Category: Mount Vernon

I assure you… Boredom at work

Katie told me to change the sign at work. Now, for those of you who are not aware, I’m working at the gas station/convenience store between my IT job, full time school, and sleeping. The money isn’t great, but I really appreciate the position as the extra income helps out.

About a week ago, Katie (my manager) told me to change the sign at work. I have been trying to come up with something clever and/or unique to put up and entertain/draw in customers. Before the holidays, I had told Katie she had to see Clerks and Clerks II as she said she had not after I made some references that should be plain to anyone who has seen the films.

Katie works at the video store up the street part-time as well, so she rented them. Then, she took them back. She said she couldn’t handle the black and white. I informed her that she had to watch them, and the content is well worth it. She declined.

Once you add together me being put in charge of changing the sign, and Katie refusing to give Clerks the respect it deserves, the result is this:

Clerks reference II

Hope someone finds it as entertaining as I do before it gets taken down. There are a couple of other shots in my Flickr stream, but it’s the same view.

Evidence

Last night, way to late, I finally got some photos moved from the camera to Flickr. There weren’t as many as I thought, but if you haven’t noticed, scroll down a bit and they are ready to see.

These will mostly be appreciated by friends and family as they are photos of the kids and family. We have a lot more, but these are the better ones and ones that I feel like letting out into the general public.

I can’t believe we only have one photo of the kids from Halloween. That’s what you get when dad is off running the Jaycees’ House of Horror instead of being dad. Things will definitely be different this year. Time to put the right things first.

The career advancement continues

Tuesday (12/31) I had an interview that I really would like to go somewhere. Out of respect for them and my current employer I won’t say anything until I hear positive or negative. This coming Wednesday (1/7) I will have another interview, however it is only for a 3rd job, not a replacement.

I really enjoy my time at Ecodigital, but I don’t know if they will keep me after my degree is done. My superior is aware that I am looking around, and that I’m not planning on leaving unless something spectacular comes along. I enjoy everyone I’m working with and the challenge of all the different facets of IT that I get to tackle every day. One minute I’m installing a new virtual server, the next figuring out a routing problem, the next working on one of the Xerox machines. It’s always interesting.

Em is still insistent on going to Texas. I don’t see the draw, but if there is nothing around here I’ll consider moving seriously. Gotta do what you gotta do. Leaving family and the town I’ve lived in for 30 years isn’t very enticing, however southern Illinois’ economy is even worse than the rest of the country. Sometimes you just have to suck it up and do the things that you don’t neccessarily want to do.

At the very least, I am getting some experience in interviewing again, and making some contacts. Plus, I get to learn more of what several different employers are looking for in new/replacement employees within our field. Thanks for reading, and feel free to offer leads if you have any.

And so it begins

Another new year has begun.  The kids had a wild night of pizza and soda and watching the ball drop in New York. Simone was here, and all 3 of them had a blast partying it up and acting completely foolish. Between the three of them, they used every plate and glass we had in the house for some reason. It still amazes me how they can need a new glass every time they have a drink, but somehow they do.

Emily was in charge of the circus until I got home from work at 10:30. From there I managed the menagerie up until the ball dropped and the kids got to break out their ‘sparkling apple cider’. They even did a ‘toast’ to the new year. It was pretty cute to watch, I have to say.

Emily slept in until 1 this afternoon. She has to work tonight, as do I, and I’m not sure how much sleep she’ll get tomorrow since I will be working at Ecodigital. Better to get some extra today than do without. When mom’s tired and poopy, everyone suffers. 🙂

Personally, I’m looking forward to finishing my final semester and finally having a degree as an IT Dork. The degree is technically IT Specialist, but it covers so much area that I wish it was more descriptive. Hopefully I will finish my degree with a pay increase and/or a change in employment status. Part-time isn’t paying the bills, hence 2.5 jobs on top of home and school. Yeah, that’s me whining a bit.

For those of you reading my junk, I hope the new year has found you well and leaves you better. For friends and family, I wish nothing but the best for you as well. (Oh, and if you win the lottery, don’t forget me. I won’t forget you.)

Another Christmas has come and gone

I love the holidays. More specifically I love seeing friends and family that I haven’t seen in far too long. I miss seeing my grandfather and my aunts and uncles.

When I was a kid we would all get together almost every weekend. Sometimes for dinner and games. Sometimes just to chit chat for a bit and then go home. As a kid, I had a great time, but I don’t think that I appreciated it nearly as much as I do now looking back.

Friends are another bad spot. Not only do Em and I have to make time to see everyone, but they also have to be free as well in order for us to all see each other. That generally doesn’t actually happen.

Perhaps soon things will change to allow us more freedom and less stress in our lives. This could of course filter into having more time for meaningful time spent with family and friends instead of working 14 hour days.

There are a few things I am working on behind the scenes, but we will just see if they pan out.