Kung Fu Vampire – Dead Sexy (CD Review)
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Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
And now for something completely different...
After deliberating the choice for a few weeks, I went ahead and scheduled myself to take some day classes at the local (well, Mountain View) spot for The National Bartending School. I was (and still am, to a small degree) apprehensive because I am not sure how well I will do memorizing things like drink recipes, etc. (I'm an old man, remember?). Plus, there is the whole interaction with people thing, but I have generally done well with people who are drinking, so we shall see if I do end up getting some sort of temporary job out of all of this.
Today was my first day of "class" and it was actually pretty fun. Went over some basic things ad got to practice behind the bar, mixing some standard stuff like Margaritas, Bacardi Cocktails, Long Island Iced Teas, and my personal favorite - which I want to make and have some friends taste test for me, for the fun of watching them get shit-faced, if for no other reason - the intimidatingly named Adios Mother Fucker, or AMF. Overall, I had some fun, met some new people, and am looking forward to the next week to two weeks of three to four hour classes daily (except for weekends).
If I get out of this and get a temporary spot that pays more than unemployment, sweet; if not, well, I guess it is back on the dole for the time being (or supplementing as I go along between the two, as the case may be). Am not giving up on sending my resume out to anything and everything that even remotely seems similar to a match to my skill set. But I can't just sit on my ass; it only compounds any possible depression which rears its ugly, fanged head over my shoulder. There is an even more urgent reason to try and establish some sort of employment history doing something, anything: we have been informed that our landlord cannot sign us to another year lease next month because he and his wife need to consider their options to get out from under this house we have called our home for the past couple of years. They want to work with us to see us buy it, but there are some obvious roadblocks to that, the most significant being my lack of gainful employment! We have just under another full year to get all of our ducks in a row, so to speak, so we are working on it as best we are able, because we really love this house, this neighborhood, everything about it.
I know I have done my share of bitching about my former employer's decision to implement a "pre-emptive reduction-in-force", but the situation regarding our house really drives some of my anger home. There was no real need for it but their decision could very well affect whether I and my family have a place to live this time next year. And that is on the optimistic side as the landlord could always encounter something catastrophic in the coming months on their own end which in turn will affect us as well; if I hadn't been laid off, it wouldn't be as dramatic or terrifying a situation. So yeah, I blame them. I have been out of work since February, almost four full months, with little to anticipate anything turning around soon. It sucks, and even as I write I know that we still have it better than a great many others out there.
All I can do right now is be thankful for my friends, for the support I have received from them and family, and not get too bogged down in the details, just keep pumping along as hard as I can and hopefully it will work out, even if it gets to the last possible minute (my unemployment benefits are done in January...).
Just gotta keep keepin' on, mang...
Today was my first day of "class" and it was actually pretty fun. Went over some basic things ad got to practice behind the bar, mixing some standard stuff like Margaritas, Bacardi Cocktails, Long Island Iced Teas, and my personal favorite - which I want to make and have some friends taste test for me, for the fun of watching them get shit-faced, if for no other reason - the intimidatingly named Adios Mother Fucker, or AMF. Overall, I had some fun, met some new people, and am looking forward to the next week to two weeks of three to four hour classes daily (except for weekends).
If I get out of this and get a temporary spot that pays more than unemployment, sweet; if not, well, I guess it is back on the dole for the time being (or supplementing as I go along between the two, as the case may be). Am not giving up on sending my resume out to anything and everything that even remotely seems similar to a match to my skill set. But I can't just sit on my ass; it only compounds any possible depression which rears its ugly, fanged head over my shoulder. There is an even more urgent reason to try and establish some sort of employment history doing something, anything: we have been informed that our landlord cannot sign us to another year lease next month because he and his wife need to consider their options to get out from under this house we have called our home for the past couple of years. They want to work with us to see us buy it, but there are some obvious roadblocks to that, the most significant being my lack of gainful employment! We have just under another full year to get all of our ducks in a row, so to speak, so we are working on it as best we are able, because we really love this house, this neighborhood, everything about it.
I know I have done my share of bitching about my former employer's decision to implement a "pre-emptive reduction-in-force", but the situation regarding our house really drives some of my anger home. There was no real need for it but their decision could very well affect whether I and my family have a place to live this time next year. And that is on the optimistic side as the landlord could always encounter something catastrophic in the coming months on their own end which in turn will affect us as well; if I hadn't been laid off, it wouldn't be as dramatic or terrifying a situation. So yeah, I blame them. I have been out of work since February, almost four full months, with little to anticipate anything turning around soon. It sucks, and even as I write I know that we still have it better than a great many others out there.
All I can do right now is be thankful for my friends, for the support I have received from them and family, and not get too bogged down in the details, just keep pumping along as hard as I can and hopefully it will work out, even if it gets to the last possible minute (my unemployment benefits are done in January...).
Just gotta keep keepin' on, mang...
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Does anyone have a shovel and maybe a bag of lye?
I came very close to killing a teenager this evening. Not really, but the pimp hand cocked back once or twice in preparation...
This kid is only 13. What the fuck am I going to do at 16? At 18?
The biggest issue seems to be a general level of unappreciativeness for what Amy and I do and provide for her. Was I this way when I was her age? I don't recall, too many years in between. But I honestly do not think I was.
I don't even want to go into what brought the confrontation on tonight. I was so furious that it makes me angry all over again just considering trying to detail it here. But it led into other issues, and that is where my current frustration stems from.
Sloan has had a hard time with the divorce between her mother and I. To make matters even more difficult, I am relegated to being the disciplinarian. I know. Me. Who would ever think that one? But her mother only sees her every other weekend (I have primary custody), so that time is not going to be filled with any level of discipline. We just have to expect it.
But sometimes...
She graduates middle school in a couple of weeks and starts high school in August. If it is this bad right now, what is going to happen later on down the road?
Not much scares me in this life. This gives me pause...
Sorry. Had to vent...
This kid is only 13. What the fuck am I going to do at 16? At 18?
The biggest issue seems to be a general level of unappreciativeness for what Amy and I do and provide for her. Was I this way when I was her age? I don't recall, too many years in between. But I honestly do not think I was.
I don't even want to go into what brought the confrontation on tonight. I was so furious that it makes me angry all over again just considering trying to detail it here. But it led into other issues, and that is where my current frustration stems from.
Sloan has had a hard time with the divorce between her mother and I. To make matters even more difficult, I am relegated to being the disciplinarian. I know. Me. Who would ever think that one? But her mother only sees her every other weekend (I have primary custody), so that time is not going to be filled with any level of discipline. We just have to expect it.
But sometimes...
She graduates middle school in a couple of weeks and starts high school in August. If it is this bad right now, what is going to happen later on down the road?
Not much scares me in this life. This gives me pause...
Sorry. Had to vent...
Standing at the crossroads...
As I move slowly but surely to the four-month mark of unemployment, I find myself wondering what my next move really should be. Doing things "by the book"? Hell...at this stage I can truthfully say I have not only absorbed and done everything by it, I have contributed new chapters. Resumes tailored to individual job postings, networking as much as I can without pushing the limits of people's patience, being open to feedback, sending my resume to companies that are not even posting any openings...you name it.
There simply are no jobs out there. Plain and simple.
So, I am exploring what I can that may or may not help me to generate money while I continue my search. Monday, I head over to Mountain View to take part in the same bartending course Amy took a few years ago in the hope I can secure a drink slinger gig for the nights while still looking for a corporate job during the day. We'll see, but doing something is better than doing nothing and I just feel like I am stagnating. I send out a minimum of five resumes per week, often more than that, and get little response. Networking only works when the companies your networking contacts are at are actually hiring.
On top of all of this, we got notified this past week that our landlord is going to have to seriously look at selling our house because the mortgage modification approach does not seem to be working for them. They want to sell to us, but it is something very much up in the air. We could probably swing a down payment if we have until the early portion of next year (which is what the landlord has indicated, but one can never be sure, now can one?). The big question is whether we will be able to get a mortgage loan when our mutual credit is considered. So...we may or may not be able to swing it or we may or may not have to end up looking for a new place. Not a happy proposition when I am still currently out of work.
I don't know. Everything is so much in flux and discombobulated, still, almost four months in. Overall, we are ok. But I am so sick and tired of being sick and tired.
Not an overly happy blog post, I know. But it's real.
Guess I will have to bury myself in the garden I am setting up and try to forget about it all, if only for a short time...
There simply are no jobs out there. Plain and simple.
So, I am exploring what I can that may or may not help me to generate money while I continue my search. Monday, I head over to Mountain View to take part in the same bartending course Amy took a few years ago in the hope I can secure a drink slinger gig for the nights while still looking for a corporate job during the day. We'll see, but doing something is better than doing nothing and I just feel like I am stagnating. I send out a minimum of five resumes per week, often more than that, and get little response. Networking only works when the companies your networking contacts are at are actually hiring.
On top of all of this, we got notified this past week that our landlord is going to have to seriously look at selling our house because the mortgage modification approach does not seem to be working for them. They want to sell to us, but it is something very much up in the air. We could probably swing a down payment if we have until the early portion of next year (which is what the landlord has indicated, but one can never be sure, now can one?). The big question is whether we will be able to get a mortgage loan when our mutual credit is considered. So...we may or may not be able to swing it or we may or may not have to end up looking for a new place. Not a happy proposition when I am still currently out of work.
I don't know. Everything is so much in flux and discombobulated, still, almost four months in. Overall, we are ok. But I am so sick and tired of being sick and tired.
Not an overly happy blog post, I know. But it's real.
Guess I will have to bury myself in the garden I am setting up and try to forget about it all, if only for a short time...
Monday, May 11, 2009
Ah, sweet blog...how I have neglected thee...
Been a little bit, let's see if I can provide a coherent update of some sort.
This past weekend was pretty nice. While Sloanie was at her Mom's, Amy and I packed Devlin and all of his creature comforts (i.e. bathtub, highchair, bouncy seat, etc.) and hit the road toward Modesto. Upon arrival, we arranged to have lunch with some of the Fagans, which was pretty good outside of the lacking service. This was the first time my father, Randy, and Keith were meeting Amy and Devlin, so it was interesting and cool to observe. Here are some pictures:
Saturday, after some discussion, Amy and I decided to have this evening be the first time Devlin was to be baby sat by anyone, "anyone" in this instance being my Mom who had every intention of doing nothing but spoiling, kissing, hugging, and holding him as much as he would allow her to. We had made plans to have dinner with John and Brie in Tracy, which was exactly the sort of break we needed. What we had anticipated to be an early night stretched to almost midnight of eats (sushi, of course) and drinks.
Sunday was Mother's Day and we spent the day celebrating (i.e. relaxing) before packing everything up again and heading home to the South Bay. Dinner was a delicious pair of rib eyes...mmmmmmm...meat...
Have sort of also neglected my music column on examiner.com, but that will be changing soon. CD reviews for Point 3, Jade of Days, and Kung Fu Vampire are in the works as well as an overview of Left Coast Live, which kicked off today (music night is Friday).
Here are some gratuitous shots of Devlin to enjoy in the meantime...
This past weekend was pretty nice. While Sloanie was at her Mom's, Amy and I packed Devlin and all of his creature comforts (i.e. bathtub, highchair, bouncy seat, etc.) and hit the road toward Modesto. Upon arrival, we arranged to have lunch with some of the Fagans, which was pretty good outside of the lacking service. This was the first time my father, Randy, and Keith were meeting Amy and Devlin, so it was interesting and cool to observe. Here are some pictures:
 |
| May 9th, 2009 - Lunch w/The Fagans |
Saturday, after some discussion, Amy and I decided to have this evening be the first time Devlin was to be baby sat by anyone, "anyone" in this instance being my Mom who had every intention of doing nothing but spoiling, kissing, hugging, and holding him as much as he would allow her to. We had made plans to have dinner with John and Brie in Tracy, which was exactly the sort of break we needed. What we had anticipated to be an early night stretched to almost midnight of eats (sushi, of course) and drinks.
 |
| May 10th, 2009 - Night Out w/The Silverias |
Sunday was Mother's Day and we spent the day celebrating (i.e. relaxing) before packing everything up again and heading home to the South Bay. Dinner was a delicious pair of rib eyes...mmmmmmm...meat...
Have sort of also neglected my music column on examiner.com, but that will be changing soon. CD reviews for Point 3, Jade of Days, and Kung Fu Vampire are in the works as well as an overview of Left Coast Live, which kicked off today (music night is Friday).
Here are some gratuitous shots of Devlin to enjoy in the meantime...
 |
| Devlin @ 8.5 Months |
Saturday, April 25, 2009
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