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
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
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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