Sunday, May 18, 2008
So, I went to the gym this morning...
But I took Vicky's car. After all, I wasn't going to let some crazed insomniac behind the wheel of my car!
Lots of time to think…
It’s just after 2:30 am and I’m wide awake. God, how I hate insomnia. I’m not even sleepy. Tired? Sure. I didn’t sleep but a couple of hours yesterday morning. But nothing’s telling me to close my eyes. Instead, I keep thinking.
And I can’t stop.
I’ve got a couple of things on my mind this morning so I’m also posting another thought over on My Side. (Hey, I’ve got the time, you know?) Both come down to the choices we make and the effects they have.
I feel compelled to apologize to Vicky for being out of work. She reminds me that it’s not my fault and that’s true; Allied Schools laid a bunch of people off in a massive reorg. But that’s not why I’m apologizing.
I can’t help but think about my choices in the past few years. I worked at Linksys for about five and a half years and left because the people were not very nice and I couldn’t get any kind of career growth no matter what I did. I was offered and accepted a job at a place called IMC, not realizing that things would be 2000% worse there and that I’d be fired (spontaneously, injudiciously, and inexplicably) one month after getting a sizable raise. It took six months to find my job at Allied Schools and I really liked it. I felt as though I was doing something worthwhile. I felt fulfilled. It was nice.
Now, of course, I’m toast. I know that being unemployed is not entirely my fault but I can’t help but wonder what would have happened had I stayed at Linksys. I might be unhappy – but I’d be unhappily employed!
Dammit.
And I can’t stop.
I’ve got a couple of things on my mind this morning so I’m also posting another thought over on My Side. (Hey, I’ve got the time, you know?) Both come down to the choices we make and the effects they have.
I feel compelled to apologize to Vicky for being out of work. She reminds me that it’s not my fault and that’s true; Allied Schools laid a bunch of people off in a massive reorg. But that’s not why I’m apologizing.
I can’t help but think about my choices in the past few years. I worked at Linksys for about five and a half years and left because the people were not very nice and I couldn’t get any kind of career growth no matter what I did. I was offered and accepted a job at a place called IMC, not realizing that things would be 2000% worse there and that I’d be fired (spontaneously, injudiciously, and inexplicably) one month after getting a sizable raise. It took six months to find my job at Allied Schools and I really liked it. I felt as though I was doing something worthwhile. I felt fulfilled. It was nice.
Now, of course, I’m toast. I know that being unemployed is not entirely my fault but I can’t help but wonder what would have happened had I stayed at Linksys. I might be unhappy – but I’d be unhappily employed!
Dammit.
Friday, May 16, 2008
I’ll have a big shit sandwich with gravy… made of shit…
So, I didn’t get the job.
To make it worse, I was told what a great candidate I was and how I was such a close second choice and how they wish they had two positions and how – will you shut the hell up already?! Seriously, the job market is as empty as… well, my ability to write similes at the moment; I need a job! It’s like those rejection letters I get that read, “Loved your book. Thought it was amazing! Sorry, we can’t take another client.”
With school out, I thought I’d get back to some writing but I forgot how difficult it is to write in this situation. You’re too filled with dread to think of anything clever. Whenever I get close to being relaxed or enjoying myself, I become filled with guilt (don’t ask me why, the layoff was the result of the housing market, not me) and feel like I’m not doing enough, so I look through job sites that I already scoped several times that day… dammit.
… sigh.
Nothing else to say, really. This is just fucking sad.
To make it worse, I was told what a great candidate I was and how I was such a close second choice and how they wish they had two positions and how – will you shut the hell up already?! Seriously, the job market is as empty as… well, my ability to write similes at the moment; I need a job! It’s like those rejection letters I get that read, “Loved your book. Thought it was amazing! Sorry, we can’t take another client.”
With school out, I thought I’d get back to some writing but I forgot how difficult it is to write in this situation. You’re too filled with dread to think of anything clever. Whenever I get close to being relaxed or enjoying myself, I become filled with guilt (don’t ask me why, the layoff was the result of the housing market, not me) and feel like I’m not doing enough, so I look through job sites that I already scoped several times that day… dammit.
… sigh.
Nothing else to say, really. This is just fucking sad.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
The magic of the morning smoke…
Back when I drank with more regularity than I do now (or have for some time) and when I used to smoke, nothing met me with more enjoyment and dread than the morning smoke. Both, you ask? Yes, both. Because after you wake up with a hangover, the last thing you want to do is put more toxins in your body… but as a smoker, well, you really want to put more toxins in your body.
I was reminded of this today. Vicky and I were both dying in bed and Suki was dying on the floor, because she desperately had to go outside. I normally take her out around 8am but it was approaching 9:30. So, she was whining, scratching, doing anything to get our attention. Finally, I got up – because Vicky was feeling as bad as me and hers was not self-inflicted. How bad was I? Bad enough to remind me that getting that drunk is just plain stupid. It felt good in a “will someone please kill me” kind of way.
Downstairs, Suki and I went, and then outside. Walking actually helped me a little bit and I was starting to enjoy the morning – in so much as you can enjoy a morning while dragging your stomach five yards behind you – when around the corner came a smoker. This guy was making enormously puffy clouds behind him, smoking with the fervor of, say, a smoker who hadn’t had one all night because he was asleep. And I walked right into a cloud.
To say that I immediately wanted to through up would be an understatement.
To say that I was intensely jealous would be confusing to you non-smokers.
But the thing is, I was also relieved that the cigarette (and smoker attached) was gone and I could return to inhaling fresh air again… or what passes for it in southern California.
I was reminded of this today. Vicky and I were both dying in bed and Suki was dying on the floor, because she desperately had to go outside. I normally take her out around 8am but it was approaching 9:30. So, she was whining, scratching, doing anything to get our attention. Finally, I got up – because Vicky was feeling as bad as me and hers was not self-inflicted. How bad was I? Bad enough to remind me that getting that drunk is just plain stupid. It felt good in a “will someone please kill me” kind of way.
Downstairs, Suki and I went, and then outside. Walking actually helped me a little bit and I was starting to enjoy the morning – in so much as you can enjoy a morning while dragging your stomach five yards behind you – when around the corner came a smoker. This guy was making enormously puffy clouds behind him, smoking with the fervor of, say, a smoker who hadn’t had one all night because he was asleep. And I walked right into a cloud.
To say that I immediately wanted to through up would be an understatement.
To say that I was intensely jealous would be confusing to you non-smokers.
But the thing is, I was also relieved that the cigarette (and smoker attached) was gone and I could return to inhaling fresh air again… or what passes for it in southern California.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Retard Economics...
I just have to throw this out there. Why is it that as gas prices go higher and higher there are more and more of those massive, "2nd home" SUVs parked in my neighborhood?
Thursday, May 08, 2008
That's some serious chili...
So... what's it mean when you go to the gym and your sweat smells... well... just like chili?
I gotta make me some more of that!
By the way, the recipe I posted may turn out a bit thick. It did with us. Next time I make it, I'll probably cut a pound of ground beef. Just a thought.
I gotta make me some more of that!
By the way, the recipe I posted may turn out a bit thick. It did with us. Next time I make it, I'll probably cut a pound of ground beef. Just a thought.
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
Five minutes you should watch...
Obama is addressing people's concerns and giving them hope without pandering or dishonesty, which so far have been the tools his opponents have tried to use against him.
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Chili Aftermath...
Oh my! Huge thanks to the folks at I'm Just Saying (see link to the right) for posting this. I've watched it three times and I'm just dying. It reminds me of what happened after the chili. (See recipe below!)
Monday, May 05, 2008
Boj… Boj… Boj… something’s amiss…
I haven’t mentioned the job search in a while… mostly because the job search sucks a large ass… a large “post chili” ass, if you get my meaning…
In the last couple of weeks, the well has dried up and the jobs I keeping finding are ones I’ve already applied for. As you can probably imagine, that has me a little… nervous…
There is news to report. For the past couple of weeks, I have been working as a contract employee for a small web design company, writing web copy. This might sound good, until you hear how hesitant this guy is to actually PAY you for your work. Paychecks are late and the Internet(s) are littered with complaints from other people who never got paid. So, I’m wrapping that up and hoping I get all my money… ugh…
Last week, I had a really good interview with Epicor, a business software company. I’d be going back to tech writing but, with the way this economy is spastic like a 95 year old orgasming, I’ll take it. I say the interview was good but it wasn’t without its bumps. The woman I was interviewing with seemed to think it was her job to discourage me as best she could, I suppose to make sure I wanted it enough. She kept saying “You don’t want this. You don’t want this.” And I had to enthusiastically respond, “Yes, I do want it! I want it like a blowjob after a long bike ride!”… with the… you know… bicycle references. And I’ll stop at two sex references…
Things just aren’t looking great. And, as you can imagine, this puts Vicky in the uncomfortable position of having to say, “Don’t worry. We’ll be fine… ONCE YOU FIND A JOB YOU… I mean, we’ll be fine…”
Two months into unemployment, and I can’t help remember that the last time went right down to the wire. Good times!
In the last couple of weeks, the well has dried up and the jobs I keeping finding are ones I’ve already applied for. As you can probably imagine, that has me a little… nervous…
There is news to report. For the past couple of weeks, I have been working as a contract employee for a small web design company, writing web copy. This might sound good, until you hear how hesitant this guy is to actually PAY you for your work. Paychecks are late and the Internet(s) are littered with complaints from other people who never got paid. So, I’m wrapping that up and hoping I get all my money… ugh…
Last week, I had a really good interview with Epicor, a business software company. I’d be going back to tech writing but, with the way this economy is spastic like a 95 year old orgasming, I’ll take it. I say the interview was good but it wasn’t without its bumps. The woman I was interviewing with seemed to think it was her job to discourage me as best she could, I suppose to make sure I wanted it enough. She kept saying “You don’t want this. You don’t want this.” And I had to enthusiastically respond, “Yes, I do want it! I want it like a blowjob after a long bike ride!”… with the… you know… bicycle references. And I’ll stop at two sex references…
Things just aren’t looking great. And, as you can imagine, this puts Vicky in the uncomfortable position of having to say, “Don’t worry. We’ll be fine… ONCE YOU FIND A JOB YOU… I mean, we’ll be fine…”
Two months into unemployment, and I can’t help remember that the last time went right down to the wire. Good times!
Sunday, May 04, 2008
It's Chili in here!...
This is what happens when you think you've lost your chili recipe and hanker for something more substantial than the stuff from a can. Enjoy!
Ken’s Chili
Cooking time: 5-6 hours
Serves: So many you should probably half this thing!
2/3 lb. Red beans
2/3 lb black beans
1 lb bacon
1 lb chorizo
1 lb andouille sausage
2 lbs ground beef
3 lbs onion
2 bell peppers
2 poblano peppers
4 jalapeno peppers
4-6 cloves of garlic
12 oz “Homemade Chili sauce” or substitute (eg. Ketchup)
3 15oz cans of tomatoes
1 can tomato paste
1 cup of sun dried tomatoes
1 cup water/chicken broth
1 tablespoon black pepper
3 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon cumin
3 tablespoons “essence” (You have the recipe, right?)
as many hits of Tabasco as you need
This recipe was cobbled together as I lost my old recipe many years ago. (Many, many years ago.) And I can't remember what I did with my new recipe. (I’m old.)
Start the night before by soaking your beans. Some people say you don’t have to but what’s the deal? It takes five minutes. Just put them in a bowl full of water and put it somewhere safe from pets, bugs, and alien creatures.
Cooking day begins with bacon – and what better way to begin the day? Cook it up, drain it, and let it cool. Also, grill your peppers – your bells, your poblanos, and your jalapenos. Once they’re cool, peel and seed them and clean them up. Put them aside with your bacon. You’ll have fun with those later.
Begin making the chili by browning your ground beef and andouille sausage. Drain off the fat and put aside. Then, brown the chorizo. I can never really get chorizo to brown but do your best. You’ll want to do this in a really, really large pot – you’re going to be making a lot of chili here. When browning your meat, it’s a good time to add some of that essence. Once that’s browned, add the onions. Take your time on a low, even heat to wilt down your onions. Once that’s done, add your beef and andouille sausage to the pot.
At this point, you’ll have big pot of seasoned meat and onions. You could start making meat burritos but let’s continue making chili. Add your canned tomatoes – I like to take a hand mixer to puree the suckers a bit – along with your tomato paste. If you can get ahold of one of those little jars of “Homemade Chili Sauce” that comes in a little 12 ounce jar, good for you! Empty that into the chili. If you can’t, ketchup is one substitute… but it doesn’t come close. Also add your chicken broth now (or water if you don’t have broth).
Things are getting a bit soupy so add your beans - making sure to toss your reserve “bean water” first. Also, toss in your garlic. I like lots of garlic so I probably exceeded the six cloves. That’s just me.
Now, pull out your bacon (watch it!), peppers, and sun dried tomatoes. With your favorite cooking sheers, you can just clip these up into little pieces over the pot! Finish off with the black pepper (I like to use a coarse ground for long simmers), red pepper flakes, chili powder, cumin, and whatever essence you have left. This is going to make things a bit spicy so you might want to add half now and half later. Me? I put in WAY MORE!
Bring this to a good boil, then let it simmer. You’ll want to cook this for at least 5 hours, more if you can arrange it. Give the beans time to cook. Also the longer you let something like this cook, the better it gets.
Serve with cheddar cheese, sour cream, chips, whatever, and eat!
Ken’s Chili
Cooking time: 5-6 hours
Serves: So many you should probably half this thing!
2/3 lb. Red beans
2/3 lb black beans
1 lb bacon
1 lb chorizo
1 lb andouille sausage
2 lbs ground beef
3 lbs onion
2 bell peppers
2 poblano peppers
4 jalapeno peppers
4-6 cloves of garlic
12 oz “Homemade Chili sauce” or substitute (eg. Ketchup)
3 15oz cans of tomatoes
1 can tomato paste
1 cup of sun dried tomatoes
1 cup water/chicken broth
1 tablespoon black pepper
3 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon cumin
3 tablespoons “essence” (You have the recipe, right?)
as many hits of Tabasco as you need
This recipe was cobbled together as I lost my old recipe many years ago. (Many, many years ago.) And I can't remember what I did with my new recipe. (I’m old.)
Start the night before by soaking your beans. Some people say you don’t have to but what’s the deal? It takes five minutes. Just put them in a bowl full of water and put it somewhere safe from pets, bugs, and alien creatures.
Cooking day begins with bacon – and what better way to begin the day? Cook it up, drain it, and let it cool. Also, grill your peppers – your bells, your poblanos, and your jalapenos. Once they’re cool, peel and seed them and clean them up. Put them aside with your bacon. You’ll have fun with those later.
Begin making the chili by browning your ground beef and andouille sausage. Drain off the fat and put aside. Then, brown the chorizo. I can never really get chorizo to brown but do your best. You’ll want to do this in a really, really large pot – you’re going to be making a lot of chili here. When browning your meat, it’s a good time to add some of that essence. Once that’s browned, add the onions. Take your time on a low, even heat to wilt down your onions. Once that’s done, add your beef and andouille sausage to the pot.
At this point, you’ll have big pot of seasoned meat and onions. You could start making meat burritos but let’s continue making chili. Add your canned tomatoes – I like to take a hand mixer to puree the suckers a bit – along with your tomato paste. If you can get ahold of one of those little jars of “Homemade Chili Sauce” that comes in a little 12 ounce jar, good for you! Empty that into the chili. If you can’t, ketchup is one substitute… but it doesn’t come close. Also add your chicken broth now (or water if you don’t have broth).
Things are getting a bit soupy so add your beans - making sure to toss your reserve “bean water” first. Also, toss in your garlic. I like lots of garlic so I probably exceeded the six cloves. That’s just me.
Now, pull out your bacon (watch it!), peppers, and sun dried tomatoes. With your favorite cooking sheers, you can just clip these up into little pieces over the pot! Finish off with the black pepper (I like to use a coarse ground for long simmers), red pepper flakes, chili powder, cumin, and whatever essence you have left. This is going to make things a bit spicy so you might want to add half now and half later. Me? I put in WAY MORE!
Bring this to a good boil, then let it simmer. You’ll want to cook this for at least 5 hours, more if you can arrange it. Give the beans time to cook. Also the longer you let something like this cook, the better it gets.
Serve with cheddar cheese, sour cream, chips, whatever, and eat!
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Sunday, April 27, 2008
... and Ted and Alice...
Sometimes I hear some movie news I just can't keep to myself.
This movie may not have the best trailer ever - but what can you do? It's an indie flick. - but I loved the name the way love a fine wine you just drank 5 bottles of:
Bonnie & Clyde vs. Dracula!
This movie may not have the best trailer ever - but what can you do? It's an indie flick. - but I loved the name the way love a fine wine you just drank 5 bottles of:
Bonnie & Clyde vs. Dracula!
Friday, April 25, 2008
Cigarettes and Tacos…
Just a quick programming note: Today I hit 4 months without a cigarette. That’s 1/3 of a year! Pretty cool.
Anybody got a smoke?
Tonight, Vicky and I tried out a new, local, Mexican restaurant. Vicky’s had a very stressful week so I’ve been trying to cut her a little slack. She asked the waiter, pointing to our empty bowl of chips, “Could we get some more tacos? Um, I mean – tacos? Um, what are these things again?”
I couldn’t answer. I was on the floor laughing.
Anybody got a smoke?
Tonight, Vicky and I tried out a new, local, Mexican restaurant. Vicky’s had a very stressful week so I’ve been trying to cut her a little slack. She asked the waiter, pointing to our empty bowl of chips, “Could we get some more tacos? Um, I mean – tacos? Um, what are these things again?”
I couldn’t answer. I was on the floor laughing.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
What the hell am I doing?…
I’m really disappointed by my career today… mostly because I don’t seem to have one.
I started a contract job yesterday, working for a guy who is trying to put together a web marketing company. He made it sound like I would be doing marketing work – putting together packages with web sites, partnerships, collateral, and the like – but it turns out I’m writing for him. To my amazement and sadness, I have discovered something awful – I hate writing.
Let me go back to the beginning.
I worked at Linksys for half a decade – okay, suffered at Linksys is more like it but I had half a decade under my belt. Then, IMC came along and said, “We can pay you more and give you more room for growth.” Okay, I said, and I took the job. Within 9 months, I was out. I was unemployed for six months. Then, Allied Schools, my previous employer, hired me on as an Assistant Marketing Manager, where I put together websites, created partnerships, managed several brands, created new collateral, and it turned out I really, really liked it. I enjoyed my job.
Then, they laid me off.
Fuck.
So, now, here I am working temp for this new guy. I started at $25/hour but then he went down to $20. Today I find out that they have a history of not paying their employees. The writing I’ve done is being changed to fit the owner, the guy who actually said to me today, “I can’t write worth a damn but can’t we just list the SEO words on the page? People don’t have to read it.” And then, I remembered why I hate writing – because those who can’t understand the least why they shouldn’t.
I know I’m at the whim of a cruel economy… but damn it sucks…
Monday, April 21, 2008
I'm gonna eat some worms... or visa versa...
You’re wondering what a middle-aged philosopher does when he’s mind-breaking treatise on success fails to find a market, aren’t you? Hey, it’s not like I didn’t see that coming. Like I told Vicky at the time, I can either write the book that changes the world and no one will buy or I can write a really marketable horror novel. Vicky told me to write Climbing Maya, which I did.
Wormfood came after.
This week, I started sending out Wormfood. It’s quick. It’s easy. It’s got everything from blood and gore to fucking and sucking, from children in peril and tough ex-cops to love on the rocks and young people finding love – like I said, everything.
The bitch is finding someone to read it.
So, here’s a bite of the letter that’s going out to spread the word. Let’s hope it catches some eyes:
Wormfood is a George Romero zombie flick on steroids. It’s the book Night of the Living Dead dreamed of being. When a worm infestation turns everyone on an island resort into feral, sex-crazed animals that feast on human flesh, how can a family escape from becoming Wormfood?
Wormfood is 77,000 words in length, packed with sex and gore and twists that leave you unable to put it down. It is the ultimate book of the dead for the adult horror market.
Wormfood came after.
This week, I started sending out Wormfood. It’s quick. It’s easy. It’s got everything from blood and gore to fucking and sucking, from children in peril and tough ex-cops to love on the rocks and young people finding love – like I said, everything.
The bitch is finding someone to read it.
So, here’s a bite of the letter that’s going out to spread the word. Let’s hope it catches some eyes:
Wormfood is a George Romero zombie flick on steroids. It’s the book Night of the Living Dead dreamed of being. When a worm infestation turns everyone on an island resort into feral, sex-crazed animals that feast on human flesh, how can a family escape from becoming Wormfood?
Wormfood is 77,000 words in length, packed with sex and gore and twists that leave you unable to put it down. It is the ultimate book of the dead for the adult horror market.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
"Crotch Itch, the Movie"... the movie...
Apparently, there's a movie coming out called "Blindness", wherein 90% of humanity goes blind.
... which apparently really fucks with Julianne Moore...
... why isn't clear. I'm probably not seeing something. WAIT!
Seriously, if they want someone to just phone it in, I'd be happy to. Honestly. You want Lowest Common Denominator...? And this isn't even Lowest Common Denominator! I mean, what person says to himself, "I want to watch a bunch of blind people!"
... but I guess it helps explain why I'm not published, huh?
... which apparently really fucks with Julianne Moore...
... why isn't clear. I'm probably not seeing something. WAIT!
Seriously, if they want someone to just phone it in, I'd be happy to. Honestly. You want Lowest Common Denominator...? And this isn't even Lowest Common Denominator! I mean, what person says to himself, "I want to watch a bunch of blind people!"
... but I guess it helps explain why I'm not published, huh?
Outside… without my keys…
So, I was washing my car today… normally, I’m not totally anal retentive about my car. But, I figure when the bird shit accumulates to the point where people may think the design is intentional, it’s time to wash!
So, I went out today and began washing. Washing. Washing. I only used a little water, trying not to be an eco-idiot. When the car was ready to towel it off, I put down my rag and turned to go inside and get the towel.
Only one problem, though.
The door was locked.
Uh oh.
I didn’t even have to check to know: no keys.
I checked anyway.
Nope.
Shit.
As it happened, I did have my phone with me – both my cell and my cordless, home phone. I had brought them just in case I received a call about a job.
… I didn’t. Goddammit…
So, I called Vicky. Fortunately, Vicky works relatively close and she was willing to come home and let me in… if just barely…
Which gave me 20 minutes to… do… nothing.
Next time you really want to torture yourself. Stand outside for 20 minutes. You can’t go for a walk – at least, I couldn’t because I didn’t want to miss any calls I might have received about jobs… which never came. Goddammit…
You see, I tend to fill my day with distractions, keep myself busy, because the last thing I want to think about is out I’m unemployed, with no education, and how I’ve amounted to – if not nothing – at least the smallest calculable sum imaginable… that’s the last thing I want to think about…
… and so, that’s what I spent my time thinking about.
I’ve decided I’m never washing my car again. If anyone asks, I’ll call the pattern “Dalmation”.
So, I went out today and began washing. Washing. Washing. I only used a little water, trying not to be an eco-idiot. When the car was ready to towel it off, I put down my rag and turned to go inside and get the towel.
Only one problem, though.
The door was locked.
Uh oh.
I didn’t even have to check to know: no keys.
I checked anyway.
Nope.
Shit.
As it happened, I did have my phone with me – both my cell and my cordless, home phone. I had brought them just in case I received a call about a job.
… I didn’t. Goddammit…
So, I called Vicky. Fortunately, Vicky works relatively close and she was willing to come home and let me in… if just barely…
Which gave me 20 minutes to… do… nothing.
Next time you really want to torture yourself. Stand outside for 20 minutes. You can’t go for a walk – at least, I couldn’t because I didn’t want to miss any calls I might have received about jobs… which never came. Goddammit…
You see, I tend to fill my day with distractions, keep myself busy, because the last thing I want to think about is out I’m unemployed, with no education, and how I’ve amounted to – if not nothing – at least the smallest calculable sum imaginable… that’s the last thing I want to think about…
… and so, that’s what I spent my time thinking about.
I’ve decided I’m never washing my car again. If anyone asks, I’ll call the pattern “Dalmation”.
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Where we’ve been…
I’m going to be completely honest with you. Being out of work is killing my motivation to “blog”. So, my apologies if my silence is inconvenient.
That said, I’ve been dying to tell you about our weekend. Vicky and I drove up to Cambria this past weekend and, not just because we stayed in a beautiful Victorian home near the beach, it quickly became one of my favorite places. We had a fire every night in a big fireplace – sure, it was gas but hey – we hiked in the beautiful (if FUCKING COLD) Fiscalini Ranch Preserve, and we hit the neatest, little downtown I’ve had the fortune of enjoying in some time.
It’s our day walking around downtown that I’d like to tell you about today. It was a hoot. Not only was the weather exceptional – a bit cool but sunny and surrounded by greenery – we found two shops that just killed me.
The first shop will remain nameless to protect my favorite towny of the day. She ran a little furniture store with some absolutely gorgeous furniture. As Vicky and I looked, she came up next to me to let Vicky know, “I absolutely LOVE your hair!” Of course, this got Vicky talking. Vicky’s new neapolitan (meant for the ice cream not Naples) hair is something she and everyone around her has enjoyed – and she loves talking about it! I didn’t quite listen because something had caught my nose. I leaned a bit towards the shopkeep and sniffed… marijuana! She was stoned! I loved it! No wonder she was so friendly and happy; nobody gets that from selling furniture!
I always root for the rebels and find it interesting how pot often brings out our best qualities, while we are propagandized into believing it comes from Satan’s garden. Good for you, shopkeep!
My other favorite shop does not have a website I can find, which is too bad. I would love to turn you all onto it. It’s called Dirty Laundry, and it is in Cambria, right on Main Street. It sells the coolest, funniest nick-nacks anywhere. The guy who ran the store was very nice to us. And we bought a couple of things… of course. My favorite was the Shish-Kabob Ice Cubes. They come out of your freezer as little shish-kabobs and you stir your drink with them – too cool! I told Vicky that if I were employed, I would have bought a whole lot more!
So, we were very pleased and had a very good time.
On the way back, we hit Highway 46, just about the prettiest stretch of road I’ve seen in a while. I hope we can go back again very soon… and let’s hope I’m employed when we do!
That said, I’ve been dying to tell you about our weekend. Vicky and I drove up to Cambria this past weekend and, not just because we stayed in a beautiful Victorian home near the beach, it quickly became one of my favorite places. We had a fire every night in a big fireplace – sure, it was gas but hey – we hiked in the beautiful (if FUCKING COLD) Fiscalini Ranch Preserve, and we hit the neatest, little downtown I’ve had the fortune of enjoying in some time.
It’s our day walking around downtown that I’d like to tell you about today. It was a hoot. Not only was the weather exceptional – a bit cool but sunny and surrounded by greenery – we found two shops that just killed me.
The first shop will remain nameless to protect my favorite towny of the day. She ran a little furniture store with some absolutely gorgeous furniture. As Vicky and I looked, she came up next to me to let Vicky know, “I absolutely LOVE your hair!” Of course, this got Vicky talking. Vicky’s new neapolitan (meant for the ice cream not Naples) hair is something she and everyone around her has enjoyed – and she loves talking about it! I didn’t quite listen because something had caught my nose. I leaned a bit towards the shopkeep and sniffed… marijuana! She was stoned! I loved it! No wonder she was so friendly and happy; nobody gets that from selling furniture!
I always root for the rebels and find it interesting how pot often brings out our best qualities, while we are propagandized into believing it comes from Satan’s garden. Good for you, shopkeep!
My other favorite shop does not have a website I can find, which is too bad. I would love to turn you all onto it. It’s called Dirty Laundry, and it is in Cambria, right on Main Street. It sells the coolest, funniest nick-nacks anywhere. The guy who ran the store was very nice to us. And we bought a couple of things… of course. My favorite was the Shish-Kabob Ice Cubes. They come out of your freezer as little shish-kabobs and you stir your drink with them – too cool! I told Vicky that if I were employed, I would have bought a whole lot more!
So, we were very pleased and had a very good time.
On the way back, we hit Highway 46, just about the prettiest stretch of road I’ve seen in a while. I hope we can go back again very soon… and let’s hope I’m employed when we do!
Wednesday, April 02, 2008
Wait until the ride has come to a complete stop…
Right about now, that’s what my life is feeling like. I haven’t written anything on the blog in a while because… well… there’s just nothing to write! But I figured I should write something, so…
How have I been spending my time? Keith figured I was playing lots of WoW. I wish he was right. (Though, in truth, I’ve played a little…) From the start, I have made it my goal to apply to 10 jobs and send out 10 book submissions each week. That alone keeps me pretty busy. In addition, we’re in mid-term season and I’m working on a take-home test, writing about Plato’s Republic. Jealous, yet?
Once I get mid-terms out of the way, it’s back to the writing. I’m planning on getting Grand Canyon on Kindle and then starting work on submissions for Wormfood. Both will take some work. Only then will I be able to get back to the new play, which I haven’t touched in a couple of weeks.
I guess you can say I’ve been keeping busy.
I had a painful job interview the other day. It was for a tech writer, something I used to do. Well, I was in for a double dose of reality/pain/whatever at this one. Seems I’m not really a writer any more because I was a manager and I betrayed some sacred trust by not sticking to technical writing. I don’t know the right software anymore. I’m too out of practice to be any good. And I haven’t even been following trends in the career… ugh. For an hour, my mind was split between “How do I get these people to like me?” and “Dude, there’s more to life than tech writing. Seriously!”
The thing is, I am not one to think of my career as my life. Never have been. And when it comes to something as boring as tech writing, well, I try to forget I ever did it! Being a marketing manager was far more cool… and far less remotely possible I’ll find a job doing it again. The problem is there are a lot of low level jobs out there but the higher level ones are few and far between.
It sucks.
So, things ain’t great at Casa La Salle. And just because we’ve weathered this storm once before doesn’t make it a picnic this time.
How have I been spending my time? Keith figured I was playing lots of WoW. I wish he was right. (Though, in truth, I’ve played a little…) From the start, I have made it my goal to apply to 10 jobs and send out 10 book submissions each week. That alone keeps me pretty busy. In addition, we’re in mid-term season and I’m working on a take-home test, writing about Plato’s Republic. Jealous, yet?
Once I get mid-terms out of the way, it’s back to the writing. I’m planning on getting Grand Canyon on Kindle and then starting work on submissions for Wormfood. Both will take some work. Only then will I be able to get back to the new play, which I haven’t touched in a couple of weeks.
I guess you can say I’ve been keeping busy.
I had a painful job interview the other day. It was for a tech writer, something I used to do. Well, I was in for a double dose of reality/pain/whatever at this one. Seems I’m not really a writer any more because I was a manager and I betrayed some sacred trust by not sticking to technical writing. I don’t know the right software anymore. I’m too out of practice to be any good. And I haven’t even been following trends in the career… ugh. For an hour, my mind was split between “How do I get these people to like me?” and “Dude, there’s more to life than tech writing. Seriously!”
The thing is, I am not one to think of my career as my life. Never have been. And when it comes to something as boring as tech writing, well, I try to forget I ever did it! Being a marketing manager was far more cool… and far less remotely possible I’ll find a job doing it again. The problem is there are a lot of low level jobs out there but the higher level ones are few and far between.
It sucks.
So, things ain’t great at Casa La Salle. And just because we’ve weathered this storm once before doesn’t make it a picnic this time.
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