versal_b

Oddest things from Al-a-bam-a

2005-01-19T01:14:30Z

I was dropped off in the Montgomery airport (the capital) on the way to my hotel, i didn't see any malls, but i did see a "in-door flee market"!! the banner in the front said "think of it as a little mall"

Sayings:
"you boys from Cal-i-for-i-a well you can feel right at home caus' rigt now yous in LA... that's right Lower Alabama"

"Once i almost shot a coo ger this big" (large arm gesture)
"did you miss?" i asked
"no......some yankee took the trigger off my rod en' reel"

Food:
Just about every fast food you can think of, plus like 4 more types of chicken &
"Waffle House" which i had to try, it said it was a national franchise, but i never heard of one. Surprisingly enuf they had really good waffles, and a few other carrows type things, but you got it in fast food speed.

I tried country fried chicken livers, but i wouldn't even force my enemies to eat this.

Housing:
4 bed 3 bath on 10 acers..... $400 a month

Read "Clockwork Orange" on the plane, this was one of my favorite movies, but unfortunately the book is written entirely in the dialect of the main character, a sort of futuristic mix between english, cockney, scottish, pikey,and god knows what else........ I cant viddy these grahzny sodding veshches thats outing of my rot

Cant think of much else
Later
Ben

Al-a-bam-a here i come

2005-01-08T21:13:16Z

Going to Alabama for work next week, I am semi-excited. I like the idea of new and exciting places, but I really doubt that this will be one of them, plus I think my fear of heights will make my plane ride unpleasant. I have taken a plane once or twice before, and the initial ramping up to altitude always reminds me of a roller costar, which I dont't like.

I don't think I have any new year resolutions, but I should say that 2004 was the my best year yet!!! I got engaged, got a job that relates to my education, got to finally have weekends off, and have been in a generally good headspace.

Plus this year should be even better!!! My mom looseing weight and hopeful this time next year she wont have to have knee surgery, I am starting to take masters classes again (nothings cooler then complicated abstract math), I am going to have a kick ass bachelor party, wedding, and honey moon.

The only negative I see out of this past year is I am losing my thriftiness. The most obvious example is I am starting to throw away shirts when they are faded, and I have stopped buying clothes at target. I guess that this is good because it means I am becoming less like my parents, who are IMMENSE pack rats.

War is simply a violent form of business.
- Adrien Venport
"Commercial Plan for Arrakis Spice Operations"

Movie Seat Etique

2004-12-31T23:10:15Z

Went with leah to see "darkness" last night (warning dont see it!!)

As a structured person (or anal if you want to be mean) I have always been able to get to places on time, especially when the time dictates where you sit, like in a movie theater.

Leah and me were some of the first people to get to the theater, and got primo seats right in the center. The place was not crowded, but close to "curtain time" guy walked right up to me and said I should move over so his group (of 8 people) can sit together!!!

What the hell! I don’t have a problem moving over one or two seats so that everyone who paid gets to sit. But it's not my job to make sure that big groups that show up at the last minute get to sit right in the middle. Especially if that moves me way over to the side where I would be in one of the end "neck wrenching" seats.

With a small amount of glee, said that I really didn't feel like moving, and maybe he should have gotten here earlier.

He he, sometimes i think that maners should be taught with a hammer

later
Ben

back from LA for new year!!!

2004-12-31T06:46:04Z

Just got back from LA for the New Year, still not sure which party I'm going to, but there are lot's so it will work it's self out.

Lets see what happened in LA....

Hung out wt/ my brother Scoot and his girlfriend Kate.

We all went to the walk of stars in Hollywood (cool), to the Getty museum (very cool), and to Roscoe’s "chicken and waffles"(MONUMENTUS!!!) I wanted to go to Tijuana for a day, but there was SO MUCH RAIN that we were forced to stick to inside activities. I also got to stop and have dinner with my uncle (the one my dad talks to) it was really eerie. He kind of looks like my dad, but is nice to people. He also has the EXACT same laugh, and hearing it was really freaking me out. (I feel like one of Pavlov’s dogs drooling at the bell).

Can't think of much else, my Christmas was good. Got to see my mom and brother Brian in the morning and then hung out wt Leah’s family for dinner.

Later
Ben

Sleep, shoping, and Santa! Oh my

2004-12-22T04:35:47Z

HA HA !!!I got all of my Christmas shopping done on Sunday!! I am taking a most
of my friends out to the most Christmassy place on earth, HOOTERS. So I only had
to get a few presents. Unfortunately I had to much fun over the weekend and
didn't get to sleep much. This means the return of the most sinister and depraved
creature in all of San Jose .... ..."GROUCHY-BEN"

Since I am normally a morning person I wake up before 6 on weekdays and sleep
in till 6:30 on weekends (sleeping in has always seemed wrong to me). This is
good for getting stuff done, but when you stay out till 4 it really starts to
make your personality shift to the left......Suddenly I fight for parking spaces
with blood lust, I speak lily of retail personal when they do not jump to my beck
and call, in crowded places people that don't look where they are going get a
hefty shoulder, but mostly I just WILL NOT "let things slide"!!!

Oddly enough, many people don't seem to like "grouchy ben", not even me. "GB"
can get things done a lot quicker because no one wants to have to deal with him
for long, but it's almost impossible for me to hang out with people, even Leah
will tell me that im being "grouchy" and should go take a nap

Other highlights of the week....

Christmas in the park in SJ: this was really cool (any girl you take to this
will love you). There are decorations everywhere lots of rides, ice skating and
other cool stuff. I have gone the last few years and they seem to get a little
better each time. (at this rate by 3000 SO will be a real city)

Spike and Mike twisted animation festival: nothing is better then going to see
semi-good/semi-perverted animation drunk off your ass. The highlight was the
"Happy Tree Friends" which have brought cartoon violence to a level that would
shock Bevis and Butthead.

A Series of Unfortunate Events: This was the coolest "looking" movie I saw all
year. I went to see it after my friend JT suggested it, he said it was a
"better version of one of those Harry potter movies" I have to agree with this
statement, it is a kid movie, but it was written well looked really cool!!

Hope everybody has a good christmas, and remember, it's not just an annual gift
giving day, it's also about the birth of santa.

Argg

2004-12-10T04:04:32Z

Finally got my computer running, and completely free of bugs... (and it only took me about 3 months)

Lets see

My job has been fun, recently I got loaned out to a sub-contractor cause they had been overworking there people so hard that three (THREE) guys actually had heart attacks, and one died!! Working at a place where you are kind-a everybody's boss is a interesting experience. Nobody wanted to give me a lot of work and everybody wanted me to go home early almost every day. I tried to not take advantage, but some of the other guys in the same boat as me, seemed to be going to FRY'S or R.E.I almost every day.

The oddest thing that happened to me today is i played the "don't you this song" game with all the 40sih people. Turns out i know very little about music in the 70's, this wasn't a big surprise to me, but the people i work with seemed to have a hard time comprehending me not knowing all about "the eagles" or whoever........ I wonder how long it will be before i'm on the other side of the table for this game?

this is a poster i am thinking about buying, there is something very cool about the simplicity of war time art and attitudes, and this poster seems to embody it. During war everything can be broken down into such definitive shades of black and white. People start believing that it will be you and Mr. Peanut in the front lines about to charge some evil bad guy (most likely a gorilla) that is totally against liberty and salted snacks.

Also wanted to mention that last night someone killed "Dimebag" Darrell, the former guitarist of Pantera. (you do know who that is, don't you) Some guy jumped on stage shot him and also shot into the crowd killing something like 5 people, and then he got shot by a cop and died. I wasn't to much of a Pantera fan, but as a metal supporter i thought i should mention it.

versal_b @ 2004-09-12T09:56:00

2004-09-12T16:56:27Z

Hey all!!!

I have been having LOT’s of fun wt/ my new job, but haven’t’ been writing much mostly cause my house computer has been acting weird again, and I don’t have access to “social” web sights at work.

Lets see … what has happened wt/ me recently

...

Bought a nice new stereo it was from circuit city and a little to expensive, but it had the one really important thing, an mp3 cd player, and the coolest invention evar!!!

Had my nice new stereo stolen, it was probably naive to think that no one would take it, but considering I live in a uber rich neighborhood (think Lamborghini’s) I didn’t think anyone would give my cavalier a second look. But turns out I have a 0 deductible!!! I already got my window replaced and will be getting a(nother) new stereo later this week

Getting more wedding stuff accomplished; July 30 at crystal springs, a natural reserve/ golf course. It should be a nice outside weddings with all the show-e-ness of nature. The only initial big step is having my parents, or more specifically my dad, meet Leah’s parents. My mom has met wt/ them two or three times, but my dad hasn’t ever met them and I am hesitant about what will happen. Leahs parent probably only want to meet wt/ my parents to be nice, but I am very apprehensive about what will happen.

Loosing all of our renters amenities; our electricity is really getting bad, the pipes are starting to wiggle and shake when you turn the sink on full blast, and the washer/dryer has been broken for almost a month now… I don’t mind cause we have really low rent but, I think that Leah is starting to think we are staring to get the “short end” of this deal.

Camping on Labor Day weekend: went camping wt/ Noah and Lauren, it was really cool! It’s the one vacation where you just remove yourself from everything our society provides. This really let you appreciate the simplest things, like hiking drunk at 7 in the morning, and bathrooms that didn’t come out of the “Texas Chainsaw Massacre”

Well that's about it

Later
Ben

First day of work!!!!

2004-08-02T23:49:47Z

Just like at any big company your fist day is spent signing forms and watching safety videos.... do not eat glue, ect. I did get to have lunch with my manager, and i found out that i do have to get security clearance!!! This means two things, i will have to wait 2 to 6 months to get the clearance and i wont be able to do much ultil then. So i will just be filling papers until then.

Had lots of fun over the weekend!!!! Went to a wedding in san rafael on saturday. Spent the night there and then hung out in SF on sun, me and leah went to the "Stern Grove Festival" thingy.

Later
Ben

suprising news

2004-07-28T18:42:49Z

Me and Leah had dinner with her parents last night, turns out that her parents want to pay for the wedding.... we had started to plan and save in the last month or two, and we realy didn't expect this.

reference: Leahs parents are both semi retired, and have three daughters. We just assumed that ment we get little or no help with the plans.

The only flip-side of this is that leahs parent want to invite "most" of her family (adding about another 80+ people to the guest list). there is nothing realy wrong with this, and her mom was very nice in saying that my parents could invite all the friends and family they wanted (even though that ammounts to my mom, two of her friends, my two brothers, and my dad.. total:6).

I usually just define my family as me and my mom, cause usually that's who i see on holidays. I am never sure just how to act around all of Leahs relatives, i think i have a hard time comprehending a strong sence of family. To be honest part of my mind is alway looking for an alterior motive, something to justify any sence of comunity (or in this case gratuity).... Or maby i just dont know e-nuf about weddings, i havent gone to one since i was 8.

Leah and me are going to a one of her friends wedding on saterday so maby we will both have a better definitions after that.

Later

last day of security FOR EVER

2004-07-26T16:29:43Z

Yesterday was my last day of security!!!!! no more sitting with crazy people in the E.R., no more strapping people down that wont take there medicine, no more memorizing codes, and no more x-marine bosses that think all security companies should be run just like the military....in some ways i think that the military is cool but one thing i have never liked is how some (most) guys that have a little more rank then there piers use as much "double-speak" as possible.

and what kicks even more ass then quiting this job, is the fact that i finally get weekends off!!!! I have diligently worked weekends since i was 18 so i am very happy about finally being off when other people are, now i can go to bar-b-cues, and be stuck in weekend traffic just like everyone else.

i had a really nice last day, there were no annoying calls and i had a cool team to work with. Because of my EXP i am (was) the lead officer and it was nice to finally not have to care if my people were on time or new there shit. For most of the day i just sat in the break room and watched tv (what a guard should do), my team even suprised me by ordering a few pizzas for lunch. I have quit a lot of jobs were people don't even seem to care that you are leaving, and this is the first one where i felt a some sincerity in the good-buys.

not much else, i just bought a gps thingy so me and leah are going to start geo cashing. And this friday i finish up at the start up company (don't expect me to write as warmly about the goodbyes i get there).

Later
Ben

One of the best fealings yet...

2004-07-19T16:10:46Z

One of the best feelings is giving your two weeks, especially when you have a better job in the works..... I always thought that when i quit my current jobs i would do it very loudly, with lots of descriptive words involving demeaning sexual acts. But i guess that the best revenge really is to live well, because being able to just say, "yea, i'm quitting and going to work at lockheed" felt about 100 times better. The look on my bosses face (from the start up company) was pricless!!!!

Any way, not much else that's worth mentioning.. went to Monterey on friday with tran and jermy (very cool).. got slightly burned by my mechanic when i had to pay for replacing a leaky gas pump and oil pan in my car. and am going to have to buy some more work clothes this week.

Later People

versal_b @ 2004-07-12T10:03:00

2004-07-12T17:08:33Z

hey everyone, sorry i havent posted for a long time...

i think i am geting that lockheed job!!! they called back and said my drug test was fine and i just have to wait 5 to 10 days for the background check...

i have been tring to get all my un-used engineering skills back on track, i bought a how to book on mat lab and am trying despreatly to get someone to install pro-e on my computer. i am even considering buying a new computer, or taking it to somebodys house and installing it there so at least i can use it

any way, not much else is happening, i am at work (and it's been busy for a change) so i cant write much more. i will try to extend this post later today

Later Ben

Job offer, zombies and michel more movie

2004-07-01T18:47:58Z

well, the good news is that i got a "extension" of a job offer from lockheed!!!!
i totaly didn't expect it after the guy had me wait like 4+ hours, and didnt even say sorry. maby his first choice didn't pass some of the background stuff

i dont have the job yet, but it is pretty likely, i have to take drug tests, background check, and i think there are some security clearance stuff (i am working on rockets so i guess this is expected) But with any luck i will have a real job in less then a month and a half!!!!i am i shock, i have been scraping by with two shitty jobs for so long, that i am having a hard time even beliving this. I will have a real job, with time off, busness cards, and benifts!!!!

any way, not much else is happening.... leah had a dance recital last week, when kerry was giving a speech. and last night me and jermy drove by barn's en noble when clinton was signing books... (we didnt go inside, but you could tell from the huge amount of people, lots with anti bush signs)..... it seems that SJ is getting political recently
(side note)
with all of the people standing outside of the windows of barns en noble it looked like a zombie movie, i decided it would be realy cool to see zombie protesters.... i.e people who were protesting goverment not doing anything about zombies and then getten bitten

saw the new michel moore movie... i wanted it to be a good movie, and if you dont like bush you will enjoy it. But most of his arguments are REALY unsubstantuated
he started off saying how bush stoled the election, because his brother is gov of flordia and is friends with the pres of fox news.... personaly i believe that bush did steal the election, but there is no point in arguing it with bad logic.. There is a lot of "michel moore" style humor (i.e. him setting up a "straw man" with his wavery voice and then breaking it down with a clip show and a comedic song), and lots of clips of bush acting realy stupid... we all know that bush isn't the smartest, but some of these suprized even me.

cant think of much else, if anyone is free this fri/sat let me know so we can celibrate my (possible) new job!!!!

Fun times, death, and fathers day

2004-06-21T16:49:53Z

This weekend was well.... interesting.

On friday i hung out wt tran and jer. We hung out at there place and bar-b-qued. I bailed early cause they were going to see the "terminal" movie. I have become more and more picky about new movies recently. In this case, i am just kinda sick of everyone saying how good Tom Hanks is. I'm not saying he sucks or anything, he is really good. Maby i am just a little to evil and i want to see him fail.

On sat me and leah hung out with lauren and noah, char even called me back and came with!!! (havent seen this guy in weeks) we were planing to go to comedy sports but were about 5 min too late. So we went "geo-cashing" a very interesting hide n seek game using a GPS and your computer. It felt a lot like being a treasure hunter when i got to use the gps and i said things like "1.3 miles north east". I am probalby going to go buy a gps now so me and leah can go do this!!

On sunday i found out at work that the person i dealt wt last week, (if you don't read my lj's it's the person that didn't do well on there pain medication and was convinced they should walk on there broken leg)... turns out they DIED!!!! i wasent realy ready for it, and it was a real shock to me. I dont know a lot of specifics cause i'm not a doctor, but i dont think it was cause of incompatence or anything, just bad luck. I have worked there a year but this is the first time that i had to realy deal with someone for a few days (and there family), and then sign them out to the coroner.
...freaky

I also had to go see my dad on sunday, not a horible experience, but in no way a fun. I showed up at 4 and waited around till about 7 for him to wake up, (even though he retired and is almost 70, he is one of those people who HAS to work, so he got a grave job as a security guard). I spent most of the time talking with my mom, and catching up with family. Then i just took my dad out for pizza and listend to him complain about me and mom. Sigh, i am probably not alone in this, but i sometimes wish i had a more normal dad.

Probably going to see the new michel moore movie on firday. I dont think he is realy as great as everyone thinks, but i do think that his movie is going to be VERY anti-bush, and if it get's a lot of hype, maby more people will go vote just to get rid of him!!!

Late

computer upgrade.... complete

2004-06-14T16:29:53Z

Ha Ha!!!!! I finally found out what was wrong wt my computer, or at least the main thing........

techno explination..(feel free to dis-regard)
Last time my computer was re-formated by my friend jermy, he asked me which hard drive windows should get installed on, i said the biger on that i just put in a monthe a-go. Little did i know that if you install your operating system on a "slave drive" everything you try to save gets realy weird (including drivers). Apparently it cant save normally so it tries to save a back up version of files (with a new name), and then if you can find a saved file and try to open it gets even more confused, very weird!!

But it's fixed now so hopefully everything will work. I was able to install thingys the first time, i have a real sence of acomplishment from this. Which is semi strange since i was nothing more then an observer thru the entire process.

Also got DSL, when all the calculations were made it was only like 5 more bucks a month then a dail up service, and WAY faster.

Saw "Cronicals of Ridic" a good action movie with very cool costuming and back drops... it tried to have a "royal technology" theme, like in dune or starwars 1.

My security job was realy intense this weekend. There seems to be a fairly large percent of the population who dosent do well on the pain drugs they give you after surgery (1 or 2%) and TOTALLY trip out.... It took all three of us (and i am the lightest at 190) guards, to keep this someone from walking on there compleatly fractured legs!!!! This is one of the things that totaly is not part of the job description, but we are kinda forced to do anyway. It sucks but makes for interesting storys.

Not much else happening,

Later
Ben

Interview..... what would you do??

2004-06-11T16:37:55Z

I cant say it was a good interview, mostly cause it was scheduled for 9am.....
he got there at 1pm......
and MY interview started at 3.....
not to mention, he made two tele-conference calls while i was talking...
agggggg.....

in short this means he IS insanely busy, or he had already decided on someone and had to technically interview a certain amount of people or get in trouble.

I probably wouldn't have waited but there was two other people waiting for the same guy and one was from SJSU, we talked the whole time. If i was alone i probably would have left after and hour.

Besides that..(if you can believe it).. the interview went well, it real was an "entry level" job (not entry level pay with no less then five years exp) so i AM qualified (if not over qualified) for it, the work seemed very interesting, and you have to juggle multiple projects. This is about the only time my start up exp looks good. I don't do many complicated thingys at my current job, but i do just about every little stupid task possible, so i can sound like a good multi-task-er.

During the closing interview, a "PR" guy apoligized to me and i was told that Lockheed is SUPPOSED to be very professional and will let me know in a week or less if i am going to be offered the job or not, but considering the time frame of my managers arrival, i doubt i will get this courtesy either. If i am offered the job i will take it, but i will try to move to a different department as soon as i can (moving departments is a lot easier then getting hired)

Not much else happening, i am getting my "back-up" jobs set up. I applied for "stationary engineer" and am taking there entry level test next month. If i do well on the test (ha ha!!) i will get placed in a apprenticeship. It's not great, but it's better then "lab assistant" and the pay get's high eventually. I will also apply for electrician next month. so far i find these "journeyman" type jobs interesting, the only draw back is you can only apply once every year or two!!!!

Later,
Ben

Excellent Good!!!

2004-06-07T16:40:23Z

The best news i have from the past week is i got a call back from LOCKHEED, they are
supposed to send me an e-mail about a interview for thursday. I have talked to two people there so i don't think there just messing with me.

Any one have some good interview tips???? from the one's i've gone on i have been told i am a fairly good interview-e, except when it gets into the very technical side (i have a habit of exchanging every other big word with "thingy" which dosen't sound good in a interview), but most of the companies i have met with were small to semi-big, i don't know what different things lockheed would expect (being a huge d-fence company).

the rest of my week was really fun

FRIDAY.... went to SF with tran and jer, had a cool time looking at the newest (and expensive-st) clothes and toys. Saw rudy (who was supposed to hang out with us) and his girlfriend, he even gave us the 2 min hussel...."yea, we were just about to leave so, i'll see you later"

SATERDAY... i got sunday off so i could stay out past 10 on sat night!!! me and leah went out with lauren and her boyfriend noah, it is suprising hard to find much thats open in downtown SJ after 10 (that has food and is not carrows), we finally found a bar that was still serving food, and i was interduced to a cool new shot... a wasington apple, it's canadian whiskey and apple puckers, it has the color and smell of a red apple (very cool)!!

SUNDAY... me and leah got good use of our aquarium passes, they have finished all of the remodeling so it is pretty kick ass. There is a wooden walk way that connects that second floor areas. Huge glass windows that open into the outer court area, and two new attractions. The shark exhibit (it's not that new), and a new jellyfish exhibit. The city also made a free shuttle service (painted up to look like SF trolleys) so you can go to the pier and down-town with minimal hastle.

having weekends off kicks ass,
Later, Ben

Condense-ah-nation

2004-06-04T16:28:12Z

dont have a lot of time so i will just do a condensed entry

-memorial day rocked, thought i had to work and then got it off and spent most of the day in a recycled book store reading leatherbound book (rocked)

-leah got her lap top, (a dell) it's pretty cool but a little heavy (not the 1/2 pound models)

-i think we can get dsl for the same price as dial up + phone line (yes)

-my cell phone bill is INSANE, i did a good deed a long time ago and let my dad piggyback on my cell phone contract so he could have one for emergencies, but it seems that since he has been between jobs since last month he has been using it, A LOT, over 300 prime time min's (aggg)

-got a call from lockheed last night!!!!! I talked for about 5 min's and then re-sent him my resume (everyone keep there fingers crossed)

-my home computer is evil, i had jermy help re-format my computer, and i guess the newest version of XP REALY dosent want you using things that are not microsoft approved!!! i cant install the drivers for my my vid card, sound card or camera. It just advises me that mabey i should get microsoft approved products and then closes the install menu. (i hate computers)

-have this sunday off, me and leah are going to monteray, we need to use our aquirum membership, and this time i plan on not moving to the back so that smaller people can see!!!

Later
Ben

never sure how to feel??

2004-05-24T18:52:46Z

my grandma took another fall today, she had to go to the hospital again, and my mom and uncle are very woried. They are probably going to have to sell her house and put her in a retirment thingy. This is bad becase it will makes both my mom and uncle feel like ungratefull children, and cause she will probably make the people who work there very miserable (she fits the discription of a proud old lady from WW2 that cant be argued with) i spent sunday talking with my mom and took her out to eat. She feels very responcible but at the same time dosent want to loose her job, if she goes to pensylvinia to take care of her for a few months(or years).

I'm not sure how to feel, I have only met my grandma a few times and i mostly know her from the iratic phone conversations we have.

"how are you dong grandam, you feeling well?"
"IM OLD!! HOW THE HELL DO YOU THINK I FEEL, I FEEL HORRIBLE...Have you got a good job yet, i dont want to talk to you untill you get a good one and make your grandpa proud"
"yes grandma"

repeat every holiday and b-day. part of me is very proud of my grandma, i mean she can barly walk and i am still afraid of her. But i cant say that she was ever nice to me or that i feel bad that she is probably going into a home. I guess humans are evil in the fact that they only care about people who they have good memories of.

Anny way, not much else happening, my computer is working.... now i just have to download a lot of drivers (aggg)

Can't think of much else.
Later
Ben

wensday already

2004-05-19T16:27:54Z

havent been posting much, my home computer is still marginal, and have had a lot to do at my fuel cell job.

Saw troy on sat..... realy good,

found out one realy anoying thing about UPS. The franchise "UPS STORE" that they have in malls and corner locations isn't realy a UPS, it cant even send a package using a ups account!!! I spent a lot of time there on monday arguig with an employee (that probably makes less then i do) about why the hell a "UPS STORE" wouldent honnor a package being shiped thru "UPS". Sadly i lost and had to drive to a "UPS" store and have it sent there.

not much else is happening, i have been tring to look for jobs cause i am realy starting to hate both of my current ones, but it is realy lowering my moral. There is NOTHING for entry level engineers and it seems that my degree isn't good for much else. I may have to go to a trade school, but i am woried about getting out of one, haveing more debt, and still no job. I guess one of the hard truths in life is nothing is guarnteed.

anyone have thought's on which trade school i should try for??

electrician
hvac repair
mecanic

i have one contact for the electricians union of SJ, and they will have another hiring at the start of next quarter. It starts off low pay, but i think it's steady work with benifits and the ablitiy to improve (not something i currently have)

Later
Ben

versal_b @ 2004-05-13T09:18:00

2004-05-13T16:42:51Z

lets see...

had lauren and noah look at my computer over the weekend (thanks guys). It seemed better for a bit, but now it is doing the same shit it was before, the next step is formating it. This means finding every stupid little code that the computer used once and then never asks for again (aggg). I will have to call my internet provider, and a few other places, then try to get someone to help me with the formating, or i could just get a really big magnet (hehe)

Saw my mom on sunday for mothers day, i had to pick up my brother brian (and spot him for dinner and a gift, gerrr). The day was a little melancholy, grandma went into the hospital and my mom is feeling guilty about not being able to drop everything and go take care of her, grandma lives alone on the east coast. She really needs help, but wont leave her place and come live with anyone, i think it is some kinda power thing with her, but i dont really know. We just had pizza and mostly talked about old relatives that i dont have any memory of.

my neighbors are entering into negotiations to buy the house from my landlords....
%10 chance of moving. This is good cause leah was starting to stress, she was having me look up my credit rating, and finding out what our monthly income is to see if we qualify for some places.... it's shitty but lots of places wont let you move in if you dont make 3X or 4X the rent.

Have had a fair amount of work to do this week at the start up company. Almost all of the investors ran like rats from a sinking ship when our prototype couldn't even keep a panel of LED's lit. We are even changing our name, thats how bad it was. So back to the drawing board (i told them the prototype wouldn't work but no one listens to me). i am working on new designs and this one shouldn't have half of the problems the other had, but it seems that the bigest problem is pride and mis-comunication.... people with big degrees cant admit a idea is bad or that somethings cant be done (or cant be done for peanuts)

not much else is happening,

Later

another monday

2004-05-03T16:39:37Z

well im' at work again... no one's here, but hopefully some one will show up in an hour or two and give me something to do.

Lets see, i spent my week off looking for jobs and relaxing. My computer has still been sucking so i spent way to much time at my moms house using her computer to send out e-mails. I got two very real job leads, one is at Guidant, some medical engineering company. and the other is from a neighbor from my parents house, i'd give more details, but i dont have them yet. The only sad thing is that both openings contacted me, so i guess my whole week of sending out e-mails was a waste. Oh well i guess thats life.

50% chance of moving.. the place we are renting is being sold. if the front tennant's buy it, they told us we can keep the place at the same rent, if they dont, we will take tran and jermys generous offer and live with them.

it's hot as fuck in SJ. I hope a hot spring means a cool summer (but i doubt it)

I am trying to find someone who can fix my computer, it's about 30% trust-able right now. if i need to do random things it works fine, but as soon as i have something important to do... it laughs maniacally and then crashes...

i had a fun time with tran and rudy on friday, playing d&d, haven't done that in a long ass time it was a lot of fun. Plus i saw rudy again (twice in one month, it's a record)

can't think of too much else
Later, Ben

sucks F-ING sucks

2004-04-26T16:40:47Z

i am writing this from work (like i do normally on monday) but one thing is very different..... turns out that everyone went to some stupid fuel cell convention and didn't tell me. So how do i know... someone thoughtfully put a post-it on my computer that says they just forgot to tell me and i don't have to come in this week.... I suddenly feel undervalued and unappreciated, oh well i guess thats what working is all about.

My computer at home is deciding not to like me so i guess this is the only message i will write this week unless someone decides to help me format my computer, any takers... jermy ... char... lauren, i know yall have high ranks in computer (java) skills, (i try hitting things with a rubber hammer, and if that dosent work i ususlly try to a metal one) if one of you are free let me know.... some how.... that dosent involve computers.

well besides all that bitching, i had a cool week. investors were at my work on friday (not sure if i mentioned that or not) being around multiple multi-millionar investors with almost nothing to do is VERY intimidateing... "this is my desk, and this is my coffee cup... did i mention my desk yet" Had lots to do on the weekend on my security job, and on friday i had a fun time barbecuing wt tran and jermy, rudy even showed up (he's like a rare artifact now a days) it was fun.

lates
Ben

versal_b @ 2004-04-21T09:31:00

2004-04-21T16:39:29Z

hummm lets see..

had fun on saterday, it was trans b-day so we all went out to todai. All the suchi you can eat. I had never been there before so it was a new and realy cool experience for me. i even got a pic of tran standing next to a "5 ft eats 1/2 off sign, he was not amused (hehe)

on monday hung out with tran and jer, we went to the mall and tried our best to not feel old. I sat in one of those vibrating chairs and a sales lady got right in my face and kept calling me "sir
hung out wt my bro brian last night.....

......k i ment to finish this at work, but i got caught up in doing things (stupid vendors never do what they should)........

...... had a interesting time at a suchi boat, but my bro would not shut up and cause his hearing is shot he talks WAY to loud, he is a lot like my dad in the fact that he will talk for two hours non stop with-out any one else getting a single thought in. i am trying to hang out with him once in a while, caus he IS family and your suposed to be nice to family (for some reason)

Leah was accepted into the teacher program so we will try to go out tonight and celebrate, she was worried about getting in and is realy relieved.

Well thats all for now
Later
Ben

happy tax day

2004-04-15T20:24:49Z

Had some fun last night playing cards with tran and some of his friends from work, neither of us even broke even, but it was a fun time and all the people were cool. Except for the fact that me and tran were the "old men". This is a very shocking experience for me, everyone was 18 and in a jr collage...no one else could even drink.

well i am at home looking for jobs.... (i.e. finding any and all things to do, besides looking for jobs.) I have cleaned up my little cottage/studio (the joys of a small place, you can clean it in an hour) and am now doing all of my correspondance. I have done some hunting, and i will do more, but you need lots of breaks when your doing things that depletes your moral.

Don't forget today is the last day to do taxes. I think the post office even stays open till midnight, but im not sure. I would ask my dad, but then he would just tell me how messed up the management is (ieee if he waited another year to retire he would have totally gone postal!!)

Trans b-day is saturday, i was trying to think of an "uber" gift to get him, but i am just not a good at shit like that. I think it takes a creative mind, or at least a mind with some ability to retain info (uh on that sounds like another aging reference).

all right, i need to get back to the hunt

Later
Ben