Rave: Got "the call" from our CPA yesterday and was totally surprised. Not only are we not paying this year, we're actually getting a few grand back. Considering we earmarked a good amount from the wife's bonus in anticipation of having a tax liability, it's a real daily double. Rave: Used the CPAP machine for the first time last night. Other than the humidifier running out of water sometime during the night and the mask-fitting needing a minor adjustment, it really didn't interfere with my sleeping and I felt great when I woke up this morning. We'll see how I feel in about an hour or so when the wall of fatigue usually hits, but as of right now, I'm feeling more energized than I have in a while. Mini-rant: Went to buy the iPad2 yesterday, but there was no way I was going to stand on a line for a couple of hours. I'll drop by the Apple store again today and if its a bust, I'll just order it online. I've waited this long, another week or so isn't really going to make a difference.
Rave: After being unemployed since June, I start a new job on Monday. It's not really a job I'm that interested in, but I'm qualified, it's pretty good money, and it's for an international corporation with lots of room for advancement (after two years). I don't know if I'll be sticking around for that long, but having a job is all that really matters right now. Beggars can't be choosers. Rant: Had to spend over a grand on new clothes yesterday for the job. While that normally wouldn't be a huge deal, my unemployment cheques are now over, and I won't be getting paid from the job for at least three weeks. Having zero disposable income for the next month is gonna be pretty tough. Rant: Did my taxes on Thursday and I owe almost $800. That's not going to help with the above issue either. Rant: Had a few beers yesterday afternoon, then had some more during the Oilers - Red Wings game. Before I new it, overtime had ended and I was hammered. By myself. I was too lazy to return any texts/phone calls from any of my friends, so I just went to bed. Rave: Well-rested today, though.
Rave: $1500 annual bonus check came yesterday. I celebrated at this place in Mason I had been wanting to try but had heard it's pretty expensive. Girl I took ended up spending the night.
RAVE: Hammered out a fantastic 135-meal service tonight with only a two-man kitchen. It went so smooth it looked like a ballet. RANT: Got home to find out my father-in-law passed on tonight. I'll be out for a bit.
Rant: I'm a lazy sack of shit and didn't want to do my own taxes for 2009 since I switched states. Couldn't find my old PIN or AGI to e-file, when I called the IRS to get my PIN my first two calls were flat out dropped for no reason and when I did finally get to someone they asked me 10,000 questions before I got my PIN. When I tried it, it didn't work, what the fuck? Rant: State still charges for e-file... Seriously? This is 2011. Rave: I don't usually get hungover, but whenever I go to a wine and cheese party it seems like someone is doing road construction in my head the next day, managed to not get a hangover at all from the one last night. Rant: Looks like I need to go clothes shopping today. Rave: Going to Florida next week, suck it old man!
RANT: Boring work shit Spoiler The implications of a workplace environment in which staff are encouraged to go directly to management over the slightest nuance of something they dislike, and wherein talking to others face to face like adults is discouraged. Getting ripped a new one for "being mopey" because "X and Y said you were complaining to them and it brings them down"? Motherfucker, I make sarcastic comments with a grin on my face, and the same people who are complaining to you do nothing but do the same to me, about you and everything else in this world. Excuse me for having a laugh at things rather than getting all pissy about it, and spending a single shift being quiet and keeping to myself. Unless I've completely lost myself on human emotion, people who are exhausted and bored don't look too different from people who look sad. I'm getting goddamned tired of hearing a storm every time I fail to offer an ear-to-ear smile and ten minutes of pleasantries with every sorry asshole who walks by. And when I point out the hypocrisy of the people complaining about me, I'm told to report anything they say so they get an earful. What the fuck is wrong with people that I'm being told NOT to calmly discuss interpersonal issues with other adults in a mature and adult manner? For fuck's sake, the few times that I DO go to you with an issue that needs to be addressed by management, you jump me for bothering you with it. I have had it with tiptoeing through the tulips with these pricks. You want to run a business that pays money you don't have to people who are unproductive and can't do anything beyond forming a sewing circle, that's your call. Just don't expect me to keep busting my ass for you every time I walk in the door, only to be slapped in the face with every petty issue you can think of. RAVE: New job with better pay. Maybe. RANT: The changing weather is bringing out centipedes, which is great for me, being inspired to terror and bloodlust by the sight of insect pests and all. Especially because sometimes I enjoy getting (to borrow from another board member) higher than a king snake in a sugar cane tree. What I don't like is being in that state and my peripheral vision alerting me to one of these things skittering across the wall a foot away. RAVE: Not in Afghanistan dealing with high temperatures, crazy militants, and spiders that get their jollies by charging at people. RANT: Just got a letter from my insurance company. In short, it says that despite numerous attempts, they've been unable to reach me regarding the accident I was in, so I have until tomorrow to call them or they say "Screw you" and shut the case. This letter came yesterday. Apparently, leaving multiple voice mails with my claims agent stating, "Hi, this is [full legal name] returning a call from Agent regarding Claim #12345, please call me back at [phone number] at your convenience" does not qualify as attempting to contact them. Silly me, right.
RAVE: An old family friend came over for lunch today with my mom and sister. She used to baby sit me when I was 4-5 years old. I made them Stromboli for lunch from scratch and shared my pot growing knowledge with her. She told me she thought I had grown into a cool guy. It means something coming from her because I've always had a lot of respect for her intelligence and opinion. Made me feel really good.
Rave: Friday night, saw Kevin Smith's new movie, Red State, followed by a Q&A. Really dug the movie, Q&A afterwards devolved into everyone asking for pictures with him. He looked game to answer questions all night, but they were cut off at 11:30. Either way, it was still an excellent show, and I highly recommend checking it out if it comes to your area. Rave: Saturday night, hung out with some friends from high school and caught up. We're spread out all over the state now, so we don't get to hang out often. Really great night. Rave: One of said friends might be coming back for a poker game next month with a bunch more of my old high school friends. It will be a bit of a mini-reunion, which is nice, since I have zero desire to go to my actual 10 year high school reunion later this year.
Rave: Tested out a new hiking route with the pooch. Found some awesome 25ish ft bluffs that will be fun for bouldering too. Rant: My right heel is killing me. I have no idea what I did to it but it feels like it's bruised. Left is perfectly fine... wtf? Rave: Found a very good candidate for my UAV project. 1999 Land Cruiser w/ 84k miles. Best part is that it's right up the road.
Rant/Rave: The Dude and I met my parents for lunch this weekend. He met my parents. GAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I guess I completely blow at keeping things casual. On the bright side, they (parents) were on their best behavior. Yay for small wonders. Rave: He liiiiiiikes me. Rave: Only two more exams to go! I'm almost done! Rant: I somehow managed to overdraft my bank account. WTF? I haven't done that in years. Apparently there was some sort of paperwork snafu with my direct deposit, and I stupidly neglected to check on things before going out this weekend. By the time I realized that something was amiss, I'd already overdrafted. Sigh. I am smarter than this. Double Rant: Did a favor for my mother and babysat the child of one of her friends. The kid bit me, then required my assistance in wiping her ass after she went to the bathroom. SUCH HORSESHIT. If you want to bite me, you obviously want to wipe your own ass. I hate being nice. I wiped her ass. It was gross and I never want to touch another child again.
FUCK ME: People on this board really care weither you put that apostrophe in "your" or "you're." ...Nettdata removal of all sorts of useless shit... suck a dick.
Rave: Just got home from Vegas for a friends Bachelor's Party. Rant: Spent the last day in the ER because the groom dislocated his knee. His knee buckled on the dance floor because he is a rather heavy individual. Rave: He isn't taking it too badly, and understood my jokes about jousting other wheelchair bound individuals with his crutches. Rant: A hot girl with several tattoos apparently misunderstood one of my jokes, and stormed away with my driver's license.
Rant: Whether it was Daylight Savings or the NyQuil or something else, I don't know, but I just had the most horrible, graphic dream. It was about a zombie apocalypse that involved dead and dying babies, dogs and everyone that I know from work and - oddly - university. Jesus Christ, where did that come from? It wasn't like any movie's plot that I've seen. My brain came up with this one on its own. The day can only go up, right?
Rant: I hate hate hate it when people call me, only to continue with whatever the fuck they were doing before the call. "Hey, what's up?" (long pause, sound of person typing) "Umm, not much. Just calling you becau.. one sec". It's fucking annoying and a waste of time. If you're that distracted, DON'T FUCKING CALL.
Rant: Holy fuck am I useless today, I haven't done anything remotely productive. I had a nice relaxing night last night and I feel like I just woke up after a Van Halen concert. Rave: No one is in the office to see my uselessness. Rant: I'm beginning to think I came in on a holiday, why the fuck is no one here?
Rave: Nice breakthrough with my ankle today! I can start running on the Alter-G in the next week or two. This is super exciting since it's been, oh, 8 months since things were normal. Rant: Daylight Savings, you dirty, pointless cunt.