Downriver, Detroit, Michigan.
[ Archives ]
[ Links ]
Atom feed for this blog
Pas/Cal
Soviet
Found Magazine
Boing Boing
Alma Mater
Alma Mater (Secunda)
I liked Michael Crichton's novel Timeline. The research he did for it was clear in his descriptions of building techniques, weaponry, and the terrain. Although his prose moves apace, the settings and characters are sufficiently developed. But the movie adaptation races through everything. Anything of significance is there but there's little build up. The academic specialization each person has isn't particularly clear nor is the nature of the conflict at the center funding the research. It's a more satisfying read than a film.
S [4:36 PM]
I worked two hours overtime and feel both of them. We were busy and I felt useful.
From 6am when I had coffee and a turnover I consumed nothing. It's not like I'm the one observing Ramadan.
But it was a good day.
S [7:21 PM]
I finally got certified today to work "on the line" by myself. The supervisor evaluating me seemed to be in more a teaching mode than an observing one, but the desired outcome was achieved. Maybe he wanted to make certain I was shown some things.
Sunday counts as overtime and tomorrow I start to earn some. Two woman asked me simultaneously if I'd switch my shift to theirs, two hours later. They're two of the--self-admittedly--witchiest there. I first thought they were setting me on the horns of a dilemma just for the fun of abusing a new guy. But they both really wanted to switch. I went with the one having more seniority.
After that, someone said she'd heard people saying bad things about me in the last few days and that I shouldn't tell those more senior than I what to do. Whaaa? I think she was just talking sh*t to relieve stress from her the crummy things going on in her personal life. I'm too new to have offended anyone and I wouldn't be bossy anyway. Whatever.
One thing I've noticed is how so many think they're doing a good job and they believe so-and-so is a loafing complainer, but then so-and-so has the same complaint about the first. Brother, take the beam out of your eye!
^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^
On Tuesday I went with Nicholas to The Harvard Business Club of Detroit's Non-Profit Award Dinner honoring Eleanor Josaitis, cofounder of Focus:HOPE. It was my first time at Focus:HOPE's facility. The design was more modern than I expected and it was a clean as the Mazda plant I toured. The coolest thing they produce the Mobile Parts Hospital for the Army Tank Command. The MPH fits on the back of a truck and can produce necessary parts from steel or plastic powder in a matter of hours, saving days it may take to ship from the warehouse in California.
Mrs. Josaitis, a housewife, helped found this community building, job skills/food program as her response to the riots in '67. There have been rough times. It's done a lot of good and yet she still gets hate mail for "helping the niggers move up in the world." (!!) Incredible in this day and age. But it was inspiring to hear her.
^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^-^
The other box of books from training finally arrived. Now I have all my reference material and might be able to keep from looking too ignorant at work.
S [9:35 PM]
This morning I was reading through LSA Magazine and I realized it was the last day I could catch the Romanov exhibit at the University of Michigan Museum of Art. It was organized as part of this semester's celebration of the 300th anniversary of the founding of St. Petersburg (two years younger than Detroit). I checked that I could still get a ticket then gave a call Jeannie, a college friend who works in Ann Arbor, to see if we could meet.
She returned my call as I was driving out of the subdivision and suggested lunch at the University Club at the Union.
The drive to Ann Arbor along I-94 used to fill me with excitement as I anticipated arriving in a city I love. Once a semi-rural area, now I go past a continuous strip of warehouses and tract housing connecting Detroit's western suburbs with Ann Arbor. I think of land-use issues and my mood starts to sour.
Each year parking in Ann Arbor seems to be a bigger pain in the ass: streets that were two way become one; street parking is eliminated higgedly-piggedly. I parked way on the west side on Second and Mosley to avoid paying anything.
Before the rendez-vous, I scouted Shaman Drum for books and magazines I'd like to pick up before heading home.
Lunch was nice. She got married on the 9th and now lives in Ypsi. There was a Chinese Dragon dance at the reception. How different. (No, she's not ethnic Han but was involved in a group that did that). I talked about my training; so much about the marksmanship that I clarified I hadn't turned into a gun nut. It's just that it was an exciting part of what I did. Who wants to hear about how to fill out forms?
Walking back to my car I could hear the marching band practicing for the Michigan-Ohio State game tomorrow. The parking lot of Pioneer High School was full of RVs. It's right by Michigan Stadium. Traffic was kinda bad leaving the city and it's not actually the game day.
S [11:18 PM]
The chess game is deferred to next week.
There is unrelated, growing awkwardness at work.
The good news is that I now have one of the passwords I need to work on my own.
S [3:40 PM]
Let's just say I could have been a bit more cautious at work. Other than that it was an OK day.
It looks like after work Thursday I'll play a game of chess against one of my coworkers. Here's to making friends at work. :)
P.S. Work work work work, because I didn't use it enough in the preceding four sentences.
S [3:36 PM]
OMG I'm watching an episode of The Simpsons where Lisa's drive to become student council president includes musical numbers based on Evita. Ha!
Friday I went to Windsor with Nikolaj. Had dinner (which included Canadian beef!) at Michael's on Oullette and a drink at Hofbrauhaus Berlin Lounge. Berlin Lounge is a hip place: cool decor, black leather couches, good bar and they were playing electronica while we were there.
Tuesday I picked up my Honda Civic Hybrid from the dealer. I've got a 36 month lease, but I don't expect to keep it the full time. Not if I can get a post overseas. A good review of the driving experience here.
S [9:24 PM]
First flakes of snow!
S [1:26 PM]
Today is humpday but in the middle of a strange week for me. I had yesterday off for Veteran's Day and tomorrow is a scheduled day off. Then my next day off won't be until the end of next week--a hard stretch coming up.
Someone talked with me about getting involved with some cool stuff at work. I was hoping to get in on it eventually but if it happens sooner, so much the better.
S [7:48 PM]
I requalified at the range today. My score took a huge dive from what I did at training. That's OK. Next time I'll be more comfortable (there were social and equipment reasons not to be). I passed and I killed the bad guy.
S [7:23 PM]
There's a partial lunar eclipse underway that's nearly maxed out now. I'd spend more time gazing but it's like 28 degrees out.
I spent much of the day outdoors. There was hardly any wind and the sun could almost make you feel warm. Happily someone gave me a work coat yesterday.
Last night was the Belle and Sebastian concert. I tried to keep a set-list but I've heard nothing off the new album so there notes like "address/mess," "Stuart and someone acoustic---Statue in car" and "funny dreary/breaking up." Useless, but compulsion is a tough mistress.
In 1h 40 min they played 22 songs, including two for the encore. As with their last visit to Detroit they tried a Motown song: "I want you back" by the Jackson 5. This time Stevie pulled it off real well.
The show itself didn't have the energy of their last appearance and there was constant audience chatter. The fan base seems to have gone up a couple years in age. Before it seemed most were under 20.
S [8:44 PM]
First day at work was good. But all those weeks of training and I still feel like I know nothing. There's so much to it.
**************************************************************
While logging in I see that I'm missing the talk I wanted to go to tonight. I'm tired. Didn't think about it.
S [7:38 PM]
Downriver, Detroit, Michigan.
[ Archives ]
[ Links ]
Atom feed for this blog
Pas/Cal
Soviet
Found Magazine
Boing Boing
Alma Mater
Alma Mater (Secunda)