job is found

Today, I met the president and vice-president of Environmental Mechanical, Inc. for lunch today. We met in Lawrence, Kansas at the Free State Brewery. The turkey sandwich with Swiss and cream cheeses (a nice touch) was quite tasty.

We discussed my possible employment. They said they like to "move fast with these things." So, they asked me to wait outside while they spoke about the future.

After five minutes, they came out. It was like await the verdict to my trial.
If I recall, Tom, the president, said, "Here's what were going to do. We're going to e-mail you an offer on Monday. 36,000. 1,500 for movie expenses."

I am a happy man. I plan on accepting this job. I will move to Kansas City to enter the real world. Gretchen is happy, as she is close to acquiring a job there. My family is not in the greatest of spirits, slightly perturbed that I won't be moving back home like originally planned. They're playing the old, "I don't want you to sell yourself short," and, "don't put all your eggs in one basket" routines. (They say this because I am taking the first real offer I received. I do feel poorly about that, but I need to do what is best for my future and career. The money is good to start, and before this, I hadn't gotten my foot in the door at all at any of the construction or contracting companies I contacted (at least 8 or 9).

And, it's only 3 hours from Wichita and St. Louis, and 2 from Manhattan. So, its location is also a plus.

The real life will soon begin.

Strange, eh?

www.environmentalmech.com

Dean Ween and his Olive Garden critique

I bow to Dean Ween today, and his tirade against Olive Garden.

"As an Italian-American nothing offends me more than the commercials on tv for the Olive Garden. You ever eat there? What a bunch of dogshit. The food sucks and a real Italian wouldn't be caught dead ordering "the never ending spaghetti bowl" even if it were free. The food is devoid of any real flavor whatsoever and only the whitest motherfucker could possibly be tricked into believing that they're experiencing anything "authentic". The commercials usually show you some typical looking Italian family with Brooklyn accents bonding over the free breadsticks at the Olive Garden but that's just not where it's at. The Olive Garden can suck my New Jersey dick."

Well-spoken, Dean. Well-spoken.

- excerpted from www.ween.com, the Waste section

haven't blogged in a while

I haven't blogged in a while, so I thought I'd catch up on things.

I now have a WaterPik, so I can fiercely wash out old food chunks from my wisdom tooth sockets.

I just saw Sin City. Very cool-looking movie. Unnecessarily violent, but I'm not complaining about that. Dialogue is lacking (probably because it is adapted from a comic book). Overall, awesome movie, if only for the sweet cinematography.

The Association is an unbelievable band. Underrated band from the 60's. Check them out. "Cherish" rocks.

Badminton, as I always state, is an amazing sport.

www.fark.com

day of reckoning...for my wisdom teeth

Yes, today is the day. My first surgical procedure.

I've heard it's no big thing. I'm sure it isn't. But there's always that slight apprehension of the unknown.

Yet, that's what the Valium is for. So I at least have that to look forward to.

A lot of people are questioning the method by which I will be having surgery. Specifically, taking valium and then use of a local anesthetic. Others I have talked to say that would rather be "knocked out," which is another common way of tranquilizing the patient. I'm not worried that much in the end.

As long as I can eat solid food again by Easter, and maybe shoot some hoops on Sunday, if I'm feeling up to it, I'll be a happy man.

Next time I write, I will be a different man. Four teeth lighter.

the job search

Well, reality is setting in. The job search is on. College is almost over.

I sent letters and resumes to nine construction firms last Friday. (Yeah, instead of the straight-up architecture firm courting, I thought I'd travel a different avenue, hopefully a less-traveled one by fellow soon-to-be architecture graduates).

I made some follow-up calls today. Most I either had to leave a message or they had not yet received my correspondence (I figured I had given enough time, but perhaps not). The best phone call was to Jacobs, where Theresa Czolgosz (which might top Postiglione if you ask me) said she had received my resume, and was sending it to the appropriate people. I was supposed to call her back on Monday. They are supposedly in need of "design people," so we'll see what happens.

Hitting the lottery and moving to Amsterdam is still my first choice, but I guess getting a job is a close second.

Until next time...

http://www.ween.com

st. pat's - race day

Ah, tomorrow. A day of bars opening early in the morning for the glorious celebration of St. Patrick's Day.

Also important is the Manhattan, Kansas, St. Pat's Day Race. The grisled veteran runner, Mike Postiglione, steps out onto the pavement once again. This time, it's a 10K that he's running (roughly 6 miles). He hasn't run an official race since the Linz Half-Marathon in Linz, Austria on April 18th, 2004. How will he fare? Only time will tell, as it will most probably be a battle of willpower and shin splints.

What motivates him? Specifically, the glory of crossing the finish line, the post-race barbecue in Triangle Park, and the celebration of St. Patrick's Day that shall follow.

Wish the running man good luck.

this square-movin' game

I am addicted to this new square-moving game. It takes a few turns to get accustomed to it, but after you do, prepare to waste some time.

Enjoy.

http://www.ebaumsworld.com/orbox.html

Arrested Development

Arrested Development is the funniest sitcom I've seen on TV in a long time. I think it's just my kind of humor, and that is why I love it. It's very reminiscent of the movie The Royal Tenenbaums, with parallels being the dysfunctional family and the dry humor. Damn, I love it.

I highly recommend watching it on Sundays at 7:30 PM on Fox, or renting the first season, now out on DVD.

http://www.fox.com/arresteddev/

Good stuff.

beat to sh*t

My face has gotten scorched the past few weekends. Last Sunday, I was playing in our last intramural basketball game of the season (we lost 69-40, but it was one of our better efforts, I would say), and I proceeded to trip while running, sending me forward towards the ground. At that point, my lip met the heel of one of my opponent's shoes. Spurting and gushing blood was the result.

I went to the trainer's room and applied pressure, and the guy said I shouldn't need stitches. At this point in time, it now being one week later, and it still breaks open everyday, I have a notion to disagree with his initial diagnosis. I might go grab a few stitches in the next day or so.

The carnage has just begun though. Yesterday, while playing soccer with seven or so of my friends and eight to ten other players (some of the them being pretty damn good, which usually means a little too intense and serious), it was coming towards the end of the game when I came up to challenge this dude with the ball.

He juked me, a good move admittedly, but somehow managed to smack/punch me in the face as he passed by. While I'm sure it was accidental, if you hit someone with your hand, you can usually feel where you hit them. I received no inquiries about my health, nor apologies for the action. Again, accidental, but that still warrants some reciprocal action. Thanks a lot, fat guy.

So, once more, I got to savor the tasty and calming experience of blood gushing and pouring from my face. Twice in one week. Aren't I lucky? I used my now-retired white t-shirt to sop up the blood. So, it's slightly sore and a bit swollen, and I'll probably get it checked out when I go grab the few stitches that I need. Is it broken? I don't believe so, but damn it, Jim, I'm NOT a doctor, so who knows what's really going on?

I just need to address this issue of "non-competitive" sports. I think the operable prefix is "non." People need to remember it is just a game, I don't care what you're out to prove. That why our basketball team enjoyed practicing on Thursday more than playing on Sundays. The seriousness with which people played sucked the fun out of it when the time came.

But, I digress. I have to go blow more dark red mucous from my nose. (Soon, I'll post a picture of my t-shirt, aka battle fatigue.)

great clips

Got a haircut today. Went to Great Clips, mainly because I'm cheap, and not picky when it comes to my hair. She did an alright job.

I saw this dude in Great Clips. He was about 55 or 60. And he was reading Teen People. I was amused, that's for sure.

Good for crossword fans: www.oneacross.com