Anything you are excited about?
I have an interview coming up in a few weeks that could very well be everything I was hoping for to start my career in the financial industry. It would put me in my ideal city (potentially) doing work that would support a cause that I believe in. It would take stress off of my spouse and it would make me feel like I was finally contributing to something, instead of sitting on the sidelines.
Other than that, there isn’t really anything I can think of that I’m excited about.
Until tomorrow…
Year: 2017
27
I didn’t have anything set aside today, so I’m going to steal my wife’s prompt.
Anything you are excited about?
Immediately, my Tysabri infusion Wednesday. I’m fatigued this week. It’s been crazy. But two more infusions for the year. My company hasn’t gotten out its health insurance information for next year, and I’m getting a little antsy about that.
I’m also excited about the Open Diary relaunch.
I suppose, though, things have so haphazard since May that my head is spinning. I am doing positive work at work, again. Unfortunately, I’m being told to do things that are incorrect. But, hey, this is how we’ve always done it, so there’s no way it can be wrong, right?
Lots and lots going on, but I really just want to curl up somewhere with my wife and enjoy the holiday.
Two prompts the next two days with recycling from the last sorta-okay year.
11.26.17
Do you ever feel conflicted when someone you admire comes under controversy?
Yes, I do. I don’t think that I couldn’t sit and wonder about whether or not it makes me a bad person to listen to Michael Jackson’s music or still enjoy shows with Kevin Spacey in them. They both made mistakes in their lives, but I feel as though I am supporting the art and not necessarily the person behind it. Yes, it is their art, but much more went into it than the deeds they are accused of.
I do still struggle with it though, from time to time. Everyone makes mistakes, but some are just greater than others. But supposedly, time heals all wounds.
Until tomorrow…
11.25.17
Do you prefer to be an educated, opinionated person, to just be an opinionated person?
Yes, I prefer to be an educated, opinionated person. I feel when you are better educated in your argument, you can make a better argument and it is easier for people to understand your point of view, as long as they are willing to learn it.
If there is a person who is dead set in there ways, no amount of facts or logic will help them to see a different way of looking at things. These are the people who “know” things and it drives me absolutely crazy.
They hear from such and such, who is the most credible person ever, and that is the way things are. They don’t need to research because they know that the person knows what they’re talking about and that’s all that matters.
Until tomorrow…
26
Going through some of these is mildly amusing.
Glad to see the picture is still working, here.
NoJoMo Day 26 – 11/26/2012
Rather dull day tying up loose ends at work. Will give it a good 4/5. Much of the work I do might seem like it amounts to mental masturbation, but it’s ultimately important. Why? Because it’s far too easy to spend copious amounts of money just to accommodate someone’s whims.
Essentially, I have to figure out what someone needs to do to finish his job, and ensure he gets tools to accomplish those tasks. What the final product is might not be what he/she imagined, but it’s what he/she needs — for the lowest cost possible.
This is a common graphic used for what I do:
But it’s not completely right, because sales and marketing get the customer to request the thing in the first frame. Isn’t it pretty?
Complicating matters is that many of the “engineers” i deal with are a bit like this guy (pops).
Onto the prompts….
1. Post your favorite recipe.
Five parts dry gin
One part dry vermouth
Ice
Three pitted, stuffed olives.
Pour vermouth over ice in a shaker. Swirl to coat. Add gin. Stir. Strain into cocktail glass, or serve in rocks glass with ice included. Skewer olives. Add to cocktail. Drink. Relax.
2. List 3 things that went right today.
1. Woke up on time.
2. Did some actual work.
3. FRescheduled conflicting doctor’s appointment for next week to a better time.
Post your favorite recipe.
Five years ago I posted a recipe for a gin martini. While I still really appreciate that, finances have really curtailed my imbibement. The maybe one time in the week that I have a cocktail, i’ts normally a Manhattan. One part sweet vermouth, two parts whiskey. A less-than-stellar review. A couple of dashes of bitters, a cherry. Stir with ice, strain, and drink.
Sarah makes a lot of good stuff, but, during the week, I’m eating pretty much whatever my mother wants.
As it gets colder, I’m going to miss some of her cold-weather cooking.
I don’t have many of those to link, unfortunately. I’d probably screw them up if I attempted. My skills have deteriorated.
25
So, I did get some of the recycling done. Let’s look again at what I did in 2012. Somewhat appropriate considering my music choice as I’m reviewing. If you care.
NoJoMo Day 9 – 11/9/2012
Both. Again.
1. What is the most ironic thing that has ever happened to you?
Well, I’ve gotten a free ride on the streetcar when I had a pass that was good for that day. But it didn’t rain on my wedding day.
2. Who is or has been the most influential person in your life and why?
You know, I honestly don’t have an answer to that question at this point. My parents, my dad especially, shaped lots of things in my life. But I appreciate that I’ve been allowed to find my own way on many things….
Maybe I can write about certain individuals who helped me gather a few important things?
My high school football coaches, and my Army JROTC instructors helped me with punctuality. Being late as a broadcaster is a Bad Thing (TM). In all my years in radio, I think I was unexpectedly late for work maybe three times. Since then, I’m worse. I’ve been late for work a few times since I left radio.
Only once did I really feel like it was something for which there was no good excuse. I forgot to set my alarm, and just overslept.
Of course, there’s other things where I was influenced by things I’ve read. Not many of those are were case studies in how not to be “That Guy.” I am not “That Guy.”
At work, I don’t suffer fools with much grace these days. There is a problem with that, however: much of what I consider foolishness is also considered “tradition.” So, you’ve done this task this one way for fifteen years.
Give me a minute. I might find the fuck I’m not giving. Just because you’ve always done something one way doesn’t mean it’s eternally the right way
At the same time, I’m open to hearing a compelling argument. Even if I’m initially skeptical about something, you might be able to convince me.
Now I’m doing a really lousy job answering the prompts. Somehow, this feels familiar. Doing things strictly by the prompts normally doesn’t work out completely right <u>for me</u>.
If you’re not okay with me trying to find the best way to do something, don’t ask for my help….
But that’s about all I have for today. I’m spent. More tomorrow.
What is the most ironic thing that has ever happened to you?
My response before was pretty flippant. I still don’t know if there’s anything terribly ironic that’s happened to me. Maybe my medical condition will lead to financial success someday. Who knows?
Who is or has been the most influential person in your life and why?
My wife. She’s stuck with me through all of the travails over the past few years. I do do some things differently because of her. I think of her take with pretty much any decision I make. (I say that because, well, she’s really not a consideration when I go to fill my coffee cup at work….)
My dad would be in there, and I don’t know why I didn’t write about the things I do where what he taught me influenced what I do now. Those others that I mentioned are still very important, but it’s very difficult nowadays. I don’t have the freedom that I used to on account of whatever my body is deciding to do at any point.
I apologize that I still don’t have good responses on a lot of these. I really have more pressing things on my mind today.
On the bright side, though, my project is coming along. Unveiling next week sometime.
11.24.17
Do you take things too personally?
I do more than I wish I did. There have been certain times in my life when I thought that people were only doing something in order to attack me. I feel less like that nowadays, but there are still times when I wonder if someone is just trying to hurt me, even if it is through a very small, insignificant gesture.
I think we all have times in our lives when we are going through a course of bad luck and therefore, anything that happens to us during that time has to be the work of someone who is purposely trying to get us.
During my time in college, I was unable to get an internship with one of the major accounting firms in the area. Some people close to me started to speculate that someone who I considered a friend was going into these firms and telling them about what a terrible person I was. To me, there are two things that seem very wrong with that theory:
- Have you considered how that would make the person look to the company? Who would really want someone to work for them that comes in with a bad attitude like that and who in an interview immediately starts talking crap about someone? No one, because nobody wants a problem employee.
- How awful of a person must you think I am that people would be so quick and willing to start spreading lies about me?
I think the truth about the internship situation is that I don’t interview well and I learned too late that even low-skilled jobs still count for experience in the professional world because it gives the firms a point of reference as to what they can expect from you.
There is only one firm where I believe I was not given an opportunity because of a vendetta, but that wasn’t from someone in my circle of friends. It was an employee who felt slighted by me for something I was involved in.
I honestly think that nothing opened up for me here because the universe knows that while I love where I live (the city at least, not a particular fan of our building), I really want to be somewhere else. As of now, it looks like things might be moving in the right direction for that to happen in the coming year.
Until tomorrow…
24
As promised, Thanksgiving recap…
Yesterday morning was spent trying to get this repairman up to my mom’s house.
((long backstory deleted))
They finally got things into working order yesterday morning.
I cooked a turkey. It went well, though I had to finish it in the oven so it’d be up to the correct temperature.
My wife’s dessert was the real winner.
We got home just before 2100, and tried to watch some of the Giants-Redskins game. At halftime, we gave up and went to bed.
Naturally, that early bedtime found me awake way too early this morning. *yawn*
After glancing away to look, the Redskins did win. Doesn’t look like we really missed too much, though. With the Redskins playing on Thursday, we’ll probably get the Saints’ game on TV Sunday. I’m okay with that.
So, back to familytime…. My wife and SIL were having a good time talking about girl stuff, while I was worried about cooking. Talks about various things; my brother and I agree that there was one video that was the peak of MTV’s video library. You might say that it as Epic.
I’m very close to finally getting this virtualization host working the way I want it. Maybe once I”m finished with that, I’ll get to doing the prompts for the rest of the month. My head is kinda spinning right now.
Not sure if I mentioned, but with the old diary site coming back, I did look more to see if my “lifetime” subscription is going to be honored. Amazingly, yes it will be.
11.23.17
Do you find it more pleasant to spend the holidays with a few select people or do you prefer large gatherings?
I think I prefer a little of both. I don’t mind being around people, but I hate putting on clothes and going somewhere. I would be perfectly okay with just staying in my pajamas all day and cooking a two person feast. If I am cooking myself it means I can experiment with new recipes that I know other people may not be open to. My husband is generally open to trying new recipes, unless they are really out there. Although he has developed a taste for tofu and soy chorizo, so maybe I could get him to try a cauliflower turkey? Not really interested in that myself, but I like the occasional challenge in the kitchen.
Really tired today because I decided to take a nap at 9:30 last night and then wake up and bake a dessert to take with us. Ended up staying up until 5am so that it could properly cool. Then to get up at 9:15 this morning and yeah it is more than a little draining.
Currently getting snubbed by my MIL’s pekingese and hoping that my fantasy football team can come up with something today. We shall see.
Also, waiting until 6pm for the ULTA Black Friday sale, because I need to add to my collection of a couple hundred lipsticks.
Until tomorrow…
23
One more week, and I guess that’s something for which I can be thankful.
Up early, despite being awake late, because I’m dealing with this guy I’d hired to do some repairs at my mom’s house before her guests arrive.
He made one of the repairs after I gave him cash to go buy parts he needed. Another repair he was supposed to finish this morning, but he was supposed to be at her house an hour ago. I spoke to him before seven. He was supposed to call when he got there, but I haven’t heard from him.
More than a little steamed.
And after a glance away to call him, no answer. Really?
Apologies for the distraction, but this is what’s on my mind right now, along with trying to cook a bird this afternoon, amidst watching the Lions’ game.
Minnesota at Detroit
Both of these teams are actually rather entertaining this year. I’m expecting a low-scoring game until the end.
Los Angeles at Dallas
Not sure what, really, to make of the Chargers. Dallas, of course, is all about injuries and suspensions.
I think with what’s been happening with some of the Cowboys’ issues, you do really start to see how some of the now-deceased owners kept things together. Jerry Jones isn’t my favorite person, certainly, but what he did to a rather moribund franchise after buying it is rather incredible.
The Rooneys and the Maras, along with their redheaded spokeschimp, have really changed it into something that’s a bad product in places.
I can think of few things worse than watching a Colts-Niners game. Even Hugh Culvehouse and Bill Bidwell couldn’t have come up with worse products.
New Jersey(A) at Washington
Nudge to Gregg Easterbrook on the snark about the Giants. With fans like Carl, there is a bit of a soft spot. What they’ve done the past few years, since they fired Tom Coughlin, is pretty rotten football. At least the defense is somewhat interesting with Steve Spagnuolo’s return.
So, in-and-out on the Lions’ game, may catch most of the Cowboys’ game, and a night game that will be completely meaningless if the Giants beat the Redskins.
But at least there’s an AFC team playing.
Tomorrow, I’ll wrap up what happened while I’m munching on leftovers, maybe I’ll find some writing leftovers to help carry this through the final week.
Right now, I’m listening to a Reason podcast on net neutrality. I do have to recommend yesterday’s Fifth Column dispatch.