It's funny when you realize that some people's heads just aren't where they're supposed to be. Last night as Rachel, Sammy, Nicole and I sat down to watch The OC, we were met with an episode of "Malcom in the Middle." This is the equivalent of ordering a steak and being brought a bowl of cold cereal without milk. Apparently, due to the fact that the east coast did not get to watch the OC due to the presidential address, Fox decided to bump the show and postpone this weeks new episode until next week.
Well, when Malcom showed up instead of Ryan and Seth, I immediately jumped online to find out what was going on. You see, I had absolutely no clue the president was speaking last night. I don't know if this is my fault, or if the president has a terrible marketing coordinator. Anyways, I log into fox.com and click on the OC page. Sure enough, it has all this stuff about next week's show. Well I hit the message boards, because there's always some psychos in the chatrooms and message boards that know way too much about whatever the topic of the day is.
People were freaking out! One guy/girl posted a message that said "Fox u r so dumb! Nobody wants to hear the president speak! We want the OC! I'm boycotting ur station til next Thursday!" That'll teach 'em you idiot. People were just going off....on Fox, on Bush, on anyone. Some guy wrote a mock post saying that what happened was that Ryan's brother raped Marissa on the beach, and that got a couple hundred angry replies talking about how "Trey would never do that" and "That is so mean to suggest someone would rape Marissa." WOW. These message boards creep me out.
However, there was one post that made me chuckle:
Poster 1: The OC was on here! Thank God for CTV!!!!
Poster 2: What's CTV?
Poster 1: Canadian TV! We got to see it up here, and it was great!
Poster 2: Lucky you, but you still live in Canada.
On a personal note, my leg is about 85% today. Yesterday turned out to be not nearly as bad as I was anticipating. The first few hours were pretty hellish, but after lunch my leg started to loosen up and it only hurt if I used the stairs or tried to run. Actually yesterday turned out to be a pretty amusing day. The place was dead in the afternoon, so we were forced to communicate and get along, and I got to know my co-workers a little better. There's an interesting dynamic going on there. There's a few part timers that are also students, and then there's a group of older people that never went to college. Then there's me....recently graduated and couldn't find anything else. There's a couple other people like me. I guess we're tweeners. You can tell who's who just by the conversations that happen. None of the college people come to work on a Thursday morning talking about how they were "drunk off their ass at Shari's late last night."
Friday, April 29, 2005
Thursday, April 28, 2005
Longest day ever?
Today very well could be the worst day of my life.
Last night while playing basketball at Timberhill, I got a rebound and headed up court on a fast break. The only guy between me and the hoop was this little guy shaped like a brick. He was probably between 35 and 40, and there was no doubt that I was going to blow by him for a lay-up. However, this little assassin decides it would be a good idea to throw his body in front of me. He knew he wasn't going to draw a charge - he very well could've still been running when we collided. Anyways, thanks to this guy's hatchet job, I now have a deep thigh bruise. Sleeping was painful. I thought Shaq was kind of a wuss for saying "I can't really bend my leg" but he's not kidding. I don't think I could be effective in a basketball game for the next few days. Now I have to go to work, where I walk around all day. This is going to be torture. I'm not even kidding, I'm not sure how I'm going to make it through this day. Just walking down the stairs this morning, I had to hold the hand rail with one hand and brace myself against the wall with the other hand and put both feet on a step before advancing to the next one. I still haven't figured out if I'm going back up or saying screw the dress code and working in shorts and a t-shirt with flip-flops.
In other news, I was turned down for the job at Oregon State. I kinda saw that one coming though. I just didn't really feel a vibe with the people interviewing me....like we weren't the same kind of people. Guess that's why they work in the Ag department and I won't.
In still other news, Joel and I booked our flight to Florida for Vince's wedding in June. I'm pretty excited. We booked a package through hotels.com and got a round trip flight, four night stay at La Quinta, and a rental car for just under $500 a person. Only minor drawback is that we have to fly out of Seattle, but that's really not that big of a deal. If we were to fly out of Portland, the flight alone would've been about $410 a person.
That's about all I got.
Last night while playing basketball at Timberhill, I got a rebound and headed up court on a fast break. The only guy between me and the hoop was this little guy shaped like a brick. He was probably between 35 and 40, and there was no doubt that I was going to blow by him for a lay-up. However, this little assassin decides it would be a good idea to throw his body in front of me. He knew he wasn't going to draw a charge - he very well could've still been running when we collided. Anyways, thanks to this guy's hatchet job, I now have a deep thigh bruise. Sleeping was painful. I thought Shaq was kind of a wuss for saying "I can't really bend my leg" but he's not kidding. I don't think I could be effective in a basketball game for the next few days. Now I have to go to work, where I walk around all day. This is going to be torture. I'm not even kidding, I'm not sure how I'm going to make it through this day. Just walking down the stairs this morning, I had to hold the hand rail with one hand and brace myself against the wall with the other hand and put both feet on a step before advancing to the next one. I still haven't figured out if I'm going back up or saying screw the dress code and working in shorts and a t-shirt with flip-flops.
In other news, I was turned down for the job at Oregon State. I kinda saw that one coming though. I just didn't really feel a vibe with the people interviewing me....like we weren't the same kind of people. Guess that's why they work in the Ag department and I won't.
In still other news, Joel and I booked our flight to Florida for Vince's wedding in June. I'm pretty excited. We booked a package through hotels.com and got a round trip flight, four night stay at La Quinta, and a rental car for just under $500 a person. Only minor drawback is that we have to fly out of Seattle, but that's really not that big of a deal. If we were to fly out of Portland, the flight alone would've been about $410 a person.
That's about all I got.
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
What, me depressed?
According to the story I just read on MSN, Portland is the 20th most depressed city in the nation. However, if we had a democrat in the white house, I'd bet we'd be one of the happiest cities in the nation. Of course, then what would Portlanders have to bitch about? They could no longer go "you know what, I'm pissed. Let's chain ourselves to gas pumps!"
General Information ..
Full name? Andrew Stewart Lasselle
Age? closer to 26 than 25....wait..did I say that right? Sweet Jesus! Who stole my childhood, and where can I get it back?
Birthday? August 8
Shoe size? 12 to 13 depending on the weight of the yen on todays economy.
School? Something I'm done with. For now.......
Height? 6'2 if I'm lucky...people usually buy it. In actuality, I'm closer to 6'1. Ok, honestly the only time I remember being 'officially' measured at the doctor's office, I was 6'0 and 3/4.
Hair color? naturally? I see a little more of me turning gray every day. By the way, who decided it was ok to spell gray grey? Did Webster make a typo when writing the first edition of his dictionary and say 'screw it, we're keeping it?" I need to know this.
Eye color? Blue...very blue. One of my best physical characteristics, or so I've been told.
Siblings? Three of the best. Grant, Erin and Colin.
Sign? Leo. Grrrr baby.
Righty or lefty? Lefty...and I don't think anyone would argue. My personality fits that of your stereotypical lefthander....just a little off.
Single? Ok funny. I just read Juli's survey where she said "I have a boyfriend I like to brag about. Then the next thing written is "do you...." I thought she was mocking all the single people out there. turns out that's the next line in the survey. For a second I was like "alright Juli, way to shit on the single people! Let 'em know they're inferior! Turns out she wasn't as evil as I thought. And no, I'm not single either.....are you?
Do you ..
Sing in the shower? I should...seems like I sing everywhere else. Today I had most of the medical records staff singing the Backstreet Boys "I want it that way" with me. Quite humorous actually.
Play sports? Yeah, I play in a basketball rec league...my team is god awful, but it's fun just to get out there and run around still. I'm thinking that I need to start playing city league softball too.
Do well in school? If I was a doctor, maybe. Since I'm a medical records clerk...hell no.
Hold grudges? I'm still pissed Nikko was bounced from American Idol. And don't even get me started on that stupid high school basketball rule about nobody being in the lane before the ball hits the rim on a free throw......
Do drugs? Only in dire circumstances.....like only if my headache is so bad that I can't even think will I take tylenol.
Drink? lots of milk.....lots. We're talking 3 gallons a week.
Have a crush? Is it still considered a crush if you sleep together every night?
Miss someone? I miss my friends Steve and Dave and JR and Joel. During college, we hung out all day every day. Now I have to schedule weekends once every few months to get together with them, and still we can't all make it. It's kind of sad.
Wish you could change the past? Only if once I changed it, I could get back to this point. It'd be kind of fun to really see what might've been - but I wouldn't trade my life the way it is right now for anything.
Like boys or girls? girls. definitely girls. Even the statement 'I like boys' gives me the heeby jeebies.
Have a job? yup! Feels good to say that too.
Have piercings? nope. Metal was not meant to go through your skin. Your ears are not pincushions people!
Have animals? Nope, but hopefully sometime in the near future we can get a puppy.
Have a car? grrrrr.....I'm not answering this on the grounds that the question pissed me off enough.
License? i'd guess less than 1% of the people who fill this survey out do not have a license. what kind of bs question is this?
What's your favorite ..
Drink? Pepsi....always has been, always will be.
Food? Rachel makes this tater tot casserole that is awesome. I love it.
Time of day? sundown....especially during the summers.
Day of the week? Gotta be Sunday. Usually don't have anything planned, can just hang out.
Song? Currently I'd say Lenny Kravitz - Where are we Running.
Band? I've never been a big fan of group acts....I guess I'd say the Aquabats...they have some good stuff.
Quote? "If you get hurt and miss work, it won't hurt to miss work." ~Yogi Berra.
Memory? College.
Number? 20
Radio station? 1240 Joe Radio
TV show? The OC and Grey's Anatomy
CD? The only one I have in the truck is G-Unit....some good songs on that one, but it's getting a tad bit played out.
Cartoon character? Peter Griffin.
Color? Red.
Have you ever ..
Spilled the beans? Why yes officer, my friend JR is passed out in his bedroom....come on in.....
Broke a promise? sadly, yes.
Regretted a friendship? nah......regretted a relationship? Now that's a different story.
Broke any bones? my thumb, my big toe, and my nose (twice).
Been to the hospital? I practically work at the hospital.
Failed a class? Ohhhh yes. All because I wanted to go to the Z100 Low Dough Christmas Show with Boyz II Men. So I skip our final presentation. Then only three of the Boyz showed up. I know there's a lesson there somewhere.......
Been suspended? No ma'am
Been expelled? Why do I assume a woman wrote this survey?
Lied to yourself? Of course you're the best player in the league Andy........
Snuck out? Of the house...no....well once I had to leave in the middle of the night to pick up my intoxicated brother...but that was more sneaking IN to the house than out.
Would you ever ..
Be able to kill someone? I bet if my life or the life of someone I cared about was in jeopardy I could. I hope to God I never have to find out though.
Skydive? I almost did once. Although there was a weight limit of 245 lbs. My weight at the time....243. I passed. No way am I messing around with a weight limit on that one. I might do it in the future though.
Move far away? Colorado....I was only gone 3 months, but when I got off the plane at home and was met by my family...man I couldn't stop smiling.
Ditch your friends for money? Ummmmm no. For booty...well c'mon who hasn't?
Ask a guy out? Well that confirms it....a woman wrote this.
Run away? Not from home. From the cops, from angry 8th graders......hell yes. I'm not about to stand around for an ass whupping. Note: I was in sixth grade at the time.
Steal? Yeah I shoplifted some donuts once. And I was an accessory to a burrito theft. That's about it.
Kiss and tell? Well as a rule I try not to, but sometimes something so funny happens that you have to tell your friends....or really anyone that will listen. Care to lend me your ear?
Lead someone on? Not intentionally.
Cheat on your boyfriend/girlfriend? No I haven't.....I'd hate myself if I did.
One or the other ..
White or Black? Gray
Pink or Purple? Red
Plane or Car? SUV
MSN or AIM? AIM
Summer or Winter? Summer
Music or TV? TV
Gym or English? Gym
Love or Lust? Both
Sunset or Sunrise? Sunset
Diamonds or Pearls? diamonds..who wants oyster turds?
Silver or Gold? Silver....matches my hair.
Horror or Comedy? Comedy....I love to laugh.
All about friends ..
Best friends? JR, Joel, Steve, Dave. Yes there are more, some related to me, but I'm tired.
Childhood friends? Jeff Judkins....whatever happed to that cowmeal eating sunuvabitch
Loudest? Grant
Tallest? JR
Quietest? Steve by default.
Funniest? Big Bear......harrrrrrrrrrr!
Slowest? JR....poor guy once strained his groin coming out of the batters box.
Sweetest? I gotta go with Sammy right now since she drove me to work last week.
Toughest? JR. Only friend I've had that physically stepped up for me when I someone threatened me.
Most outgoing? Dave...if only for this conversation
Dave: Hey ladies how you doing?
Ladies: We're Good.
Dave: No you're not. You're ho's.
Moodiest? Probably me. Although JR can throw a curveball at you every now and then.
Most emo looking? What in the hell is emo? I'm serious....somebody tell me.
Most punk looking? None....I don't hang out with people who strive to be 'different' by looking like every other person striving to be different.
Stupidest laugh? That'd be me again. Although Joel's chuckle/hand clap thing is pretty dorky.
Secret keeper? They're all good until you get a little alcohol in them. then nothing's sacred.
Punching bag? Dude people shit on me all the time.
Who was the last ..
Person you hugged? Rachel
Person who called? Grant
Person you talked to in person? Rachel...though she was half asleep, so I doubt she remembers.
Person to message you? Rachel texted me last, but I'm chatting with Joel right now.
Person to e-mail you? Tina at work.
Person to make you laugh? Rachel.
Person to make you cry? Rachel.
Person to amaze you? Rachel. She offered to make me lunch and I said "yeah a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or something would be great." Almost immediately I wished I would've said grilled cheese. I show up 10 minutes later, and she's cooking grilled cheese. Awesome.
Person you called? Grant
Person you messaged? Joel.
Last person you e-mailed? my friend Kindra in Colorado.
Last person you made cry? Probably Rachel.
What ..
Are you listening to? Michael Jackson - Smooth Criminal
Are you wearing? a t-shirt and boxers.....about to go to bed.
What color are your undies? I've got the blue ones on with motorcycles...why motorcycles you ask? Because that's what the 3 pack from costco had to offer!
Are you doing? Discussing our upcoming trip to Florida with Joel.
Are you thinking about? sleeping. I'm beat.
Do you have to do soon? Get up and go to work. Ok it's 8 or 9 hours off, but still.
Are you biggest fears? Never having a job I feel proud to have. That and losing Rachel.
Did you think of this lame quiz? Not bad...i've seen better though.
Full name? Andrew Stewart Lasselle
Age? closer to 26 than 25....wait..did I say that right? Sweet Jesus! Who stole my childhood, and where can I get it back?
Birthday? August 8
Shoe size? 12 to 13 depending on the weight of the yen on todays economy.
School? Something I'm done with. For now.......
Height? 6'2 if I'm lucky...people usually buy it. In actuality, I'm closer to 6'1. Ok, honestly the only time I remember being 'officially' measured at the doctor's office, I was 6'0 and 3/4.
Hair color? naturally? I see a little more of me turning gray every day. By the way, who decided it was ok to spell gray grey? Did Webster make a typo when writing the first edition of his dictionary and say 'screw it, we're keeping it?" I need to know this.
Eye color? Blue...very blue. One of my best physical characteristics, or so I've been told.
Siblings? Three of the best. Grant, Erin and Colin.
Sign? Leo. Grrrr baby.
Righty or lefty? Lefty...and I don't think anyone would argue. My personality fits that of your stereotypical lefthander....just a little off.
Single? Ok funny. I just read Juli's survey where she said "I have a boyfriend I like to brag about. Then the next thing written is "do you...." I thought she was mocking all the single people out there. turns out that's the next line in the survey. For a second I was like "alright Juli, way to shit on the single people! Let 'em know they're inferior! Turns out she wasn't as evil as I thought. And no, I'm not single either.....are you?
Do you ..
Sing in the shower? I should...seems like I sing everywhere else. Today I had most of the medical records staff singing the Backstreet Boys "I want it that way" with me. Quite humorous actually.
Play sports? Yeah, I play in a basketball rec league...my team is god awful, but it's fun just to get out there and run around still. I'm thinking that I need to start playing city league softball too.
Do well in school? If I was a doctor, maybe. Since I'm a medical records clerk...hell no.
Hold grudges? I'm still pissed Nikko was bounced from American Idol. And don't even get me started on that stupid high school basketball rule about nobody being in the lane before the ball hits the rim on a free throw......
Do drugs? Only in dire circumstances.....like only if my headache is so bad that I can't even think will I take tylenol.
Drink? lots of milk.....lots. We're talking 3 gallons a week.
Have a crush? Is it still considered a crush if you sleep together every night?
Miss someone? I miss my friends Steve and Dave and JR and Joel. During college, we hung out all day every day. Now I have to schedule weekends once every few months to get together with them, and still we can't all make it. It's kind of sad.
Wish you could change the past? Only if once I changed it, I could get back to this point. It'd be kind of fun to really see what might've been - but I wouldn't trade my life the way it is right now for anything.
Like boys or girls? girls. definitely girls. Even the statement 'I like boys' gives me the heeby jeebies.
Have a job? yup! Feels good to say that too.
Have piercings? nope. Metal was not meant to go through your skin. Your ears are not pincushions people!
Have animals? Nope, but hopefully sometime in the near future we can get a puppy.
Have a car? grrrrr.....I'm not answering this on the grounds that the question pissed me off enough.
License? i'd guess less than 1% of the people who fill this survey out do not have a license. what kind of bs question is this?
What's your favorite ..
Drink? Pepsi....always has been, always will be.
Food? Rachel makes this tater tot casserole that is awesome. I love it.
Time of day? sundown....especially during the summers.
Day of the week? Gotta be Sunday. Usually don't have anything planned, can just hang out.
Song? Currently I'd say Lenny Kravitz - Where are we Running.
Band? I've never been a big fan of group acts....I guess I'd say the Aquabats...they have some good stuff.
Quote? "If you get hurt and miss work, it won't hurt to miss work." ~Yogi Berra.
Memory? College.
Number? 20
Radio station? 1240 Joe Radio
TV show? The OC and Grey's Anatomy
CD? The only one I have in the truck is G-Unit....some good songs on that one, but it's getting a tad bit played out.
Cartoon character? Peter Griffin.
Color? Red.
Have you ever ..
Spilled the beans? Why yes officer, my friend JR is passed out in his bedroom....come on in.....
Broke a promise? sadly, yes.
Regretted a friendship? nah......regretted a relationship? Now that's a different story.
Broke any bones? my thumb, my big toe, and my nose (twice).
Been to the hospital? I practically work at the hospital.
Failed a class? Ohhhh yes. All because I wanted to go to the Z100 Low Dough Christmas Show with Boyz II Men. So I skip our final presentation. Then only three of the Boyz showed up. I know there's a lesson there somewhere.......
Been suspended? No ma'am
Been expelled? Why do I assume a woman wrote this survey?
Lied to yourself? Of course you're the best player in the league Andy........
Snuck out? Of the house...no....well once I had to leave in the middle of the night to pick up my intoxicated brother...but that was more sneaking IN to the house than out.
Would you ever ..
Be able to kill someone? I bet if my life or the life of someone I cared about was in jeopardy I could. I hope to God I never have to find out though.
Skydive? I almost did once. Although there was a weight limit of 245 lbs. My weight at the time....243. I passed. No way am I messing around with a weight limit on that one. I might do it in the future though.
Move far away? Colorado....I was only gone 3 months, but when I got off the plane at home and was met by my family...man I couldn't stop smiling.
Ditch your friends for money? Ummmmm no. For booty...well c'mon who hasn't?
Ask a guy out? Well that confirms it....a woman wrote this.
Run away? Not from home. From the cops, from angry 8th graders......hell yes. I'm not about to stand around for an ass whupping. Note: I was in sixth grade at the time.
Steal? Yeah I shoplifted some donuts once. And I was an accessory to a burrito theft. That's about it.
Kiss and tell? Well as a rule I try not to, but sometimes something so funny happens that you have to tell your friends....or really anyone that will listen. Care to lend me your ear?
Lead someone on? Not intentionally.
Cheat on your boyfriend/girlfriend? No I haven't.....I'd hate myself if I did.
One or the other ..
White or Black? Gray
Pink or Purple? Red
Plane or Car? SUV
MSN or AIM? AIM
Summer or Winter? Summer
Music or TV? TV
Gym or English? Gym
Love or Lust? Both
Sunset or Sunrise? Sunset
Diamonds or Pearls? diamonds..who wants oyster turds?
Silver or Gold? Silver....matches my hair.
Horror or Comedy? Comedy....I love to laugh.
All about friends ..
Best friends? JR, Joel, Steve, Dave. Yes there are more, some related to me, but I'm tired.
Childhood friends? Jeff Judkins....whatever happed to that cowmeal eating sunuvabitch
Loudest? Grant
Tallest? JR
Quietest? Steve by default.
Funniest? Big Bear......harrrrrrrrrrr!
Slowest? JR....poor guy once strained his groin coming out of the batters box.
Sweetest? I gotta go with Sammy right now since she drove me to work last week.
Toughest? JR. Only friend I've had that physically stepped up for me when I someone threatened me.
Most outgoing? Dave...if only for this conversation
Dave: Hey ladies how you doing?
Ladies: We're Good.
Dave: No you're not. You're ho's.
Moodiest? Probably me. Although JR can throw a curveball at you every now and then.
Most emo looking? What in the hell is emo? I'm serious....somebody tell me.
Most punk looking? None....I don't hang out with people who strive to be 'different' by looking like every other person striving to be different.
Stupidest laugh? That'd be me again. Although Joel's chuckle/hand clap thing is pretty dorky.
Secret keeper? They're all good until you get a little alcohol in them. then nothing's sacred.
Punching bag? Dude people shit on me all the time.
Who was the last ..
Person you hugged? Rachel
Person who called? Grant
Person you talked to in person? Rachel...though she was half asleep, so I doubt she remembers.
Person to message you? Rachel texted me last, but I'm chatting with Joel right now.
Person to e-mail you? Tina at work.
Person to make you laugh? Rachel.
Person to make you cry? Rachel.
Person to amaze you? Rachel. She offered to make me lunch and I said "yeah a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or something would be great." Almost immediately I wished I would've said grilled cheese. I show up 10 minutes later, and she's cooking grilled cheese. Awesome.
Person you called? Grant
Person you messaged? Joel.
Last person you e-mailed? my friend Kindra in Colorado.
Last person you made cry? Probably Rachel.
What ..
Are you listening to? Michael Jackson - Smooth Criminal
Are you wearing? a t-shirt and boxers.....about to go to bed.
What color are your undies? I've got the blue ones on with motorcycles...why motorcycles you ask? Because that's what the 3 pack from costco had to offer!
Are you doing? Discussing our upcoming trip to Florida with Joel.
Are you thinking about? sleeping. I'm beat.
Do you have to do soon? Get up and go to work. Ok it's 8 or 9 hours off, but still.
Are you biggest fears? Never having a job I feel proud to have. That and losing Rachel.
Did you think of this lame quiz? Not bad...i've seen better though.
Me? Depressed?
According to the story I just read on MSN, Portland is the 20th most depressed city in the nation. However, if we had a democrat in the white house, I'd bet we'd be one of the happiest cities in the nation. Of course, then what would Portlanders have to bitch about? They could no longer go "you know what, I'm pissed. Let's chain ourselves to gas pumps!"
Monday, April 25, 2005
Finding a groove
So I'm really starting to hit my stride at work. I've only been there about a week (not counting orientation) and already the other new hires are turning to me with their questions, even if there's someone more experienced right there. That makes me feel good, but also makes me feel like maybe I'm in a position that's a little too easy for me.
There's a new girl named Jeniffer. Yes I spelled that right. She's a trip. I've found that people who have normal names spelled un-normally are anything but normal. Today she just put her stack of charts down started rubbing her temples and looks at me and says "so does your high ponytail ever give you a headache at work, or is it just me?" I was going to say something witty in reply, but I just started laughing. I wasn't sure how to follow that one up. She also pronounces abbreviations and such as actual words. For example....the abbreviation for "Doctor's Order" is DO. She would say...."just let me take care of this Doh." NCHT is pronounced Nicht. And perhaps her most bizarre quirk: Because we work in close quarters, you're always having to step to the side to let someone by. Every time you step aside to let her through, she puts one hand out in front of her like she's a damn torpedo and makes this little sound effect. She's a little strange, but she makes work interesting.
Rachel's decided to run the Seattle Marathon in November. Consequently, I've committed to running the half marathon. It's a good thing this race is in 7 months, not 7 days, because I'd never make it. I've been running every day for almost a week now, and little by little, I can see progress. It's extremely frustrating right now, because I'm so out of shape that I don't even feel like I've gotten any sort of benefit from the exercise before I'm out of breath. I just need to realize that eventually it'll come. I'm just kind of a results driven person, and when I'm not seeing results, I'm not sure why I'm doing it. But Rachel's a pretty good motivator. I was going to take a day off last Thursday or Friday, and as I'm sitting on the couch watching tv, every 15 minutes or so, she'd go "so are you going to exercise today?" or "have you exercised yet today?" Drove me batty. Finally I stormed upstairs to put on shorts and a t-shirt, much to her delight. Damn slave-driver that woman.
That's all I got. Remember to love the one you're with. And if you're with more than one, love 'em all!
There's a new girl named Jeniffer. Yes I spelled that right. She's a trip. I've found that people who have normal names spelled un-normally are anything but normal. Today she just put her stack of charts down started rubbing her temples and looks at me and says "so does your high ponytail ever give you a headache at work, or is it just me?" I was going to say something witty in reply, but I just started laughing. I wasn't sure how to follow that one up. She also pronounces abbreviations and such as actual words. For example....the abbreviation for "Doctor's Order" is DO. She would say...."just let me take care of this Doh." NCHT is pronounced Nicht. And perhaps her most bizarre quirk: Because we work in close quarters, you're always having to step to the side to let someone by. Every time you step aside to let her through, she puts one hand out in front of her like she's a damn torpedo and makes this little sound effect. She's a little strange, but she makes work interesting.
Rachel's decided to run the Seattle Marathon in November. Consequently, I've committed to running the half marathon. It's a good thing this race is in 7 months, not 7 days, because I'd never make it. I've been running every day for almost a week now, and little by little, I can see progress. It's extremely frustrating right now, because I'm so out of shape that I don't even feel like I've gotten any sort of benefit from the exercise before I'm out of breath. I just need to realize that eventually it'll come. I'm just kind of a results driven person, and when I'm not seeing results, I'm not sure why I'm doing it. But Rachel's a pretty good motivator. I was going to take a day off last Thursday or Friday, and as I'm sitting on the couch watching tv, every 15 minutes or so, she'd go "so are you going to exercise today?" or "have you exercised yet today?" Drove me batty. Finally I stormed upstairs to put on shorts and a t-shirt, much to her delight. Damn slave-driver that woman.
That's all I got. Remember to love the one you're with. And if you're with more than one, love 'em all!
Friday, April 22, 2005
An online conversation with Joel
AndySnacks: so my question to you is this:
AkiliOSU: Yes, they are all insane
AkiliOSU: all of them
AndySnacks: it seems like everyone online has these deep emotional problems....so do we?
AndySnacks: and we're in denial?
AkiliOSU: ooooh.....heavy question
AkiliOSU: I don't think so....
AndySnacks: well I mean, c'mon.
AkiliOSU: but its hard to deny the evidence
AkiliOSU: of course we aren't writing journal entries about stalking people and cutting ourselves
AndySnacks: true.
AndySnacks: another interesting question.....
AndySnacks: if I posted this conversation in my journal, would everyone that read it automatically assume that it pertains to them and be offended?
AndySnacks: since they themselves are online?
AkiliOSU: I dunno...either way, I think you should
AndySnacks: agreed.
AkiliOSU: Yes, they are all insane
AkiliOSU: all of them
AndySnacks: it seems like everyone online has these deep emotional problems....so do we?
AndySnacks: and we're in denial?
AkiliOSU: ooooh.....heavy question
AkiliOSU: I don't think so....
AndySnacks: well I mean, c'mon.
AkiliOSU: but its hard to deny the evidence
AkiliOSU: of course we aren't writing journal entries about stalking people and cutting ourselves
AndySnacks: true.
AndySnacks: another interesting question.....
AndySnacks: if I posted this conversation in my journal, would everyone that read it automatically assume that it pertains to them and be offended?
AndySnacks: since they themselves are online?
AkiliOSU: I dunno...either way, I think you should
AndySnacks: agreed.
One is silver and the other is gold
High five to all my friends out there. Without you guys, my life would suck (yes Rachel, you are considered a friend).
I bring this up because I had to rely on my friends bigtime today. The truck known as Brown Sugar once again failed me, leaving me without a way to work and 20 minutes to get there. Enter Sammy, riding in on her white horse we'll call a Nissan Pathfinder. Bang, I'm at work and she was probably late to her 8:00 class. Huge props to her.
The only reason I'm home right now is because Sherrie from work drove me home. She lives about two blocks from the clinic, yet drove me all the way across town. Props to her as well.
Props to Joel for driving down here to watch the NFL Draft with me tomorrow....meaning he'll have to leave Portland around 7:30 in the morning to get here for the first pick. Now that I'll have a little backup when Rachel wants to watch Trading Spaces or some other decorating show.
Props to Rachel for deciding that we should grill out last night. Really I don't think anything's better than bbq'ing some bugers and brats and sitting on your porch in the evening as the sun goes down. No joke, probably the best meal I've had in at least a year, when you factor in food, ambience, company and conversation.
Props to anyone else that's done anything for me lately and has felt like I didn't appreciate it....believe me I did. More than you know.
I bring this up because I had to rely on my friends bigtime today. The truck known as Brown Sugar once again failed me, leaving me without a way to work and 20 minutes to get there. Enter Sammy, riding in on her white horse we'll call a Nissan Pathfinder. Bang, I'm at work and she was probably late to her 8:00 class. Huge props to her.
The only reason I'm home right now is because Sherrie from work drove me home. She lives about two blocks from the clinic, yet drove me all the way across town. Props to her as well.
Props to Joel for driving down here to watch the NFL Draft with me tomorrow....meaning he'll have to leave Portland around 7:30 in the morning to get here for the first pick. Now that I'll have a little backup when Rachel wants to watch Trading Spaces or some other decorating show.
Props to Rachel for deciding that we should grill out last night. Really I don't think anything's better than bbq'ing some bugers and brats and sitting on your porch in the evening as the sun goes down. No joke, probably the best meal I've had in at least a year, when you factor in food, ambience, company and conversation.
Props to anyone else that's done anything for me lately and has felt like I didn't appreciate it....believe me I did. More than you know.
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
Growing old but not growing up
A scary realization entered my mind today the other day. I realized that it's just a matter of time before the people I depend on to service my car, pilot the plane I take to see friends, even operate on me when I'm sick or injured, are going to be younger than I am. It's totally surreal. Already, I look up to LeBron James and Amare Stoudemire and go "wow, did you see that? That was amazing." Both are younger than me. My closer on my favorite team, Francisco Rodriguez, is barely 22. I'm depending on this guy to slam the door and win games for the Angels. He was just starting High School when I graduated.
I'm still of the age where I feel like I know more than almost everyone younger than me. So the first time I go into the doctor's office and some guy (or girl) a little younger than me walks in and says "alright sir, why don't you put this gown on and we'll see what's up," I think it's going to be a little hard for me to take him/her seriously. And I know that this doctor will be every bit as qualified as any other doctor older than me, but still....that's strange. Already, a lot of the people overseas fighting for freedom and those stationed here in the US defending our borders were barely out of grade school when I finished high school. I'm depending on these lil' whippersnappers to defend my freedom. This is the first time I've actually felt "old," and it's a little scary.
The sun is shining through the window right now right into my face. Seems like it's going to be a beautiful day right? Well, Mr. Weatherbug tells me the temperature outside right now is 37 degrees. Oh joy. That ought to make for a fun ride in the truck to work. Woo ha.
I'm still of the age where I feel like I know more than almost everyone younger than me. So the first time I go into the doctor's office and some guy (or girl) a little younger than me walks in and says "alright sir, why don't you put this gown on and we'll see what's up," I think it's going to be a little hard for me to take him/her seriously. And I know that this doctor will be every bit as qualified as any other doctor older than me, but still....that's strange. Already, a lot of the people overseas fighting for freedom and those stationed here in the US defending our borders were barely out of grade school when I finished high school. I'm depending on these lil' whippersnappers to defend my freedom. This is the first time I've actually felt "old," and it's a little scary.
The sun is shining through the window right now right into my face. Seems like it's going to be a beautiful day right? Well, Mr. Weatherbug tells me the temperature outside right now is 37 degrees. Oh joy. That ought to make for a fun ride in the truck to work. Woo ha.
Friday, April 15, 2005
Found this article on ESPN.com about the "fan-terference" and thought I'd add my comments in bold.
BOSTON -- The fiancee of the Red Sox fan shoved by Gary Sheffield during Thursday night's game at Fenway Park came to her husband-to-be's defense, saying he had no intention of interfering with the play.
Of course she's going to come to his defense, she's his fiancee and she wants to get her name in the papers too!
The fan, Chris House of Dorchester, Mass., took what appeared to be a swipe at Sheffield as the right fielder was trying to make a play on a ball hit into the corner by Jason Varitek in the eighth inning of Boston's 8-5 win over New York.
"He would never do that," Jodi Ingerbritson told the Boston Herald.
well dear, he clearly did
Replays were shown continually on networks Friday morning.
As Sheffield followed Varitek's roller, he appeared to come into contact with House. Judging from replays, House appeared to reach over the low wall in an attempt to get the ball. At worst, he appeared to interfere with Sheffield's attempt to field the ball.
"He just said he was going for the ball," Ingerbritson told the Herald, in defense of House.
He's already lying to his bride to be. This marriage is doomed. I have a hard time believing he was going for the ball....he didn't even bend at the waist. Not many people can grab a ball rolling on the ground without bending over or kneeling - Inspector Gadget and King Kong are the only ones coming to mind right now.
Replays were shown continually on networks Friday morning.
As Sheffield followed Varitek's roller, he appeared to come into contact with House. Judging from replays, House appeared to reach over the low wall in an attempt to get the ball. At worst, he appeared to interfere with Sheffield's attempt to field the ball.
I tend to agree that he was "at worst".
Sheffield turned and shoved House before throwing the ball back to the infield. Then he whirled around with a cocked fist, but restrained himself and began shouting in House's face.
A security official quickly jumped between the two. House was escorted by security out of Fenway but wasn't arrested following the incident.
Ingerbritson said she spoke to her fiance shortly after the incident and, according to her, he said he never made contact with Sheffield. Sheffield told reporters after the game that "something hit me in the mouth. It felt like a hand. I thought my lip was busted."
have you seen the replay? He most definitely did come in contact with Sheffield
"He's been a season ticket-holder for a lot of years and he's always careful not to interfere with the ball," Ingerbritson told the Herald.
so after years of being good, he just picked this moment to be a dumbass? I don't buy it. I still don't think he was going for the ball though....he probably just thought it'd be funny to knock Sheff's hat off or something. What an idiot.
House refused to elaborate.
"I'm not going to say anything till [Friday]," he was quoted as saying.
gotta have time to fabricate a response and make sure the cameras are all there?
Asked what he was thinking when he restrained himself, Sheffield mentioned Ron Artest. The Indiana Pacers player rushed into the stands during an NBA game last November, beating a man he thought had doused him with beer. Five players, including Artest, and seven fans were charged in the ensuing melee, and Artest was suspended for the rest of the season.
sure Sheff, either that or you realized that it would've been 35,000 on 1
At least one fan outside Fenway came to House's defense.
"All he [the fan] was doing was reaching down to catch the ball," said 16-year-old Rachel Amaral.
My last comment is that I still can't for the life of me figure out why that Angels fan that beat Reggie Sanders over the head with a Thunder-Stik during the World Series in 2002 wasn't skewered in the media. That's one of the most heinous acts I've ever seen by a fan.....much worse than what this House guy did. Was it because she was female? I really never got that one answered.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
BOSTON -- The fiancee of the Red Sox fan shoved by Gary Sheffield during Thursday night's game at Fenway Park came to her husband-to-be's defense, saying he had no intention of interfering with the play.
Of course she's going to come to his defense, she's his fiancee and she wants to get her name in the papers too!
The fan, Chris House of Dorchester, Mass., took what appeared to be a swipe at Sheffield as the right fielder was trying to make a play on a ball hit into the corner by Jason Varitek in the eighth inning of Boston's 8-5 win over New York.
"He would never do that," Jodi Ingerbritson told the Boston Herald.
well dear, he clearly did
Replays were shown continually on networks Friday morning.
As Sheffield followed Varitek's roller, he appeared to come into contact with House. Judging from replays, House appeared to reach over the low wall in an attempt to get the ball. At worst, he appeared to interfere with Sheffield's attempt to field the ball.
"He just said he was going for the ball," Ingerbritson told the Herald, in defense of House.
He's already lying to his bride to be. This marriage is doomed. I have a hard time believing he was going for the ball....he didn't even bend at the waist. Not many people can grab a ball rolling on the ground without bending over or kneeling - Inspector Gadget and King Kong are the only ones coming to mind right now.
Replays were shown continually on networks Friday morning.
As Sheffield followed Varitek's roller, he appeared to come into contact with House. Judging from replays, House appeared to reach over the low wall in an attempt to get the ball. At worst, he appeared to interfere with Sheffield's attempt to field the ball.
I tend to agree that he was "at worst".
Sheffield turned and shoved House before throwing the ball back to the infield. Then he whirled around with a cocked fist, but restrained himself and began shouting in House's face.
A security official quickly jumped between the two. House was escorted by security out of Fenway but wasn't arrested following the incident.
Ingerbritson said she spoke to her fiance shortly after the incident and, according to her, he said he never made contact with Sheffield. Sheffield told reporters after the game that "something hit me in the mouth. It felt like a hand. I thought my lip was busted."
have you seen the replay? He most definitely did come in contact with Sheffield
"He's been a season ticket-holder for a lot of years and he's always careful not to interfere with the ball," Ingerbritson told the Herald.
so after years of being good, he just picked this moment to be a dumbass? I don't buy it. I still don't think he was going for the ball though....he probably just thought it'd be funny to knock Sheff's hat off or something. What an idiot.
House refused to elaborate.
"I'm not going to say anything till [Friday]," he was quoted as saying.
gotta have time to fabricate a response and make sure the cameras are all there?
Asked what he was thinking when he restrained himself, Sheffield mentioned Ron Artest. The Indiana Pacers player rushed into the stands during an NBA game last November, beating a man he thought had doused him with beer. Five players, including Artest, and seven fans were charged in the ensuing melee, and Artest was suspended for the rest of the season.
sure Sheff, either that or you realized that it would've been 35,000 on 1
At least one fan outside Fenway came to House's defense.
"All he [the fan] was doing was reaching down to catch the ball," said 16-year-old Rachel Amaral.
My last comment is that I still can't for the life of me figure out why that Angels fan that beat Reggie Sanders over the head with a Thunder-Stik during the World Series in 2002 wasn't skewered in the media. That's one of the most heinous acts I've ever seen by a fan.....much worse than what this House guy did. Was it because she was female? I really never got that one answered.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Thursday, April 14, 2005
Lasselle's in print
In case you missed it - and I'll bet you did since I missed it myself....my brother wrote a column for the OSU newspaper earlier this week. I thought it was pretty good, but then again, I'm biased. Take a look for yourself, and feel free to comment....I'll relay any comments to the guy myself, I know he'd appreciate it.
Grant's Column
Grant's Column
Quick Hits
* After what happened at the Red Sox-Yankees game, I think it's inevitable that more of a buffer zone will exist between fans and the action at sporting events in the future. What's more sad is that the people who fork over the large amounts of cash to sit close to the action don't do so to enjoy the action, they do so to be PART of the action. They willing fork over hundreds of dollars for tickets just so they can affect the game in some way.....be it heckling a player or an official, trying to distract a coach, or physically disrupting the game. I can almost guarantee that fan went to the game tonight HOPING that there would be a play in the right field corner that he'd be able to be a part of. Although I know it will never happen, I'd be content with a ban on alcohol at sporting events. It's easy for me to say that since I don't drink....maybe if they could somehow scan ID's and only allow two drinks per person or something.
* I got a call back from the Central Willamette Community Credit Union today...they want to interview me. Apparently the fact that I knew that 200-8 equalled 192 was enough to convince them that they should hire me. Tough beans though....I already have a job, and it pays more than they would.
* Now, more than ever, driving a truck with a single digit MPG ratio is a bad idea. I put $25 in there on Monday, and it was gone by today....had to put $25 more in. That's $50 in a week, and all I do is drive from my apartment to work and back...a round trip of about 10 miles. I'd say tops...I've put 100 miles on the car this week. By my calculations, that's 10 miles a gallon. That's if I made it 100 miles. I doubt it.
* Speaking of jobs, I haven't looked forward to a weekend this much since I don't know when.
* I checked my graduation status online yesterday....I actually did it. The funny thing...it takes 180 credits to graduate. I had 120 unused credits. Those are credits I either failed, withdrew from, or didn't need to meet my requirements. That means I almost wasted a whole degrees worth of credits. I don't think I'll ever tell my children this.
* It took me so long to graduate that my brother and sister, both of whom were in middle school when I got my drivers license, almost beat me to a degree. They're graduating at the end of this term.
* While watching the Women's Curling World Championships the other day, Rachel realized that she sat next to one of the US Curlers on the plane from Madison to Minneapolis last month. Pretty cool. We watched most of the competition.....Sweeden came from behind to win in the 10th end. Exciting stuff....renewed my affection for curling. Just wish I lived closer to a curling club.
* My favorite baseball player of all time is Tris Speaker. I think he stopped playing about 50 or 60 years before I was born, but I love the guy. All I know about him is that he hit a ton of doubles and played extremely shallow in centerfield because he was confident he could catch anything hit over his head. Awesome. Plus he's in a lot of crossword puzzles for some strange reason.
* TiVo and other DVR devices may be the best invention since television itself.
* Had this conversation with Rachel the other night:
Me: Hey, want to go see Sahara?
Rachel: Is that the one with Matthew McConaughey?
Me: Yup.
Rachel: I don't know...I can't figure out what it's about.
Me: I can't either. Want to see it?
Rachel: Why would you want to see it if you don't know what it's about? It just looks like explosions in the desert to me.
Me: Exactly!
* I got a call back from the Central Willamette Community Credit Union today...they want to interview me. Apparently the fact that I knew that 200-8 equalled 192 was enough to convince them that they should hire me. Tough beans though....I already have a job, and it pays more than they would.
* Now, more than ever, driving a truck with a single digit MPG ratio is a bad idea. I put $25 in there on Monday, and it was gone by today....had to put $25 more in. That's $50 in a week, and all I do is drive from my apartment to work and back...a round trip of about 10 miles. I'd say tops...I've put 100 miles on the car this week. By my calculations, that's 10 miles a gallon. That's if I made it 100 miles. I doubt it.
* Speaking of jobs, I haven't looked forward to a weekend this much since I don't know when.
* I checked my graduation status online yesterday....I actually did it. The funny thing...it takes 180 credits to graduate. I had 120 unused credits. Those are credits I either failed, withdrew from, or didn't need to meet my requirements. That means I almost wasted a whole degrees worth of credits. I don't think I'll ever tell my children this.
* It took me so long to graduate that my brother and sister, both of whom were in middle school when I got my drivers license, almost beat me to a degree. They're graduating at the end of this term.
* While watching the Women's Curling World Championships the other day, Rachel realized that she sat next to one of the US Curlers on the plane from Madison to Minneapolis last month. Pretty cool. We watched most of the competition.....Sweeden came from behind to win in the 10th end. Exciting stuff....renewed my affection for curling. Just wish I lived closer to a curling club.
* My favorite baseball player of all time is Tris Speaker. I think he stopped playing about 50 or 60 years before I was born, but I love the guy. All I know about him is that he hit a ton of doubles and played extremely shallow in centerfield because he was confident he could catch anything hit over his head. Awesome. Plus he's in a lot of crossword puzzles for some strange reason.
* TiVo and other DVR devices may be the best invention since television itself.
* Had this conversation with Rachel the other night:
Me: Hey, want to go see Sahara?
Rachel: Is that the one with Matthew McConaughey?
Me: Yup.
Rachel: I don't know...I can't figure out what it's about.
Me: I can't either. Want to see it?
Rachel: Why would you want to see it if you don't know what it's about? It just looks like explosions in the desert to me.
Me: Exactly!
High School Memories
OUR SENIOR YEAR OF HIGH SCHOOL
What year was it?
1996-97
What were your three favorite bands?
Oooh, I'd have to say Sir Mix-A-Lot, Lila McCann and probably Puff Daddy and Ma$e....I used to listen to that "Can't nobody hold me down" song every day on my way to Burger King for a crossainwich when I skipped Journalism with JR.
What was your favorite outfit?
I guess just jeans and a t-shirt....don't really remember all that well. I used to like baseball gamedays when we got to wear our jerseys to school. Man I'd kill to have a '97 Wildcat throwback
What was up with your hair?
Not much different from now....only difference was a little less gray.
Who were your best friends?
Senior Year, my best friends were probably JR and the girls on the basketball team. That's who I hung out with the most.
What did you do after school?
In the fall I'd go running or play hoops to prep for basketball season....then winter was bball practice and spring was baseball practice. I remember some days in the spring I'd have to be at school at 5:30 in the morning for Mayfest rehersals, then I'd be there til 7 or 8 with baseball. Funny thing though....I loved every minute of it, and I never got worn down. A 14 hour day now might put me in a coma.
Where did you work?
Ha! Work! At that point I didn't know what work is....although I guess you could contest that I still don't.....during the summers I'd bale hay for my dad and work hoops camps.
Did you take the bus?
Only for sports related activities.....I technically should have been going to West Linn, so no buses ran by my house.
Who did you have a crush on?
Let's see here.....I had crushes on a lot of girls that year....Cassi Buell, Sarah Leitch, Lynnelle Smith, Jen Draney, Keely Thompson and Sarah Ashcraft are the first ones to come to mind.
Did you fight with your parents?
Wow....I remember I had one huge fight with each of my parents that year. The first one was with my mom....she overheard me telling Grant about a party I was at where there was drinking going on, and she blew a fuse. Just started crying and talking about how she couldn't trust me and all this stuff. I fired right back at her...called her stupid for ever thinking I'd touch alcohol and for eavesdropping on my conversation. We ended up seeing each others points and everything was ok.
The fight with Dad was just pure comedy. JR and I had gone golfing one Saturday. While we were right in the middle of our round, JR got a page from our American Legion baseball coach. He'd scheduled a spur of the moment practice or something. Well, since JR and I had already been told we'd see limited action on the Legion team so they could look at the younger guys, we said screw it and pretended that we never got word of the practice. Well after the practice we met up with some girls at JR's apartment to watch a movie. Dad, who had come to Wilsonville for the practice, drove by JR's when we didn't show at practice. He just lost it....Copenhagen was flying everywhere, talking about how I had made a commitment to this team and this that and the other and ordered me to go home immediately. I tried explaining that we were golfing and hadn't even known there was a practice. Didn't matter...he was yelling so hard that his face was purple. I was trying not to laugh, but I was also pissed off that Dad had shown me up in front of JR and the girls. He ended up being over it by dinner time though, and I was able to meet back up with everyone to watch the second movie we'd rented.
Who did you have a CELEBRITY crush on?
Lila McCann
Did you smoke cigarettes?
Does a bear shit in the urinal? Of course not!
Did you have a 'clique'?
I was like the anti clique. I hung out with everyone. Problem was that my friends all hated each other, so I could never do anything with all of them.
Did you have "The Max" like Zach Kelly and Slater?
I guess you could consider Chili's...although it was nothing like that. We spent a lot of time hanging out at Baskin Robbins....locking the Myers sisters in the freezer and stealing ice cream cakes....that was fun until the owner installed video surveillance.
Admit it, were you popular?
I think everyone knew who I was, but most people thought I was weird or dorky or something. The fact that I was good at basketball and baseball definitely helped my popularity though....got me voted friendliest in our class.
Who did you want to be just like?
In high school I was determined to be unlike anyone else. I think I did a fairly good job.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
At that point I had no clue.
Where did you think you'd be at the age you are now?
Definitely not working for 8 bucks an hour...I did have this plan to be married by 25 and having kids by 27.....clock is ticking I guess.
What year was it?
1996-97
What were your three favorite bands?
Oooh, I'd have to say Sir Mix-A-Lot, Lila McCann and probably Puff Daddy and Ma$e....I used to listen to that "Can't nobody hold me down" song every day on my way to Burger King for a crossainwich when I skipped Journalism with JR.
What was your favorite outfit?
I guess just jeans and a t-shirt....don't really remember all that well. I used to like baseball gamedays when we got to wear our jerseys to school. Man I'd kill to have a '97 Wildcat throwback
What was up with your hair?
Not much different from now....only difference was a little less gray.
Who were your best friends?
Senior Year, my best friends were probably JR and the girls on the basketball team. That's who I hung out with the most.
What did you do after school?
In the fall I'd go running or play hoops to prep for basketball season....then winter was bball practice and spring was baseball practice. I remember some days in the spring I'd have to be at school at 5:30 in the morning for Mayfest rehersals, then I'd be there til 7 or 8 with baseball. Funny thing though....I loved every minute of it, and I never got worn down. A 14 hour day now might put me in a coma.
Where did you work?
Ha! Work! At that point I didn't know what work is....although I guess you could contest that I still don't.....during the summers I'd bale hay for my dad and work hoops camps.
Did you take the bus?
Only for sports related activities.....I technically should have been going to West Linn, so no buses ran by my house.
Who did you have a crush on?
Let's see here.....I had crushes on a lot of girls that year....Cassi Buell, Sarah Leitch, Lynnelle Smith, Jen Draney, Keely Thompson and Sarah Ashcraft are the first ones to come to mind.
Did you fight with your parents?
Wow....I remember I had one huge fight with each of my parents that year. The first one was with my mom....she overheard me telling Grant about a party I was at where there was drinking going on, and she blew a fuse. Just started crying and talking about how she couldn't trust me and all this stuff. I fired right back at her...called her stupid for ever thinking I'd touch alcohol and for eavesdropping on my conversation. We ended up seeing each others points and everything was ok.
The fight with Dad was just pure comedy. JR and I had gone golfing one Saturday. While we were right in the middle of our round, JR got a page from our American Legion baseball coach. He'd scheduled a spur of the moment practice or something. Well, since JR and I had already been told we'd see limited action on the Legion team so they could look at the younger guys, we said screw it and pretended that we never got word of the practice. Well after the practice we met up with some girls at JR's apartment to watch a movie. Dad, who had come to Wilsonville for the practice, drove by JR's when we didn't show at practice. He just lost it....Copenhagen was flying everywhere, talking about how I had made a commitment to this team and this that and the other and ordered me to go home immediately. I tried explaining that we were golfing and hadn't even known there was a practice. Didn't matter...he was yelling so hard that his face was purple. I was trying not to laugh, but I was also pissed off that Dad had shown me up in front of JR and the girls. He ended up being over it by dinner time though, and I was able to meet back up with everyone to watch the second movie we'd rented.
Who did you have a CELEBRITY crush on?
Lila McCann
Did you smoke cigarettes?
Does a bear shit in the urinal? Of course not!
Did you have a 'clique'?
I was like the anti clique. I hung out with everyone. Problem was that my friends all hated each other, so I could never do anything with all of them.
Did you have "The Max" like Zach Kelly and Slater?
I guess you could consider Chili's...although it was nothing like that. We spent a lot of time hanging out at Baskin Robbins....locking the Myers sisters in the freezer and stealing ice cream cakes....that was fun until the owner installed video surveillance.
Admit it, were you popular?
I think everyone knew who I was, but most people thought I was weird or dorky or something. The fact that I was good at basketball and baseball definitely helped my popularity though....got me voted friendliest in our class.
Who did you want to be just like?
In high school I was determined to be unlike anyone else. I think I did a fairly good job.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
At that point I had no clue.
Where did you think you'd be at the age you are now?
Definitely not working for 8 bucks an hour...I did have this plan to be married by 25 and having kids by 27.....clock is ticking I guess.
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
I think the world's gone crazy.
So the other day, I commented on Lila McCann. I decided to check out her website, to see if she had any new tour dates, things of that sort - since I don't think her marketing budget is huge these days....probably wouldn't hear anything about it on the radio. Anyways, I saw that there was a forum where fans could post on message boards. So I thought, what the hell, I'll post. So I wrote a little ditty about the concert I went to back in the day. Then all the other "fans" jumped in and it just got strange. Turns out one of the fans is from Wilsonville, so I mentioned that I went to high school there. She responded saying something about how she lives across the street from the high school. Then all these people just started cautioning against divulging personal info on the web...then start divulging more information about this girl that didn't even know.....It's really hilarious....you should check out the thread. Click on the "My Lila Memory" thread. Lila Talk Forums
New job
Well work wasn't all that bad...I was right though - bored by lunch. Although that's only because they won't let me learn a bunch of stuff until I go through orientation next week. I'll never understand that....like I'm incapable of learning new things until I'm explained the benefits package and given a tetanus shot. So my job yesterday consisted of a tour then refiling medical charts. All day. But I can't really complain...there's people to talk to and I'm not wearing work boots and protective glasses.
When I got to work in the morning, the instructions that were given to me by HR were to go to the front desk and ask for my supervisor, Onnie at 8 am. So I did. The lady looks at me and is like "Onnie doesn't get here until 9.....is there something I can help you with?" So I go "well, I'm supposed to start working today, and my instructions were to ask for her, that's all I know." So she sends me to the reception area and says someone will be with me shortly. About 5 minutes later, this guy about 50 with a hawaiian shirt on comes out and says "Hi I'm George.....can I help you?" so I tell him that all I know is that I was supposed to ask for Onnie when I got there. He's like "oh, so you're interviewing?" No George, I've already been hired. So he says he's going to get someone else and to just sit tight. Then as he's walking away, he goes "welcome aboard!" So I sit there for about 5 more minutes before this nice girl named Jennie comes to talk to me. Apparently Onnie FORGOT that I was starting work today and as such didn't show up early. So Jennie takes me back into the office and takes a copy of my drivers license and social security card before pawning me off on some other lady to give me a tour. So this lady, who seems nice enough but is rather annoyed that she has to show me around, gives me a tour that pretty much went like this "This is the records room with all the charts....those are the computers we record the charts on, there's more charts back here in this room, and that's about it." So then they take me back to Onnie's office and tell me to just sit there until she shows up. So I sit there for about 10 minutes while all these people mill about behind me asking questions like "who's that guy" and "shouldn't we give him a tour or have someone show him the ropes?" Like I can't hear them. it was pretty amusing.
I ended up getting shown to the break room by this girl named Stephanie. She's pretty cool, and became my "best friend" at the office by default. Her and this girl Heather who was on break at the same time as us. These girls are insane. They just start hurling insults at each other and giggling uncontrollably. And apparently they're like best friends. Sadly, I actually got hired because Stephanie is quitting, so I assume Heather's insult binges are going to be hurled my way in the future.
A few quick hits, then I'm off to my "dentist appointment"
* If you get a chance, watch Nanny 911 next Monday. You might be asking, "why in the hell would I do that?" Well, for this conversation of course:
Crying kid: Give me my toys back!
Dad at the end of his rope: Give me my life back!
* Rachel made me watch a movie called Savannah Smiles last night. Cute movie made in 1982 about a rich kid who is neglected by her parents and runs away only to be found by two escaped convicts. We decided to look up what happened to the girl who played Savannah. Rachel's first comment was "I'll bet she ended up in porn." Rachel was close...she ended up overdosing on heroin at the age of 22.
* I talked to my dad last night....told him I was going to feel bad if I was offered the job at OSU and had to quit at the Clinic after they followed up with me and actually called me when a job came available. He said "don't think for a second that if they had to downsize that they'd keep you just cause you're nice. They're gonna do what's in their best interest, so there's no reason you shouldn't do the same." That's why we have parents....to help make tough decisions seem easier.
*I'm listening to a Michael Jackson song, and he just referred to a girl as a "tenderoni." Is that a compliment?
*I decided that if Carrie Underwood wins American Idol and comes out with an album, we're definitely going to buy it.
*Only took maintenance two weeks to fix the hole in our roof. Nice job guys.
That's all I got. Remember that if you find a penny, pick it up and all the day you'll have good luck. Or a sore back. Peace, and I'm out.
When I got to work in the morning, the instructions that were given to me by HR were to go to the front desk and ask for my supervisor, Onnie at 8 am. So I did. The lady looks at me and is like "Onnie doesn't get here until 9.....is there something I can help you with?" So I go "well, I'm supposed to start working today, and my instructions were to ask for her, that's all I know." So she sends me to the reception area and says someone will be with me shortly. About 5 minutes later, this guy about 50 with a hawaiian shirt on comes out and says "Hi I'm George.....can I help you?" so I tell him that all I know is that I was supposed to ask for Onnie when I got there. He's like "oh, so you're interviewing?" No George, I've already been hired. So he says he's going to get someone else and to just sit tight. Then as he's walking away, he goes "welcome aboard!" So I sit there for about 5 more minutes before this nice girl named Jennie comes to talk to me. Apparently Onnie FORGOT that I was starting work today and as such didn't show up early. So Jennie takes me back into the office and takes a copy of my drivers license and social security card before pawning me off on some other lady to give me a tour. So this lady, who seems nice enough but is rather annoyed that she has to show me around, gives me a tour that pretty much went like this "This is the records room with all the charts....those are the computers we record the charts on, there's more charts back here in this room, and that's about it." So then they take me back to Onnie's office and tell me to just sit there until she shows up. So I sit there for about 10 minutes while all these people mill about behind me asking questions like "who's that guy" and "shouldn't we give him a tour or have someone show him the ropes?" Like I can't hear them. it was pretty amusing.
I ended up getting shown to the break room by this girl named Stephanie. She's pretty cool, and became my "best friend" at the office by default. Her and this girl Heather who was on break at the same time as us. These girls are insane. They just start hurling insults at each other and giggling uncontrollably. And apparently they're like best friends. Sadly, I actually got hired because Stephanie is quitting, so I assume Heather's insult binges are going to be hurled my way in the future.
A few quick hits, then I'm off to my "dentist appointment"
* If you get a chance, watch Nanny 911 next Monday. You might be asking, "why in the hell would I do that?" Well, for this conversation of course:
Crying kid: Give me my toys back!
Dad at the end of his rope: Give me my life back!
* Rachel made me watch a movie called Savannah Smiles last night. Cute movie made in 1982 about a rich kid who is neglected by her parents and runs away only to be found by two escaped convicts. We decided to look up what happened to the girl who played Savannah. Rachel's first comment was "I'll bet she ended up in porn." Rachel was close...she ended up overdosing on heroin at the age of 22.
* I talked to my dad last night....told him I was going to feel bad if I was offered the job at OSU and had to quit at the Clinic after they followed up with me and actually called me when a job came available. He said "don't think for a second that if they had to downsize that they'd keep you just cause you're nice. They're gonna do what's in their best interest, so there's no reason you shouldn't do the same." That's why we have parents....to help make tough decisions seem easier.
*I'm listening to a Michael Jackson song, and he just referred to a girl as a "tenderoni." Is that a compliment?
*I decided that if Carrie Underwood wins American Idol and comes out with an album, we're definitely going to buy it.
*Only took maintenance two weeks to fix the hole in our roof. Nice job guys.
That's all I got. Remember that if you find a penny, pick it up and all the day you'll have good luck. Or a sore back. Peace, and I'm out.
Monday, April 11, 2005
Lila McCann sighting
Well it looks like Lila McCann is releasing an album. This would be her fourth. For those of you who don't know, Lila McCann is a 23 year old country music artist who is from Steilacoom, Washington. I've sort of been a fan of hers for about 8 years now. Ok I've been a huge fan. I even joined her fan club a few years back in the hopes it'd get me a chance to meet her. This is my one and only celebrity crush. You'd think I'd pick somebody super famous like Alyssa Milano or Britney Spears. No, I pick a country music artist whose career peaked when she was 15. Personally, I think she has some great songs that nobody ever heard, but then again, I'm a huge fan. I saw her in concert twice in two days a few years back. The summer I was in Colorado, I flew back to Oregon to see her in concert.
Maybe I had a crush on her because I figured 'hey she's not THAT famous.' Like I had a chance or something. What a retard. That's like saying 'I'll bet I could beat David Duvall in golf cause hey, he's not that good anymore.' Right. The autographed picture I got at the Benton County fair now sits in my closet because Rachel thinks it'd be strange to have a picture of a teenage girl up on the wall that says "To Andy, love Lila." She's probably right. But I don't think I'll ever throw it away either. I can't even sell the thing on Ebay since it's personalized. Not that it'd fetch a good price even if it wasn't. I doubt there's too many other Andy's out there that have all of Lila McCann's albums, a poster and are like "I really wish I had a personalized autographed picture."
You know the Friends episode where they make lists of celebrities that they could sleep with if they ever got the chance and not face the consequences from their boyfriends/girlfriends? Whenever someone asks me that, the list always starts with Lila McCann. But I'd imagine she's all but lost celebrity status. Does that mean I have to take her off my list? What are the bylaws of the list? Does anyone know? I'd also be interested to see who is on other people's lists.....so cough 'em up!
Maybe I had a crush on her because I figured 'hey she's not THAT famous.' Like I had a chance or something. What a retard. That's like saying 'I'll bet I could beat David Duvall in golf cause hey, he's not that good anymore.' Right. The autographed picture I got at the Benton County fair now sits in my closet because Rachel thinks it'd be strange to have a picture of a teenage girl up on the wall that says "To Andy, love Lila." She's probably right. But I don't think I'll ever throw it away either. I can't even sell the thing on Ebay since it's personalized. Not that it'd fetch a good price even if it wasn't. I doubt there's too many other Andy's out there that have all of Lila McCann's albums, a poster and are like "I really wish I had a personalized autographed picture."
You know the Friends episode where they make lists of celebrities that they could sleep with if they ever got the chance and not face the consequences from their boyfriends/girlfriends? Whenever someone asks me that, the list always starts with Lila McCann. But I'd imagine she's all but lost celebrity status. Does that mean I have to take her off my list? What are the bylaws of the list? Does anyone know? I'd also be interested to see who is on other people's lists.....so cough 'em up!
Bring on the work
Well it's official...not having a job is far far worse than having a job.
I've been bored out of my flipping mind today. My day has consisted of rotating between the internet, Xbox, and television. Except for that hour that I drove to the clinic to pick up my employment papers. That was fun. I decided to get gas so I didn't have to worry about it in the morning on my way to work tomorrow. While I'm waiting to get filled up, I left the radio on to listen to the Mariners game. Wouldn't you know my battery would fail when I tried to start it back up? Brown Sugar strikes again. That truck has been with us since I was born.....has over 550,000 miles on it....it's like part of the family. Like the uncle who sometimes blows off Christmas for a bender in Tijuana. You never know when Brown Sugar is just going to call in sick. I'm actually preparing for issues tomorrow morning. Nothing like being late to work your first day on the job because your truck is a dinosaur. Wouldn't be a good way to start off....especially since I've already lied to my boss. What you say? Andy lied to his boss? Well he had to.
Remember how I was asked to interview for a job at OSU with the college of agriculture? Well the interview is Wednesday morning. So I had to call my new boss and tell her something to get me out of work in the morning so I could make this interview. Hello dentist appointment!
Hopefully this interview with OSU goes well.....I'd hate to think that I lied for no good reason. Although how often do you accept a job and then quit it the next week? Oh wait, I did that last month. I'm setting all sorts of records here. Problem is I'm never going to have any references at this rate. Nobody's going to give glowing remarks about the guy who quit a week after hiring.
I'm excited about working tomorrow. I'm sure the excitement will last about til lunch. But hey...anything's better than the bore-fest my life has been today. Only about 2 hours til Rachel gets home!
I've been bored out of my flipping mind today. My day has consisted of rotating between the internet, Xbox, and television. Except for that hour that I drove to the clinic to pick up my employment papers. That was fun. I decided to get gas so I didn't have to worry about it in the morning on my way to work tomorrow. While I'm waiting to get filled up, I left the radio on to listen to the Mariners game. Wouldn't you know my battery would fail when I tried to start it back up? Brown Sugar strikes again. That truck has been with us since I was born.....has over 550,000 miles on it....it's like part of the family. Like the uncle who sometimes blows off Christmas for a bender in Tijuana. You never know when Brown Sugar is just going to call in sick. I'm actually preparing for issues tomorrow morning. Nothing like being late to work your first day on the job because your truck is a dinosaur. Wouldn't be a good way to start off....especially since I've already lied to my boss. What you say? Andy lied to his boss? Well he had to.
Remember how I was asked to interview for a job at OSU with the college of agriculture? Well the interview is Wednesday morning. So I had to call my new boss and tell her something to get me out of work in the morning so I could make this interview. Hello dentist appointment!
Hopefully this interview with OSU goes well.....I'd hate to think that I lied for no good reason. Although how often do you accept a job and then quit it the next week? Oh wait, I did that last month. I'm setting all sorts of records here. Problem is I'm never going to have any references at this rate. Nobody's going to give glowing remarks about the guy who quit a week after hiring.
I'm excited about working tomorrow. I'm sure the excitement will last about til lunch. But hey...anything's better than the bore-fest my life has been today. Only about 2 hours til Rachel gets home!
Sunday, April 10, 2005
mini polar bears with celebrity DNA
While watching the Angels game last night, Rachel was flabbergasted to learn that you got to run to first base on a dropped third strike. "If you get three strikes, you're out! You don't get a free pass just cause the catcher drops it!" she proclaimed. I started to shake my head, thinking "girls just don't understand the rules." But the more I thought about, the less sense it made. Think about it: You swing a pitch that is so far outside of the strike zone that the catcher cannot even catch it cleanly, and you still have a chance to be safe at first? Can you imagine if this was how everything worked? Say you're a student....if you get below 50% you fail. But if you get below 15%, you get to take another test, and if you pass it you get a B? Maybe someone needs to think about this rule. Although it's hard to imagine baseball without it.
Another interesting idea: Why not have women who know little about baseball announce the games? During the Cubs game yesterday, Bonnie Hunt sang "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during the seventh inning stretch, then stayed in the booth during the bottom of the seventh. She was freakin hilarious! She said things like "Oh he called time, must have sand in his eye" or "there's a high one, and 18 people are going over there to make the catch" or "not only do they have the lead, but all of their uniforms are clean!" It was so ridiculous. I think she was able to pull it off because she was a genuine fan, despite her lack of baseball knowledge. Made the game a lot more entertaning than some former player saying "this guy hits low fastballs better than anyone in the game." We have no frame of reference for this...but something like "all of their uniforms are clean" we can verify. Interesting idea. Akin to putting Dennis Miller in the booth for Monday Night Football.
Another interesting idea: Why not have women who know little about baseball announce the games? During the Cubs game yesterday, Bonnie Hunt sang "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during the seventh inning stretch, then stayed in the booth during the bottom of the seventh. She was freakin hilarious! She said things like "Oh he called time, must have sand in his eye" or "there's a high one, and 18 people are going over there to make the catch" or "not only do they have the lead, but all of their uniforms are clean!" It was so ridiculous. I think she was able to pull it off because she was a genuine fan, despite her lack of baseball knowledge. Made the game a lot more entertaning than some former player saying "this guy hits low fastballs better than anyone in the game." We have no frame of reference for this...but something like "all of their uniforms are clean" we can verify. Interesting idea. Akin to putting Dennis Miller in the booth for Monday Night Football.
Thursday, April 7, 2005
Snoop Doggy Dogg....oughta get himself a jobby job!
Like me! That's right! I am employed. The clinic called me back and offered me a position starting next week. Which is great....full time plus benefits. $8.00 an hour is nothing to write home about, but when your current salary is $8 an hour less than that, I guess it sort of is. So I'm now a medical records clerk. But for how long.......
Today I also got a call from a guy at OSU in the College of Agricultural Sciences. They want me to interview for a Student Services Assistant position. That job pays more, plus it's at OSU which means it'd probably be easier for me to get back into the athletics aspect of the university. Also....I found out that employees of OSU can take classes for $24 a credit! So I might be able to go back to school and get a degree in athletic administration or something. Just a thought.....Right now the furthest thing from my mind is going back to school.
We celebrated my newfound employment with a trip to Red Robin tonight. Sammy and Nicole came too. It's really funny how similar Nicole and Rachel are. Every week when they come over to watch the OC, it seems like they always agree on everything and finish each others sentences. I was cracking up when they both ordered water and healthy meals at Red Robin tonight, while Sammy and I opted for thick burgers with bacon on top, the more traditional Red Robin feast. They even both paid cash, while Sammy and I used plastic. It's quite amusing.
Today I also got a call from a guy at OSU in the College of Agricultural Sciences. They want me to interview for a Student Services Assistant position. That job pays more, plus it's at OSU which means it'd probably be easier for me to get back into the athletics aspect of the university. Also....I found out that employees of OSU can take classes for $24 a credit! So I might be able to go back to school and get a degree in athletic administration or something. Just a thought.....Right now the furthest thing from my mind is going back to school.
We celebrated my newfound employment with a trip to Red Robin tonight. Sammy and Nicole came too. It's really funny how similar Nicole and Rachel are. Every week when they come over to watch the OC, it seems like they always agree on everything and finish each others sentences. I was cracking up when they both ordered water and healthy meals at Red Robin tonight, while Sammy and I opted for thick burgers with bacon on top, the more traditional Red Robin feast. They even both paid cash, while Sammy and I used plastic. It's quite amusing.
Wednesday, April 6, 2005
Interviews & Extra Innings
You know how they call extra innings "free baseball?" Well what do you call it when your favorite team goes into extra innings while you have a free preview of the MLB Extra Innings package? Stealing? Manna from heaven? I don't know.....but I do know that Vladimir Guerrero just swung so hard his helmet was knocked akimbo. The Black Genie is trying to conjure up some voodoo mojo right now.
I had my job interview today...if you can call it that. (The Genie just struck out. Fortunately I have two more wishes.) Basically I went in there, she had a single sheet of paper with about 6-8 questions on it. Some guy that looked to be roughly my age, probably younger, was in the room too, but he didn't say a single word the entire time. She asked me these six questions. All of them she asked me a month and a half ago when I interviewed the first time. My answers hadn't really changed since then, so it was basically a review session. I made sure to let her know that she shouldn't view my lack of experience as a reason not to hire me....I said "give me a week, and you'll think I've been doing it for a year." (Garret Anderson flied to left...one wish left) Then she said thank you, handed me a benefits package, told me what the dress code was, and said "thanks for coming in." Whole thing took about 15 minutes. Ridiculous. Guy who doesn't say a word shows me out. (Rivera grounds out to first....on to the 11th.) They said they'd let me know by Friday. I'll keep my fingers crossed.
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The rest of this post is really for Joel's benefit only. Don't read it unless you really, really, really like baseball. You'll be bored.
*********************************************************
So Joel thinks he knows the way the baseball season is going to go down. I'll humor him. I've got my own picks. I'm sure Joel did a little more research than I did, (who in the blue hell is Gabe Gross?) but I've watched more baseball than should be allowed this week.
NL
Playoff teams
Marlins (They have a perfect offense...speed at the top, power in the middle, and solid guys at the bottom. Pierre and Castillo will be on all the time, and then you've got Cabrera, Delgado, and Lowell to knock 'em in. Scary. They hung 5 on Smoltz in the first inning. Their pitching is solid too, pretty close to what they had when they won it all a few years back.
Cardinals - No reason to think they won't make the world series again this year. Pujols is an absolute monster. Joel's right, he very well could win the triple crown this year, especially with Bonds' health already a question.
Padres - Really I think anyone can win the NL West. They'll beat each other up all year. But I like the Padres simply because a lot of their players played in Portland over the past few years.
Mets (Wild Card) - At some point the Braves will start to drop off. I think this is the year. Aside from Andruw Jones, nobody in their lineup is really scary, except for maybe Furcal at the top. I saw him bunt a ball with one hand today....on purpose. It was amazing. But the Mets are the team. If Pedro goes out to prove he's worth what they paid him....he's a definite Cy Young Candidate, and Beltran might be the most complete player in the game. And I really mean that.
MVP - Pujols. With the lineup around him, they can't walk him. He'll put up huge numbers this year. He didn't strike out once during spring training....when hitters timing is supposedly "off."
Cy Young - Jake Peavy. I took the safe pick with Pujols, so this is my "What?????" pick, akin to having Murray State in the Elite 8 a few years back. I always have one, wouldn't be Andy if I didn't.
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AL
Playoff Teams
Red Sox - I know Joel's down on the team this year, and I agree that they might not be as good as they were last year, but they have one thing the Yankees don't.....chemistry. For whatever reason, chemistry is the way to go the past few years in all sports. You look at the teams that should've won the past few years, your Kobe-Shaq Lakers, the 18-headed monster of the Yankees, The Greatest show on turf St. Louis Rams......and they're losing to teams with no real superstars like the Marlins, Angels, Pistons and Patriots. The Red Sox all like each other, which is way more than you can say about the Yankees right now. I think it's pretty evident that A-Rod is not a likeable guy, for whatever reason. There's bound to be some grumblings that Rivera is finished after his 4 straight blown saves. So the Sox get the nod here. They basically gave up Pedro for Wade Miller, David Wells and Renteria. I think just about anyone would make that trade. There is the threat of them basking in the afterglow of banishing the curse, but I still think they beat the Yanks. The only other team with a chance in the East is the Orioles, but any team with Sammy Sosa is destined for nothing. He's an idiot.
Tigers - Yes the Detroit Tigers. Everyone's hyping the Twins, but I think the Tigers have a more complete lineup. Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau might be real good players, but they're still very young. The Tigers have a veteran lineup top to bottom and include Pudge, Dmitri Young, Magglio Ordonez, Carlos Guillen and Rondell White. That's some serious pop. Their pitching staff is young, but they've been getting better every year. Remember when Mike Maroth lost 20 games two years ago? Last year he was around .500 and lowered his ERA by 1.25. I think they win by a game or something over the Twins.
Angels - Yes I'm a homer.....but they're good too. (They're going to the top of the 12th right now) I like their pitching staff, and for the most part I like their new additions. I was sad to see Eckstein, Glaus and Percival go, but I think you can justify all of their leaving. Cabrera is one of the best defensive shortstops in the league, Glaus does the same thing every year: Lights it up in April and May, gets hurt in June and limps home. Plus Dallas McPherson is supposedly ready. And Percy was good, but K-Rod has earned the closers role. Would've been nice to see Percy end his career as an Angel, but he still wanted to be a closer, so off to Detroit he went. He can still get it done too....he's got more saves
Sorry, I've got to take a break. Soriano just hit a solo homer into the first row....and Guerrero just kind of trotted over and watched it go into the stands. I'm not saying he would've caught it, but he didn't even hustle over to make an attempt. This is why I don't really like the black genie....I think he's so talented, he doesn't work as hard as he could, except when he's batting.
Ok back to Percival....he's had 30 or more saves in each of the past 6 seasons....he's still good.
The wildcard will likely go to the Yankees...they're the best team in baseball top to bottom, but they don't have that chemistry thing.
AL MVP - David Ortiz....that guy just keeps getting better. Every year his batting average goes up along with his HR and RBI totals. He's a beast.
For the World Series I'm going to say Cardinals over the Angels.
Angels are down to their final out after Vlad swings from his ass yet again on the first pitch and comes up with a tapper back to the pitcher. All or nothing with that guy. Garret just lined out and that ends the game. Damn.
Enjoy your day.....sorry for you non baseball fans. That was really a "for Joel" post.
I had my job interview today...if you can call it that. (The Genie just struck out. Fortunately I have two more wishes.) Basically I went in there, she had a single sheet of paper with about 6-8 questions on it. Some guy that looked to be roughly my age, probably younger, was in the room too, but he didn't say a single word the entire time. She asked me these six questions. All of them she asked me a month and a half ago when I interviewed the first time. My answers hadn't really changed since then, so it was basically a review session. I made sure to let her know that she shouldn't view my lack of experience as a reason not to hire me....I said "give me a week, and you'll think I've been doing it for a year." (Garret Anderson flied to left...one wish left) Then she said thank you, handed me a benefits package, told me what the dress code was, and said "thanks for coming in." Whole thing took about 15 minutes. Ridiculous. Guy who doesn't say a word shows me out. (Rivera grounds out to first....on to the 11th.) They said they'd let me know by Friday. I'll keep my fingers crossed.
*****************************************************
The rest of this post is really for Joel's benefit only. Don't read it unless you really, really, really like baseball. You'll be bored.
*********************************************************
So Joel thinks he knows the way the baseball season is going to go down. I'll humor him. I've got my own picks. I'm sure Joel did a little more research than I did, (who in the blue hell is Gabe Gross?) but I've watched more baseball than should be allowed this week.
NL
Playoff teams
Marlins (They have a perfect offense...speed at the top, power in the middle, and solid guys at the bottom. Pierre and Castillo will be on all the time, and then you've got Cabrera, Delgado, and Lowell to knock 'em in. Scary. They hung 5 on Smoltz in the first inning. Their pitching is solid too, pretty close to what they had when they won it all a few years back.
Cardinals - No reason to think they won't make the world series again this year. Pujols is an absolute monster. Joel's right, he very well could win the triple crown this year, especially with Bonds' health already a question.
Padres - Really I think anyone can win the NL West. They'll beat each other up all year. But I like the Padres simply because a lot of their players played in Portland over the past few years.
Mets (Wild Card) - At some point the Braves will start to drop off. I think this is the year. Aside from Andruw Jones, nobody in their lineup is really scary, except for maybe Furcal at the top. I saw him bunt a ball with one hand today....on purpose. It was amazing. But the Mets are the team. If Pedro goes out to prove he's worth what they paid him....he's a definite Cy Young Candidate, and Beltran might be the most complete player in the game. And I really mean that.
MVP - Pujols. With the lineup around him, they can't walk him. He'll put up huge numbers this year. He didn't strike out once during spring training....when hitters timing is supposedly "off."
Cy Young - Jake Peavy. I took the safe pick with Pujols, so this is my "What?????" pick, akin to having Murray State in the Elite 8 a few years back. I always have one, wouldn't be Andy if I didn't.
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AL
Playoff Teams
Red Sox - I know Joel's down on the team this year, and I agree that they might not be as good as they were last year, but they have one thing the Yankees don't.....chemistry. For whatever reason, chemistry is the way to go the past few years in all sports. You look at the teams that should've won the past few years, your Kobe-Shaq Lakers, the 18-headed monster of the Yankees, The Greatest show on turf St. Louis Rams......and they're losing to teams with no real superstars like the Marlins, Angels, Pistons and Patriots. The Red Sox all like each other, which is way more than you can say about the Yankees right now. I think it's pretty evident that A-Rod is not a likeable guy, for whatever reason. There's bound to be some grumblings that Rivera is finished after his 4 straight blown saves. So the Sox get the nod here. They basically gave up Pedro for Wade Miller, David Wells and Renteria. I think just about anyone would make that trade. There is the threat of them basking in the afterglow of banishing the curse, but I still think they beat the Yanks. The only other team with a chance in the East is the Orioles, but any team with Sammy Sosa is destined for nothing. He's an idiot.
Tigers - Yes the Detroit Tigers. Everyone's hyping the Twins, but I think the Tigers have a more complete lineup. Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau might be real good players, but they're still very young. The Tigers have a veteran lineup top to bottom and include Pudge, Dmitri Young, Magglio Ordonez, Carlos Guillen and Rondell White. That's some serious pop. Their pitching staff is young, but they've been getting better every year. Remember when Mike Maroth lost 20 games two years ago? Last year he was around .500 and lowered his ERA by 1.25. I think they win by a game or something over the Twins.
Angels - Yes I'm a homer.....but they're good too. (They're going to the top of the 12th right now) I like their pitching staff, and for the most part I like their new additions. I was sad to see Eckstein, Glaus and Percival go, but I think you can justify all of their leaving. Cabrera is one of the best defensive shortstops in the league, Glaus does the same thing every year: Lights it up in April and May, gets hurt in June and limps home. Plus Dallas McPherson is supposedly ready. And Percy was good, but K-Rod has earned the closers role. Would've been nice to see Percy end his career as an Angel, but he still wanted to be a closer, so off to Detroit he went. He can still get it done too....he's got more saves
Sorry, I've got to take a break. Soriano just hit a solo homer into the first row....and Guerrero just kind of trotted over and watched it go into the stands. I'm not saying he would've caught it, but he didn't even hustle over to make an attempt. This is why I don't really like the black genie....I think he's so talented, he doesn't work as hard as he could, except when he's batting.
Ok back to Percival....he's had 30 or more saves in each of the past 6 seasons....he's still good.
The wildcard will likely go to the Yankees...they're the best team in baseball top to bottom, but they don't have that chemistry thing.
AL MVP - David Ortiz....that guy just keeps getting better. Every year his batting average goes up along with his HR and RBI totals. He's a beast.
For the World Series I'm going to say Cardinals over the Angels.
Angels are down to their final out after Vlad swings from his ass yet again on the first pitch and comes up with a tapper back to the pitcher. All or nothing with that guy. Garret just lined out and that ends the game. Damn.
Enjoy your day.....sorry for you non baseball fans. That was really a "for Joel" post.
I have no response
While browsing the list of most popular interests of Livejournal users, I came across a disturbing fact......more people list "vampires" as interest than people who list "sports" as an interest. Can I go back to 1997? I remember when the internet was still a place normal people visited. People who didn't view the computer as the only place they could find people who "got" them. When you could chat with someone and not worry about them being a pedophile or a stalker, or trying to recruit you to a cult. I went to a 20's chat room on AOL today, and it was just a bunch of robot IM names repeatedly telling me that they were 18 and horny, and begging me to check out their website. Retarded. If the internet really is a superhighway, then chatrooms have become polluted and I'm the Indian on the side of the road with a single tear dripping down my cheek.
Tuesday, April 5, 2005
The Black Genie is born
Watching the Angels game on the MLB Extra Innings free preview right now. The Angels announcers have been hyping Vladimir Guerrero like he's the next Babe Ruth. He just hit a homer in his first at bat of the season, prompting Rachel to say "he looks like a black genie, don't you think?"
I love this girl.
I love this girl.
Monday, April 4, 2005
If I could teach the world...
If I die and am reincarnated, I want to come back with a british accent.
I wonder if British people think that American accents are sexy. I don't particularly think that we North Americaners have "sexy" accents. Well maybe people from the south...that twang is pretty intoxicating. Although it helps if the girl is gorgeous. I don't think I'd classify a 300 lb woman with a few teeth and a baby on each hip as "sexy" just cause she has a drawl.
I have a job interview tomorrow. I'm optimistic about this one. I applied for a job at the Corvallis Clinic a few months back, but was turned down for (surprise!) lack of experience. But yesterday I got a call from the lady I interviewed with and she asked me to come back and interview for another position there. She told me that I was one of their very top candidates last time, and that she really wanted me to come back in. When I told her I was still interested, she goes "oh good! I was holding my breath hoping that you still were available." So that sounds encouraging. However, I've been down this road before. I have no doubt that they'll find me competent and capable of doing the job, but lack of experience is hanging around like a monkey on my back. Not a cute little rally monkey either. We're talking one of those enormous killing monkeys in the movie Congo. I won't be sad to see him go once I'm gainfully employed.
Baseball season officially started yesterday. That made for tv start between the Yankees and Red Sox doesn't count. They were playing spring training games the same day for pete's sake. How does that constitute opening day? If the game had been played overseas, then I would've permitted it. Although the idea of playing regular season games at neutral sites seems odd to me, I understand that they do it to ensure that managers play their best players and that fans from other countries get a chance to see the people they only know from commercials and highlight reels. If they play overseas, I understand starting a day or two early, just so that they have time to adjust when they get back to the states. Nobody should have to play baseball the day after an 18 hour flight. You shouldn't have to do anything but breathe after that.
I got a call from my sister yesterday. That was about the best surprise I've had in a while. I hardly ever get to talk to her anymore. Growing up, Grant and I didn't exactly get along with our step-siblings. But by the time we grew up enough to know that Colin and Erin weren't going to steal any of the love that normally came to us and realized they were as much a part of the family as we were, I was off to college. As a result, Grant was always closer with them than I am. So hearing from Erin was great. Really made my day. I can't believe she's graduating from college this year too.
Alright, I'm out...enjoy the day.
I wonder if British people think that American accents are sexy. I don't particularly think that we North Americaners have "sexy" accents. Well maybe people from the south...that twang is pretty intoxicating. Although it helps if the girl is gorgeous. I don't think I'd classify a 300 lb woman with a few teeth and a baby on each hip as "sexy" just cause she has a drawl.
I have a job interview tomorrow. I'm optimistic about this one. I applied for a job at the Corvallis Clinic a few months back, but was turned down for (surprise!) lack of experience. But yesterday I got a call from the lady I interviewed with and she asked me to come back and interview for another position there. She told me that I was one of their very top candidates last time, and that she really wanted me to come back in. When I told her I was still interested, she goes "oh good! I was holding my breath hoping that you still were available." So that sounds encouraging. However, I've been down this road before. I have no doubt that they'll find me competent and capable of doing the job, but lack of experience is hanging around like a monkey on my back. Not a cute little rally monkey either. We're talking one of those enormous killing monkeys in the movie Congo. I won't be sad to see him go once I'm gainfully employed.
Baseball season officially started yesterday. That made for tv start between the Yankees and Red Sox doesn't count. They were playing spring training games the same day for pete's sake. How does that constitute opening day? If the game had been played overseas, then I would've permitted it. Although the idea of playing regular season games at neutral sites seems odd to me, I understand that they do it to ensure that managers play their best players and that fans from other countries get a chance to see the people they only know from commercials and highlight reels. If they play overseas, I understand starting a day or two early, just so that they have time to adjust when they get back to the states. Nobody should have to play baseball the day after an 18 hour flight. You shouldn't have to do anything but breathe after that.
I got a call from my sister yesterday. That was about the best surprise I've had in a while. I hardly ever get to talk to her anymore. Growing up, Grant and I didn't exactly get along with our step-siblings. But by the time we grew up enough to know that Colin and Erin weren't going to steal any of the love that normally came to us and realized they were as much a part of the family as we were, I was off to college. As a result, Grant was always closer with them than I am. So hearing from Erin was great. Really made my day. I can't believe she's graduating from college this year too.
Alright, I'm out...enjoy the day.
Friday, April 1, 2005
Went to Grant's girlfriend's house for poker night tonight. Yes, you read that right. I think it was a way for dad to meet her parents. Turns out they didn't talk that much at all. But it was fun anyways. I was pretty sure going into tonight that I sucked at poker, but tonight confirmed it. I am definitely bad. At least I didn't go out first. I consider it a success if someone loses all their chips before me.
Note to self: Moving to Vegas would be a very, very bad idea.
Dad willingly handed over the keys to me to drive home tonight, which was good. Not that he drank a whole lot, but still. Upon arriving home however, he promptly goes "well I'm going to the store, do you need anything?"
Note to self: ...........I'm just shaking my head. I really can't think of what to write here.
Got punked by Grant today. This marks the 97th year in a row that Grant has gotten me on April Fool's Day. The worst part is that last night I told Rachel that we both had to be on our toes today because Grant would try and pull something. So he calls, tells me how a bunch of people at his apartment were smoking weed last night when the cops showed up. Says he's almost positive he was going to get evicted and have to move back in with us. And I bought it. He didn't even warm me up....just dove right into the story. And I took the bait like a starving fish that saw the hook, knew it was a hook, yet bit it anyways.
Note to self: I am an idiot.
Took a skills test for a potential job at a bank the other day. The first question on the math portion was "200 minus 8 equals:" It didn't get any harder. It was 10 questions long. As of yet I haven't been contacted. I am absolutely certain that if I would've skipped college and gone straight into the work force, I would be 100 times better off financially than I am now. And, with 8 years of work experience under my belt, there's no reason to think that I wouldn't be better off in the future as well. I can't believe I'm getting passed over for some of these jobs. It seems that the ones I'm over qualified for won't hire me, and the ones that I am qualified for won't hire me due to lack of experience. So I'm fucked. I'm really starting to worry about this too. I'm trying not to let it get to me, but I'm extremely scared that I will be making less than $10 an hour when I'm 40 years old. You may think I'm over reacting, but shit. I liked working in the athletic department, but getting hired by a state university is next to impossible right now. They're operating in a deficit as it is. And if I want to get a job of substance, I'd probably have to go back to school with the money I don't have cause I spent 8 years fucking around to get a bachelors.
Ok, I'm just getting mad now and that isn't fun for anyone to read, so I'm going to stop.
Note to self: Moving to Vegas would be a very, very bad idea.
Dad willingly handed over the keys to me to drive home tonight, which was good. Not that he drank a whole lot, but still. Upon arriving home however, he promptly goes "well I'm going to the store, do you need anything?"
Note to self: ...........I'm just shaking my head. I really can't think of what to write here.
Got punked by Grant today. This marks the 97th year in a row that Grant has gotten me on April Fool's Day. The worst part is that last night I told Rachel that we both had to be on our toes today because Grant would try and pull something. So he calls, tells me how a bunch of people at his apartment were smoking weed last night when the cops showed up. Says he's almost positive he was going to get evicted and have to move back in with us. And I bought it. He didn't even warm me up....just dove right into the story. And I took the bait like a starving fish that saw the hook, knew it was a hook, yet bit it anyways.
Note to self: I am an idiot.
Took a skills test for a potential job at a bank the other day. The first question on the math portion was "200 minus 8 equals:" It didn't get any harder. It was 10 questions long. As of yet I haven't been contacted. I am absolutely certain that if I would've skipped college and gone straight into the work force, I would be 100 times better off financially than I am now. And, with 8 years of work experience under my belt, there's no reason to think that I wouldn't be better off in the future as well. I can't believe I'm getting passed over for some of these jobs. It seems that the ones I'm over qualified for won't hire me, and the ones that I am qualified for won't hire me due to lack of experience. So I'm fucked. I'm really starting to worry about this too. I'm trying not to let it get to me, but I'm extremely scared that I will be making less than $10 an hour when I'm 40 years old. You may think I'm over reacting, but shit. I liked working in the athletic department, but getting hired by a state university is next to impossible right now. They're operating in a deficit as it is. And if I want to get a job of substance, I'd probably have to go back to school with the money I don't have cause I spent 8 years fucking around to get a bachelors.
Ok, I'm just getting mad now and that isn't fun for anyone to read, so I'm going to stop.
After some discussion, we decided to just take the "discount" at WinCo yesterday. We decided not to go back and pay for a few reasons.
1. When the checker had initially said $21.35, Rachel said "what? and looked at her strangely. The checker had looked at the groceries, looked at the price, shrugged her shoulders and said "$21.35." So she knew there was something up, she just didn't care. Maybe she just didn't want to admit her mistake. In response to Kate's comment yesterday, had she simply not seen the items in our cart, then yes, we would've paid.
2. since WinCo doesn't take debit or credit cards, it would've required the writing of a second check. I don't know about you guys, but writing checks sucks....I hate it. In today's world of instant gratification, that just is way too slow for me. Call me lazy, call me cheap, call me whatever. But I'm not going to lose sleep over $14 of free groceries from WinCo.
The big topic around here lately has been our wall. With the heavy rain last week, some water seeped in behind our wall in the bedroom and now the paint is all bubbled out in one corner. You can literally see the path the water took as it came down the wall from the ceiling to the floor before pooling in the corner on our carpet. We mentioned this to the manager on Tuesday. Apparently they came to look at it Tuesday, but decided not to do anything. So we went back yesterday to make sure they understood we wanted our wall repainted and smoothed out. The manager knew exactly whatI was talking about, but apparently she was under the assumption that the maintenance people had fixed it. If you look back around December 14th in my journal, you'll see that we've dealt with these maintenance people before. Not the sharpest tools in the shed. I think that this problem is directly related to the problem they supposedly fixed back then. My guess is they tried to put a band-aid on a broken leg and call it good. Idiots. Oh well....next time it pours and their walls, carpet and flooring are all ruined, they can't say we didn't warn them. We're moving in a few months anyways.
1. When the checker had initially said $21.35, Rachel said "what? and looked at her strangely. The checker had looked at the groceries, looked at the price, shrugged her shoulders and said "$21.35." So she knew there was something up, she just didn't care. Maybe she just didn't want to admit her mistake. In response to Kate's comment yesterday, had she simply not seen the items in our cart, then yes, we would've paid.
2. since WinCo doesn't take debit or credit cards, it would've required the writing of a second check. I don't know about you guys, but writing checks sucks....I hate it. In today's world of instant gratification, that just is way too slow for me. Call me lazy, call me cheap, call me whatever. But I'm not going to lose sleep over $14 of free groceries from WinCo.
The big topic around here lately has been our wall. With the heavy rain last week, some water seeped in behind our wall in the bedroom and now the paint is all bubbled out in one corner. You can literally see the path the water took as it came down the wall from the ceiling to the floor before pooling in the corner on our carpet. We mentioned this to the manager on Tuesday. Apparently they came to look at it Tuesday, but decided not to do anything. So we went back yesterday to make sure they understood we wanted our wall repainted and smoothed out. The manager knew exactly whatI was talking about, but apparently she was under the assumption that the maintenance people had fixed it. If you look back around December 14th in my journal, you'll see that we've dealt with these maintenance people before. Not the sharpest tools in the shed. I think that this problem is directly related to the problem they supposedly fixed back then. My guess is they tried to put a band-aid on a broken leg and call it good. Idiots. Oh well....next time it pours and their walls, carpet and flooring are all ruined, they can't say we didn't warn them. We're moving in a few months anyways.
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