"Why Roswell makes me want to smoke" written by Libertad on estrip.org

09/20/07 06:55 - 79ºF - ID#41218

Why Roswell makes me want to smoke

Working at the quit line make me want to smoke so much. It is torture. I haven't had strong cigarette cravings like this in so long. Why does hearing people hack up a lung from smoking for so many years make me want to smoke?

I sort of know the answer:

1) This is a return to my old smoking environment. (The call center)

2) Smokers are stressful.

3) I'm not used to being inactive and without windows to outside environment. (I'm used to very high physical demand over the last 7 years)

4) People are smoking as they are calling us.

5) I'm still and always will be an addict.

6) I need to apply the techniques the quit line recommends such as having a plan for the situations in which my addiction is triggered. I also need to recognize what triggers my own cravings.

7) Talking about smoking reminds me of how much I loved cigarettes even though they made me so unhappy.

8) I'm dealing with multiple changes at once.

9) It makes me nervous that parts of my job is a real challenge for me. The bilingual calls are really freaking me out. Even though I know I can do it, I also know that I have difficulties in this area. It is a lot of pressure.

10) Cigarettes are a stimulant and I really could use that to get through listening to 8 hours of other people talk on the phone (I'm still in training).

I swear (e:drew), I had no intention of doing a top ten list. It was probably the most therapeutic thing I could have done and now I will recommend it to my clients.

Permalink: Why_Roswell_makes_me_want_to_smoke.html
Words: 272

09/18/07 10:12 - 68ºF - ID#41187

9 to 5

I went to the falls with (e:mike) on Friday I thought he might say something about it, but he hasn't. So I'm not going to either.

Tomorrow I have to work 9 to 5. That is so boring . "Yeah, I work 9 to 5".

I'm going to bed.

UPDATE 9/19/07 9:30 pm

I'm sorry for publicly chastising you mike. That is actually something I am sort of against doing in my journal. I understand that it was a lot to write about. I was just being a crazy betch. Yesterday I had a hard time adjusting to the new job. It is a little weird for me even though I love it so much. It has been so many years since I have been in a call center. At least this is much better than selling a bunch of freaky pet owners more crap. BTW, Elizabeth Taylor has ordered something off the back of a Milk Bone Box.

Today I ran into (e:amanda). My first roswellian (e:strip)per sighting. I'm not sure why she doesn't post more stuff. She is great.

Permalink: 9_to_5.html
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09/13/07 09:25 - 70ºF - ID#41083

How I found estrip

(e:jim) wants to know how we found out about estrip.

His post has an amazing 22 comments. Is there a record for comments posted onto a single post?

Anyhoo, my story.

When I used to work at Coffee & there used to be a boy named Mike that used to stalk me. He was always there with the pretext of drinking a Mocha Jet Cafe, but really he was just there to stalk one of his many barrista/bartender obsessions, me. Well, maybe he did go there for other reasons too, but I like to think that it was all about me at least most of the time. He was so cute and so awkward.

Him and (e:jill) were always trying to get me to sign up, but I never would. I did peep from time to time, but not a lot. Then I was leaving to go to Cuba and he came over to borrow Shirley Jackson's The Lottery.

Here is his awkwardness at my door.

Four months later I returned and eventually ran into him at his job as he posted here.

So yeah he came over to look at my "pics" and he seduced me. It was all a lie, he really doesn't care about any of my "pictures".

Anyways, that first night he seduced me was the day we consider our anniversary.

This was my first post on estrip

Permalink: How_I_found_estrip.html
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09/12/07 05:11 - 63ºF - ID#41063

We want to suck your blood!

Today I went for my pre-employment physical at Roswell. They gave me two shots one for tetanus and another to see if I have TB. God I don't want TB. So I go back in on Friday so they can redo the test so they can check it on Wednesday. They also took all this blood from me for testing to see if all my vaccinations are strong enough. I'm not sure how much it really was because I didn't look. I actually get nauseous when they are taking it. Luckily us gays don't get to give our blood to Red Cross, so I don't have to deal with having much more drawn.

So I found out that parking is $36/mo which really is a lot to me, but also potentially less than the bus. I asked her if they have a deal with the NFTA, but she wasn't sure. I rode my bike today and they have lots of spaces for bikes in the parking garage and that is really nice. Now that I was there again today I'm starting to feel a little bit safer about busing it at night. I could walk down Allen and catch a bus down Elmwood. Of course I will need some new boots and a warmer coat and I need one of those fog-horn thingys like I got (e:paul) for his birthday. That would be such a fun weapon. And I always have my keys for gouging people's eyes out with. Jeez, see what happens to you after getting jumped. You start becoming super paranoid and suspicious and always ready to either run or take somebody's eyeballs out. Fog horn in the ear? I can't really decide if that is a good weapon or just something that will cause me to get an even worse beat down.

jenks writes at 01:22:16 09/13/07 - Comment #24380: oh I know Lib. I'm just kidding. But I do always think the questions get a little silly... "have you ever had sex with a man, who had sex with another man, even once, in the last 12 years, or lived in africa, for more than a week, or has been to the caribbean for more than 12 weeks total, etc etc" haha.

libertad writes at 11:39:48 09/13/07 - Comment #24376: boxerboi works there too?! My hours aren't set yet and since I'm part-time I'm not so sure that I will have a lunch break or not. My first day is tuesday and I work 5-9. It's going to be fun!

jenks I wouldn't say 'i dont think so' cause they might not use your blood because of the way you answered. That would be a waste.

tinypliny writes at 09:39:08 09/12/07 - Comment #24355: LOL. I just noticed, you head and shoulders frame my dear country. :) What are your hours at work and when do you usually have lunch, and where?

boxerboi writes at 08:51:03 09/12/07 - Comment #24348: Congrats on the job. You can always have Roswell security drop you off. I see them trucking people all over the place to get to their cars.

jenks writes at 08:42:49 09/12/07 - Comment #24345: Shit, that reminds me, there was a blood drive at work today and I meant to go but I missed it. Oops.

But every time I donate, when they ask "have you ever slept with a man who has slept with another man?" I always laugh and say "I don't THINK so..." they never think it's as funny as I do.

But seriously... it's not like I've slept with a whole lot of guys. But at the same time, I haven't interrogated every single one about whether or not they've ever had one drunken gay experience in college or whatever...

I hope you don't have TB, too, Lib. And tetanus shots HURT! yow!

tinypliny writes at 08:42:38 09/12/07 - Comment #24344: I was nearly mugged today so I think its high time I armed myself. Where do you get mace spray, stun guns and these quite interesting sounding foghorns?

james writes at 06:28:46 09/12/07 - Comment #24338: My brother felt obligated to give blood but is scared of needles. So I convinced him to sleep with a man so he couldn't give blood. He was happy about it but his wife didn't care for my creativity.

hodown writes at 05:28:33 09/12/07 - Comment #24331

1 Fog horn thing. You can become immune to mace, but Im pretty sure your ear drums cant become immune to loud noises.

2 Im pretty sure your work has to participate in some sort of pretax dollar thing if you ask about it. The bus is not bad during rush hour times, or at least it wasnt back in the day when I took the 25 downtown.

drew writes at 05:28:18 09/12/07 - Comment #24330: No blood giving for (e:Janelle) or myself until next May. Having been to Vietnam makes us dangerous.

lauren writes at 05:25:10 09/12/07 - Comment #24329: Just a note...if you have slept with a man who has slept with a man, you are also not allowed to give blood (but I lie on the forms :)

Permalink: We_want_to_suck_your_blood_.html
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09/09/07 12:09 - 65ºF - ID#41014

Who has been vomiting in my bed?

So mysteriously there is some vomit in my bed. The thing is I just washed my sheets on Friday night. I found the vomit at the foot of my bed while I was making it this morning but only on the sheet. Maybe its not vomit, but it smells and looks like it. Then I thought maybe the wabbit jumped up on the bed and puked, but I don't think rabbits puke. So can someone please tell me how there is puke on my bed?

UPDATE 9/10/07

I still have not found the puke bandit. I have confirmed that rabbits do not vomit. Mike and I are pretty sure that we did not vomit on the bed. Maybe it is rabbit pee? Yet it seemed so much more like puke. Their pee is very weird though, so maybe the rabbit peed in my bed.

Permalink: Who_has_been_vomiting_in_my_bed_.html
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09/07/07 11:45 - 76ºF - ID#40996

And the point of that is...

I finally got my first youtube comment. It says "And the point of that is...."

The point is, that I don't have a point. I really just wanted to show how cute my wabbit is.

My youtube videos are so funny because they are all so random and whatever. Don't tell me that I have to have a point, cause I really don't think I need one.

See all of my pointless youtube videos here

Permalink: And_the_point_of_that_is_.html
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09/06/07 03:48 - 90ºF - ID#40970

I died and went to...

I feel like I died and went to a communist day care center. I got the job at Roswell!! Not even kidding, it feels like I'm leaving the world we live, to go live in some socialist utopia, previously unknown except in propaganda films. They have hired me PART-TIME, as a permanent employee, meaning that I get health insurance, dental, sick days, personal days, holiday days, as well as some kind of retirement plan option almost immediately. I love Roswell!

I need stuff to wear. I have been so poor for so many years, that I never buy new clothes. Something has always been more important. I haven't been in a professional environment in years and it is freaking me out. Do they have a dress code? I really need to buy an outfit or two, or three, or four.

Parking? Do I have to pay for parking?

Happy Birthday to my lady friend!

UPDATE

The communist day care center comes from one of my favorite films. Desperate Living by John Waters. Check out the opening clip.

tinypliny writes at 01:59:11 09/09/07 - Comment #24153: That is such a crazy movie clip! hahaha

jbeatty writes at 03:36:55 09/08/07 - Comment #24113: Congrats on the new job, and having health insurance! I finally just got it again after not having it for two years. Ski season is bound to be interesting this year!

metalpeter writes at 06:28:27 09/07/07 - Comment #24048: With out getting into any detail I know exactly what you mean (might not be exactly the same but pretty close). In terms of the video I don't think I saw it when I first replied to this post. That thing about the wrong number would be really cool to have on as an away message or on an answering machine.

libertad writes at 10:08:13 09/07/07 - Comment #24020: Thanks everyone! Yes, I used the Star Wars stamps, I had already mailed it out when I posted the pic.

Why don't I take the metro to be more environmental?

I probably will, but honestly, I am afraid for my safety. Now I know there are those of you out there that will think I'm being wussy or paranoid or that my fear is unfounded, but I have had lots of problems in the past. Maybe those people that would say I shouldn't be afraid haven't been attacked themselves, but I have multiple times and am nervous about my route at night. As far as the metro goes, I have a couple of options. Take the subway to Utica station and then take the Utica bus to Elmwood or take a Summer St or North St bus to Elmwood and then the Elmwood bus to my house. The whole process of course will require walking and waiting in areas that make me feel uncomfortable to be around alone at night. I really wish that I didn't feel this way, but once you have something happen to you, you can't really ever forget it. I would feel more comfortable taking a bike (provided I'm in the right clothes), but the season is about to change and I usually only ride in the summer.

The building I'm working in is the main hospital building. I'm so excited! I hope I could go to lunch at least once in a while with all the roswellian (e:peeps).

ladycroft writes at 05:13:37 09/07/07 - Comment #24011: Thank you lib!

I'm so happy you got the job :) Hurray for you! I'd make you a celebratory treat but...

Won't you be commuting by bike in the non-snow weather?

tinypliny writes at 03:55:26 09/07/07 - Comment #24006: OOOOh, can't wait to meet you in campus! :) Just curious, did you end up sending the starwars stamps?

What Jim says about the dress code is pretty accurate - you might need to dress up only when you are meeting the patients. Otherwise, the whole atmosphere is pretty casual everywhere.

Why not use the metro/buses to commute to work? You don't live that far away. It will avoid the whole parking mess *and leaves a smaller carbon footprint*. :)

lizabeth writes at 02:37:16 09/07/07 - Comment #24003: Woohoo! As they say on the WG boards, "Attawaytogo!"

lilho writes at 12:47:48 09/07/07 - Comment #24000: thats really awesome! an, everybody works at roswell, because its the only place to work in blo. or the only really great place to work in blo, or so it seems.

museumchick writes at 10:15:44 09/06/07 - Comment #23986: That's so awesome! Congratulations:).

leetee writes at 09:37:14 09/06/07 - Comment #23984: congrats!! i'm so happy for you!

james writes at 09:20:39 09/06/07 - Comment #23983: Well done sir.

And thank you for posting that clip. Last I saw that movie I was a decade younger and far from sober.

fellyconnelly writes at 08:45:08 09/06/07 - Comment #23980: congrats!

(why does everybody work at roswell??)

joshua writes at 07:48:26 09/06/07 - Comment #23972: Atta boy!!

metalpeter writes at 07:12:00 09/06/07 - Comment #23964: Congratulations, Not sure what else to say other then I'm glad you got it. Oh yeah so you are part time and get benifits that doesn't happen to many places so be happy you do get some.

jim writes at 06:46:37 09/06/07 - Comment #23956: Oh I was wrong about parking I guess. Maybe it's just our building and you need a permit or something.

jenks writes at 06:07:33 09/06/07 - Comment #23955: Congratulations!!!!!

(parking at roswell is a bit of a PITA, though... I think there's a big waiting list for the garage. And it's expensive. But there are metered spots (but watch out for tickets- just ask (e:imk2). And there's the trico lot, which is cheaper, but farther away so you have to take a shuttle. (or walk a few blocks.))

carolinian writes at 06:05:13 09/06/07 - Comment #23953: Well Done!

jim writes at 05:18:05 09/06/07 - Comment #23947: Which building are you in? I think parking is free on campus. Dress code for us on the web team is pretty low key - I don't actually know what it is but polo shirts or buttons downs and jeans seem the usual. If you're not dealing face to face with clients then you probably won't have to dress up too much.

mrmike writes at 04:56:05 09/06/07 - Comment #23945: Damn, gotta rename the place Roswell Peep. Salutations my brother, congrats on the new gig. Hope it is just the beginning!

lauren writes at 04:26:15 09/06/07 - Comment #23944: Congratulations!

jason writes at 04:04:04 09/06/07 - Comment #23941: Welcome to the ranks of the insured! Congratulations.

theecarey writes at 03:53:15 09/06/07 - Comment #23936: congrats!!! a new adventure awaits..

Permalink: I_died_and_went_to_.html
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08/31/07 04:47 - 77ºF - ID#40864

Thank You

Will this thank you for the interview letter complete with the Star Wars postage stamps hurt or improve my chances of getting hired?

mrdeadlier writes at 09:42:01 09/04/07 - Comment #23786: You would most assuredly be hired onto my team in no time. NO TIME.

fellyconnelly writes at 10:27:43 08/31/07 - Comment #23641: when i sent out resumes to all the cell phone places i saved the really great ones like darth vader for the places i REALLY wanted to work!

james writes at 05:31:52 08/31/07 - Comment #23611: Star Wars postage stamps can only be positive.

First, the thank you letter is a great idea.

Second, if they find your choice in postage stamp to be unprofessional then you interviewed with a douche bag and you do not want to work with them.

Win, win.

tinypliny writes at 05:19:21 08/31/07 - Comment #23608: Well - I would say it depends upon the rapport you developed with whomever you are sending this letter to. If you got on fabulously, cracked many jokes etc, and shared a huge interest in star wars, this might be a good insider's thank you note. However, I am a bit too cautious in judging people by the way they respond to me in my first meeting with them. In fact, I wait for a whole 5 meetings before I actually step out and make some conclusions - and even they are not set in stone.

I rely heavily on my intuition and my "vibe-detection" radar and it has been pretty successful till now in picking up even subtle mood-changing hints. Do you pick up hints? Why did you choose these stamps? And if you chose those stamps, why didn't you hand-type your letter? Why are you doubting your moves (don't say, because the job is important to you - that is obvious) - the unobvious thought is usually whether your perception of what your interviewer was like, was right or wrong and a lingering doubt about it. If you can resolve the answers to these questions, you will know whether to tone it down or spike it up a notch by hand-writing the letter.

Good Luck!! You are faced with such a hard decision and analysis tree. I am not envious.

jenks writes at 05:07:14 08/31/07 - Comment #23606: that's a lot of stamps! must be some thank you note!

I *doubt* it makes a difference, but sadly you never know. If it's super competitive, I'd stay conservative. But I obsess about that kind of stuff, especially if it's a really critical interview. Is it ok to handwrite? card or letter? signature in blue or black ink? Is a little humor a good idea, or pushing the envelope? Is a subtle pinstripe on my suit too "racy"? haha, I feel your pain. And I'm also talking about medical interviews- hopefully the rest of the word isn't quite so uptight and anal.

mrmike writes at 04:54:32 08/31/07 - Comment #23603: Can't hurt

Permalink: Thank_You.html
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08/31/07 08:51 - 56ºF - ID#40851

For your birthday-Bonus Round

We will enjoy a nice dinner.

We will go to Cirque Niagara's Avaia!

We will return here.

This is our room. View of the Canadian Horseshoe Falls!

We will watch the fireworks from the King Size bed at 10pm (I hope to make it back in time) Image borrowed from

We will play Hot Hot Penny all night long!

Permalink: For_your_birthday_Bonus_Round.html
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08/30/07 04:37 - 69ºF - ID#40837

New Roswell Employee?

Today I had a very successful interview at Roswell's Smoker's Quit Line. It was really great and besides being nervous to the point of wanting to vomit, sweaty palms and all (not such a great handshake), I was proud of the way I did. One of the women who interviewed me tested my Spanish, and I performed very well both times and it was all very natural. I think this job is going to be so good for my life in so many ways. I'm talking like I already have it, but the interview just went so well, we were laughing and it just seemed relaxed and I lost all my nervousness by the end of the interview.

You have no idea how crazy it is to get to this place. They had to send an escort with me both ways and I still don't know how to get there. Seriously, it is a maze and that definitely showed my worst weakness, sense of direction! The lobby is so great at Roswell's Main Hospital. They had some man playing the piano as well as some guy who made origami animals that were really good. His sign said "Free to take" and I wanted one so bad, but I really didn't think it was a good idea to take one. Aren't they for people who have cancer or are a family member or something? Plus I was going to an interview and how professional would it be for me to bring in an origami zebra? Instead I carried a cool planner with a lotus flower on the front and a purple tinted folder holding my "papers". The lobby was so great for my anxiousness levels. I'm sure it is helpful to the people who are suffering. Anyways I really love Roswell, and would be so proud to say I was an employee. I don't see what you could say bad about that place, but maybe I'll find out ;)

jenks writes at 02:03:42 08/31/07 - Comment #23560: Don't be sad, Lib! I'll make you an origami zebra! or, at least, or origami something... Maybe a shirt made out of a dollar bill (they're super cute.)

The chairs in the lobby are comfy too. And there's a coffee shop.

i'm only a part-time roswellian, but I'll be back in... november/december I think? I'm excited! the lunch crew will be like DOUBLE what it was last time I was there!!

paul writes at 10:01:45 08/31/07 - Comment #23521: Maybe we will be eating lunch togther soon.

ladycroft writes at 07:46:59 08/31/07 - Comment #23516: um, that should have read:

"i don't work for roswell"

i'm not telling you not to work for roswell, haha.

ladycroft writes at 07:45:29 08/31/07 - Comment #23515: don't work for roswell :)

but i know you've been wanting this for a while lib, so i'll chant for you through my stuffed up little nose.

james writes at 08:59:05 08/30/07 - Comment #23484: congrats. It sounds like a nice job.

I am fully expecting hating being a public school teacher so I am hoping to get a job at Roswell someday.

See you there.

mike writes at 08:14:44 08/30/07 - Comment #23481: ditto here, oh to be a non-roswell estripper, is a sad place to be!

leetee writes at 08:11:18 08/30/07 - Comment #23480: Wow... cool. Good luck (not that i think you will need it, since you have enough charm to get the job... but i want to wish it for you anyway)!!!

I do kinda feel like (e:Hodown) on this one -- a bit left out. Hands up those very few (e:strip)pers that don't work for Roswell!

carolinian writes at 07:19:06 08/30/07 - Comment #23479: Two things:

1. Knock'em dead.

2. I knew roswell had lots of perks, but I never imagined they had their own escort service. ;)

tinypliny writes at 06:44:26 08/30/07 - Comment #23477: That is SO cool! Good Luck!!!!! I hope you get the job!!! And then we can meet at the cafeteria with the dinosauric carbon footprint and the greasy pizzas which reflect your face. :)

I love the piano music in the lobby too. It's a brilliant idea.

Which animals did you particularly like in the lobby?

museumchick writes at 05:36:53 08/30/07 - Comment #23466: That's wonderful about the job interivew. I think that's so cool that you could get to help people that way.