5.13.2008
training day
Greetings from Dallas, Texas. A coworker and I are here for the week to learn about income tax preparation software. It's the second trip we've taken this year - we spent a few days in San Diego in January learning about property tax preparation software.
I have a few observations about training classes. Or more specifically, the training class attendant archetypes. These people in my class are identical to the people who showed up to my San Diego course, and I have reason to believe they show up each and every day in training classes across the nation.
First we have Pointless Question Guy. His hand shoots into the air every three or four minutes, followed by a question about some small detail the trainer just gave. The detail doesn't matter, his question doesn't matter, and you can see pain and annoyance under the trainer's forced smile knowing that she's going to have to derail her lesson yet again to answer his stupid question. He wasted a total of 45 minutes of class time this morning.
And then there's Over Your Head Tangent Guy. He will latch on to something the trainer says, and then go into a topic that is far beyond anything we're learning in this class. Often times, this topic is incredibly specific to something he's encountered in his own job but that the rest of the class will never see. I can't tell whether he is trying to show off his intelligence or he just signed up for the wrong course.
Finally, there's The Trainer. She's actually very nice and I have nothing bad to say about her, but all trainers begin their course with what they call "housekeeping items." This is mandatory vocabulary for all trainers in every class. "Housekeeping items" include the locations of the break room and bathrooms.
Oh and I'm getting sick again, just like I did in San Diego. That's the other training class constant.
5.08.2008
self appointed food critic
I work in a large office in Downtown Orlando, and while my office is only a mile from my home, I frequently eat lunch at one of the many local restaurants. When I have a good dining experience, I always want to share it with my co-workers. So starting today, I've appointed myself to the position of "Payday Food Critic." I'm a dork.
Here is the email I sent to some of my coworkers today after lunch:
Name: Panchero's Mexican GrillI think I'm going to send one every payday (every two weeks). Because if being a nerd who shares his food opinions with coworkers who probably don't care is wrong, I don't want to be right.
Location: Church Street Marketplace behind the SunTrust Building
Price: I had a big burrito and drink for under $8. I assume tacos or quesadillas would cost less.
It's a Tex-Mex taco/burrito walk-up-and-order restaurant very similar to Moe's & Chipotle. And while I've eaten both Moe's & Chipotle more times than I care to admit, the Panchero's burrito I ate for lunch today was comparable (maybe even better) to anything I've had from either of them. And bonus - you don't have to drive there for lunch (like I do to Moe's or Chipotle far too often).
The Panchero's folks press your tortilla while you're ordering, so it's guaranteed fresh. Then once all the ingredients are down, they mix them up so they are spread evenly throughout the burrito. I can't tell you how many times I've taken a big bite out of my Chipotle burrito only to get a mouthful of tortilla and lettuce.
Plus the atmosphere is lively, unlike that snoresville that is the Cool Blue Burrito stand in the Solaire building across the street. My apologies if any of you enjoy or own stock in that place, but I've tried it a few times and it's as boring as all get-out. I had lunch there one day last week and almost fell asleep face-down in my bland burrito.
So if you're in the mood for a quick, inexpensive Tex-Mex lunch, I recommend Panchero's. If you're suffering from insomnia and craving a taste-free taco, Cool Blue is the place for you.
4.14.2008
some of my quirks
- I don't like being social on Friday nights. If I must see people, I try to be home by 9:00.
- My face sweats when I eat certain fruits.
- I hate olives and beer.
- I rarely eat Italian food in the summer.
- Few things make me laugh harder than seeing someone fall down or someone break a piece of furniture over someone else.
- I find an subtle outward-facing lazy eye to be an attractive feature on another guy.
3.18.2008
insignificant afternoon story
On a distant orbital of my circle of friends resides this guy I hate. I guess he's technically not in my circle of friends, but some of my closer friends like him for some mysterious reason.
Anyhow, he's terrible. And he has this terrible sister. I assume the entire family is terrible because although I have never met them, I don't believe a normal family envirmonment could produce such vile human beings. Seriously, this guy and his sister are anathema to me. The thought of their ugly faces makes my stomach turn.
So the awful sister works on another floor of my building. I was walking 30 feet behind her as we returned from our respective lunch breaks this afternoon when I realized we may have to share an elevator. Instead of risking such a terrible task on a full stomach, I hung back in the lobby and pretended to read the building's directory until I could no longer hear her crow-like voice telling some tale of awfulness to her coworker.
Because that's the grown-up way of doing things.
3.08.2008
best buy bathroom proposition
I generally keep my blog relatively friendly for people of all ages, but I need to share something dirty that happened to me today.
Patrick, Todd and I had just walked into Best Buy when I broke off to take a leak. While I was doing that, another gentleman stepped up to do the same at the urinal next to me.
He was taking forever to unbuckle his belt and standing back rather far, but I went about my business and finished up. So I was washing my hands, and he stepped away from the wall and faced me with his pants unzipped and a hand in his underwear. He was actively trying to get some Best Buy bathroom action out of me right then and there!
So I blushed, smiled and politely told him "that's nice, but my buddies are waiting outside for me."
"Can I get your number then? You're totally my type."
So I told him I have a boyfriend and he backed off, somewhat. I even nervously shook his free hand before I left the restroom, because you have to hand it to someone who will stand there with his pants down in the Best Buy bathroom without concern for who might walk in at any moment.
Anyhow, I don't necessarily have a boyfriend, but I have gone on enough dates with one guy that it would feel weird scoring some bathroom trade at this point. And I would have to move out of the state if I was convicted for lewd and lascivious behavior and forced to register on sex offender websites for going down on someone in a Best Buy bathroom.
So I'm pretty comfortable with my decision to leave. Even if it was some sort of twisted fantasy come true for a couple minutes this afternoon.
2.29.2008
fools and sages
I was surfing the internet at work today and noticed Guitar Hero recently added some new downloadable content. The first offering I saw is a No Doubt pak, featuring three songs from their awesome mid-90s album Tragic Kingdom.In true Guitar Hero fashion, they omitted the obvious track - I'm Just a Girl. But they managed to squeeze Don't Speak and a couple other goodies on there, so I can't complain too hard. The move is reminiscent of their omission of Everlong from the Foo Fighters pak. I mean how do you leave out Everlong? But I still rock it to their tracks on there.
Anyhow, the other downloadable item up for grabs was Aerosmith's Dream On. Let me just say that I love this song. It's one of the top 25 most played songs on my iPod. I'm sure that's a common top 25 song among aging guys watching their lives slip away but who can't stand the song Landslide whether it's sung by the Dixie Chicks or Stevie Nicks or Smashing Pumpkins. But I digress.
I made the No Doubt pak happen, but Dream On was nowhere to be found in the XBox Marketplace. So I consulted Wikipedia only to learn the song was only available for 3 days earlier this month. Sweet merciful Jesus no!
But the silver lining here is the next Guitar Hero game is going to be comprised solely of Aerosmith tracks. Scoff if you want, but that thing is gonna rock. And since they are working with the band, we won't have to worry about shitty Guitar Hero remakes! (Carry on Wayward Son, I am looking directly at you)
My wish list track for this Aerosmith edition is my favorite song of theirs - What It Takes (also a top 25 most played). It's not a guitar-heavy song and it doesn't really rock in the way Dude Looks Like A Lady or Sweet Emotion will, but it's an awesome song nonetheless. And I always get a little excited when I get to strum along to a song that's near and dear to my heart (e.g. Possum Kingdom or anything from the My Chemical Romance pak). So please please please Guitar Gods, make me a happy strummer! Make with the What It Takes, pronto! Thank you.
2.01.2008
a world without warcraft
I played too much World of Warcraft between January 2007 and January 2008. We're talking 3-5 hours a night, 4+ nights per week. Some Saturdays I'd wake up, log on, play all day, then go to bed. Other times I'd call in to work because I wanted to stay home and play.
Over time, it became an obligation. My guild started meeting up 3+ nights per week, meaning that I had to tell my real life friends "I can't hang out tonight - the guild needs me." And even though I was happy to cancel my plans to play on my own terms, it was a different story when I was expected to show up under someone else's.
So on Saturday, January 12th, I logged off for the last time - and I noticed an immediate change. I wanted to go out and see people, do things, have fun. It was like a little renaissance for my social life.
Tomorrow marks week three of the renaissance, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't want to play. To make matters worse, I'm home sick (legitimately) with nothing to do. So I'll let you know if I fall off the wagon.
Disclaimer: I do plan to come back to the game when they release the next expansion, so I can get my two highest characters to level 80.
12.14.2007
when the day is long
I'm in a great mood today, but R.E.M.'s Everybody Hurts is stuck in my head. My subconscience (is that a word?) is working against me.
