Archive for September, 2006
Well. The van may have been figured out, though I doubt it. I went to one place to get my oil changed and they found that there was some oil leaked out so they refused to work with it. But, I had them also look at the coolant levels and locations and they said they were all fine.
Brought it to JiffyLube and they changed it, no questions asked, and also gave me all new coolant, saying the old stuff I had in there was kind of messed up.
Haven’t had much of a problem since then. Only drove it about 10 miles since then, too. That cost me a hundo so I’m hoping it worked.
Norte Dame won, but I was hoping for a bigger blowout. ND really needed to run up the clock to move up the rankings. We’ll move, but not much.
One week of work is finally done. It went very slowly and I want to just be doing my job. I am excited because you have territories and clients and it won’t be uncommon for my to call clients back to see how everything is going. I think that’s kind of cool.
I completely see this job as a stepping stone. I have no intention in doing telesales my whole life. I set a goal, “To be promoted, be #1 sales person, or to be honored in some way in 6 months” and as soon as any of those things happen I think I’m going to change my resume and repost it to careerbuilder/moster/workphilly.
Unfortunately, I don’t really work with anyone I could ever picture myself hanging out with. A majority of them are older than me, I figure I’m among the youngest in this whole division. Most people in my dept are around 25 or more. So, that sucks. And, age aside, I just don’t see myself hanging out with anyone. The friends I’ve had in my life,normally at one time I saw something in them that I could relate to or wanted to get to know them better. I don’t see that with anyone I’m working with except my boss and his equal Mike.
I have discovered that considering my readers it’s a better idea to post on Mondays or early in the week, the worst is the weekend because no one sits on their computer during the weekend. While I’m friendless and have all day long to post.
I’m posting on a Saturday night.
Point Made.
September 30th, 2006
One week down, infinity to go.
As many of you know, the job comes with some perks, I got a free laptop, benefits, decent pay, a pretty nice cubicle, fully equipped. The setting is pretty professional, yet it doesn’t take itself too seriously. It is also nice to be part of a successful business like ADP.
What I hate about it, it’s an hour away. 85 miles everyday!! And from what I hear, if there are any accidents, which there will be, it’ll take much longer.
For work I have done nothing all week besides study. The new hires were all given a thick binder and a cdrom filled with powerpoints to go over. I got through it and retained very little. It is mostly about taxes. What gets you penalties, what you legally have to file, and what you have to include. Hello Accounting! Again!
I did get taken out for lunch the first day and today for appetizers and beer. Today even got out of work at 4 to go to the sports bar/applebees-ish place. Nice.
I am dying to get on the phone so I can do well and I can get promoted or at least some street cred. But…I’ll have to wait another 3 to 4 weeks before I make a single phone call. That’s how long training is. Furthermore, once on the phones it’ll be at min. a week before I get my first sale. This type of selling is “get your foot in the door and set an appointment” “during appointment find out all about their company and offer some things” “call again and close” also, these become YOUR clients, so you call that same person back and see how everything is.
ALSO, big news: on my way to work today I noticed the van overheated all the way. So I pull over and it kind of calms down, goes back to the middle temp. Then, after no actual motor activity except idling, it goes back to full. And repeat. So I turn it off and look under the hood. Get this, coolant is full. No leaking anywhere. So why is it overheating. I had no troubles shifting gears or anything! One further point, as I was looking under the hood with it running this time the engine would kind of putter, run pretty hard, then calm back down.
ANYONE KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON!
HELP.
September 29th, 2006
I’m an ocean person -we are ocean people- and ocean people like ocean stuff. They are fit and go for walks along the ocean’s beach. They love frisbee. They love your mom. And they have dogs that go on that walk with them. You get home with salt in your lungs (which contributes to your pre-mature death) and a clean feeling you get from being next to the (what’s sure to be disgusting, what with the cruises with people vomiting over the edge, the oil spills, and the carp) ocean.
Ocean people do not have cats. They don’t have herpes either, MILES! But they don’t have cats. Now, I’ve claimed for some time (since June) that I’m an ocean person and no one has dared to deny it. Cause I am, and they probably aren’t. Benedicte would’ve said, “you’re a dick and not an ocean person” but she can’t speak ingrish.
Now I am living in a paradox. Last week I went to a local bar with some of Linds’ forensics buddies, or the “geek squad” as they prefer. And after some beer the discussion began on cats. Linds said we should have some and I said nay. I was verbally assaulted by dudes and chicks alike. They are good companions. I said they are bitches, cause they are. Anyways, a couple days later I told Lindsey that if she wants a cat so damn bad she would have to pay for everything, but would have my blessing. As long as it was more like Tigres and less like Tootsie. That pancake stealing raccoon.
Linds has been all hot and bothered over cats ever since this discussion. She filled out an application and then we moved to the next level, a cat lady had to come to the house and make sure it was an alright environment to have cats. Are you kidding me? Cat people are crazy/gay.
The next day we went to the cat place (PetSmart) and, since we were accepted or whatever to have cats (which probably doesn’t take much since most people with cats are overweight woman in moo-moos and oversized hats) we were on a mission to adopt. I walked around, last weekend I saw a 1yr old rottweiler and we made out, pretty much. I was hoping for the same thing this time. I was disappointed. I didn’t pet any dogs and never saw any rottweilers. Bummer. We had to deal with a literally crazy cat lady who completely forgot an entire convesation Linds had with her literally 2 minutes after having it. Woudn’t let her hold the cats unless she was serious on adoption. Which is shit. Lil kids all day long practically go to 2nd (head first, just like Pete Rose) with the cats, and you know they aren’t adopting anything, they can’t even drive! But, we picked out two of them. We are in the process of picking names. They are 2 darkies. I hope by owning them I get street cred.
They are unbearably shy at the moment. We were told to withold food until and then bring in the food into their room and stay in there. That was shy or not they’ll have to eat in front of you and you can socialize. Reminds me of Hogan as a puppy when mom would leave and we would take turns peeing on his food and he’d eat it. Remember that Holli? Awesome. Anyways, they have to stay in a small room and slowly work them into the entire living space. So, my room being smaller than Linds, I’m stuck with them. That means my stuff smells like cat shit and when I wake up in the morning I’ll probably be covered in cat shit. So, when Linds wakes up and sees my on the couch crying, that’s why (that or I had that dream of David with peanut butter smeared on his nipples again)!
——————–
Alright. I wrote that above earlier tonight. Now just real quick I want to say holy crap, go Notre Dame!! I watched every down of the game and paced for the last 30 minutes of the game. My feet literally burned from the carpet. I was ripping my fingernails off, picking my lips, pacing, and when something would go ND’s way I would just around and ask Lindsey if she could believe it. One of the greatest games I’ve watched. Wow.
September 23rd, 2006
This is my answer to the crazy post, of David’s.
So, Linds and I had a crazy Saturday. The day was pretty typical, I woke up, did the vBlog thing, about a half an hour later Linds woke up and we had chosen not to go out to the bars the night before, and that day chose not to go out and see the sights of Philly. Mostly cause Linds didn’t feel like it. Women!
So, we played some soccer, petted some kitty’s, and I bought Grey’s Anatomy Season 2 for Linds’ birthday. Which I had already bought for her birthday online, but it took way too long to arrive, so I cancelled it.
So, we watched the Notre Dame game and after it ended we decided to crack open the 27 episode second season of Grey’s Anatomy. The night before at Linds’ friend Wayne’s place we watched some episodes so we weren’t in any major dramatic coma from the finale of season 1 and were ready to watch. Starting on episode 9 we ate supper and snacks in front of the television.
I must say, I truly enjoy the show. It’s labeled a drama, which I would agree with, but there are plenty of humorous subplots and lines in every episode. It is a very good mix and I like how the writers can make you hate a character in some episodes and then realize they aren’t that bad in others. I hate it when they paint only one picture for a character, because inevitably in a drama they’ll switch roles somewhere along the lines and it just doesn’t make sense, you can’t read the character anymore. But Miles does better at describing whatever the hell I’m talking about right now. So, I’ll stop.
Anyways, the episodes run about 43 minutes each so you have a few more turns and developments before the show is over. The show keeps my attention like I didn’t plan on. Even with Arrested Development I can only watch so many episodes in a row before I’m like, Ok, something else. But, once every Grey’s Anatomy episode ended I was dying to see where they were going with the conclusion. I was truly captivated. So we watched on…and on…and on.
The total ended up being 15 straight episodes. We nearly completed the entire second season in one sitting. I had gone through 3 lemonades, 3 cokes, and 2 beers. I had eaten cookies, munchies, chex mix, french fries, and soup.
At the end of each episode we would look at each other with a grin on our faces like, “Oh my God, I can’t believe what time it is, but I want to continue on” so we did. I didn’t get tired almost all night. Which is about impossible for me, if you’ve ever watched movies with me late at night. Tony explained that I survived so long because it wasn’t a movie, it was a tv show.
So, at about 4:30AM we decided we’d survive until 7am and then go to the early bird mass. So, with greasy hair and blood-shot eyes we went to church at 7 with a lot of old people and no babies. Linds has commented that she’s never been to a service with so many screaming kids as the later masses out here, I said it’s pretty typical from the masses I’ve been to.
So, that’s my recent crazy story. Watching 15 episodes of Grey’s Anatomy in a row. Wow. I’m still tired.
September 18th, 2006
Well, I call this my vBlog1. Otherwise known as “Traffic Talk”. (Yeah, I used to be a writer.)
It isn’t as “nice” or “scripted” or “edited” or “good” or “funny” as Miles’, but I tried and here it is:
September 16th, 2006
Molly now has sent me a care package with notes on just about everything she sent. Including:
- Pudding
- Munchies
- Cookies
- Your mom
Thank you Molly!! You rock.
In other news, I have to do a piss test for ADP and I left work early to get it done, go all the way to where I knew a place to do it was, and they were closed. I gave myself an hour at 3pm. Knowing I can make it home in an hour at 5pm and it was about the same distance. I completely underestimated Philly’s traffic. Even at 3. It was just as bad as 5pm. I was pissed! Actually, I was made, I was wishing I was PISSing in a cup and getting it out of the way.
That was gross, right?
Anyways, the temp job sucks. I am calling hospitals all day and asking for doctors email addresses so we can send them an email with a link to take a survey. They get 150 bucks out of it if they do it, but I very rarely get to talk to a doctor, mostly cranky receptionists who aren’t allowed to give out the email address, so we have to ask for the fax. I hate it. I feel like all eyes are on me, cause the supervisors tables are all next to my cubicle and the trainer is constantly coming up to me with a suggestion or compliment. Just leave me alone!
Anyways. I hate it there. I was asked to come back next week. I said I’ll think about it. Yikes.
September 14th, 2006
Lindsey found out today that she was given a huge honor back at SMSU for last year. Every year the award “athlete of the year” and other awards, but the one considered the most important from a collegiate perspective is the “Scholar Athlete of the Year”. They get their name in the R/A and there are 2 a year, one male and one female. This year Lindsey took home that award.
So. Congratulations Lindsey. For golfing good and being smart.
In other news, I received no awards, again.
September 12th, 2006
I have set Lindsey up with a Flickr account. She has finally put some new pictures online, maxed out for the month, so more to come later. They can be seen here.
Heard Tony did pretty good in the Oak Tree, congrats. Yesterday for the first time I met some of Linds’ classmates, who came over to hang out until their banquet later. We all watched Benchwarmers. Some laughed harder than others. I mostly just looked up the news on the computer. The movie is alright, but not my favorite.
I sat at home alone most the night. I watched Donnie Darko, which is good, and a Sports Night episode on youtube that Molly Brass recommended (Rebecca is the name of the episode). And then I met Linds and her friends at the bar near the campus. It was alright, pretty awkward for me, but I got to meet some of the people in the same field as Linds. Needless to say I felt like the dumb one of the table, everyone else being science people. I did do a “Market that” joke, which got a laugh. (reference to previous post).
I haven’t taken any new pictures at all. I got nothing. So nothing to upload for me. Sorry.
Tomorrow, no real plans, maybe catch a little football on tv, that’s all I have planned. Start a temp job Monday. Sounds gay, but what can ya do?
September 9th, 2006
Original Article
Ultimate Frisbee always gets a lot of flak. “It’s a sport for stoners” and “It’s a sport for sissies”; most of the time, it’s derided as not much of a sport at all. Well, you know what? We’ve played a game or three of Ultimate, and let us tell you — these guys are athletes. And their pot is unreal.
Which is why we’re delighted by a new study out of the University of Washington that says competitive Frisbee is a better predictor of academic success than grades or even SAT scores. The top seven schools, nationally? Stanford, Brown, Harvard, Tufts, Dartmouth, Yale and Princeton. Falsetto: Hollll-la!
It feels good to find another sport we dominate, after crew and squash. Even the two dozen “correlation vs. causation” emails we’re about to receive can’t take that away.
(Credits: Inside Higher Ed; Dartmouth Ultimate. Sorry, Big Green! We were looking through your site for a good pic, and the best happened to be of this lion-maned Brown kid absolutely destroying one “Hoffman.” Take solace in your huger quads.)
The Report:
A study being released September 1 of all private national universities shows that their ranking in Ultimate Frisbee edges out both SATs and grades as a predictor of academic performance! Those ranked in the top half for Ultimate have a graduation rate of over 85%, while those in the bottom half just 60%. The top seven have nearly as many Rhodes scholars and Marshall scholars as all others combined.
Seattle, WA (PRWEB) August 31, 2006 — Move over SATs. Incredibly, for the high-powered and high-priced private national universities, the best predictor of academic excellence is rank in a popular sport.
Whether measured by graduation rate or prestigious scholarships – the result is the same. What is this sport that mysteriously divines a university’s stature so precisely? It’s called Ultimate Frisbee, or more commonly just Ultimate. It is the fastest growing college sport and is already played interscholastically at over 500 colleges and universities. While wildly popular on campuses, relatively few in the wider world have even heard of it.
A study (slated for release September 1) by Dr. Michael Norden shows that among all 86 private national universities, those ranking in the top half for Ultimate have a graduation rate of over 85%, while those in the bottom half graduate just 60%. The difference in the totals of Rhodes scholars and Marshall scholars among their graduates during this decade is even more dramatic – 208 versus 15. (The odds of this happening by chance are truly infinitesimal). Moreover, the top ten schools based on Ultimate ranking have a slightly higher mean graduation rate and more winners of top scholarships than schools chosen by - not only SATs, but any standard metric including: grades, faculty resources, and financial resources.
This correlation between Ultimate and academics has previously been obscured by the fact that there are no separate divisions in Ultimate, so that smaller private universities are historically ranked together with public institutions up to an order of magnitude larger. The pattern emerges clearly when comparing, over an adequate time frame, institutions of similar size and demographics (i.e. private national universities). Study ranking is based simply on the total of Power Rating points over the past ten years (assigned by the Ultimate Players Association) for all of a school’s open-division club teams.
Ultimate is a largely student-run club sport with minimal institutional support. Why a game, requiring such all-around athleticism should so consistently be dominated by universities (and presumably students) with off-the-chart academic credentials, is truly a mystery. The top seven schools for ultimate have a mean graduation rate of 95% and nearly as many total Rhodes and Marshal scholars as all of the rest combined. The names speak for themselves: Stanford, Brown, Harvard, Tufts, Dartmouth, Yale, and Princeton.
Dr. Norden is a Seattle psychiatrist and author of the book Beyond Prozac (Harper Collin/1995). Jeremy Norden collaborated in the study - he is a member of the world champion US National Juniors Ultimate team.
September 9th, 2006
Thank you Miles and Holli for sending the box of goodies. That was way too kind of you.
To those of you who didn’t know about it, the package included:
- Various snacks from candies to chips
- Shopgirl by Steve Martin
- A DVD called Toon Factory with old Bug Bunny Cartoons (clearly a $5 or less DVD buy, similar to my Michael Jordan/Bo Jackson/Wayne Gretsky DVD from Christmas)
- A bridal magazine for Linds
- A crossword puzzle
- And other food items
Thanks again.
Next week, unless something better comes along, I will be a telemarketer for about 36 hours at $9 an hour. The job agency will look for something better paying while I’m there, but if nothing comes, at least I have something taken care of. So, that’s good.
Tonight I met some of Linds’ classmates. They all seemed pretty cool. They watched Benchwarmers while I was setting up the wireless internet on Linds’ laptop and making sure it was secured. I’ve done virtually nothing on a wireless anything so it was all new to me.
So, finally as of next week, I’ll be getting out of the house and making some money. I can’t tell you how frustrating it’s been until now.
I am not sure, but I would guess this weekend is the Oak Tree, so good luck Tony, if dad is playing, good luck dad.
Who knows, maybe a vblog will be coming from me. However, I don’t have any cool editing tools like Milly.
September 8th, 2006
Previous Posts