I like to think I have a pretty good sense of judgement and common sense, and that I am usually making good contact with reality.
Then, you see a story about a guy like this:
Issaquah baseball coach bilked league to pay for porn, online psychic
How does someone like this convince himself to do what he is doing? How do you convince yourself you can raid the Little League team fund and that A. You aren't going to get caught, and B. If I do get caught I will go on the offensive, and tell them they still owe ME money!
Jail(if he does time) will be too quick and easy for this...this is a clear case where he needs to do millions of hours ofcommunity service(related to cleaning under the bleachers at little league games) then set him up on a dunk tank, and charge people to dunk him to help raise money to pay back what he thieved.
I'll pay a considerable amount for a few balls if the dunk tank was full of Draino...
9.30.2010
Where the heart is.
Managed to survive my first week at my new job. Since I hired in in the middle of the pay period, it meant I only had to survive a 4-day week instead of 5 days. Says one and two were indoc and general training...very painful. I can't say I learned much...it was a lot of stuff I had heard before, they just rounded off the corners and re branded it. I am sure it is the same 99% of places. Everyone has a sexual harassment policy, everyone knows drugs are bad...that kind of stuff.
Days 3 and 4 I actually got to go to my office and start meeting people. A lot of people, and, well, the training continued. The fact is, the training will continue for quite some time...a time that will be easier to measure in 10's of weeks, or a few months before I am dangerous enough to be left on my own.
It's a different type of job than I had in Shipyard...I am still considered a supervisor, but in my new position it seems I am more resource and technical help than actual runner of work. As an SRCT in the Shipyard, I assigned a name to a coverage position, and assisted that person in making sure they were ready to do their job properly. For some senior techs, this was easy. For the newer techs(and some of the senior also) this job could have meant a lot of handholding.
In my new position, I fight for resources, and get the number of bodies to cover what is supposed to be covered in my Area of Responsibility. Then the lead tech(a position that does not exist in the Shipyard) matches names to jobs, and makes sure the tech covering the job understands his expectations. I then attend the brief to make sure things sound sane, then make myself available for technical assistance if required, while going to meetings in between.
Different. Not sure if it's better yet...it will be a long, long time before I can deliver that informed opinion, if ever.
After work today, since Friday is off, I headed west to get back to my wife and kids. Made it home prior to bed time, and was able to read the girls a story and give them kisses. The kitchen, living room, and bedrooms looked very nice. SWMBO did a good job of getting them photo ready so we can get pictures taken to put the house on the market. The family room still needs some help, but we will get it there.
Tomorrow is some lawn mowing, then some errands for me. Need to get a battery to fit my old Ford Ranger so I can get it out of the yard, and then go find a lawyer to write a power of attorney for SWMBO. When we bought the house, she wasn't working, so my name is on EVERYTHING. Getting her a POA should make it so she can actually sign things for the house sale while I am over working.
And I will wake up to get the girls ready for school. Which means their hair will be unimpressive. One thing daddy is no good at is little girl hair.
Days 3 and 4 I actually got to go to my office and start meeting people. A lot of people, and, well, the training continued. The fact is, the training will continue for quite some time...a time that will be easier to measure in 10's of weeks, or a few months before I am dangerous enough to be left on my own.
It's a different type of job than I had in Shipyard...I am still considered a supervisor, but in my new position it seems I am more resource and technical help than actual runner of work. As an SRCT in the Shipyard, I assigned a name to a coverage position, and assisted that person in making sure they were ready to do their job properly. For some senior techs, this was easy. For the newer techs(and some of the senior also) this job could have meant a lot of handholding.
In my new position, I fight for resources, and get the number of bodies to cover what is supposed to be covered in my Area of Responsibility. Then the lead tech(a position that does not exist in the Shipyard) matches names to jobs, and makes sure the tech covering the job understands his expectations. I then attend the brief to make sure things sound sane, then make myself available for technical assistance if required, while going to meetings in between.
Different. Not sure if it's better yet...it will be a long, long time before I can deliver that informed opinion, if ever.
After work today, since Friday is off, I headed west to get back to my wife and kids. Made it home prior to bed time, and was able to read the girls a story and give them kisses. The kitchen, living room, and bedrooms looked very nice. SWMBO did a good job of getting them photo ready so we can get pictures taken to put the house on the market. The family room still needs some help, but we will get it there.
Tomorrow is some lawn mowing, then some errands for me. Need to get a battery to fit my old Ford Ranger so I can get it out of the yard, and then go find a lawyer to write a power of attorney for SWMBO. When we bought the house, she wasn't working, so my name is on EVERYTHING. Getting her a POA should make it so she can actually sign things for the house sale while I am over working.
And I will wake up to get the girls ready for school. Which means their hair will be unimpressive. One thing daddy is no good at is little girl hair.
9.29.2010
Holy Moley!
I may just have to buy my tickets to go see this now...
Skyline Trailer
This movie looks like Indepence Day without the overacting and free advertising for apple.
Needless to say, I am there. I would be okay if they got Bill Pullman to give some kind of speach.
Skyline Trailer
This movie looks like Indepence Day without the overacting and free advertising for apple.
Needless to say, I am there. I would be okay if they got Bill Pullman to give some kind of speach.
9.28.2010
My failings
After work today(more training...tomorrow I may actually get to see what my job is supposed to be!) went and did a little bit of apartment hunting. While my friends are kindly letting me stay at their house for now, sooner or later(well, no later than mid-December) SHMBO and the girls will be moving over also. If the house sells/closes sooner, it will be prior to mid-December, and that would be a GOOD type of panic to have to go through.
Rather than have to rush into buying a house, the Wife and I decided it makes sense to rent an apartment for a few months while we learn the area and wait for the right house to become available. I am not always able to fully understand everything SHMBO desires(verily, because she is a woman, and I am but a man), but as for me, having decide dot undertake this life path, I want to buy THE HOUSE and THE LAND which will see us unto death. Or my death...since I am older and men live shorter amounts of time, I have no idea what she has planned for later on, nor do I need to care! It's just my responsibility to make sure I leave her enough money so she can hire someone to wipe her bottom when she can't reach it.
So, apartment hunting invariably leads to having to talk to people, which is one of my biggest failings. Not talking to people...often times I can be just as charming and free-flowing with the spoken word as with the written word...in friendly-type situations. Put me in a shopping/sales situation though...and I get bad. Shakey. Very willing to roll over and just take what is offered to make it all stop. This applies whether it is sales in a store, door-to-door magazine/girl scout cookies, survey takers at the mall EVERY THING. This gets even worse when the person I am dealing with is female and attractive. It just so happens that most apartment complex managers know this, and put attractive females into their reception/rental agent positions.
Minor digression here: Why does our society ever try to act like looks DO NOT matter? I understand...tell your children they can be whatever they want to be when they grow up, but also be upfront with them...if you are an attractive member of the human race, things might occasionally be easier for you then if you are an unattractive member of the human race. I am 100% certain that all of the ladies I dealt with today were fully qualified for the positions they held...I'm just not certain what those qualifications were, other than what I could see...which was enough, because it was 88 degrees here today, and the ladies where wearing short, light and loose(or tight as the article of clothing required.)
The end result of all this is that instead of just picking up brochures and price lists from several apartment complexes, I actually went and toured three 'display' apartments. And was made sad. After 6 years in an 1800SF house, a few months in an 850SF apartment is going to be tough. Almost like being back on a submarine again, except I might actually like the people I am with(low blow...I loved most of the guys I was on the Seawolf with. Especially when we were in port and away from one another.)
All I know is tomorrow is supposed to be just as warm, and I am looking forward to more apartment hunting.
Rather than have to rush into buying a house, the Wife and I decided it makes sense to rent an apartment for a few months while we learn the area and wait for the right house to become available. I am not always able to fully understand everything SHMBO desires(verily, because she is a woman, and I am but a man), but as for me, having decide dot undertake this life path, I want to buy THE HOUSE and THE LAND which will see us unto death. Or my death...since I am older and men live shorter amounts of time, I have no idea what she has planned for later on, nor do I need to care! It's just my responsibility to make sure I leave her enough money so she can hire someone to wipe her bottom when she can't reach it.
So, apartment hunting invariably leads to having to talk to people, which is one of my biggest failings. Not talking to people...often times I can be just as charming and free-flowing with the spoken word as with the written word...in friendly-type situations. Put me in a shopping/sales situation though...and I get bad. Shakey. Very willing to roll over and just take what is offered to make it all stop. This applies whether it is sales in a store, door-to-door magazine/girl scout cookies, survey takers at the mall EVERY THING. This gets even worse when the person I am dealing with is female and attractive. It just so happens that most apartment complex managers know this, and put attractive females into their reception/rental agent positions.
Minor digression here: Why does our society ever try to act like looks DO NOT matter? I understand...tell your children they can be whatever they want to be when they grow up, but also be upfront with them...if you are an attractive member of the human race, things might occasionally be easier for you then if you are an unattractive member of the human race. I am 100% certain that all of the ladies I dealt with today were fully qualified for the positions they held...I'm just not certain what those qualifications were, other than what I could see...which was enough, because it was 88 degrees here today, and the ladies where wearing short, light and loose(or tight as the article of clothing required.)
The end result of all this is that instead of just picking up brochures and price lists from several apartment complexes, I actually went and toured three 'display' apartments. And was made sad. After 6 years in an 1800SF house, a few months in an 850SF apartment is going to be tough. Almost like being back on a submarine again, except I might actually like the people I am with(low blow...I loved most of the guys I was on the Seawolf with. Especially when we were in port and away from one another.)
All I know is tomorrow is supposed to be just as warm, and I am looking forward to more apartment hunting.
9.27.2010
Way to go Katy
Seizing on the moment to keep her name(and assets out there) Katy Perry turned the tragedy of being barred from Sesame Street into a Triumph for teeneage boys EVERYWHERE(including 35-year old teenage boys in the Tri-Cities) on Saturday Night Live this weekend.
You need to click on through...but it is worth it.
Long Day
Had my first day at the new job today, but it doesn't really count. The whole day was spent at headquarters going through indoctrination training. The first half of the day was spent in a conference room with 5 other new hires, going over hand outs and filling out paperwork. 2nd half of the day was more individual, being spent in front of a computer screen going over different training topics, none of it overly shocking or unexpected.
My previous job at the PSNS was a Department of Defense site, this one is Department of Energy. For the same Federal Government, they sure don't use a lot of the same terminology. Safety seemed to be the big picture item for them here. Seemed to be...until I'm out working for a while, I will attempt to refrain from forming any strong opinions.
I'm also facing a challenge trying not to let being separated from my wife and girls draw me down into a general malaise. It's only nights the 1st time...I just got done doing 7 months in New York, this should be easy. It's just when you say you are taking a job for a better family life, and the first thing you do is drive 250 miles from you family...it sends conflicting emotional signals. I knew it would be this way though, and that I would go through a few distinct phases. 1...me moving , no family. 2...waiting for house to sell. 3...looking for perfect house!
For now some very good friends are letting me stay at their place the first few weeks, then I will transition to furnished corporate housing for a month or two, before selecting an apartment in preparation of my wife and girls moving over.
I do have some things to keep me busy...the already mentioned house/apartment hunting, getting to know the areas, and find a lawyer. When we bought the house, SHMBO was not working, so our agent told us it would be easier to just do all the paperwork with my name on it. So, 6 years later, the paperwork still just has my name on it, so we think it will make our lives easier, since I am here and she is there, if we just get a Power of Attorney for my wife to do things with the house.
My previous job at the PSNS was a Department of Defense site, this one is Department of Energy. For the same Federal Government, they sure don't use a lot of the same terminology. Safety seemed to be the big picture item for them here. Seemed to be...until I'm out working for a while, I will attempt to refrain from forming any strong opinions.
I'm also facing a challenge trying not to let being separated from my wife and girls draw me down into a general malaise. It's only nights the 1st time...I just got done doing 7 months in New York, this should be easy. It's just when you say you are taking a job for a better family life, and the first thing you do is drive 250 miles from you family...it sends conflicting emotional signals. I knew it would be this way though, and that I would go through a few distinct phases. 1...me moving , no family. 2...waiting for house to sell. 3...looking for perfect house!
For now some very good friends are letting me stay at their place the first few weeks, then I will transition to furnished corporate housing for a month or two, before selecting an apartment in preparation of my wife and girls moving over.
I do have some things to keep me busy...the already mentioned house/apartment hunting, getting to know the areas, and find a lawyer. When we bought the house, SHMBO was not working, so our agent told us it would be easier to just do all the paperwork with my name on it. So, 6 years later, the paperwork still just has my name on it, so we think it will make our lives easier, since I am here and she is there, if we just get a Power of Attorney for my wife to do things with the house.
Full speed ahead
Got the truck loaded with packed boxes and plastic containers in the beginning of efforts to de-clutter, and hit the road about 1:30...rolled into Richland at about 5:30. Much faster drive without potty breaks for the girls.
Now I'm just trying to settle in at my friends house, and figure out how late I can sleep in in the morning, and still make it back to the Ship Yard by 7:20AM. Kind of late for those thoughts now. I just feel like a kid before his first day of school. It has been a LONG time since I have gone into a totally unknown situation like this. Even when I transferred for the Navy, at least I knew it was still the Navy on the other side.
Now I'm just trying to settle in at my friends house, and figure out how late I can sleep in in the morning, and still make it back to the Ship Yard by 7:20AM. Kind of late for those thoughts now. I just feel like a kid before his first day of school. It has been a LONG time since I have gone into a totally unknown situation like this. Even when I transferred for the Navy, at least I knew it was still the Navy on the other side.
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