New Job, New Outlook

New Job, New Outlook
Current mood: excited

Well, I'm happy to announce that I have decided to stay at Nordstrom, albeit in a new and less stressful position. And with the great set schedule (M-F 7-4) I am going to be starting classes at SCCC on Apr. 3. I can't wait!

I will now be working as an "Item Analyst" in the Centralized Merchandising Information Office (CMIO) in the corporate offices. Maybe a little less exciting than managing at the Rack, but certainly a lot less stress and responsibility. Plus, I can listen to my Ipod all day! Those of you who know me well know that that is as close to heaven as my agnosticism allows me to get!

My last day at the Rack is tomorrow, the 17th. I will miss all of the friends and acquaintances I've made here, and I will really miss the team that I have built. They are good people and I have the utmost respect for them.

But I was ready for a new challenge, and this will provide me with that as well as the opportunity to finally get that damn little piece of paper that says I'm smart. Hard to get ahead in the world without a degree anymore, I've learned.

Currently reading :
The Cosmic Puppets : A Novel (Vintage)
By Philip K. Dick
Release date: 11 November, 2003

Mayor Small Penis

Mayor Small Penis
Current mood: quixotic

Pretty funny what happened to me yesterday...

Walking into the gym yesterday to do my afternoon workout, and whaddaya know? There's Mayor Nickels a couple lockers down from me, totally naked and chatting with some other naked guy.

Now, normally in the gym locker room I don't go around checking out other guys' packages. But... he is the mayor. And I had to look.

Very, very, very small. Almost embarrassingly so! Now, perhaps it was obscured by his massive belly, but I'm pretty damn sure he will never command Randy Johnson's nickname. (The Big Unit)

Thinking about it later on, I'm almost embarrassed myself that our mayor has such a small penis. But perhaps it is appropriate for a city such as ours. One that talks the talk but rarely walks the walk. Mass transit, this century, anyone?

The Silent Majority

The Silent Majority
Current mood: thoughtful

Playing Trivial Pursuit (What a great game! What a great title---I love pursuing trivial things!) last week, a question came up which caused me to think. The question had to do with a quote from Richard Nixon and who he thought elected him. The answer was the "Silent Majority."

Today I was putting this into the context of our current lovely situation and wondering whatever happened to the silent majority. I heard the term bandied about time and time again during the 2004 election, and for some naive reason had this underdog/lifesaver sort of spirit all summer as I held out hope that the regime might get bumped from office by the wisdom of this silent majority.

You know who they are: sensible, reasonable, hard-working, down-to-earth people who go about their business, don't talk politics but pay attention, and know right from wrong. These people knew that pre-emptive war was questionable at best. They knew that taking from the poor and giving to the rich was wrong. And they've noticed the continual drone of scandal and abuse of power from a cocky Washington.

Obviously they were still a little too Silent in '04....

Nixon was elected in '68 due in large part to the "Pull Out of Vietnam" theme of his campaign. He didn't stick with that theme for much longer after he was sworn in, keeping combat going (not to mention attacking Cambodia!) for the remainder of his presidency.

The silent majority turned on him pretty damn quick. What will happen this fall, not to mention '08? That is, if the Silent Majority still exists? Or are they just too busy watching American Idol to care anymore?

Planning My Escape

Planning My Escape
Current mood: relieved

Halle-freakin-lujah!

It's over! My final Xmas season in retail. Now my thoughts turn to the next step in my life. Finishing off that damn degree I walked away from years ago to pursue a ludicrous opportunity in e-commerce.

If anyone has any ideas on great part-time jobs, I will be looking for one starting in April. Something slightly less capitalistic would be fantastic. Maybe tutoring... Or working for a non-profit. About 25-30 hours/week, with a set schedule.

The difficult part will be staying motivated until then! Ah well, I just got some nice new comfortable shoes to Rack around in. That oughta keep me smilin' until spring.

Jingle These Fucking Bells

Jingle These Fucking Bells
Current mood: annoyed

Does anyone know how many ungodly remakes of Jingle Bells have been made over the years? What's the official count?

I count 6 alone on the playlist at work. Is it Dec. 26th yet?

And no, this isn't "bah humbug" blues. This is exasperation at an already terrible song being made worse, and worse, and worse, and worse........