I Don’t Want Your Lousy T-Shirt

I gave blood this morning. Now I have an excuse to play Wii instead of exercising after work.

Why do organizations always try to shove their lousy t-shirts in my face? That's right, lousy. The blood drive t-shirts are lousy, the Relay for Life t-shirts are lousy, Greek Life t-shirts (save for Brent's) are lousy, any free t-shirt that doesn't have an inappropriate graphic is utterly lousy. Just give me my cookie and orange juice, and let me be one my way.

My pulse is 64 bpm, blood pressure 104/68, iron level  ~16.5 (not sure what units they use, but apparently I'm about 4 above average), and my temp was ~96.5 degrees. Conclusion? I'm one chill mothafucka.

I learned today that tea and coffee contain compounds called tannins which interfere with the blood's absorption of iron. The blood takers recommended someone not drink any kind of tea or coffee one day prior to and one day after donating. And at work I started my day with a pleasant cup of tea, thinking that a healthy choice. Hm. The more you know.

A woman today was driving on the highway 15 mph under the speed limit. As I passed I noticed her brushing her teeth. Part of me, a rather small part of me wishes she was texting instead.

Gas near my apartment is $2.42. Jenny's mom saw gas in Cincinnati for $1.99. As overjoyed as I am to fill my tank for $15, I pretty much agree with Keacher on this.

Halfpenny, I'll let you know when I get Dr. Mario; but be aware that my efforts are currently devoted to Mario Kart and Mario Galaxy. And soon I'll have the next Mario Party in George's favorite series of video-drinking-games. This time requiring coordinated motions. I'll need to be sure to wear the wrist strap.

Now that I have a Wii I have to start adding "friends" to play against and to send messages. It's not enough that I have facebook friends, and real friends, but now I need Mario Kart friends. How many ways am I suppose to be friends with the SAME PEOPLE?

Fuck Halloween! This weekend is Daylight Saving Time. Jenny and I are going to celebrate with beer and ravioli, followed by a nine hour sleep.

Wiiiiiiiiiiii

Jenny gave me a Wii for our anniversary, and I love her more now than I ever have before. Online Mario Kart, anybody?

My First (Real) Raise

No, not the roof.

I received my first raise at Dynetics this month. We had performance reviews last month, and apparently I perform well [insert innuendo] because I got a surprising 8% raise. My last significant raise was from $8.00 to $9.00 an hour as a produce clerk (I was a damn good produce clerk). Although the latter was a 12.5% jump, I like the Dynetics one better (as it is 8% of a big boy's salary). Sadly, my 401k is down 25.8.% since September 1st.

R.I.P
George's 401k
We Hardly Knew Thee

As one who enjoys math, the internet, and money I did some cost of living comparisons with my new salary. To enjoy the same comfort of living as I do in Huntsville, AL, I'd need to pull in: over $80k in Chicago or Seattle, $90k in Boston, and over $100k in LA, New York, or DC. I'm not going to live in Huntsville forever, but while I'm here I will thoroughly appreciate affording shit.

Texts!

I decided I need to text more. Not because I want to be a teenage girl, but rather to feel content paying $5 monthly for 200 messages. I seldom send and receive over 25 messages total, meaning each text costs over 25 cents which is what I'd pay (per text) if I didn't have a plan. During homecoming I texted like a drunk college kid (really?) but still only reached 67 on that billing cycle.

Come on friends, help a guy out. I want to break 100 texts - that's 5 cents per text. Lose the game? Announce it. Georgia sucks? Sure does. Weird rash? Take a picture, I'll have a look. Don't worry, I'm a doctor.

Career Fair & Bullshit

Updated 10/14/2008

For those curious, I did get out of the meeting. I tried calling the man in charge about a half dozen times, and finally hear from him just before our last interview on Thursday. One hour later and I would have been on the road. They planned another make up session this week, so I was off the hook. And so the career fair trip concluded with a long, fun, expensive Thursday night at Sonkas. I drove home Friday.

P.S. Piece of advice with anyone with a significant other. Don't tell her you're coming home early until you're absolutely sure, i.e. you're half an hour into the drive. I lost some major points on that one.

Original 10/07/2008

Returned from Homecoming Sunday evening. Driving to the career fair this afternoon. Should have just stayed in Terre Haute. But then again, that would be using two vacation days to watch tv in Terre Haute. Not worth it. Perhaps if Rush weren't going on...

Now get this bullshit...

I planned to stay in Terre Haute on Thursday night after the career fair and interviews are done, and probably enjoy a festive night at Sonkas. Then I'd drive home Friday afternoon or Saturday morning. But then I get this email from my Boeing manager on Monday morning. The company is holding a series of security training sessions required for all external contractors this week. My last name begins with "M" giving  me a 10am Wednesday session.

"But George, can't you ask to go to a Tuesday session?" you might ask. "No, my seemingly clever friend." I'd respond. "Because the A-L session is 8am Wednesday. And the makeup session is 1pm Friday."

Who planned this crap? Required training sessions for everyone on Wednesday and Thursday, a Friday makeup session, but wait until the previous Monday to tell anyone. I'm annoyed. Not angry. Just annoyed. I guess I'll be driving back Thursday afternoon, after I stock up on some Three Floyds and Dogfish Head beers at Big Red.

At least I have a Dynetics department meeting next Monday. Dynetics, they know how to throw a meeting. Tell us a month in advance, and serve us free pizza. I love my department meetings.

P.S. I'll post about my Homecoming hijinx sometime later.

Elevator to Heaven

Where were you, when they built the elevator to heaven?

 ZOMFG this would be flippin' awesome!!!

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/10/02/space.elevator/

P.S. I'm at homecoming right now. Sweet.