I have some good news to share with all of you. For the past 4 months, on and off, I've been applying to television stations around the country looking for my first, what I'm considering, real job. Well this past Thursday I got my first interview request from a television station in Redding, CA.
I've been working for the past year and a half as both a production assistant (teleprompter operator) and a weekend news writer at KNTV/NBC11 in San Jose. It's been a great experience working with some of the most talented journalists in the Bay Area, but sticking around here waiting for my "big break" isn't what I want to do.
I applied for the full-time morning anchor/reporter position at KRCR (ABC affiliate) ... about 4-5 hours north of San Jose.
Most likely the interview will be this upcoming Thursday, December 27th, barring any extraneous delays/circumstances. I have an idea of what to expect, but not really.
Supposedly I'm going to be doing some test-runs in front of the camera with one of the station's meteorologists. I'm guessing just to see if I have the chops for the anchor job, which makes sense. Most of the news team, I was told, is around my age. That should make the transition, if I end up getting the job, a bit easier (I hope).
I'm also going to be taking a writing test while I'm there and should be sitting down with the boss again for another Q/A session.
Honestly, I feel pretty confident I can do the job, but I always have my doubts. I just don't want my nerves to get the best of me. When it comes right down to it, I think I'll be alright, but I'm not going to go into this interview unprepared. I have some work to do the next couple of days, primarily just brushing off my speaking voice and being comfortable in front of the camera. Just keep it loose, keep it fun, and make the most of it.
I'll keep you guys posted.
C
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Heroes
Heroism struck a chord with me tonight at work.
It started with me having to write about this memorial dedicated to the victims of United Airlines Flight 93 that crashed in Pennsylvania September 11th. The memorial was built in Union City so it was a story we'd been covering all day.
I needed to do a bit of background research on the event so I hit up Wikipedia and read some of the detailed accounts of what transpired that tragic day. I read about some of the people who decided to try and take back the aircraft from their switchblade-equipped assailants.
Several passengers/crew were killed even before the plane hit the ground.
One man had apparently gotten a phone call through to an emergency dispatch operator and had told him a group of passengers on board Flight 93 had decided they weren't going to die without a fight.
The last thing the operator heard on the phone was "Are you guys ready? Let's roll."
Six years later, it makes me very sad to know that while I was sound asleep the time the hijackings were taking place, there were people tens of thousand of feet above me literally fighting for their lives...and their families knowing about it.
I can't even fathom what happened on board that plane. Sometimes not knowing is even worse than the truth.
When we, average folk, hear about those events retold we consider them acts of bravery...because they are. They are heroes in our eyes. They attempted to not only save their own lives, but the lives of countless others with families of their own.
They weren't expecting that their flight bound for the Bay Area would have such an unexpected ending. Most probably had family just chomping at the bit waiting to hug and kiss them at the airport.
You know...the kind of stuff you see in the movies.
Reading about it 6 years later, it almost does seem like a movie (too bad someone had to make it into one).
If you were on that flight, how much would you have cared about the person next to you if it were just another routine flight from point A to point B? You probably wouldn't have even talked to them except for maybe a few words. You might have passed a cup of ice and a ginger ale to the person at the window seat, but nothing more. No conversation. Why would you spend time trying to know someone you'd probably never see ever again?
But if it was the only person you'd ever see again...now THAT would be a different story.
Yet in extreme circumstances is where you sometimes see the humanity in us all...where you see the people who care...and honestly...where we all care.
This was one of those situations.
United Airlines Flight 93 may one day become lost in the annals of time along with so much before it.
Tragedy is something we've all come to take as a commonality in our culture anyways.
Heroism, however, is transcendent...resonating well beyond the pages where it was written about...and the voices that spoke of it.
Only you can decide whether heroism or the preservation of life are different. Isn't that what heroism is?
To be selfless is a heroic attribute...and heroism is the selfless preservation of life.
Those people aboard that flight were heroes. Sure we can all wish to be the hero that saves the day ...the one who everyone adores and admires. A happy ending, however, is not something we can all count on.
Life is not like the movies, no matter how many people make it out to be.
Yet there are moments when fiction...and reality...do seem awfully similar.
Something to chew on...
C
It started with me having to write about this memorial dedicated to the victims of United Airlines Flight 93 that crashed in Pennsylvania September 11th. The memorial was built in Union City so it was a story we'd been covering all day.
I needed to do a bit of background research on the event so I hit up Wikipedia and read some of the detailed accounts of what transpired that tragic day. I read about some of the people who decided to try and take back the aircraft from their switchblade-equipped assailants.
Several passengers/crew were killed even before the plane hit the ground.
One man had apparently gotten a phone call through to an emergency dispatch operator and had told him a group of passengers on board Flight 93 had decided they weren't going to die without a fight.
The last thing the operator heard on the phone was "Are you guys ready? Let's roll."
Six years later, it makes me very sad to know that while I was sound asleep the time the hijackings were taking place, there were people tens of thousand of feet above me literally fighting for their lives...and their families knowing about it.
I can't even fathom what happened on board that plane. Sometimes not knowing is even worse than the truth.
When we, average folk, hear about those events retold we consider them acts of bravery...because they are. They are heroes in our eyes. They attempted to not only save their own lives, but the lives of countless others with families of their own.
They weren't expecting that their flight bound for the Bay Area would have such an unexpected ending. Most probably had family just chomping at the bit waiting to hug and kiss them at the airport.
You know...the kind of stuff you see in the movies.
Reading about it 6 years later, it almost does seem like a movie (too bad someone had to make it into one).
If you were on that flight, how much would you have cared about the person next to you if it were just another routine flight from point A to point B? You probably wouldn't have even talked to them except for maybe a few words. You might have passed a cup of ice and a ginger ale to the person at the window seat, but nothing more. No conversation. Why would you spend time trying to know someone you'd probably never see ever again?
But if it was the only person you'd ever see again...now THAT would be a different story.
Yet in extreme circumstances is where you sometimes see the humanity in us all...where you see the people who care...and honestly...where we all care.
This was one of those situations.
United Airlines Flight 93 may one day become lost in the annals of time along with so much before it.
Tragedy is something we've all come to take as a commonality in our culture anyways.
Heroism, however, is transcendent...resonating well beyond the pages where it was written about...and the voices that spoke of it.
Only you can decide whether heroism or the preservation of life are different. Isn't that what heroism is?
To be selfless is a heroic attribute...and heroism is the selfless preservation of life.
Those people aboard that flight were heroes. Sure we can all wish to be the hero that saves the day ...the one who everyone adores and admires. A happy ending, however, is not something we can all count on.
Life is not like the movies, no matter how many people make it out to be.
Yet there are moments when fiction...and reality...do seem awfully similar.
Something to chew on...
C
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Time Machine Pt. 2
One woman was the subject of my last blog...and another extremely important woman is the subject of this one.
I usually try not to bring others that are close to me into these blogs strictly because they might not want to be the subject of so many prying eyes. That may only be the case if someone actually read these blogs, and I know a few of you out there do, but there certainly isn't a ton of "Midnight Show" fans.
Nonetheless, I've known my friend Aly for years now. I think now it's been more than a decade. We met as bright-eyed 14 year olds in high school, living two different lives, exclusive of any influence from the other up to that point.
I've had the opportunity to meet several amazing people in my lifetime that are now very close friends of mine, but never have I met anyone else besides Alyson that has made such a profound impact on my life.
Turns out she was going to ask me to our first Sadie Hawkins dance our freshman year in high school, but didn't have the guts to ask. I never went to a single dance with her in all of high school. My brother went with her to one, but I never had the pleasure. Senior year, being without a date for my prom, I decided I'd ask her. She was my first choice so I decided to bank my hopes of a memorable final hurrah on her shoulders.
Unfortunately for me, she said no. Now it wasn't that cut and dry, however, for all of those who may be jumping to conclusions right about now. There were some extraneous factors at the time that would have made the situation more difficult. In reality she actually did want to be my date, but that story doesn't belong here. To keep it brief, I ended up going with someone to my senior prom, and while my date was great, the prom experience in general, fairly shitty.
Now I would have my day in court, thank you very much. Approximately a year and a half later, Aly and I started dating. Turns out it would be like that for the next 4+ years. I'm a one-woman man, and she was all I could ever ask for.
Yet there did come a time when I felt like our time had come to a close, or more specifically my time with her had come to a close. I broke it off, March 20th, 2006.
Halloween of that same year we got back together, much to my relief. Little did I know our bond would break once again August 30th of this year. Never will I forget breaking the heart of the same amazing girl, twice. No one will ever understand the guilt I've harbored for doing that.
I have been through every sort of situation with Aly, and in turn have put her through the same. Extremes of all kinds, all of which I will NOT go into detail about. There isn't any range of emotion I haven't experienced by being with her.
To bring you up to our current situation ... frayed. We are both living our own lives, in many ways once again exclusive of the other's influence...almost as if we've gone full circle.
I fear I've broken our time machine. Any opportunity to regain what existed in the past is gone, most likely. Still despite my feelings of abandonment, she is someone I think about every day. We have tried reconciling some of our past, but I know I may have sealed my fate with words spoken in days gone by. Regardless of what the future holds for myself, I am truly thankful and blessed to have had the rare opportunity to not only be loved by someone else, but to love back as well.
We still have the blueprint...and the parts to build it again, but now is not the time to try and revisit the past. She deserves to live her life without me in it, and I need to try and do the same. It was a once-in-a-lifetime journey, one that I am honored to have been a part of. A new journey, for both of us, is starting.
...and who knows, maybe one day one of us might stop and pick the other up along the way.
Little did I know when I was 14, the girl with the braces sitting across from me in typing class would change my life forever. I am forever thankful, Al. You'll never know how much.
C
I usually try not to bring others that are close to me into these blogs strictly because they might not want to be the subject of so many prying eyes. That may only be the case if someone actually read these blogs, and I know a few of you out there do, but there certainly isn't a ton of "Midnight Show" fans.
Nonetheless, I've known my friend Aly for years now. I think now it's been more than a decade. We met as bright-eyed 14 year olds in high school, living two different lives, exclusive of any influence from the other up to that point.
I've had the opportunity to meet several amazing people in my lifetime that are now very close friends of mine, but never have I met anyone else besides Alyson that has made such a profound impact on my life.
Turns out she was going to ask me to our first Sadie Hawkins dance our freshman year in high school, but didn't have the guts to ask. I never went to a single dance with her in all of high school. My brother went with her to one, but I never had the pleasure. Senior year, being without a date for my prom, I decided I'd ask her. She was my first choice so I decided to bank my hopes of a memorable final hurrah on her shoulders.
Unfortunately for me, she said no. Now it wasn't that cut and dry, however, for all of those who may be jumping to conclusions right about now. There were some extraneous factors at the time that would have made the situation more difficult. In reality she actually did want to be my date, but that story doesn't belong here. To keep it brief, I ended up going with someone to my senior prom, and while my date was great, the prom experience in general, fairly shitty.
Now I would have my day in court, thank you very much. Approximately a year and a half later, Aly and I started dating. Turns out it would be like that for the next 4+ years. I'm a one-woman man, and she was all I could ever ask for.
Yet there did come a time when I felt like our time had come to a close, or more specifically my time with her had come to a close. I broke it off, March 20th, 2006.
Halloween of that same year we got back together, much to my relief. Little did I know our bond would break once again August 30th of this year. Never will I forget breaking the heart of the same amazing girl, twice. No one will ever understand the guilt I've harbored for doing that.
I have been through every sort of situation with Aly, and in turn have put her through the same. Extremes of all kinds, all of which I will NOT go into detail about. There isn't any range of emotion I haven't experienced by being with her.
To bring you up to our current situation ... frayed. We are both living our own lives, in many ways once again exclusive of the other's influence...almost as if we've gone full circle.
I fear I've broken our time machine. Any opportunity to regain what existed in the past is gone, most likely. Still despite my feelings of abandonment, she is someone I think about every day. We have tried reconciling some of our past, but I know I may have sealed my fate with words spoken in days gone by. Regardless of what the future holds for myself, I am truly thankful and blessed to have had the rare opportunity to not only be loved by someone else, but to love back as well.
We still have the blueprint...and the parts to build it again, but now is not the time to try and revisit the past. She deserves to live her life without me in it, and I need to try and do the same. It was a once-in-a-lifetime journey, one that I am honored to have been a part of. A new journey, for both of us, is starting.
...and who knows, maybe one day one of us might stop and pick the other up along the way.
Little did I know when I was 14, the girl with the braces sitting across from me in typing class would change my life forever. I am forever thankful, Al. You'll never know how much.
C
Time Machine
Don't live in the past, people say.
What's done is done, people say.
Everything works out in the end, people say.
Society is in a constant state of progression...albeit in some areas more than others...but that's the way we've programmed ourselves. We're constantly looking for the next best thing whether it be material or superficial or technological. Was there ever a time when people thought "I like this place in time just the way it is"? How many people dwell on the past and how many people wonder about the future? If you were to survey every adult in the world and ask them this question, where would the majority lie? In the past or the future? Or maybe just in the moment?
We've all had times in our lives when things were going just right. Not exactly perfect, no one can honestly say they've experienced perfection, but that almost every aspect of our life all synched up pretty closely. Job was secure and paying well...family is healthy...love life promising...
Maybe not those exact things, but to a varying degree, I'd like to think many of us have had the opportunity to experience bliss. Not a care in the world to be had.
What would you give to go back to that point in time, if just for 5 minutes?
I know I'd like to go back in time and see a point in my life when my mother was truly happy.
She has done so much for everyone else besides herself for far too long. She has made endless trips to Santa Barbara every month to make sure my grandparents are taken care of, calling them every night just to see how they're doing. Sure she does it out of love, but she shouldn't have to carry the majority of the weight on her shoulders any longer.
Helping to raise two fraternal twins, I'm sure, wasn't the easiest job in the world either, far from it, but what if we were never in the picture to begin with? What would her life have been like? I wonder if she has ever thought about that.
Honestly, she still has so much to live for, but it shouldn't be spent worrying about other people. She has toiled for years trying to ensure she raised her boys the best she could, and she has done a fine job, may I say. But now that we are full-grown, her job still isn't over.
I'm amazed at the will-power and determination my Mom has every single day not only to still work full-time, but spend her days off on the road traveling to take care of my grandparents. I know her resiliency has been passed down to my brother and I, but I don't ever think I could ever compare myself to her in that respect. She is a one-of-a-kind woman, a selfless human being who always puts others before herself.
Time machine...take me back to the time when my mother's life wasn't what it is. When she was able to enjoy the bliss of life, and have time for herself to do what she's always wanted.
We all have a time machine...you just need to figure out how to operate it. Our blessings in the past can still be our blessings in the present or future.
I will continue this thought in my next post. Until then...
C
What's done is done, people say.
Everything works out in the end, people say.
Society is in a constant state of progression...albeit in some areas more than others...but that's the way we've programmed ourselves. We're constantly looking for the next best thing whether it be material or superficial or technological. Was there ever a time when people thought "I like this place in time just the way it is"? How many people dwell on the past and how many people wonder about the future? If you were to survey every adult in the world and ask them this question, where would the majority lie? In the past or the future? Or maybe just in the moment?
We've all had times in our lives when things were going just right. Not exactly perfect, no one can honestly say they've experienced perfection, but that almost every aspect of our life all synched up pretty closely. Job was secure and paying well...family is healthy...love life promising...
Maybe not those exact things, but to a varying degree, I'd like to think many of us have had the opportunity to experience bliss. Not a care in the world to be had.
What would you give to go back to that point in time, if just for 5 minutes?
I know I'd like to go back in time and see a point in my life when my mother was truly happy.
She has done so much for everyone else besides herself for far too long. She has made endless trips to Santa Barbara every month to make sure my grandparents are taken care of, calling them every night just to see how they're doing. Sure she does it out of love, but she shouldn't have to carry the majority of the weight on her shoulders any longer.
Helping to raise two fraternal twins, I'm sure, wasn't the easiest job in the world either, far from it, but what if we were never in the picture to begin with? What would her life have been like? I wonder if she has ever thought about that.
Honestly, she still has so much to live for, but it shouldn't be spent worrying about other people. She has toiled for years trying to ensure she raised her boys the best she could, and she has done a fine job, may I say. But now that we are full-grown, her job still isn't over.
I'm amazed at the will-power and determination my Mom has every single day not only to still work full-time, but spend her days off on the road traveling to take care of my grandparents. I know her resiliency has been passed down to my brother and I, but I don't ever think I could ever compare myself to her in that respect. She is a one-of-a-kind woman, a selfless human being who always puts others before herself.
Time machine...take me back to the time when my mother's life wasn't what it is. When she was able to enjoy the bliss of life, and have time for herself to do what she's always wanted.
We all have a time machine...you just need to figure out how to operate it. Our blessings in the past can still be our blessings in the present or future.
I will continue this thought in my next post. Until then...
C
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Purpose
I've been wrestling with the idea of "purpose" recently. More specifically ... what is my purpose? Not for a career ... but as a person taking up space on this planet. However complicated a question, it's beyond me to answer ... but are we all allotted some specific role/purpose to take on during our lifetimes to make living worthwhile? I'd like to say no because there are so many unhappy people in the world. Still ... the questions begs asking.
Or maybe I'm just confusing purpose with happiness. Right now I just feel like I'm going through the motions with no clear path, and little motivation to become more than I am. I feel deep inside that I'm capable of so much more ... yet where the hell do I start or where do I go? I'd like to think that one day it'll hit me in the face like a ton of bricks or an overly-ripe peach, but I've got the feeling those days are quickly going the way of the dodo. Either I've got to get the train going myself ... or if the train does arrive ... I've got to be ready to jump on.
I guess I've just got to wait this one out ... for now.
C
Or maybe I'm just confusing purpose with happiness. Right now I just feel like I'm going through the motions with no clear path, and little motivation to become more than I am. I feel deep inside that I'm capable of so much more ... yet where the hell do I start or where do I go? I'd like to think that one day it'll hit me in the face like a ton of bricks or an overly-ripe peach, but I've got the feeling those days are quickly going the way of the dodo. Either I've got to get the train going myself ... or if the train does arrive ... I've got to be ready to jump on.
I guess I've just got to wait this one out ... for now.
C
A Follow-Up...
Damn, it's been a long time since I've been on here. To my defense, I don't think I've had a whole lot of stuff that would have made for a good story, but then again almost any story can be interesting to the right person or if it's delivered properly. Where should I start? How about the "D-7" fiasco?
That next day ... or the day after ... I was happily surprised the vending machine was fixed. I wasn't expecting such a prompt response, but then again my note I had left as evidence of my d-7 distaste was gone too.
... and yes it was a mountain blast I celebrated with.
What else?...
Halloween was just a few weeks ago. Hope you all had a nice time ... whatever the hell it was you were doing. The back-up plan ... more like a last resort was to pass out candy to the little ones, but man that wouldn't have been all that fun, not for me at least. After some deliberation and abandoning my hopes of being "Smalls" from the infamous baseball flick "The Sandlot," I chose to embody the essence of who is now only known as "Frank Shuttlecock, " the 1979 Tri-Cities badminton champion and runner-up in the 1977 World Championships to a tough and scrappy Soviet Union team. By now it would be appropriate to give some sort of a visual, but sadly my brother, Johnny-boy himself, has the sweet pics on his cam and has yet to upload them ... at least to my knowledge he hasn't. So for those with a bit of imagination ... here's the rundown of the costume just in case you were curious to see what Mr. Shuttlecock may have looked like in person ...
1. Blue Shorts ... emphasis on the "short" ... seriously.
2. Red Polo Shirt (blue collar ... "U-S-A" labeled on the back)
3. White tennis shoes (nothing sexy there)
4. Solid-White Headband (nice, definitely 70's-ish)
5. Two Red-White-Striped wristbands
6. A used $3 Goodwill-bought badminton racket
7. One bronze-ish "2nd" place medal (navy blue ribbon)
8. One cheezy and obviously fake "fake moustache."
Cosmetically that was what Frank was composed of ... but could only pull off such a costume (not literally) with the right kind of attitude. Luckily ... on that night ... Mr. Colin was feeling especially confident. It certainly didn't hurt I had a couple of drinks under my belt too.
Anyways, it turned out to be a pretty cool costume for having only spent about 8 bucks total on it. The wearability factor for the costume is also fairly high making it a sure-fire winner.
I couldn't have pulled it off without the moustache ... that was constantly falling off even before the festivities kicked off. Luckily ... good friend Joe had some industrial-strength adhesive stuff that kept that 'stache on like nobody's business.
Another b-log soon to come ... and I mean soon. This ... however ... is good for now on the follow-up.
C
That next day ... or the day after ... I was happily surprised the vending machine was fixed. I wasn't expecting such a prompt response, but then again my note I had left as evidence of my d-7 distaste was gone too.
... and yes it was a mountain blast I celebrated with.
What else?...
Halloween was just a few weeks ago. Hope you all had a nice time ... whatever the hell it was you were doing. The back-up plan ... more like a last resort was to pass out candy to the little ones, but man that wouldn't have been all that fun, not for me at least. After some deliberation and abandoning my hopes of being "Smalls" from the infamous baseball flick "The Sandlot," I chose to embody the essence of who is now only known as "Frank Shuttlecock, " the 1979 Tri-Cities badminton champion and runner-up in the 1977 World Championships to a tough and scrappy Soviet Union team. By now it would be appropriate to give some sort of a visual, but sadly my brother, Johnny-boy himself, has the sweet pics on his cam and has yet to upload them ... at least to my knowledge he hasn't. So for those with a bit of imagination ... here's the rundown of the costume just in case you were curious to see what Mr. Shuttlecock may have looked like in person ...
1. Blue Shorts ... emphasis on the "short" ... seriously.
2. Red Polo Shirt (blue collar ... "U-S-A" labeled on the back)
3. White tennis shoes (nothing sexy there)
4. Solid-White Headband (nice, definitely 70's-ish)
5. Two Red-White-Striped wristbands
6. A used $3 Goodwill-bought badminton racket
7. One bronze-ish "2nd" place medal (navy blue ribbon)
8. One cheezy and obviously fake "fake moustache."
Cosmetically that was what Frank was composed of ... but could only pull off such a costume (not literally) with the right kind of attitude. Luckily ... on that night ... Mr. Colin was feeling especially confident. It certainly didn't hurt I had a couple of drinks under my belt too.
Anyways, it turned out to be a pretty cool costume for having only spent about 8 bucks total on it. The wearability factor for the costume is also fairly high making it a sure-fire winner.
I couldn't have pulled it off without the moustache ... that was constantly falling off even before the festivities kicked off. Luckily ... good friend Joe had some industrial-strength adhesive stuff that kept that 'stache on like nobody's business.
Another b-log soon to come ... and I mean soon. This ... however ... is good for now on the follow-up.
C
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Damn You D7!
For the past four days at work ... I've been trying to acquire a bottle of the "blue" flavored Powerade ... I believe the correct flavor name is "Mountain Blast." Whenever I press "D7" on the keypad to receive my daily dose of electrolytes, the machine locks up right as the bottle is about to leave its chilled residence.
I'm a big fan of the "Mountain" ... seeing it's the only available flavor of Powerade in the vending machine currently.
Sometimes we'll have the standard "orange," "lemon-lime," or "fruit punch" Gatorade, but when I'm thirsty at work ... only the "Mountain" will truly do.
I've gotten a couple Cherry Cokes in the meantime ... even a Fanta ... but just no fuckin luck with that damn D7!
I've written a scathing note regarding my frustration at this problem. Shortly after I post this blog, I will tape the note to the vending machine in hopes the technician assigned to refueling this machine of alternative energy drinks will shed some light on this powerade problem.
The note is written as follows (verbatum):
I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO DRINK (BUY) A POWERADE FROM THIS MACHINE FOR THE PAST 4 DAYS AND WILL CONTINUE TO UNTIL THIS PROBLEM IS FIXED. PLEASE
FIX "D7."
-VERY THIRSTY CUSTOMER
As I was read what I had just written ... it appears I will stop buying Powerades/Gatorades as soon as this problem is fixed which couldn't be farther from the truth. Nonetheless ... I'm sure they will get the idea.
Now that I think about it ... that note wasn't very scathing at all ... maybe a bit of frustration came across, but certainly wouldn't be classified as a scathing note. I'm not much of a "scather."
I'll keep you posted.
Colin
I'm a big fan of the "Mountain" ... seeing it's the only available flavor of Powerade in the vending machine currently.
Sometimes we'll have the standard "orange," "lemon-lime," or "fruit punch" Gatorade, but when I'm thirsty at work ... only the "Mountain" will truly do.
I've gotten a couple Cherry Cokes in the meantime ... even a Fanta ... but just no fuckin luck with that damn D7!
I've written a scathing note regarding my frustration at this problem. Shortly after I post this blog, I will tape the note to the vending machine in hopes the technician assigned to refueling this machine of alternative energy drinks will shed some light on this powerade problem.
The note is written as follows (verbatum):
I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO DRINK (BUY) A POWERADE FROM THIS MACHINE FOR THE PAST 4 DAYS AND WILL CONTINUE TO UNTIL THIS PROBLEM IS FIXED. PLEASE
FIX "D7."
-VERY THIRSTY CUSTOMER
As I was read what I had just written ... it appears I will stop buying Powerades/Gatorades as soon as this problem is fixed which couldn't be farther from the truth. Nonetheless ... I'm sure they will get the idea.
Now that I think about it ... that note wasn't very scathing at all ... maybe a bit of frustration came across, but certainly wouldn't be classified as a scathing note. I'm not much of a "scather."
I'll keep you posted.
Colin
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Stamps, Shadowfax and the "Second-look"
I was involved in several "blog-worthy" moments with several "blog-worthy" women this afternoon...
The first two happened within a ten-minute period while I was depositing a check at my local Washington Mutual.
While filling out a deposit slip, I noticed someone walk up beside me. It's probably just a nervous habit, but I always cover up my account number when I notice somebody is in the proximity of myself. Although you'd have to be a hacker or know somebody who is, having somebody's account number alone probably wouldn't get you too far. However my suspicions were right that the lady next to me might have lost a couple of her marbles along the way. Here's the break-down.
After I had filled out my deposit slip and signed the back of my check, I got in line to deposit it. The woman who was beside me earlier was still in the same place when I left. I also noticed she had her keys on the counter next to her, but didn't think anything of it at the time. All of a suddden she leaves Wamu without her keys!
Moments later she comes back...not for the keys, but to fill something else out. At this point I'm figuring she will remember the keys she had left on the counter, but again she leaves WITHOUT the fucking keys! I mean they are RIGHT next to you lady! The couldn't have been more than a foot away! Come on! It couldn't have been more obvious!! Before she left the second time, I had anticipated her leaving her keys there again so right before she was about to open the door I say "Maam are those your keys?"
The middle-aged "fitness" buff (the 24-Hour Fitness keychain and workout clothes an obvious giveaway) comes back almost knowing somebody would tell her she had left her keys on the counter. She says "oh yeah," grabs the keys and leaves. Based on her reaction to what I said, maybe they weren't her keys at all...almost like she knew somebody had left them there on accident and it was all an elaborate plot to make me believe they were her keys. Though they were most likely hers b/c the true owner of the keys would have returned soon after knowing they couldn't unlock their car door. Might want to try working the brain out a little more and the body-oddy-oddy a little less lady.
Just minutes later after performing my "good" deed of the day, my speedy white steed of a Honda Civic, "Shadowfax," almost got blizz-asted by car in the WaMu parking lot. I was backing out and half-way out of my space when the car behind mine begins to pullout. Since my car was already into the lane, I figured the other driver would notice. As it turns out, she never saw me coming (not a reference to the song NOT made famous by "TQ"). The car kept coming...and coming. I put the car in drive just before my ride took a "shaddie spank." I looked over my shoulder and the lady didn't even know what was going on. Talk about frustrating when you don't even have your window rolled down yet...ahh! What's up with all these weird ladies at the WaMu today, sheesh maneesh!
After narrowly avoiding some bumper-on-bumper action, my next stop took me to the post office to send out some LOTR trades and some ish for my bro. I almost always use the automated stamp dispenser instead of going and waiting in line because nobody's ever using it when I walk in and it's much quicker. However today I had nine letters to stamp so I was going to be there for a little while (probably a MAX of 5-7 minutes...MAX).
I start with the stuff my bro needed mailing. I put the first few items on the scale to be measured while I enter in the appropriate info so they get the right postage. I had just popped two 41-cent baddies on the first two letters when I saw a lady waiting behind me.
With seven more to go, I remained steadfast on my task at hand. I stamp two more letters when the lady behind me says "Are you going to put 41 cent stamps on ALL of those?" At this point I should have turned around with a big-ass smile on my face and said "You got that right!" and turned back around to what I was doing, but instead I try to validate my prolonged stay at the automated stamp machine by saying I have some "international" postage as well. Jeez louise lady, do you really think I would waste my time purchasing 41 cent stamps fucking individually? I could have easily just bought a book of stamps and be on my way if that were the case. Albeit there are a lot of stupid people in this world, I'm certainly not one of them.
I finish stamping my plethora of parcels, dump them in the appropriate slot, wish them good luck on their individual journeys and leave the P.O. thinking about all the weird ladies I came in contact with and how they would later factor into this blog somehow.
I did take something good away from each of these experiences, however:
1. From Miss Clueless on the Double-Take: Telling her she left her keys probably meant she could get in an extra crunch or two on one of those big fitness balls before cooking a Digiornos's pepperoni pizza while still in the box...it's not delivery dumbass!
2. From Miss Shadowfax Spanks-alot: As Wesley Snipes once said in an infomercial for the "Total Gym," "it helped me build those quick-reaction muscle fibers I need". Besides, dealing with insurance companies is never a walk in the park, that's why I've made sure I'm still accident free up to this point.
3. From Miss Stampless In Seattle: There are a lot of impatient complainers in this world so make sure you have something witty to say if they decide to bark up the wrong tree.
After today's unusual run-ins, I don't think tomorrow will be as remotely interesting as today was. Nonetheless, if something does happen, you can be damn sure you'll see it here.
Stay posted...
Colin
The first two happened within a ten-minute period while I was depositing a check at my local Washington Mutual.
While filling out a deposit slip, I noticed someone walk up beside me. It's probably just a nervous habit, but I always cover up my account number when I notice somebody is in the proximity of myself. Although you'd have to be a hacker or know somebody who is, having somebody's account number alone probably wouldn't get you too far. However my suspicions were right that the lady next to me might have lost a couple of her marbles along the way. Here's the break-down.
After I had filled out my deposit slip and signed the back of my check, I got in line to deposit it. The woman who was beside me earlier was still in the same place when I left. I also noticed she had her keys on the counter next to her, but didn't think anything of it at the time. All of a suddden she leaves Wamu without her keys!
Moments later she comes back...not for the keys, but to fill something else out. At this point I'm figuring she will remember the keys she had left on the counter, but again she leaves WITHOUT the fucking keys! I mean they are RIGHT next to you lady! The couldn't have been more than a foot away! Come on! It couldn't have been more obvious!! Before she left the second time, I had anticipated her leaving her keys there again so right before she was about to open the door I say "Maam are those your keys?"
The middle-aged "fitness" buff (the 24-Hour Fitness keychain and workout clothes an obvious giveaway) comes back almost knowing somebody would tell her she had left her keys on the counter. She says "oh yeah," grabs the keys and leaves. Based on her reaction to what I said, maybe they weren't her keys at all...almost like she knew somebody had left them there on accident and it was all an elaborate plot to make me believe they were her keys. Though they were most likely hers b/c the true owner of the keys would have returned soon after knowing they couldn't unlock their car door. Might want to try working the brain out a little more and the body-oddy-oddy a little less lady.
Just minutes later after performing my "good" deed of the day, my speedy white steed of a Honda Civic, "Shadowfax," almost got blizz-asted by car in the WaMu parking lot. I was backing out and half-way out of my space when the car behind mine begins to pullout. Since my car was already into the lane, I figured the other driver would notice. As it turns out, she never saw me coming (not a reference to the song NOT made famous by "TQ"). The car kept coming...and coming. I put the car in drive just before my ride took a "shaddie spank." I looked over my shoulder and the lady didn't even know what was going on. Talk about frustrating when you don't even have your window rolled down yet...ahh! What's up with all these weird ladies at the WaMu today, sheesh maneesh!
After narrowly avoiding some bumper-on-bumper action, my next stop took me to the post office to send out some LOTR trades and some ish for my bro. I almost always use the automated stamp dispenser instead of going and waiting in line because nobody's ever using it when I walk in and it's much quicker. However today I had nine letters to stamp so I was going to be there for a little while (probably a MAX of 5-7 minutes...MAX).
I start with the stuff my bro needed mailing. I put the first few items on the scale to be measured while I enter in the appropriate info so they get the right postage. I had just popped two 41-cent baddies on the first two letters when I saw a lady waiting behind me.
With seven more to go, I remained steadfast on my task at hand. I stamp two more letters when the lady behind me says "Are you going to put 41 cent stamps on ALL of those?" At this point I should have turned around with a big-ass smile on my face and said "You got that right!" and turned back around to what I was doing, but instead I try to validate my prolonged stay at the automated stamp machine by saying I have some "international" postage as well. Jeez louise lady, do you really think I would waste my time purchasing 41 cent stamps fucking individually? I could have easily just bought a book of stamps and be on my way if that were the case. Albeit there are a lot of stupid people in this world, I'm certainly not one of them.
I finish stamping my plethora of parcels, dump them in the appropriate slot, wish them good luck on their individual journeys and leave the P.O. thinking about all the weird ladies I came in contact with and how they would later factor into this blog somehow.
I did take something good away from each of these experiences, however:
1. From Miss Clueless on the Double-Take: Telling her she left her keys probably meant she could get in an extra crunch or two on one of those big fitness balls before cooking a Digiornos's pepperoni pizza while still in the box...it's not delivery dumbass!
2. From Miss Shadowfax Spanks-alot: As Wesley Snipes once said in an infomercial for the "Total Gym," "it helped me build those quick-reaction muscle fibers I need". Besides, dealing with insurance companies is never a walk in the park, that's why I've made sure I'm still accident free up to this point.
3. From Miss Stampless In Seattle: There are a lot of impatient complainers in this world so make sure you have something witty to say if they decide to bark up the wrong tree.
After today's unusual run-ins, I don't think tomorrow will be as remotely interesting as today was. Nonetheless, if something does happen, you can be damn sure you'll see it here.
Stay posted...
Colin
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Yakima
Most of you who will actually read this know I'm trying to find a reporting job somewhere in this country. I've begun my search and have already started the whole application/resume tape process.
Just yesterday, I sent my third tape (actually a DVD) to a tv station in Yakima, Washington. Why there you ask? Most stations I've found require at least 2-3 years in a particular sized market. Market size just has to do with how many people live in your particular area.
Example: The Bay Area-Big Market
Fresno-Not So Big
Anyways, after looking at the job description, I got really excited because this might be a good opportunity for me. Although it is quite far away from home, it would be nice to have a change in scenery. Nevertheless, I'm sure I'm not the only one applying.
I've applied to two stations in California so far as well, one in Bakersfield and one in San Luis Obispo. I haven't heard anything back from them yet, but I will email and call them back soon. Maybe they have some constructive criticism for me, at least something. Most likely they'll probably say: "Thanks for applying, but as the job description CLEARLY says, you need to have at least 3 three years in a medium-size market, which you CLEARLY do not have."
Even if that is the case, it would be nice to know they at least looked at my application (resume/cover letter/DVD).
So far I've really only explored the west coast, and I know I need to send out a bunch more tapes. Hopefully somebody will give me a chance. I'll keep you posted.
Colin
Just yesterday, I sent my third tape (actually a DVD) to a tv station in Yakima, Washington. Why there you ask? Most stations I've found require at least 2-3 years in a particular sized market. Market size just has to do with how many people live in your particular area.
Example: The Bay Area-Big Market
Fresno-Not So Big
Anyways, after looking at the job description, I got really excited because this might be a good opportunity for me. Although it is quite far away from home, it would be nice to have a change in scenery. Nevertheless, I'm sure I'm not the only one applying.
I've applied to two stations in California so far as well, one in Bakersfield and one in San Luis Obispo. I haven't heard anything back from them yet, but I will email and call them back soon. Maybe they have some constructive criticism for me, at least something. Most likely they'll probably say: "Thanks for applying, but as the job description CLEARLY says, you need to have at least 3 three years in a medium-size market, which you CLEARLY do not have."
Even if that is the case, it would be nice to know they at least looked at my application (resume/cover letter/DVD).
So far I've really only explored the west coast, and I know I need to send out a bunch more tapes. Hopefully somebody will give me a chance. I'll keep you posted.
Colin
Monday, September 3, 2007
Limits Pt. III
Stupid...very stupid idea. Just had to eat something, anything. I was walking around with absolutely no energy, my head was as light as the tortilla I just ate and I could feel that my kidneys were already starting to complain.
Total fast time: 1 day 17 hours (41 hours)
Pretty amazing when you see people going on hunger strikes for weeks. I couldn't even do it for two days. I mean I could've have gone longer, but I have no idea what I'm doing. Interesting test, at least I know I can survive at least 2 days without food. I don't see myself doing any more physical tests of endurance anytime soon. We're already dying fast enough as it is.
Colin (a more emaciated version)
Total fast time: 1 day 17 hours (41 hours)
Pretty amazing when you see people going on hunger strikes for weeks. I couldn't even do it for two days. I mean I could've have gone longer, but I have no idea what I'm doing. Interesting test, at least I know I can survive at least 2 days without food. I don't see myself doing any more physical tests of endurance anytime soon. We're already dying fast enough as it is.
Colin (a more emaciated version)
Limits Pt. II
Well, I'm past the 24 hour mark. I've been chewing a piece of Orbit gum for past 11 hours or so at least my mind is occupied with chewing something. I've been thinking about this whole one week target thing. Maybe we should just play it by ear, I don't want to start having kidney failure just because I didn't eat anything for a week...on my own accord. I'll reset my goal for two days and see how I feel after that. I was at work tonight and one of our anchors was eating something that smelled so delicious. I literally felt like Pepe Le Pieu when he's sleeping. The aroma got to me instantly. I'm not saying I was getting all horny like the skunk-fiend, but the smell sure did seem a lot more intense when you haven't eaten anything in the past 26 hours.
Anyways, two day target and we'll go from there. The funny thing is, I haven't told anyone what the blog URL is to read these yet so nobody will read this until I give the green light to.
I do feel as though it is subconsciously therapeutic. Maybe that's why so many damn people do it in the first place...or maybe it gives people an excuse to talk about themselves for as long as they want. I guess I could kind of see why that would be appealing if you intended to have an audience.
A few times I was feeling lightheaded, but I guess that's my body feeding off of itself. Thanks body! Even if I don't give you any food now, you still knew where to find my secret stash. If only I was as clever as you.
Thanks for reading...whenever you do.
Colin
Anyways, two day target and we'll go from there. The funny thing is, I haven't told anyone what the blog URL is to read these yet so nobody will read this until I give the green light to.
I do feel as though it is subconsciously therapeutic. Maybe that's why so many damn people do it in the first place...or maybe it gives people an excuse to talk about themselves for as long as they want. I guess I could kind of see why that would be appealing if you intended to have an audience.
A few times I was feeling lightheaded, but I guess that's my body feeding off of itself. Thanks body! Even if I don't give you any food now, you still knew where to find my secret stash. If only I was as clever as you.
Thanks for reading...whenever you do.
Colin
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Limits
I've kinda been thinking about this for a week or two now...fasting.
I don't really have any objective in mind, but I think it will be interesting for me to test my limits. I've had a lot on my mind lately, and I would like something else to occupy my brainspace.
Understandably I'm aware that this may not be the safest thing to do...or the wisest. But by the time anybody knows I've done it...I'm sure I will be eating again. In about an hour or so, it will already have been 24 hours.
I had a Powerade at work today, and I think I'm going to try and stick to those kinds of drinks seeing they have more electrolytes than water, but that's it.
A very good friend of mine suggested against me doing this a while ago, but I need to switch things up. This isn't going against her wishes by any means, but I think she has influenced my decision in more ways than one.
Don't expect me to turn into some hippie-activist anytime soon. I'm keeping this strictly on a day-to-day basis.
Target Goal: 1 week
Day 1 almost complete.
Colin
I don't really have any objective in mind, but I think it will be interesting for me to test my limits. I've had a lot on my mind lately, and I would like something else to occupy my brainspace.
Understandably I'm aware that this may not be the safest thing to do...or the wisest. But by the time anybody knows I've done it...I'm sure I will be eating again. In about an hour or so, it will already have been 24 hours.
I had a Powerade at work today, and I think I'm going to try and stick to those kinds of drinks seeing they have more electrolytes than water, but that's it.
A very good friend of mine suggested against me doing this a while ago, but I need to switch things up. This isn't going against her wishes by any means, but I think she has influenced my decision in more ways than one.
Don't expect me to turn into some hippie-activist anytime soon. I'm keeping this strictly on a day-to-day basis.
Target Goal: 1 week
Day 1 almost complete.
Colin
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
My "Midnight Showing"
Welcome! This is my first official entry. Thanks for reading if you take the time to.
Usually when you're accosted late at night by someone you don't know, common sense tells you to just mind your own business and get the hell out of there.
That advice couldn't have been farther from my mind last night.
Unfortunately...or fortunately I had to park pretty far from my apartment complex where my twin brother and I live, and thus I had a bit of a walk ahead of me. As I began the trek home, an S.U.V. slowly passed me down the street. I didn't think anything of it at first, but when they made a sudden U-turn, I couldn't help but notice. I stopped as the car pulls up next to me. The automatic window in the passenger seat rolls down and inside are two elderly women, maybe in their 70's. Now you might be thinking...just because they're a couple of old ladies, doesn't necessarily mean it's safe to walk up to their car, for goodness sake man, it could have been a fuckin trap or something.
The driver asks how to get back on 280. I'm like "no problem." I begin to recite directions as if it were a recipe on the back of a "Rice A Roni" box.
Granny #1 tells me they aren't from San Jose, and while my directions are very clear, my verbal assistance just isn't doing the job. I've always been a fan of learning by doing anyways, so I offer to get back in my car...and this is at midnight may I add...and show them the way.
After initially thinking the two midnight mamas wanted to get to Bird Ave. in downtown, I eventually stir them in the direction of 280 North. I find a detour near our current location and they were off on their merry way. I rolled down my passenger window (a little bit tougher if you're the only one in the car and you don't have power windows) and I send them off with a wave. Before they took the detour to 280, Granny #1 said "you're wonderful." I responded with a "no problem," and they were gone. I took the long way home that night thinking about what I had just done.
Now I was planning to park in the same place I had originally parked, but I thought I'd give the parking right outside the apartment complex a second shot. Albeit it's about 12:15 A.M. now.
I certainly didn't expect to find what I did...
Just 10 minutes earlier, parking, like usual is packed about as tight as a snare drum, but now a most premium spot happened to make itself available. Right across the street was a huge spot...not just a spot I thought I could squeeze into if I felt I wanted to parallel park it, but a massive one with room to spare. Obviously I take it and I begin the short trip across the street and up to the apartment.
I was thinking, was there some reason why the paths of two lost elderly women and myself happened to intersect that night? Sure it could have been a coincidence, but maybe it wasn't.
Maybe something else other than coincidence told those two sweet little ladies to run into me because that is where they could the answers they were looking for. For whatever reason, I was glad I was there to help.
I've always thought I was lucky, not the kind of lucky that wins you a box of Legos at bingo or when you find $20 on the ground, but kind of like a diamond in the rough "lucky." The kind of thing you may dismiss at first, but eventually find out to be pretty special. I've had a lot of seemingly "lucky" things happen in my life that may not be attributed to just mere coincidence.
I'm going to ride this wave and see what I can make of it. I'll keep you posted.
Like I said before, "Miss Daisy" told me before we went our separate ways I was "wonderful."
From a complete stranger that can be quite a compliment. It certainly wasn't deserving of such praise, but the essence of helping someone else when they're in genuine need may be. I don't know, maybe I'm just a romantic that likes to think there's always some other meaning to things. Even if it isn't the case, it sure does make a good deed seem a helluva lot more cool.
I never did get the names of those two ladies nor did I give mine. A midnight meeting on the street usually isn't the best place to get acquainted, but I did my job and made their lives a bit easier if just for that one moment, and that is a nice feeling. I'm going to end my first blog there for now. If you've read up to this point, thanks for reading. Hopefully I will be able to share some more of my moments with those that care. Hope you enjoyed it, somewhat, and took something positive away from it.
More to come...
Colin
Usually when you're accosted late at night by someone you don't know, common sense tells you to just mind your own business and get the hell out of there.
That advice couldn't have been farther from my mind last night.
Unfortunately...or fortunately I had to park pretty far from my apartment complex where my twin brother and I live, and thus I had a bit of a walk ahead of me. As I began the trek home, an S.U.V. slowly passed me down the street. I didn't think anything of it at first, but when they made a sudden U-turn, I couldn't help but notice. I stopped as the car pulls up next to me. The automatic window in the passenger seat rolls down and inside are two elderly women, maybe in their 70's. Now you might be thinking...just because they're a couple of old ladies, doesn't necessarily mean it's safe to walk up to their car, for goodness sake man, it could have been a fuckin trap or something.
The driver asks how to get back on 280. I'm like "no problem." I begin to recite directions as if it were a recipe on the back of a "Rice A Roni" box.
Granny #1 tells me they aren't from San Jose, and while my directions are very clear, my verbal assistance just isn't doing the job. I've always been a fan of learning by doing anyways, so I offer to get back in my car...and this is at midnight may I add...and show them the way.
After initially thinking the two midnight mamas wanted to get to Bird Ave. in downtown, I eventually stir them in the direction of 280 North. I find a detour near our current location and they were off on their merry way. I rolled down my passenger window (a little bit tougher if you're the only one in the car and you don't have power windows) and I send them off with a wave. Before they took the detour to 280, Granny #1 said "you're wonderful." I responded with a "no problem," and they were gone. I took the long way home that night thinking about what I had just done.
Now I was planning to park in the same place I had originally parked, but I thought I'd give the parking right outside the apartment complex a second shot. Albeit it's about 12:15 A.M. now.
I certainly didn't expect to find what I did...
Just 10 minutes earlier, parking, like usual is packed about as tight as a snare drum, but now a most premium spot happened to make itself available. Right across the street was a huge spot...not just a spot I thought I could squeeze into if I felt I wanted to parallel park it, but a massive one with room to spare. Obviously I take it and I begin the short trip across the street and up to the apartment.
I was thinking, was there some reason why the paths of two lost elderly women and myself happened to intersect that night? Sure it could have been a coincidence, but maybe it wasn't.
Maybe something else other than coincidence told those two sweet little ladies to run into me because that is where they could the answers they were looking for. For whatever reason, I was glad I was there to help.
I've always thought I was lucky, not the kind of lucky that wins you a box of Legos at bingo or when you find $20 on the ground, but kind of like a diamond in the rough "lucky." The kind of thing you may dismiss at first, but eventually find out to be pretty special. I've had a lot of seemingly "lucky" things happen in my life that may not be attributed to just mere coincidence.
I'm going to ride this wave and see what I can make of it. I'll keep you posted.
Like I said before, "Miss Daisy" told me before we went our separate ways I was "wonderful."
From a complete stranger that can be quite a compliment. It certainly wasn't deserving of such praise, but the essence of helping someone else when they're in genuine need may be. I don't know, maybe I'm just a romantic that likes to think there's always some other meaning to things. Even if it isn't the case, it sure does make a good deed seem a helluva lot more cool.
I never did get the names of those two ladies nor did I give mine. A midnight meeting on the street usually isn't the best place to get acquainted, but I did my job and made their lives a bit easier if just for that one moment, and that is a nice feeling. I'm going to end my first blog there for now. If you've read up to this point, thanks for reading. Hopefully I will be able to share some more of my moments with those that care. Hope you enjoyed it, somewhat, and took something positive away from it.
More to come...
Colin
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