a geek gets his wings....

In spring 2005, I was slaving away at the Adelphia call center. Didn't have to talk to anybody so I had my IPOD keeping me company. One night from hell, I was putting it in my jacket pocket and the lil devil slipped to the floor, killing it. Drove out to the mac store and they replaced it. On the way home, I got the call for my marketing gig that was laced with many free dinners from cable channels (that will have to be the subject of another journal sometime). I already wrote about my current ipod swirling down the digital drainpipe. I got the zoo call the next day. It's a nice pattern, hope it sticks this time.

Let the cat out of the bag yesterday at TW. My boss was on the road and nearly drove her SUV up a telephone in Mayville. She and my other sup were very cool about the whole thing. Get your cable questions in, because after 10/15, no more peep credit. Internet gets slow, all I can do is give you a train ride ticket. I called her around 11:30 and by 3:00, my current job was posted internally. You want free cable, it was posted for anybody on the TW site this morning. With the bosses two counties away, it was interesting to see just how fast I became gossip fodder. If the company was that efficient on all matters, we might have more satisfied customers.
But alas...

Elsewhere, I was reading about the marketing geniuses on the thruway authority who want to take away discounts for paypass and raise rates, because people aren't using the thruway system as much. Apparently, it's never dawned on them that they might want to discount or try to entice people to use the system with paypass so they can save by using the system. Or perhaps trying cutting costs as well. Stupidheads!!!

Thanks for all the post interview good vibes, peeps, you guys indeed rock. Oh, and (e:enknot) , a bit of veteran father advice to a newbie. If you hear something in the middle of the night, get your butt up. That said, congrats to you and Meg. Well done, good sir

Wegman's had pumpkins out. Who the hell is carving a pumpkin now except these folks

Check it out, peaches!!!!!

Take your cable problems and give em to somebody else. Animal issues, I'm all over.

Hope it isn't an omen, but on the way to work, I made a stop and got back in the car and my Ipod greeted me with the sad mac face. I got applecare on it, but that can color the rest of the journey. I'm not a big John Mayer fan but he was writing (ghostwriting) a column for Esquire about how Ipods are truly sentient beings.

I thought there was some truth to that as on Monday, the ipod filled the car with some gloomy stuff and how yesterday it was cranking anthems on the way to Zoo interview number 2. Today, a little Wilco on the way to Weggies. As soon as I got out, it swirled the digital drain pipe. Guess I get to go see the "Geniuses" tomorrow before work.

Terrible to have to rely on those Silvery circle like thingys for musical entertainment.

Zoo went pretty well yesterday. Talked for an hour and half. Just have to wait for the interviewers to compare notes to see on who they prefer. I looked sharp and unlike my estrip party appearances was good and quickwitted. So, we'll see. Interesting that TW had a interview for me this morning and I'm apparently not good enough to help run a call center. Not that I was terribly interested in that anyway. With Chang's burning down, another good Chinese takeout place went down in this plaza and we are chock full of people who buy stuff, without any insight into what they are buying. Wish I could go into a place and ask "got any deals?" The only thing more amazing than the uninformed purchasing is the amount of people who pound on the door after hours wanting to get issues addressed. That makes me wonder if these same chuckleheads pound on the mall door after 9 when Auntie Anne's has stopped cranking out pretzels.

In other news, I'm playing bus stop dad again for my younger two kids. A friend of mine brings her two kids down the same bus stop and I think she is getting taken advantage of by her neighbors. The school the kids all go to is over on Minnesota and the kids start at age 3. Two of this woman's neighbors send their three year olds down with her instead of stepping up and acting as adults. It's an adjustment for all parties involved, but because of the disruption of the other kids, she's wondering about how well her own child is coping with the new school experience. I tried to tell her that it looks like her daughter is adjusting okay, but that is tough for her to see since somebody else's problem kid is dumped on her door. I'm not sure what to do about that, but I think that if you are getting a kid through the educational system, it's on you, not a well-meaning neighbor to see to the kid's introduction to school. I hurt myself professionally for a few years on my guys behalf and would make that choice again in a heartbeat. I know what career goals can mean, but shit you got a kid to think about in all respects ya'know?

I'm looking forward to seeing if my Buffalo Bills Moonlighting translates into admission to the outdoor hockey game. Good Football seats won't necessarily translate into decent hockey viewing, but the event itself seems like a fun spectacle to be a part of, especially with no risk of football being played after the Bills regular season ends.

Got a ticket for Neil Young in Toronto so I guess that makes me happy.

I don't wax on politics too much, because it is almost too troublesome these days. The will of the people demanded change in Congress and we got folks too spineless to change anything. Nobody has much nerve. I've been paying a little attention to the county executive race to see what is going to happen in our post-Giambra world. The two leading democrats are behaving like a couple of 2nd graders (and I do apologize to any second graders cuz you deserve better). Paul Clark and Jim Keane are sniping at each other at such a clip it is truly impossible to know what either one stands for. This is particularly disappointing in the case of Keane. I worked on his 1986 congressional campaign when he nearly beat Jack Kemp and he talked in specifics. This election is sadly another story. When the voice of reason, the sense of accomplishment, the moral compass comes from Jimmy Griffin, you know something is fucked up about the process. I'd like Keane and Clark to actually say what they would do in office instead of trying to out-"Swift boat" each other.

David Rivera is running for something (I'm not sure what), but his campaign thought it was a good idea to stuff my mailbox with 9 different postcards in a two day period. You would have thought there would have been some substance to the mailings and you would have been disappointed. Apparently, the printers and direct mailers will profit from the campaign. The rest of us just have to wait to see who bubbles to the top of the infighting.

It's a process that has become very bloated. You really have to dig to find of stands on things, especially in primaries where candidates are saying whatever to get past the primary hurdle. I guess hoping for a "Joel broke this, but this is how I'm going to fix it" is too much to ask for.

Hope springs eternal I guess. Despite the direct mail excess, I'm going to vote anyway. Do likewise folks.

Happy day, ya lil devil

Why do many drivers feel the need to get just enough of a head start on the left turns, ostensibly blocking traffic? The two to three seconds they save is absorbed in the inevitable bird exchange.

You ever get a dirty look from somebody making a left turn because your car had the nerve to be in the space they wanted to occupy during their turn?

Can the Bills be as bad as they looked today? Hell, yes, but it was nice to watch some football at the rents house while doing laundry, and having a healthy plate of Mom's pasta. Clean undies and somebody else's homecooking sort of gives the upcoming week a clean slate.

Watching the Emmys while I type this and Lewis Black may be the best part of the whole thing.

Gonna be an interesting week. Darling middle child who can simulataneously intrigues and scares me loses the braces tomorrow. I, being the smarty pants that I am, am going to present her with a tub of carmel corn to make up for lost time. Got the zoo, part 3 on Wednesday(which cannot get here fast enough thanks) and an email from TW reveals another department is interested in me. Trying not to get overpumped for the Wednesday appointment but part of my fevered lil brain wants to place greater significance on the fact that my meeting is being conducted by the person overseeing Business Administration and HR. We all know that the world is run by HR, ya know. Thanks for the positive wishes so far. Updates as events warrant.

The family that sneezes together stays together I guess. Number one son, his Mom and I were seated at the UU church today with a friend. The friend's perfume was a little "old lady" dated. My eyes watered a little. My ex sneezed so on reflex, I handed her my kleenex stash and on cue, Number one son started sniffing. More comical in the experience than in the retelling, but I take my mirth where I can find it.

In watching the Bills game today, the Steelers were wearing their old throwback jerseys from the 40s to commemorate an anniversary. I thought my dad's tv was off for a second when the Steelers came out in these burgandy brownish jerseys with the mustard yellow logos. I thought the Bills were playing the Vancouver Canucks with such craptastic colors. You really got to be a fan to go for some of those offerings. Guess it isn't me as a casual fan, who's three fantasy teams are already stumblin.

Another work week is almost here, peeps, watch out

Zoo just called. I've made it to the next round. Might have to bust out the Paisley Mickey Mouse tie.

Gonna go home and listen to "Animals" by Pink Floyd and maybe watch the real Dr. Doolittle.

Cars can truly fuck with you. I'd been tending to mine to keep up with its various ailments, but it fooled me. I was driving home last night on the 290 and noticed a smell. No big deal really because the neighborhood by the big blue water tour does have a bit of a fume about it. As I made the turn onto the 33, I noticed my radiator gauge. It was redlining like an over modulated stereo. In a word, Fuck! I pulled over on the 33 (good times, there) and waited for a bit. Radiator didn't blow, but I think it was getting ready to. After about 20 minutes of sheer nerve wracking bliss, I got some coolant out of my trunk and refilled the radiator. Thanksfully it didn't pee all over the road, so I think the radiator might be salvagable.

Anyway, I get back into the car and turn the key. Nothing, nothing turns over, nothing happens (except for the sinking of my morale). With a feeling of dread, it's starting to get dark so I take the plunge and call Triple A and my Dad. Triple A actually asks if I'll be with the car. No place else to go. Customer service at Triple A wants to know if there is a milage marker. There is one right outside the window, with absolutely nothing on it. I tell her the only thing useable is the Harlem Rd exit sign is a few hundred feet away. Tow shows up and wouldn't you know it, the car starts right up. I forgot that it has a few sensors to totally keep it from imploding. Runs like a champ, but considering it nearly fried itself, I don't trust it. He tows it out to the garage in Clarence where Dad is waiting.

The folks are using their cache with the garage guy for mercy since my guy on Hertel (Hertelstrip.org?) doesn't have any overnight space. A beer and a couple of burgers at the folks house and I'm in their camry on my way back to the city, arriving at my door 3 hours later than usual.

Argh!

As much as it sucks, I can only imagine how much worse it would have been if the car decided to have this fit while I was driving back from work at the Bills game. Given the traffic, the tow truck could have seen me, but never would have connected with me. A pain in the shorts to be sure. Kills any new computer aspirations that I may have had.

Cars can suck.