Today marked a monumental occasion in Alabama. That's right, it was the day of the spring Nascar race in Talladega. People from all over flocked to Talladega to camp out for days to watch the race.
Let me further explain what I mean by camping. Sure some of the people have very nice RV's or tents that they stay in. But then, there are the creative fans. They featured a man on the news who converted a school bus in to an RV. Why spend the money on an RV when you can drive a big yellow bus to the race and set up a drink stand outside of it.
Along the same lines I had a man come in to my office when I was working in the trucking industry to inquire about purchasing a truck. I was explaining the benefits of the truck, when he finally interrupted me to inform me of his plans to convert the truck in to an RV. He explained how he would mount an air conditioner in the front of the truck, and was going to put a bed and refrigerator in their as well. Seemed like a costly project, when you could probably by an RV for the same price. Must be something about those big yellow trucks that people want to take them everywhere.
I have never been to a Nascar race so I can't judge the experience first hand. I've seen plenty of races on television, and I've found they are great for instigating my Sunday nap. I can't get in to watching cars drive around in circles. I hear its fun if you go, and I'm sure the redneck watching is prime. I imagine its kind of like going to the Wal-Mart. If you are feeling bad about yourself its a great place to go to gain some self esteem.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Thursday, April 24, 2008
One is the lonliest number
So Jen is gone for the next three weeks. Despite the fact that I miss her, I'm bored out of my mind here in Birmingham. I grew up an only child and had to entertain myself most of life, but when you are used to having someone around its weird being alone.
I'm not locked up alone in my apartment cut off from the world or anything, but its definitely hard to occupy the hours from 4pm-11pm when I come home to this empty apartment. So far this to occupy some time I have visited the dry cleaners twice, went to the grocery story to by Styrofoam cups and straws, and worked out and run numerous times. Today I was bored after work so I ran, and then went an worked out a couple hours later.
You know things are getting bad when you start trying to have conversations with the cat. She doesn't talk back or anything, but she has been my buddy this week. She's normally feisty and likes to bite and pounce. I guess she knows that with Jen gone she is not far from being replaced with a friendlier animal. Just kidding - kind of.
Anyways, tomorrow wraps up the first week of work for me and Jen. Her and my mom are coming down here so I'm pretty excited to have company. Not sure what we'll do, but I'm sure we will eat good.
Next week I'm going to attempt to be more sociable. Maybe go hit some golf balls, run with my neighbor, or even go do something in the evening.
Anybody got any interesting ways they entertain themselves while alone?
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
First Day Jitters
Yesterday was my first day at the new bank job. I had to go to an orientation that was supposed to last all day. To my pleasant surprise the orientation ended at 3pm and we were all free to leave for the day.
I got to the orientation about 15 minutes early. I figured I would used the interview rule of thumb of arriving 15 minutes early for the interview or first day. To my surprise when I arrived all the good seats in the back and on the sides were taken. But guess what seats were available. That's right, the front row dead center, where I absolutely hate to sit. Nonetheless, I sat up there, looking like captain brownnoser on the front row, and being forced to pay close attention to our benefits package and w-4 form process.
Today I went to the branch where I will eventually end up after about a month of various training. Everyone seemed pretty nice, and my boss gave me a rundown of how things were going to work. I found out that I am a salary exempt employee, meaning that whether I work 35 or 50 hours, I get paid the same. However, the beauty of the bank is the fact that they try to keep there employees around 40 hours. Basically, I will get off 1 day at 2:30, a couple days after 4, and a couple days after 5, and two or three Fridays a month I will work until 6. We work one Saturday a month, but there is a possibility that if I work a Saturday I will accumulate vacation time for it.
I don't mind these hours at all, especially since I was previously working until 6pm every night, eating lunch at my desk, and working every Saturday until 3.
Today I had to sit with another lady that has the same position I do. Basically I just sat and watched what she did, and didn't have a clue, considering it was my second day. Nonetheless, it made for an easy but slow day of employment. Tomorrow I have to go to computer training for the next week and a half.
Jen left for Knoxville today. She starts her rotation at the hospital tomorrow, and her new boss does not sound friendly. She was told she would have to work some overnighters and some weekends. That kind of stinks considering she won't be getting paid for any of her time there. She's coming back down here this weekend with my mom, so I'm doing the bachelor thing for the next few days.
I got to the orientation about 15 minutes early. I figured I would used the interview rule of thumb of arriving 15 minutes early for the interview or first day. To my surprise when I arrived all the good seats in the back and on the sides were taken. But guess what seats were available. That's right, the front row dead center, where I absolutely hate to sit. Nonetheless, I sat up there, looking like captain brownnoser on the front row, and being forced to pay close attention to our benefits package and w-4 form process.
Today I went to the branch where I will eventually end up after about a month of various training. Everyone seemed pretty nice, and my boss gave me a rundown of how things were going to work. I found out that I am a salary exempt employee, meaning that whether I work 35 or 50 hours, I get paid the same. However, the beauty of the bank is the fact that they try to keep there employees around 40 hours. Basically, I will get off 1 day at 2:30, a couple days after 4, and a couple days after 5, and two or three Fridays a month I will work until 6. We work one Saturday a month, but there is a possibility that if I work a Saturday I will accumulate vacation time for it.
I don't mind these hours at all, especially since I was previously working until 6pm every night, eating lunch at my desk, and working every Saturday until 3.
Today I had to sit with another lady that has the same position I do. Basically I just sat and watched what she did, and didn't have a clue, considering it was my second day. Nonetheless, it made for an easy but slow day of employment. Tomorrow I have to go to computer training for the next week and a half.
Jen left for Knoxville today. She starts her rotation at the hospital tomorrow, and her new boss does not sound friendly. She was told she would have to work some overnighters and some weekends. That kind of stinks considering she won't be getting paid for any of her time there. She's coming back down here this weekend with my mom, so I'm doing the bachelor thing for the next few days.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Every Weekend Should last 3 Days
I decided I would write about mine and Jen's weekend once again on this blog. I realize we never do anything that people would refer to as exciting, but I know that somewhere out there someone is reading this to kill two minutes at work. And I feel it is my duty to encourage mindless internet cruising while at work. So, on with the update.
Friday marked my first and last day of "unemployment." To celebrate Jen and I slept in and laid around the house most of the morning. We then decided to visit the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, one of the states most popular attractions. Me and Jen are not necessarily "nature" people, but we really enjoyed walking around the gardens. We were amazed there was something so nice that was free in Birmingham. It was definitely peaceful and serene to walk around in the gardens. Later on that night we went to a restaurant called wings, where I had a delightfully tasty order of teryaki chicken wings. We proceeded to rent Juno and see what all the hype was about.
Saturday Jen deemed "shopping day. We got up and hit the sales at Kohls and Macy's. I say Jen deemed it shopping day, but we mostly went so that I could try and find some new dress clothes for work. We ate lunch at the Olive Garden, and then ate dessert later that evening at The Melting Pot. The fondue chocolate was absolutely delicious.
*As a side note I cold barely walk Saturday from doing squats at the gym the previous day. So I basically looked like a 90 year old man hobbling around the mall. I could barely make it up stairs. I would have fought an old lady for her walker.
Today we slept in and scoped out the training site I have to go to tomorrow for training. We went to the pool this afternoon to lounge and read some magazines in the awesome weather. It was in the low 80s for those readers not living in Birmingham. Other than that we pretty much have just been getting read for the coming week. Jen heads back to Knoxville on Tuesday for her three week rotation for pharmacy school.
That is the update for this weekend. I hope it can kill some time for some of you. Also, I have recently changed the setting on this blog to allow comments from non-users. That means anyone reading is welcomed and encouraged to leave a comment every now and then and let me know your reading. I mean, you don't have to comment if the post is lame, but every now and then let me know you are out there.
More updates on our new jobs to come this week.
Friday marked my first and last day of "unemployment." To celebrate Jen and I slept in and laid around the house most of the morning. We then decided to visit the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, one of the states most popular attractions. Me and Jen are not necessarily "nature" people, but we really enjoyed walking around the gardens. We were amazed there was something so nice that was free in Birmingham. It was definitely peaceful and serene to walk around in the gardens. Later on that night we went to a restaurant called wings, where I had a delightfully tasty order of teryaki chicken wings. We proceeded to rent Juno and see what all the hype was about.
Saturday Jen deemed "shopping day. We got up and hit the sales at Kohls and Macy's. I say Jen deemed it shopping day, but we mostly went so that I could try and find some new dress clothes for work. We ate lunch at the Olive Garden, and then ate dessert later that evening at The Melting Pot. The fondue chocolate was absolutely delicious.
*As a side note I cold barely walk Saturday from doing squats at the gym the previous day. So I basically looked like a 90 year old man hobbling around the mall. I could barely make it up stairs. I would have fought an old lady for her walker.
Today we slept in and scoped out the training site I have to go to tomorrow for training. We went to the pool this afternoon to lounge and read some magazines in the awesome weather. It was in the low 80s for those readers not living in Birmingham. Other than that we pretty much have just been getting read for the coming week. Jen heads back to Knoxville on Tuesday for her three week rotation for pharmacy school.
That is the update for this weekend. I hope it can kill some time for some of you. Also, I have recently changed the setting on this blog to allow comments from non-users. That means anyone reading is welcomed and encouraged to leave a comment every now and then and let me know your reading. I mean, you don't have to comment if the post is lame, but every now and then let me know you are out there.
More updates on our new jobs to come this week.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Dedication to Excellence
Today marks the last day of my first full time job. Almost two years ago I signed on for promotions, opportunity, and the all coveted American dollar. Two years later I’ve found another path to pursue and thus am closing the transportation industry chapter of my life.
The main reason this job appealed to me was the fact that it paid better than all the communications jobs out of college I had been applying for. That and the fact that it’s about impossible to find an entry level PR job in Knoxville. Knoxville is not exactly the hub of mass communications in case anyone was wondering. So, I took the transportation job preparing myself for a future of full of benefits.
I’ve learned some noteworthy skills over the past two years. Don’t get me wrong, this company has helped me and is a big part of why Jen and I were able to get married and move to Alabama together. However, I thought it might be entertaining to list some things that some of you don’t know I do/or can do that I have learned through my job.
1. I can drive a tractor (semi truck) – not fast or on the interstate, but I can shift gears and maneuver one around a parking lot.
2. I can hook up a 26ft truck to an auto trailer – Imagine hooking a boat up to an SUV. It’s basically the same thing except much longer.
3. Be cussed at and not care – Unfortunately the transportation industry is not always known for the nicest clientele. I have been cussed at, threatened, and yelled at for things that had nothing to do with me at all.
4. Explain the difference between tractor brand and engine size – who would have thought the least mechanical person you will ever meet would know about trucks?
So that is some random skills I have that you just never know when they’ll come in handy.
I will take a lot with me from this job, but I don’t plan on stealing any office supplies or boxes. I will miss the people, and the stories from our drivers. I’ll miss our offices form of instant messaging, and the all the funny emails everyone would forward to me because they knew I had time to read them. I will also miss using email like its instant messenger with my friends that don’t work here.
The main reason this job appealed to me was the fact that it paid better than all the communications jobs out of college I had been applying for. That and the fact that it’s about impossible to find an entry level PR job in Knoxville. Knoxville is not exactly the hub of mass communications in case anyone was wondering. So, I took the transportation job preparing myself for a future of full of benefits.
I’ve learned some noteworthy skills over the past two years. Don’t get me wrong, this company has helped me and is a big part of why Jen and I were able to get married and move to Alabama together. However, I thought it might be entertaining to list some things that some of you don’t know I do/or can do that I have learned through my job.
1. I can drive a tractor (semi truck) – not fast or on the interstate, but I can shift gears and maneuver one around a parking lot.
2. I can hook up a 26ft truck to an auto trailer – Imagine hooking a boat up to an SUV. It’s basically the same thing except much longer.
3. Be cussed at and not care – Unfortunately the transportation industry is not always known for the nicest clientele. I have been cussed at, threatened, and yelled at for things that had nothing to do with me at all.
4. Explain the difference between tractor brand and engine size – who would have thought the least mechanical person you will ever meet would know about trucks?
So that is some random skills I have that you just never know when they’ll come in handy.
I will take a lot with me from this job, but I don’t plan on stealing any office supplies or boxes. I will miss the people, and the stories from our drivers. I’ll miss our offices form of instant messaging, and the all the funny emails everyone would forward to me because they knew I had time to read them. I will also miss using email like its instant messenger with my friends that don’t work here.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
What happened to AIM?
Most everyone I knew in high school used to get on AOL instant messenger (AIM) every night back in high school. Sure, some people talked on the phone, but there was something special about talking in text to 15 of your closest friends with those little text boxes all over your computer.
As most people, my “buddy” list grew over time, and any given night you could find a plethora of people on AIM. In high school, there were relationships that started out of instant messaging, friendships ruined because of copy and paste, and in some drastic cases you had the “instant messenger breakup.” Yes, I know a guy that broke up with a girl via instant messenger. Talk about being blindsided. I myself never engaged in the AIM breakup, however I did once go for the email. Not sure that is much better, but moving on….
After high school everyone gets to college where my generation first discovered the joys of broadband wireless. What this ultimately meant was that you could stay signed on to AIM all day and not tie up your parents phone line. And that is where the real popularity with the “away message” started.
The away message was tricky. You had to get it just right. For some it was a chance to show their friends from high school what cool thing they were out doing (i.e Gone to Blue Cats to see Copper, call me on my cell). Despite the fact that no one is going to call you on your cell, everyone could know that you had a life. The other popular tactic was to post a song lyric from your favorite band that no one has heard of yet. You know this way you could show everyone how deep and evolved you were becoming off at college. Your new hairstyle plus some emo acoustic friendly lyrics meant that you were not the same person you were three months ago.
Now, fast forward to three years after college and I sign on to my buddy list. There are 5 people out of 100 that are signed on. After all these years there are about 3 people I talk to on a regular basis on AIM. I still sign on when I check my email, just to see who is there. But for those of us in our mid 20s, AIM is a dying pastime. I personally blame the downfall of AIM on texting.
As most people, my “buddy” list grew over time, and any given night you could find a plethora of people on AIM. In high school, there were relationships that started out of instant messaging, friendships ruined because of copy and paste, and in some drastic cases you had the “instant messenger breakup.” Yes, I know a guy that broke up with a girl via instant messenger. Talk about being blindsided. I myself never engaged in the AIM breakup, however I did once go for the email. Not sure that is much better, but moving on….
After high school everyone gets to college where my generation first discovered the joys of broadband wireless. What this ultimately meant was that you could stay signed on to AIM all day and not tie up your parents phone line. And that is where the real popularity with the “away message” started.
The away message was tricky. You had to get it just right. For some it was a chance to show their friends from high school what cool thing they were out doing (i.e Gone to Blue Cats to see Copper, call me on my cell). Despite the fact that no one is going to call you on your cell, everyone could know that you had a life. The other popular tactic was to post a song lyric from your favorite band that no one has heard of yet. You know this way you could show everyone how deep and evolved you were becoming off at college. Your new hairstyle plus some emo acoustic friendly lyrics meant that you were not the same person you were three months ago.
Now, fast forward to three years after college and I sign on to my buddy list. There are 5 people out of 100 that are signed on. After all these years there are about 3 people I talk to on a regular basis on AIM. I still sign on when I check my email, just to see who is there. But for those of us in our mid 20s, AIM is a dying pastime. I personally blame the downfall of AIM on texting.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
my weekend
So some random thing went on this weekend I felt may be worth mentioning.
Saturday the music store that my office is located in had a Guitar Hero contest. As many middle and high schoolers filled the store I started to become intrigued. So I emerged from my little hole in the instruction rooms only to find Jeff Carlisi from the band .38 special leading a clinic at the front of the store. I'm not a huge .38 special fan, but they had some good hits back in the day. One of my favorites is "Hold On Loosely" among several others.
Anyways this guy was up front talking about the neighborhood he grew up in. He said all the kids in his neighborhood grew up to be in either Lynard Skynard or .38 special. That must have been a rocking neighborhood back in the day. Anyways it was really cool to stand and watch this guy do some amazing stuff with an electric guitar.
Today we visited a new church. We only sang two worship songs and I had never heard either. The praise band had horns and a choir, and it was just a strange combination. The pastor seemed intelligent enough but he used to be a professor, and church felt a lot like a college lecture. Needless to say, it was not for us.
I plan on spending the rest of the day watching the masters and our birds on the feeder. Jen has finals next week, so she has her nose in the books today. Me and the cat will just have to hang out and watch some golf and birds.
Saturday the music store that my office is located in had a Guitar Hero contest. As many middle and high schoolers filled the store I started to become intrigued. So I emerged from my little hole in the instruction rooms only to find Jeff Carlisi from the band .38 special leading a clinic at the front of the store. I'm not a huge .38 special fan, but they had some good hits back in the day. One of my favorites is "Hold On Loosely" among several others.
Anyways this guy was up front talking about the neighborhood he grew up in. He said all the kids in his neighborhood grew up to be in either Lynard Skynard or .38 special. That must have been a rocking neighborhood back in the day. Anyways it was really cool to stand and watch this guy do some amazing stuff with an electric guitar.
Today we visited a new church. We only sang two worship songs and I had never heard either. The praise band had horns and a choir, and it was just a strange combination. The pastor seemed intelligent enough but he used to be a professor, and church felt a lot like a college lecture. Needless to say, it was not for us.
I plan on spending the rest of the day watching the masters and our birds on the feeder. Jen has finals next week, so she has her nose in the books today. Me and the cat will just have to hang out and watch some golf and birds.
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