"Ever whistle during a drug test??" written by Mrmike on estrip.org

07/26/06 07:18 - 83ºF - ID#29566

Ever whistle during a drug test??

"it's getting better all the time. (Can't get much worse)." I may just be shaking the (e:strip) funk

The winds might be shifting, gentle readers. I finally got my official job offer from the new cable guys today. It is a tremendous monkey off my back, knowing all the health care issues and whatnot won't get interrupted. It triggers the screening process so I had to pee in the official new company cups, but I was so relieved to get that offer with I almost didn't to drive to the lab.

Our current GM stopped me briefly to say "we've got big plans for you" which is intriguing because she doesn't say something unless something is truly up so my mental gears were rolling before she finished walking away. My current boss said that the GM wants me to be the marketing coordinator (my current title) for the GM's about to be formed department. It gave me a lot to mull as my work friends and I parked ourselves at a back picnic table to watch the Adelphia trucks get repainted with the new logos.

I'm getting a bit of a bonus in August for our work the first half of this year so I'm bucks up for my vacation week. Can't really go anyplace during the time, but it will be nice to have some temporary breathing space.

I relayed all this to the ex-wife who was supportive, and she also pointed to a mutual friend of ours who apparently asked her about me. It's been a day of interesting surprises.

I thought I was headed for the dumper when I had to help the H.R. department pack employee welcome kits -- cable tchotchkeys -- but as the day transpired there seems to be a little more light shining.

Robert Randolph is at the square tomorrow night. Might be time for me to celebrate a slowing shifting of events by stepping out.

Anybody up for it?

Permalink: Ever_whistle_during_a_drug_test_.html
Words: 329
Location: Buffalo, NY

07/24/06 10:21 - 78ºF - ID#29565

Gonna fly now...

Been checking where I can use a Free Jet Blue ticket to. I'm juggling through a number of factors. The one criteria is I'm looking for something new. Done New York and Chicago so I'm trying to broaden my horizons.

I'm thinking of a lazy weekend in either
Miami or
San Diego.

Or a more wanderlust kind of thing
Vegas
Boston
San Francisco

Fun to think about.
Pros and/or Cons??

mrdt writes at 01:38:10 07/27/06 - Comment #10318: It's friggin' hot in Miami & San Diego - beach it or sweat it out in misery. I recommend heading north like Maine or some place in Canada like Prince Edward Island or British Colombia (maybe even Montreal).

metalpeter writes at 07:24:37 07/26/06 - Comment #10301: I have been to Oakland and San Fran and Miami. From what I remember San Fran was verry nice and don't remember much about oakland other then going to an A's game. I wasn't in Miami verry long I was in the art deco part and didn't have much time to do a lot.

I guess where you want to go should be based on what you want to do. I have heard there are all kids of shows, gambeling, brothels and lots of entertainment in Vegas. But if a going to the beach is your thing Miami might be better, but I'm sure it has to be verry hot. From what I understand they have a great party scene. San Fran from what I remember is about buffalos tempature and has a lot of things to do. I have heard San Diago is gorgeous. Never been to Boston.

The one thing I would suggest doing is trying to do some online reserach. I don't know how good each cities websites are. It would be good to look up what is going on in each place for the dates you are going. maybe there is some type of festival or concert or maybe even a sporting event or something you would enjoy going to during that time and that would make the city a better choice. I'm sure whereever you pick you will have fun.

leetee writes at 10:59:35 07/24/06 - Comment #10232: My vote is for San Francisco, but it's a place i have always wanted to visit, so i am sooo biased.

twisted writes at 10:48:07 07/24/06 - Comment #10230: I have to second that opinion, but of course I'm prejudiced. ;-) Technically, Jet Blue flies into Oakland, but I'd be happy to pick you up at either airport and show you around. One caveat: my Dad and step-mom will be visiting August 30-Sept 6, so I'm kind of booked those days.

uncutsaniflush writes at 10:28:04 07/24/06 - Comment #10229: go to SF, my mom, god rest her soul, thought that SF was the most interesting city in North America. And there are (e:peeps) there.

Permalink: Gonna_fly_now_.html
Words: 71
Location: Buffalo, NY

07/24/06 02:11 - 68ºF - ID#29564

Riding the Paperwork Wave

There used to be a commercial from IBM that showed some poor slob riding a tidal wave of paper. I'm starting to relate.

I signed a letter to keep me on the payroll back in June and the upshot was that you get a kit to register for everything under the new employers. Here we are, eight days before the new employers take the keys and I'm still empty handed. I bitched to the boss who I'm reluctantly leaving. I bitched to my new supervisor and her boss. It's getting to be very cyclical. Since nothing showed in the weekend mail other than the usual collection of final notices, magazines, etc, I went to H.R. to bemoan what's going on (little tip for you just out of school folks, H.R. runs or ruins the world), so an all points bulletin is out for my file of stuff.

We have to get new I.D. Badges taken and it turned into a clusterfuck in impressive timing. Old boss says see new boss. New boss so far says nothing.

Did I mention that nobody's said what I'm doing come next Monday?

I can't even decipher what is going on via 401K stuff. The treehouse I built for my kids came with less complicated instructions.

Do I look tired? I sure feel it. Good thing vaca is only a few more weeks away. That will just be a time for my son and I to hang out. I'm more looking forward to what may happen in September. My dad is offering me a open Jet Blue ticket and I'm looking for something new. I've done the NY schtick enough and I think I want to explore someplace new for a few days.

Any ideas? Anybody want to come along?

Permalink: Riding_the_Paperwork_Wave.html
Words: 298
Location: Buffalo, NY

07/22/06 10:54 - 69ºF - ID#29563

Weekend is off to a promising start

Grabbed my youngins' last night and did the parental thing. Dropped the eldest off at a play at McKinley and took the other two for a quick bite at Subway. We scooted back to the apartment so my daughter could use the pc to rip a couple of cds to her mp3 player. By that time, the eldest was ready. So we collected her and began a scheme.

I thought it was time to start educating my children and cost cutting at the movies. My middle child pointed out that if we bring our own beverage, that's more money for popcorn.

At the market arcade, where popcorn rocks and crowds are thin, you have to appreciate that logic. So, a quick trip to Willie Farms for juice and proper arrangement of said juice in the purse of my eldest. We hit the theater for "Monster House." It was actually pretty good and added to the fun. Kids had a good time hanging for a "late" show and we all had a case of the giggles walking back to the car at 10:30 at night.

"Omigawd, we're having fun with Dad!?!"

who'd a thunk it. Such things are possible.

Permalink: Weekend_is_off_to_a_promising_start.html
Words: 197
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: tv

07/21/06 09:09 - 73ºF - ID#29562

Free On Demand

Here's the new cable toys coming to your cable box for free in August

A&E
Adult Swim
Anime
AOL Music
BBC America
Cartoon Network
CNN
Comedy Central
Court TV
Driver TV
Exercise TV
G4
Great American Country
Golf
Movie Trailers On Demand
National Geographic
NBC Universal Free Movies
PBS Sprout
Speed Channel
Sportskool
Sundance Free Movies
TBS
TNT
Turner Classic Free Movies

I'm actually looking for to the AOL Music. You get the good tunes without all the requisite AOL propaganda.

Permalink: Free_On_Demand.html
Words: 83
Location: Buffalo, NY

07/19/06 04:03 - 84ºF - ID#29561

The thruway nearly killed me.

I've been logging a lot of travel time on our roadways this week so far for work. Yesterday was a couple of laps to Niagara Falls Offices for stuff. It was largely uneventful, but I'm know a fan of Boston Coolers thanks to a ice cream stand far up the boulevard.

Today was a few laps to Lancaster. Returning to my own office on the first trip, I was sailing along the 90 and a truck was merging without giving a fuck as to what was already on the road. He was going to do HIS speed and screw whatever got in his way. Unfortunately, that was me as I got forced into a thankfully empty lane. Appropriate angry old man fist shakes later, I kept going. He had the nerve to be gesturing at me like I was supposed to do something on his behalf. Well, I did help him out, by not laughing directly at him as the NY trooper following us pulled his ass over.

Score one for me

Permalink: The_thruway_nearly_killed_me_.html
Words: 171
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: the world

07/17/06 12:01 - 77ºF - ID#29560

That middle east situation.....

Permalink: That_middle_east_situation_.html
Words: 2
Location: Buffalo, NY

07/16/06 08:49 - 79ºF - ID#29559

"I'm really miserable, San Diego!"

Milk was a bad choice....

Nah, not another self-pitying post. I come to you, dear reader, in praise of pool side pizza and beverage on a Friday night. The look on the lifegard's face was worth it. After depositing my eldest at a get together, the other two and I headed for the Holiday inn pool on Delaware to attempt to cool off. While still on the 290, I had my industrious 12 year old get on the phone and order up a chicken sausauge pizza from Just Pizza and have it delivered to the pool. If you've never been there, there are a bunch of tables outside the pool. We commandeered one. I unpacked my stuff included coop pop just as the delivery guy appeared at the gate.

Much to both my own amusement and those of other pool folks, I paid the delivery dude and took our dinner to the table where the three of us chowed down. Lifeguard strolls over, with "You really shouldn't have it delivered here. You can bring it, but you can't have it delivered."

I being me would have usually said something like "worked pretty good this time," but this time settled for a promise to not to do it again and an offer of a slice.

A kind word and a slice will indeed get you far. Was so pleased with my self, I cleared as the kids were first ones in the pool. I was a rotten egg but for once it was okay.

All praises to (e:Springfaerie)'s post -- I took that to heart and am ready for another round of cable foolishness on Monday.

"Bring it on, beeches!"

Permalink: _quot_I_m_really_miserable_San_Diego_quot_.html
Words: 278
Location: Buffalo, NY

07/14/06 09:37 - 82ºF - ID#29558

I'm sorry

I apologize, estrippers. My past few posts have been of the whining variety about the state of work, when it is just a damn job. It's been a tough week and the places I can count on for sympathetic ears have been seemingly few and far between. I'll bring the shopping list of all the new free on demand channels monday -- that actually is cool.

I appreciate the strip wide indulgence.

metalpeter writes at 07:12:51 07/17/06 - Comment #10013: I think it is good that you I forgot the exact word you said so I'll say grumble on (e:strip). The reason being is that if we read the post and don't feal like hearing or would that be reading it then we can skip onto another post, but people at work don't really have that option. It is healther to both you and the people that you work with that you get rid of your frustrations here. I know from personal work experance that sometimes if you complain about stuff at work it can become a cycle ( and even though a lot of the time they are verry legit and good points) then people start to look at you as a complainer. I know there is someone at work who I thought was preaty cool and that I liked but it seemed to me that instead of adressing her issues with her boss that she was complaining to us. It wasn't that she wanted sympthy (us guys often get that wrong) she just wanted someone to listen to her or hear that. I'm not saying that there is anything wrong with complaining. People get the shit end of the stick all the time and if you are that person then it really sucks. My genreal point was that e;strip is a great place to vent and that it is a better place to vent then at work. However things that are important at work should still be brought up at work, in a professional way. I wish you the best of luck with all the changes and all the crazzyness that I'm sure will insue.

theecarey writes at 11:45:48 07/14/06 - Comment #9942: bah, this work situation seriously sucks. You have an outlet here for venting, whining (I still dont think its whining) and freaking out as needed. This is your place to do it, so I am with (e:leetee) --you've got nothing to apologize for!!

And you'll figure it out. End one chapter and start another; opportunities arise from all sorts of situations.

semper gumbi, friend.

leetee writes at 10:45:57 07/14/06 - Comment #9939: Dude, you got nothing to apologize for, if you ask me (not that you were, but when have i ever been one to shut up?). It is, after all, your journal. We don't complain about the millions of pictues of (e:Paul) 's lunch, now do we? *grin*

Permalink: I_m_sorry.html
Words: 72
Location: Buffalo, NY

07/14/06 03:52 - 87ºF - ID#29557

This just flat out blows.....

Organizational meeting today in front of about 20 people. We each had to introduce ourselves to the new vp. After the round table completed, he made some introductory remarks. He gestured to his new monkey boy, "This is xxxxxxxxxxx, he'll be taking Michael's (me) position."

The meeting went on for another 45 minutes. I didn't hear any of it. I knew it was coming but to hear it stated that way made me feel like shit. I can imagine monkey boy was a little uncomfortable too, but I could have cared less. Shit like that makes you wonder about attention spans. Half the people in the meeting were sales reps. 3 of which HAD to stop me after the meeting search for more beef on me (there is none).

It would have been against all laws of corporate behavior, manhood in general, and what not to go to my desk, put my head down and cry a little, but an two hours later I don't have much energy for much else.

Check my title, this both sucks and blows.