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bjciii

Last Updated: 3/31/2009

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Gender: Male
Status: Single
Age: 34
Sign: Libra

City: WILMINGTON
State: Delaware
Country: US
Signup Date: 4/11/2005

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Thursday, November 01, 2007

Jobs, Work, Careers
Category: Jobs, Work, Careers

It's funny that this is the next category (yes, I am writing 1 BLOG entry per category. Why? Who gives a shit?! It is giving you something to read, isn't it?) when I just submitted my application for a full-time teaching position. Couple that fact with the coincidence that one of my students asked me to fill out a survey for him last night, and I've been thinking about this one.

My very first job was as a catering supply bitch. I think my cousin and I were 12 (maybe) and we got paid under-the-table to run back and forth between tents, lugging a ton of ice and other supplies where needed. Eventually we both got "promotions" and were able to work cotton candy. Seriously though? When I worked cotton candy, I couldn't eat it for YEARS afterwards. There's something about coming home all sticky, taking a shower, and then seeing bright pink or blue water in the tub drain that just kills your appetite for the stuff.

After that, I did time at a gas-station, the maintenance division of a large financial institution, and various helpdesk jobs. The helpdesk job I took out of college led me right into programming where I stuck for a while. It was here that I learned my most valuable lesson of all:

I never want to work in computers again.

I had a pretty good relationship with the guys I programmed with (for the most part), but I learned to loathe the management (upper... not immediate). I learned that I was not cut out for the private sector or the corporate world because my value system was completely different. Not only that, but the things they did completely lacked logic in the most fundamental sense of the word.

The greatest thing happened to me on July 31st, 2005, however.

I, and the rest of my office, got laid off.

I spent 5 months unemployed, but then I got lucky enough to land a job in a writing lab at a local college. From there, I started teaching. Now? I'm happier than a fat kid in a candy store.

My life isn't all sunshine and lollypops, but, employment-wise, it's never been better. Sure, I have bad days, but they're still better than a lot of my GOOD days back at my previous job.

I love what I'm doing and I think that is why I want to make this my career until I die. I want to teach. I want to impart the knowledge and skills that I've acquired. I want to act as a stand-up comedian while spewing forth the nuances of The English Language.

I love it. I hope all of you can find something you love as much as I love this. It's a great feeling.

Of course, the 2 paid weeks off at the end of the year don't hurt much

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Monday, October 08, 2007

Goals, Plans, Hopes
Current mood:

giggly
Category: Goals, Plans, Hopes

So... like, what are you guys's hopes and dreams?

Every time I look at this category marker, I am reminded of that first, awkward conversation that Drew Barrymore's character has in the movie Never Been Kissed with Jessica Alba and the other "cool" girls. Why? Because it's so utterly cliche to use those words in succession, that's why! Every single time I read that category label, I'm flashed back to high school when you're handed that slip of paper, hoping that the people putting together the yearbook have a modicum of information to flesh out the space next to / beneath your picture.

It's bullshit.

Yes, as humans, we all have goals. We all have plans, and we do all have hopes as well as dreams. To announce them means that we're opening ourselves up to public ridicule if we fall short. How many people never admit that, even though they are plugging away at medical school, they desperately want to be a dancer? How about those men who are slaving away at their high-paying finance job who want nothing more than to don a huge chef's cap, and bake cakes?

Yes, friends, unfortunately our "plans" sometimes interfere with our hopes and dreams. What was John Lennon's famous quote? The one that EVERYONE ended up quoting in their senior yearbook? "Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans." Just because we've got goals and desires, doesn't mean that life won't let loose that hellish curveball that leaves us swinging at nothing but air.

However, sometimes we connect and send that beautiful, hanging curveball deep over the fence. Myself, I graduated from The University of Delaware with a degree in English, but ended up in computers. Why? Because I had a talent for it. I was miserable, but making money. Then the curveball: I got laid off. Not just me, but our entire building. Best thing that ever happened, because I learned that my dream, my hope, my goal was to teach.

I got to live it out.

It hasn't always been easy and I haven't always been great at it, but I have learned something new about myself: It's possible to make a living at something you love. Not only that, but it makes it easier to love yourself and be loved by others.

Maybe my goal always was to be happy, but now it's my reality too. Sure, I plan to have a family. I plan to finish my novel. I plan to move to a house with a driveway and, just maybe, an in-ground pool, but I can tell you with no hesitation: sometimes curveballs are welcome additions to the at-bat known as life. It makes me think that, whatever we plan on doing, we aren't always going to go according to plan.

Jacta Alea Est! Not hardly... more like: that bitch is still rolling and we won't know where it lands until our final breath. I kinda like that idea.

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Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Games
Current mood:

excited
Category: Games

I was part of the Atari generation. I remember waking up early to sit in the den next to my parents' bedroom and using that joystick (yes, boys and girls, the phallic object with a single orange button on it) to maneuver Pac-Man through a maze of dots, just hoping to catch that blue ghost before chasing the bouncing fruit.

After that went the way of the dodo, I remember getting the Nintendo Entertainment System, complete with robot and light-gun. I played Duck Hunt for hours, Hogan's Alley for hours, and Gyromite (when I figured out how to work the damn robot). That system continued to enthrall me for years to come until I bought a Sega Genesis from a friend in high-school.

I rocked that console well into college. Hell, who could beat Mortal Kombat? It was on the Genesis that I first discovered the joy of Madden football. I mean, really... from the times of 10-Yard Fight on the NES, it was no comparison.

In the meantime, I got the Sony Playstation, the Nintendo 64, the Nintendo Gamecube, the Sony Playstation2, and the awesome Sega Saturn. Yes, I owned them all, skipping the Dreamcast and the SuperNES only. Eventually, after the price drop, I got the Sony XBox.

All fantastic machines, all with fantastic games (my favorite? It has to be Virtua Fighter 2 for the Saturn. I whipped EVERYONE'S ass with Wolf in that game). Currently, here at the cusp of 32, I have a PS2 and an XBox (and a Gamecube... somewhere... I have no idea where that is hiding though), and I find myself completely apathetic towards them any longer. This is the first season that I can remember where I haven't rushed out to get Madden. This is the first stretch that I haven't even opened that cabinet to plug in a controller.

So, am I growing up? Or, have I just grown bored with the gaming? I used to absolutely love coming home from a long, hard day at work, popping in Grand Theft Auto III on the PS2, and blowing people away in the many-layered virtual world. I don't miss it, either. I mean, if I'm around some friends who are talking too much smack about their Madden skills, chances are I'll sit down, grab a controller, and school the hell out of them; I mean, I have my pride. Now, however, I choose not to even bother.

God... what has happened to me?!

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Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Friends
Current mood:

contemplative
Category: Friends

Okay, I'll admit it: I'm very blessed. I always have been. No matter where I've been in my life, I've had some tremendous friends to keep me straight along the way. Sure, I've fucked up more times than I care to admit, but I really have had some close-calls where the difference was most definitely a friend.

I remember that my first best friend, Chris, and I were inseparable due to the fact that our families were also inseparable. As we grew up and went to school, John became my best friend and we would ride our big wheels and play in his tree fort in the back of his house. Grade school brought Brian and Sen, and when my family moved from the only house I'd ever known to that point, I got two more best friends: Brian and Matt. Eventually Dan entered the fold and I learned that the term "best friend" didn't always have to be exclusively one person. As I approach 32, I have a few circles of friends and there are more than just one friend in that one labeled "BEST."

Along these 31 years and 11+ months, I've gained a LOT of friends and acquaintances. Not all have been helpful and not all have stuck by me when I needed them, but I count myself lucky that I have a good number of friends that are there when I need them.

I truly believe that, at the end of the day, if you have friends, you have everything. Of course, sometimes, integrating those circles of friends proves to be a difficult task. Eh... that's why everyone has different facets to their personality, right? Different sides, different friends!

To all my friends: Thanks. Each and every one of you have taught me something about life and, eventually, about myself. It's because of you guys (and girls) that my days are never boring.

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Wednesday, September 05, 2007

Food and Restaurants
Current mood:

annoyed
Category: Food and Restaurants

So here's a question: When the whole purpose of your job rests on the production and presentation of food and drink, if the food itself is good, but the presentation blows, did you do your job correctly?

I was recently at a fantastic wedding that had pretty damn fine food, but there was a problem with the catering company: They were completely unprofessional! The staff hanging out in the kitchen and relaxing while guests were floating around? Hell no. I never worked in the food service industry, but I was a bartender for a while and did house-parties where we were hired to come in and be snazzy so the hosts could mingle. We did all of our prep and "breaks" in a completely unseen area. I can't believe that they got away with what they did.

On top of that, again... speaking as a former bartender, the one guy behind the bar couldn't even pronounce the name of the wine they were serving! That's fucked up, folks. Rule 1 of ANY business is know your stock. Regardless of the fact that this kid may never have had a drop of wine in his life, he should have known how to pronounce the vineyard name! That was inexcusable.

It sounds like that ruined my experience, but it didn't even come close. I had a FANTASTIC time and not even those little speedbumps affected me negatively. To balance it out, the guys (groom, his father-in-law, my dad, my brother-in-law, and myself) went to this awesome British pub up in PA for dinner. I gotta say: The peanuts rocked.

Seriously though, The Whip was a great place to grab a good bite. As a matter of fact, I'm heading there again tomorrow night. It's a bit of a drive, but definitely worth it. I think I'm gonna try the infamous "Fish and Chips" this time since I hear they are world class. The last time I just had "Bangers and Mash" and they were really good. I do not recommend the "Mushy Peas" however: it looks just like it sounds.

I'm kinda hungry now. Time to bolt for lunch.

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Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Fashion, Style, Shopping
Current mood:

anxious
Category: Fashion, Style, Shopping

I usually use the retort "No, I am straight" when I'm asking if I know how bad my shoes look. Why? Because I really don't give a damn about fashion. I mean, really. I know what feels good and I have a decent idea of the fact that I don't look like a clown, so I pretty much think the rest takes care of itself. I don't read GQ or Esquire or any of those other magazines that tout the latest trends in the clothier trade, but I have a younger sister who continually tells me I dress like shit, so I think that should count.

My style is one of "apathetic acceptance" in that I really don't care what others might think of the overall appearance. I mean, I'm not dumb enough to wear things that are dirty, frayed, or too tight, so I figure that everything else is all good. It sort of offends me that people look down on others for buying jeans at Costco for $19.99 when others might go to a high-end store and drop 5 times that on a similar pair. I'll never understand it. Really. I mean, I would rather drop a Jackson on a pair of denim jeans and take my girlfriend out for a night costing $80 than getting a $100 pair of jeans and having her go halvsies with me.

Priorities!

Don't get me wrong... I clean up nicely. When I go out, I do look good (except for my shoes, apparently. We're working on that). When I "suit up," there is really no equal. I just feel very comfortable in jeans and a t-shirt. I love wearing beat up Docks with no socks. I routinely wear those Docks into the ground until my toes peek through. I know what I like and the hell with the rest.

I guess maybe I have an aversion to clothes shopping. I don't know... I don't mind shopping as a whole because I do enjoy spending money, but I guess I just have ideas on what I want to spend it on. It used to be movies (no more, thanks to NetFlix) and videogames (again... no more, but this time it was adulthood), but now it's wine and food.

Ah well... I guess priorities shift as you get older. I know mine have!

Now, if you'll excuse me... I gotta go throw on some mesh shorts and a ripped up t-shirt. Time to relax.

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Thursday, August 23, 2007

Dreams and the Supernatural
Current mood:

happy
Category: Dreams and the Supernatural

I had a crazy-ass dream the other night. See, there was this little tiff between an administrator and a part-time instructor where I work late last week which bled over into early this week. No violence, but a lot of animosity which led the part-time instructor to tender their resignation in a very nasty e-mail. In any case, the dream I had basically surrounded that real-life idea with a dreamy thing:

When my school doesn't offer a contract to any part-time instructor, the coordinator takes them out back and shoots them.

Really. That was the dream. Fucked up, no? I remember not caring about the majority of the part-timers getting shot, but one of my friends got cut and I had to plead for her life.

That dream is pretty obvious and doesn't hold too much subtext, but I think dreams are crazy when they take what your conscious mind considers to be minutia, and craft an overly elaborate sequence about it. Then again, it gives me something to do while I'm soaping up in the shower in the morning!

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Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Blogging
Current mood:

amused
Category: Blogging

I've actually been quite prolific on the subject of BLOGging in my past. I've discussed the reasons I started, the reasons I continue, and the arguments / discussions I've had with people in my parents' generation about it. As I sit here and type this, I'm not quite sure what else I can say about it.

Then again, I'm pretty wordy, so you never know what's gonna pop into my head... like this.

What actually makes a decent BLOG? There's a lot of schools of thought on this and I guess you have to break it down into 2 main divisions: Focused and Unfocused.

The focused BLOGs are the ones that you might visit and know that you're going to be reading about a foodie's culinary adventures or a politico's general thoughts about the state of their party (and, most likely, the opposition's party). These BLOGs are usually (more often than not) read by people of like minds and habits. Every so often, a person might subscribe to the opposition's BLOG simply to have a ranting point to get things off their chest (I call my ranting point "The News Journal's Reader Comments"). Whether the reader believes in the writer or not, they know exactly what they'll be getting when they click on that hyperlink.

By comparison, the unfocused BLOGs are a potpourri of randomocity. These are the pages that may just detail the daily minutia that occurs during any given day. These are the pages that may, one day, describe a bad day at work, and the next? Their favorite television show. Each entry (for the most part) seems to be "focused," but it's not cohesive to the whole. There's no common thread; it seems to be a litany of stream-of-conciousness writing. The only similarity is that the author wants to share their life with their reader.

Neither type of BLOG is better than the other, truthfully. It really all comes down to your personal preference as a reader. If you've got that hidden (or not-so-hidden) voyeuristic streak, then you may want to subscribe to an unfocused BLOG to make your life seem more "normal" by comparison. If you lead a fairly regimented life and know exactly how to spend each and every minute, maybe a focused BLOG is better for you because there's no wasted time going over things you could care less about.

In any case, BLOGging is most definitely a burgeoning art form. Any jackass can write an entry, but it takes some spark of creativity to get people coming back to check anything new that has been written... er... typed. When I first started on the internet (WAAAAY back in 1993), I never heard of a BLOG or an online journal. Now? Everyone does it. Hell... the current crop of politicians who are vying to be the next President of the United States all have MySpace accounts!

It's a crazy time in a crazy world people... pick your favorite BLOG and read all about it.

Currently listening:
Stick It to Ya
By Slaughter
Release date: 24 June, 2003

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Monday, August 20, 2007

Automotive
Current mood:

blah
Category: Automotive

Okay... maybe it's because I beat the shit out of my car on the way out and back to Wisconsin, but I'm noticing that my car is starting to wheeze a bit. The starter died BEFORE the trip, so I got that replaced. Last week? It broke again... luckily it was fixed at no cost as the old one was still under warranty. That was good, but unfortunately I was told that my front tires were basically held together by dirt and a prayer.

So there's that to contend with. It's all good though: My car is paid off, so the hunk of junk is all mine. Gotta love it!

In all honesty, I'm not bitter. Really... I'm lucky to have a car when most of my students are carpooling and/or taking public transport. Besides, if you take care of your car (and by that, I mean, pay attention to the suggestions of those who know more than you), then you can really have that car for many years. Hell... I'm about 6K away from 100,000 miles on my Mazda, so I think I'm ahead of the game.

Anyway... tomorrow I get new tires and play the waiting game on what the next piece is to be attended to!

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Monday, August 13, 2007

Art and Photography
Current mood:

artistic
Category: Art and Photography

I've been jonesing to hit a museum lately. I don't care if it's the Delaware Art Museum or The Philadelphia Art Museum or the MoMA... I just want to go. I remember when I was a kid taking classes at the DAM, I would sneak off into the museum and sit in front of this one painting. I mean, I would sit and stare for as long as it would take for someone to drag me back to class. That painting?

That is The Flying Dutchman by Howard Pyle. I didn't know exactly why, at the time, it appealed to me. Hell, I remember being scared to death by the eyes of the captain! I just remember that I could not look away. It has held up its appeal almost 25 years later because I have a print of it hanging in my upstairs hallway.

Why do certain pieces of art have that effect on us? It's actually amazing to think about. I mean, here was this guy that I wouldn't recognize if I fell over his dead body, and an idea coupled with a canvas and paint... well now he's part of my memory.

I wrote an entry in my other BLOG last week about emotion v. logic and I can honestly say that logic has no place in art. Art is about emotion. Logic can't give that sense of elation when you stand before that piece that speaks to you. It's amazing.

I have learned, however, that it doesn't take just pens or pencils or paint to make art. People who couldn't draw a good stick figure contribute to the beauty of the art world with nothing more than a good eye and a decent camera.

I've frequently said that my least-favorite thing is being in a photo. Really. I hate it. I do, however, love being able to capture those moments that people can't pose for. I love being a kamikaze photographer to get that perfect shot. A couple fights every time they're together, but if you are patient enough and have a quick shutter, you can catch that look of pure love pass between them. The sun is going down and the moon is becoming brighter, but a quick thinker with a digital might be able to catch an incredible palate of colors in the sunset.

Art is what life should be. Unfortunately, a lot of artists are annoying liberals who live in a completely backwards bubble, but you take the good with the bad I guess.

In any case? It's a lot of fun to take that stroll through a museum and see how life is interpreted. Living life is paramount... but not forgetting that others are living theirs? Well, my friends, that's just as important. Take time to smell the roses and realize that there is more beauty in this world than there is shit.

Yeah... I definitely need to hit a museum soon.

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Saturday, August 04, 2007

Apologies
Current mood:

tired
Category: Blogging

It's funny... for those of you who don't BLOG at all (or privately BLOG, like an online diary that no one else can read), you won't get why I'm apologizing, but those who do, well... you'll understand.

In any case, I'm sorry to my readers for being a little out of it lately and not posting for a while. It's funny... as I'm typing my entry, I really don't think about who might be reading it or, more to the point, how that post might affect their mood or their life. I don't mean to sound self-important or anything, but I've had numerous people chide me for going a while without posts in my past. I don't know if it comes out of concern for my well-being or an overwhelming loss of voyeuristic thrills, but I do get those e-mails saying "Where the fuck are you?"

What's happened since last post? I got to go away with my amazing girlfriend for a great weekend in D.C. where we ate way too much, walked a good amount, sweated a hell of a lot (hey... it was pretty damned hot and humid in Washington, D.C. thanks), and got to put up with an A/C unit that sounded like it was going to transform into a killer robot and murder us. All-in-all, it was a pretty fun time

After that, I finished up the semester on a high note by getting all of my grading done on time AND submitting grades with no problems. It was such a gorgeous feeling to know that my summer of craziness had ended with a good bow on the top. Now, I just get to sit back and prepare for the rest of the year (a.k.a. "The Fall Semester"). If you're out of college (and by "out," I mean "attended and are currently not attending at the present time), you'll remember how different fall semester is from spring, summer, or winter semesters. Fall is when all of the brand-new collegians are coming in and how crazy things get. I thrive on that shit, really, so I'm looking forward to it.

Yes, folks, the past few weeks have been basically a roller-coaster of suck and happy, but I've got a few constants to level me out. Now, I'm just BLOGging while listening to iTunes, getting ready for bed because tomorrow is a lot of errands, cleaning, and cooking for Erin & Karl's wedding shower at my parents' house. There will be wine... oh yes, there will be wine. Anyway, I'm off to bed. I promise to write again soon enough.

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Thursday, July 26, 2007

Age is but a number... a WRONG number, but a number none-the-less...
Current mood:

sad
Category: MySpace

For those of you who actually pay close attention to the profile, please note that the age set on there is wrong today. It says I'm "32" when I'm not... yet. I turn 32 in a little under 2 months, so maybe the server exists in some weird time-warp.

I just checked the settings (especially my birthday setting), and that is correct, so it's something to do with MySpace's calculation algorithm. Sorry folks... can't blame me

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Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Friends
Current mood:

hot
Category: Friends

Friends are coming out of the woodwork for MySpace (and Facebook, actually). Kinda cool! I didn't know EVERYONE was a geek...

Been a few since I've posted, but I'm recapturing my hold on life, so I'm getting everything under control. It sorta slipped away for a bit, but I had more important things on my mind. Of course, those things are STILL on my mind, but I'm doing a superb job of multitasking now.

Anyway... yeah. Either more and more people I know are signing up, or more and more people I know are finding me online. I haven't really figured that out yet and, truthfully, it doesn't make no nevermind to me in either case. I'm just glad to say hi to a few people.

So we're starting a heat wave in the area and boy-howdy does it suck. As my girl would say, "It's hotter than an old man's ball-sack." It is one of those heats where you walk out the door and immediately feel your clothes shrink-wrap around you; eesh. Luckily it looks like we might have thunderstorms tomorrow, so that makes me happy. If I'm happy, everyone's happy.

Okay... most people could give a shit whether I'm happy or not. It happens. I'll suck it up because I'm not a prick like that.

Stay cool (and I don't mean that in a faux-80s sort of bullshit way).

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Tuesday, June 19, 2007

In the way of explanation...
Category: Life

My buddy France and I went on a road trip this past weekend. We left Wilmington, DE and drove to New Glarus, WI to get a few cases of beer, turned around, and went back to Delaware.

The thing is, more than a few people were completely confounded by it. They felt that it was just not a "normal" thing to do.

Kinda the point folks...

Normal is such a boring thing... if we all did what was normal and expected, what fun would that be? Don't be so damned uptight! Every so often you have to say "Fuck it," and just go out to do something nuts.

Maybe I just do things like this because we only go around this world once before our ticket is punched. It's one life guys and gals... make the most of it. Sitting at home on a Saturday and thinking Wow... I could really go for some Boardwalk Fries. Then fuck it... take a drive to the beach and get some! Who cares that it's almost 2 hours away! Have a hankering to see some sharks? Drive to Baltimore and walk through the aquarium on a whim!

Life is far too precious to not do things because of convention or the fear of others' perceptions. I could really care less about 98% of the opinions out there. The ones that do matter to me were all of the same mind:

I think you're really out of your tree, but it was a very sweet thing to do and I'm glad you guys came back safe.

Really... that's all that matters. Those who care about you will always understand... those that don't? Well... who cares about them anyway?

Anyway... anyone up for some ribs? I hear Kansas City has some great ones

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Thursday, May 31, 2007

TXT Message Joy
Current mood:

amused
Category: Web, HTML, Tech

Pavlov would be proud.

You all know him, right? Ivan Pavlov, the Russian scientist who developed the hypothesis on "conditioned response" showing that by tying the idea of food to the ringing of a bell, he could get dogs to salivate without the presence of that food.

Anyway, TXT message indicators make me smile anymore. Not even knowing what is on the other end of the flip phone, I hear that beep and I smile.

Yes, Ivan Pavlov is sitting in the afterlife, swigging some Stolichnaya, and smiling at the reference.

Other than that, I'm pretty fucking tired. I haven't really put too much up here lately, so I wanted to post something. I have 2,646 hits on this BLOG (total) since I started it, so I'd like to hit 2,700 with this one. Maybe I'll celebrate with a huge post when I hit 3,000, but that's 354 hits away. Not gonna happen in the next 3 posts! We'll see though.

BTW... I have a Samsung phone through Verizon. I have a MicroSD card on which I can install songs and shit, but I cannot, for the life of me, get a ringtone unless I purchase it. Anyone hook a brotha up with a little information?

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