| strike out |
[Jun. 19th, 2008|08:29 pm] |
School has been going well, in so far as it goes. I'm working on chapter 1 of my thesis and am probably getting close to finishing that section. I've been working on chapter 2 and it is progressing, but like any of this process, it is slow going. I take heart in the fact that I get fewer and fewer comments back for each revision sent. That means progress and I like progress. It feels like the goal is getting closer and closer.
This is good news.
Now, for the bad.
I have not been offered a full time position at any school, or any position at all. This means it would be another year and a couple of months before I would start to receive a paycheck. Additionally, I do not believe I will survive the month in the job I currently have. The store has not been doing well. Someone will have to go (though I doubt that will stave off the inevitable unless the store moves to a new location or the economy improves or both) and I am the most likely. It isn't personal, nor am I going to take it that way.
Since I don't expect to last the month and since I am most likely not going to get a teaching gig, I am looking for another job. It would be nice to be able to still substitute and have a regular job of some sort. That won't happen. In fact, I may never get to teach. That is very disappointing but not insurmountable. One has to eat.
I probably have enough reserves for 2 months and after that, I'm done.
I have no idea how this is going to turn out. I'm sure it will be fine, after a while. |
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| Cook's Illustrated |
[Apr. 14th, 2008|08:06 pm] |
For 'crima, I got my mother a subscription to "Cook's Illustrated." In case you don't know, Cook's Illustrated is a magazine that is put together by the people on the PBS show, "America's Test Kitchen." The emphasis of the show, from the same PBS where, more or less, Julia Child got her start, is simple cooking that anyone can do at home. Want to make your own meatballs? Check. Want to make a wine reduction sauce, but no idea what reduction or fond is? Check. You have to realize at some point that Food Network didn't exist and someone had to come up with how to make x in y amount of time and publish the results. The people at America's Test Kitchen, which is an offshoot of this magazine, (the magazine, in one form or another, has been around since 1980) come up with a theme for the show (like the magazine) and execute it by showing what you need to do, when, and there you go.
What is neat about this periodical is that there are no advertisements in it. It's pure cooking and testing of food and the instruments needed to make it. In other words, this magazine is a version of Consumer Reports for food. Taste it, test it and make sure it bloody works. It's a great magazine.
Of course, I love periodicals. I like seeing the change and the "what's new" aspect to things. It can be anything from an issue of Double Gun Journal to The Economist. I love getting new stuff to read.
Anyway, I was reading the most recent issue regarding Light Recipes. In it, it had a recipe for French style steamed fish and vegetables, perhaps known to foodies as en papillote, or to the rest of us, as hobo packs. I had forgotten this manner of cooking; I probably left it behind in my scouting days when we used to make hobo packs over or in the coals. Of course, the French used parchment paper for their hobo packs- cut in the shape of a heart and then folded such that it reminds one of a cornish paste (or half moon style, if you like). Now, aluminium foil is the way in which us simple folk go about making a simple closed vessel in which to bake, and by baking steam, the fish in its own juices. I'm planning on making this sometime this week. It can't be hard to make and it doesn't seem to take much in the way of cooking time. I'm rather energetic about the whole thing and really can't wait for it. That said...
There seems to be a lack of consistent information about hobo packs, which I think is odd, since there is a recipe right in front of me. Some people say cook them for 400 for 12 minutes, while others recommend 450 for 20. Well, it obviously depends on what meat is going in there and what veggies you are putting in there, too. But I have yet to find a sliding metric that would help figure out when something was done. Surely there is just such a thing out there. I understand that you want everything to come out correctly at the same time. That's the real trick to the hobo pack. If you use beef, then use bell peppers with slices of onion, how long should I cook it and how hot? I usually erred on the side of caution and cooked things longer than need be because it was always just steamed food- there is very little chance that the pack will dry out the food. Is there a reference about these kinds of things? I'd love to know what it is, if such exists. |
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| catfish |
[Jan. 7th, 2008|07:40 pm] |
I received my Oxxford suit in the mail today and took it to the tailor to be altered. It looks pretty good in the flesh (photos never quite capture the color) and am having the jacket taken in a little bit, cuffs put on the trousers and having the seat adjusted. It really has a nice drape, as those things go, and isn't really worn out or probably worn more than a couple of times (you look for shiny parts to indicate wear). At $75.99 plus $14 shipping and $125 altering fee, I think that I have made out like a bandit. Basically, I just got a $3200 suit for $215. Not a bad deal.
Also, I scored some Bill's Khakis off of the eBay. I'm trying to find a place to alter them for a reasonable price-- I need more than just hemming them up (I took the suit to a guy down the street; he wants too much for just the pants alone, but his suit price is reasonable). Take in a little in the waist and alter the seat. My regular source for these pants has offered to do it for free; I called him first looking for who he would take them to to have them altered as it is very gauche to take them to him and ask him do it. He offered, which is really quite nice of him and I was just floored. I guess my custom with him has been such (in addition to the cigars I drop off to him from time to time) that this just won't be a big deal. Also, check out Sierra Trading Post for more deals on Bill's Khakis. They will last you until you outgrow them. Just figure out if you are going to wear them and wash them or dry clean them. Make sure to mention this fact if you have more than just the cuffs hemmed or installed (the price of hemming in or cuffing the pants should be around $10-15).
In other news, I start school tomorrow. The class is social and political philosophy. Why am I taking a course, you ask?
Well, it's because I have stopped working on the thesis I was working on and am going to work on another.
Yeah, it means starting over. And yes, it means all new faces and people. So far as I know (other than Rbeka, who is a continental's continental), none of my readers are fluent in epistemological matters or contemporary analytic philosophy, so I won't bore you about what the topic was and what I thought was the answer regarding said. The problem stems from the fact that there are no qualified epistemologists in the department as there were when I started my project some years ago. Seriously, there is no one in the department with the rank of professor, in any form, who has a specialty in epistemology. As such, the refinements I have made to the thesis may or may not have been appropriate; in any case, it is hard to say without someone fluent chatting back with me. So, while I was hopeful that this endeavor would work towards a successful conclusion, I am afraid to report that it cannot with the current staffing at GSU. I wish I had been in a better place to complete this those years ago but I was not and that fact can't change the present.
So, it isn't like I have a bundle of options by which I can move forward other than starting over. In order to accomplish the goal of M.A. in Philosophy, you have to have a thesis. I have all my coursework in order and completed. I decided, after consulting with the graduate director, to start over and he recommended a course that he felt would be fruitful in the search for both a topic and a thesis director. I also decided to take this course by auditing it; there is no reason to endanger my GPA for what amounts to thesis work. This class will be the springboard by which I start a new project. I am a bit more traveled now and better understand how to go about this process. While I am resentful of the departmental lack of continuity and care to making me get out with my diploma-- they do not give a shit-- I am not going to give up.
While it is quite normal to be upset that things haven't gone the way you want them to, it is unrealistic to move from that to being disappointed in how one lives their life. While I am not proud of my tenacity, I am content that I am doing the right thing. One cannot ask for more from oneself.
HNY to all. |
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| The siege of the baby Jesus; update: teaching, work and M.A. |
[Dec. 4th, 2007|07:57 pm] |
Well, it's that time of year when we get trees with fake snow sprayed on them, Boy Scout troops who sell 'crima trees get robbed and children everywhere are looking for the fat man in a red suit. Also, it's the time of year when people get boozed up and scream bitter obscenities to family members (FOR GOLD STAR) or coworkers at an office party that didn't have the foresight to remove booze in the first place. I happen to like Turkey day more, but I was a child once and do indeed miss the magic of presents under the tree. Nowadays, it just seems like 'crima starts in August and shit on you if you don't purchase something for someone.
I've gotten both my parents subscriptions to magazines this year- a no muss, no fuss kind of present that they can enjoy over the year as opposed to something they may only use once or twice and throw away. Since I probably won't get to go home for 'crima this year, this gift also has the benefit that it gets delivered on its own recognizance.
I've been teaching some recently and had a pretty good time doing it. The children I had in an AP class were all business and wanted to work and be there. It was neat to see kids interested in ANYTHING, let alone a school subject. I am getting my name passed around to the different schools and I am hopeful that something comes from it. If not and I don't get a contract by next summer for the next school year, I will have to do something else. What that may be, I can't say.
Work is fine and been going along swimmingly.
Schoolwork itself seems to have slowed to a snails pace with my advisor. I continue to send in drafts and wait for them to be returned to me. The very idea that I can't get a 2,500 word introduction past the advisor is maddening, to say the least. I am thinking about getting a writing tutor/advisor/speederupper/editor that can help me faster than the help I get from downtown. The problem is, I don't know where to find just such a person who can deal with the area I am talking about in philosophy AND how much I should pay. I don't think paying by the hour is appropriate- is it by word count or pages? Maybe it is by the hour. I just don't know. But I do think I need someone to help me faster than the help I am currently getting without me being in violation of any honor standards/plagerism/ghost writing concerns.
Otherwise, all is well. I hope it is with you, also.
P.S. I've grown a beard. Well, what passes for a beard if you are homeless, anyway. |
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| Hell is other people |
[Oct. 31st, 2007|08:05 pm] |
I do not care for the idea that I am an accused criminal according to X County, GA. I allegedly ran a stop sign on my way to substitute to a school back in September; this is a criminal offense (not the substituting; the running the stop sign) in Georgia. Thankfully, I was not late to work that day.
The fine is $122.
Now, most people would either pay the fine over the phone or go to court and see if they could get the moving violation changed such that they could not have such an incident reported to their insurance. I, of course, did neither.
At my initial court date, I marked my form not guilty and the clerk told me that the court would send me a card (which did not conjure images of Valentine's Day; unless Valentine's Day involves getting it up the ass) as to my new court date. Of course, the officer lied when he said he would be in court on my court date. That was the only thing I asked of the officer when I was stopped. Mainly so that I could prove him a liar later should I choose to do so. Perhaps the word 'liar' is a touch too strong. Deceptive might be a better term. I knew he wouldn't be there. The government has a vested interest in making this process complicated, fearful and deceptive in the interest of getting their pound of flesh.
The problem is that they just asked the wrong asshole to give it to them.
I don't have a snowballs chance in hell of defending myself. I know that. However, I do understand cost/benefit analysis. If they want my $122, then it is going to cost them a great deal more to get it than the fine itself. I don't have the funds to either pay the fine nor get myself represented properly. However, I have curried some favor with friends who are attorneys and so their advice, which I cannot pay for, has been helpful. Of course, my friend down at King and Spalding (a rather nice Atlanta firm) does nothing but M&A work, but his wife knows all about this kind of shit.
As a bonus, I like the idea that my friends in X will have raised property taxes because of my small effort.
All this to say I have filled out my forms requesting discovery in the aforementioned matter, which I will deliver to the clerk of the court when I find out my next court date. I would like to get this continued for as long as possible; I am aiming for a year if I can make it happen. It is probably unreasonable to ask for every citation the officer has written over the last ten (10) years, so I will probably trim it down to the last year. Could be some racial bias involved, after all.
I didn't do it, in case you are wondering.
---
Otherwise, all is well. It took my advisor 3 weeks to get comments back to me. If my parents are frustrated with my progress at school, what does that make me? |
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| I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be. |
[Sep. 19th, 2007|06:32 pm] |
Today was my first day as a sub teacher for a local private high school. I'm sure that I made some errors (as I count it, 3) and whatnot, but overall it was a good experience. Tomorrow, I am back in the same saddle at the same school and am looking forward to making sure the same errors do not occur again. To wit, I should have handed out three detentions today. Tomorrow is another day.
On the plus side, if there is a plus side, I was apparently compared with the movie Big Fish's Ewan McGregor by one of the girls in a class. So, to date, I have been compared in a flirting fashion with the following people:
Ewan McGregor
Randy Travis
Kyle McLaughlin
Eric Bana
Believe me, none of these are terribly flattering.
Everything is busy and going. |
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| When you kiss strange girls, you get periodontal disease. |
[Aug. 20th, 2007|09:25 pm] |
I went to the dentist today and knew that there would be bad news. Apparently, my mouth is currently worth $1400 and that isn't including the nighttime "appliance" for my TMJ. Considering I probably haven't been to the dentist is about 4 years (well, yes, I am that stupid), I suppose this is my own karmic payback for such an ignorant indulgence. Be that as it may, I was lucky in the sense that it is only the very beginning of periodontal disease, and as such, a treatable condition.
Look on the bright side- I am going to get a mechanical toothbrush out of the deal. But between us chickens- make sure to floss twice a day. According to the dentist, if I have a choice between brushing and flossing, I should choose flossing. Who knew? I wasn't ever told this. I brush the little chicklets in my mouth and have been an on and off again flosser. I have no one but myself to blame and am thankful that I caught it early enough.
My quest for regular employment continues and I get a tour of another fancy pants school this week. I'm really quite excited about it as I am given to understand that there is only one other campus that is more magnificent and that campus I get to see sometime in the next couple of weeks. I've been switching my sleep schedule further back so that I can get a phone call and be where I need to be so early in the day. Mostly, though, I expect to get some notice for most of the gigs and am thankful for that.
School is not exactly at a standstill, though it is not progressing as I would like. After my significant cutting, I have had to come up with new stuff and incorporate it into what was left. This has been hard considering the time I spend at work and at least a day to have fun in the week. Like Grandpa says, "Don't wait on your golden years to do anything. You might not be able to do what you want when you are old." There is a great deal of truth in that and I am certainly not apologetic for living that ideal. Nonetheless, school has been quite difficult due to my circumstances and choices I have taken with the philosophical work. Thankfully, I think with this bloodletting, everything is on a better track and something that can be completed in the next two months. I only have one major section to add, notably a defense of common sense (and when considered in conjunction with skepticism, one can only wonder why no one has listened to G.E. Moore or David Hume or Thomas Reid), and it is this section that will be the most difficult. Nothing a couple of weekends shouldn't be able to knock out.
Shooting has gone well. Not much to report on that front other than to say that I only have one more large tourney for the year and it will be in Nashville in Sept. I'm looking forward to it if only to cap off the end of a very good shooting year. I have been considering for the last month just putting the gun up and not touching it for at least 2-3 months to get some distance and perspective. I have resolved myself to shoot some doves in a couple of weeks, do the Zone 4 shoot in Sept. and then put the gun up for the rest of the year. It will be good to take a break if only to be able to come back to shooting renewed and stronger. Grandpa and I may or may not get together to shoot some walnuts this fall. If we have time in Sept., Gpa has said that one tree has really produced a lot of walnuts with the other 7-8 not so much. It's been dry everywhere in the South and without water, the walnut trees have a hard time making walnuts. We'll see.
Also in the shooting vein, I have been told that according to the bully I whipped a couple months ago, I am now currently a homosexual. I'm glad that I found this out now as I apparently didn't know this all these many years. While I can't say exactly what reprisal (http://marathon.bungie.org/story/terms/chapter-screens/m1/reprisal.html) was, but you will have to trust that it was fitting and way more damning than anything he could ever say about me. I'm not certain what I have done to raise this fellows ire, if anything but jealousy, but I will respond in kind +1 for every transgression. Should one more thing happen, it is going to be a bad day for someone else.
Believe it.
I've been asked by some folks on the interweb what I think of the Vick dogfighting business. My only thought on the matter is that I hope the judge rejects the plea deal and sends poor Micheal up the river. I am not going to get into yet another discussion about animal rights (of which they have none) and cruelty (which is not species specific); I don't think dogfighting is acceptable behavior though I completely condone pigeon shooting. It's quite a bifurcated position and one in which I am happy.
The rest of this year is going to be super busy for me. I hope to continue with monthly updates though I may not make good on that thought. Trust I will speak again, though perhaps not when you expect so. |
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| Sitrep |
[Jul. 20th, 2007|05:30 pm] |
School is about to kill me. I continue work on the thesis only to have it returned to me with lots of proverbial red ink. I've decided to cut out a section to save myself grief. This would have been the right thing to do from the get go, but no, I had to bite off more than I can chew. Well, that's life and learning.
I have advanced quite a bit in the grown up job department. I have thought about going back to school when I finish with my MA and either get a law or MBA of some sort. And then I remembered that I really didn't want to be a corporate whore, so I have decided to substitute teach at the local private high schools. I've been on interviews, filled out forms and even had my pee checked. By teaching at many different schools, I figure I can narrow down the schools and where I want to be. Also, they get to test drive me as well, which is good for them, too.
I'm not sure when it happened, but I have always been drawn to teaching. And I really like kids. About the only thing that bothers me about children is when they are loud; however, I don't like anything loud. Noises and stuff bug me. So it isn't so much the children I don't like so much as it is that I have super sensitive hearing. Be all that as it may, I enjoy kids and I enjoy teaching. So, I think that's what I am going to do.
I imagine things will be somewhat lean as I get into the work. Which is cool, since I can always come back to the pipe store for a couple days a week if need be. I'm confident I will be on request once people get to know me since I know I can do a good job and I need the money for shooting and girls.
Speaking of girls, I've currently got 2 cougars really interested in me. Which is really quite flattering. I've been thinking about getting back out into the dating pool recently, but I just don't know that I really want to. Who knows? I thought about it the other day and realized that I have actually been pretty lucky, all things considered, in girl matters. As most everything else, I am sure this will solve itself.
From time to time, I have also caught myself driving along in a certain part of town and going, "hey, we ate there!" or some other silly thought. Especially when I drive past... well, it doesn't really matter where it is because it is subject to change. I just get all warm and fuzzy even though the relationship (whichever it was) is over. I guess I try to remember only the good things and not the stabbing in the heart moments.
Shooting is good and Nashville was a lot of fun. Moved up to AA. Next stop is Master. Otherwise, I have been super busy and will stay so until the end of August, I think. |
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| let's go to the woodshed |
[Jun. 24th, 2007|01:18 am] |
According to my average card, I have not shot registered skeet since 2005. I just decided to focus more on sporting clays and have made some progress on that front.
However, when I was recently informed that I was not a particuarly good shooter by comments by a certain fellow (who, by his own words, has mastered trap and skeet), I couldn't resist the temptation for a figurative spanking. Aparently, we have shot together even though I don't remember it! Normally, this kind of thing doesn't bother me. However, this fellow is really rather quite loathsome. How could I resist? He is the type of person who, if he can't win based on natural/learned ability, tries to change the rules so that he can swindle everyone else. That, and the fact that he had another gauche comment regarding a guy whom I rather like and was recently inducted into the GSSA Hall of Fame. That is quite an honor. To speak ill of him is to be speaking ill of all sportsmen and sportsmen (used to be, anyway) are gentlemen. Since I like to think of myself that way, I tend to take this offense personally. Especially when it is a bully making the comment with which to begin. And so, like every bully, you raise up to the challenge (even if such was not formerly offered) and beat the everlivinshit out of them every time.
I had the cashier move him into a squad with me for the doubles event. Result? 94 for me, 86 for ass. I couldn't get him on my squad for regular skeet, sadly. Nonetheless, I beat him again, 100 (a perfect score) to 94. In the shootoff for high gun 12 gauge, I bested 2/3 of the people, though I came in 2nd for my class.
But for not having shot in nearly 2 years, I'd say that was O.K.
I rather like deflating bullies. To bad it won't stick. |
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| there is an ass for every seat |
[May. 30th, 2007|12:44 am] |
And so I have been jet setting and shooting and winning awards and stuff and also invited to shoot in Prague.
I wish that was the only tip of the iceberg.
---
Revisions have gone well and I have had job interviews with one private school here and one more to be had on Friday. I'm very rarely nervous about such things and am sure that this one will go as smashingly as the other did. Most schools have their rosters full, of course, but they are always looking for a sub to help out when they are in a crunch. Here is hoping that I find a full time position and failing that, a healthy sub roster on the campus of many different schools here in the metro area. That should keep me covered up with work come the end of the summer.
The Honda is a touch sick but is on its way to being mended. Hopefully, it is this recall/warranty issue and it won't cost me a dollar. That said, I am enjoying the complimentary Nissan Altima for the day. It's one of those keyless cars that has a push start. Pretty high cotton, if I do say so myself. Dad's Tahoe has a remote start. Now, that's completely bad ass. I want to chip the Honda so that I can get more horses to the ground. Seems pointless without having a Mustang, though.
At this point, I have put downrange approx. 7,500 rounds. Not too shabby for a half years worth of work. I expect to continue this pace until the end of the year, or rather, until clay season is over in October. Also, I could use help purchasing bullets. I appreciate all donations towards my goal of getting into Master Class by early next year.
Speaking of donations, I was reminded recently of a certain person (funny who turns up at the gun club) with whom I made an agreement regarding a favor and a favor to be returned. Of course, he is a little light on his end. How unusual. You do something nice for somebody and get screwed and there you go. Like the saying goes, if you loan someone 20 bucks and you never see them again it was worth it. Same type thing here. I was initially pissed so much that I made a list of all "debts" outstanding and then thought the better of that and tossed it in the garbage. Not so much because I was in the hole in as much as I wish people would keep their end of bargains made. Most people are so self centered (it seems) that they can't be bothered with bringing me some empty shells with which I could trade and use for other stuff. They'd rather be watching T.V. and not paying on their promises. Something else much more important always gets in the way. Gets up my ass.
My flowers are turning out pretty well on my deck. I planted impatients and they seem to be doing OK with as much sun as they are getting (which is too much). I just keep them watered inasmuch as I can and hope for the best. If they make it another couple of weeks, I'll give them a shot of fertilize and see how they do with that. We are in drought conditions here and so I give them water as sparingly as I can. The fires that burned during the state shoot in Folkston make their way up here, in the form of smoke, to the big city. It is odd to walk outside and wonder what in the hell is burning. As if nearly a half million drought stranded and burned to hell acres isn't enough proof.
The crab fishing show has been pretty good this season. A fellow had a song as part of one of the epis'- check out http://www.myspace.com/jonheintzmusic and see if you like it. I think it is pretty swell, but that's just me. |
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wadcutter's journal