Friday, August 31, 2007
More Magical Music from the Decemberists
There is a city by the sea
A gentle company
I don’t suppose you want to
And as it tells its sorry tale
In harrowing detail
Its hollowness will haunt you
Its streets and boulevards
Orphans and oligarchs it hears
A plaintive melody
Truncated symphony
An ocean’s garbled vomit on the shore,
Los Angeles, I’m yours
Oh ladies, pleasant and demure
Sallow-cheeked and sure
I can see your undies
And all the boys you drag about
An empty fallow fount
From Saturdays to Mondays
You hill and valley crowd
Hanging your trousers down at heel
This is the realest thing
As ancient choirs sing
A dozen blushing cherubs wheel above
Los Angeles my love
Oh what a rush of ripe élan
Languor on divans
Dalliant and dainty
But oh, the smell of burnt cocaine
The dolor and decay
It only makes me cranky
Oh great calamity,
Ditch of iniquity and tears
How I abhor this place
Its sweet and bitter taste
Has left me wretched, retching on all fours
Los Angeles, I’m yours
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
The Apartment
Put an application in for an apartment in Cleveland Heights today with Hannah. 900 square feet, 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, big kitchen. And the rent's not bad either.
I really love the area, and certain things about the apartment (the lighting, the wood floors, the gas stove). It's really worth the cost.
I'm so excited to be moving up to that area - most of my friends here in Cleveland live there as is, so it'll be good to have the group of them right around the corner for the most part. Coventry, the area we'll be in, is also incredible. Lots of great shops, bars, restaurants, parks, and such - very good place.
Think we're going to go a bit more "minimalist" as compared to the last couple places I've lived. No need for rampant decor and furniture. As far as that goes, personally I own a chair, a bed, a night stand, and a couch. Less is more... right?
We move in October 1 - there will likely be a party shortly after that... so if you're local (or hey, even if you're not!) stay tuned.
I really love the area, and certain things about the apartment (the lighting, the wood floors, the gas stove). It's really worth the cost.
I'm so excited to be moving up to that area - most of my friends here in Cleveland live there as is, so it'll be good to have the group of them right around the corner for the most part. Coventry, the area we'll be in, is also incredible. Lots of great shops, bars, restaurants, parks, and such - very good place.
Think we're going to go a bit more "minimalist" as compared to the last couple places I've lived. No need for rampant decor and furniture. As far as that goes, personally I own a chair, a bed, a night stand, and a couch. Less is more... right?
We move in October 1 - there will likely be a party shortly after that... so if you're local (or hey, even if you're not!) stay tuned.
Monday, August 27, 2007
New job - oh so Bond
So, the level of awesome that my new position reaches is best summed up in the following fact: I log in to my laptop there by scanning my fingerprint.
Now the great things could just end there - but they don't. Above and beyond all my co-workers being as friendly as can be, and incredibly intelligent and helpful there are a number of things that make it really fun.
I have my own little cube, while being a cubicle, is still very spacious. A VoIP phone that I still have yet to completely figure out. Full health and dental coverage for $50 a month. A 401(k) with 25% company match that for the past two years has also been given a discretionary additional 25% match, because the company has grown so much. Training like no body's business. The ability to call any of our global offices via my computer in little as four numbers. Oh, and a guide to everything I'll ever need to do in my position.
Basically this is one of the best jobs I've ever had. I've never gotten the amount of training and attention from my superiors as I got in just the first day there. I'm going to really enjoy working with such a great company.
That's about all for now - just wanted to let everyone know that the day went marvelously. More to come.
Now the great things could just end there - but they don't. Above and beyond all my co-workers being as friendly as can be, and incredibly intelligent and helpful there are a number of things that make it really fun.
I have my own little cube, while being a cubicle, is still very spacious. A VoIP phone that I still have yet to completely figure out. Full health and dental coverage for $50 a month. A 401(k) with 25% company match that for the past two years has also been given a discretionary additional 25% match, because the company has grown so much. Training like no body's business. The ability to call any of our global offices via my computer in little as four numbers. Oh, and a guide to everything I'll ever need to do in my position.
Basically this is one of the best jobs I've ever had. I've never gotten the amount of training and attention from my superiors as I got in just the first day there. I'm going to really enjoy working with such a great company.
That's about all for now - just wanted to let everyone know that the day went marvelously. More to come.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
A long overdue update
So I've been ultra busy this week - sorry for not updating sooner.
Last weekend (after my last post) I started my new job at Grand River Cellars. I worked 22 hours over Friday and Saturday and pretty decent tips. It's a great place to work, and I really love the environment and my co-workers. I don't think I could have asked for a better weekend job.
After work on Saturday evening, I went over to my friend Draque's and hung out there with some people from Case Western. Watched re-runs of old shows that used to be on Nickelodeon. It seems they have a special channel devoted to games and sports - amusingly called Nickelodeon GaS. I wonder where the hosts of those shows are today? What fun. We had a blast making snide (surely not me or my crowd I hear you say) commentary. Richard Simmons was on one episode of Figure it Out - it seems the host, Summer Sanders, is an Olympic gold medalist swimmer, and has a daughter named Skye (my sister's name) - and his only reason for being there was to get "slimed." Honestly - the "secret slime action" was "Sweats to the Oldies." Who else do you know that does that?
Earlier this past week Danielle came out to Cleveland and helped me look at apartments in the Cleveland Heights/Shaker area. I've got it narrowed down to a few of them. It all depends on whether or not I'll have Hannah as a roommate. In that case we'll have a 2-bedroom flat, otherwise I'm just going to get something with 1-bedroom for myself. I'm hoping to move as of October 1, but may push that back to November 1 depending on how things work out. I'm really excited about moving up to that area of Cleveland. It's amazingly nice, and near to my friends who are out in this part of Ohio.
Thursday I drove out to my grandparents' house and then up "North" with my grandpa to the cabin he and my grandma own near Big Rapids. We've been going up there for as long as I can remember as a family, though in the past 5-6 years have not - because of this the place is in need of some repairs, and I went with him to help him start replacing the roof. We didn't get much done, but got started at least, and it was better yet to be able to spend some time with him. I'm looking forward to when everything is ready with the place, then as Joey (the nephew) gets older we can take him up there, and perhaps someday my grandparents will give in to my pestering and let me have some of my friends up for a long weekend!
An aunt and uncle have their own cabin two lots over - the center lot was owned by an older couple, Morris and Iown, who both passed away a number of years ago, their cabin was purchased by cousins and has since been taken down and the lot is still empty. It's one of those pre-made homes, and is very nice. They replaced their old cabin a few years ago with the newer one, and now that both of them are retired they spend quite a bit of time there. Lindsay, Danielle, and I went up last year and stayed with them over Labor Day weekend I think. We had a great time.
Speaking of Labor Day, that's coming up next weekend I believe. That means it'll be a short week for my first week of work at CTPartners - I start tomorrow morning. I am incredibly excited and can't wait to go. It's kind of like going to the first day of school when you were a kid. I'm really looking forward to having a job that I can enjoy - presumably, since as of right now I've not had any experience doing whatever it is I'll be doing, though I'm sure it'll be better than recruiting nurses!
That about covers things for the time being. I'll make an entry tomorrow to detail my first day as a Search Desk Administrator! ^^
Last weekend (after my last post) I started my new job at Grand River Cellars. I worked 22 hours over Friday and Saturday and pretty decent tips. It's a great place to work, and I really love the environment and my co-workers. I don't think I could have asked for a better weekend job.
After work on Saturday evening, I went over to my friend Draque's and hung out there with some people from Case Western. Watched re-runs of old shows that used to be on Nickelodeon. It seems they have a special channel devoted to games and sports - amusingly called Nickelodeon GaS. I wonder where the hosts of those shows are today? What fun. We had a blast making snide (surely not me or my crowd I hear you say) commentary. Richard Simmons was on one episode of Figure it Out - it seems the host, Summer Sanders, is an Olympic gold medalist swimmer, and has a daughter named Skye (my sister's name) - and his only reason for being there was to get "slimed." Honestly - the "secret slime action" was "Sweats to the Oldies." Who else do you know that does that?
Earlier this past week Danielle came out to Cleveland and helped me look at apartments in the Cleveland Heights/Shaker area. I've got it narrowed down to a few of them. It all depends on whether or not I'll have Hannah as a roommate. In that case we'll have a 2-bedroom flat, otherwise I'm just going to get something with 1-bedroom for myself. I'm hoping to move as of October 1, but may push that back to November 1 depending on how things work out. I'm really excited about moving up to that area of Cleveland. It's amazingly nice, and near to my friends who are out in this part of Ohio.
Thursday I drove out to my grandparents' house and then up "North" with my grandpa to the cabin he and my grandma own near Big Rapids. We've been going up there for as long as I can remember as a family, though in the past 5-6 years have not - because of this the place is in need of some repairs, and I went with him to help him start replacing the roof. We didn't get much done, but got started at least, and it was better yet to be able to spend some time with him. I'm looking forward to when everything is ready with the place, then as Joey (the nephew) gets older we can take him up there, and perhaps someday my grandparents will give in to my pestering and let me have some of my friends up for a long weekend!
An aunt and uncle have their own cabin two lots over - the center lot was owned by an older couple, Morris and Iown, who both passed away a number of years ago, their cabin was purchased by cousins and has since been taken down and the lot is still empty. It's one of those pre-made homes, and is very nice. They replaced their old cabin a few years ago with the newer one, and now that both of them are retired they spend quite a bit of time there. Lindsay, Danielle, and I went up last year and stayed with them over Labor Day weekend I think. We had a great time.
Speaking of Labor Day, that's coming up next weekend I believe. That means it'll be a short week for my first week of work at CTPartners - I start tomorrow morning. I am incredibly excited and can't wait to go. It's kind of like going to the first day of school when you were a kid. I'm really looking forward to having a job that I can enjoy - presumably, since as of right now I've not had any experience doing whatever it is I'll be doing, though I'm sure it'll be better than recruiting nurses!
That about covers things for the time being. I'll make an entry tomorrow to detail my first day as a Search Desk Administrator! ^^
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Pour. Swirl. Sniff. Taste. Enjoy.
So not only do I now have a full time day job, but as of today I am the Sommelier/Bartender for Grand River Cellars in Madison, OH.
I spoke with a friend of mine, my wine teacher from Kent, and he knew the owner there was looking for some extra help. He put in a good word for me, and after meeting with her this afternoon I'll be starting on Friday.
It'll be a lot of fun, and a great way to start getting experience in the wine business, and most certainly further my knowledge of wine and perhaps give me some more insight on viticulture and oenology (the agricultural and scientific sides to making wine).
The location is out past Painesville, so those of you who are in Ohio or the Cleveland area know that's a bit of a drive. Once I've moved closer to Cleveland though it'll only be about 30-45 minutes to get there. And for a weekend job it'll be excellent in terms of earning spending money, which means more of my "real" job paycheck can stay put in the bank! Yay.
Here's their website: http://www.grandrivercellars.com/
Please check out their selection, and if you can come visit. I tasted the wines available today, and can say they are some of the best Ohio-grown and produced wines I've had so far. If you want to come out while I'm working, I should be there most Friday evenings, and Saturday afternoons/evenings. They have a full menu as well as wine, so come hungry, and also live music every Friday and Saturday nights.
Cheers!
I spoke with a friend of mine, my wine teacher from Kent, and he knew the owner there was looking for some extra help. He put in a good word for me, and after meeting with her this afternoon I'll be starting on Friday.
It'll be a lot of fun, and a great way to start getting experience in the wine business, and most certainly further my knowledge of wine and perhaps give me some more insight on viticulture and oenology (the agricultural and scientific sides to making wine).
The location is out past Painesville, so those of you who are in Ohio or the Cleveland area know that's a bit of a drive. Once I've moved closer to Cleveland though it'll only be about 30-45 minutes to get there. And for a weekend job it'll be excellent in terms of earning spending money, which means more of my "real" job paycheck can stay put in the bank! Yay.
Here's their website: http://www.grandrivercellars.com/
Please check out their selection, and if you can come visit. I tasted the wines available today, and can say they are some of the best Ohio-grown and produced wines I've had so far. If you want to come out while I'm working, I should be there most Friday evenings, and Saturday afternoons/evenings. They have a full menu as well as wine, so come hungry, and also live music every Friday and Saturday nights.
Cheers!
Monday, August 13, 2007
America the great
I'm currently grooving on this song by The Decemberists. I hope you all enjoy it as much.
Sixteen military wives
Thirty-two softly focused brightly colored eyes
Staring at the natural tan
of thirty-two gently clenching wrinkled little hands
Seventeen company men
Out of which only twelve will make it back again
Sergeant sends a letter to five
Military wives, whose tears drip down through ten little eyes
Cheer them on to their rivals
Cause America can, and America can't say no
And America does, if America says it's so
It's so!
And the anchorperson on TV goes...
La de da de da
Fifteen celebrity mimes
Leading their fifteen sordid wretched checkered lives
Will they find the solution in time
Using their fifteen pristine moderate liberal minds?
Eighteen academy chairs
Out of which only seven really even care
Doling out the garland to five
Celebrity minds, they're humbly taken by surprise
Cheer them on to their rivals
Cause America can, and America can't say no
And America does, if America says it's so
It's so!
And the anchorperson on TV goes...
La de da de da de-dadedade-da
La de da de da de-dadedade-da
Fourteen cannibal kings
Wondering blithely what the dinner bell will bring
Fifteen celebrity mimes
Served on a leafy bed OF sixteen military wives
Cheer them on to their rivals
Cause America can, and America can't say no
And America does, if America says it's so
It's so!
And the anchorperson on TV goes...
La de da de da de-dadedade-da
La de da de da de-dadedade-da
Sixteen military wives
Thirty-two softly focused brightly colored eyes
Staring at the natural tan
of thirty-two gently clenching wrinkled little hands
Seventeen company men
Out of which only twelve will make it back again
Sergeant sends a letter to five
Military wives, whose tears drip down through ten little eyes
Cheer them on to their rivals
Cause America can, and America can't say no
And America does, if America says it's so
It's so!
And the anchorperson on TV goes...
La de da de da
Fifteen celebrity mimes
Leading their fifteen sordid wretched checkered lives
Will they find the solution in time
Using their fifteen pristine moderate liberal minds?
Eighteen academy chairs
Out of which only seven really even care
Doling out the garland to five
Celebrity minds, they're humbly taken by surprise
Cheer them on to their rivals
Cause America can, and America can't say no
And America does, if America says it's so
It's so!
And the anchorperson on TV goes...
La de da de da de-dadedade-da
La de da de da de-dadedade-da
Fourteen cannibal kings
Wondering blithely what the dinner bell will bring
Fifteen celebrity mimes
Served on a leafy bed OF sixteen military wives
Cheer them on to their rivals
Cause America can, and America can't say no
And America does, if America says it's so
It's so!
And the anchorperson on TV goes...
La de da de da de-dadedade-da
La de da de da de-dadedade-da
Thursday, August 9, 2007
The Virtues of Photoshop CS3
I just have to say, the high point of my day today has been playing with Photoshop CS3.
It's really an amazing program, and despite the fact that it might not be hugely different than PS7 or even CS2, it has two important options that I really like. Auto-layer, and Auto-blend.
In short, these two things allowed me to take 13 pictures and create this:
You'll have to click the image to actually see what the BIG deal is all about.
Otherwise, I'm just doing a preliminary apartment search today. Even though I'm not planning on moving for at least a couple months, I'd like to check places out to 1) see what they're like in general, and more importantly 2) get an idea as to what they're like when it's nice out. I really don't want to live anywhere that there are going to be swarms and swarms of children.
Finally, Rufus Wainwright's new album, Release the Stars, is pretty good. I always like new music from him. I think he's coming through Ohio/Michigan on tour in a few months. I'll have to see if I can get tickets.
It's really an amazing program, and despite the fact that it might not be hugely different than PS7 or even CS2, it has two important options that I really like. Auto-layer, and Auto-blend.
In short, these two things allowed me to take 13 pictures and create this:
You'll have to click the image to actually see what the BIG deal is all about.Otherwise, I'm just doing a preliminary apartment search today. Even though I'm not planning on moving for at least a couple months, I'd like to check places out to 1) see what they're like in general, and more importantly 2) get an idea as to what they're like when it's nice out. I really don't want to live anywhere that there are going to be swarms and swarms of children.
Finally, Rufus Wainwright's new album, Release the Stars, is pretty good. I always like new music from him. I think he's coming through Ohio/Michigan on tour in a few months. I'll have to see if I can get tickets.
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