So, I Was Just Passing This Cart...
..and I had another spur of the moment thingy. Apparently I get them a lot. I don't know, I think it's me trying to tell myself something. Anyway, I was walking through Towson Town Center (big place by the way) and I saw one of those kiosk thingies (which are apparently a good way for immigrants to get a hold of a new business. Or so I think I had heard someone say after reading something.) that was selling this. Now it wasn't only selling this, in fact I think there was only one of these for sale, but there were a lot of other languages. And I thought about stopping and browsing it, just to see the cost. However, my fear of people stopped me from stopping and kept me going past.
My name is Brian, and I have a problem with people. I will admit it. Especially sales-people. I don't know what it is. Maybe I feel I have to buy something if someone comes around and asks if I need any help. They are there and I don't want to waste their time by not buying anything, even if I am only there to look at something. Or maybe it's their fake niceness in the interest of trying to sell me something. You know, how they come around the corner of an aisle, see you staring intently at a product or two and jar you from you thought process with a 'Can I help you?' And they always catch me off guard, even if I know it's coming. I can't help it. So I always stammer out a 'No, I'm ah, ah just looking.' And then they are gone to torment some other sap never to be around when I actually need some help. Maybe I should just tell them that I am just looking and they should come back in 5 minutes and by then I might be ready. That way I can peruse and compare in solitude until the time I am ready and I won't have to go find someone. That's my plan.
But back to the language thing. I saw it and I was interested. I've been interested in Islamic architecture and the use of mosaics and geometric figures for awhile. In fact I was contemplating asking the LVC Study Abroad office if they could help me get to Istanbul. That would be a fun semester. I just might not have come back. Of course I never asked because I hate asking questions I don't know the answer to or could be answered with a laugh. It all goes back to my hatred of people I don't know.(Actually I think most of my questions can be answered that way, which is why I don't ask them.) And then I didn't go back to LVC, so it wouldn't matter now anyway. But I would like to go to Istanbul and Turkey someday, if only on my own. I am reading a book, 1453, about the city and I have only gotten more interested. But I feel I should have some basic language skills (200 hours of instruction, depending on learning style!) if I were to go.
So I was looking at it today online and it costs 200 bucks, depending on the seller. And it's only a level 1 course. (Although I guess it's less than a college course and I can do it on my own time.) Now there is a 6 month online thing that I could do for less than that, but do I really want the online thing? I know what's gonna happen. I'm gonna start up, do a couple of lessons and get bored with it. 5 months are gonna pass and I'm gonna start flippin out because I didn't use the full of the program and I'm gonna bum-rush the last lessons until the 6 months is up. Cramming at the last minute is no way to learn a language, even though it's an acceptable way to study for a test or write a term paper.
So now I sit here and contemplate purchasing this product, just to see what it is like. There is a 6 month garuntee, so maybe I will drop to Bens on this. Maybe. But I'm gonna have to get a new job first.
Ah yes, I quit the construction job. Not so much because of the work, if only because of the person who knew what he was doing. I'm not gonna go through it all, only highlight my last day as an example of what I went through.
Lets set the scene here: There are 4 workers (there were 3 until I put in my notice, the 4th being my replacement in training). One, the guy who know everything (Bud, lets say) has been doing this work for 40 years or something like that. The next guy is 40, doing this work for 2 years, bricklaying before that. Then there is me and the replacement. It's Friday so we have to clean the deck where we are working of sawdust, nails and other pieces of wood and stuff. Really clean it. Also, we have to move all the power tools to either the basement or the Bud's truck. So here we are all cleaning up. Most of the stuff goes in Bud's truck, so we all put stuff over there. Me and the replacement with some of the heavier equipment, the 40 year old with tools everyone has used, and Bud with his one tool bag. We place the stuff and go get more. Bud stays and puts his stuff away. And then he stays. After the tools are all away I grab a broom and start sweeping. I clean the one side of the deck, the replacement gets the other. The 40 year old is grabbing some wood scraps and heading to the dumpster. Bud is at his truck. The replacement grabs a trashcan and takes what we have swept and cleans it up. I head for the deck stairs to the ground. At this point Bud comes back. He starts saying things like "Don't forget that right there, and this has to be throw away and the brooms need to be put in my truck."
Did he grab any of what he just pointed out? Nope. He just stood there. And then the 40 year old reminds him someone has to go through and lock up. (Before this goes any further, I just want to tell you this is not a monumental action. The locking up involves the basement sliding door and the front door as well as turning out the lights. It's not hard work. I can easily do it. But....) Bud looks at him and says this:
"Brian can do it. We taught him how to do it and we'll teach [the replacement] to do it next week."
First off, how freaking hard is it to lock two doors? I didn't need to be taught. I put the freaking doors in in the first place, I know they lock and the are bolted to the floor.
Second, and most importantly, why didn't Bud do this? Here I am sweeping. The replacement is sweeping and then taking the trash to the dumpster. The 40 year old is fixing the tarp and taking wood siding to the dumpster. The only one not doing anything is Bud. He is just standing on the deck like a commander on the mountain overlooking his troops. Only he doesn't know there is about to be a mass desertion amongst the ranks (Did I mention the 40 year old is going to be quiting soon? Only he isn't giving his two week notice like I did. Ouch.)
So I finished the sweeping of the stairs and the patio. I hand over the broom and step inside. I take my time, I'm in no hurry. I mean, the locking of a door is a very involved process that only I can do. Apparently. I lock the door, head upstairs and write the owner of the house a very nice note thanking her for the hot chocolate and the brownies she provided for us. Satisfyed I take one last look at the Zepra inspired wallpaper (awesome wallpaper, probably even better on acid) and head outside.
I was finally free from Bud and his idiotic ideas on work (you know the one, where I do all his work so he can stand around and look at things and talk to himself). But that also means I am looking for a new job. Perhaps something in the restaurant field. I used to work in one and it was a blast. I also would like to work with people my own age. Or around there, if possible. So I shall start searching.
And coming back to the idea that I do things on the spur of the moment, I'm not sure about Arizona yet. I mean, I still need to get away. Arizona State has what I am looking for and apparently it's really pretty, but I just had a pretty good weekend. I spent it with people my age, that I am friends with and that I would miss in Arizona. Perhaps I am going for all the wrong reasons, but really, what would the right reasons be? In life there are always people that I'm going to be leaving, no matter what.
Maybe I just need to spend the next 2 months with the people I hate and I'll be ready to go.
Also, the baby has until, lets say April 10th to come out or I'm leaving before it's due. That's all I'm saying.
Speaking of babies, that post before about the sequel to Operation Intrigued? Yeah, nothing more has been accomplished, except I did learn this. She just recently (as in the past 2 weeks) finalized her divorce and has kids. Not something I was expecting, that's for sure. Nothing against kids, I enjoy them, especially when they aren't mine (I'm going to be a great Crazy Uncle B.) But that's a little more than I expected and perhaps I am worse at conveying age than I thought. So lets just chalk this one up to a never was. There's a failure and a never was. But I've learned things don't come easy.
(Also, I think this gives Rolph credibility when he says I have ADD. Just look at all the topics. Sure I could have broke them into a few different posts, but I was on a role. It isn't a very cohesive roll, but its a buttered piece of bread anyway. So Rolph may be right there, but he is wrong it that I do not ask too many questions to waitresses. There were more I could have asked, but I refrained. Of course I didn't ask the most important ones, but I still don't ask too many questions.)
My name is Brian, and I have a problem with people. I will admit it. Especially sales-people. I don't know what it is. Maybe I feel I have to buy something if someone comes around and asks if I need any help. They are there and I don't want to waste their time by not buying anything, even if I am only there to look at something. Or maybe it's their fake niceness in the interest of trying to sell me something. You know, how they come around the corner of an aisle, see you staring intently at a product or two and jar you from you thought process with a 'Can I help you?' And they always catch me off guard, even if I know it's coming. I can't help it. So I always stammer out a 'No, I'm ah, ah just looking.' And then they are gone to torment some other sap never to be around when I actually need some help. Maybe I should just tell them that I am just looking and they should come back in 5 minutes and by then I might be ready. That way I can peruse and compare in solitude until the time I am ready and I won't have to go find someone. That's my plan.
But back to the language thing. I saw it and I was interested. I've been interested in Islamic architecture and the use of mosaics and geometric figures for awhile. In fact I was contemplating asking the LVC Study Abroad office if they could help me get to Istanbul. That would be a fun semester. I just might not have come back. Of course I never asked because I hate asking questions I don't know the answer to or could be answered with a laugh. It all goes back to my hatred of people I don't know.(Actually I think most of my questions can be answered that way, which is why I don't ask them.) And then I didn't go back to LVC, so it wouldn't matter now anyway. But I would like to go to Istanbul and Turkey someday, if only on my own. I am reading a book, 1453, about the city and I have only gotten more interested. But I feel I should have some basic language skills (200 hours of instruction, depending on learning style!) if I were to go.
So I was looking at it today online and it costs 200 bucks, depending on the seller. And it's only a level 1 course. (Although I guess it's less than a college course and I can do it on my own time.) Now there is a 6 month online thing that I could do for less than that, but do I really want the online thing? I know what's gonna happen. I'm gonna start up, do a couple of lessons and get bored with it. 5 months are gonna pass and I'm gonna start flippin out because I didn't use the full of the program and I'm gonna bum-rush the last lessons until the 6 months is up. Cramming at the last minute is no way to learn a language, even though it's an acceptable way to study for a test or write a term paper.
So now I sit here and contemplate purchasing this product, just to see what it is like. There is a 6 month garuntee, so maybe I will drop to Bens on this. Maybe. But I'm gonna have to get a new job first.
Ah yes, I quit the construction job. Not so much because of the work, if only because of the person who knew what he was doing. I'm not gonna go through it all, only highlight my last day as an example of what I went through.
Lets set the scene here: There are 4 workers (there were 3 until I put in my notice, the 4th being my replacement in training). One, the guy who know everything (Bud, lets say) has been doing this work for 40 years or something like that. The next guy is 40, doing this work for 2 years, bricklaying before that. Then there is me and the replacement. It's Friday so we have to clean the deck where we are working of sawdust, nails and other pieces of wood and stuff. Really clean it. Also, we have to move all the power tools to either the basement or the Bud's truck. So here we are all cleaning up. Most of the stuff goes in Bud's truck, so we all put stuff over there. Me and the replacement with some of the heavier equipment, the 40 year old with tools everyone has used, and Bud with his one tool bag. We place the stuff and go get more. Bud stays and puts his stuff away. And then he stays. After the tools are all away I grab a broom and start sweeping. I clean the one side of the deck, the replacement gets the other. The 40 year old is grabbing some wood scraps and heading to the dumpster. Bud is at his truck. The replacement grabs a trashcan and takes what we have swept and cleans it up. I head for the deck stairs to the ground. At this point Bud comes back. He starts saying things like "Don't forget that right there, and this has to be throw away and the brooms need to be put in my truck."
Did he grab any of what he just pointed out? Nope. He just stood there. And then the 40 year old reminds him someone has to go through and lock up. (Before this goes any further, I just want to tell you this is not a monumental action. The locking up involves the basement sliding door and the front door as well as turning out the lights. It's not hard work. I can easily do it. But....) Bud looks at him and says this:
"Brian can do it. We taught him how to do it and we'll teach [the replacement] to do it next week."
First off, how freaking hard is it to lock two doors? I didn't need to be taught. I put the freaking doors in in the first place, I know they lock and the are bolted to the floor.
Second, and most importantly, why didn't Bud do this? Here I am sweeping. The replacement is sweeping and then taking the trash to the dumpster. The 40 year old is fixing the tarp and taking wood siding to the dumpster. The only one not doing anything is Bud. He is just standing on the deck like a commander on the mountain overlooking his troops. Only he doesn't know there is about to be a mass desertion amongst the ranks (Did I mention the 40 year old is going to be quiting soon? Only he isn't giving his two week notice like I did. Ouch.)
So I finished the sweeping of the stairs and the patio. I hand over the broom and step inside. I take my time, I'm in no hurry. I mean, the locking of a door is a very involved process that only I can do. Apparently. I lock the door, head upstairs and write the owner of the house a very nice note thanking her for the hot chocolate and the brownies she provided for us. Satisfyed I take one last look at the Zepra inspired wallpaper (awesome wallpaper, probably even better on acid) and head outside.
I was finally free from Bud and his idiotic ideas on work (you know the one, where I do all his work so he can stand around and look at things and talk to himself). But that also means I am looking for a new job. Perhaps something in the restaurant field. I used to work in one and it was a blast. I also would like to work with people my own age. Or around there, if possible. So I shall start searching.
And coming back to the idea that I do things on the spur of the moment, I'm not sure about Arizona yet. I mean, I still need to get away. Arizona State has what I am looking for and apparently it's really pretty, but I just had a pretty good weekend. I spent it with people my age, that I am friends with and that I would miss in Arizona. Perhaps I am going for all the wrong reasons, but really, what would the right reasons be? In life there are always people that I'm going to be leaving, no matter what.
Maybe I just need to spend the next 2 months with the people I hate and I'll be ready to go.
Also, the baby has until, lets say April 10th to come out or I'm leaving before it's due. That's all I'm saying.
Speaking of babies, that post before about the sequel to Operation Intrigued? Yeah, nothing more has been accomplished, except I did learn this. She just recently (as in the past 2 weeks) finalized her divorce and has kids. Not something I was expecting, that's for sure. Nothing against kids, I enjoy them, especially when they aren't mine (I'm going to be a great Crazy Uncle B.) But that's a little more than I expected and perhaps I am worse at conveying age than I thought. So lets just chalk this one up to a never was. There's a failure and a never was. But I've learned things don't come easy.
(Also, I think this gives Rolph credibility when he says I have ADD. Just look at all the topics. Sure I could have broke them into a few different posts, but I was on a role. It isn't a very cohesive roll, but its a buttered piece of bread anyway. So Rolph may be right there, but he is wrong it that I do not ask too many questions to waitresses. There were more I could have asked, but I refrained. Of course I didn't ask the most important ones, but I still don't ask too many questions.)
posted by Timchula at 22:48
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