OK, I'm sorry, but I finally have to blow my lid. I've been trying to host these parties for my alumni club, and all season, week by week, attendance has steadily dropped.
We reached the nadir yesterday. Well, actually, I did. You see, no one showed up. I have to repeat: No one fucking showed up.
Why the hell not? Sure, our team was not as good as it should be. But we weren't that good last year, and people showed up. I didn't see any precipitous drop over the games last season. But there was this season. Why is that?
You know, I can't think of any other reason except that it's ... me. For some reason, people in the club don't like me. Nothing else has changed -- not the venue, not the mediocre season our team's been having ... well, I was President last year, too. I don't know what it is, but why couldn't it be because people think I'm a creep?
It's just pissing me off, though. What I hate most of all is that I am now the only person (well, me and the Vice-President) who cares to show up for these events. No, we're not doing a whole lot right now, but we're going to try and fill in with other things not that the season's over. But I don't know if I should even do that now that I see that no one is showing up for what is the most fundamental events the club has. So if they don't give a shit, why should I give a shit?
I'm looking around at the empty space while watching the game and I am so, so tired of being the only one who cares anymore. I'm responsible for the club now, but how am I supposed to get interest going when I apparently squandered everything? And why should I even bother if this is just going to happen the next time I plan something?
Why do I even fucking try?
Sunday, November 30, 2014
Saturday, November 29, 2014
SUCCESS!!!
OK, so in my last blog post I was complaining about how I'm pissing away so much money. Well, I did wake up and I did go to stripclubs (not one, not two, but three) ... and let me just say that it was money well spent.
Uh, maybe I should be more specific: I got a handjob last night. Even better, it was at a place where I least expect it. I was afraid I was totally going to get caught -- which made the feeling of cumming into that stripper's hand that much more satisfying. Seriously, I cannot bitch anymore about money or my weekend ending or anything, because I got a handie. This took me back to when I was spending money like it was going out of style and I didn't care. It's ... I am blessed, that's all I can say.
Uh, maybe I should be more specific: I got a handjob last night. Even better, it was at a place where I least expect it. I was afraid I was totally going to get caught -- which made the feeling of cumming into that stripper's hand that much more satisfying. Seriously, I cannot bitch anymore about money or my weekend ending or anything, because I got a handie. This took me back to when I was spending money like it was going out of style and I didn't care. It's ... I am blessed, that's all I can say.
Friday, November 28, 2014
Money, Running Through My Fingers Like Water
I took out $200 Wednesday night with the intent of spending it on strippers -- all of it, Wednesday. But I overslept.
Thought that meant I'd be sitting on $200 through Thanksgiving until tonight, Friday night. But then I decided to go to the K-Mart close by that's about to close, where I spent $70 on a bunch of shit. (I'll talk about K-Mart some other time; it deserves its own post.) Then, after oversleeping again this morning and going to the Mall of America at 5:30 instead of 2, when I wanted (where I missed seeing my friend before he left even though I promised to see him -- seriously, I wonder why people like me), I kind of got swept up in the Black Friday/holiday spirit. So even though I was open to buying some things at the Megamall, I wound up emptying my wallet. I spent money on boxers and briefs, two categories of clothing I need to fortify. I also got a basic Hard Rock Cafe t-shirt for half-off, and I thank the guys for that sweet deal. But mostly I spent money on eating out: A breakfast bagel special at Bruegger's, a special breakfast at HRC, then the lunch menu at Buffalo Wild Wings while watching a little bit of sports, then this special drink called a Mocha Me Crazy at Caribou Coffee. Oh, and I bought a cupcake at Cupcake to take home, too.
I may have $20 left in my wallet. So, assuming that I don't oversleep again tonight (eh, I give it less than 50/50), I will go to the ATM and get yet another $200 to go stripclubbin'. No wonder why I can't leave the house; I prefer to spend money on now instead of planning for later.
---
My weekend, for all intents and purposes, is over. These past two days, even though I lazed about and did very few productive things, have been sorely needed. God, I deserve a three-day workweek after the crap I've been through the entire fall. But tomorrow I have to worry about whether the bar is going to give me space to watch our game even though Minnesota will be playing Wisconsin at the same time. And I work the Vikings game Sunday. So that's two days of work (I consider worrying about watching our game downtown Minneapolis "work.") And then the next day's Monday -- back to real work. So I have things to do until next weekend. I've been lazy, but I don't feel so bad about that since now that I have to actually do things, with other people, for other people, for these two days and then the workweek.
But there is the strip club tonight. I at least have that.
Thought that meant I'd be sitting on $200 through Thanksgiving until tonight, Friday night. But then I decided to go to the K-Mart close by that's about to close, where I spent $70 on a bunch of shit. (I'll talk about K-Mart some other time; it deserves its own post.) Then, after oversleeping again this morning and going to the Mall of America at 5:30 instead of 2, when I wanted (where I missed seeing my friend before he left even though I promised to see him -- seriously, I wonder why people like me), I kind of got swept up in the Black Friday/holiday spirit. So even though I was open to buying some things at the Megamall, I wound up emptying my wallet. I spent money on boxers and briefs, two categories of clothing I need to fortify. I also got a basic Hard Rock Cafe t-shirt for half-off, and I thank the guys for that sweet deal. But mostly I spent money on eating out: A breakfast bagel special at Bruegger's, a special breakfast at HRC, then the lunch menu at Buffalo Wild Wings while watching a little bit of sports, then this special drink called a Mocha Me Crazy at Caribou Coffee. Oh, and I bought a cupcake at Cupcake to take home, too.
I may have $20 left in my wallet. So, assuming that I don't oversleep again tonight (eh, I give it less than 50/50), I will go to the ATM and get yet another $200 to go stripclubbin'. No wonder why I can't leave the house; I prefer to spend money on now instead of planning for later.
---
My weekend, for all intents and purposes, is over. These past two days, even though I lazed about and did very few productive things, have been sorely needed. God, I deserve a three-day workweek after the crap I've been through the entire fall. But tomorrow I have to worry about whether the bar is going to give me space to watch our game even though Minnesota will be playing Wisconsin at the same time. And I work the Vikings game Sunday. So that's two days of work (I consider worrying about watching our game downtown Minneapolis "work.") And then the next day's Monday -- back to real work. So I have things to do until next weekend. I've been lazy, but I don't feel so bad about that since now that I have to actually do things, with other people, for other people, for these two days and then the workweek.
But there is the strip club tonight. I at least have that.
Thursday, November 27, 2014
Yeah, About Seafoaming My Car ...
... well, I guess I really, really didn't care that much because even though I set my alarm for 7:28, I turned it off. I woke up for good at around a quarter after 8. Oh, shit, I said to myself, that crunches my workout time before the community center closes at 11.
So as was my plan I drove the car out to the community center in order to Seafoam through what appears to be the brake booster line, the location for which I finally saw in an online photo. The engine needed to be at operating temperature before I put it in. I was kind of surprised at how many cars were in the parking lot, but it turned out that there was an open skate at the rink, of course. I would have preferred if I had the whole lot to myself so I wouldn't bother anyone with the huge plumes of smoke that was supposed to come out of the exhaust pipe.
I step out of the car with it still running, pop both the hood and the trunk, and grab the can, clamps and pliers (to unclamp the hose), and plastic cup to pour the Seafoam in. I look at the place where the booster line's supposed to be ... and it looks nothing like the picture. What I think is the brake booster was attached to a bolt. I unclamped the hose, but I was unable to untwist the bolt. And then I thought, Well, is this really the brake booster line? If this doesn't match the picture, well, maybe I'm about to make a mistake. A few admittedly weak attempts to loosen the bolt later, and I nixed it. Screw the Seafoam.
I did take the hood being open to check the wiper, coolant and steering fluid. The steering fluid seemed a little low before, and it did this morning, so I took that out and poured a little in. Just then the wind picked up and started to make my hand hurt, a lot. That's when I realized that even if I was able to unbolt that line, my hands would get hypothermia by the time I put the Seafoam in, screwed the hose back on, waited 5-15 minutes like I was supposed to, then drive out the smoke through the tailpipe.
Yeah, so best laid plans and stuff. Maybe I need to do more research and try this again, maybe in the summer.
So as was my plan I drove the car out to the community center in order to Seafoam through what appears to be the brake booster line, the location for which I finally saw in an online photo. The engine needed to be at operating temperature before I put it in. I was kind of surprised at how many cars were in the parking lot, but it turned out that there was an open skate at the rink, of course. I would have preferred if I had the whole lot to myself so I wouldn't bother anyone with the huge plumes of smoke that was supposed to come out of the exhaust pipe.
I step out of the car with it still running, pop both the hood and the trunk, and grab the can, clamps and pliers (to unclamp the hose), and plastic cup to pour the Seafoam in. I look at the place where the booster line's supposed to be ... and it looks nothing like the picture. What I think is the brake booster was attached to a bolt. I unclamped the hose, but I was unable to untwist the bolt. And then I thought, Well, is this really the brake booster line? If this doesn't match the picture, well, maybe I'm about to make a mistake. A few admittedly weak attempts to loosen the bolt later, and I nixed it. Screw the Seafoam.
I did take the hood being open to check the wiper, coolant and steering fluid. The steering fluid seemed a little low before, and it did this morning, so I took that out and poured a little in. Just then the wind picked up and started to make my hand hurt, a lot. That's when I realized that even if I was able to unbolt that line, my hands would get hypothermia by the time I put the Seafoam in, screwed the hose back on, waited 5-15 minutes like I was supposed to, then drive out the smoke through the tailpipe.
Yeah, so best laid plans and stuff. Maybe I need to do more research and try this again, maybe in the summer.
This Is How I Know I'm Old
Just over two hours ago I woke up.
I had my work clothes on.
I was sleeping above my covers, with the bottom of them covering my feet because my feet get cold.
I checked the iPhone I laid next to me. It was 2 o'clock in the morning.
I had plans to go stripclubbin' this evening. That's why I didn't change. But I didn't want to go out too soon. Plus, I felt really, really tired after a torturous day at work looking through papers; I felt extremely fatigued during my session with my shrink.
So, at around 9 o'clock, I was kind of at a crossroads. I gave myself some time to rest, thinking that I may wake up around 10:30, when I would then see some Letterman or Fallon, then some Kimmel and Meyers, then go out. But ... I kind of knew that I might also sleep through the night. And frankly, I was OK with it. So no, I could have set the alarm clock, but I didn't, because if my body needed to rest, well, the strippers can wait.
And that's what happened, obviously. I have a lot of money burning in my wallet, and I guess that'll wait a couple days. Meanwhile I am up and ready to do some chores. Going to water the plants after this. Might also shred some credit card applications. Finally, after a couple more hours of rest, I think I'm going to try and use Seafoam in my car. Just want to make sure where the heck the brake booster line or PCV is.
I fall asleep instead of going out? I look forward to doing things around the house? Yeah, I'm getting old.
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
The Weekly Minnesota Sports Survey
Positive Numbers: Gopher football (Last Week: -6). It was largely a boom-or-bust week; most of the ten teams on the list either won every game or lost every game. That's kind of a trick question; that's largely due to the influence of the University of Minnesota teams, most of which are in their early, non-conference, bodybag part of their schedules.
In a sense, then, that makes what the Golden Gopher football team last Saturday in Lincoln, Neb., that much more impressive. In the heart of their Murderers' Row of games to end their season, the club came back from a 14-point deficit to beat Nebraska 28-24. Once again the U. had to hold on for dear life, but with Cornhusker De'Mornay Pierson-El about to run the ball he caught into the end zone, Junior Cornerback (and current co-B1G Defensive Player Of The Week) Briean Boddy-Calhoun somehow stripped the ball, which was recovered by Minnesota. That preserved the first win by the U. at Nebraska since 1960.
Yeah, so this is not the Tom Osborne Cornhuskers of the 80s, the ones that emasculated the Gophers, like, 73-14. But like I've said before, even though the opponents may not be that formidable, previous Minnesota squads were also not that formidable. Therefore, that makes what Jerry Kill is doing right now ever the more remarkable. I don't remember the last time -- maybe the Glen Mason years -- where the football team has been able to punch even a little over its weight class. I just wanted this team to beat teams it was supposed to beat at home, and then beat crappy teams on the road. This is the next step: Beating good teams (not great, good teams) on the road. They are far away from being a contender in the Big Ten, let alone a perennial contender, let alone a national playoff team. But Kill has followed up a breakthrough with an even better one. That is this "Brick By Brick" slogan the U.'s athletic department website keeps talking about, but Kill is walking the walk. Heck, he should be in the running for Coach Of The Year. (Congratulations, by the way, should go out to Maxx Williams, named Tuesday as one of three finalists for the Mackey, the award given to college football's best Tight End.)
In fact, even if the Golden Gophers lose at Wisconsin in Saturday afternoon's regular season finale 222-0, that does not erase the success this team, and this program, has had this year. No one in their wildest dreams thought the U. would make it even this far. And if they somehow go into Camp Randall Stadium and beat the Badgers, which I gave a puncher's chance of them doing? They win the B1G West and earn a grudge match against Ohio St., a team they lost by only seven points to, in Indianapolis the following week. A fan can dream, especially after his team notched an improbable come-from-behind upset last weekend.
#-0: Gopher volleyball (Last Week: -3). This 0 ranking does not mean that I think this club has turned a corner and will all of a sudden spring a surprise run in the NCAA Tournament. I still get the feeling this team will lose in the first round. But you can't lose in the first round if you don't even make it in the tourney, and with these Gophs beating back Maryland in Maryland in five sets, then coming home to sweep a ranked Purdue team, they have banked enough wins (buoyed by their membership in the B1G, as they are still 8-10) to grab one of the final at-large spots. Of course, it would help if they could win the final two games of the regular season: At Ohio St. tonight (Wednesday night/Thanksgiving Eve) and at home against Indiana Friday.
#-1: Gopher women's hockey (Last Week: 0). Well, after that double-hiccup against Bemidji St., the lady Gopher icers have won five games in a row. I knew they were playing a home-and-home vs. Minnesota State-Mankato; they crushed the Mavericks at their place 5-1 Friday, then crushed them at Ridder Arena 4-0 Saturday. What I did not see, however, is that they played yet another game this screening week, a special United States Hockey Hall Of Fame Women's Face-Off Classic on Monday at a local rink named Braemar Arena in the suburb of Edina, against St. Cloud St. Oh, and they blanked the Huskies 5-0. Sophomore Forward Dani Cameranesi was named WCHA Offensive Player Of The Week, and Freshman Forward Kelly Pannek WCHA Rookie Of The Week.
A very interesting series Thanksgiving Weekend: They play a pair at Princeton Saturday and Sunday.
#-2: Gopher women's basketball (Last Week: -2). The U.'s two b-ball teams are in the resume-padding part of their schedule, but I give the women a higher nod this week. That's because they at least scheduled a true road game, against Memphis, and moreover came back to beat the Tigers on Sunday, 68-62. I have no idea how good Memphis is supposed to be, but it's always noticeable whenever a team goes into enemy territory and eke out a win, mostly because very few teams from the BcS Five are playing road games this point in the season.
The Gophers are currently undefeated; they're 4-0 after trashing HBCU Southern Tuesday night. They are now in Ft. Myers, Fla. over the Thanksgiving Holiday, participating in the Gulf Coast Showcase. The U. starts the tournament (?) against Vanderbilt.
#-3: Gopher wrestling (Last Week: -1). They beat the ever-living shit out of Michigan St., 36-3. (They also beat Grand Canyon 36-8, but I don't know if they count.) That's why they remain the #1 team in the country. Saturday night they have a pretty big dual at the Sports Pavilion against grappling power Oklahoma St. I was at the last time the Cowboys played the Gophers here, and Minnesota lost. I might be free to watch that evening.
#-4: Wild (Last Week: Positive Numbers). They have the makings of a very good team -- Wednesday night notwithstanding. They won two-of-three on the road, sandwiching a loss to Tampa Bay with victories at Philadelphia and Florida. This team is being led by the character of Zach Parise, and that may be leading the youngsters, in particular Jason Zucker, to play their hearts out.
Unfortunately, as I type this they are getting killed at the X by the Stanley Cup champion L.A. Kings. After this they visit The Team That Was Stolen From Us Friday, then come back home to host St. Louis the next night.
#-5: Gopher men's basketball (Last Week: -4). Well, this is the reason why you fatten up your schedule to begin your year. They almost doubled-up a lower-tier cupcake named Franklin Pierce, then destroyed Marlyand-Baltimore County, both at home. That was prelude to this week's NIT Season Tip-Off at Madison Square Garden, where the Goofs just lost to putative home team St. John's. So we are getting the idea of how good this team is and isn't. Friday they face the loser of the Gonzaga-Georgia game, then on Tuesday they visit Wake Forest and take their part in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
#-6: Timberwolves (Last Week: -7). Well, fuck. Now Kevin Martin is gone for up to two months because of a broken wrist. Many people in the know say that Martin was the last good thing this team has, so now the Woofie Dogs are going to play howlingly bad, at least until Thaddeus Young and Ricky Rubio come back from the injured list.
They were at Target Center all week, and they were able to beat dysfunctional New York before losing to San Antonio and Sacramento. Right now, like the Mild, the T-Wolves are playing at home, and it's a tight match against Milwaukee. That begins a busy week, and it's all on the road -- Lakers, Portland, Clippers, all three games over four days.
#-7: Vikings (Last Week: -5). Moral victories aren't worth crap, but I know I am not alone in believing that Green Bay was going to come into TCF Bank Stadium and pillage the Vikes by at least 20 points. In that sense this is ... progress.
Nevertheless there are signs that Teddy Bridgewater is not improving at a rate that leads me to believe that he is going to be a great Quarterback. Even worse, and more apparent, is the regressing play of Matt Kalil, who was beaten so often he had to resort to holding. (Fans have noticed; Kalil flipped over some heckler's hat on his way out of the stadium.) He has a bad knee, but once again I am frustrated that a man once touted to be a Hall of Famer in one of the most important positions on the field may be on his way off of the team.
The Packers are the first of three straight home games now that the Gophers' season is winding down. This Sunday they face the Carolina Panthers, a club with the same record as the Vikes, I think, yet have a much better shot of winning their division and thus hosting a playoff game.
#-Infinity: Gopher men's hockey (Last Week: -8). I didn't think I had to blog about them, but I have to. Why? Because the squad lost to a bunch of fucking boys. On Friday they lost in overtime to the United States Under-18 team -- at home. How the fuck do you allow that to happen? For that these guys get an honorary spot at the absolute shit-lowest part of the WMNSS. Shit, you might as well cancel the season. I mean, I can't even. A special interconference series at Boston College this weekend.
In a sense, then, that makes what the Golden Gopher football team last Saturday in Lincoln, Neb., that much more impressive. In the heart of their Murderers' Row of games to end their season, the club came back from a 14-point deficit to beat Nebraska 28-24. Once again the U. had to hold on for dear life, but with Cornhusker De'Mornay Pierson-El about to run the ball he caught into the end zone, Junior Cornerback (and current co-B1G Defensive Player Of The Week) Briean Boddy-Calhoun somehow stripped the ball, which was recovered by Minnesota. That preserved the first win by the U. at Nebraska since 1960.
Yeah, so this is not the Tom Osborne Cornhuskers of the 80s, the ones that emasculated the Gophers, like, 73-14. But like I've said before, even though the opponents may not be that formidable, previous Minnesota squads were also not that formidable. Therefore, that makes what Jerry Kill is doing right now ever the more remarkable. I don't remember the last time -- maybe the Glen Mason years -- where the football team has been able to punch even a little over its weight class. I just wanted this team to beat teams it was supposed to beat at home, and then beat crappy teams on the road. This is the next step: Beating good teams (not great, good teams) on the road. They are far away from being a contender in the Big Ten, let alone a perennial contender, let alone a national playoff team. But Kill has followed up a breakthrough with an even better one. That is this "Brick By Brick" slogan the U.'s athletic department website keeps talking about, but Kill is walking the walk. Heck, he should be in the running for Coach Of The Year. (Congratulations, by the way, should go out to Maxx Williams, named Tuesday as one of three finalists for the Mackey, the award given to college football's best Tight End.)
In fact, even if the Golden Gophers lose at Wisconsin in Saturday afternoon's regular season finale 222-0, that does not erase the success this team, and this program, has had this year. No one in their wildest dreams thought the U. would make it even this far. And if they somehow go into Camp Randall Stadium and beat the Badgers, which I gave a puncher's chance of them doing? They win the B1G West and earn a grudge match against Ohio St., a team they lost by only seven points to, in Indianapolis the following week. A fan can dream, especially after his team notched an improbable come-from-behind upset last weekend.
#-0: Gopher volleyball (Last Week: -3). This 0 ranking does not mean that I think this club has turned a corner and will all of a sudden spring a surprise run in the NCAA Tournament. I still get the feeling this team will lose in the first round. But you can't lose in the first round if you don't even make it in the tourney, and with these Gophs beating back Maryland in Maryland in five sets, then coming home to sweep a ranked Purdue team, they have banked enough wins (buoyed by their membership in the B1G, as they are still 8-10) to grab one of the final at-large spots. Of course, it would help if they could win the final two games of the regular season: At Ohio St. tonight (Wednesday night/Thanksgiving Eve) and at home against Indiana Friday.
#-1: Gopher women's hockey (Last Week: 0). Well, after that double-hiccup against Bemidji St., the lady Gopher icers have won five games in a row. I knew they were playing a home-and-home vs. Minnesota State-Mankato; they crushed the Mavericks at their place 5-1 Friday, then crushed them at Ridder Arena 4-0 Saturday. What I did not see, however, is that they played yet another game this screening week, a special United States Hockey Hall Of Fame Women's Face-Off Classic on Monday at a local rink named Braemar Arena in the suburb of Edina, against St. Cloud St. Oh, and they blanked the Huskies 5-0. Sophomore Forward Dani Cameranesi was named WCHA Offensive Player Of The Week, and Freshman Forward Kelly Pannek WCHA Rookie Of The Week.
A very interesting series Thanksgiving Weekend: They play a pair at Princeton Saturday and Sunday.
#-2: Gopher women's basketball (Last Week: -2). The U.'s two b-ball teams are in the resume-padding part of their schedule, but I give the women a higher nod this week. That's because they at least scheduled a true road game, against Memphis, and moreover came back to beat the Tigers on Sunday, 68-62. I have no idea how good Memphis is supposed to be, but it's always noticeable whenever a team goes into enemy territory and eke out a win, mostly because very few teams from the BcS Five are playing road games this point in the season.
The Gophers are currently undefeated; they're 4-0 after trashing HBCU Southern Tuesday night. They are now in Ft. Myers, Fla. over the Thanksgiving Holiday, participating in the Gulf Coast Showcase. The U. starts the tournament (?) against Vanderbilt.
#-3: Gopher wrestling (Last Week: -1). They beat the ever-living shit out of Michigan St., 36-3. (They also beat Grand Canyon 36-8, but I don't know if they count.) That's why they remain the #1 team in the country. Saturday night they have a pretty big dual at the Sports Pavilion against grappling power Oklahoma St. I was at the last time the Cowboys played the Gophers here, and Minnesota lost. I might be free to watch that evening.
#-4: Wild (Last Week: Positive Numbers). They have the makings of a very good team -- Wednesday night notwithstanding. They won two-of-three on the road, sandwiching a loss to Tampa Bay with victories at Philadelphia and Florida. This team is being led by the character of Zach Parise, and that may be leading the youngsters, in particular Jason Zucker, to play their hearts out.
Unfortunately, as I type this they are getting killed at the X by the Stanley Cup champion L.A. Kings. After this they visit The Team That Was Stolen From Us Friday, then come back home to host St. Louis the next night.
#-5: Gopher men's basketball (Last Week: -4). Well, this is the reason why you fatten up your schedule to begin your year. They almost doubled-up a lower-tier cupcake named Franklin Pierce, then destroyed Marlyand-Baltimore County, both at home. That was prelude to this week's NIT Season Tip-Off at Madison Square Garden, where the Goofs just lost to putative home team St. John's. So we are getting the idea of how good this team is and isn't. Friday they face the loser of the Gonzaga-Georgia game, then on Tuesday they visit Wake Forest and take their part in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.
#-6: Timberwolves (Last Week: -7). Well, fuck. Now Kevin Martin is gone for up to two months because of a broken wrist. Many people in the know say that Martin was the last good thing this team has, so now the Woofie Dogs are going to play howlingly bad, at least until Thaddeus Young and Ricky Rubio come back from the injured list.
They were at Target Center all week, and they were able to beat dysfunctional New York before losing to San Antonio and Sacramento. Right now, like the Mild, the T-Wolves are playing at home, and it's a tight match against Milwaukee. That begins a busy week, and it's all on the road -- Lakers, Portland, Clippers, all three games over four days.
#-7: Vikings (Last Week: -5). Moral victories aren't worth crap, but I know I am not alone in believing that Green Bay was going to come into TCF Bank Stadium and pillage the Vikes by at least 20 points. In that sense this is ... progress.
Nevertheless there are signs that Teddy Bridgewater is not improving at a rate that leads me to believe that he is going to be a great Quarterback. Even worse, and more apparent, is the regressing play of Matt Kalil, who was beaten so often he had to resort to holding. (Fans have noticed; Kalil flipped over some heckler's hat on his way out of the stadium.) He has a bad knee, but once again I am frustrated that a man once touted to be a Hall of Famer in one of the most important positions on the field may be on his way off of the team.
The Packers are the first of three straight home games now that the Gophers' season is winding down. This Sunday they face the Carolina Panthers, a club with the same record as the Vikes, I think, yet have a much better shot of winning their division and thus hosting a playoff game.
#-Infinity: Gopher men's hockey (Last Week: -8). I didn't think I had to blog about them, but I have to. Why? Because the squad lost to a bunch of fucking boys. On Friday they lost in overtime to the United States Under-18 team -- at home. How the fuck do you allow that to happen? For that these guys get an honorary spot at the absolute shit-lowest part of the WMNSS. Shit, you might as well cancel the season. I mean, I can't even. A special interconference series at Boston College this weekend.
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
What The Fuck Is It Now?
You know, things were going swimmingly at work until my boss calls me over. Apparently someone didn't like the spreadsheets I was giving her. My Task, and she doesn't like it??
The numbers are wrong. The format's wrong, too. I don't know if this has happened before, in all my years (well, two) of doing this, or if this is at least the first time I've heard of these fuck-ups. Regardless, that means that I have to sit down with my boss to figure this all out, fix all the spreadsheets I've sent the past two months, and make sure he sees each new one for his OK before I send them.
Have I been perfect before? Honestly, I don't know. But I feel that I let people down -- unfairly, but I have. I do not know if I've made these mistakes before. I think I have. I also think that with all the new responsibilities I've had before I may -- may -- have made mistakes on these that I didn't before. It's just very ... shocking to be confronted with these mistakes on stuff I thought I was done with weeks, even months ago.
Right now I'm concerned with how my boss and this person who's receiving these spreadsheets think of me. Do they (especially this woman on the other end; when my boss gets in a tizzy I stop giving a shit about how he feels) think I'm stupid? Well, fuck her!
I'm just upset that this will set me back at work. While I'm doing this this temp is going to catch up to me, and then I don't know what she'll do then. Well, besides My Task, which I still think I should be doing by myself, but I have no evidence that I can do it myself because of this, which is bullshit because I would have done a better job if I was able to do it all by myself from the start.
And ... back to hating work.
The numbers are wrong. The format's wrong, too. I don't know if this has happened before, in all my years (well, two) of doing this, or if this is at least the first time I've heard of these fuck-ups. Regardless, that means that I have to sit down with my boss to figure this all out, fix all the spreadsheets I've sent the past two months, and make sure he sees each new one for his OK before I send them.
Have I been perfect before? Honestly, I don't know. But I feel that I let people down -- unfairly, but I have. I do not know if I've made these mistakes before. I think I have. I also think that with all the new responsibilities I've had before I may -- may -- have made mistakes on these that I didn't before. It's just very ... shocking to be confronted with these mistakes on stuff I thought I was done with weeks, even months ago.
Right now I'm concerned with how my boss and this person who's receiving these spreadsheets think of me. Do they (especially this woman on the other end; when my boss gets in a tizzy I stop giving a shit about how he feels) think I'm stupid? Well, fuck her!
I'm just upset that this will set me back at work. While I'm doing this this temp is going to catch up to me, and then I don't know what she'll do then. Well, besides My Task, which I still think I should be doing by myself, but I have no evidence that I can do it myself because of this, which is bullshit because I would have done a better job if I was able to do it all by myself from the start.
And ... back to hating work.
Why I Am Still A Temp (Scheduled Post)
Worked the Vikings game. It's a stressful position, but sometimes I don't feel the stress so much as empathize with those that do. People yell a lot at the place I work at, and if it's not towards me, it's towards those that I work with.
Sunday's game wound up being typical, sadly. It started off great; people from the other truck weren't being overbearing or assholish, and that meant that there was grand comity between those in our booth and us day players. Unfortunately, one of the guys' words before the game started, that he had a feeling that "they were going to get yelled at," proved all too prophetic.
It happened in the fourth quarter. There was some chaos, but the director and/or producer was absolutely fucking condescending to the guy who hired me, telling him that his work was "nonsense." Totally uncalled for, total asshole move. I wanted to get up and punch the guy, for him, who's a really good guy. He took it in stride, I think because this is what he wants to do and, ultimately, if he succeeds in this business he'll be able to get away from this son-of-a-bitch. But it's got to be so hard to keep knuckling under this bully's insults.
There was another guy, a good guy, who was working next to him. After the game was over we chatted a little bit about that little bitch and his bitchy remark. Things could get nasty, he said, but hey, the check is really, really nice. Just as I expected, especially when dealing with sports television. Moreover, as a freelancer this guy doesn't have to deal with the verbal abuse my supervisor/boss has to deal with as a full-fledged member of the production crew.
I wonder if that's good enough, dealing with someone's bullshit in order to make a great living. Maybe freelancing isn't distant enough. And so I go back to my "career" as a lifelong temp. There is no security and, like with this project that's winding down, I have the stress of figuring out where my next paycheck's going to come from. But there are upsides to that. For one thing I won't ever have the feeling of getting the rug pulled out from under me, which might happen if I have a full-time job that I suddenly lose because business is slow or whatever. But what Sunday illustrated is that as a temp (and an entry-level one at that) little of the condescension comes to me, because I'm too insignificant to matter. Verbal diatribes are hurled at people who are in positions of some power, like I kind of am with this project now, even though I am a temp. That means that even though the paycheck's smaller, I can walk away and leave work at work behind me, and I don't have any responsibilities once I walk out that door. And that is so, so important when it comes to dealing with stress brought on by those who are above you in the organizational chart. Life's too short to deal with crap at work. It's just work. I have quality-of-life needs to worry about.
So this weekend reminded me why I have been a life-long temp.
Sunday's game wound up being typical, sadly. It started off great; people from the other truck weren't being overbearing or assholish, and that meant that there was grand comity between those in our booth and us day players. Unfortunately, one of the guys' words before the game started, that he had a feeling that "they were going to get yelled at," proved all too prophetic.
It happened in the fourth quarter. There was some chaos, but the director and/or producer was absolutely fucking condescending to the guy who hired me, telling him that his work was "nonsense." Totally uncalled for, total asshole move. I wanted to get up and punch the guy, for him, who's a really good guy. He took it in stride, I think because this is what he wants to do and, ultimately, if he succeeds in this business he'll be able to get away from this son-of-a-bitch. But it's got to be so hard to keep knuckling under this bully's insults.
There was another guy, a good guy, who was working next to him. After the game was over we chatted a little bit about that little bitch and his bitchy remark. Things could get nasty, he said, but hey, the check is really, really nice. Just as I expected, especially when dealing with sports television. Moreover, as a freelancer this guy doesn't have to deal with the verbal abuse my supervisor/boss has to deal with as a full-fledged member of the production crew.
I wonder if that's good enough, dealing with someone's bullshit in order to make a great living. Maybe freelancing isn't distant enough. And so I go back to my "career" as a lifelong temp. There is no security and, like with this project that's winding down, I have the stress of figuring out where my next paycheck's going to come from. But there are upsides to that. For one thing I won't ever have the feeling of getting the rug pulled out from under me, which might happen if I have a full-time job that I suddenly lose because business is slow or whatever. But what Sunday illustrated is that as a temp (and an entry-level one at that) little of the condescension comes to me, because I'm too insignificant to matter. Verbal diatribes are hurled at people who are in positions of some power, like I kind of am with this project now, even though I am a temp. That means that even though the paycheck's smaller, I can walk away and leave work at work behind me, and I don't have any responsibilities once I walk out that door. And that is so, so important when it comes to dealing with stress brought on by those who are above you in the organizational chart. Life's too short to deal with crap at work. It's just work. I have quality-of-life needs to worry about.
So this weekend reminded me why I have been a life-long temp.
Monday, November 24, 2014
One Final PANIC, One Final Indignity
Not to say he's putting the screws on or anything, but on Friday my boss asked me how am I doing with the boxes. Look, I guess I could have lied and said it's going to be done. You know what? I should have lied and said I had it all under control. But I decided I needed to be honest with him and say that I could use somebody's help. So after one of the temps is done (and he's been harping on the observation he made that she's "catching up"), she's going to help me.
So now I'm going to march over to work, try to be do my thing while being left alone, and at some point, probably this morning, this temp is going to come over and say, "Alright, I'm here to help." And first I'll be angry that she broke my concentration, then I'll stammer and wonder how else to get her to do something else so I can do The One Final Thing I Have All To Myself, then I'll break down and realize that that is not going to happen, and then I'll have to teach her how to do My Thing, which will further complicate what needs to be done because it's much better if I just control all of this myself.
Man, why can't I have just one thing all to myself? Can she just do something else? Why can't I be left alone??
Well, there might be some things that she can do that will keep her at bay, just so I can get another box ready. I don't know, I just want to be left alone, from the temps and my boss. That's all.
Time to fucking go to work.
So now I'm going to march over to work, try to be do my thing while being left alone, and at some point, probably this morning, this temp is going to come over and say, "Alright, I'm here to help." And first I'll be angry that she broke my concentration, then I'll stammer and wonder how else to get her to do something else so I can do The One Final Thing I Have All To Myself, then I'll break down and realize that that is not going to happen, and then I'll have to teach her how to do My Thing, which will further complicate what needs to be done because it's much better if I just control all of this myself.
Man, why can't I have just one thing all to myself? Can she just do something else? Why can't I be left alone??
Well, there might be some things that she can do that will keep her at bay, just so I can get another box ready. I don't know, I just want to be left alone, from the temps and my boss. That's all.
Time to fucking go to work.
Sunday, November 23, 2014
Finally Spoke To Grandmother
Look, I've felt guilty for a long time that I have not spoken to Grandmother. I have thrown many obstacles in the way of doing that -- I'm too busy, the language barrier, the time difference, I forgot, work, blah-blah-blah. But in early November my sister said that Grandmother told her she misses me and wants to speak with her. And that stayed with me.
It took a long while -- I downloaded Skype just before my sis told me that now her daughter-in-law/caretaker prefers us to call instead of Skype, which meant I needed to get a phone card and that took some time because I am very, very busy -- but I finally got around to a Wal-Mart on Wednesday to buy a card (a recommendation made by my shrink -- I didn't know Wal-Mart had phone cards!) and, very early Saturday morning, I called Grandmother. After a lot of hectoring from the woman I spoke to -- "Grandmother, your grandson wants to talk to you!!!" I heard after she put the phone down -- she came to the phone.
It wasn't anything long or heart-rending, about 2 1/2 minutes at the most. It was a quick and simple "Hi, how are you doing? How are you? How are the parents?" kind of thing. She wanted me to speak up, but that may have been less her and more the crappy landline I was using. What was most important to me, and what, deep down, was a reason I haven't tried to call her in so long, is that she at least recognized who I was. And she did. I don't know, but maybe she isn't having dementia after all. Maybe it's all those sleeping pills that made her loopy and erratic. She says that she's sleeping better now, but I don't know if that is with or without chemical aides.
So my worst fears were not realized. Even better, I now have gotten over myself so I can talk to her, even for only minutes at a time. I am going to pray that nothing else weird happens, and I will call her some time in the next week. And then on, thereafter, for the rest of our lives. Because she's my Grandmother, and I love her.
It took a long while -- I downloaded Skype just before my sis told me that now her daughter-in-law/caretaker prefers us to call instead of Skype, which meant I needed to get a phone card and that took some time because I am very, very busy -- but I finally got around to a Wal-Mart on Wednesday to buy a card (a recommendation made by my shrink -- I didn't know Wal-Mart had phone cards!) and, very early Saturday morning, I called Grandmother. After a lot of hectoring from the woman I spoke to -- "Grandmother, your grandson wants to talk to you!!!" I heard after she put the phone down -- she came to the phone.
It wasn't anything long or heart-rending, about 2 1/2 minutes at the most. It was a quick and simple "Hi, how are you doing? How are you? How are the parents?" kind of thing. She wanted me to speak up, but that may have been less her and more the crappy landline I was using. What was most important to me, and what, deep down, was a reason I haven't tried to call her in so long, is that she at least recognized who I was. And she did. I don't know, but maybe she isn't having dementia after all. Maybe it's all those sleeping pills that made her loopy and erratic. She says that she's sleeping better now, but I don't know if that is with or without chemical aides.
So my worst fears were not realized. Even better, I now have gotten over myself so I can talk to her, even for only minutes at a time. I am going to pray that nothing else weird happens, and I will call her some time in the next week. And then on, thereafter, for the rest of our lives. Because she's my Grandmother, and I love her.
Saturday, November 22, 2014
Why Am I So Glad To Be Up So Early This Morning?
I have woken up extremely early the past several weeks, even though this morning I woke up at 5, which actually is much later than the times I've woken up most other days. If this were yesterday or any workday, I'd be cursing in the dark at why I'm up so early.
But I guess that's why I'm kind of happy right now. It's not yesterday or any workday, it's Saturday. And even though I have to work the Vikings game tomorrow, and I have this alumni club function tonight (which I kind of consider to be work), right now, at this moment, I have about half a day free.
And I can do whatever I want with it. After blogging about this and working my fantasy football teams, I think I'm going to check on the laundry to see if the washing machine is working. Then I'll meditate and try and fall asleep for an hour or so. And that's the great thing about having all this to myself: If I don't fall asleep, hey, that's cool, I'll go and get in a much-needed workout in this morning. Then I'll have lunch, get my car (maybe both cars?) washed and go home to either do more chores or watch football before I have to go out this evening. I might be perplexed with having too many choices later in the day, but right now time is on my side.
Maybe falling asleep at 9:30 and having a solid 7 1/2 hours of sleep brightens your mood.
But I guess that's why I'm kind of happy right now. It's not yesterday or any workday, it's Saturday. And even though I have to work the Vikings game tomorrow, and I have this alumni club function tonight (which I kind of consider to be work), right now, at this moment, I have about half a day free.
And I can do whatever I want with it. After blogging about this and working my fantasy football teams, I think I'm going to check on the laundry to see if the washing machine is working. Then I'll meditate and try and fall asleep for an hour or so. And that's the great thing about having all this to myself: If I don't fall asleep, hey, that's cool, I'll go and get in a much-needed workout in this morning. Then I'll have lunch, get my car (maybe both cars?) washed and go home to either do more chores or watch football before I have to go out this evening. I might be perplexed with having too many choices later in the day, but right now time is on my side.
Maybe falling asleep at 9:30 and having a solid 7 1/2 hours of sleep brightens your mood.
Friday, November 21, 2014
I Doth Protest Too Much
I've been complaining -- to myself, to my shrink, to others -- that I have been pulling too many long hours. Not necessarily for work, but oftentimes I have to go do things for my parents' real estate holdings that don't allow me to come home till prime time, or later. That means that if you include the time I get into my car to the time I enter back home, I am doing 12, 13-hour days.
Normally I would chalk that up to other people, namely my parents for wanting me to do things for them. Or, like on Tuesday, going to a house where the other two don't show up, which would require me to leave work on another day (specifically today) to meet at this house once again. That really sucks because that dictates time I could otherwise have for myself.
But as much as I like to point the finger, I have to pull the thumb as well. I often blame traffic for keeping me out so long; I'm done with something, but it's 5 or 5:30, and I hate being stuck on the highway, so I do something so I can wait for traffic to pass for the evening. That's a big reason why I come home so late. Add to that me having dinner outside after seeing my psychologist, or on Thursday, going to a stripper party after work, and I don't have too much to complain about when it comes to being up for half the day. I don't really have to stay out that long; I just choose to.
On top of that I've also been bitching about how much money I spend and how much food I eat. After this stripper party Thursday, I wanted to see this ex-stripper at this pizza place I think she still works at. So even though I had a good fill of my stomach with turkey and potatoes and bread and beer at the party, I decided to spend another 90 minutes at a restaurant eating a pizza. So I didn't get home until 8:45 when I could have gotten home without the mess of traffic at 7. Plus I spent $15 I didn't have to spend, and as I type this my gut feels like it's hanging out. Oh, and this ex-stripper wasn't working last night.
So, well, when it comes to coming home late, broke and fat, it's obvious who's protesting too much.
Normally I would chalk that up to other people, namely my parents for wanting me to do things for them. Or, like on Tuesday, going to a house where the other two don't show up, which would require me to leave work on another day (specifically today) to meet at this house once again. That really sucks because that dictates time I could otherwise have for myself.
But as much as I like to point the finger, I have to pull the thumb as well. I often blame traffic for keeping me out so long; I'm done with something, but it's 5 or 5:30, and I hate being stuck on the highway, so I do something so I can wait for traffic to pass for the evening. That's a big reason why I come home so late. Add to that me having dinner outside after seeing my psychologist, or on Thursday, going to a stripper party after work, and I don't have too much to complain about when it comes to being up for half the day. I don't really have to stay out that long; I just choose to.
On top of that I've also been bitching about how much money I spend and how much food I eat. After this stripper party Thursday, I wanted to see this ex-stripper at this pizza place I think she still works at. So even though I had a good fill of my stomach with turkey and potatoes and bread and beer at the party, I decided to spend another 90 minutes at a restaurant eating a pizza. So I didn't get home until 8:45 when I could have gotten home without the mess of traffic at 7. Plus I spent $15 I didn't have to spend, and as I type this my gut feels like it's hanging out. Oh, and this ex-stripper wasn't working last night.
So, well, when it comes to coming home late, broke and fat, it's obvious who's protesting too much.
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Accepting Myself As An Early Bird
Still can't sleep until the alarm clock goes off. Still wake up 90 minutes to two hours before I have to. (Although I was close just now; woke up at 4:30 and felt the tug of unconsciousness just before the alarm on my iPhone went off.) I am still perplexed at how my body is doing this to me, although the main culprit is work. However, the stress I feel about work is coming down. Mostly that's because most of the temps are gone (we lost half a week ago, we lost a few more Wednesday). That means there are less people I have to worry over, even though I think there's enough work for them, at least a few more days. Anyway, what I am saying is that the days of me fretting about what they are going to do and the questions they are going to ask are gone, even though what needs to be done and the questions that are now going to be directed at me are going to continue.
So if I am still going to be bothered, why do I not feel so bad right now? My psychologist hopes it's because I'm meditating these hours I'm up way too early, but I'm not sure that's correlative or causal. I just ... feel less stressed at work, even though logically I have no justification to feel that way. Maybe I have accepted that, at least as long as I have this temporary assignment, my body won't allow me to rest for eight hours and I am going to be waking up way before dawn. So, if I'm giving myself lemons, I might as well make lemonade. I can now fit in one session of Transcendental Meditation like my shrink asked me to do, which is something. Also, I am writing my daily blog post before I go to work. That's productive.
Yeah, some BS is going to do down at work and it's going to make me mad today, I know it.
So if I am still going to be bothered, why do I not feel so bad right now? My psychologist hopes it's because I'm meditating these hours I'm up way too early, but I'm not sure that's correlative or causal. I just ... feel less stressed at work, even though logically I have no justification to feel that way. Maybe I have accepted that, at least as long as I have this temporary assignment, my body won't allow me to rest for eight hours and I am going to be waking up way before dawn. So, if I'm giving myself lemons, I might as well make lemonade. I can now fit in one session of Transcendental Meditation like my shrink asked me to do, which is something. Also, I am writing my daily blog post before I go to work. That's productive.
Yeah, some BS is going to do down at work and it's going to make me mad today, I know it.
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
The Weekly Minnesota Sports Survey
Positive Numbers: Wild (Last Week: -4). OK, very crowded week; totally surprised that there are ten Twin Cities teams I have to list for this week's survey. Therefore I can't be as long-winded as I try to be, just so I make sure I can get this in before the clock turns into Thursday.
Overall it was a pretty good week, with the top four teams going undefeated, which offsets the bottom four going winless. I put the Wild up on top for three reasons. First, they had the most wins out of any team in the WMNSS. Second, they beat The Bastard North Stars, and in Dallas, no less. Third and most importantly, they won those games without Captain and star Zach Parise, who was still recovering from an injury. The first game or two without him showed how indispensable he was. As Brandon Mileski on KFAN's "Common Man Progrum" pointed out one day, the Mild appear to have a lack of talent able and willing to plant themselves in front of the net, withstand all the physical abuse and work to put the puck in the net. Parise may be the only player on the squad who can do it, as evidenced by the 4-3 overtime win over The Bastard Atlanta Thrashers. Nevertheless, they also beat The Team That Was Stolen From Us and Buffalo without him, so maybe this team isn't as bad as that recent losing streak had us believe.
This screening week should be more telling: All three games are on the road, all of them against Eastern Conference opponents: Philadelphia, Tampa Bay, Florida.
#0: Gopher women's hockey (Re-Entry!). After taking last weekend off the lady Gopher icers got back to action with a road sweep of Ohio St. Saturday's 5-3 pounding of the Buckeyes was keyed by the first-ever hat trick as a Gopher by Senior Meghan Lorence, who also notched the game-winning goal in Friday's 4-2 win. For that, she is this week's WCHA Offensive Player Of The Week. However, they are not the #1 team in the land this week; that honors remains with Boston College.
This week the club has a home-and-home with Minnesota State-Mankato (at Mankato Friday, at Ridder Arena Saturday.)
#-1: Gopher wrestling (Re-Entry!). What? The Gophers' wrestling season has started? Great -- even more time I need to do the survey. However, I did not know that Minnesota is ranked #1 in Intermat's rankings. (Two-time defending champion Penn St., on the other hand, is ranked fifth and seventh. Surprised. ...) At least they defending their top ranking by blitzing Air Force and Wyoming on the road. No surprise; this program is going to beat the ass of pretty much any team not ranked in the top 10. But that means we have to wait until the NCAAs in March to see if they can be #1 when it counts. Till then, we make sure the wheels don't fall off here. This weekend they face a pastry in Grand Canyon (who? You mean the whole natural landmark?) and actually begin Big Ten play with a meet against Michigan St., both at the Sports Pavilion.
#-2: Gopher women's basketball (Re-Entry!). The Marlene Stollings Era has begun with two victories against Southeastern Louisiana and Cleveland St., both at Williams Arena. They racked up 109 and 93 points against two tomato cans, but nevertheless I believe that Stollings is intent on installing an up-tempo offensive attack, which is much different than previous Head Coach Pam Borton.
Longtime fans already are liking the coaching change. I like the fact that Senior Rachel Banham (who recently passed the 2,000-point mark) and Sophomore (?) Amanda Zahui B. has been augumented by the best high school basketball player in the state of Minnesota last year, Carlie Wagner. This could be the Big Three of the Big Ten, or that may be wishful thinking. Regardless it's a 2-0 start, and they hope to remain undefeated with their first true test Sunday, a road game against Memphis, followed by a home game vs. Southern Tuesday.
#-3: Gopher volleyball (Last Week: -3). A 2-1 week which will virtually assure that the absolute worst-case scenario -- no invitation to the NCAA Tournament -- will not occur. Naturally they got dick-smacked by three at Penn St., but sandwiched that with a four-set win over Northwestern at home and, tonight (Wednesday night) a gutty five-set victory in Maryland. They still may be one-and-done, however. This week: Home to Purdue Saturday night, at Ohio St. Wednesday.
#-4: Gopher men's basketball (Re-Entry!). Richard Pitino began the U. penis ballers' season with a 81-68 defeat to his old man, Rick Pitino, and Louisville on an aircraft carrier in Puerto Rico. Splashy start, although it would have been much better if they had won. They finally reached the win column by spanking a not-bad mid-major program, Western Kentucky, 76-54 Tuesday. Have no idea how they are projected to fare, but they probably will go to 4-0 after home games this screening week against a lower-tier school named Franklin Pierce and Maryland-Baltimore County.
#-5: Vikings (Re-Entry!). You know how people say a game isn't as close as the score indicates? This is one of those games. But think about it: If it's a one-score game, as the Vikings' loss to Chicago was, isn't it by definition close?
Regardless, this was a winnable game, even if they proved themselves to be very generous opponents. Coming into the game there was so much drama and disapproval swirling Jay Cutler, so much so that I was convinced to bench him in fantasy league in favor of Colin Kaepernick (something I blogged about ad nauseum last blog post). I totally forgot that the ViQueens will always be the salve that soothes teams' pain and suffering. He was lights-out, Cutler was, throwing two touchdown passes to Brandon Marshall.
Meanwhile, the Vikes remained paralyzed, especially on offense. And this is where I have to pay close, glaring scrutiny at Matt Kalil. It has been alarming how far he has regressed, from Pro Bowler and potential 10-year starter to deserving to get benched. What the fuck happened? He was routinely abused by Jared Allen on Sunday. And what was once seen as a set-it-and-forget-it pick, a fixture playing one of the most important positions on a team, now becomes something Head Coach Mike Zimmer and General Manager Rick Spielman now have to worry about.
Green Bay comes to town this week. If the Packers seemed to pack the Metrodome, just wait till you see how many Vikings fans opted to sell their tickets than go.
#-6: Gopher football (Last Week: 0). Both Twin Cities gridiron teams were close but ultimately failed to rise to the occasion in games they could have won, at least on paper. This Ohio St. QB, J.T. Barrett, has learned to fully step into Braxton Miller's shoes, but they turned the ball over a couple times. And that's what's the most galling about this: The Gophers cannot say they didn't have their chances. They did, but they just couldn't cash in.
One play I want to highlight. Remember the Santoso missed Field Goal? Some people can deduce that if he made that 50-plus-yard FG, Mitch Leidner and company would have been driving to tie, not just to score. But the play before, the third-down play, was a designed keeper by Leidner to center the ball for Santoso. I don't remember the yards to gain, but it wasn't like it was 20. Why not throw the ball, or try a bubble screen? This is a move to set-up a Field Goal attempt at the gun, something deployed when there will be no more plays to play. And it seemed like a waste of a play. And then they didn't score any points from it.
Nonetheless the Goofers still control their own destiny. They need to win two very tough games on the road against the other contenders in the B1G West. Next weekend it's Wisconsin, but this Saturday it's Nebraska.
#-7: Timberwolves (Last Week: -2). Losses to Houston, New Orleans and Dallas this week showed, surprisingly, that this team is now Ricky Rubio's, and without Rubio this team is totally fucked. As one writer on ESPN.com said, right now there is nothing going for this club except for the offensive efficiency of wing Kevin Martin ... and since he can't play defense, that isn't as great as it could be.
On the upside is that, right now, they are trashing New York at home. (Hopefully I can get this blog post in before that game's over.) The Knicks start a four-game homestand; this screening week the Woofie Dogs welcome San Antonio and Sacramento.
#-8: Gopher men's hockey (Last Week: -1). The U. male icers land here because they were the #1 team in the country and got swept in a home-and-home series against Minnesota-Duluth. Not the worst thing in the world; for casual college hockey fans, the #1 team loses many times. It's the sweep that bugs me. They were thrown all the way down to #4, supplanted at the top spot by, of all teams, Michigan Tech. Michigan Tech?? Yes, Michigan Tech. For longtime WCHA fans, they were the doormats of the league. As badly as your squad could be, you could nonetheless safely assume you could sweep a two-game series from Michigan Tech. But this year they are the lone remaining undefeated program in the country, therefore they leapfrog from #5 to take the top spot for the first time since 1976 -- the year I was born.
And now I hear that Arizona St. will follow Penn St. and field an actual varsity men's hockey program? Damn world's gone mad!
Anyhoo, the team takes a rest and plays an exhibition at Mariucci Arena against the United States Developmental Under-18 hockey team Friday night. Therefore I get to drop this program from next week's WMNSS. Phew! Turns out there's one less team I need to write about!
Overall it was a pretty good week, with the top four teams going undefeated, which offsets the bottom four going winless. I put the Wild up on top for three reasons. First, they had the most wins out of any team in the WMNSS. Second, they beat The Bastard North Stars, and in Dallas, no less. Third and most importantly, they won those games without Captain and star Zach Parise, who was still recovering from an injury. The first game or two without him showed how indispensable he was. As Brandon Mileski on KFAN's "Common Man Progrum" pointed out one day, the Mild appear to have a lack of talent able and willing to plant themselves in front of the net, withstand all the physical abuse and work to put the puck in the net. Parise may be the only player on the squad who can do it, as evidenced by the 4-3 overtime win over The Bastard Atlanta Thrashers. Nevertheless, they also beat The Team That Was Stolen From Us and Buffalo without him, so maybe this team isn't as bad as that recent losing streak had us believe.
This screening week should be more telling: All three games are on the road, all of them against Eastern Conference opponents: Philadelphia, Tampa Bay, Florida.
#0: Gopher women's hockey (Re-Entry!). After taking last weekend off the lady Gopher icers got back to action with a road sweep of Ohio St. Saturday's 5-3 pounding of the Buckeyes was keyed by the first-ever hat trick as a Gopher by Senior Meghan Lorence, who also notched the game-winning goal in Friday's 4-2 win. For that, she is this week's WCHA Offensive Player Of The Week. However, they are not the #1 team in the land this week; that honors remains with Boston College.
This week the club has a home-and-home with Minnesota State-Mankato (at Mankato Friday, at Ridder Arena Saturday.)
#-1: Gopher wrestling (Re-Entry!). What? The Gophers' wrestling season has started? Great -- even more time I need to do the survey. However, I did not know that Minnesota is ranked #1 in Intermat's rankings. (Two-time defending champion Penn St., on the other hand, is ranked fifth and seventh. Surprised. ...) At least they defending their top ranking by blitzing Air Force and Wyoming on the road. No surprise; this program is going to beat the ass of pretty much any team not ranked in the top 10. But that means we have to wait until the NCAAs in March to see if they can be #1 when it counts. Till then, we make sure the wheels don't fall off here. This weekend they face a pastry in Grand Canyon (who? You mean the whole natural landmark?) and actually begin Big Ten play with a meet against Michigan St., both at the Sports Pavilion.
#-2: Gopher women's basketball (Re-Entry!). The Marlene Stollings Era has begun with two victories against Southeastern Louisiana and Cleveland St., both at Williams Arena. They racked up 109 and 93 points against two tomato cans, but nevertheless I believe that Stollings is intent on installing an up-tempo offensive attack, which is much different than previous Head Coach Pam Borton.
Longtime fans already are liking the coaching change. I like the fact that Senior Rachel Banham (who recently passed the 2,000-point mark) and Sophomore (?) Amanda Zahui B. has been augumented by the best high school basketball player in the state of Minnesota last year, Carlie Wagner. This could be the Big Three of the Big Ten, or that may be wishful thinking. Regardless it's a 2-0 start, and they hope to remain undefeated with their first true test Sunday, a road game against Memphis, followed by a home game vs. Southern Tuesday.
#-3: Gopher volleyball (Last Week: -3). A 2-1 week which will virtually assure that the absolute worst-case scenario -- no invitation to the NCAA Tournament -- will not occur. Naturally they got dick-smacked by three at Penn St., but sandwiched that with a four-set win over Northwestern at home and, tonight (Wednesday night) a gutty five-set victory in Maryland. They still may be one-and-done, however. This week: Home to Purdue Saturday night, at Ohio St. Wednesday.
#-4: Gopher men's basketball (Re-Entry!). Richard Pitino began the U. penis ballers' season with a 81-68 defeat to his old man, Rick Pitino, and Louisville on an aircraft carrier in Puerto Rico. Splashy start, although it would have been much better if they had won. They finally reached the win column by spanking a not-bad mid-major program, Western Kentucky, 76-54 Tuesday. Have no idea how they are projected to fare, but they probably will go to 4-0 after home games this screening week against a lower-tier school named Franklin Pierce and Maryland-Baltimore County.
#-5: Vikings (Re-Entry!). You know how people say a game isn't as close as the score indicates? This is one of those games. But think about it: If it's a one-score game, as the Vikings' loss to Chicago was, isn't it by definition close?
Regardless, this was a winnable game, even if they proved themselves to be very generous opponents. Coming into the game there was so much drama and disapproval swirling Jay Cutler, so much so that I was convinced to bench him in fantasy league in favor of Colin Kaepernick (something I blogged about ad nauseum last blog post). I totally forgot that the ViQueens will always be the salve that soothes teams' pain and suffering. He was lights-out, Cutler was, throwing two touchdown passes to Brandon Marshall.
Meanwhile, the Vikes remained paralyzed, especially on offense. And this is where I have to pay close, glaring scrutiny at Matt Kalil. It has been alarming how far he has regressed, from Pro Bowler and potential 10-year starter to deserving to get benched. What the fuck happened? He was routinely abused by Jared Allen on Sunday. And what was once seen as a set-it-and-forget-it pick, a fixture playing one of the most important positions on a team, now becomes something Head Coach Mike Zimmer and General Manager Rick Spielman now have to worry about.
Green Bay comes to town this week. If the Packers seemed to pack the Metrodome, just wait till you see how many Vikings fans opted to sell their tickets than go.
#-6: Gopher football (Last Week: 0). Both Twin Cities gridiron teams were close but ultimately failed to rise to the occasion in games they could have won, at least on paper. This Ohio St. QB, J.T. Barrett, has learned to fully step into Braxton Miller's shoes, but they turned the ball over a couple times. And that's what's the most galling about this: The Gophers cannot say they didn't have their chances. They did, but they just couldn't cash in.
One play I want to highlight. Remember the Santoso missed Field Goal? Some people can deduce that if he made that 50-plus-yard FG, Mitch Leidner and company would have been driving to tie, not just to score. But the play before, the third-down play, was a designed keeper by Leidner to center the ball for Santoso. I don't remember the yards to gain, but it wasn't like it was 20. Why not throw the ball, or try a bubble screen? This is a move to set-up a Field Goal attempt at the gun, something deployed when there will be no more plays to play. And it seemed like a waste of a play. And then they didn't score any points from it.
Nonetheless the Goofers still control their own destiny. They need to win two very tough games on the road against the other contenders in the B1G West. Next weekend it's Wisconsin, but this Saturday it's Nebraska.
#-7: Timberwolves (Last Week: -2). Losses to Houston, New Orleans and Dallas this week showed, surprisingly, that this team is now Ricky Rubio's, and without Rubio this team is totally fucked. As one writer on ESPN.com said, right now there is nothing going for this club except for the offensive efficiency of wing Kevin Martin ... and since he can't play defense, that isn't as great as it could be.
On the upside is that, right now, they are trashing New York at home. (Hopefully I can get this blog post in before that game's over.) The Knicks start a four-game homestand; this screening week the Woofie Dogs welcome San Antonio and Sacramento.
#-8: Gopher men's hockey (Last Week: -1). The U. male icers land here because they were the #1 team in the country and got swept in a home-and-home series against Minnesota-Duluth. Not the worst thing in the world; for casual college hockey fans, the #1 team loses many times. It's the sweep that bugs me. They were thrown all the way down to #4, supplanted at the top spot by, of all teams, Michigan Tech. Michigan Tech?? Yes, Michigan Tech. For longtime WCHA fans, they were the doormats of the league. As badly as your squad could be, you could nonetheless safely assume you could sweep a two-game series from Michigan Tech. But this year they are the lone remaining undefeated program in the country, therefore they leapfrog from #5 to take the top spot for the first time since 1976 -- the year I was born.
And now I hear that Arizona St. will follow Penn St. and field an actual varsity men's hockey program? Damn world's gone mad!
Anyhoo, the team takes a rest and plays an exhibition at Mariucci Arena against the United States Developmental Under-18 hockey team Friday night. Therefore I get to drop this program from next week's WMNSS. Phew! Turns out there's one less team I need to write about!
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Why The Fuck Didn't I Start Cutler?
I broke my own cardinal rule when it comes to fantasy sports: Always, always, ALWAYS start players playing against the Vikings. They are the team that keeps on giving fantasy points. You can never fail when starting against my ViQueens. Shit, I think I won many games whenever Minnesota played Tampa Bay because I always started Mike Alstott against them and he always scored two short-yardage touchdowns. Hell, that's why I drafted him a couple times.
Sunday morning I did what I rarely do -- actually look at my starting lineup. There I had Cutler or, gulp, Colin Kaeperinick at Quarterback. I originally had Cutler starting, but goddammit I started listening to the doubters, those who said that Cutler's performance is indicative of a Chicago Bears team in a complete tailspin, and that he wasn't going to get out of it. Little do these haters know that Chicago is playing the Vikings, the Jonas Salk vaccine of losing.
But eventually I switched out Cutler for Kaepernick. I don't know when, for I was worried about other players too, including picking up Isaiah Crowell for some reason. Later on in the day, when Cutler was the Cutler of old and racking up big yards against the piss-poor Vikings defense, I thought I was having a good day ... until I checked my lineup and realized that I indeed started Kaepernick over Cutler because everyone said so. And my heart sank.
The difference between Kaepernick's OK day and Cutler's great day was more than 12 points. My opponent for the week was my best friend's two sons. He said not to worry; I was going to beat them. Little did neither of us know that fucking Le'Veon Bell was going to go off on the Monday Night game. I had downloaded the Yahoo! Fantasy Sports application Sunday so I could follow in real time Monday Night. As the gap I had established on Sunday grew smaller and smaller, I knew what was going to happen. So eventually I turned off my phone and closed my eyes, where I fell into a sleep in order to escape from my eventual loss.
And I know I did: Bell ran for 200 yards. What really sucks, though, is that the margin of defeat is, I think, well within the dozen points that I would have garnered had I started Cutler. But I didn't. I am in the thick of a playoff race, and this is damaging, very damaging to getting to our postseason two weeks from now. And all because I didn't have the gumption to stick with my gut and draw from experience of being a sorry Vikings fan. Goddammit, do I suck.
Sunday morning I did what I rarely do -- actually look at my starting lineup. There I had Cutler or, gulp, Colin Kaeperinick at Quarterback. I originally had Cutler starting, but goddammit I started listening to the doubters, those who said that Cutler's performance is indicative of a Chicago Bears team in a complete tailspin, and that he wasn't going to get out of it. Little do these haters know that Chicago is playing the Vikings, the Jonas Salk vaccine of losing.
But eventually I switched out Cutler for Kaepernick. I don't know when, for I was worried about other players too, including picking up Isaiah Crowell for some reason. Later on in the day, when Cutler was the Cutler of old and racking up big yards against the piss-poor Vikings defense, I thought I was having a good day ... until I checked my lineup and realized that I indeed started Kaepernick over Cutler because everyone said so. And my heart sank.
The difference between Kaepernick's OK day and Cutler's great day was more than 12 points. My opponent for the week was my best friend's two sons. He said not to worry; I was going to beat them. Little did neither of us know that fucking Le'Veon Bell was going to go off on the Monday Night game. I had downloaded the Yahoo! Fantasy Sports application Sunday so I could follow in real time Monday Night. As the gap I had established on Sunday grew smaller and smaller, I knew what was going to happen. So eventually I turned off my phone and closed my eyes, where I fell into a sleep in order to escape from my eventual loss.
And I know I did: Bell ran for 200 yards. What really sucks, though, is that the margin of defeat is, I think, well within the dozen points that I would have garnered had I started Cutler. But I didn't. I am in the thick of a playoff race, and this is damaging, very damaging to getting to our postseason two weeks from now. And all because I didn't have the gumption to stick with my gut and draw from experience of being a sorry Vikings fan. Goddammit, do I suck.
Monday, November 17, 2014
Addendum To: Once More Unto The Breach
And today was ... just fine, I guess.
I'm such a sucker. My boss came around to our area only once, one of those cropduster, "What's going on? What are you doing?" type of things he's prone to do. So I told him, as vaguely as possible. "Well, I'm going through the boxes, as fast as possible but I'm trying to be thorough."
And that's when he said something that, I'm ashamed to admit, lifted my spirits and, in fact, made me kind of glow inside. "That's good, that's good," he said, and without needing any more feedback, he went back to do whatever else he needed to do. From that point on, honestly, my day went pretty well.
I am a sucker because I felt better just because my boss, a guy who has acted like a dick for a lot of the project, gave me a slight smile and said, "That's good, that's good." Four words -- a pair repeated twice, no less -- and a time where he wasn't yelling or frustrated or flummoxed, and I get all, "OMG, I'm so happy because you're so happy!" I wish how I approach my day isn't dependent on how my boss feels. But it does. If he's happy, I'm happy, and if he's not, I'm not. This is Stockholm Syndrome, is it not? It's sick, and I do not like myself for not being happy independent of anyone or anything. I'm just not wired like that, or at least I haven't learned how to do that.
Nevertheless it was a good day. The distractions were at a minimum, I found some folders I didn't need to go through as much, I tackled two boxes (which is the most I probably could do in a day) and most of those are from early September, which are now very important to push through before it's too late. I even had time to arrange the remaining boxes in chronological order, so that I made sure the oldest shots get pushed to the insurance company this week and giving us as much cushion as we need.
Now it's not all good. The two big packets I wanted to deal with today I want another temp to do, but I think we can get past the problem that caused me to hold them for so long. Also, I noticed that whenever comes toward me from my peripheral vision I tense up. Either they are coming to ask me something, thereby breaking my concentration, or it's one of the temps looking for something to do. The pipeline remains jammed up on my end, and I'm really scared that at some point during this project the remaining temps (there will be just The Two left) will come up and say, "We're done. What else do you want us to do?" and I'll go, "Der, I don't know, count claims?"
Things still might turn south. I have some other things I need to talk to my boss about, and he may not be all too happy to hear it. But that can be saved for tomorrow. I will take the quietude of today after having such a restless night.
I'm such a sucker. My boss came around to our area only once, one of those cropduster, "What's going on? What are you doing?" type of things he's prone to do. So I told him, as vaguely as possible. "Well, I'm going through the boxes, as fast as possible but I'm trying to be thorough."
And that's when he said something that, I'm ashamed to admit, lifted my spirits and, in fact, made me kind of glow inside. "That's good, that's good," he said, and without needing any more feedback, he went back to do whatever else he needed to do. From that point on, honestly, my day went pretty well.
I am a sucker because I felt better just because my boss, a guy who has acted like a dick for a lot of the project, gave me a slight smile and said, "That's good, that's good." Four words -- a pair repeated twice, no less -- and a time where he wasn't yelling or frustrated or flummoxed, and I get all, "OMG, I'm so happy because you're so happy!" I wish how I approach my day isn't dependent on how my boss feels. But it does. If he's happy, I'm happy, and if he's not, I'm not. This is Stockholm Syndrome, is it not? It's sick, and I do not like myself for not being happy independent of anyone or anything. I'm just not wired like that, or at least I haven't learned how to do that.
Nevertheless it was a good day. The distractions were at a minimum, I found some folders I didn't need to go through as much, I tackled two boxes (which is the most I probably could do in a day) and most of those are from early September, which are now very important to push through before it's too late. I even had time to arrange the remaining boxes in chronological order, so that I made sure the oldest shots get pushed to the insurance company this week and giving us as much cushion as we need.
Now it's not all good. The two big packets I wanted to deal with today I want another temp to do, but I think we can get past the problem that caused me to hold them for so long. Also, I noticed that whenever comes toward me from my peripheral vision I tense up. Either they are coming to ask me something, thereby breaking my concentration, or it's one of the temps looking for something to do. The pipeline remains jammed up on my end, and I'm really scared that at some point during this project the remaining temps (there will be just The Two left) will come up and say, "We're done. What else do you want us to do?" and I'll go, "Der, I don't know, count claims?"
Things still might turn south. I have some other things I need to talk to my boss about, and he may not be all too happy to hear it. But that can be saved for tomorrow. I will take the quietude of today after having such a restless night.
Once More Unto The Breach
I've been up since 4. Went to bed a quarter past midnight, then woke up at 1:30, then 2, then 3:30, then I haven't been able to fall asleep after 4. Tried meditation -- that didn't work. Already I am not in a good frame of mind going into work. I know it's already going to be a bad day.
I have to worry about what the others are doing, how to hide this problem packet, what to do about all the other problems, then get to work on the main task my boss wants me to do before my boss yells at me for not doing it fast enough. At some point I am going to have to defer this job to others, just so it gets done according to his timetable. But I just don't trust anyone else. If I could just do this on my own, it'd get done -- slowly, but well. But I don't think well is what he's after.
It's becoming increasingly apparent that this project this year has been an unmitigated disaster. I still don't know why my mentor was let go, but he is so needed right now. Instead, all of us are groping in the dark, not knowing how to deal with the next crisis.
And the temps are all leaving, soon. There are three theories behind this, in my opinion: 1) My boss thinks this can all be done sooner than realistically possible; 2) My boss is under a huge budget crunch from his boss to cut down on costs; or 3) My boss has no idea what he's doing. It may be all three, for all know.
And I don't know much. Once more unto the breach.
I have to worry about what the others are doing, how to hide this problem packet, what to do about all the other problems, then get to work on the main task my boss wants me to do before my boss yells at me for not doing it fast enough. At some point I am going to have to defer this job to others, just so it gets done according to his timetable. But I just don't trust anyone else. If I could just do this on my own, it'd get done -- slowly, but well. But I don't think well is what he's after.
It's becoming increasingly apparent that this project this year has been an unmitigated disaster. I still don't know why my mentor was let go, but he is so needed right now. Instead, all of us are groping in the dark, not knowing how to deal with the next crisis.
And the temps are all leaving, soon. There are three theories behind this, in my opinion: 1) My boss thinks this can all be done sooner than realistically possible; 2) My boss is under a huge budget crunch from his boss to cut down on costs; or 3) My boss has no idea what he's doing. It may be all three, for all know.
And I don't know much. Once more unto the breach.
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Addendum To: Oh, I Am So Screwed!
Forgot to add that I have been sitting on one huge packet. I've been sitting on it because there's this very weird problem (made by one of the temps, probably) that is so involving that I had to set it aside until I had time to deal with it.
Well, I still don't know what to do, but on Friday I checked on it and I realized that it was done way back in September. In other words, it should have been done by now. But this puts me in a quandary. I could just shove it through with all the mistakes, all of which could come back to bite me later. Or I could ask my boss for his help and risk the wrath of him noticing that this was done almost three months ago.
I don't know what to do. I think I'll just do it and hide the problem.
Well, I still don't know what to do, but on Friday I checked on it and I realized that it was done way back in September. In other words, it should have been done by now. But this puts me in a quandary. I could just shove it through with all the mistakes, all of which could come back to bite me later. Or I could ask my boss for his help and risk the wrath of him noticing that this was done almost three months ago.
I don't know what to do. I think I'll just do it and hide the problem.
Too Generous
So my alma mater played the Thursday night game, so we congregated at the bar downtown Minneapolis again. Only five people (including me) showed up, which actually is an improvement from previous games. Because turnout was so low I didn't snap a photo of us. And besides giving a t-shirt to an alum who was in town all the way from Des Moines, Ia., on business, once again I had no reason to bring my box of free alumni stuff (sunglasses and pom-poms as well as t-shirts) because there was no on there to give it too.
Because it was a school night (and also because the club is struggling to remain popular -- maybe that has something to do with me, maybe I should blog about it) the other four people left before the game wrapped up around 11:30. I, as President, had to stay to the bitter end. Not that I minded; we won. And I had the whole upper floor of the restaurant to myself. Well, I did until late in the game.
Two guys come up, hang out, talk to each and glance at the TV screens showing our game. Right before it's over one of them goes to the bathroom right behind me. The other, who said hello to me while passing by me on his way to the bathroom, started to chat me up. I didn't want to be an asshole, plus the game appeared to be at hand near the end of the game.
He noticed the box of free stuff, which I set on the table after everyone left in the group left. "Oh, free stuff," I said. "Like what?" the guy said. "Oh, t-shirts and sunglasses and stuff."
Then he asked, "Can I take a look?" Looking back I should have said no. But again, he seemed nice, and again, I didn't want to act like a dick, so I gave him permission.
And then, after sifting through the contents of the box, he pulled up a t-shirt and asked, "Can I take it?"
Only now do I realize that at this point I was at a crossroads. I really should have said no then. The t-shirts are the most popular item to give to alums for free. Also, I had only three of them, and they were larges. I had received complaints from members (back early in the season, when people were actually showing up) that there weren't enough large and extra large t-shirts for obese Americans. So the ones that were in the bo were specifically requested. And now this guy, a man I had never met, asked for one.
I hesitated, so he continued rooting around in there and pulled up a drawstring bag and asked, "Can I take this?" Those bags are less popular and I had tons of them, so I said he could. But then he went back to the t-shirt and asked, once again, if he could take one.
I don't know why I said yes. Maybe I was mistakenly thinking I had a lot, when I knew for a fact that I had only three. Maybe he was being nice, or, in retrospect, acting nice. Maybe I got so tired of him asking over and over that I wanted to shut him up. Maybe I didn't think that anyone from the club would know, or maybe I thought that no one is going to show up for games the rest of the season, so why not give someone something that no one else isn't bothering to show up for?
So I said he could get the t-shirt too, which he put into the bag. He looked at my puzzled face and probably could see the torment in my soul. So he volunteered to give it back to me: "I know you want it back." But honestly, at that point I didn't want to be seen by him -- a stranger -- as a liar. So I stuck to what I said and insisted that he keep both: "Enjoy it."
My God, I am too generous, and so, so stupid. I just gave some dude a t-shirt from the alumni club. Now, when we come back in a couple weeks to watch our game, he's going to come around and thank me for the t-shirt, or worse, he'll be wearing it and show it to me and anyone from the club I'm with, all of whom will then turn to me and ask, "How in the hell did he get a t-shirt? Did you give him a t-shirt?" To which I'll reply ... by running away.
Because it was a school night (and also because the club is struggling to remain popular -- maybe that has something to do with me, maybe I should blog about it) the other four people left before the game wrapped up around 11:30. I, as President, had to stay to the bitter end. Not that I minded; we won. And I had the whole upper floor of the restaurant to myself. Well, I did until late in the game.
Two guys come up, hang out, talk to each and glance at the TV screens showing our game. Right before it's over one of them goes to the bathroom right behind me. The other, who said hello to me while passing by me on his way to the bathroom, started to chat me up. I didn't want to be an asshole, plus the game appeared to be at hand near the end of the game.
He noticed the box of free stuff, which I set on the table after everyone left in the group left. "Oh, free stuff," I said. "Like what?" the guy said. "Oh, t-shirts and sunglasses and stuff."
Then he asked, "Can I take a look?" Looking back I should have said no. But again, he seemed nice, and again, I didn't want to act like a dick, so I gave him permission.
And then, after sifting through the contents of the box, he pulled up a t-shirt and asked, "Can I take it?"
Only now do I realize that at this point I was at a crossroads. I really should have said no then. The t-shirts are the most popular item to give to alums for free. Also, I had only three of them, and they were larges. I had received complaints from members (back early in the season, when people were actually showing up) that there weren't enough large and extra large t-shirts for obese Americans. So the ones that were in the bo were specifically requested. And now this guy, a man I had never met, asked for one.
I hesitated, so he continued rooting around in there and pulled up a drawstring bag and asked, "Can I take this?" Those bags are less popular and I had tons of them, so I said he could. But then he went back to the t-shirt and asked, once again, if he could take one.
I don't know why I said yes. Maybe I was mistakenly thinking I had a lot, when I knew for a fact that I had only three. Maybe he was being nice, or, in retrospect, acting nice. Maybe I got so tired of him asking over and over that I wanted to shut him up. Maybe I didn't think that anyone from the club would know, or maybe I thought that no one is going to show up for games the rest of the season, so why not give someone something that no one else isn't bothering to show up for?
So I said he could get the t-shirt too, which he put into the bag. He looked at my puzzled face and probably could see the torment in my soul. So he volunteered to give it back to me: "I know you want it back." But honestly, at that point I didn't want to be seen by him -- a stranger -- as a liar. So I stuck to what I said and insisted that he keep both: "Enjoy it."
My God, I am too generous, and so, so stupid. I just gave some dude a t-shirt from the alumni club. Now, when we come back in a couple weeks to watch our game, he's going to come around and thank me for the t-shirt, or worse, he'll be wearing it and show it to me and anyone from the club I'm with, all of whom will then turn to me and ask, "How in the hell did he get a t-shirt? Did you give him a t-shirt?" To which I'll reply ... by running away.
Saturday, November 15, 2014
Oh, I Am So Screwed!
Not necessarily an addendum on my quick meeting before I left work for the weekend Friday afternoon, but it comes out of that meeting: My boss asked me how I was doing on the main project I still have left to do, namely getting this weekly spreadsheet out. He's been harping on this ever since the project began, and I really am doing the best I can, being fast while making sure I'm thorough. That said, I have a ton of boxes back there -- a ton. And whenever I get sidetracked with another thing I need to get, that's more time spent away from addressing the spreadsheet.
My boss doesn't know that. It's become quite apparent to me that as up to my eyeballs I feel about this project, he does too. Maybe moreso, since 1) I know more about the nuts and bolts of how this entire project (not just my spreadsheet) and 2) it's probably his ass on the line if this all goes south. (That doesn't excuse him being a dick to me, but ... that's complicated.) But I think he's gotten the impression that there is a lot less work to be done than there actually is. He affirmed my position when he asked me to get all those things done in the next two days, and enlist another temp's help if I needed to.
Dude, it's not going to get done in the next two days. It may not get done in the next two weeks. It's ... a lot of stuff. And as long as I am going to make sure I have everything correct (and even though I get some wrong, but I still need to go through these with a fine-toothed comb), I can't just jet through these.
But, he wants it done. So what am I to do? I have no fucking clue. It may be time for me to cede some of this to the temp, but that might make coordinating all the names onto the one spreadsheet that has to be sent even more difficult. What I'm worried about is come Tuesday, he'll look at all the boxes that will still be in the back (and there will be boxes in the back) and be absolutely shocked at how little progress I've been making. "What the hell is this? I thought you could get these done?" And I wouldn't know what to say. Therefore, I will probably say ... well, "Look, I'm doing the best I can. If you don't like it, well, fire me."
You know, having a drop-dead date changes things. I realized after I blogged about that yesterday that it's only three weeks away -- not too long. As usual I am deeply ambivalent. On the one hand this means the loss of a job, unemployment and the need to look for work once again. On the other hand I won't have to deal with all the crap at work, I can wake up when I want to, I won't have any responsibilities to anyone else and I may even get to stay in during the day if it's too cold out. Shoot, I might just stay unemployed for the winter. So with the stress of doing the right thing comes the freedom of knowing that no matter what you do or don't do, you're losing your job.
So why stress over that? Because I didn't tell him the truth, not necessarily: "We've got a lot of boxes back there." Instead I kind of soft-played the workload: "We've got ... some boxes back there." (OK, I may have outright lied.) That may have led him to think I'm close when I'm definitely not.
I don't really know what he's going to do next week. He may flip out. Or, as he has from time to time, decided he needs to concentrate on all the other stuff he has to do and just let me do my thing. If so, I'll do the best that I can and pray that he doesn't go off on me, again. Well, at that point I may not give a shit.
OK, maybe I'm not so screwed after all. You can do a hell of a lot of things, or not do a hell of a lot of things, when you don't care anymore.
My boss doesn't know that. It's become quite apparent to me that as up to my eyeballs I feel about this project, he does too. Maybe moreso, since 1) I know more about the nuts and bolts of how this entire project (not just my spreadsheet) and 2) it's probably his ass on the line if this all goes south. (That doesn't excuse him being a dick to me, but ... that's complicated.) But I think he's gotten the impression that there is a lot less work to be done than there actually is. He affirmed my position when he asked me to get all those things done in the next two days, and enlist another temp's help if I needed to.
Dude, it's not going to get done in the next two days. It may not get done in the next two weeks. It's ... a lot of stuff. And as long as I am going to make sure I have everything correct (and even though I get some wrong, but I still need to go through these with a fine-toothed comb), I can't just jet through these.
But, he wants it done. So what am I to do? I have no fucking clue. It may be time for me to cede some of this to the temp, but that might make coordinating all the names onto the one spreadsheet that has to be sent even more difficult. What I'm worried about is come Tuesday, he'll look at all the boxes that will still be in the back (and there will be boxes in the back) and be absolutely shocked at how little progress I've been making. "What the hell is this? I thought you could get these done?" And I wouldn't know what to say. Therefore, I will probably say ... well, "Look, I'm doing the best I can. If you don't like it, well, fire me."
You know, having a drop-dead date changes things. I realized after I blogged about that yesterday that it's only three weeks away -- not too long. As usual I am deeply ambivalent. On the one hand this means the loss of a job, unemployment and the need to look for work once again. On the other hand I won't have to deal with all the crap at work, I can wake up when I want to, I won't have any responsibilities to anyone else and I may even get to stay in during the day if it's too cold out. Shoot, I might just stay unemployed for the winter. So with the stress of doing the right thing comes the freedom of knowing that no matter what you do or don't do, you're losing your job.
So why stress over that? Because I didn't tell him the truth, not necessarily: "We've got a lot of boxes back there." Instead I kind of soft-played the workload: "We've got ... some boxes back there." (OK, I may have outright lied.) That may have led him to think I'm close when I'm definitely not.
I don't really know what he's going to do next week. He may flip out. Or, as he has from time to time, decided he needs to concentrate on all the other stuff he has to do and just let me do my thing. If so, I'll do the best that I can and pray that he doesn't go off on me, again. Well, at that point I may not give a shit.
OK, maybe I'm not so screwed after all. You can do a hell of a lot of things, or not do a hell of a lot of things, when you don't care anymore.
Friday, November 14, 2014
Well, I Was Given A Drop-Dead Day At Work
Early next month, according to the temp agency. Wow, that's a shock. That is way sooner than last season, where I was there through mid-March, and in fact they didn't leave me but I left them because I was going back to test scoring. This season is even sooner than my first season, when I was cut at mid-December when I was told by my previous boss/mentor/predecessor that they wanted me back after the New Year.
Also, this is not the date I was given by my boss when I left for the day. He said I am gone "once the project is finished," whenever that may be. So I've been given two different dates. Who's right, and who's lying? Is it my boss? Is it the temp agency? Could my boss change his mind and keep me on longer ... or worse, cut me even sooner? Is the agency just dicking me around so they don't mislead me?
All of a sudden I feel ... scared. All of a sudden I miss the chaos at work, even the BS I had to go through today. All of a sudden I don't feel like going to this stripper party tonight. (No, I will, if only to drown my sorrows in my own semen.)
Also, this is not the date I was given by my boss when I left for the day. He said I am gone "once the project is finished," whenever that may be. So I've been given two different dates. Who's right, and who's lying? Is it my boss? Is it the temp agency? Could my boss change his mind and keep me on longer ... or worse, cut me even sooner? Is the agency just dicking me around so they don't mislead me?
All of a sudden I feel ... scared. All of a sudden I miss the chaos at work, even the BS I had to go through today. All of a sudden I don't feel like going to this stripper party tonight. (No, I will, if only to drown my sorrows in my own semen.)
Thursday, November 13, 2014
I Am Forgetful Jones
My day actually started Tuesday. Well, maybe even Monday. We had our first snowstorm Monday. It was supposed to be huge -- forecasts Sunday night said we would get a foot, maybe even 18 inches. We didn't get that much, however, maybe half a foot. That's a huge blessing from Mother Nature. Nevertheless it was the wet and heavy snow, therefore I plowed the driveway.
I said before I love my parents' Toro. It made the driveway so clean that I decided to make it spotless. I turned on both of the cars, just for a few minutes, just so I could move them to the street, just so I could plow the whole driveway. Man, it was beautiful.
After that (and I know this is a long story, just go with me), I was going to fill up my parents' minivan. But since I thought I did such a masterful, manly job with the driveway, and I was going to charge the gasoline to my credit card, I decided to treat myself and go to a Buffalo Wild Wings and charge that.
I indulged in Happy Hour-priced chili con queso, then I ordered eight wings because it was Wing Tuesday. I was going to limit myself to one beer, but due to an overpour mistake (and I don't say this to be arrogant, I'd rather it not happen) I was given another beer (also a Coors Light, just like the one I ordered). And I didn't want to waste the beer, so I stayed 2 1/2 hours to finish the second one.
So by the time I got home, after I left around 5:45 and stopped at the gas station before returning home, it was 9 and I was both full and, well, drunk. So I listened to my body and conked off to sleep at 9:30.
Unfortunately this was unconsciousness due to drunkenness, not fatigue, so I woke up at 2. I realized I needed to do some things online, including the Weekly Minnesota Sports Survey. By the time I did all that, masturbated and brushed my teeth it was an hour before I had to wake up, and I knew by then I wouldn't be able to sneak in another nap. So I tried meditating, laid in my bed till my iPhone sounded the alarm, and I went off, reluctantly, to work.
I could have tried to sneak in some shut-eye during lunch, but not this day. We had a pizza party Wednesday afternoon, to celebrate ... no, to mourn the temps that were fired yesterday. So I got full again with food bad for me, a mere 18 hours after I did it the first time.
Just before the end of my workday I could feel my brain shutting down. That's when waking up too early and not being able to go back to sleep started to hit me. Nevertheless I had to see my psychiatrist (yeah, I should talk about that, or at least as much as I can). Then, as has been my ritual, I went to a place to eat dinner close by so I could wait out the traffic. I was tired, but I made it all the way home.
But not without forgetting a few things. On my way to the shrink I realized I had left my watch at work. Crazy day, again, augmented by the loss of a few good people who I relied on to get the project done. Then, after I got home, I realized that I did not pick up the to-go cup of Coke I had asked my waitress at the restaurant for. It was left sitting on my table. I promptly forgot it as soon as I got up from my seat and put on my coat. Shoot, I even picked up the check from my table, but not the Coke. So I just got up and left it, even though I specifically requested it.
You know, I remember this one time I was at college. A friend of mine was treating me for dinner at Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, Calif. I had leftovers and was going to bring it with me to his car before we saw the documentary Hoop Dreams. But even though it was put in a container and a plastic bag for me, I got up and left, leaving it behind. (My friend obviously didn't notice it either.) So I've done it before.
Question is, How the heck could I forget? One thing I thought of was that I decided not to take a sip of Coke from the to-go cup because (and I don't think this makes me weird) I had eaten a slice of pie (this is place is known for their pies) and I don't think you can wash down dessert with a soft drink because that's, uh, inappropriate. You would think that if you consume something, you would be cognizant of that object and take it with you, you know? That I didn't made it easier for me to forget about it. But I had eaten half of the food with my friend back in college, and I forgot about the to-go box. Also, I had dinner out after seeing my psychiatrist last Wednesday and I asked for a Coke to go and I had dessert and I didn't take sip of Coke when I had my pie, and I remembered to take it home (and I still have that cup of Coke in the fridge).
So, I forgot because it was a long goddamn day, one that was set up from the snowstorm overnight Sunday. OK, I blame you, Mother Nature. I blame you for my waste of a Coke.
Oh, by the way, you all remember who Forgetful Jones is, from Sesame Street, right?
I said before I love my parents' Toro. It made the driveway so clean that I decided to make it spotless. I turned on both of the cars, just for a few minutes, just so I could move them to the street, just so I could plow the whole driveway. Man, it was beautiful.
After that (and I know this is a long story, just go with me), I was going to fill up my parents' minivan. But since I thought I did such a masterful, manly job with the driveway, and I was going to charge the gasoline to my credit card, I decided to treat myself and go to a Buffalo Wild Wings and charge that.
I indulged in Happy Hour-priced chili con queso, then I ordered eight wings because it was Wing Tuesday. I was going to limit myself to one beer, but due to an overpour mistake (and I don't say this to be arrogant, I'd rather it not happen) I was given another beer (also a Coors Light, just like the one I ordered). And I didn't want to waste the beer, so I stayed 2 1/2 hours to finish the second one.
So by the time I got home, after I left around 5:45 and stopped at the gas station before returning home, it was 9 and I was both full and, well, drunk. So I listened to my body and conked off to sleep at 9:30.
Unfortunately this was unconsciousness due to drunkenness, not fatigue, so I woke up at 2. I realized I needed to do some things online, including the Weekly Minnesota Sports Survey. By the time I did all that, masturbated and brushed my teeth it was an hour before I had to wake up, and I knew by then I wouldn't be able to sneak in another nap. So I tried meditating, laid in my bed till my iPhone sounded the alarm, and I went off, reluctantly, to work.
I could have tried to sneak in some shut-eye during lunch, but not this day. We had a pizza party Wednesday afternoon, to celebrate ... no, to mourn the temps that were fired yesterday. So I got full again with food bad for me, a mere 18 hours after I did it the first time.
Just before the end of my workday I could feel my brain shutting down. That's when waking up too early and not being able to go back to sleep started to hit me. Nevertheless I had to see my psychiatrist (yeah, I should talk about that, or at least as much as I can). Then, as has been my ritual, I went to a place to eat dinner close by so I could wait out the traffic. I was tired, but I made it all the way home.
But not without forgetting a few things. On my way to the shrink I realized I had left my watch at work. Crazy day, again, augmented by the loss of a few good people who I relied on to get the project done. Then, after I got home, I realized that I did not pick up the to-go cup of Coke I had asked my waitress at the restaurant for. It was left sitting on my table. I promptly forgot it as soon as I got up from my seat and put on my coat. Shoot, I even picked up the check from my table, but not the Coke. So I just got up and left it, even though I specifically requested it.
You know, I remember this one time I was at college. A friend of mine was treating me for dinner at Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, Calif. I had leftovers and was going to bring it with me to his car before we saw the documentary Hoop Dreams. But even though it was put in a container and a plastic bag for me, I got up and left, leaving it behind. (My friend obviously didn't notice it either.) So I've done it before.
Question is, How the heck could I forget? One thing I thought of was that I decided not to take a sip of Coke from the to-go cup because (and I don't think this makes me weird) I had eaten a slice of pie (this is place is known for their pies) and I don't think you can wash down dessert with a soft drink because that's, uh, inappropriate. You would think that if you consume something, you would be cognizant of that object and take it with you, you know? That I didn't made it easier for me to forget about it. But I had eaten half of the food with my friend back in college, and I forgot about the to-go box. Also, I had dinner out after seeing my psychiatrist last Wednesday and I asked for a Coke to go and I had dessert and I didn't take sip of Coke when I had my pie, and I remembered to take it home (and I still have that cup of Coke in the fridge).
So, I forgot because it was a long goddamn day, one that was set up from the snowstorm overnight Sunday. OK, I blame you, Mother Nature. I blame you for my waste of a Coke.
Oh, by the way, you all remember who Forgetful Jones is, from Sesame Street, right?
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
The Weekly Minnesota Sports Survey
#0: Gopher football (Re-Entry!). This largely was a down week overall for Twin Cities sports. So that makes the University of Minnesota's football team's accomplishment this past Saturday stand out even more. Two weeks after shitting the bed and dampening the good vibes of the season losing at Illinois, they came back to TCF Bank Stadium and absolutely throttled Iowa to take home Floyd of Rosedale, 51-14.
And it wasn't even that close. Swear to God, they looked like a solid, dangerous, even fantastic program. The Gophers took advantage of three Hawkeye turnovers to lead, get this, 35-7 at halftime. If there was going to be a rout in this game, all of us thought the U. would be on the short end. But they weren't, and therefore Minnesota has won both the pig and The Little Brown Jug in the same season for the first time since 1967.
Finally, if I haven't said this before, I should say this again: Jerry Kill should stay on the sidelines as long as he can. We haven't heard anything about his seizures, thank goodness, probably because he's been able to keep them under control. That has coincided with yet another solid year, and they were able to make up for their upset loss to the Illini by upsetting the Hawkeyes.
They now are a half-game behind Nebraska for the lead in the Big Ten West, and they still have upcoming games against the two top contenders in the division, the Cornhuskers and Wisconsin. They come later; first up is the final home game of the year Saturday, against possibly the best team in the Big Ten: Ohio St. The Buckeyes have smoothed themselves out since losing star Quarterback Braxton Miller early in the season, and they're ranked in the top ten in the polls. But the Gophers have finally, finally! cracked the polls themselves (landing at #25 in Tuesday's College Football Playoff poll -- does that count as a poll?). Ohio St. may be good, but Minnesota rarely has been better. Plus, since the game's at home and it should be under temperatures hovering around freezing, there may be no better setting to pull the upset. Game's at 11.
#-1: Gopher men's hockey (Last Week: -5). Beat up Notre Dame over the weekend, routing them by scores of 5-0 and 4-2 Friday and Sunday. The Gophers' Taylor Cammarata and Adam Wilcox took the first two Top Stars from the B1G this week. You'll see many players on this squad get lauded by the league -- not necessarily just because they're good (although they are, although I will wait until the NCAA Tournament), but also because there are only six teams in the Big Ten. This week they have another home-and-home series against an in-state rival, Minnesota-Duluth (here Friday, there Saturday).
#-2: Timberwolves (Last Week: -3). They were on the road all week. They managed to beat back Kevin Garnett and the Brooklyn Nets. But then they lost against crappy Orlando and retooling Miami. Again, I don't expect much from this team this year. No one should. But if you are prone to flights of fancy, you could imagine the club taking both games, or at least the one against the Magic, who were without Victor Oladipo. Instead, they are on a two-game losing streak, and they remain on the road this week, even though Wednesday's game against the Houston Rockets technically is at home. You see, that game will be played in Mexico City, but it's called a home game for the Woofie Dogs. I still don't understand how it could be a home game when the so-called road team is closer to the city you're playing in. Remember that the Wolves were also supposed to play a "home" game in Mexico City last year against the San Antonio Spurs, but that was postponed and moved to Target Center because the arena went up in smoke. After going south of the border, the T-Wolves visit New Orleans Friday and Dallas Saturday.
#-3: Gopher volleyball (Last Week: -8). These Goofs managed to win in four sets at Michigan St., but then were swept at Michigan. That means they have lost six of their last eight matches and stand 5-9 (!) in-conference. This leads one poster in a volleyball chat room to speculate that this team now is on the outside looking in to the NCAA Tournament. They're not even on the bubble -- they're out. And Minnesota is hosting a regional this year! (Actually it may not be the worst thing in the world -- it'd be the first time I got see all neutral games at the Sports Pavilion, and I won't have to worry about getting a good seat.)
They have six games left in the regular season. Also remember that the Big Ten (and every conference in volleyball, I think) don't have tournaments. The big matches against other bubble teams in the B1G come later. But this week features two games that are going to be important for their own reasons. Wednesday Northwestern comes to town, and the U. are looking to avenge a 3-0 result on the road that showed fans how bad this team is this year. That's followed up by a road game against Penn St. on Saturday. A win there would absolutely boost their resume. But there's no chance the Gophs will win.
#-4: Wild (Last Week: -4). The other pro team is also suffering through a losing streak. However, this one may be worse, both because of its length and because of the reasons behind it. They have lost four in a row overall after getting crushed on the road against Ottawa (3-0), Montreal (4-1) and New Jersey (3-1). Also, they have lost leader Zach Parise to a concussion, and there's no telling when he'll be back. Jared Spurgeon is also hurt, damaging depth at the blue line. This would be the time for the young pups to step up, but they haven't yet, therefore the good times and good will the Mild built up at the start of the season is all gone now. This week: home to Buffalo (could be the surest W of the season, but who knows?), at The Team That Was Stolen From Us, home to Winnipeg.
#-Infinity (tie): Gopher soccer and United FC (Last Week: -7 and Re-Entry!, respectively). Finally, we wrap up this WMNSS by putting the soccer season behind us till next year.
It was a long shot for the University of Minnesota Gopher soccer team to make the NCAA Tournament heading into the B1G Tournament. Their final conference record of 7-5-1 was just to pedestrian in a year where Penn St. remained the class of the league and Wisconsin, Michigan and Rutgers had great seasons. They also weren't able to impress with non-conference defeats away from home against Florida St., Ole Miss and Auburn.
So, their only recourse was to make hay in the tourney last weekend. They had a chance if they reached the final, although one may as well win the final and get the automatic bid if you're playing in it. The club started off the tourney in West Lafayette, Ind., very well, upsetting the then-25th-ranked Wolverines in the Big Ten Quarterfinals in double overtime (and just 80 seconds before they were going to decide who advances by doing penalty kicks), off a header by Taylor Wodnick from a cross by Josee Stiever. But their run, and season, ended in the Semifinals to Wisconsin, again. Last time they played the Badgers routing the U. 4-1, but this time there was only one goal scored in the match, by Wisconsin's McKenna Meuer in the ninth minute. Head Coach Stefanie Golan tried to be optimistic after the game, but I have a feeling she knew it was all over. And on Monday, when the field was announced, it was. They finish 11-9-1 overall, but hey, it appears as if Minnesota was picked to finish 11th before the season began. Maybe this is the start of something good. Or, it maybe just another start.
Possibly more heart-breaking, though, is the local second-tier soccer club, United. They were the class of the North American Soccer League this year, winning both the spring and the fall seasons and getting home-field advantage throughout the four-team, single-game playoffs.
Sadly, these aren't these two-leg matches that soccer loves. This is tournament-style, American-style, and it sucks because the chances that the better team loses is at its highest. And it happened Saturday night, when United lost to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. Even more infuriating, the loss happened 1) when the Strikers scored a controversial goal to tie it up and 2) on penalty kicks, which is, without a doubt, the stupidest way to break a tie in world sport. Just fucking play until someone scores, OK? I guess this is all sour grapes; of course I wouldn't be pissing and moaning this much if MUFC won. But they didn't, and what could have been a memorable season turned into ash. That's why I break my general rule about not putting in second-tier clubs in the WMNSS. This loss really could signal the beginning of the end for Minnesota United.
Soccer has really sunken in its roots in the United States this year, I believe. The wind has been whipped up for the past couple years in places like Seattle and Kansas City. But this year I think the World Cup spurred on more people to take in the game. Thus, next year there will be an expansion Major League Soccer team based in, of all places, Orlando, and it appears to be backed up by a genuine grassroots effort that will ensure it becomes a part of the local sports fabric. Meanwhile, and I didn't know this, the Guardian of London ran a story about another NASL team, Indy Eleven. They had a terrible year, yet they had the most home attendance of anyone in the league, surpassing 10,000. This is an expansion team, but its birth came because there was such a huge demand for a team from Indianapolis footy supporters.
I think interest in Minnesota United has swelled as well, but not as much as Indy Eleven. But it's not as much as Indy Eleven, nor do I think is it as genuine. That's because I believe the growing crowds were a result of the team -- that it won, basically. That's great; that's even the "proper" way to gain fans for your team, on-field success. But crushing upsets like this allows American antipathy to butt up against soccer fanaticism. Will this hurt United's casual fan base and season-ticket holders, especially after what was supposed to be a coronation of a postseason turned into what could be the Atlanta Falcons NFC Championship Game for Minnesota professional soccer? I'm serious when I say that this defeat could damage this team, this franchise, and this organization. Why in the hell could Minnesota sports fans support a team that was supposed to win and didn't? I'm really scared for this club, I really am.
And it wasn't even that close. Swear to God, they looked like a solid, dangerous, even fantastic program. The Gophers took advantage of three Hawkeye turnovers to lead, get this, 35-7 at halftime. If there was going to be a rout in this game, all of us thought the U. would be on the short end. But they weren't, and therefore Minnesota has won both the pig and The Little Brown Jug in the same season for the first time since 1967.
Finally, if I haven't said this before, I should say this again: Jerry Kill should stay on the sidelines as long as he can. We haven't heard anything about his seizures, thank goodness, probably because he's been able to keep them under control. That has coincided with yet another solid year, and they were able to make up for their upset loss to the Illini by upsetting the Hawkeyes.
They now are a half-game behind Nebraska for the lead in the Big Ten West, and they still have upcoming games against the two top contenders in the division, the Cornhuskers and Wisconsin. They come later; first up is the final home game of the year Saturday, against possibly the best team in the Big Ten: Ohio St. The Buckeyes have smoothed themselves out since losing star Quarterback Braxton Miller early in the season, and they're ranked in the top ten in the polls. But the Gophers have finally, finally! cracked the polls themselves (landing at #25 in Tuesday's College Football Playoff poll -- does that count as a poll?). Ohio St. may be good, but Minnesota rarely has been better. Plus, since the game's at home and it should be under temperatures hovering around freezing, there may be no better setting to pull the upset. Game's at 11.
#-1: Gopher men's hockey (Last Week: -5). Beat up Notre Dame over the weekend, routing them by scores of 5-0 and 4-2 Friday and Sunday. The Gophers' Taylor Cammarata and Adam Wilcox took the first two Top Stars from the B1G this week. You'll see many players on this squad get lauded by the league -- not necessarily just because they're good (although they are, although I will wait until the NCAA Tournament), but also because there are only six teams in the Big Ten. This week they have another home-and-home series against an in-state rival, Minnesota-Duluth (here Friday, there Saturday).
#-2: Timberwolves (Last Week: -3). They were on the road all week. They managed to beat back Kevin Garnett and the Brooklyn Nets. But then they lost against crappy Orlando and retooling Miami. Again, I don't expect much from this team this year. No one should. But if you are prone to flights of fancy, you could imagine the club taking both games, or at least the one against the Magic, who were without Victor Oladipo. Instead, they are on a two-game losing streak, and they remain on the road this week, even though Wednesday's game against the Houston Rockets technically is at home. You see, that game will be played in Mexico City, but it's called a home game for the Woofie Dogs. I still don't understand how it could be a home game when the so-called road team is closer to the city you're playing in. Remember that the Wolves were also supposed to play a "home" game in Mexico City last year against the San Antonio Spurs, but that was postponed and moved to Target Center because the arena went up in smoke. After going south of the border, the T-Wolves visit New Orleans Friday and Dallas Saturday.
#-3: Gopher volleyball (Last Week: -8). These Goofs managed to win in four sets at Michigan St., but then were swept at Michigan. That means they have lost six of their last eight matches and stand 5-9 (!) in-conference. This leads one poster in a volleyball chat room to speculate that this team now is on the outside looking in to the NCAA Tournament. They're not even on the bubble -- they're out. And Minnesota is hosting a regional this year! (Actually it may not be the worst thing in the world -- it'd be the first time I got see all neutral games at the Sports Pavilion, and I won't have to worry about getting a good seat.)
They have six games left in the regular season. Also remember that the Big Ten (and every conference in volleyball, I think) don't have tournaments. The big matches against other bubble teams in the B1G come later. But this week features two games that are going to be important for their own reasons. Wednesday Northwestern comes to town, and the U. are looking to avenge a 3-0 result on the road that showed fans how bad this team is this year. That's followed up by a road game against Penn St. on Saturday. A win there would absolutely boost their resume. But there's no chance the Gophs will win.
#-4: Wild (Last Week: -4). The other pro team is also suffering through a losing streak. However, this one may be worse, both because of its length and because of the reasons behind it. They have lost four in a row overall after getting crushed on the road against Ottawa (3-0), Montreal (4-1) and New Jersey (3-1). Also, they have lost leader Zach Parise to a concussion, and there's no telling when he'll be back. Jared Spurgeon is also hurt, damaging depth at the blue line. This would be the time for the young pups to step up, but they haven't yet, therefore the good times and good will the Mild built up at the start of the season is all gone now. This week: home to Buffalo (could be the surest W of the season, but who knows?), at The Team That Was Stolen From Us, home to Winnipeg.
#-Infinity (tie): Gopher soccer and United FC (Last Week: -7 and Re-Entry!, respectively). Finally, we wrap up this WMNSS by putting the soccer season behind us till next year.
It was a long shot for the University of Minnesota Gopher soccer team to make the NCAA Tournament heading into the B1G Tournament. Their final conference record of 7-5-1 was just to pedestrian in a year where Penn St. remained the class of the league and Wisconsin, Michigan and Rutgers had great seasons. They also weren't able to impress with non-conference defeats away from home against Florida St., Ole Miss and Auburn.
So, their only recourse was to make hay in the tourney last weekend. They had a chance if they reached the final, although one may as well win the final and get the automatic bid if you're playing in it. The club started off the tourney in West Lafayette, Ind., very well, upsetting the then-25th-ranked Wolverines in the Big Ten Quarterfinals in double overtime (and just 80 seconds before they were going to decide who advances by doing penalty kicks), off a header by Taylor Wodnick from a cross by Josee Stiever. But their run, and season, ended in the Semifinals to Wisconsin, again. Last time they played the Badgers routing the U. 4-1, but this time there was only one goal scored in the match, by Wisconsin's McKenna Meuer in the ninth minute. Head Coach Stefanie Golan tried to be optimistic after the game, but I have a feeling she knew it was all over. And on Monday, when the field was announced, it was. They finish 11-9-1 overall, but hey, it appears as if Minnesota was picked to finish 11th before the season began. Maybe this is the start of something good. Or, it maybe just another start.
Possibly more heart-breaking, though, is the local second-tier soccer club, United. They were the class of the North American Soccer League this year, winning both the spring and the fall seasons and getting home-field advantage throughout the four-team, single-game playoffs.
Sadly, these aren't these two-leg matches that soccer loves. This is tournament-style, American-style, and it sucks because the chances that the better team loses is at its highest. And it happened Saturday night, when United lost to the Fort Lauderdale Strikers. Even more infuriating, the loss happened 1) when the Strikers scored a controversial goal to tie it up and 2) on penalty kicks, which is, without a doubt, the stupidest way to break a tie in world sport. Just fucking play until someone scores, OK? I guess this is all sour grapes; of course I wouldn't be pissing and moaning this much if MUFC won. But they didn't, and what could have been a memorable season turned into ash. That's why I break my general rule about not putting in second-tier clubs in the WMNSS. This loss really could signal the beginning of the end for Minnesota United.
Soccer has really sunken in its roots in the United States this year, I believe. The wind has been whipped up for the past couple years in places like Seattle and Kansas City. But this year I think the World Cup spurred on more people to take in the game. Thus, next year there will be an expansion Major League Soccer team based in, of all places, Orlando, and it appears to be backed up by a genuine grassroots effort that will ensure it becomes a part of the local sports fabric. Meanwhile, and I didn't know this, the Guardian of London ran a story about another NASL team, Indy Eleven. They had a terrible year, yet they had the most home attendance of anyone in the league, surpassing 10,000. This is an expansion team, but its birth came because there was such a huge demand for a team from Indianapolis footy supporters.
I think interest in Minnesota United has swelled as well, but not as much as Indy Eleven. But it's not as much as Indy Eleven, nor do I think is it as genuine. That's because I believe the growing crowds were a result of the team -- that it won, basically. That's great; that's even the "proper" way to gain fans for your team, on-field success. But crushing upsets like this allows American antipathy to butt up against soccer fanaticism. Will this hurt United's casual fan base and season-ticket holders, especially after what was supposed to be a coronation of a postseason turned into what could be the Atlanta Falcons NFC Championship Game for Minnesota professional soccer? I'm serious when I say that this defeat could damage this team, this franchise, and this organization. Why in the hell could Minnesota sports fans support a team that was supposed to win and didn't? I'm really scared for this club, I really am.
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
They Recognize The Pain In Me (Scheduled Post)
Move 'em over? Why don't you fuckin' move 'em over? I've got shit to do -- shit you want me to do. If you're not gonna be around, I'm just gonna do what the fuck I like. And if you don't like it, I am now at the point where you can fire me and I don't give a flying fuck. You can probably take it from here, asshole.
You know, this isn't the first time he's talked down to me.
---
There's someone at work whom I've been working a little closely with for my project. I've known her since I began there three seasons ago. But this year I've had to do more things for her. Because of that, and for the mutual stress we've been dealing with in what has become a very trying project, we've been talking a lot about how we're feeling about the project and how we're feeling about each other.
Today after work we vented again about how things are going. I kind of alluded to what my boss (who's still on vacation) ordered me to do, and she started talking about him. We've had some heart-to-heart talks over these few weeks, but I have to admit that one part struck a chord with me: She picked up on my comment about my asshole boss and said that she also sees how he "treats" me, and how he's always talking down to me. I didn't want to break down and cry, but honestly, when she saw that, when she got to the truth of me and how I was really feeling, I turned into the little boy who cried constantly. I wanted to break down in front of her, because by acknowledging the truth about him, she made it OK for me to let my guard down.
Well, I didn't. But she was candid about asking for feedback on the project (and him) after all of this was over. I have had enough of this guy, and I think I don't want to be back, ever. So I'll take her up on her offer and unload on him.
---
Before today I planned on talking to the temp agency about my boss as well. I still felt he hung me out to dry when he called from wherever he's vacationing from and told me he was cutting some people. So before I took out the snowblower to clear my driveway (Toros are the best, by the way -- half-hour and it was totally clear!), a bit after 5 in the afternoon, I called my contact there.
It was about 25 minutes, but I felt a hell of a lot better. I told him about how I felt overwhelmed, how I felt like my boss screwed me, and basically bitching about how he's an abusive and demanding prick. Unlike this woman at work he either didn't believe he's a bully or he was being diplomatic. But he empathized with me and, more importantly, said that I was put in an unfair situation. I have no idea if there is a side temp agencies take, and I was afraid he would side with the clients, i.e. the companies that pay the agency money. And I still don't know if my talking to him is going to lead anywhere. But I felt a lot better after talking to him.
---
So now dealing with my asshole boss as he wants to know how we're progressing through the envelopes. I'm probably a lot farther behind that he would want, but I don't care. Like I said before, if he wants to fire me, at this point I'm actually OK with that.
You know, this isn't the first time he's talked down to me.
---
There's someone at work whom I've been working a little closely with for my project. I've known her since I began there three seasons ago. But this year I've had to do more things for her. Because of that, and for the mutual stress we've been dealing with in what has become a very trying project, we've been talking a lot about how we're feeling about the project and how we're feeling about each other.
Today after work we vented again about how things are going. I kind of alluded to what my boss (who's still on vacation) ordered me to do, and she started talking about him. We've had some heart-to-heart talks over these few weeks, but I have to admit that one part struck a chord with me: She picked up on my comment about my asshole boss and said that she also sees how he "treats" me, and how he's always talking down to me. I didn't want to break down and cry, but honestly, when she saw that, when she got to the truth of me and how I was really feeling, I turned into the little boy who cried constantly. I wanted to break down in front of her, because by acknowledging the truth about him, she made it OK for me to let my guard down.
Well, I didn't. But she was candid about asking for feedback on the project (and him) after all of this was over. I have had enough of this guy, and I think I don't want to be back, ever. So I'll take her up on her offer and unload on him.
---
Before today I planned on talking to the temp agency about my boss as well. I still felt he hung me out to dry when he called from wherever he's vacationing from and told me he was cutting some people. So before I took out the snowblower to clear my driveway (Toros are the best, by the way -- half-hour and it was totally clear!), a bit after 5 in the afternoon, I called my contact there.
It was about 25 minutes, but I felt a hell of a lot better. I told him about how I felt overwhelmed, how I felt like my boss screwed me, and basically bitching about how he's an abusive and demanding prick. Unlike this woman at work he either didn't believe he's a bully or he was being diplomatic. But he empathized with me and, more importantly, said that I was put in an unfair situation. I have no idea if there is a side temp agencies take, and I was afraid he would side with the clients, i.e. the companies that pay the agency money. And I still don't know if my talking to him is going to lead anywhere. But I felt a lot better after talking to him.
---
So now dealing with my asshole boss as he wants to know how we're progressing through the envelopes. I'm probably a lot farther behind that he would want, but I don't care. Like I said before, if he wants to fire me, at this point I'm actually OK with that.
Monday, November 10, 2014
Forget What I've Said Before: Monday Will Be The Worst Day Of This Job
This morning, I'm going to have to face several people who are going to ask why they've been cut. Never mind the fact the cruel way they've been cut, by the temp agency after they went home. Their last days weren't Friday. You see, they get to come back and work for a little while longer. They're the walking dead, and I get to see them until they're done. My boss, however, won't have to see them, because that fucking asshole's still on vacation. Which means I have to clean up his mess. And after thinking about this entire weekend, I still don't know what I can say that'll make the situation better nor prevent me from getting my fucking ass kicked.
This could have been handled so much better. My boss should be here. He should have told them face-to-face, instead of going out like a bitch and asking the agency (and me) to do the dirty work for him. Guess it doesn't matter; the temps know that he's relying on what I see, they're not stupid. I deeply resent him for swinging this ax when he doesn't have the balls to do all this bullshit himself. I'm a temp just like them, and I deeply resent being set-up like this. I can't look these people in the eye. They deserved a better shake than what that asshole decided to do. I deserve a better shake.
So the only thing I can think of that could potentially salve the hurt feelings of those who'll be out of a job soon is to come in early, be a man and answer any questions they may have. (Although I will also tell the truth and tell them that I was blindsided with this news too. Maybe they'll believe me.) Unfortunately the "coming in early" part is going to be impossible to do because there's a goddamn snowstorm that's coming in overnight. I already wake up too early; and I was planning to wake up even earlier than that so I can be a man to my temps. But I know have to wake up even earlier than to shovel snow out of the driveway and to drive (very slowly) on the streets. Just so I can be a stand-up fella and hope that no one takes a swing at me or yells at me.
Monday isn't going to just suck. I have to answer to my actions from people who deserve answers, and I still don't know how to defend myself. Plus I have to deal with this fucking weather.
I truly, truly hate this fucking job now.
Sunday, November 9, 2014
In Minnesota, SuperAmerica Is As Ubiquitous As Starbucks
Minnesota is weird in many ways. We have chain stores, but none of the chains here are national. Grocery stores, for example. We have Cub Foods and, until recently, Rainbow Foods. They are big, but they're only regional. There are no Albertson's or Kroger's around here.
Same thing with gas stations. When I was helping out a Twins game once I was tasked to fill up a car with gas at a Shell station because he had a Shell card. It took me two hours before I found one, and that ordeal ended when I realized that there was a Shell station relatively close by my house. Moreover there are no longer any Phillips 66s, or Conocos, or Mobils. (There are a lot of British Petroleum stations here, though.) What we have instead are two regional mega-chains that I'm sure are nowhere else in the country: Holiday and SuperAmerica. Those two chains alone probably comprise 70-80% of the gas stations in the state.
Several months ago SA, which I patronize because they have double-discount coupon Tuesdays, bought this independent station within walking distance to my house. It is also three or four blocks away from the SuperAmerica I usually get my gas from.
I am typing this at My Favorite Late-Night Italian Place. I'm here just after stopping at the old SA in order to fill up my tank and dump garbage into their garbage cans. With reward card discount and coupon, I paid $2.71 per gallon of gas. But when I drove past the new SuperAmerica on my way to eat, I see that the sign on this sign, with discount and coupon, $2.79. How in the hell can two stations from the same brand just four blocks apart have prices for gasoline eight cents apart? Do the managers talk to each other every day? Do they even step outside their stations to look at the price at the other's?
Same thing with gas stations. When I was helping out a Twins game once I was tasked to fill up a car with gas at a Shell station because he had a Shell card. It took me two hours before I found one, and that ordeal ended when I realized that there was a Shell station relatively close by my house. Moreover there are no longer any Phillips 66s, or Conocos, or Mobils. (There are a lot of British Petroleum stations here, though.) What we have instead are two regional mega-chains that I'm sure are nowhere else in the country: Holiday and SuperAmerica. Those two chains alone probably comprise 70-80% of the gas stations in the state.
Several months ago SA, which I patronize because they have double-discount coupon Tuesdays, bought this independent station within walking distance to my house. It is also three or four blocks away from the SuperAmerica I usually get my gas from.
I am typing this at My Favorite Late-Night Italian Place. I'm here just after stopping at the old SA in order to fill up my tank and dump garbage into their garbage cans. With reward card discount and coupon, I paid $2.71 per gallon of gas. But when I drove past the new SuperAmerica on my way to eat, I see that the sign on this sign, with discount and coupon, $2.79. How in the hell can two stations from the same brand just four blocks apart have prices for gasoline eight cents apart? Do the managers talk to each other every day? Do they even step outside their stations to look at the price at the other's?
Saturday, November 8, 2014
Expenses Without Receipts
Starting from Friday, November 7:
- After what probably is the shittiest day at work (in a way that somehow puts all the other shitty days at work to shame) I went to My Favorite Stripclub (Non-Cover Version), which I have mentioned on WAF. Coffee and tips to the only two girls working this shift that take two bucks on-stage: $7.
- Thursday the 6th ... I had to do some things related to my parents' real estate holdings. After that I decided to treat myself to a Perfect Burger and Michelob Golden Light at Victory 44, probably the toniest restaurant in the Camden area of the Twin Cities. Really good; it's the second time I've had it, and the meal was probably better this time around. Paid cash for it this time. With tip: $12.50.
- Sunday, November 2 -- Went to My Favorite Stripclub (Non-Cover Edition), per my usual routine after working the Vikings game. Was so tired from the day (plus the fact that Sunday was the end of Daylight Saving Time, where I always feel my body shut down now that sunset arrives a whole hour earlier) that I actually took a nap in my car in the parking lot for ten minutes. Afterward I got a dance from Haley alongside coffee and tips from six girls spanning shift change. So glad that all six women took two bucks: $35.
- Oh, while I was in My Favorite Stripclub (Non-Cover Division) I picked up a quarter. An Infusion of: 25 cents.
- After fixing the washing machine and getting my daily blog post in I went out to My Favorite Late-Night Italian Place to order the exact same thing (just a milkshake, no drink) that I did once in October so I would know the exact amount of money I spent that time and thus this time. And with tip it is: $3.75.
- On Saturday the 1st I started my spending at Wendy's. It was the last weekend I could use this pamphlet of coupons there. They have generous coupons, many of them where you can get a free fries and drink if you buy the sandwich. I used one of those for their Asiago Ranch Chicken sandwich. Too bad the sandwich is more then five bucks, specifically: $5.35
- Later in the afternoon I went to the Vice-President's house to watch the game. We got a lot of turnout there. So maybe it's the location? We were finally able to enact the 50/50 Raffle for the first time in a month, and I lost: $10.
- I made a night of it after the win: Went to Caffetto, mostly because I needed to write down my monthly expenses and do this. Got a pumpkin pie and hot chocolate. Gave up my table to a couple and volunteered to take a spot at the bar. The place is so busy that I should start automatically sitting up front. With tip: $7.25.
- I needed to go to My Favorite Late-Night Italian Place because I didn't write down my bill one of the last times I went, so I'm going to order the exact same thing so I can jot the price down. Except that last time I didn't get a Coke with mozzarella sticks and chili, so I'm going to have to ask how much is tax and figure it out. Hopefully asking for tax won't freak her out, because I don't think she gets asked that question a lot. With tip: $11.
- Halloween ... my usual ritual of getting out and enjoying the night to avoid the trick-or-treaters. That the holiday fell on a Friday makes it even more apt for me to go to My Favorite Stripclub (Cover Version). And it was extremely weird to see the place ... dead. Half of the club was closed off, and there were only five girls working then. Apparently people want to party with friends instead of see tits for Halloween. At least one of the strippers working was my All-Time Favorite. Because the rotations were so short, however, we couldn't rip off ten dances in a row, which is what I usually get from her, because she would be called onstage so frequently. Plus she said she had other regulars she needed to dance for. So I stopped at eight dances, four before and four after she had to do a stage show. I still get to come in free because I bring a food donation. With Corona and tips: $103.
- Thursday, October 30: I waited until the day before to set up bill pay to pay for my health insurance. But I didn't know until after I signed up and set up everything that the bank "sends" a "check" that will get to the payee up to five business days after it's issued. I need to premium paid before the end of the month, so that wouldn't do the trick. Therefore, for the third month in a row, I drove all the way to St. Paul to pay for my health insurance in person: $50.
- I read a text after leaving work from my friend who gets Timberwolves tickets. It was last-minute, like a few hours before. Wanted to watch It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, but I saw it once before this season, plus I can't pass up the chance to get a free ticket for a sporting event featuring a team that may be bad but has a lot of talent. And it was close, but the Timberwolves did win their home opener over Detroit. I'm heartened that if you get a complimentary ticket, prices for anything else you want to buy suddenly becomes reasonable. A hot dog and regular Coke at a T-Wolves game cost: $11.
- After the game, just because, even though I wasn't hungry, I went to Pizza Luce to eat a pizza, nothing else. With tip: $5.
- Tuesday, October 28 ... I threw up this date because some day around this time I picked up a nickel off the ground. An Infusion of: 5 cents.
- Sunday the 26th ... decided not to stay in and instead headed out to watch the University of Minnesota's final home game of the season, a 2-0 upset of Rutgers. Program, hot dog and Coke equal: $9.
- Afterward I felt so much guilt that I hadn't worked out that I made a beeline to the gym. Admission: $3.
- To Saturday the 25th, where, after the game, I had to go to My Favorite Late-Night Italian Place ... not to eat, but to watch SportsCenter and Fox Sports Live to watch highlights of the World Series and college football. I totally wasn't hungry, at all, so I just asked for a chocolate milkshake. And because I went back about a week later to write down exactly how much I paid for just a chocolate milkshake, I now know how much I paid for it this, including tip: $3.75.
- On Friday, October 24, I had to meet my folks' property manager to collect rent checks. There was no reason to go back home because I wanted to see the Gopher women's soccer game (they beat Maryland 1-0), which was relatively close by. So I went to Glam Doll Donuts to bide my time. With coffee and tip: $11.
- The game was good, a Gopher victory (though the team probably didn't win enough to get into the NCAA Tournament). Program, hot dog and small regular Coke is still a very good bargain for an evening out: $9.
- After the match I went to the movies. I racked up enough points for a free movie ticket, but it was going to expire that Monday. I waited until the weekend because I wanted to be comped for a showing that would otherwise have been the most expensive ticket at that theater. Unfortunately there was no other time to use it on the weekend (which obviously is the time of the week where prices for admission are the highest) than after the game on Friday, when I wasn't exactly at my hungriest. I know, I know, eating isn't the first thing I should think of when I go to the movies. But that was my mindset when I went to see The Equalizer, which, by the way, isn't that good besides the fact that Denzel Washington once again plays an invincible loner who kicks ass. By the way, regular prices for popcorn and pop I think cost more than those two items plus a ticket at another theater on Tuesdays: $11.
- I have been so preoccupied with other shit that I see a huge gap all the way back to Saturday the 18th. After going through all my blog posts I think I'm right, but it's been so far ago that I'm not sure. We start the day with my ATF ***e* coming to my place to give me a well-deserved handie: $80.
- I then went to Billy's On Grand to watch my alma mater's game. One fan/member of the club reserved (or should I say "reserved") the big TV at this place in St. Paul the day of. Not the greatest of timing, but good to see that the club still "scheduled" this. To thank Billy's On Grand I ordered a pricey entree. With tip: $35.
- Afterwards (I think, maybe after I went home, I don't remember) I went to My Favorite Stripclub (Non-Cover Division). No coffee, just tips and a dance from this woman I've "known" for a long time, Savannah: $28.
- I then went to My Favorite Late-Night Italian Place. Ate at Billy's, so I didn't have much of an appetite, but I still mustered enough stomach to stomach mozzarella sticks and chili. Didn't jot down the price of this meal, so I ordered those two same items (with a Coke) a later time there to figure out how much I paid, with tip: $8.75.
- I think/guess the previous EWR came on Tuesday the 14th, when I also visited the property manager. I also went to Glam Doll, mostly to wait till the traffic died down. Love the donuts, but they're so expensive! With tip: $14.
- Sunday, October 12 ... went to My Favorite Stripclub (Non-Cover Division) after working the Vikes game. Coffee and tips equal: $11.
- Saturday the 11th ... woke up in the morning for my city's semi-annual appliance and electronics drop-off "event." Finally had to say goodbye to the TV I had since, I think, the 6th grade. Just didn't work, and I tried to turn it on one final time the night before -- nothing. Had to pay to get it dumped, but it was time. I wasn't going to be a hoarded over a heavy, old-style cathode ray tube TV: $5.
- Went to our regular bar to watch my alma mater that evening. It was the night of the Zombie Pub Crawl, but the owner was nice enough to give us a TV in the corner (with the sound turned up) so we could watch. The only other person to come was the VIP. I thanked him by buying a beer for him. With tip: $11.
- Friday the 10th I started my weekend by stopping by My Favorite Stripclub (Non-Cover Version) for coffee and tips: $11.
- I then went to this new are close to home that suddenly has turned into a shopping hub. Went to McDonald's to play Monopoly. Don't know why, though, since the game's rigged and I never win. Thought I had a receipt for my meal, but I can't find it anywhere, so this amount I pulled out of my ass: $8.09.
- Think the previous EWR to this is afternoon of Sunday, October 5, at the Gopher women's soccer match against Ohio St. (I think it was the Buckeyes; if so it was a scoreless tie). Program, hot dog and Coke -- you know, the usual: $9.
- Back to Saturday the 4th, where, after I watched my alma mater's football game I went to My Favorite Late-Night Italian Place for spaghetti. With tip: $13.50.
Friday, November 7, 2014
My Boss' Sudden, Spontaneous Hatchet Man
Holy shit, the ax fell quick! Not on me, others. But my time's now coming.
It was at the end of the shift today, and my boss, who's on vacation, calls me to see how much work is left. I had noticed that the envelopes have slowed to just a trickle, to the point that I suddenly had to worry that we would be running out of work. (I'm not out of work, by the way -- for yet another day I've been running around like a chicken with its head cut off.) So I told him. "OK," he said, "Who should I keep? I have to start cutting people."
Goddamn you, what a blindside. What could I say? Over these weeks I made small assessments about who was good and who wasn't, and from there I quickly answered his questions. He then said he will make the call to the temp agency. From there, the agency will tell those guys that they will no longer be needed.
Despite the workload, I am shocked, completely shocked, that he has decided to let people go now. On the first meeting, he said it would be until mid-November, if not later, before the project ends. I guess we've been too good, or there've been too many people working for the workload to stretch past the first week of the month. I just didn't think when I woke up this morning that I would be making the calls to fire people.
And oh yeah, that is what I'm doing, making the calls. Despite what my boss has said, and he may be willing to take the heat, he is basing his decisions on input from me. He had to. He wasn't around these guys, I was. So the guys whom I said to let go know that I had a part in this decision, a big one -- maybe the only one. So I'm scared -- fuck it, I know -- that one or more of those people are going to take a swing at me Monday.
I don't appreciate, then, that he's out of town. It's a hell of a lot easier to take the heat when you're not in the building. Who is? Me. And I don't like being put in this position, especially when I didn't get a head's-up about it. He may think that he's saving money by making this decision now. After all, we're all temps. But I just find it kind of funny that bad news comes when he's away, but I'm around. That really is a dick move.
---
I immediately regret my decision on who to cut and who to keep. I should have totally based it on tenure, but I didn't. In particular I decided to keep one guy over people who had been there weeks before. That will be a very difficult decision to defend. Fuck it, I can't defend it, even though he does good work.
Why did I have to make a mental pecking order, and why did I blurt that out to my boss? Now all the temps (those who stay as well as those who go) are going to wonder, "Why is s/he leaving but s/he is staying?" And if they start to ask questions, what the fuck am I going to say to them? They're not going to accept that it was my boss' decision, because they know that he based that on what I fucking told him! That's why I should have just kept those that have been there the longest. Everybody would understand that. But I decided to put my own flavor on the firings instead, and if there's any blowback (or physical blows) I've got no one who's got my back.
Nice move, boss!
Honestly, if I had my way I would've taken out The Two (who, I must say, have been friendlier to me as of late, but too much has come between us to put them ahead of most of the others). But it's not my call, it's his. I just get to reap the consequences.
---
I may have tipped my hand during my conversation with him. Once he told me he was going to make the call to the temp agency, I kind of hemmed and hawed. I didn't say, "No, don't fire these people!" but I think it was too late. He heard the weakness in my voice. And I don't think he liked that.
And that means only one thing: I'm getting fired next. I know he doesn't like what I told him, and he thinks of me as a weak link. He also sees me as his former employer's guy. So why not cut me? He's got two people -- The Two -- either of whom can replace me. And he has shaped them to his specifications, while I'm a defective relic from a previous year. Plus, they're cheaper.
I am so fucked. And you know what? It's probably deserved, too. I have assumed most of the responsibilities of my former boss. My current boss did to him what he potentially could do to me. So if I came back to take my former boss' duties, what right do I have to complain about another temp taking mine? I don't. If I wanted to take the high road, I wouldn't have come back. But I did, and therefore I put myself in the crosshairs of any whim my current boss has percolating in his brain.
Hell, I deserve all the bad fucking karma I get. I'm the one firing these people. I'm a temp, and I don't like it when I get fired, and I feel like punching people when I do. So I totally understand if someone wants to punch me in the face. We're talking about employment here -- money, the ability to get by, dignity. I took that away from them. So despite my fear of getting assaulted (the possibility of which increases the more I think about it), I really believe that I deserve everything that's coming to me, whether it's questions, anger, or violence.
---
I didn't plan on spending any money today. I have to pick up my car from the shop, and then I was going to go out and have coffee, but I was going to use my credit card. But now that all this shit has been thrown onto my lap, I decided I deserved a trip to My Favorite Stripclub (Non-Cover Division). As I type this I'm scarfing down potato chips with dip. God I'm going to be so goddamn fat from all the stress eating.
Meanwhile I now feel as if I have to conserve money. All this news about firing people has me thinking about the time I lose this job (which, by the way, really could come any day now, regardless of whether the project ends quickly or if he thinks I'm too weak to keep around). Now the bank account doesn't seem so huge, and the lifestyle I enjoyed now feels a little too extravagant. I have spent a lot of money on my car, a lot on eating, and a lot on strippers. There was always going to be a time when the paychecks stop coming, but now I am frightened that it's coming a lot sooner. Then what?
I don't know. Never have.
---
I noted that I was at My Favorite Stripclub (Non-Cover Edition) when the temp agency probably called them. It's also a dick move, letting a third party tell them you're losing your job after the workday's over, but that's how it's done with the corporation I work for. I got fired from Xcel Energy a few hours after I wished everyone a Happy New Year, and that firing came through a call from the agency.
I wonder what those guys felt when they heard the news. So informal, so heartless, so ... cold. Did they get angry and throw things? Did they cry? Did they go into panic mode and start searching the want ads? Worst of all, they're not done yet. They actually slouch back to work for several more days. Now that I think about it, it's probably better if today were their last day. No chance to retaliate against me.
Nevertheless I still feel for them. And now I have to face them come Monday. I was hoping this weekend would be a respite from all the bullshit at work. But, yet again, I have to worry for the next two days about going back to work. Not gonna be pleasant. And all because my boss decided to drop a bomb on me while he's on vacation so I have to clean up his mess.
It was at the end of the shift today, and my boss, who's on vacation, calls me to see how much work is left. I had noticed that the envelopes have slowed to just a trickle, to the point that I suddenly had to worry that we would be running out of work. (I'm not out of work, by the way -- for yet another day I've been running around like a chicken with its head cut off.) So I told him. "OK," he said, "Who should I keep? I have to start cutting people."
Goddamn you, what a blindside. What could I say? Over these weeks I made small assessments about who was good and who wasn't, and from there I quickly answered his questions. He then said he will make the call to the temp agency. From there, the agency will tell those guys that they will no longer be needed.
Despite the workload, I am shocked, completely shocked, that he has decided to let people go now. On the first meeting, he said it would be until mid-November, if not later, before the project ends. I guess we've been too good, or there've been too many people working for the workload to stretch past the first week of the month. I just didn't think when I woke up this morning that I would be making the calls to fire people.
And oh yeah, that is what I'm doing, making the calls. Despite what my boss has said, and he may be willing to take the heat, he is basing his decisions on input from me. He had to. He wasn't around these guys, I was. So the guys whom I said to let go know that I had a part in this decision, a big one -- maybe the only one. So I'm scared -- fuck it, I know -- that one or more of those people are going to take a swing at me Monday.
I don't appreciate, then, that he's out of town. It's a hell of a lot easier to take the heat when you're not in the building. Who is? Me. And I don't like being put in this position, especially when I didn't get a head's-up about it. He may think that he's saving money by making this decision now. After all, we're all temps. But I just find it kind of funny that bad news comes when he's away, but I'm around. That really is a dick move.
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I immediately regret my decision on who to cut and who to keep. I should have totally based it on tenure, but I didn't. In particular I decided to keep one guy over people who had been there weeks before. That will be a very difficult decision to defend. Fuck it, I can't defend it, even though he does good work.
Why did I have to make a mental pecking order, and why did I blurt that out to my boss? Now all the temps (those who stay as well as those who go) are going to wonder, "Why is s/he leaving but s/he is staying?" And if they start to ask questions, what the fuck am I going to say to them? They're not going to accept that it was my boss' decision, because they know that he based that on what I fucking told him! That's why I should have just kept those that have been there the longest. Everybody would understand that. But I decided to put my own flavor on the firings instead, and if there's any blowback (or physical blows) I've got no one who's got my back.
Nice move, boss!
Honestly, if I had my way I would've taken out The Two (who, I must say, have been friendlier to me as of late, but too much has come between us to put them ahead of most of the others). But it's not my call, it's his. I just get to reap the consequences.
---
I may have tipped my hand during my conversation with him. Once he told me he was going to make the call to the temp agency, I kind of hemmed and hawed. I didn't say, "No, don't fire these people!" but I think it was too late. He heard the weakness in my voice. And I don't think he liked that.
And that means only one thing: I'm getting fired next. I know he doesn't like what I told him, and he thinks of me as a weak link. He also sees me as his former employer's guy. So why not cut me? He's got two people -- The Two -- either of whom can replace me. And he has shaped them to his specifications, while I'm a defective relic from a previous year. Plus, they're cheaper.
I am so fucked. And you know what? It's probably deserved, too. I have assumed most of the responsibilities of my former boss. My current boss did to him what he potentially could do to me. So if I came back to take my former boss' duties, what right do I have to complain about another temp taking mine? I don't. If I wanted to take the high road, I wouldn't have come back. But I did, and therefore I put myself in the crosshairs of any whim my current boss has percolating in his brain.
Hell, I deserve all the bad fucking karma I get. I'm the one firing these people. I'm a temp, and I don't like it when I get fired, and I feel like punching people when I do. So I totally understand if someone wants to punch me in the face. We're talking about employment here -- money, the ability to get by, dignity. I took that away from them. So despite my fear of getting assaulted (the possibility of which increases the more I think about it), I really believe that I deserve everything that's coming to me, whether it's questions, anger, or violence.
---
I didn't plan on spending any money today. I have to pick up my car from the shop, and then I was going to go out and have coffee, but I was going to use my credit card. But now that all this shit has been thrown onto my lap, I decided I deserved a trip to My Favorite Stripclub (Non-Cover Division). As I type this I'm scarfing down potato chips with dip. God I'm going to be so goddamn fat from all the stress eating.
Meanwhile I now feel as if I have to conserve money. All this news about firing people has me thinking about the time I lose this job (which, by the way, really could come any day now, regardless of whether the project ends quickly or if he thinks I'm too weak to keep around). Now the bank account doesn't seem so huge, and the lifestyle I enjoyed now feels a little too extravagant. I have spent a lot of money on my car, a lot on eating, and a lot on strippers. There was always going to be a time when the paychecks stop coming, but now I am frightened that it's coming a lot sooner. Then what?
I don't know. Never have.
---
I noted that I was at My Favorite Stripclub (Non-Cover Edition) when the temp agency probably called them. It's also a dick move, letting a third party tell them you're losing your job after the workday's over, but that's how it's done with the corporation I work for. I got fired from Xcel Energy a few hours after I wished everyone a Happy New Year, and that firing came through a call from the agency.
I wonder what those guys felt when they heard the news. So informal, so heartless, so ... cold. Did they get angry and throw things? Did they cry? Did they go into panic mode and start searching the want ads? Worst of all, they're not done yet. They actually slouch back to work for several more days. Now that I think about it, it's probably better if today were their last day. No chance to retaliate against me.
Nevertheless I still feel for them. And now I have to face them come Monday. I was hoping this weekend would be a respite from all the bullshit at work. But, yet again, I have to worry for the next two days about going back to work. Not gonna be pleasant. And all because my boss decided to drop a bomb on me while he's on vacation so I have to clean up his mess.
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