of course. that's the only thing i can say.
our swamp cooler, mentioned in a post a few weeks ago, broke today. the fan seized up, or something. i don't know much about how to work them, nor am i mechanically inclined in the least, so i can't fix it.
but, luckily, we got a free home warranty from the real estate agents when we signed with them. i called the home warranty company, but it turns out that air conditioners AND swamp coolers are not covered. OF COURSE!
and, the temperatures are hovering just below 100 degrees Fahrenheit (about 36 degree Celsius for you foreigners). with this sickening heat, i can't imagine i'll get too much sleep tonight.
well, we're leaving for the weekend tomorrow afternoon. so, we won't be home. this is both good AND bad, as we'll be out of the hot house, but we won't be home so that it can be repaired.
and, to come to think of it, i don't even know IF it can be repaired. hell, it might need to be replaced, which would be the worst kind of luck. those things cost a pretty penny.
anyway, we're out of town this weekend. we're going toa little town called Ely, Nevada for a little weekend jaunt. we're taking a quaint little mining train ride where a wine tasting will take place. and, we're staying at a cool hotel called the Hotel Nevada. the trip is much needed with all the stress we are experiencing right now.
i just hope this fucking swamp cooler thing doesn't cost us an arm and leg. one or the other would be fine, but not both!
11 August 2005
09 August 2005
aftermath
i turned in my resignation and two weeks notice today. and the fallout wasn't all that bad. people were upset, obviously, and disappointed, but understood that this is a great opportunity for me. i was happy about that. i will miss these guys, for sure.
now, i'm starting to get a bit nervous about starting the new job. if i'm not worried about one thing, it's another. damn.
starting a new chapter in the novel of our lives is always stressful. i'm sure i can manage.
now, i'm starting to get a bit nervous about starting the new job. if i'm not worried about one thing, it's another. damn.
starting a new chapter in the novel of our lives is always stressful. i'm sure i can manage.
08 August 2005
the resignation
i just got finished writing my resignation letter.
man, this is difficult.
i suppose you can infer from my first two sentences that i've decided to accept the offer to work for the other company i mentioned yesterday. i took today off from work in order to take my drug test and call the HR representative from the company and discuss some matters. i got satisfactory answers and accepted the offer.
now, the real difficulty begins. i have to tender my resignation with my current company, which will be no easy matter. i've been with the company nearly 6 years and have so inured myself within the grout that holds all the departmental tiles together that my leaving very likely will cause some tiles to come loose. in other words, this will cause some anguish and stress for many, and very likely will lead to a few more defections in the coming weeks. this is really tough to take. i just hope they (the company and the employees i'm leaving behind) will be okay. i'm the fourth person in my department (of eight) to put in their notice, or leave, in the last 3 weeks. wow! i'm pretty sure some heads will roll because of this.
it's kind of scary and kind of serene, this decision. starting a new job is always scary, but having finally made this difficult decision causes me to feel peace and serenity. i know this is the right choice for me, i'm just worried about the others who will be left behind, most of whom i truly care about and like.
i have no idea what to expect at work tomorrow. i am anticipating some shock, some fear in the form of anger, some fear in the form of joking (my favorite manifestation of fear), some anger in the form of real, red-faced anger, and some crying. and, the last two weeks will be difficult having to face these people, all of us knowing full well what situation my decision has caused for them.
the day off was kind of nice: slept in a little, peed in a cup and accidently got it on my hands; kind of like it was a Saturday instead of a Monday.
man, this is difficult.
i suppose you can infer from my first two sentences that i've decided to accept the offer to work for the other company i mentioned yesterday. i took today off from work in order to take my drug test and call the HR representative from the company and discuss some matters. i got satisfactory answers and accepted the offer.
now, the real difficulty begins. i have to tender my resignation with my current company, which will be no easy matter. i've been with the company nearly 6 years and have so inured myself within the grout that holds all the departmental tiles together that my leaving very likely will cause some tiles to come loose. in other words, this will cause some anguish and stress for many, and very likely will lead to a few more defections in the coming weeks. this is really tough to take. i just hope they (the company and the employees i'm leaving behind) will be okay. i'm the fourth person in my department (of eight) to put in their notice, or leave, in the last 3 weeks. wow! i'm pretty sure some heads will roll because of this.
it's kind of scary and kind of serene, this decision. starting a new job is always scary, but having finally made this difficult decision causes me to feel peace and serenity. i know this is the right choice for me, i'm just worried about the others who will be left behind, most of whom i truly care about and like.
i have no idea what to expect at work tomorrow. i am anticipating some shock, some fear in the form of anger, some fear in the form of joking (my favorite manifestation of fear), some anger in the form of real, red-faced anger, and some crying. and, the last two weeks will be difficult having to face these people, all of us knowing full well what situation my decision has caused for them.
the day off was kind of nice: slept in a little, peed in a cup and accidently got it on my hands; kind of like it was a Saturday instead of a Monday.
07 August 2005
ekphrasis or the offer letter
in yesterday's mail was my contributor's copy of the new issue of Cellar Roots, ekphrasis, the third in a series of three themed issues. i have three poems in this issue, and had poems featured in each of the other two, Metropolyesterday and Incendiary. Cellar Roots is the literary journal of Eastern Michigan University, and have been very good to me. i have recently submitted to their new anthology, MultiCulturalDiversity, and, of course, hope to get a few in this publication as well.
the contributor's copy also came with two bookmarks that feature one of my poems, each bookmark featuring a different poem. this is one of the cool things Cellar Roots does. not only do they produce a nice, glossy journal, but they make little extras, like the bookmarks, and send a copy to the author. i don't know for sure, but i assume these bookmarks are passed out with the journals, or given out at Eastern Michigan University campus. either way, it's pretty cool and the bookmarks are handsomely produced.
incidentally, ekphrasis means "poetry that describes art, or is overly visual." basically, all the poems in this issue speak to art, or poetry itself. most of the poems, mine included, are self-referential, which is something i've always had a liking for. it's actually a pretty good anthology.
well, i finally received an offer from the company i had been interviewing with, and of which i have spoken about in previous posts. the offer was for more money, and the job will be less stress, but leaving my current job will put many people under extra stress and undo hardship, so i have some serious decisions to make this weekend. i will be calling to negotiate some things on the offer letter, and will be making my decision within the next two days. it's all so nerve-wracking, but at least i'll be getting a raise out of the whole thing (if i decide to stay at my current job, i'm quite confident they'll match the offer of this new company). i'll keep you posted on my decision and the resultant consequences or fallout, if any.
the contributor's copy also came with two bookmarks that feature one of my poems, each bookmark featuring a different poem. this is one of the cool things Cellar Roots does. not only do they produce a nice, glossy journal, but they make little extras, like the bookmarks, and send a copy to the author. i don't know for sure, but i assume these bookmarks are passed out with the journals, or given out at Eastern Michigan University campus. either way, it's pretty cool and the bookmarks are handsomely produced.
incidentally, ekphrasis means "poetry that describes art, or is overly visual." basically, all the poems in this issue speak to art, or poetry itself. most of the poems, mine included, are self-referential, which is something i've always had a liking for. it's actually a pretty good anthology.
well, i finally received an offer from the company i had been interviewing with, and of which i have spoken about in previous posts. the offer was for more money, and the job will be less stress, but leaving my current job will put many people under extra stress and undo hardship, so i have some serious decisions to make this weekend. i will be calling to negotiate some things on the offer letter, and will be making my decision within the next two days. it's all so nerve-wracking, but at least i'll be getting a raise out of the whole thing (if i decide to stay at my current job, i'm quite confident they'll match the offer of this new company). i'll keep you posted on my decision and the resultant consequences or fallout, if any.
05 August 2005
TGIF
god, i hate that acronym and it's expanded saying. there's even a fucking restaurant named after it (and one so derivative and annoying what with the kitsch and overjoyed servers; i'd rather puke than eat there). and, to make it even worse, some fundamentalists deemed Thank God It's Friday too sacreligious, so they changed it to Thank Goodness It's Friday. the ultimate sign of stupidity is taking a lame idiom and making it even lamer. god damn. but, it IS friday and if there were a god i'd certainly thank it. this week was long.
i need to conduct 5 interviews next week, so maybe i can find some qualified people and quickly fill these open spots. we need the help. we are barely keeping our heads above water, and that's only because someone in my department has cashed in their savings of luck thereby allowing the volume of tests in our department to suddenly shrink. if they build back up again, which they inevitably will, we are in dire straits. i fear this.
plans this weekend: clean out my basement writing room, finally. box up all my shit, finally. finish the minor repairs the house needs, finally. find time in all of that to relax, finally. worry, more and continued.
i need to conduct 5 interviews next week, so maybe i can find some qualified people and quickly fill these open spots. we need the help. we are barely keeping our heads above water, and that's only because someone in my department has cashed in their savings of luck thereby allowing the volume of tests in our department to suddenly shrink. if they build back up again, which they inevitably will, we are in dire straits. i fear this.
plans this weekend: clean out my basement writing room, finally. box up all my shit, finally. finish the minor repairs the house needs, finally. find time in all of that to relax, finally. worry, more and continued.
04 August 2005
gyro breath
one thing i'll miss when we move to our new house, out in the boondocks, is this great Greek restaurant called Mad Greek Too. it's a second restaurant owned by the people who own Mad Greek. anyway, their gyros are amazing. it comes with a small salad (with 1000 islands dressing, which no salad would be complete without!) and a heap of basmati rice that tastes like heaven (if one actually existed).
well, my wife picked up some Mad Greek on her way home today and got me a gyro. oooh, doggy. the only drawback, for my wife, not me, is the horrible, garlicky, oniony, lamby gyro breath that i will be sporting all night. no amount of brushing or mouthwash will remove it, either. and, the only worse is about 3 hours from now when the gyro burps start working their way out. that's when the room clears.
but, it's oh so worth it.
well, just when i thought things were getting better at work, i lost my second employee in as many weeks. and, we were already down two people. so, the three remaining employees i have, plus me, will have to cover for seven people. this is an impossible task, and i imagine the defections will ripple on down until it's just me; curled up in the corner, in a fetal position, crying.
i have some interviews set up next week to fill the spots, but it'll take time to get them in, trained and ready to go. maybe i should jump ship while some of it is still above water? i don't know. it's all just so damn overwhelming.
well, my wife picked up some Mad Greek on her way home today and got me a gyro. oooh, doggy. the only drawback, for my wife, not me, is the horrible, garlicky, oniony, lamby gyro breath that i will be sporting all night. no amount of brushing or mouthwash will remove it, either. and, the only worse is about 3 hours from now when the gyro burps start working their way out. that's when the room clears.
but, it's oh so worth it.
well, just when i thought things were getting better at work, i lost my second employee in as many weeks. and, we were already down two people. so, the three remaining employees i have, plus me, will have to cover for seven people. this is an impossible task, and i imagine the defections will ripple on down until it's just me; curled up in the corner, in a fetal position, crying.
i have some interviews set up next week to fill the spots, but it'll take time to get them in, trained and ready to go. maybe i should jump ship while some of it is still above water? i don't know. it's all just so damn overwhelming.
02 August 2005
oops! or eating crow
well, my buddy Glenn W. Cooper has informed me that i made a rather glaring (and embarrassing) grammar error in a previous post written on July 31. the error was in the sentence:
"...the assholes that took the couch and chair just inconsiderately dumped..."
please forgive me my trespass. obviously, the sentence should have read:
"...the assholes who took the couch and chair just inconsiderately dumped..."
what's even more embarrassing is that Glenn has corrected me on more than one occasion about this very error in a number of my poems. for some reason i have a horrible that/who agreement issue, THAT no amount of correcting or humiliating can correct.
not to self: it's WHO when referring to a person or persons; THAT when referring to a thing!
well, i suppose i can take heart of the fact that none of us are perfect. my problem just resides in the fact that i think i am.
now, onto poetic matters. i received word today that two of my poems will be featured in the new issue of The Flatlands due out at the end of this month. it was a nice surprise after a busy day at work.
"...the assholes that took the couch and chair just inconsiderately dumped..."
please forgive me my trespass. obviously, the sentence should have read:
"...the assholes who took the couch and chair just inconsiderately dumped..."
what's even more embarrassing is that Glenn has corrected me on more than one occasion about this very error in a number of my poems. for some reason i have a horrible that/who agreement issue, THAT no amount of correcting or humiliating can correct.
not to self: it's WHO when referring to a person or persons; THAT when referring to a thing!
well, i suppose i can take heart of the fact that none of us are perfect. my problem just resides in the fact that i think i am.
now, onto poetic matters. i received word today that two of my poems will be featured in the new issue of The Flatlands due out at the end of this month. it was a nice surprise after a busy day at work.
01 August 2005
remarkable
i received issue #35 of remark., the old online poetry journal i started and edited until just recently, when i handed over the reigns to Kat. anyway, she did a great job with this issue. my review of Glenn W. Cooper's first chapbook, First Touch, from Bottle of Smoke Press appears in this issue. also included are some great poems by Luis Cuauhtemoc Berriozabal, Charles Nevsimal and Nescher Pyscher.
i also received a book from my friend, the aforementioned Glenn W. Cooper. he is a big fan of Muhammad Ali and knows that i am as well. he accidently ended up with two copies of a biography of him, The Tao of Muhhamad Ali, and was kind enough to send me one of the copies. thank you, Glenn. i look forward to reading it. it is going in the pile of books i mentioned below that will be accompanying me to my apartment. i've a great assortment of books of varying genres to keep me busy until my house is built.
i also received a book from my friend, the aforementioned Glenn W. Cooper. he is a big fan of Muhammad Ali and knows that i am as well. he accidently ended up with two copies of a biography of him, The Tao of Muhhamad Ali, and was kind enough to send me one of the copies. thank you, Glenn. i look forward to reading it. it is going in the pile of books i mentioned below that will be accompanying me to my apartment. i've a great assortment of books of varying genres to keep me busy until my house is built.
31 July 2005
off with his hair
nothing really new today. lazy Sunday. we packed up some more of our shit, segregated more things, threw more things out. we're trying to take things slow so that we don't get too stressed out. so far, so good.
we took time out to get haircuts, too. i always look like a goofball after a haircut. some people look their best right after a haircut. me, i look best about a week later. so, right now, i look like some super-coiffured idiot. next week, though, i'll be at my best.
one more story about the pile of garbage on our curbside. it has now been whittled down to no more than a tenth of what it was. we had an old, torn and overused couch and chair out there, on top of which were piled most of our junk. on our way back home from our friends' house for dinner, we noticed that they were both gone. we figured they would be. BUT, the assholes that took the couch and chair just inconsiderately dumped all the shit onto the parking strip and crushed the bushes and flowers my wife spent a long time planting. ASSHOLES! man, i wish we were there when it happened and my wife could've gotten hold of them. one thing, all. DO NOT fuck with my wife. the fiery Italian in her flares up and you will be sorry. oh, that would've been so great. but, as it is, we had to clean it up and luckily the plants were unharmed.
we took time out to get haircuts, too. i always look like a goofball after a haircut. some people look their best right after a haircut. me, i look best about a week later. so, right now, i look like some super-coiffured idiot. next week, though, i'll be at my best.
one more story about the pile of garbage on our curbside. it has now been whittled down to no more than a tenth of what it was. we had an old, torn and overused couch and chair out there, on top of which were piled most of our junk. on our way back home from our friends' house for dinner, we noticed that they were both gone. we figured they would be. BUT, the assholes that took the couch and chair just inconsiderately dumped all the shit onto the parking strip and crushed the bushes and flowers my wife spent a long time planting. ASSHOLES! man, i wish we were there when it happened and my wife could've gotten hold of them. one thing, all. DO NOT fuck with my wife. the fiery Italian in her flares up and you will be sorry. oh, that would've been so great. but, as it is, we had to clean it up and luckily the plants were unharmed.
30 July 2005
distilling our lives
our community has a neighborhood trash pickup once a year. this year, it's set for August 8. we can put anything out on the curb, and on the 8th sanitation workers will haul it off in a gigantic garbage truck. this is perfect timing for our big move, so we put out all of our shit today. our curbside is literally piled four feet high with junk. we are distilling down our lives to the barest necessities.
one of the strangest things about this annual ritual is the picking through of our stuff that occurs. unending streams of people (on foot, in trucks, on bicycle) stop by the various piles and pilfer anything worth anything. even while we were piling our lives by the curb, people stopped by to pillage it.
a neighbor even took one of my wife's old high school yearbooks. this freaked her out. it is strange. i don't even want to know what the hell this guy is going to do with her yearbook.
anyway, it's amazing how much shit we've accumulated over the years. how much of it is unnecessary and superfluous. but, even more amazing, is how much shit we've deemed necessary to our lives.
one of the strangest things about this annual ritual is the picking through of our stuff that occurs. unending streams of people (on foot, in trucks, on bicycle) stop by the various piles and pilfer anything worth anything. even while we were piling our lives by the curb, people stopped by to pillage it.
a neighbor even took one of my wife's old high school yearbooks. this freaked her out. it is strange. i don't even want to know what the hell this guy is going to do with her yearbook.
anyway, it's amazing how much shit we've accumulated over the years. how much of it is unnecessary and superfluous. but, even more amazing, is how much shit we've deemed necessary to our lives.
29 July 2005
garage sale, part two
just a quick update:
the Feel Free Press broadside listed in the previous post is no longer available. it has been purchased.
also, i neglected to mention the fact that anything you order will be personally inscribed by me to you. this might or might not sweeten the deal. no, i'm quite certain it doesn't, but it's true nonetheless.
a bit of good news (for me, though maybe not for you): i have two poems percolating in my skull. these are the first two things i will have written (once i finally sit down and do it) in approximately 3 months. the drought just before this one lasted over 6 months. not good. anyway, maybe this is the beginning of a wellspring of inspiration and creativity. then again, maybe it's just two unrelated and rare burbles that escaped from the dam.
the Feel Free Press broadside listed in the previous post is no longer available. it has been purchased.
also, i neglected to mention the fact that anything you order will be personally inscribed by me to you. this might or might not sweeten the deal. no, i'm quite certain it doesn't, but it's true nonetheless.
a bit of good news (for me, though maybe not for you): i have two poems percolating in my skull. these are the first two things i will have written (once i finally sit down and do it) in approximately 3 months. the drought just before this one lasted over 6 months. not good. anyway, maybe this is the beginning of a wellspring of inspiration and creativity. then again, maybe it's just two unrelated and rare burbles that escaped from the dam.
28 July 2005
garage sale
well, i'm very happy with all the responses and comments i've received lately. especially, the book-related comments. it's nice to know that others are crazy about reading, though i suspected you'd all be like me. and it's cool to read which books everyone loved. it has definitely given me some ideas for future reading lists.
i was going through the crap in my little writing room in my basement (which i will be posting pictures of sometime later, before we move), and i found some of my publications i thought i'd put up for sale. i have:
* one (1) booger broadside published by Bottle of Smoke Press (w/ felt wrappers. included with lettered copies of i was a third grade genius...) -- $2.00
* one (1) Feel Free Press pocket broadside #15 (2 poems) -- $1.00
* three (3) Chapbook of the Month Club #1, liquid jesus, by Bottle of Smoke Press (white paper overwraps) -- $2.00
* two (2) sunnyoutside broadside - the president, a criminal and a chimpanzee walk into a bar... (numbered copies, w/ illustrations by David Woodson) -- $5.00
* seven (7) broadsides of the poem spark from Six-Pack #2 by Bottle of Smoke Press -- $1.00
* four (4) Bottle of Smoke Postcard #1 broadsides of the poem the van gogh of poetry or on the right track -- $1.00
* three (3) broadsides of the poem six-pack from Bottle #2 by Bottle of Smoke Press -- $1.00
* twelve (12) broadsides of the poem 4 a.m. and drunk again from Bottle #3 by Bottle of Smoke Press -- $1.00
* five (5) copies of flight 451 broadside (no imprint) -- $1.00
* twenty (20) copies of checklist broadside by Bottle of Smoke Press (a checklist of my publications, included with first 50 copies of 25 Best-Loved Poems of the Future) -- $1.00
* twelve (12) copies of a self-produced (via Eat Shit Press) chapbook titled, Abnormal Psych -- $2.00
* twenty nine (29) copies of 12-Gauge Press chapbook The Magnificent Seven -- $6.00
* fourteen (14) copies of Bottle of Smoke Press chapbook 25 Best-Loved Poems of the Future -- $5.00
(a lot of stuff from Bottle of Smoke, eh? mostly, it's because Bill gives his writers so many author copies that i don't know enough people to give them all to.)
if you are interested in any of the above products, let me know. all prices include postage. also, if you don't have it already, i am giving away my very first chapbook (an electronic chapbook from Spent Angel Press), Techson Medical Supply, for free with every order. if you already have this e-book, sorry. maybe, we can work something else out then.
anyway, let me know. i need to unload some of this stuff.
i was going through the crap in my little writing room in my basement (which i will be posting pictures of sometime later, before we move), and i found some of my publications i thought i'd put up for sale. i have:
* one (1) booger broadside published by Bottle of Smoke Press (w/ felt wrappers. included with lettered copies of i was a third grade genius...) -- $2.00
* one (1) Feel Free Press pocket broadside #15 (2 poems) -- $1.00
* three (3) Chapbook of the Month Club #1, liquid jesus, by Bottle of Smoke Press (white paper overwraps) -- $2.00
* two (2) sunnyoutside broadside - the president, a criminal and a chimpanzee walk into a bar... (numbered copies, w/ illustrations by David Woodson) -- $5.00
* seven (7) broadsides of the poem spark from Six-Pack #2 by Bottle of Smoke Press -- $1.00
* four (4) Bottle of Smoke Postcard #1 broadsides of the poem the van gogh of poetry or on the right track -- $1.00
* three (3) broadsides of the poem six-pack from Bottle #2 by Bottle of Smoke Press -- $1.00
* twelve (12) broadsides of the poem 4 a.m. and drunk again from Bottle #3 by Bottle of Smoke Press -- $1.00
* five (5) copies of flight 451 broadside (no imprint) -- $1.00
* twenty (20) copies of checklist broadside by Bottle of Smoke Press (a checklist of my publications, included with first 50 copies of 25 Best-Loved Poems of the Future) -- $1.00
* twelve (12) copies of a self-produced (via Eat Shit Press) chapbook titled, Abnormal Psych -- $2.00
* twenty nine (29) copies of 12-Gauge Press chapbook The Magnificent Seven -- $6.00
* fourteen (14) copies of Bottle of Smoke Press chapbook 25 Best-Loved Poems of the Future -- $5.00
(a lot of stuff from Bottle of Smoke, eh? mostly, it's because Bill gives his writers so many author copies that i don't know enough people to give them all to.)
if you are interested in any of the above products, let me know. all prices include postage. also, if you don't have it already, i am giving away my very first chapbook (an electronic chapbook from Spent Angel Press), Techson Medical Supply, for free with every order. if you already have this e-book, sorry. maybe, we can work something else out then.
anyway, let me know. i need to unload some of this stuff.
25 July 2005
logistics
with so many things happening so fast, vis-à-vis the sale of our house and moving into an apartment then a few months later moving into our new home, the wife and i have been segregating out things as we pack.
since the apartment we are getting is rather tiny and only one bedroom, we are going to also rent a portable storage unit to keep all of our big furniture pieces and other things (books, movies, most of our wardrobes, etc.). we're putting aside all the things we'll think we need in the 6 or 7 months we'll be at the apartment. the most important thing (for me) was putting aside enough books to keep me occupied. there were a few that i had been meaning to read for a couple of years now, but had never gotten to, that i think would be perfect for this interim period. i put aside five books for the apartment:
* Hunger by Knut Hamsun (it's been nearly 10 years since i last read it)
* The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky (i love Russian writers, especially Dostoevsky)
* Blood and Grits by Harry Crews (one of the most underrated writers in America)
* Messiah by Andrei Codrescu (was recommended to me)
* The Stones of Summer by Dow Mossman (subject of the great documentary The Stone Reader)
i almost took 1984 by George Orwell, but decided i would save that for later. not sure why i didn't take it, but i didn't.
i'm a slow reader, so these five books should be plenty to keep me occupied. and, it's an eclectic enough list that i won't get too full of one genre or style.
i'm almost done with the book i am currently reading and i think i'm going to start reading Messiah next. i never know until i start the book which one i'm going to read. if you're really interested, you'll be able to tell from the column on the right.
next, we'll have to decide which clothes to bring. since we're moving in the summer and staying until well into winter, we'll need to bring a wide range of clothing options. we'll have to pare it down as much as possible, though, in order to prevent the little apartment from getting too cluttered. i only hope we don't forget anything too big, because we'll be forced to purchase it as the portable storage unit will not be accessible.
so much hassle for just purchasing a new home. oh well, it'll be worth it.
since the apartment we are getting is rather tiny and only one bedroom, we are going to also rent a portable storage unit to keep all of our big furniture pieces and other things (books, movies, most of our wardrobes, etc.). we're putting aside all the things we'll think we need in the 6 or 7 months we'll be at the apartment. the most important thing (for me) was putting aside enough books to keep me occupied. there were a few that i had been meaning to read for a couple of years now, but had never gotten to, that i think would be perfect for this interim period. i put aside five books for the apartment:
* Hunger by Knut Hamsun (it's been nearly 10 years since i last read it)
* The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky (i love Russian writers, especially Dostoevsky)
* Blood and Grits by Harry Crews (one of the most underrated writers in America)
* Messiah by Andrei Codrescu (was recommended to me)
* The Stones of Summer by Dow Mossman (subject of the great documentary The Stone Reader)
i almost took 1984 by George Orwell, but decided i would save that for later. not sure why i didn't take it, but i didn't.
i'm a slow reader, so these five books should be plenty to keep me occupied. and, it's an eclectic enough list that i won't get too full of one genre or style.
i'm almost done with the book i am currently reading and i think i'm going to start reading Messiah next. i never know until i start the book which one i'm going to read. if you're really interested, you'll be able to tell from the column on the right.
next, we'll have to decide which clothes to bring. since we're moving in the summer and staying until well into winter, we'll need to bring a wide range of clothing options. we'll have to pare it down as much as possible, though, in order to prevent the little apartment from getting too cluttered. i only hope we don't forget anything too big, because we'll be forced to purchase it as the portable storage unit will not be accessible.
so much hassle for just purchasing a new home. oh well, it'll be worth it.
more copies and days off
i received 14 more copies of my newest book, 25 Best-Loved Poems of the Future, from Bill Roberts of Bottle of Smoke Press. i gave away the initial 10 copies he sent me with the signature sheets, so it was nice to get more.
if you are interested in purchasing a copy, let me know by emailing me or commenting to this post and we'll discuss payment options. or, you can always go to the Bottle of Smoke website and purchase a copy. and, while you're there, you should pick up a copy of my first book, i was a third grade genius..., if you don't already own one (and you can't go wrong picking up any of the other great collections Bottle of Smoke has released). there are only a few copies of i was a third grade genius... left, so you best hurry before they run out.
and remember, there are only 200 copies of 25 Best-Loved Poems of the Future, and the first 50 orders come signed with an extra-special broadside checklist of all of my publications.
now, i must finish painting the garage and packing up my books. i have today off for Pioneer Day, which was yesterday, and tomorrow and Wednesday off for our yearly plant shutdown. unfortunately, i can't use the time for much-needed relaxation as there's plenty of shit that needs to get done.
if you are interested in purchasing a copy, let me know by emailing me or commenting to this post and we'll discuss payment options. or, you can always go to the Bottle of Smoke website and purchase a copy. and, while you're there, you should pick up a copy of my first book, i was a third grade genius..., if you don't already own one (and you can't go wrong picking up any of the other great collections Bottle of Smoke has released). there are only a few copies of i was a third grade genius... left, so you best hurry before they run out.
and remember, there are only 200 copies of 25 Best-Loved Poems of the Future, and the first 50 orders come signed with an extra-special broadside checklist of all of my publications.
now, i must finish painting the garage and packing up my books. i have today off for Pioneer Day, which was yesterday, and tomorrow and Wednesday off for our yearly plant shutdown. unfortunately, i can't use the time for much-needed relaxation as there's plenty of shit that needs to get done.
24 July 2005
the day after
as i said in yesterday's post, we countered the highest offer. well, we learned today that the other party accepted our counter. we are now locked into a contract with the other party. the only thing left is the appraisal, the inspection and the settlement. the last will arrive eventually. the first two, however, will be here before we know it.
the appraisal is something the wife and i are a bit nervous about. because the offer is for just shy of 6% higher than the list price, the house now needs to appraise at that price (or damn near it). we have no idea if it will. to help, we white-washed the detached, one-car garage and painted the sides and front of the house (where paint had been peeling and flaking off). we also will be doing some plaster work in the bathroom and repainting it. hopefully, this will help the house appraise at the value we need. it's a lot of work, but it will have been worth it if the outcome is favorable.
the inspection we aren't too worried about. we had a favorable inspection 3 years ago when we bought the place, and we've fixed the place up quite a bit since then, so i don't see why it wouldn't pass inspection this time. i suppose time will tell on both the appraisal and inspection.
now, on to poetry. sunnyoutside's website is finally operational (albeit bare bones) and you can now order my broadside, the president, a criminal and a chimpanzee.... the design of this broadside is unbelievable, with artwork by the fabulous artist David Woodson. i think you would be blown away by the design (and, i hope, the poem). if you purchase a copy, let me know what you think of it.
the appraisal is something the wife and i are a bit nervous about. because the offer is for just shy of 6% higher than the list price, the house now needs to appraise at that price (or damn near it). we have no idea if it will. to help, we white-washed the detached, one-car garage and painted the sides and front of the house (where paint had been peeling and flaking off). we also will be doing some plaster work in the bathroom and repainting it. hopefully, this will help the house appraise at the value we need. it's a lot of work, but it will have been worth it if the outcome is favorable.
the inspection we aren't too worried about. we had a favorable inspection 3 years ago when we bought the place, and we've fixed the place up quite a bit since then, so i don't see why it wouldn't pass inspection this time. i suppose time will tell on both the appraisal and inspection.
now, on to poetry. sunnyoutside's website is finally operational (albeit bare bones) and you can now order my broadside, the president, a criminal and a chimpanzee.... the design of this broadside is unbelievable, with artwork by the fabulous artist David Woodson. i think you would be blown away by the design (and, i hope, the poem). if you purchase a copy, let me know what you think of it.
23 July 2005
wha?
well, our house officially went on the market yesterday (friday, july 22). we got a call from our real estate agent, a couple of hours after it listed, as we were driving to a friends house to play cards. she asked if we would be home to show the house. wha? it just got listed. apparently, the market in Salt Lake is so tight and crazy that this isn't unusual. well, we declined the showing. we had better things to do.
today (saturday, july 23) we had someone show up at 10am. we weren't ready, as we thought the first appointment (of 4 already scheduled for that day) was for 11:30am. it turns out this 10am appointment was not scheduled properly, or something. anyway, we showed the house, as we went about cleaning things up for the later appointments. this was the very first time we've ever had someone snooping through our house. it's an odd feeling.
at 11:30am, the people who wanted to see the house the night before showed up. they had 3 kids with them. there's no way a family of 5 can live in this tiny house. oh well.
then, at 1:30pm, the third appointment came by. he was a nice guy, asked lots of questions, walked around quite a bit, then said, as he was leaving, that he was going to make a "full-price offer" and fax it to our agent. the wife and i were ecstatic. we couldn't believe that there was already an offer after only 3 showings. and it was for our asking price. it seemed too unreal.
4 more showings ended up being scheduled and, of those 4, 3 made offers. and as crazy as that seems, the 3 were ABOVE list price, one being $7500 above! wha? i nearly shat myself (seriously, i had mexican for dinner last night, so i was experiencing that next day bowel evacuation thing that mexican food always does to me). then, i nearly shat again because of the offer. crazy. 7 viewings, 4 offers. and one of them some 5 or 6% above list.
anyway, things are going pretty good. we've countered with some things we wanted changed in the offer (earnest money, settlement date). but, it looks like we'll be getting more than we had originally asked (and hoped) for. pretty cool.
like i said above, the market in SLC is nuts. "California" nuts right now. the thing is, with the fecundity of the mormons creating the highest birth rate in the US, with the immigration rates being as high as they are here, with the number of people moving here for jobs and skiing, there are so many people looking to purchase a house, and so few houses, that people make offers LIKE THAT, and bidding wars (even after just 24 hours on the market) are not unheard of. what this means for us is more money, and i'm cool with that.
and, the only thing we can say about everything that happened today is: wha?
today (saturday, july 23) we had someone show up at 10am. we weren't ready, as we thought the first appointment (of 4 already scheduled for that day) was for 11:30am. it turns out this 10am appointment was not scheduled properly, or something. anyway, we showed the house, as we went about cleaning things up for the later appointments. this was the very first time we've ever had someone snooping through our house. it's an odd feeling.
at 11:30am, the people who wanted to see the house the night before showed up. they had 3 kids with them. there's no way a family of 5 can live in this tiny house. oh well.
then, at 1:30pm, the third appointment came by. he was a nice guy, asked lots of questions, walked around quite a bit, then said, as he was leaving, that he was going to make a "full-price offer" and fax it to our agent. the wife and i were ecstatic. we couldn't believe that there was already an offer after only 3 showings. and it was for our asking price. it seemed too unreal.
4 more showings ended up being scheduled and, of those 4, 3 made offers. and as crazy as that seems, the 3 were ABOVE list price, one being $7500 above! wha? i nearly shat myself (seriously, i had mexican for dinner last night, so i was experiencing that next day bowel evacuation thing that mexican food always does to me). then, i nearly shat again because of the offer. crazy. 7 viewings, 4 offers. and one of them some 5 or 6% above list.
anyway, things are going pretty good. we've countered with some things we wanted changed in the offer (earnest money, settlement date). but, it looks like we'll be getting more than we had originally asked (and hoped) for. pretty cool.
like i said above, the market in SLC is nuts. "California" nuts right now. the thing is, with the fecundity of the mormons creating the highest birth rate in the US, with the immigration rates being as high as they are here, with the number of people moving here for jobs and skiing, there are so many people looking to purchase a house, and so few houses, that people make offers LIKE THAT, and bidding wars (even after just 24 hours on the market) are not unheard of. what this means for us is more money, and i'm cool with that.
and, the only thing we can say about everything that happened today is: wha?
21 July 2005
on the market
so, we have one of the real estate agents we had interviewed coming over tonight so we can sign papers to go with her. the market here in Salt Lake is insane. it goes up about five grand a month. we're getting in at the right time. we're going to list the house on the high end of the estimates and see what happens.
we're listing this Monday. that means this weekend we have to repaint the house and garage (exterior) and fix some sagging gutters. next weekend we need to replaster a small portion of the bathroom and repaint it. then, continue to box up our shit and store it in the basement or garage. we're hoping to make enough money off of the sale of this thing to pay off our student loans (we're still paying those fuckers off after 10 years) and still have a substantial amount left over to pay our closing costs for the new place and to put some in the bank for a rainy day.
i'll post as things progress. some of the stories we've heard (of houses selling for 110% of list price and buyers paying sellers' closing costs, etc.) are just crazy. the market here is California-wild. and that's good for us.
we're listing this Monday. that means this weekend we have to repaint the house and garage (exterior) and fix some sagging gutters. next weekend we need to replaster a small portion of the bathroom and repaint it. then, continue to box up our shit and store it in the basement or garage. we're hoping to make enough money off of the sale of this thing to pay off our student loans (we're still paying those fuckers off after 10 years) and still have a substantial amount left over to pay our closing costs for the new place and to put some in the bank for a rainy day.
i'll post as things progress. some of the stories we've heard (of houses selling for 110% of list price and buyers paying sellers' closing costs, etc.) are just crazy. the market here is California-wild. and that's good for us.
more huked on fonnix
i received some good comments about my post on the atrocious spelling and grammar being used around the internet (forums, blogs, emails, etc.). so, here are a few more examples that i've noticed, and some more tips that might help you out if you happen to be one of the offenders.
justin.barrett's simple rules of English, part 2
affect and effect are often used incorrectly, but the difference is important. affect is a verb and means to "have an influence on," as in "the blogger's use of your when he means you're does not affect my grammar." effect is a noun and means "a cause or result brought about by change." when you affect something, you cause an effect. to makes matters even more confusing, there is a noun version of affect (which means "emotion") and a verb version of effect (which means "to create"), but both are very rare and typically used only by those who know the difference. so, when in doubt, figure out the part of speech and use affect if you mean to use it as a verb and effect if you mean to use it as a noun.
to has two homonyms. one of them is too and the other is two. most of the mistakes are between too and to, though occasionally (and oddly) two is used in place of both. first, two is a number. it stands for one plus one, or three minus one. if you mean something is "one more than one," then you need to use the word two (i.e. "i have two eyes, but only one nose."). the simple difference between the other two is that too also means "as well" or "in excess" (i.e. "i like that, too." or "you're playing it too loudly."). all other uses should use the word to.
a lot is two words. alot is NOT a word. you don't use alittle, and you don't use alot.
lite is not a word. the correct spelling is light. too, nite is not a word. the correct spelling is night. in that vein, thru is not right. use through. this phonetic use of English is annoying and, quite frankly, makes you look lazy and moronic.
of coarse is not the correct spelling. the phrase uses course, not coarse. coarse means "rough or crude." do yourself a favor and use of course. of course, you can ignore me and continue your subhuman ways.
hole means something is missing, dug out or removed. whole means the opposite: "entire, complete". someone can be an asshole, or a whole ass. or, in the case of some people i know, both. but, i've never heard of an asswhole or a hole ass.
and, lastly, college. i've seen way too many people using an "a" and spelling it collage. i guess the difference is, if you are smart enough to go to one, you know how to spell it. in case you're still wondering what the difference is, a collage is an artform where you paste together bits of paper. a college, though, is an instution of higher learning (where, one assumes, you learn how to spell and use proper grammar).
end of diatribe. carry on.
justin.barrett's simple rules of English, part 2
affect and effect are often used incorrectly, but the difference is important. affect is a verb and means to "have an influence on," as in "the blogger's use of your when he means you're does not affect my grammar." effect is a noun and means "a cause or result brought about by change." when you affect something, you cause an effect. to makes matters even more confusing, there is a noun version of affect (which means "emotion") and a verb version of effect (which means "to create"), but both are very rare and typically used only by those who know the difference. so, when in doubt, figure out the part of speech and use affect if you mean to use it as a verb and effect if you mean to use it as a noun.
to has two homonyms. one of them is too and the other is two. most of the mistakes are between too and to, though occasionally (and oddly) two is used in place of both. first, two is a number. it stands for one plus one, or three minus one. if you mean something is "one more than one," then you need to use the word two (i.e. "i have two eyes, but only one nose."). the simple difference between the other two is that too also means "as well" or "in excess" (i.e. "i like that, too." or "you're playing it too loudly."). all other uses should use the word to.
a lot is two words. alot is NOT a word. you don't use alittle, and you don't use alot.
lite is not a word. the correct spelling is light. too, nite is not a word. the correct spelling is night. in that vein, thru is not right. use through. this phonetic use of English is annoying and, quite frankly, makes you look lazy and moronic.
of coarse is not the correct spelling. the phrase uses course, not coarse. coarse means "rough or crude." do yourself a favor and use of course. of course, you can ignore me and continue your subhuman ways.
hole means something is missing, dug out or removed. whole means the opposite: "entire, complete". someone can be an asshole, or a whole ass. or, in the case of some people i know, both. but, i've never heard of an asswhole or a hole ass.
and, lastly, college. i've seen way too many people using an "a" and spelling it collage. i guess the difference is, if you are smart enough to go to one, you know how to spell it. in case you're still wondering what the difference is, a collage is an artform where you paste together bits of paper. a college, though, is an instution of higher learning (where, one assumes, you learn how to spell and use proper grammar).
end of diatribe. carry on.
19 July 2005
work stuff
i haven't posted anything on here in awhile about my job situation. well, things have certainly gotten crazy at my current job. if you recall, i was talking to an HR representative about the current state of my department and about how i am looking for another job and expecting an offer soon. well, this guy went to the big, big boss and told him what would happen to my department if i left. the big, big boss told his subordinates, and the HR guy, to do whatever they need to do to fix my department and to retain me.
i was called into my boss's boss's office yesterday and given the reassurance that things will change. i will be given all of my demands (like i'm some kind of criminal holding someone hostage) and was then told that i will be getting a huge raise. i was flabbergasted.
suffice it say, things still need to change, but it appears the feathers of the right birds were ruffled and all of these things are now in the process of changing. the raise helps, too. i will most likely stay at my current job, unless the offer from the company that was courting me turns out to be something i cannot turn down.
speaking of this other company. it took a little while to hear anything from them, but i got a call this afternoon about a discrepency on my application. the background check came out squeaky clean (as i knew it would, though i suppose they missed this blog and my website) but i mentioned that i worked for my current company since December, 1999. this was actually wrong. in reality, i worked for a temp service from December, 1999 to March, 2000, at which point i was hired on full time by my current company. i now have to find a contact of this temp service to verify my employment. i suppose this means that the company is interested in me, and once this discrepency is cleared up i will be offered. so much crazy shit has gone down the last few days i don't even want to speculate about what the offer might contain. i'll update when/if things progress.
i was called into my boss's boss's office yesterday and given the reassurance that things will change. i will be given all of my demands (like i'm some kind of criminal holding someone hostage) and was then told that i will be getting a huge raise. i was flabbergasted.
suffice it say, things still need to change, but it appears the feathers of the right birds were ruffled and all of these things are now in the process of changing. the raise helps, too. i will most likely stay at my current job, unless the offer from the company that was courting me turns out to be something i cannot turn down.
speaking of this other company. it took a little while to hear anything from them, but i got a call this afternoon about a discrepency on my application. the background check came out squeaky clean (as i knew it would, though i suppose they missed this blog and my website) but i mentioned that i worked for my current company since December, 1999. this was actually wrong. in reality, i worked for a temp service from December, 1999 to March, 2000, at which point i was hired on full time by my current company. i now have to find a contact of this temp service to verify my employment. i suppose this means that the company is interested in me, and once this discrepency is cleared up i will be offered. so much crazy shit has gone down the last few days i don't even want to speculate about what the offer might contain. i'll update when/if things progress.
hoocked on fahnicks werked for me
one thing i've noticed on the web (be it on forums, blogs, company websites, whatever) is the sheer lack of proofreading of any kind. spelling errors, grammar errors, plurality agreement errors. it's horrible. and, forums and blogs are the worst. i don't know about you, but when i read a blog or forum post, no matter the subject, and someone starts using grammar incorrectly or spelling words wrong i lose all credibility for what the person is talking about.
so, in that vein, here are some simple tips and rules that might help you out, if you happen to be one of these offenders (i don't imagine anybody reading this blog having this problem because you are probably a writer or, if not, a lover of words, and, therefore, you take care to proofread what you write, or you look up words you might not be sure how to spell, or you're interested in etymology and enjoy finding new words. or, maybe not. maybe it's just me). either way, here they are:
justin.barrett's simple rules of English
here has a homonym. it's spelled hear. it sounds the same when spoken (or thought), but they mean completely different things. here is a place close by. hear is a sense, meaning "to listen." pretty simple, folks, but screw it up and you'll be laughed at and shunned.
there has 2 homonyms. one is their. the other is they're. all three sound the same when spoken (or thought), but they all mean completely different things. there is a place far away. their is the possessive form of they. they're is a contraction, meaning "they are." again, quite simple, but we've upped the ante one word. i'm sure you can handle it, though.
likewise, your has a homonym. it's spelled you're. they sound the same when...etc. your is the possessive form of you. you're is a contraction, meaning "you are." cake.
getting these 3 common homonym errors right goes a long way in making yourself look intelligent and, conversely, getting them wrong goes a long way in making yourself look like a dolt.
now, onto simple errors in spelling:
definately is not a word. it is spelled definitely. you will look like a moron if you spell it definately. trust me on this one.
the phrase is per se, not per say. it's from Latin, so the se portion is pronounced like say, but it's not spelled that way.
vice versa. this is the correct spelling. not vise versa and definitely NOT visa versa (or vica versa). you will sound like a trailer-trash idiot if you end both words of the phrase in "a."
irregardless is not a word. a person cannot sound lazier or more moronic than one who uses the non-word irregardless. regardless means "in spite of everything," so irregardless means the opposite of that, which makes no sense. please, use regardless. but, if you're so damn stuck on the ir- prefix, use irrespective. your speech might sound stilted, but at least you're using real English. other substitutions: either way, no matter.
it's is a contraction, meaning "it is". its is the possessive form of it. if you mean "it is", then use the contraction. if you mean to imply that it owns or possesses something, then use its. it's simple.
and lastly, if you are planning on writing a scathing post for a forum (or blog) lambasting a person's spelling and grammar errors, please be certain you 1) make sure you, yourself, can spell words correctly and use grammar properly, and 2) proofread your diatribe. one common mistake in these diatribes is misspelling the word misspell. that's 2 s's and 2 l's. okay? making an error like that when correcting another's errors is bad form, to say the least.
great, now that that is over with, we can move on.
feel free to submit your own diatribe against my diatribe. or contribute some spelling and grammar errors you've noticed around the web, which get you riled up. this list is definitely not exhaustive, nor meant to be, but is only what i came up with off the top of my head.
so, in that vein, here are some simple tips and rules that might help you out, if you happen to be one of these offenders (i don't imagine anybody reading this blog having this problem because you are probably a writer or, if not, a lover of words, and, therefore, you take care to proofread what you write, or you look up words you might not be sure how to spell, or you're interested in etymology and enjoy finding new words. or, maybe not. maybe it's just me). either way, here they are:
justin.barrett's simple rules of English
here has a homonym. it's spelled hear. it sounds the same when spoken (or thought), but they mean completely different things. here is a place close by. hear is a sense, meaning "to listen." pretty simple, folks, but screw it up and you'll be laughed at and shunned.
there has 2 homonyms. one is their. the other is they're. all three sound the same when spoken (or thought), but they all mean completely different things. there is a place far away. their is the possessive form of they. they're is a contraction, meaning "they are." again, quite simple, but we've upped the ante one word. i'm sure you can handle it, though.
likewise, your has a homonym. it's spelled you're. they sound the same when...etc. your is the possessive form of you. you're is a contraction, meaning "you are." cake.
getting these 3 common homonym errors right goes a long way in making yourself look intelligent and, conversely, getting them wrong goes a long way in making yourself look like a dolt.
now, onto simple errors in spelling:
definately is not a word. it is spelled definitely. you will look like a moron if you spell it definately. trust me on this one.
the phrase is per se, not per say. it's from Latin, so the se portion is pronounced like say, but it's not spelled that way.
vice versa. this is the correct spelling. not vise versa and definitely NOT visa versa (or vica versa). you will sound like a trailer-trash idiot if you end both words of the phrase in "a."
irregardless is not a word. a person cannot sound lazier or more moronic than one who uses the non-word irregardless. regardless means "in spite of everything," so irregardless means the opposite of that, which makes no sense. please, use regardless. but, if you're so damn stuck on the ir- prefix, use irrespective. your speech might sound stilted, but at least you're using real English. other substitutions: either way, no matter.
it's is a contraction, meaning "it is". its is the possessive form of it. if you mean "it is", then use the contraction. if you mean to imply that it owns or possesses something, then use its. it's simple.
and lastly, if you are planning on writing a scathing post for a forum (or blog) lambasting a person's spelling and grammar errors, please be certain you 1) make sure you, yourself, can spell words correctly and use grammar properly, and 2) proofread your diatribe. one common mistake in these diatribes is misspelling the word misspell. that's 2 s's and 2 l's. okay? making an error like that when correcting another's errors is bad form, to say the least.
great, now that that is over with, we can move on.
feel free to submit your own diatribe against my diatribe. or contribute some spelling and grammar errors you've noticed around the web, which get you riled up. this list is definitely not exhaustive, nor meant to be, but is only what i came up with off the top of my head.
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