I can write a grant to upgrade some of our equipment. LCD monitors would be more energy efficient, lighter to move around, and simply more cool.<br /><br />I get a few perks and I'm debating to paint my office sage green, burnt copper, or tuscan red. Run with the perks I say or paint with them in this case. I might even get a paint refund from the petty cash fund. I'll check into that.<br /><br />I still don't believe I have a job now. With luck it will be more real once I cash the first paycheck. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573051.post-1159501882765773272006-09-28T23:18:00.000-04:002006-09-29T00:02:50.343-04:00Mission Accomplished: 502 Days Later<span style="font-size:85%;">After being a near straight A student in undergrad it still took me 6 months to find a job that had nothing to do with my psychology degree. After being a mediocre student (<em>grade wise</em>) in law school it took 16 months to find a job that makes use of my law degree.<br /><br />I'm not going into detail, but I'll be an assistant director of a small non-profit public interest organization. In the professional development offices this would be referred to as a non-traditional job. A.K.A. a non-practicing attorney for those readers who are not legal beagles. I'll be a lawyer that doesn't write briefs and doesn't argue cases in front of judges.<br /><br />The job appeals to my jack-of-all-trades/Swiss army knife nature. I get to travel a bit to discuss issues in front of community panels (<em>what do you know that substitute teaching experience paid off</em>). I can recruit potential members to join the organization. I help with fundraising. I'll keep tabs on legislators to get a heads up on potential bills that affect the organization (a.k.a. lobbying). A juris doctorate isn't required for such an administrative position, but many J.D.s end up working in them. We have the right skillset.<br /><br />I assume there are health benefits, 401K plan, vacation/sick time with this job. I'll ask tomorrow. Today's second interview was a 30 minute session with my boss and a board member. They compared notes at the end and said I stood out. Great! Now I want to know about such details as the insurance, 401K, and vacation/sick time. A whirlwind of a day for sure.<br /><br />I've heard many '05 graduates out there are still looking. I wish you the best of luck. I wouldn't blame you if you simply gave up. I was about ready to. Tomorrow the bar results for this summer come out and I wasn't looking forward to the additional competition.<br /><br />The best thing is now I no longer have to lie. I was exhausted by putting up the stiff upper lip and saying I would prevail whenever asked how the job hunt was going. If one more person asked how the job hunt was going I was going to rip out a random major organ of their's. The truth was the job hunt tasted like ash in my mouth. I reached the point where I had no idea what I was going to do. I went through so many backup plans that I no longer had any ideas. I felt like the biggest failure. I was the biggest failure. Perhaps I finally won by simply enduring. I don't know.<br /><br />Yet a win is a win, no matter how ugly the process. Here's to finally winning. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573051.post-1159414118973317482006-09-28T08:12:00.000-04:002006-09-28T09:40:03.163-04:00Round 2: T Plus 502 Days<span style="font-size:85%;">I found a </span><a href="http://www.timeanddate.com/date/duration.html"><span style="font-size:85%;">time calculator</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> online. Including today it is 502 days past graduation or 1 year 4 months and 14 days. Believe me I feel that passage of time in ways I couldn't articulate and you wouldn't want me to in the first place. Yet today is a special day, it is the first time I've gotten to a second interview. I'm now 1 of 4 candidates.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">I'm not going to tell you where and what the position is. It is a potentially interesting, if non-traditional, position. A J.D. isn't required for the position, but it would be valuable. The lawyers there are top notch. I'm sure I would learn much while there.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">When I put on the suit I feel like I'm gearing up for one last battle, one last objective. I'm tired of this fight. It needs to be over soon.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573051.post-1159328294669176472006-09-28T07:37:00.000-04:002006-09-28T09:35:56.540-04:00Skydiving Is A Calculated Risk.<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="350" align="center" border="0"><tbody><tr><td align="middle" style="color:#dddddd;"><span style="font-size:14;"><b>You Are Bold And Brave</b></span></td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#eeeeee"><center><img height="100" src="http://images.blogthings.com/howdaringareyouquiz/bold-and-brave.jpg" width="100" /></center><span style="color:#000000;"><br />But daring? Not usually?<br />You tend to like to make calculated risks.<br />So while you may not be base jumping any time soon...<br />You are up for whatever's new and (a little) exciting!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div align="center"><a href="http://www.blogthings.com/howdaringareyouquiz/">How Daring Are You?</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573051.post-1159327590204391022006-09-28T07:26:00.000-04:002006-09-28T09:34:05.593-04:00I'm Okay With The Fly Ride.<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="350" align="center" border="0"><tbody><tr><td align="middle" style="color:#999999;"><span style="font-size:14;"><b>You Should Drive a BMW</b></span></td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#cccccc"><center><img height="100" src="http://images.blogthings.com/whatsportscarshouldyoudrivequiz/bmw.jpg" width="100" /></center><span style="color:#000000;"><br />Refined and classy, you want a car that looks rich... and goes fast!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div align="center"><a href="http://www.blogthings.com/whatsportscarshouldyoudrivequiz/">What Sports Car Should You Drive?</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573051.post-1159363007254509792006-09-27T09:07:00.000-04:002006-09-27T09:16:47.300-04:00I Hate Waiting<span style="font-size:85%;">I'm juggling a few things right now. I've reached a point where I'm done with what I can do and now I need to wait for other people to get back to me. It took me a few minutes but I figured out this odd feeling: anxiousness. I believe I'll get a phone call this afternoon and I'm anxiously waiting for it.<br /><br />How annoying!<br /><br />I'm certainly not a control freak, but when I'm waiting for the next step I get cranky. I dislike the uncertainty of some situations.<br /><br />I think I'll distract myself with a workout and cleaning of my living room. I'm sure the cardio will be good for me. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573051.post-1159327976185111792006-09-26T23:32:00.000-04:002006-09-26T23:32:56.190-04:00I Need Longer Trips<table width=350 align=center border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=2><tr><td bgcolor="#DDDDDD" align=center><font face="Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif" style='color:black; font-size: 14pt;'><b>Your Travel Profile:</b></font></td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#EEEEEE"><center><img src="http://images.blogthings.com/howwelltraveledareyouquiz/travel.jpg" height="100" width="100"></center><font color="#000000"><br />You Are Very Well Traveled in the Midwestern United States (75%)<br />You Are Somewhat Well Traveled in the Southern United States (31%)<br />You Are Somewhat Well Traveled in the Western United States (21%)<br />You Are Mostly Untraveled in Western Europe (14%)<br />You Are Mostly Untraveled in the United Kingdom (13%)<br />You Are Untraveled in Africa (0%)<br />You Are Untraveled in Asia (0%)<br />You Are Untraveled in Australia (0%)<br />You Are Untraveled in Canada (0%)<br />You Are Untraveled in Eastern Europe (0%)<br />You Are Untraveled in Latin America (0%)<br />You Are Untraveled in New Zealand (0%)<br />You Are Untraveled in Scandinavia (0%)<br />You Are Untraveled in Southern Europe (0%)<br />You Are Untraveled in the Middle East (0%)<br />You Are Untraveled in the Northeastern United States (0%)</font></td></tr></table><div align="center"><a href="http://www.blogthings.com/howwelltraveledareyouquiz/">How Well Traveled Are You?</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573051.post-1159327316830649512006-09-26T23:17:00.000-04:002006-09-26T23:21:56.893-04:00Evil Will Always Triumph Because Good Is Dumb.<span style="font-size:85%;">Excellent. Evil is far more fun anyway.<br /></span><table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="350" align="center" border="0"><tbody><tr><td align="middle" bg style="color:#cccccc;"><span style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; COLOR: blackfont-family:Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;" ><b>You Are 42% Evil</b></span></td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#dddddd"><center><img height="100" src="http://images.blogthings.com/howevilareyouquiz/evil-3.jpg" width="100" /></center><span style="color:#000000;"><br />You are evil, but you haven't yet mastered the dark side.<br />Fear not though - you are on your way to world domination.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div align="center"><a href="http://www.blogthings.com/howevilareyouquiz/">How Evil Are You?</a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573051.post-1159280417409332312006-09-26T08:13:00.000-04:002006-09-26T10:20:17.490-04:00When The Saints Come Marching In.<span style="font-size:85%;">The </span><a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/recap;_ylt=ApunFb0Mteo9cxcW9I6o7IA5nYcB?gid=20060925018&prov=ap"><span style="font-size:85%;">New Orleans Saints demolished an overwhelmed Atlanta Falcons team</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> 23-3 in a newly refurbished Superdome last night. The return of professional football to the hurricane ravaged city is hardly the end of the rebuilding process. Yet the symbol of last year's tragedy is now a symbol of normalcy at least for a few hours last night.<br /><br />Having a football game reminds the world New Orleans is still there and fighting back. Life will return to normal eventually. Though 3-0 the Saints didn't need a scoreboard last night. They were winners by simply taking the field once again. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573051.post-1157553047387452872006-09-26T07:06:00.000-04:002006-09-26T00:00:27.973-04:00An Open Letter To Bill Ford Jr.<span style="font-size:85%;">CC: Incoming Ford CEO Alan Mulally<br />CC: Tom Wood: owner of Tom Wood Ford<br /><br />Dear Ford Motor Company Chairman Bill Ford,<br /><br />I write this to you in the hopes that your company will learn from this problem and be better for it. With the enactment of Way Forward 2.0 Ford is cutting 14,000 salaried positions, closing 9 North America plants, and shedding a to be determined number of hourly positions. It is obvious Ford can use a few car sales now. Two major things are required for that: 1) a more compelling product line and 2) a sales staff that is willing to do what it takes to please potential customers. Issue #1 is a letter for another time. Issue #2 I will discuss now.<br /><br />The story begins with the Pillar Of Hoosier Centrism being in a family way. With 2 children POHC and his wife, The Boss, decided it was time to acquire a minivan. A list of the usual suspects was created: Chrysler Town & Country, Honda Odyssey, Toyota Sienna, Nissan Quest, the Kia/Hyundai twins, and for something a little different the Ford Freestyle crossover/station wagon. I was to tag along and be a second opinion/evaluator. I'm very good at finding buttons, knobs, latches, and other assorted mechanicals to push, prod, or pull.<br /><br />After a day and a half of observing and test driving minivans the Pillar Of Hoosier Centrism and I arrived at the local Tom Wood Ford dealership. A large man ambled or slithered his way towards us. This man never introduced himself or found out our names. He simply asked if there was someone he could get for us or something we would like to see. We said we wanted to see some Freestyles. I realize Tom Wood Ford is a large dealership. After a few steps I spotted about 20 Freestyles parked together. The salesman slithered his way past the first few and Pillar had to state, "Here they are!"<br /><br />The salesman never asked what our plans were for that day. You could feel the game of try to sell them something today. I'm sorry but the plan was test drive all options and weed out the lesser vehicles from the list. Upon the weeding The Boss will be participating in the vehicle decision. Purchasing a vehicle that day was impossible as half of the decision making authority was at home. A gold Freestyle was selected for the test drive.<br /><br />The Freestyle has been impressive at auto shows. It is a substantial vehicle was great people and cargo carrying abilities. The interior finish is a step up from previous generations of Ford products. However a test drive is necessary to see if it'll perform to an acceptable standard.<br /><br />After waiting 10 minutes in the brisk gale force winds our nameless salesman lumbered out and proclaimed he couldn't find the keys to that vehicle. In shock we suggested driving the vehicle next to our stranded keyless gold Freestyle. Nameless wonder dutifully wrote down the VIN to acquire the keys. I was in lockstep behind him to see if I could keep an eye on things.<br /><br />Inside the warm dealership yet another salesman talked with us. That was fine as salesman #2 was a knowledgeable spokesperson and fun to be around. The fact we were ogling a Ford GT worth a quarter-million dollars helped. Nameless Salesman #1 slithered back out and apologized about his inability to find the keys to Freestyle #2. O.M.G. what are those salesmen doing with those keys? Mr. Ford are your plants producing cars, but not the keys?<br /><br />This incident is a microcosm of the American auto industry at this time.<br /><br />Mr. Ford, your company can use any sale it can get. Salesmen that are slick, unfriendly, and incompetent are of no use to you. It is my regret to inform you that POHC and I crossed the Freestyle off the list without even a test drive to compare it's worthiness to the competition.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br />Former Ford Fans<br /><br />PS: Tom Wood, your Nissan dealership is almost as incompetent as your Ford dealership. It required two trips to even get into a Quest minivan. Your staff had the attitude of not wanting to sale the fugly vehicles. POHC and I were handed off between two different salesmen on our second visit and spent over 20 minutes inside waiting for a minivan to appear by the side door. I have no idea how your company stays in business when your sales staff exhibits such poor customer service. The concierge appeared to be the only person who knew what he was doing.<br /> </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573051.post-1159191632566311002006-09-25T09:35:00.000-04:002006-09-25T09:40:32.626-04:00Shredded Beef BBQ<span style="font-size:85%;">This was extremely well received at Saturday's tailgate. I decided to share with you.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">1 very large pot roast.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">3 - 4 tablespoons of brown sugar.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">1 package of dry onion soup mix.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">1 cup ketchup.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">1 bottle of beer. <em>The original recipe called for 1 cup, but I wasn't in the mood to drink the rest of the beer at 10 pm so I used the entire bottle of Miller Lite</em>.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Put in a slow cooker all day. Shred the cooked beef with a fork.</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Upon reheating at the tailgate and putting on buns it was fantastic! </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">One disclosure: though called BBQ I didn't taste what I would consider a BBQ flavor. It was still fantastic!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573051.post-1158960625034507632006-09-22T17:28:00.000-04:002006-09-22T17:30:25.036-04:00If You Want A Home Tour This Weekend.<span style="font-size:85%;">Sorry for the rush, but some of you might be interested in the </span><a href="http://www.aiaindy.org/hometour/#"><span style="font-size:85%;">Architects Home Tour</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;">. Most of the homes are in Herron-Morton, Old Northside, Chatham Arch, and Lockerbie I believe. This sounds like fun, but I'm busy this weekend. If you go let me know if you enjoyed it. </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573051.post-1158960401919579652006-09-22T17:24:00.000-04:002006-09-22T17:26:41.980-04:00Quote Of The Day.<span style="font-size:85%;">Numerous good quotes were spoken today. For those who don't remember this game I often posted the best quote I spoke, or heard, that day. I usually don't give a context because it is far more fun that way.<br /><br />"You're celibate, he's gay, and I'm married. None of us are having sex with women!" </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Concerning today's adventures I have some great stories for you. With luck I'll blog them this weekend.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573051.post-1158894856251316452006-09-22T07:12:00.000-04:002006-09-21T23:14:16.296-04:00Friday Quotes: I Can Relate To Jack Burton<span style="font-size:85%;">Jack Burton: <em>Hey, I'm a reasonable guy. But I've just experienced some very unreasonable things.</em> </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"> - </span><a href="http://imdb.com/title/tt0090728/"><span style="font-size:85%;">Big Trouble In Little China</span></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6573051.post-1158753977697267172006-09-20T07:10:00.000-04:002006-09-20T08:06:17.700-04:00The Coffee Hasn't Kicked In Yet.<span style="font-size:85%;">"The unaddress, what's the unaddress?"</span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">The graphic on the news confused me. It was in all capitols and UN was directly above ADDRESS. Wait a second please. The United Nations address given by the President yesterday. Could the graphics department please not use all capitols this early in the morning? I knew I better fix another cup. Is anyone else this non-functional this early in the monring?</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com