Celebrity: Meh
Posted on: Thursday 01/29/2015 05:57:40
Being somewhat unfriendly, it isn't a problem for me to treat them as average people who are probably tired of being "on," anyway. Since I work in people's homes, I will sometimes get the call from a sales rep, telling me that such-and-such is the guitarist for some crap band that I usually haven't listened to anyway.
This week, I have been working at the home that Garth Brooks and Tricia Yearwood are building. Atop a hill, just north of Nashville, the place is large, and will be extravagant, to say the least.
I posted a picture of their view of the town on Facehole earlier, but wasn't about to drop names. We were informed to not address them directly with any questions about the construction. They come in a few times a day, looking things over, and generally keeping the plans straight. They also wasted $30,000 on a steel beam idea that they decided against. The walls are structural steel, rather than wood, because (I'm told) she "doesn't want to see any blemishes" in her walls. (Sometimes screws pop out in drywall, forcing someone to patch and paint. Not them.)
I just see them as a nice couple. As they passed me yesterday, I smiled and exchanged greetings, and then left to pull more wire.
I don't listen to their music, but have heard his crap about the rodeo, and remember that he made good use of an obscure Billy Joel song back in the day.
Another time, I got the call to drive out to Leipers Fork to service Mike Wolf's alarm system. He's one of the guys from "American Pickers," who had built a home near Nashville. When I called, he was just like the TV personality, and proceeded to dicker with me about arrival time.
"Nah, that's not gonna work... I'll have to leave to check on the new store, so we'll just have to reset."
That was fine with me; all I was to do was demo his alarm system, and I was saved a long drive.
Last year I ran into Steven Tyler while walking one of the dogs. We were at a hotel downtown. We must be the only people who vacation in their own town. Bastard was talking to some groupie sort in the doorway, and acted like he couldn't be bothered to step aside. I wanted to blow snot at him for having written "Rag Doll," but thought the better of it. I do like Aerosmith from the 1970s.
Anyway, enough rambling. How do you guys greet celebs? How about ones that you don't particularly care for?
Apple vs. Android
Posted on: Monday 07/21/2014 03:22:19
Hello, folks. Long time, blah blah.
I have used an iPhone *ducks flying, rotten tomatoes* for years, but for work I use an Android tablet, which I am getting used to, and beginning to prefer. My latest discovery is the Swype feature, which works pretty well for what I do, but I haven't quite gotten down certain things yet, such as words with the same letter used consecutively.
There are pros and cons associated with each device. I like Apple's spellcheck, although at times it jumps the gun and fixes what isn't broken. I prefer Android's ability to swipe to initialize (which can be done from any point across the screen, and in any direction.) The Apple is still left-to-right, which feels archaic.
Who uses and prefers which device?
Secret Santa 2012
Posted on: Friday 01/04/2013 05:57:19
I received a text.
It was a picture of the package that had been sent from my Secret Santa!
I had used this same addy last year for SS; it belongs to the guy that I have worked for for the last three years. We recently decided to end the company and go on our separate ways. I completed my final job for him last week.
I was off work today, so I took advantage of the opportunity to make one last pilgrimage to Clarksville to pick up the package.
Luckily, when I arrived at dude's house, he was sick in bed, and had placed it on the front porch a few minutes earlier.
I pulled over a couple of streets away, more out of curiosity as to who had been my SS this year than to actually open the gift.
I smiled as I read Newplayer's handwriting on the card.
He had sent me a copy of Dave Matthews Band's new album, Away From This World, which I immediately put in the player for the ride home. Also included was a nice, hardback Complete Guide to SINGLE MALT SCOTCH, which I will reference in the next months. It's a guide to Scotland's finest whiskies. 
I tried to get a picture of both gifts, but only the guide proved photogenic, so I will tell you about my drive home with DMB.
I hadn't heard this new album, so it provided a nice soundtrack for the ride home, my final voyage from Clarksville to Bowling Green along those old two-lane roads that I have travelled for so long. This edition also contains some live material at the end of the album proper, which to me proves how good these people are as a band. It was a much-needed departure from my same-old same-old, and also it put a nice end to a less than nice year.
Thank you, Scott, for the gifts, and for reminding me of why we're all here.
It's all about sharing, innit?
Suggestions, please
Posted on: Tuesday 12/11/2012 01:59:32
I have to go through a webinar, but the requirements are Google Internet Explorer 6,7 or 8.
One computer used Safari, another Firefox, and when I got home I realized that our desktop runs Internet Explorer 9. Apparently this is too new for their requirements.
Is there a way to take a computer back to where I can get through this webinar?
Have a great Tuesday, and thanks!
Sekrit Santa Questionairre
Posted on: Tuesday 11/27/2012 10:06:21
Another year has passed...
It has been a pleasure getting to know all of you over this past year, your personalities through your words.
I feel like I have everything I could reasonably want, so I'll try to fill this out in the spirit of fellowship.
1. Movies- I tend to enjoy documentaries and concerts. DVDs with commentary tracks and bonus features.
Having suffered a childhood without cable television, I am afraid that I have missed out on many of the great titles of
our time. I would love to know your tastes in the classics. Casablanca? Gone With The Wind? The Maltese Falcon?
I love Pink Floyd's The Wall, any movie about US Marines, westerns. Not Spaghetti Westerns, mind you.
2. Colour? Brunette
3. Collections- Brunettes.
Okay, seriously. I have a room full of basically the same bass guitar. *I* know the differences.
I like variations on a theme. I love records, coins, and anything else that is round and can be put in
chronological order.
4. Animals- Cats, but I recently had to put our white domestic longhair to sleep because he had developed a heart condition, so
I am done with cats for the next few years.
5. Books/Authors- This is where I would ask for your recommendations. You are the best read lot I could imagine. I loved
Catcher In the Rye, and some Vonnegut. I usually read biographies and shit.
6. Music- Again, I would be open to ideas from you. I have everything I can imagine, in stereo, in mono, acoustic versions, live
versions, bootleg studio tracks, you name it. As far as what I listen to, it's almost never American. The Doors and REM
were exceptions. The Who from Shepard's Bush. The Cure from Crawley. Crowded House were Kiwis. I like most any
band that would scoff at being described once too often as "Beatlesque."
7. Drink- Cuervo and Maker's Mark
8. Cook- I would starve
9. Foodie- I felt like one recently when I didn't enjoy the new Mexican restaurant.
10. Sweet tooth- My tastes have changed over the years. In past years, I would munch a whole box of Andes Mints while
reading "A Confederacy Of Dunces" or something in bed. Now, I can't stand the thought of sweet stuff.
11. Food allergies- Pickled eggs
12. Pets- Buddy (Golden Retriever), Suki (ChowChow), Briscoe (Cairn Terrorist) and a Persian cat named Doksony, which may
or may not be Korean for "dog turd."
13. Local souvenirs- Yes.
My friends drove to California one year. They almost brought me back a tumbleweed because they knew
that I would appreciate it.
14. Hobbies- I love train shit. I used to collect HO scale stuff, but it was last seen in Mom's attic around 1986.
I had a great time last year with SS. Mando is right- the real joy is getting to know each other a little more.
Limbo
Posted on: Wednesday 11/21/2012 04:06:19
The scene on the homefront hasn't changed, so I won't bore you with that. I usually awake to the sound of broken English and arguments, but this morning it was to the scent of seaweed and stale dogs. At least it was peaceful.
The company (we're a home security sub-dealer for one of the blue sign parent groups) is looking at other options when the contract expires in March.
When we started the business, Kevin convinced me (fairly easily) to go with ADT as our monitoring station. I had worked for them for ten years, off and on, so I had no problem agreeing to this, but he was animated.
"We'll sell more if we're ADT."
"I'm tired of losing deals to Big Blue."
"Everyone knows and trusts that blue sign."
"These fly-by-night companies that descend on [sic] Clarksville in the Spring won't have a chance when we're ADT!"
"They're buying Brinks! They're getting even bigger!"
And on and on and on...
We would be UNSTOPPABLE when we became ADT. The world would be a better place when we became ADT.
When we could become ADT, there would be wine, women and dancing in the streets.
So, three years later, we can't get away from them fast enough. They charge back Kevin (he's the entrepreneur, I'm the grunt) every time a customer cancels or quits paying their bill. This doesn't affect me directly, but it keeps him from focusing on sales.
Now he wants to join Blue Sign Company 2 because they install all the new home automation toys that enable one to control the thermostat, lighting, and view cameras from a smart phone.
We can't make the move until the contract expires with ADT. Actually, I could, but I won't bore you with all the legalities. I hold the TN licence for Kevin to be a company, and can transfer to Blue Sign Company 2, but I'm not sure I like the new company. They have been kicking our ass, and it seems time to 'join' them. From my perspective, after a week's training, there's so much bullshit to have to adhere to, and all for the same money, that I may not go to work for them.
Clarksville is a military town, because it's adjacent to Fort Campbell, home of the 101st Airborne Division. The problem with Kevin is that he doesn't want to leave the area to make sales. There just isn't enough business in the one area, so I have been working in Nashville as well. That was fine and dandy when I lived there, but now there's an hour's drive to consider at no extra pay. Now Kevin wants to hold off on sales to ADT to see if he can get out of the contract early. This does me no good, so I use his addy for Sekrit Santa and don't give a fuck to post it freely. Being on the KCL downlow has its advantages and disadvantages.
So right now, I'm in career limbo. I kind of want to get out of all the above options and find something completely different, but that's not happening right away. I feel a stupid loyaly to Kevin, but I could pull my QA license and work for anyone who wants to open another office in Tennessee. Kentucky doesn't even require a low-voltage license. Actually, I think Louisville does.
Okay, that's enough. I hope you guys all have a wonderful Turkey Day, and safe travels if you're away from home.
To: Kitten
Posted on: Sunday 10/14/2012 02:47:31
I hope you have a wonderful birthday.
I'm sure that you will have seen these pics, but they reminded me of you, so there you go.
Happy birthday!!
Gah!
Posted on: Tuesday 09/25/2012 03:18:14
Okay, something just caught my eye.
I'm staying with the in laws in these waning days of my marriage. I'm still not one hundred percent sure how the end will transpire, but I realize that it's just a matter of time.
Anyway, when I got 'home' this evening, I noticed a glass bowl (with matching lid; my Korean mother in law collects this glass shit) containing Q-tips.
Why the fuck would she place these here?
Did she seriously notice me doing my thing with the top of the Bic pen yesterday?
Tell me no!
And if she did, what the hell ELSE has she noticed me doing, supposedly in the privacy of their own home?
I haven't been able to touch the wife since before Zebra's Fourth Of July party. I'm just done. There's even a new jealousy story from this past weekend, but it's just more of the same.
I need some strange. Some good strange.
Congregation, please be seated.
Posted on: Saturday 09/08/2012 08:24:53
Our beloved den mother has once again left me in charge.
It isn't a task to be taken lightly, but I suppose that you lot are capable of getting on well.
We could have some fun, however.
I'll need everyone's life story, preferably in classy, third-person, back-of-bookspeak.
Who's first?