Having no money is perhaps the most disheartening thing around. After death, illness, breakups, unemployment, loneliness... okay, there are more disheartening concepts, but thin-walletedness is truly depressing.
I don't like money controlling what we can and cannot do, so definitively. I can't eat what I want to. I can't see things I would like to. I can't buy comfortable underwear. Comfort, I believe, is what money would truly bring. A common adage is that money does not bring happiness, but I have to say that the times where my worrying levels are at their lowest is when my checking account is at its highest. "It's cool man, I'll spot you." - Perhaps the best sentence that one can utter.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
And it's been a while...
First blog of 2010. First blog in over 7 months, actually. What to discuss? A lot has happened since last we spoke - Tiger Woods, Haiti, me beating up an Aussie on Hogmonay (New Year's Eve). I'm still looking for full-time employment. I've been to a few interviews, even been offered a couple of positions, but I've turned them down based on my disregard for the company through first-hand experience (during/after the interview). Sales, cold-calling, 'marketing' - all bullshit. None of these industries are real. Both sides of the interaction are disinterested; it's just that one wants to make the sale and the other wants to get the fuck off the phone. I don't feel right committing to a job that I don't believe in, because I don't want an inevitable quitting session lingering at my desk. I want to be proud of what I do, and have fun doing it. This might be asking a bit much during the current climate, but one can dream. Until then I'll endure the snickers and the lack of cash, because I have great parents and friends who come to my aid without any sense of quid pro quo. I have people in my life who really help, and are selfless, though they may not recognize it in themselves.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Nowadays
So what do I have going on right now?
Well, the internship at Health and Fitness finished about 2 weeks ago. It was a definite success - 4 articles published in sequential issues with a 'Daniel Jamieson' tagline to show just who conjured up the magic.
I didn't get paid for any of it, but it's a double doozie because I really won't have to pay much taxes at the end of this fiscal flop. That's stupid though, actually. What I need most is health insurance, and so employment is going to be necessary quite soon. I'm trying to finish up the book but until that makes me a million I'll have to rely on my employer's health plan.
Boring.
So this morning I got a follow-up email from the Houston Astros, telling me that they now have more positions just opening, and encouraging me to apply. So I did. It'll probably be another unpaid internship, even if I get it, but working for the 'stros would be an awesome opportunity/experience. It screams "Costanza". I'm bursting Jerry, bursting. A huge organization with money out the yahzoo is something I need to be a part of. People will always watch sports, so teams will always make money, and thus they will always have jobs. Gimme the chance, Astros. I'll turn that operation around. We need another pennant. And another World Series sweep wouldn't hurt our confidence either.
The only reason I wouldn't get a job there (my resume is strong and my interviewing is excellent) would be that they might give the spots to bumbling, pimply college kids. Which I was but months ago, but I've grown.
Cross them fingers, boys and girls. Let's go get this minute made.
Well, the internship at Health and Fitness finished about 2 weeks ago. It was a definite success - 4 articles published in sequential issues with a 'Daniel Jamieson' tagline to show just who conjured up the magic.
I didn't get paid for any of it, but it's a double doozie because I really won't have to pay much taxes at the end of this fiscal flop. That's stupid though, actually. What I need most is health insurance, and so employment is going to be necessary quite soon. I'm trying to finish up the book but until that makes me a million I'll have to rely on my employer's health plan.
Boring.
So this morning I got a follow-up email from the Houston Astros, telling me that they now have more positions just opening, and encouraging me to apply. So I did. It'll probably be another unpaid internship, even if I get it, but working for the 'stros would be an awesome opportunity/experience. It screams "Costanza". I'm bursting Jerry, bursting. A huge organization with money out the yahzoo is something I need to be a part of. People will always watch sports, so teams will always make money, and thus they will always have jobs. Gimme the chance, Astros. I'll turn that operation around. We need another pennant. And another World Series sweep wouldn't hurt our confidence either.
The only reason I wouldn't get a job there (my resume is strong and my interviewing is excellent) would be that they might give the spots to bumbling, pimply college kids. Which I was but months ago, but I've grown.
Cross them fingers, boys and girls. Let's go get this minute made.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Culture Lurcher
I watch with ever-growing despair as to what is becoming culturally popular these days. The country is either getting dumber by the minute, or those in charge just simply give us no other options and we are therefore forced into submission.
I refer you to a couple of things. The Girls Next Door, a show that portrays a trio of idiots parading around the Playboy mansion, going through zero emotional, interesting, or even bearable endeavors. What is the point of the show? Of course reality t.v. is a tired and oft-used butt of jokes, but it's becoming ridiculous. Even as the show ended in a torrent of apathy, the networks decided to give two of the girls (morons) their OWN shows. Why bother? These people have absolutely nothing to contribute to the entertainment world. There is only one excuse that could be given for stumbling upon these shows, and that would be in the hope of maybe catching some naked playboy model action. But of course that never happens. These people are 28-year old children, hugging their pink dogs and crying when they don't get their way. Would anyone really miss them if they disappeared? Hugh Hefner wouldn't.
Shows like the Soup make pretty decent work of pointing out the flaws and awful nature of these many shows, but as we laugh at how stupid they actually are, we then flip the channel over and continue to watch the very things we mock. So who's really laughing? The producers and the stars, in truth. They're getting fat and rich off of our behavior, and so who could blame them.
I suppose my ultimate argument is that I am trying to become part of popular culture. I'm writing a book. I'm trying to find a way into script-writing or at least creating something that makes its way into the public eye. So it's my frustration and maybe even jealousy that explains this rant. I know that to become popular, you have to appeal to the masses. And how might one describe today's masses? I'd venture to say that they are the very people who set aside their evenings to watch The Bachelor.
I refer you to a couple of things. The Girls Next Door, a show that portrays a trio of idiots parading around the Playboy mansion, going through zero emotional, interesting, or even bearable endeavors. What is the point of the show? Of course reality t.v. is a tired and oft-used butt of jokes, but it's becoming ridiculous. Even as the show ended in a torrent of apathy, the networks decided to give two of the girls (morons) their OWN shows. Why bother? These people have absolutely nothing to contribute to the entertainment world. There is only one excuse that could be given for stumbling upon these shows, and that would be in the hope of maybe catching some naked playboy model action. But of course that never happens. These people are 28-year old children, hugging their pink dogs and crying when they don't get their way. Would anyone really miss them if they disappeared? Hugh Hefner wouldn't.
Shows like the Soup make pretty decent work of pointing out the flaws and awful nature of these many shows, but as we laugh at how stupid they actually are, we then flip the channel over and continue to watch the very things we mock. So who's really laughing? The producers and the stars, in truth. They're getting fat and rich off of our behavior, and so who could blame them.
I suppose my ultimate argument is that I am trying to become part of popular culture. I'm writing a book. I'm trying to find a way into script-writing or at least creating something that makes its way into the public eye. So it's my frustration and maybe even jealousy that explains this rant. I know that to become popular, you have to appeal to the masses. And how might one describe today's masses? I'd venture to say that they are the very people who set aside their evenings to watch The Bachelor.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Stage Two cometh
I just finished the preliminary stage of my book, A Bad Lad in Costa Rica. This stage was, basically, transcribing the contents of my hand-written journal into a computer document. It took a while, there's about 15,000 words. The journal section of the book is going to remain unedited, grammatical errors, swear words and misinformed judgments, all in their natural form. It's funny looking back at the things I wrote, because there are some pretty harsh comments about the country itself and some of the people in it. But, as I will explain in the book, much of the journal is subject to my mental state at the time, and editing it for correctness or fairness would detract from the authenticity.
So I'm following through on my goal. Feels weird.
So I'm following through on my goal. Feels weird.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Step to it
So I just got home from my first successful job interview as a post-college gentleman. I will be beginning my internship at Health and Fitness magazine next week. Hopefully it'll lead to a full time job some time in the future, should the opportunity present itself. If it doesn't, I don't mind breaking thumbs and/or digging graves to make it happen.
The office itself has a nice, relaxed vibe. More roomed-off than the setup of shows like The Office, but I'm sure it will be plenty ready for countless head-shaking workspace situations. If anything, I feel like I'll be laughing by myself a lot, without much support from the slightly older staff. I'll be 'the young intern', but hopefully will climb my way to being 'office hottie/office slut' as soon as possible. Now is the time to garner some good experience in things such as editing, deadlines, interviews, etc., so that I'll eventually be prepared to hit the ground running with a bigger publication, on some pretty solid standards.
Still, it's a milestone, I'm proud of myself, and it's a hint of structure at a point in my life when I absolutely need it.
The office itself has a nice, relaxed vibe. More roomed-off than the setup of shows like The Office, but I'm sure it will be plenty ready for countless head-shaking workspace situations. If anything, I feel like I'll be laughing by myself a lot, without much support from the slightly older staff. I'll be 'the young intern', but hopefully will climb my way to being 'office hottie/office slut' as soon as possible. Now is the time to garner some good experience in things such as editing, deadlines, interviews, etc., so that I'll eventually be prepared to hit the ground running with a bigger publication, on some pretty solid standards.
Still, it's a milestone, I'm proud of myself, and it's a hint of structure at a point in my life when I absolutely need it.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
H-town nugga
Well sirs I just arrived back in Houston yesterday evening to help my Dad with some much-needed work in and around the house. I spent a pretty pointless week in San Marcos, the operative word being "spent", where most of my remaining, dwindling funds were used for Subway and 'forties'. How very cosmopolitan.
Hopefully I have some new cash coming my way though: my Dad is going to be paying me for these odd-jobs, and I should be getting some money back from the Hotel Valencia debacle. So that will be nice, although as soon as money goes into my wallet it tends to fall directly out the other side as quickly as possible.
I'm taking a break from the labor right now. Sometimes it feels good to get your hands dirty and your brow sweaty. I feel like a man, or at least a lumberjack's boyfriend. So now here I sit, taking a break from a couple hours of work, a Budweiser in my hand a nice couch for company.
Good chat.
Hopefully I have some new cash coming my way though: my Dad is going to be paying me for these odd-jobs, and I should be getting some money back from the Hotel Valencia debacle. So that will be nice, although as soon as money goes into my wallet it tends to fall directly out the other side as quickly as possible.
I'm taking a break from the labor right now. Sometimes it feels good to get your hands dirty and your brow sweaty. I feel like a man, or at least a lumberjack's boyfriend. So now here I sit, taking a break from a couple hours of work, a Budweiser in my hand a nice couch for company.
Good chat.
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