Saturday, August 30, 2003
my first day is tuesday.
thursday i spent getting hired and filling out forms. i'm sure they're tired of me since i at least attempted to read the forms. lady was like - this form says i did my job. in fact it had a list of things that i said i was informed about. that's protecting them - not me. i refused to sign it in advance. however i realized later i made a dumb mistake. it had a long list of things and she'd put checks next to everything she'd discussed. i reviewed it and i signed it. however i didn't mark out all the spaces next to items she had not discussed. there was nothing keeping her from filling in the rest of them. dumb.
i learn that i'm to receive 10 days of orientation/training. it's just not known when this will take place. the guy that hired me asked when i was starting. i didn't know. he said he'd check with the principal. he comes in when i'm meeting with benefits lady and says she says next week is fine. i say okay. he says monday will be your first day. i'm fine with that. benefits lady says, but that's labor day. i say so what. he's like, okay tuesday. i'm like, why not sunday? she gets snippy and says "i just heard him say tuesday so september 2." if it was sunday, my benefits and stuff would all kick in september 1 instead of october 1. i'm going to be rather pissed if i get sick in september or if they pro rate my salary since i didn't work october 1.
one of the forms required was for direct deposit. i did not want to direct deposit into my checking account (no interest and i'm likely going to close my account with that bank). i was considering this and discussing this with koala; he might have first mentioned the state employees' credit union. the credit union of course makes perfect sense. after reviewing the options, i was sold. i called to find out if i could sign up since i was just hired that day. i was told that'd be no problem; they could just call and verify this. i eventually get in an office and the credit union employee started the process. she started trying to get me signed up for savings and checking. i did not want checking. checking has a $1/month fee and a minimum $100 balance. savings is required to participate, and there's a $25 min balance with no fee. i have $33 in my checking account and like $15 in cash. i was not signing up for anything with a $100 min balance. i tell her i want savings and will use it for direct deposit. we're now getting somewhere. however when she goes to verify me, trouble starts. i'm not in the computer (of course not - i was just hired and have yet to turn in a couple of forms...like the direct deposit form). i realize the business cards of the person who hired me and the benefits person were not in my folder. i rush out to the car and do no find them. however as i'm returning, i see them laying on the sidewalk.
i return with the cards thinking i now have phone numbers of people who can say i'm an employee. first guy not there. second person (with whom i'd spent like 2 hours that day) transfers the call to someone else to verify employment. that person of course cannot. i tell the credit union lady to call her back and say my name and mention i was the person she'd spent 2 hours with that very day. she calls back but only mentions my name. after like a 5 minute wait, something happens and the credit union lady starts filling out a form and eventually hangs up. i ask her if the lady did not remember me. she did not. i found this quite odd. the guy who wouldn't sign all the forms without reading them, who reminded her of her boyfriend, who spent 2 hours with her that day...she does not remember.
so now i'm verified. she needs $25. i say i don't have it on me, but i can go to the bank next door and withdraw from my checking account. she says she'll start working on paperwork in the meantime. i'm back in like 3 mins. i'm fast.
i then head over to the social security administration building trying to get another ss card. despite my trip down memory lane, i never found it. they close at 4. i know old people have plenty of free time, but c'mon if you're in a service industry i'd think closing at 5:30 should be the earliest.
friday i woke up early in order to meet with the substitute who's been filling in until someone was hired. just wasn't happening. i eventually leave around 9 for the ss folks. i get a printout that says. yup. this guys is who he says he is. i find it pretty funny. it's not like it'd be hard to fake - i guess the generic stamp is supposed to prevent that. i take it to the benefits people. despite their fellow office personnel being the ones who instructed me to get this paper, it's looked at with disdain, and i'm informed that i'll still need my card. i tell her that it should arrive in about a week. she makes this big public declaration that she's going to write this on the paper and does so with considerable flourish. i've had enough and leave. i realize later that i neglected to talk to the guy who hired me. as i'm lateral entry, i need to pay an $85 application fee. as previously noted, i'm broke. i'd talked to pops (he's out of the country. moms is up north as well). after some phone tag, he said i could use his mastercard and gave me the number. oh well. i guess i'll get around to it sometime.
i had a headache and went home. i wanted to head out to the school around when the school day was over to find out if i was teaching tuesay or doing orientation. i also wanted to set up the room, find out where the copiers, overhead projector, etc are located, bring home a few copies of the books, lesson plans, and other items in order to prepare. i lie down on the couch hoping to take a quick nap. 2 hours later, i wake up. i end up arriving at the school and the only car there is the principal's. she lets me in. i ask if i'm teaching tuesday or doing orientation. she laughs rather heartily. "you're teaching." she unlocks the door to my room and shows me where the breaker box is located. oh - the breaker box is not in the classroom. it's in the down the hallway. how convenient.
she mentions that labeling the breakers is a job for that weekend. there are no light switches in the rooms. if you want to turn off the lights...to, i don't know say you an overhead projector to teach, you need to flip the breaker. i need to find out if this shuts off the power to the computers as i suspect. i quickly determine that the air conditioning is not running. i ask about getting some more white boards (phrased it differently this time), she says that will be fine and that it'll take about a week. (we'll see.) there two overhead fans, but i soon realize they are not on the same breaker as the lights. i eventually get them powered. however as i'm moving desks, tables, filing cabinets, books, etc on a hot day without ac, i'm drenched. principal returns and says that she's leaving but will return later to set the alarm. i just need to close the doors behind me.
i continue arranging the room and digging through boxes and storage trying to find materials and arrange them. i was still feeling kinda sick so i started looking for a bathroom. i found a staff bathroom. i used it. i flushed. water poured out quite strongly. i started washing my hands. i realized it wasn't stopping. i'm the only one in the building. it's 5:24 pm on the friday of labor day weekend. i jiggle the handle. i continue doing so. to no avail. the principal mentioned that she'd return later that night to set the alarm. i keep checking. no change. she told me she was leaving to go to a retirement home. but i figured it can't hurt so i eventually look up her phone number (thanks google). i first talk to someone who sounded much older who repeatedly called for her a few minutes later she came on the line. after determining it was her - actually i asked if she was the principal and the person just said yes - i told her the situation. she said it'll do that now and then "especially if they're working on the lines" (i find this incredible - water was shooting out of the toilet) and if jiggling the handle doesn't work, it should shut off soon. she did mention that she'd call maintenance anyway. i left an hour later with no change to the situation. at the rate the water was flowing, thousands of gallons will be used before tuesday if nothing is fixed. i didn't have a key to a back room which is where i'd think a water cut off value was likely located.
i didn't see a water shut off valve, but i didn't look as hard as i could have and probably should have. as long as i really talked to the principal, i tend to think it's her responsibility now. if she does show up this weekend and nothing's changed, she'll at least be able to do something about it. i don't have any keys.
thursday i spent getting hired and filling out forms. i'm sure they're tired of me since i at least attempted to read the forms. lady was like - this form says i did my job. in fact it had a list of things that i said i was informed about. that's protecting them - not me. i refused to sign it in advance. however i realized later i made a dumb mistake. it had a long list of things and she'd put checks next to everything she'd discussed. i reviewed it and i signed it. however i didn't mark out all the spaces next to items she had not discussed. there was nothing keeping her from filling in the rest of them. dumb.
i learn that i'm to receive 10 days of orientation/training. it's just not known when this will take place. the guy that hired me asked when i was starting. i didn't know. he said he'd check with the principal. he comes in when i'm meeting with benefits lady and says she says next week is fine. i say okay. he says monday will be your first day. i'm fine with that. benefits lady says, but that's labor day. i say so what. he's like, okay tuesday. i'm like, why not sunday? she gets snippy and says "i just heard him say tuesday so september 2." if it was sunday, my benefits and stuff would all kick in september 1 instead of october 1. i'm going to be rather pissed if i get sick in september or if they pro rate my salary since i didn't work october 1.
one of the forms required was for direct deposit. i did not want to direct deposit into my checking account (no interest and i'm likely going to close my account with that bank). i was considering this and discussing this with koala; he might have first mentioned the state employees' credit union. the credit union of course makes perfect sense. after reviewing the options, i was sold. i called to find out if i could sign up since i was just hired that day. i was told that'd be no problem; they could just call and verify this. i eventually get in an office and the credit union employee started the process. she started trying to get me signed up for savings and checking. i did not want checking. checking has a $1/month fee and a minimum $100 balance. savings is required to participate, and there's a $25 min balance with no fee. i have $33 in my checking account and like $15 in cash. i was not signing up for anything with a $100 min balance. i tell her i want savings and will use it for direct deposit. we're now getting somewhere. however when she goes to verify me, trouble starts. i'm not in the computer (of course not - i was just hired and have yet to turn in a couple of forms...like the direct deposit form). i realize the business cards of the person who hired me and the benefits person were not in my folder. i rush out to the car and do no find them. however as i'm returning, i see them laying on the sidewalk.
i return with the cards thinking i now have phone numbers of people who can say i'm an employee. first guy not there. second person (with whom i'd spent like 2 hours that day) transfers the call to someone else to verify employment. that person of course cannot. i tell the credit union lady to call her back and say my name and mention i was the person she'd spent 2 hours with that very day. she calls back but only mentions my name. after like a 5 minute wait, something happens and the credit union lady starts filling out a form and eventually hangs up. i ask her if the lady did not remember me. she did not. i found this quite odd. the guy who wouldn't sign all the forms without reading them, who reminded her of her boyfriend, who spent 2 hours with her that day...she does not remember.
so now i'm verified. she needs $25. i say i don't have it on me, but i can go to the bank next door and withdraw from my checking account. she says she'll start working on paperwork in the meantime. i'm back in like 3 mins. i'm fast.
i then head over to the social security administration building trying to get another ss card. despite my trip down memory lane, i never found it. they close at 4. i know old people have plenty of free time, but c'mon if you're in a service industry i'd think closing at 5:30 should be the earliest.
friday i woke up early in order to meet with the substitute who's been filling in until someone was hired. just wasn't happening. i eventually leave around 9 for the ss folks. i get a printout that says. yup. this guys is who he says he is. i find it pretty funny. it's not like it'd be hard to fake - i guess the generic stamp is supposed to prevent that. i take it to the benefits people. despite their fellow office personnel being the ones who instructed me to get this paper, it's looked at with disdain, and i'm informed that i'll still need my card. i tell her that it should arrive in about a week. she makes this big public declaration that she's going to write this on the paper and does so with considerable flourish. i've had enough and leave. i realize later that i neglected to talk to the guy who hired me. as i'm lateral entry, i need to pay an $85 application fee. as previously noted, i'm broke. i'd talked to pops (he's out of the country. moms is up north as well). after some phone tag, he said i could use his mastercard and gave me the number. oh well. i guess i'll get around to it sometime.
i had a headache and went home. i wanted to head out to the school around when the school day was over to find out if i was teaching tuesay or doing orientation. i also wanted to set up the room, find out where the copiers, overhead projector, etc are located, bring home a few copies of the books, lesson plans, and other items in order to prepare. i lie down on the couch hoping to take a quick nap. 2 hours later, i wake up. i end up arriving at the school and the only car there is the principal's. she lets me in. i ask if i'm teaching tuesday or doing orientation. she laughs rather heartily. "you're teaching." she unlocks the door to my room and shows me where the breaker box is located. oh - the breaker box is not in the classroom. it's in the down the hallway. how convenient.
she mentions that labeling the breakers is a job for that weekend. there are no light switches in the rooms. if you want to turn off the lights...to, i don't know say you an overhead projector to teach, you need to flip the breaker. i need to find out if this shuts off the power to the computers as i suspect. i quickly determine that the air conditioning is not running. i ask about getting some more white boards (phrased it differently this time), she says that will be fine and that it'll take about a week. (we'll see.) there two overhead fans, but i soon realize they are not on the same breaker as the lights. i eventually get them powered. however as i'm moving desks, tables, filing cabinets, books, etc on a hot day without ac, i'm drenched. principal returns and says that she's leaving but will return later to set the alarm. i just need to close the doors behind me.
i continue arranging the room and digging through boxes and storage trying to find materials and arrange them. i was still feeling kinda sick so i started looking for a bathroom. i found a staff bathroom. i used it. i flushed. water poured out quite strongly. i started washing my hands. i realized it wasn't stopping. i'm the only one in the building. it's 5:24 pm on the friday of labor day weekend. i jiggle the handle. i continue doing so. to no avail. the principal mentioned that she'd return later that night to set the alarm. i keep checking. no change. she told me she was leaving to go to a retirement home. but i figured it can't hurt so i eventually look up her phone number (thanks google). i first talk to someone who sounded much older who repeatedly called for her a few minutes later she came on the line. after determining it was her - actually i asked if she was the principal and the person just said yes - i told her the situation. she said it'll do that now and then "especially if they're working on the lines" (i find this incredible - water was shooting out of the toilet) and if jiggling the handle doesn't work, it should shut off soon. she did mention that she'd call maintenance anyway. i left an hour later with no change to the situation. at the rate the water was flowing, thousands of gallons will be used before tuesday if nothing is fixed. i didn't have a key to a back room which is where i'd think a water cut off value was likely located.
i didn't see a water shut off valve, but i didn't look as hard as i could have and probably should have. as long as i really talked to the principal, i tend to think it's her responsibility now. if she does show up this weekend and nothing's changed, she'll at least be able to do something about it. i don't have any keys.
Wednesday, August 27, 2003
well i heard from school b. i called to find out if they'd decided. i asked to speak to the principal but was told the principal wasn't available. i asked if they'd decided yet. i was told no and that the principal was still interviewing people. i really need to be employed and i was torn between the two schools. (they are quite different situations making it hard to compare or decide.) so i told them thanks but i was going to pick school a. i then called school a to tell the principal my decision. the principal wasn't there and the person on the phone said she didn't know when he'd be back or if he'd be back that day or if he'd check email, etc. i did not leave a message. soon thereafter i got a phone call. it was the secretary of school b asking if i'd told school a yet. i said no. i was then informed that school b had also recommended me for the position. there goes my easy decision.
i kept trying to figure it out. the principal of school b eventually called and wanted to know what i'd decided. i said i wasn't sure and that i'd call with the decision in the morn. i got a couple of phone numbers for teachers at the school to get their view on things. talked in depth with one new teacher. this morn - bright and early - i called principal b and asked if it'd be okay if i came and observed for the day. she was amenable.
so after an interesting day i went to check out. (my favorite little story was when i was looking around the room which would be mine and was trying to figure out how best to utilize it. it seemed clear that another white board could be useful. i turned to the "substitute" (she's been there 3 years in various positions) and asked "any chance for a white board?" she started to answer and then started laughing. quickly i guessed what she'd heard. she'd thought i said "any chance for a white boy?" she said she was about to respond "i hope so. they need you.") in the office i found out that the school district's hr department was looking for me. i called in but got a machine and left a message. there was a teachers' meeting and i my attendance was requested. i went. afterwards i got up with the hr department. i'm to show tomorrow with my social security card as well as the ss #s, addresses, names of two people who'd be my beneficiaries. this kinda seems like filling out a will.
i can't find my ss card. i've been digging through boxes of papers and kept items. i'm a bit of a pack rat, and this is a rather dangerous trip through memory lane. boarding passes, post cards, poems, pics, notes, bills, keepsakes, etc.
it seems my memory on some things isn't that great. i believe many of the memories recalled require something to prompt them. maybe i'm just repressing them.
i kept trying to figure it out. the principal of school b eventually called and wanted to know what i'd decided. i said i wasn't sure and that i'd call with the decision in the morn. i got a couple of phone numbers for teachers at the school to get their view on things. talked in depth with one new teacher. this morn - bright and early - i called principal b and asked if it'd be okay if i came and observed for the day. she was amenable.
so after an interesting day i went to check out. (my favorite little story was when i was looking around the room which would be mine and was trying to figure out how best to utilize it. it seemed clear that another white board could be useful. i turned to the "substitute" (she's been there 3 years in various positions) and asked "any chance for a white board?" she started to answer and then started laughing. quickly i guessed what she'd heard. she'd thought i said "any chance for a white boy?" she said she was about to respond "i hope so. they need you.") in the office i found out that the school district's hr department was looking for me. i called in but got a machine and left a message. there was a teachers' meeting and i my attendance was requested. i went. afterwards i got up with the hr department. i'm to show tomorrow with my social security card as well as the ss #s, addresses, names of two people who'd be my beneficiaries. this kinda seems like filling out a will.
i can't find my ss card. i've been digging through boxes of papers and kept items. i'm a bit of a pack rat, and this is a rather dangerous trip through memory lane. boarding passes, post cards, poems, pics, notes, bills, keepsakes, etc.
it seems my memory on some things isn't that great. i believe many of the memories recalled require something to prompt them. maybe i'm just repressing them.
Tuesday, August 26, 2003
well, i never heard from school b.
gameplan - tomorrow morn call school b to find out their decision. if yes, decide which school (you'd think i'd do that now). call school a and let them know. then head to hr and get hired. then possibly to school a to "observe." i've been told it'd be unfair to have me take over thursday since other teachers had several weeks to prepare prior to classes. (current teacher leaves thurs.) however, i doubt this situation would last very long. i would think i'd observe the classes i'll be teaching while the teacher is still there. when he leaves, am i to observe a substitute teach my classes or am i to observe other classes while a substitute teaches mine? either way i expect to be teaching in about a week. i also have to start taking courses since i'm doing lateral entry.
i've yet to find out if i'd have my own classroom or i'd be a circuit teacher. i've also not yet found out what equipment/computers to which i'd have access. i could ask tomorrow, but i probably would say yes if they only gave me chalk and a chalkboard so i might as well find out after they commit to employing me.
so now i will have to wake up in the morn, change out of pajamas, keep clean, take classes, and teach classes. i think i'm going to need to find a watering hole.
gameplan - tomorrow morn call school b to find out their decision. if yes, decide which school (you'd think i'd do that now). call school a and let them know. then head to hr and get hired. then possibly to school a to "observe." i've been told it'd be unfair to have me take over thursday since other teachers had several weeks to prepare prior to classes. (current teacher leaves thurs.) however, i doubt this situation would last very long. i would think i'd observe the classes i'll be teaching while the teacher is still there. when he leaves, am i to observe a substitute teach my classes or am i to observe other classes while a substitute teaches mine? either way i expect to be teaching in about a week. i also have to start taking courses since i'm doing lateral entry.
i've yet to find out if i'd have my own classroom or i'd be a circuit teacher. i've also not yet found out what equipment/computers to which i'd have access. i could ask tomorrow, but i probably would say yes if they only gave me chalk and a chalkboard so i might as well find out after they commit to employing me.
so now i will have to wake up in the morn, change out of pajamas, keep clean, take classes, and teach classes. i think i'm going to need to find a watering hole.
Monday, August 25, 2003
i had a fantastic california roll update i was planning. however, someone else restarted the computer, and i now have to find many of the links again. drat.
as to employment. one of the schools called to let me know they are recommending me for the position. still waiting on the other school. i should hear today. i guess i need to make a decision (and start getting dressed every day). either way, i should start being a productive member of society.
in the middle of the night i tend to be very creative in thinking about other opportunites. i started checking out alaska's dept of ed for teaching jobs. i came across the following listing on this site:
it makes me wonder if there's electricity.
as to employment. one of the schools called to let me know they are recommending me for the position. still waiting on the other school. i should hear today. i guess i need to make a decision (and start getting dressed every day). either way, i should start being a productive member of society.
in the middle of the night i tend to be very creative in thinking about other opportunites. i started checking out alaska's dept of ed for teaching jobs. i came across the following listing on this site:
|
Position Number: 1550 Category: Job Title: Deadline: Zone: View the school districts in each zone. Posted: |
Job Description: Salary: Other: |
Contact Information: Gary Baldwin 907 543-4886 Work Phone 907 543-4900 Fax |
Thursday, August 21, 2003
i should be sleeping. somehow i've got to fall asleep and then wake up and appear professional.
[link for nat]
[link for nat]
- dance dance revolution - rissa clued me in on this craze sweeping the nation. spasm and its discontent.
- culture in la - of course it took a disney to provide it. nyt story
- a pirate's fear - my belief hasn't changed. here's some recent supporting evidence that we'll be still be dealing with sars or sarslike. aidsgate also has the skinny.
- what's under that burka - damn, girl show me the other ankle. guardian has an article about internet porn and e-jihad.
- wrasslin up some info - while no ultimate warrior, the junkyardblog points us to a washington times article about an ex spy who took orders from the kgb who blames the russians and the old soviet bloc for both providing and aiding in planning the disappearance of iraq's wmd. interesting read.
well, i have two separate meetings scheduled with principals tomorrow before 11. somehow i'll need to fall asleep tonight. i'll actually provide some linkage later.
Wednesday, August 20, 2003
it's been a while. i'm sure you're salivating for nearly fresh links. i sent off an email to the principal of one school. instead of a response, i get a lovely email from hotmail.
i've come to value original content on blogs. i really don't have much. i've decided just for shock and awe, i'll write up an essay or something. i think the first one will blame elizabeth dole for an increase in binge drinking and sexual assaults. if that doesn't leave you anticipatory...
- "This is an automatically generated Delivery Status Notification.
THIS IS A WARNING MESSAGE ONLY.
YOU DO NOT NEED TO RESEND YOUR MESSAGE.
Delivery to the following recipients has been delayed.
principal's email address"
i've come to value original content on blogs. i really don't have much. i've decided just for shock and awe, i'll write up an essay or something. i think the first one will blame elizabeth dole for an increase in binge drinking and sexual assaults. if that doesn't leave you anticipatory...
- just kidding, unless ya gonna do it - since jump is making a tour right now, i found this story about the mainstreaming of the porn industry worthwhile (just read it). found over at the reverse cowgirl where she shows us that britney was able to leave her hat on.
- mars attacks - russians plan to invade and power mars. the nytimes uses a bigger version of the same picture to say that mars is coming right at us. find out when mars will rise again for you. (less involved alternative) i don't know if this guy owns mars yet.
- cheesecake photos - for all of those excited by the opening of yet another the cheesecake factory, i thought you might enjoy reading how it won best dessert two years in a row (1/4th of the way down) by readers of boulder weekly. (for you who end up here from a google search, maybe these'll suffice: one, two update: due to interest, here are 2001 and 2003. check out best dessert - 1/4 and 1/3 down respectively.
- number 8, number 8 - charles makes the top 10, foster makes top 1000, and kane is #746 for a last name. check out the popularity of your names and those of your ex's.
- want some - tourism in europe is dismal as americans stay away. i can understand avoiding france if it's for political reasons, but why aren't people going to italy? it's been steadily moving up my list of where to go next. with the massive renovations undertaken recently in preparations for jubilee, berlusconis unwavering support, and romanticized notions of audrey driving around - i don't see what's not to like.
- gee thanks, mom - article about a human/rabbit hybrid embryo mentions the sources of skins cells as "foreskin tissue from two 5-year-old boys and two men, and facial tissue from a 60-year-old woman." clearly the kids can't give consent, why would a parent let them do this? hopefully, they're not getting cells from their own children.
- please make it stop - for those trying to perfect their mocking, here's a collected archive of accents from around the world. they all read the same paragraph. (yes it gets exceedingly tedious listening.)
- for all my dropout friends - here's an article which investigates whether people actually are diverse in their relationships. i feel like i need to make some pitch for "the power of one voice."
- before and after - i just added it to the last post, but here's the light pollution for the northeast before and after the blackout.
Monday, August 18, 2003
i've got many links, but i'm just going to post links to pictures of the darkness right now.
- people?! i'm not people! - about 50 pics of decent quality and resolution.
- instamatic - via reynolds, ~ 65 by a brendon loy, 21 more from daleynews,
- shocking - 13(shockwave req) photos from washington post.
- camcam - 5 photos plus links to stories and more photos.
- satan's photos - 15 good pics from satan's laundromat.
- riffraff - another collection of pics and links to stories and pictures.
- bob's pics - 23 more of bridges, streets, and the like.
- new york world - a nice writeup with 14 photos linked.
- cap'nclick - 47 more pics.
- so popular - another 47 images.
- update: before and after - here's the light pollution for the northeast before and after the blackout.
Saturday, August 16, 2003
not much happened today. although i could get used to eating fresh, homemade sweet rolls for breakfast (two days in a row). time to live up to the byline.
- can't buy me love - i've thought about the guy who won a monthly sex allowance but can't get prostitutes willing to write a receipt. i don't understand why they'd be hesitant to do so for tax reasons. (i'm assuming that since he's dutch, he can find legal prostitutes.) in fact, i think that they would be pleased to do so - and at a substantial discount in order to justify their reported income.
- turn the page - good ole page 2 has a couple decent articles up. one informed me that the book entitled coffee, tea, or me was actually fictitous. always reliable bill simmons has provided some solid advice about how to make those weddings more enjoyable.
- i quit - i believe i misrepresented george will's column when i said that another article refuted his statement that he thinks davis may resign. he thinks that by resigning, davis will make the recall vote fail. this is reasonable. if bustamante's supporters join with recall opponents, there should be a majority. just by making it no longer a "get rid of davis" vote, it's much less likely to pass. either way, there's some debate about what would happen if he should resign.
- an important vote oct 7 - for those that didn't know - natdug beat me to posting about this - there's a vote of importance on oct 7 in california. there's ward connerly's prop 54 initiative to block the state from collecting racial information except for in exceptions like medical research.
- terminator's hired guns - other than trying to present the view that it's okay for democrats and celebrities to endorse arnold, i'm not so sure rob lowe is going to be a big asset. adding warren buffett as top financial and economic advisor is truly an impressive and strategic move. [arnold's comments] it's hard for voters to not take buffett seriously.
- receiving a ds in chemistry - the 110th element is to be named saturday. it will have the informal name of darmstadtium chemical symbol ds. via /.
- catalog of middle earth - thanks to some girls, i stumbled upon new line cinema's studio store. finally i'll be able to buy a $180 lotr leather knapsack, my very own one ring, lunch box, and chess set. i think koala would like this. of course everyone needs their own ent.
- glow of the flashbulbs - found via jwalk some pics from phones and the like of nyc. a couple more pics are at the dollhaus. (i like the post headline early thursday afternoon as well.) [nytimes slideshow] i haven't heard anyone mention they did so (despite the punk moon), but i hope some of the powerless people were able to see a meteor or two.
- baghdad, eh - it seems ironic that the us is dealing with high temps, power outages, long lines as gas stations, availability of potable water, but the looting is in canada. hmm...canada and iraq - what do they have in common? yes. the british. i blame the bbc.
- back to the future - doesn't anyone look at their watch anymore? what is that fancy room with the lights and labels on the wall that the media likes to show? how hard is it to figure out which plant went offline first? do time zones confuse people? couldn't they just look at clock towers to determine when the power went out.
- not it - am i the only one who found the uninformed cross-boarder fingerpointing by politicians rather unseemly. canadian pols blame niagara (they couldn't even come up with something better than the easily discounted lightning strike. just because they caused the 77 blackout...) ny pols blame canada. now everyone seems to blame ohio. ohio doesn't think they're right.
- moving day - a good friend left to move to nyc today (friday) to attend nyu for law school. that should make for a memorable move-in day. i don't know when they got power back, but at least this morn nyu's website was down. it now says that the school is closed from 10 pm friday until 8 am sat. i hope he made it. it could make for a memorable story.
Friday, August 15, 2003
turned in app. i believe i have a good shot at being a middle school math teacher. i need to call tomorrow to see if the hs positions are filled. there is one at a regular hs and one that's 6-12 and would be more individual instruction. this last one intrigues me. i doubt i'd be teaching calculus (or fractals), but it could be quite rewarding. income would also be good. i wants to visit some folks now that everyone is dispersing. (also i want to catch some acc football.) i'm also trying to get on the substitute list. i think i'd have a really good shot if i wanted to do middle school. for some reason, i've always thought high school and dismissed the middle school option. (i think i just know what's taught in hs and can't remember what one learns in ms.) i've pretty much thought only thought about teaching algebra and above. if they stuck me with advanced students, i'd be able to teach algebra; but i seriously doubt they'd give a newbie advanced students. watched the beginning of conan. he was sitting without makeup, guests or monologue. i wished he'd just have tried to kill time for the whole show by making fun of people. instead he cut to a rerun with marky mark. jimmy kimmel had the guy from friendster. dork. well, there's my life. enjoy it.
glasses still broken.
news roundup: - eh screw it. i'm tired. nighto.
glasses still broken.
news roundup: - eh screw it. i'm tired. nighto.
Wednesday, August 13, 2003
local public schools need math teachers. no more blogging until i write a couple of essays to finish the application.
if you are starting to get bored, this site is much less pretentious.
if you are starting to get bored, this site is much less pretentious.
Tuesday, August 12, 2003
i used blogger's help sytem. asked them a question. they say they fixed it.
"Hello,
We've fixed the problem that was causing the archive/disk full errors. Thanks for writing in to let us know about it, and we apologize for any inconvenience this outage may have caused.
Let us know if you need any more assistance!
-Blogger Support"
i agree with pinky. comments do suck. haloscan has treated my with this page all day: "Server Moved
HaloScan has been moved to a new server. If you're seeing this message, you are on the old one server. The changeover should happen automatically and for most people, this has already happened. However, some ISPs will be slower in updating the IP change so it may take a little while longer for you to see the site on the new server. Note that this server has commenting disabled as only the database on the new server will be considered valid. - 8/12/2003
"Hello,
We've fixed the problem that was causing the archive/disk full errors. Thanks for writing in to let us know about it, and we apologize for any inconvenience this outage may have caused.
Let us know if you need any more assistance!
-Blogger Support"
i agree with pinky. comments do suck. haloscan has treated my with this page all day: "Server Moved
HaloScan has been moved to a new server. If you're seeing this message, you are on the old one server. The changeover should happen automatically and for most people, this has already happened. However, some ISPs will be slower in updating the IP change so it may take a little while longer for you to see the site on the new server. Note that this server has commenting disabled as only the database on the new server will be considered valid. - 8/12/2003
- hook me up - i like the idea behind sites like friendster and friendsurfer. you enter your circle of friends; they do the same. one can browse their friends and then ask for an intro and the like. kinda nifty.
- breastfeeding while driving - decision in the child endangerment case.via goddess defendant represents/questions self. does breastfeeding while riding in a car also leave one open to prosecution? i hadn't previously come across the first christian fellowship of eternal sovereignty.
- see a return soon - i think sars is going to be like the flu and come back every fall/winter. here's a site if you're interested in developments.
- coke and pepsticides - for those that haven't been following the developments in india over a report that products of coke and pepsi in india contained dangerous chemicals, it's not going away. nepal is also now testing major brands for chemicals.
- mickey and dali - unfinished film "destino" - a collaboration of salvador dali with walt disney - along with story boards, sketches and an original score were discovered in the studio's vaults. [more info]
- what's on tap - looks like the political nat may be happy. it appears we may have another rhodes scholar democrat running for president - this one with a military pedigree.
- will he resign? - i've been thinking davis would just resign and let bustamante take over if it looks clear he won't survive the recall vote. george will also promotes this view. however, i've also come across a page which refutes this (via spoons) as an option.
- webmuscle - arnie's website. what's that gaudy blue ring he's sporting? i thought i remembered him saying he wasn't going to be raising funds.
- if you replace him, who'll replace you? - the campaign is on to replace arnold.
just started to blog...and my glasses broke. (yes i'm "bespeckled".) after some serious squinting, i now have a large bulge of electrical tape on one of the "arms." not quite hp, but still plenty dorky. i have many links, but i just wondered through the sphere and came across some sites i've never been and found some things which interested me.
iRAQ jumble:
- mac attack - via venom via ravenwood: this guy's site has a digital portfolio. included are some examples of "touch ups" on human subjects. [bikini], [guy], [noses]
- read it for the children - browsing ravenwood, i came upon the arnold post i've been expecting to see somewhere. he's probably not the first to do so, but he's the first i've seen.
- a married me? - i can see myself writing this post on small groups in a few years.
- a steal - really. what oprah buys when the bee stings. via groovy mom.
- why you need to learn how to spell - man is charged with sex abusing a mare and cruelty to animals. he is suspected of mounting horses over the last 20 years.
- tasteless humor? - these seem kinda odd to me for a bachelorette party, but i wouldn't know. also seems like there are two different versions of the elephant.
iRAQ jumble:
- i'm not dead yet - and other important messages. wired story about how instant messaging and voip are becoming quite popular means of communication for iraqis.
- we gave them all away - according to the white house, al-qaeda operative in custody says iraq provided material to build wmds. i don't see it on the iraq in focus page though.
- the iraqis couldn't tell the difference, but we could - despite earlier protestations (over semantics), the us admits to using napalm in iraq. oh and "the generals love napalm"
- irbloqs - blog about iraq and links to blogs of soldiers. always interesting to get a personal perspective.
Sunday, August 10, 2003
another backlog is forming. maybe i'll just do a purge sometime and let people come up with their own headlines. the restaurant is on as i blog. watching a priest bless a bar so "the spirits will flow into rocco's pocket" is must see tv. sis brought back some gifts. brother got mustard in a metal tube. i got haribo "les schtroumpfs." they seem bigger and softer than when i bought some "stroumpfs." (i've never seen headless ones as pictured. my bag looks nearly identical but actually has fully shaped schtroumpfs with blue bodies and red or clear head and feet.)
- cam vanson - some guy from virginia beach came up with the idea to turn an old mail delivery truck into a pinhole camera with huge negatives. he hopes to drive it across country. maybe he could form a camavan. [j]
- dad lands just in time - sunday was the hottest day on record in the uk. sis was there for the previous high (a couple o days ago).
- she never missed a coronation - pjp2 gets down with pfr. you know he's a fan.
- mystery meat - scientists are looking for a potentially new species of ape in africa. some anecdotes have it as being bipedal.
- just plain whack - i'm reticent to use that word, but i couldn't come up with anything better to describe this product. (i would advise skipping to something else.)
- why aren't these more popular? - particularly on university campuses. one regularly notices very expensive road/mountain bikes on them, yet many of these bikes are just used for short distances. if you can get an electric scooter (incl shipping) for $205 or $240, why wouldn't you? while audrey may have driven something substantially cooler, they're still pretty nifty, fast, and are less likely to make you show up dripping with sweat.
Saturday, August 09, 2003
blah blah. nothing much going on. pops left for england. sis back from france. i'm on the computer. surprisingly, i've gone back and done some editing to a previous post.
- fired? that must sting - charlotte's wnba team donated tickets for home games to fired pillowtex workers. i guess lesbians are a financial salve.
- bush, clinton, or perot - worked so well in 92 it may be back for 04. i doubt hillary'll run, but gore's got a strong base and still a strong possibility. (he did get more votes than anyone in history other than reagan.) trivia: what percentage of the popular vote did perot receive in 92?
- it's not vanilla pepsi - this is totally different. while adam let us know about the precipitous decline of vanilla coke sales of late, it's still been a highly successful introduction.
- say hi for us mo - a couple of kids from michigan state (danela alfaro-lopez and justin gouveia) who were "missing" since july 26 were found at disney world. apparently they wanted to go on vacation but couldn't get permission. i'm sure this makes it all okay.
- run away - retreats gone bad. anytime retreats come up, i think immediately about that stupid retreat during the 97 fsu game. i still have the unusued ticket somewhere.
- i'm counting this as a job offer - i know it's not the freshest news, but it's definitely blogworthy. i wonder what $15 a week will get you in the house of the rising sun.
Friday, August 08, 2003
nada. i did show yet more evidence that i'm becoming a less mechanically adept version of my father. i bought a grocery store's complete stock of cherry 7up. other posts will likely be more funny. if you're looking for that, read previous ones. today will likely be newsy and sciencey.
- a reason to visit harrods - the real american hero is invading the uk.
- buzzkill - i figure nat would enjoy hearing about her boy "on stage."
- gas the attendant - spittin image, distant cousin of saddam lives his life. hijinks ensue. screw dat phen; this guy should have a tv show. you'd think with their x-ray goggles, coalition forces could tell the difference.
- one child policy - sad tale of a three legged chinese one year old recently abandoned on the streets of beijing. looks like things may now start going her way.
- indulgences aren't cheap - recent lottery winner/church giver was drugged and had $545,000 stolen from his suv after while he was drinking at a strip club.
- aol sissies - you know who you are. it seems you might have something other than your email address to keep you paying.
- hiss - illinois is cracking down on tongue splitting.
- burning the midnight oil - article with cool pic discussing effects of lighting up...the night. some astronomer estimates that the level of artificial night-sky brightness increases in europe and the united states at an annual rate of 5-10%.
- to see the sea - interesting article (at least to me) about trying to restore part of the aral sea.
Thursday, August 07, 2003
okay still nothing from korea. i'm starting to wonder if they've already been bombed. as to my last post, i'm considering adding the bruised foot (caused by a shelf that fell on my shoeless left foot while moving a desk) or my dad dressing down for the auction.
- uncle richie - little story about unknown rich folks.
- adopt an italian highway - italy's decided to start an adapt a prostitute program entitled "adopt a glow worm." yet another childhood toy that seems dirty in retrospect.
- no word on who eats spam - but wired has a story about who buys stuff advertised iwith it. it seems people have quite a bit of disposable income, or really want the penis to grow. i wonder how many borrow the money from their mother.
- my penis is a jealous penis? - recent journal post speculates about the penis's shape. i started to describe this but figured if you wanted to know you could read it on your own.
- my penis posts have grown - here are a few more recent stories about the penis. hitler's penis is for sale. woman becomes vegetarian after served penis stew. man eats his own penis. man suing after doctors remove his penis and testicles without notifying him.
- this post's a yawner - so i guess a story about such is appropriate. after you've read it read below
- if there's any doubt why old people need to be tested - 85 year old crashes his car into the dmv when asked to move into the driving test line.
- his name is robert paulson - natalie's post made this stick out. thought others might like it as well.
- if i ride low in my chair - one of the lost articles on my dead computer. if you liked the ole weights standards site, you'll probably like this article about differences in standard time.
- at least they have a hot daughter - apparently not all bush sons have successful marriages (careers?) with teachers.
- candidates - the springer - no; the terminator - yes.
- wait wait - i'm a fan of the program, but it seems odd that a taping of wait wait...don't tell me for national public radio at carolina theatre should cost $30-$40. well, wunc says it's a benefit for them.
- norma waif - size 12 female reporter attempts to fit into marilyn's old dresses to test theory that she'd be considered fat by today's standards. some pics
- what's he been smokin - good ole boone prosecutor charges a guy for manufacturing a wmd upon the discovery of a meth lab.
from above: unless you believe i'm quite empathetic, that stupid yawn article has flaws. just seeing the picture made me yawn three times.
Tuesday, August 05, 2003
as long as my past few days
well i do have some excuses as to not posting lately. thursday evening, i drove about 40 miles to meet up with a friend and catch a free showing of bend it like beckham. when i went to leave i discovered most of the cars were gone. there was only the van or the old camry. i'd heard pops discuss how the tires were bald (and they surely are) so i was not sure what to take. i eventually planned on driving the camry to my brother's soccer practice and driving the grand am. however by this time i was running a tad behind schedule. i had a rather bad feeling about this, but i went anyway. i drove gingerly so as to not blow a tire, but i did notice that the engine was acting oddly. this had happened the last time i drove it with my sister - the regular driver - but she said it was normal. i was somewhat pleased that it was overcast and not very hot out. the dash lights were also acting oddly. the "lights" light was always lit, and the "door" light also was lit at times.
i should have known it was not my night when i realized they were not showing a film but a video - ugh. i've probably watched 50 movies there, and never been shown anything but a film. the quality was not great. it wasn't even widescreen.
so we checked out a new dining establishment nearby. it was nicely decorated, and we ate outside as the night air wasn't too bad. as i'd only eaten the end (actually the bottom) of a loaf of bread, i was slightly hungry. i ordered a mint/ice cream/cake dessert and a pint. pint was fine (though they were out of the closest guinness approximation), but about 2/3rds of the way through the cake i was feeling rather nauseous.
i head over to lend a hand to a buddy who's packing/moving out. i got a nice new white tshirt out of the stop. i stick around until around midnight and then head out. i am still hesitant to drive the car again and make several remarks about it breaking down on the way back; i also considered asking to crash there that night. i figured that i'd still have to get home sometime so i might as well try now.
it's rather pleasant outside - 70sh - and i'm still driving carefully. about 20 mins later i stop at one of the last few stoplights heading out of town and at the very instant i come to a stop the light turns green...and the oil lamp flashes on and then off. this does get my attention, but as the dash lights were acting oddly, it turned off, and i was not in a place i wanted to stop - i decided to continue. i plan on stopping at a well-lit gas station i'd stopped a few times previously.
the engine seems to be acting pretty normally, and i'm babying it. i'm not speeding or flooring it - just steady. then...boowoosh and the engine dies and the oil light comes on. it's tough to describe the sound. it's like a cross between an explosion and someone sitting on a garbage bag filled with air and popping it. i didn't hear metal on metal or anything. i just knew it was dead. i pulled over and eventually pushed it into a nearby subdivision. i tried the car one more time and while it tried to start, it was not going to turn over. i considered calling pops but figured he's been quite busy at work and doesn't need a call at this time of night. all he could do is show up with a rope and tow me back to the house. mom's out of town studying for a final exam. no reason to worry them. i call the friend who i'd just left, and she was not surprised to hear the car had died (though probably none of my friends would be surprised to get a call like that). about 2 mins later a cop drove up and then away after i said i had a friend coming to pick me up.
i called about 1:15am. i call about every 15 mins to find out when she's arriving. i figure i was only driving 15-20 mins...it can't be that long. standing on the side of a highway alone at 1:30am is like being in some kind of wasteland. none too fun.
around 2:10am i am picked up, my new tshirt is hanging from my driver side window, and i'm rather tired. we make it back to the house. i grab a sheet and make a mattress horizontal (they're moving out remember). as the soothing sounds of ex's discuss who's going to clean the kitchen for a while, i put some pants back on and get up. i then proceed to mop the disgusting kitchen floor with some crappy mop that was nearly useless. oh well.
the next day is moving/cleaning day. i get up with mom around 11am. my plan was for her to pick me up since she wasn't too far, take me back so i could get the van and rent a tow dolly. pops eventually hears the plan and then the plan is somewhat shelved for a while. mom was planning on showing around 2:30 pm. well it seems her day didn't go so smoothly either so it's around 4:30 when she arrives.
despite promises for lunch for helping, i've still not had anything to eat all day. mom hasn't really eaten either, so we stop at an arby's. service was deplorable and mind numbingly slow. we sat at the window for about 10 mins. (i guess roast beef sandwiches are rarely ordered.) when we finally get someone's attention, i ask if they have a handi-wipe or some kind of hand cleaner. they say yes...and then hand out a wet rag. yes, they really handed out a wet rag. knowing my hands were disgusting from moving/cleaning, i try not to think that i'm using a rag handed out a drive thru window to clean my hands - i proceed to scrubbing them down. after handing it back, i see the lady put our bad of food near the drink machine. the bag tips, and i hear the fountain engage. the employee lunges for the bag and tips it back up. i think - as the fountain is one of those where you push for it to dispense soda, the bag couldn't have actually leaned forward and made it dispense drink into it. we eventually get our food, and i stuff a sandwich in my mouth so i can get back on the road. it is here when i realized that the bag is wet since it'd tipped forward and caught the little lever to release water. often they stick out horizontally - when pushed down, it dispenses water instead of soda. basically the bag tipped over and caught the lever...and the water went into the bag.
yes. the bag had actually drenched itself.
we stop at the car, and surprise...it's still dead. as the plan is still for us to get the car either that night or saturday, we grab the few things of value from the car (but not the battery or anything) and drive on. as the new music minister's kids were being welcomed with a party at our house soon after we arrived, we could not set back out. i was quite pleased about this as i was hot, tired, and had a headache. (side note, i've been having quite a few of these lately. i don't think they're migraines. they seem located about 4 inches about an eye - directly in the forehead.)
instead of getting a nap as i should have done, i checked email. (i was still expecting to get a response from the recruiter.) i head downstairs to the "fun zone." i'm not really hungry, but when i grab a slice of pizza i'm informed by pops we're heading back to pick up the car and that he can't locate a tow dolly locally. instead of my nap, i down about 3 glasses of mountain dew. i then spend about 30 mins calling all rental places in about a 60 mile radius - to no avail.
at this point i check to see when the sun will set. it's about 40 mins from then. despite it taking 40 mins to go one way with a good car, pops thinks we'll be fine, and we head out. about 10 mins later we notice that the clouds are growing quite ominous, and we turn on the radio. about 15 seconds later, a weather report is broadcast warning about extremely heavy storms in the area. yes in the exact area we were heading. have you ever drove for 30 mins with lightning constantly occuring - but only directly in front of you? i felt like i was going to see a flying cow any minute.
it's growing rather dark and windy when we arrive at the car. it's not really raining though. this changes quickly. by the time we eventually get the car turned in a way where we can attach the rope and pull it forward, it's raining rather steadily. we are both rather wet.
in order to save the battery, one headlight is disconnected. we head out. the rain is constant. traffic is heavy. there is about 8 feet between the vehicles. i am often running without the lights or the windshield wiper. the window keeps fogging up, and i am trying to wipe it with the brand new tshirt. the van gives off a constant spray which keeps the windshield almost impossible to look through.
i am trying to keep the rope taut while being towed in the pouring rain, without power breaks, in the dark, without headlights, through a spray, without windshield wipers, with a muscle cramp -- and we're passing cars.
the weather is so bad that many cars are going the speed limit or below. once we get out on the highway, we're making good time and moving steadily. so steadily that when pops looks back to check on the rope he misses the exit. this causes a delay of about 20 mins as it takes at least another 5 mins to find a place to turn around but in the act of doing so, the bungee cord broke.
eventually we're able to make our exit and continue on for the mostly uneventful (maybe just i've blocked the memory) remaining miles. we then get to hear middle aged couples compare their stories about crappy cars and wrecks. you know what i'm talking about.
with my family, this explains why i didn't post friday.
i overslept and missed marge's wedding. i regret this. oh well. anyway, we decide to head out to see this brass houseboat that we hear so much about. hour and 38 mins later, dad remembers he has a project running at work and shouldn't have gone. 2 mins later we arrive. since he needs to get back, we determine we can stay only an hour. 4 mins later, we find out that we can't see the boat. i do get to see the place. i could live there. apparently the boat in question is a 42 footer - that seemed darn big when i saw what similar boats looked like. we leave - they promise to send a video or something. back in the car, dad remarks: "shoulda known something like this would happen." i know i had that feeling.
siblings are leaving for camp so they stay up all night cleaning clothes. i wonder where they learned that. not sure why i didn't post sat night.
sunday at church is a picnic. quite a decent spread of food. also nearly no one my age.
pops and i end up going to see bad boys 2. i knew it was going to be a bad movie. it was. i came in knowing i would have to suspend disbelief. even so, there's a point where both he and i yelled out at the movie. if you've seen it, see if you can guess when.
i definitely was not planning on posting after that movie.
today there were more of the daily strong thunderstorms. i never turned off my computer or anything. about 30 mins later i got up from the computer to leave the room and the computer just lost power. i fiddle with the power cord for a second and the power flickered. i subsequently tried a variety of things to try to power it back up. nothing.
so now my computer is dead, and all my links are gone.
i figure others might enjoy this.
well i do have some excuses as to not posting lately. thursday evening, i drove about 40 miles to meet up with a friend and catch a free showing of bend it like beckham. when i went to leave i discovered most of the cars were gone. there was only the van or the old camry. i'd heard pops discuss how the tires were bald (and they surely are) so i was not sure what to take. i eventually planned on driving the camry to my brother's soccer practice and driving the grand am. however by this time i was running a tad behind schedule. i had a rather bad feeling about this, but i went anyway. i drove gingerly so as to not blow a tire, but i did notice that the engine was acting oddly. this had happened the last time i drove it with my sister - the regular driver - but she said it was normal. i was somewhat pleased that it was overcast and not very hot out. the dash lights were also acting oddly. the "lights" light was always lit, and the "door" light also was lit at times.
i should have known it was not my night when i realized they were not showing a film but a video - ugh. i've probably watched 50 movies there, and never been shown anything but a film. the quality was not great. it wasn't even widescreen.
so we checked out a new dining establishment nearby. it was nicely decorated, and we ate outside as the night air wasn't too bad. as i'd only eaten the end (actually the bottom) of a loaf of bread, i was slightly hungry. i ordered a mint/ice cream/cake dessert and a pint. pint was fine (though they were out of the closest guinness approximation), but about 2/3rds of the way through the cake i was feeling rather nauseous.
i head over to lend a hand to a buddy who's packing/moving out. i got a nice new white tshirt out of the stop. i stick around until around midnight and then head out. i am still hesitant to drive the car again and make several remarks about it breaking down on the way back; i also considered asking to crash there that night. i figured that i'd still have to get home sometime so i might as well try now.
it's rather pleasant outside - 70sh - and i'm still driving carefully. about 20 mins later i stop at one of the last few stoplights heading out of town and at the very instant i come to a stop the light turns green...and the oil lamp flashes on and then off. this does get my attention, but as the dash lights were acting oddly, it turned off, and i was not in a place i wanted to stop - i decided to continue. i plan on stopping at a well-lit gas station i'd stopped a few times previously.
the engine seems to be acting pretty normally, and i'm babying it. i'm not speeding or flooring it - just steady. then...boowoosh and the engine dies and the oil light comes on. it's tough to describe the sound. it's like a cross between an explosion and someone sitting on a garbage bag filled with air and popping it. i didn't hear metal on metal or anything. i just knew it was dead. i pulled over and eventually pushed it into a nearby subdivision. i tried the car one more time and while it tried to start, it was not going to turn over. i considered calling pops but figured he's been quite busy at work and doesn't need a call at this time of night. all he could do is show up with a rope and tow me back to the house. mom's out of town studying for a final exam. no reason to worry them. i call the friend who i'd just left, and she was not surprised to hear the car had died (though probably none of my friends would be surprised to get a call like that). about 2 mins later a cop drove up and then away after i said i had a friend coming to pick me up.
i called about 1:15am. i call about every 15 mins to find out when she's arriving. i figure i was only driving 15-20 mins...it can't be that long. standing on the side of a highway alone at 1:30am is like being in some kind of wasteland. none too fun.
around 2:10am i am picked up, my new tshirt is hanging from my driver side window, and i'm rather tired. we make it back to the house. i grab a sheet and make a mattress horizontal (they're moving out remember). as the soothing sounds of ex's discuss who's going to clean the kitchen for a while, i put some pants back on and get up. i then proceed to mop the disgusting kitchen floor with some crappy mop that was nearly useless. oh well.
the next day is moving/cleaning day. i get up with mom around 11am. my plan was for her to pick me up since she wasn't too far, take me back so i could get the van and rent a tow dolly. pops eventually hears the plan and then the plan is somewhat shelved for a while. mom was planning on showing around 2:30 pm. well it seems her day didn't go so smoothly either so it's around 4:30 when she arrives.
despite promises for lunch for helping, i've still not had anything to eat all day. mom hasn't really eaten either, so we stop at an arby's. service was deplorable and mind numbingly slow. we sat at the window for about 10 mins. (i guess roast beef sandwiches are rarely ordered.) when we finally get someone's attention, i ask if they have a handi-wipe or some kind of hand cleaner. they say yes...and then hand out a wet rag. yes, they really handed out a wet rag. knowing my hands were disgusting from moving/cleaning, i try not to think that i'm using a rag handed out a drive thru window to clean my hands - i proceed to scrubbing them down. after handing it back, i see the lady put our bad of food near the drink machine. the bag tips, and i hear the fountain engage. the employee lunges for the bag and tips it back up. i think - as the fountain is one of those where you push for it to dispense soda, the bag couldn't have actually leaned forward and made it dispense drink into it. we eventually get our food, and i stuff a sandwich in my mouth so i can get back on the road. it is here when i realized that the bag is wet since it'd tipped forward and caught the little lever to release water. often they stick out horizontally - when pushed down, it dispenses water instead of soda. basically the bag tipped over and caught the lever...and the water went into the bag.
yes. the bag had actually drenched itself.
we stop at the car, and surprise...it's still dead. as the plan is still for us to get the car either that night or saturday, we grab the few things of value from the car (but not the battery or anything) and drive on. as the new music minister's kids were being welcomed with a party at our house soon after we arrived, we could not set back out. i was quite pleased about this as i was hot, tired, and had a headache. (side note, i've been having quite a few of these lately. i don't think they're migraines. they seem located about 4 inches about an eye - directly in the forehead.)
instead of getting a nap as i should have done, i checked email. (i was still expecting to get a response from the recruiter.) i head downstairs to the "fun zone." i'm not really hungry, but when i grab a slice of pizza i'm informed by pops we're heading back to pick up the car and that he can't locate a tow dolly locally. instead of my nap, i down about 3 glasses of mountain dew. i then spend about 30 mins calling all rental places in about a 60 mile radius - to no avail.
at this point i check to see when the sun will set. it's about 40 mins from then. despite it taking 40 mins to go one way with a good car, pops thinks we'll be fine, and we head out. about 10 mins later we notice that the clouds are growing quite ominous, and we turn on the radio. about 15 seconds later, a weather report is broadcast warning about extremely heavy storms in the area. yes in the exact area we were heading. have you ever drove for 30 mins with lightning constantly occuring - but only directly in front of you? i felt like i was going to see a flying cow any minute.
it's growing rather dark and windy when we arrive at the car. it's not really raining though. this changes quickly. by the time we eventually get the car turned in a way where we can attach the rope and pull it forward, it's raining rather steadily. we are both rather wet.
in order to save the battery, one headlight is disconnected. we head out. the rain is constant. traffic is heavy. there is about 8 feet between the vehicles. i am often running without the lights or the windshield wiper. the window keeps fogging up, and i am trying to wipe it with the brand new tshirt. the van gives off a constant spray which keeps the windshield almost impossible to look through.
i am trying to keep the rope taut while being towed in the pouring rain, without power breaks, in the dark, without headlights, through a spray, without windshield wipers, with a muscle cramp -- and we're passing cars.
the weather is so bad that many cars are going the speed limit or below. once we get out on the highway, we're making good time and moving steadily. so steadily that when pops looks back to check on the rope he misses the exit. this causes a delay of about 20 mins as it takes at least another 5 mins to find a place to turn around but in the act of doing so, the bungee cord broke.
eventually we're able to make our exit and continue on for the mostly uneventful (maybe just i've blocked the memory) remaining miles. we then get to hear middle aged couples compare their stories about crappy cars and wrecks. you know what i'm talking about.
with my family, this explains why i didn't post friday.
i overslept and missed marge's wedding. i regret this. oh well. anyway, we decide to head out to see this brass houseboat that we hear so much about. hour and 38 mins later, dad remembers he has a project running at work and shouldn't have gone. 2 mins later we arrive. since he needs to get back, we determine we can stay only an hour. 4 mins later, we find out that we can't see the boat. i do get to see the place. i could live there. apparently the boat in question is a 42 footer - that seemed darn big when i saw what similar boats looked like. we leave - they promise to send a video or something. back in the car, dad remarks: "shoulda known something like this would happen." i know i had that feeling.
siblings are leaving for camp so they stay up all night cleaning clothes. i wonder where they learned that. not sure why i didn't post sat night.
sunday at church is a picnic. quite a decent spread of food. also nearly no one my age.
pops and i end up going to see bad boys 2. i knew it was going to be a bad movie. it was. i came in knowing i would have to suspend disbelief. even so, there's a point where both he and i yelled out at the movie. if you've seen it, see if you can guess when.
i definitely was not planning on posting after that movie.
today there were more of the daily strong thunderstorms. i never turned off my computer or anything. about 30 mins later i got up from the computer to leave the room and the computer just lost power. i fiddle with the power cord for a second and the power flickered. i subsequently tried a variety of things to try to power it back up. nothing.
so now my computer is dead, and all my links are gone.
i figure others might enjoy this.
