The First Day Was Good

I made some sales and I think I work with some nice people. Nanette the store manager is cute, and has no ring on that left hand. I'll know more later. But if she is single...

Everything and everyone has been professional. The computerized training course was actually pretty good. Oh yeah, I'm working in *say it in a Darth Vader voice* Men's Shoes.

I have nothing to lose and everything to gain. There is a great relief in knowing that the job you are doing is only for a short time there is a lot less pressure. I expect to learn as much as possible and have fun doing it. Make a little bit of cash, meet some nice people, get a few e-mail addresses, and snort lines of coke in the employee bathroom stalls. I'm kidding... kind of. No. Really. I'm funnin 'ya. *shakes head*

So, things are going okay, except that my car was not running right and found out today it was a bad spark plug wire. Cost? Eighty bucks *cha ching*

I've also had a bad tooth. Man, that thing was killing me. I woke up in the middle of the night it pained me so. Found out that that tooth has been through a lot. Several old fillings (I never really took very good care of my teeth when I was younger), and it now it has a gold crown covering it and now no more roots. Root Canal. Which sucks. But get the root canal or lose the tooth. I chose keep the tooth. But it cost me $1601.56. Hip hip fucking hooray. Want to see my Christmas Present to myself? *GRIN*

Welcome To Macy's

I got the Macy's gig. Man, they must really need people because they didn't even ask for a face-to-face interview. I got a call from Teresa, who led the group interview, and she said thart I was being offered a short term holiday job, which will only last until the end of the year if I wanted it. Of course I said yes. Then she asked if I could come in this Friday evening for orientation and of course I said yes.


Then the next day, after the job offer, I got another call from, I don't remember his name exactly it was Tyler, Trevor, or Travis, something like that, who asked if I could get to the store to do "the paper work". Sure, how long will it take? About an hour, he said. Okay, how about if I come in at 3:30 before orientation at 5? That will work I may need to go and find him in gift wrapping.

Been Chillin' in Moxee(co)

There is a lot to be said for the small town life. Not a lot of traffic, you know your neighbors, and it's easy to get into the community. Scott and Brenda have a really nice home in a lovely area. Cats come in and out and they are really easy going people. I have felt VERY much at home here. They feed me, give me a room and treat me, well, like family. I can not thank them enough.

Scott and Brenda's home.

In other news I decided to apply for a job at Macy's. Yes that Macy's. I went to a "cattle call" type of an interview today with about 10 or so other people. Most of the peoople in there were really young, in their early twenties. One woman there was saying how she was still working at her first job at Taco Time and wanted to move into something better than fast food. Good for her. But I'm looking for a job too honey and I got you trumped on experience, education, and nick names.

Somewhere on the highway to Port Macquary Australia

In the mass interview I did fine, only the generic "why do you want to work here?" "Can you tell a story how you helped a cusotmer?" I even got a nickname "Mr. Tom". The woman in charge of it, Teresa, would ask a question to the group and she would get to me and say "Okay and how about you Mr. Tom?" Heh, heh. By the end of the meeting everyone knew my name. So I am expecting to get a call back and then a job. Honestly I think that the only way that I would not get a job there is if I puke on the interviewer. I could be wrong, but if my competition was in that room then my chances are very good.

The Western side of the South Island, New Zealand

I had called my very good friend Comet while I was somewhere on my journey and he said, I've been keeping up with your blog and it sounds like you are having the time of your life. I said to him, you know I am having a lot of fun, but I am living this every day and so it is hard to see how much fun I am having while I am having it. Suddenly I am no longer living it and now I see how much fun I was having. I can see this now as I am about to start a job and honestly I don't really want it because this will mean that I will have change my whole way of living. From going where I want to go when I want to go there, to having to get a place to live and have to be at a certain place at a certain time on there schedule. Plus I haven't had a job in almost a year and been having fun since April of this year. My life has been just chuck full of Reality Checks lately.

The lovely "Susie" at the market in Chiang Mai, she is a teacher from the Thai Cookery School

Dale

Dale and Fred the dog

My good friend, and former morning show partner, Dale Hubbard, ran for Kittitas County Commissioner Pos. #3 (D) but didn't get enough votes to win. I want to say that I am proud of Dale. He ran a good, solid campaign, and gave the citizens of the county a choice. There are too many seats open where one person is running un-opposed. Maybe politics isn't something you see for yourself, but Dale did, or does, and it's not an easy thing to do. It takes having the guts, the willpower, and the ENERGY to run for office. Dale has a full time job, volunteers on a couple different non-profit boards, and ran a campaign. Tiring work.

The other great thing about Dale running is that he got about 47% of the votes cast and Kittitas County is about only 37% democrat registered voters. So he got a lot of "crossover" votes. Which means that his message and ideas resonated with the people.Waiting for results and the Starlight Cafe

Dale, you may not have won this one, but damn if I am not proud of you for giving it your all and maintaining your positive outlook and laidback attitude. As they say in Australia, "Good on ya mate!"

Target Aquired

I've been hanging out in Ellensburg with my good friends the Stone's and they have been most gracious to me. Allowing me to stay with them for a week. I don't know how I will repay them. Truly good friends and great people. Plus it's fun to get Robert started on a political discussion.



I have spent a lot of time re-writing my resume and it is almost done. I sent it out to many friends and I got a lot of great feedback from them. I hope to start sending it out this week. I will be pushing for a job at an NPR station. Doing whatever they need done. As soon as I am given an opportunity at a station they won't know what hit 'em. I will be all over it!

If you don't know, NPR (National Public Radio) is fantastic radio and is an organization that is at the top of its game right now and I would be ecstatic to be associated with them.


On another note, I have been noticing that there are several people who check my blog daily and many new readers too. This is great and it gives me a great feeling of pride to know that people are interested enough in what I have to say through this medium that they choose to check it daily. Therein lies the rub.

I would like to post more stuff more often, but I want to post things that are topical and relevant and not just talking about what I put on my toast this morning. But I also know that keeping at least some type of consistent posting will keep more readers (whoever they might be, Hi Mom) coming back more often and I like that.

Fall color in Ellensburg

I will be packing up yet again and be heading to my brother Scott's house in Moxee for a few days. I haven't seen him or his family since I returned from my journey, which seems like yesterday, and I look forward to telling some stories and sharing my experiences.

A sculpture in Yokohama made out of transport containers

Plus making up a few tall tales about how I saved the entire country of Japan from a giant lizard that breathed fire. It's true. I did!