Author: Lee

If The House is a Rockin’

The midwest felt something very strange Friday morning, there was an earthquake.  I have heard so much about the quake of ’87 or the quake of ’02, but I didn’t feel or just don’t remember them.

I’m only writing this so my own personal account of what happened is out there.

It was about 5:30am and I had just woken up to use the restroom.  I had made it back to bed and just started getting comfortable.  That’s when the bed started shaking like it never had before.  Rachel thought I was going into a seizure, or our cats were fighting underneath the bed.  It’s intensity was about the same as my wife and I making love, not enough to scare, but strong.

I was still trying to figure out what the hell was going on by the time it stopped.  It lasted a total of about 30 seconds.  It’s been recorded as a 5.2 on the richter scale.

I tried to get some sleep afterwards but really couldn’t.  Rachel called her mom and started watching TV.  Her office view is directly looking at the Geology building, and all of the major Indianapolis TV stations showed up with their satellite trucks.  It was kind of funny because each stations’ truck was a different size small, medium and large.

I guess this is a 15 or 20 year event.  In the end, I’m glad I’m not anywhere near the San Andreas fault.

Feast or Famine

I have been steadily applying for new positions, even though I currently have 2 jobs.

I would generally get an interview here, or a callback there, but nothing really panned out.

For the past couple of nights, when we’ve gotten home there has been at least 1 message on our answering machine asking me for an interview.

Great news, right?  There’s two sides to that coin.

My current positons are academic year only, meaning they generally end once the academic year is over.  Although, I get a feeling that I may be asked to work significantly more hours next semester or even this summer at my job at the Kelley School of Business.

I have had a few interviews lately, but it seems like I’m un-something.  I guess I’m not wanted, or my skills lie in between what they are seeking and what person I’m interviewing with have.

I’m a likable guy, I don’t know what the problem is.

So I have a job interview today, tomorrow and perhaps another one within a week or so.  Two of those interviews are for “real” full time jobs.

People always say it’s easier to get a new job when you have a job, but I don’t really see it that way.  It’s a PITA for me, especially since when I’m at one job, I can barely send an email, let alone talk on the phone, and while I’m at the other I cannot speak on the phone.

This frustrates me to a point where sometimes I wish I could just crawl into a hole and not come out…

A Very Productive Weekend

Rachel and I weren’t ourselves this weekend, we were productive!

Saturday, Taylor came over for a while and we had fun.  She was up with her mom, I think they’re trying to unpack their new home in Owensburg before they actually move up here.  As my big helper, she helped me with the yearly maintenance of my riding mower.  After Taylor left, dad and I loaded all of the concrete remnants I had removed from the ground into my truck.  I then took it off later that night.  I don’t think my truck has ever had that much weight in it, as it was lower in the rear than the front.

Sunday, Rachel and I re-arranged the garage.  It’s more organized now, and I must say easier to get things in and out of.  We got rid of a lot of trash we didn’t even realize we had, for that I took off another load of garbage.

While I finished painting our dining room area, Rachel worked on her final paper for her Master’s Degree.  There is still a little bit of touching up to do, but it looks fantastic!

Sorry about the picture quality, my lens needed cleaned!

We capped off the weekend by watching the last of the Star Wars Saga, Return of the Jedi.  I can’t believe how much of a Stars Wars freak my wife is.  I enjoy it, but she really gets into it!

100k is a Magic Number

My truck surpassed an automotive milestone on the way back from Muncie last Saturday night, the odometer turned over 100,000 miles.  Yes, I took this picture while driving.  Illegal perhaps, but it only happens once.

For some strange reason, I am taking pride in it.  This is the first vehicle I have purchased, and not wrecked beyond repair.  I did not buy it new, but this truck is me.  I plan on keeping it until the wheels fall off.  It’s paid for, why spend more money?

For those of you who don’t know the specifics, my truck is a 1997 Chevrolet S-10 Extended Cab 4X4 with a 4.3L V6.  I have tried to make it as fuel effecient as possible, and it does get better gas mileage (17/25) than the norm, 15/19.

We have taken it to Oklahoma, The Great Smoky Mountains, Niagara Falls and driven through Canada.  It’s been reliable and more importantly, comfortable for trips.

With the price of fuel these days, it’s becoming more and more expensive to feed it’s hunger.  When I filled her up last Saturday night it cost $42, for 12 and some odd gallons.  That’s only 3/4 of a tank!

So for the meantime, this truck is mainly driven when needed, or to lubricate the engine parts.  Rachels’ Kia is much more eco-friendly.  Yesterday the price of gas jumped 22 cents a gallon!  It went from $3.24 to $3.46, ouch!

There is No Justice Without the Law

Last Saturday my father and I travelled up to Muncie to see an old friend.  I hadn’t seen him in 12 years.  I’ve speratically chatted with him on myspace and yahoo messenger for about a year now, but didn’t have a chance to see him.

It was a short, but excellent meeting.  We chatted for a while, he is really good with model cars – something I never had the patience for.  We then went to Ruby Tuesday’s to get some grub, it was the worst service I’ve ever had.

Hopefully this can become a more than once a decade meeting.  I’ve missed you Justice.

Take a Listen, If You Can

There are many creative minds at work at the CSR.  Many of us enjoy the video production/editing fields.  There are 2 ladies with Ph.D.’s, a jewelry maker, and the list goes on from there.

For most of us, the CSR is just a stepping stone.  I hope it is for me, as I’m tired of assembling NSSE survey packets.  It’s mind numbing work, and when you’re scolded for speaking, it’s just that much worse.

A fellow co-worker makes his own music.  It’s electronic and kind of a mix between new age and techno.  It’s the best thing I’ve heard or seen in a while, so I thought I’d share.  I think with the right exposure, this kid and his music could really go places.

He’s a little leery of allowing it to be downloaded so I have a selection of his songs setup for streaming, but I have been made aware of some issues.  This will only work with IE, as it’s setup with Windows Media to stream.  I’ve personally tried Safari and Firefox with no luck.  So you are warned!  I am currently working on a way for all platforms to play, but I don’t have it in place yet.

Listen Here: Music by Luc

If anyone out there has any better ideas, please let me know!  I tried last.fm, but to add one of their “playlists” you have to have a minimum of 15 songs.

If anyone out there has any better ideas, please let me know!  I tried , but to add one of their “playlists” you have to have a minimum of 15 songs.
Or, if there’s enough support, he just might let the nice people who read my blog download it.  If he does, I will add links.

UPDATE:  I somewhat solved the problem.  If you cannot view or play the media player, click on the link directly below the song title, it will play the song on your systems native player.

I’m Hot for Cheerleader

Pictures of an IU cheerleader in the buff are on the net.  The HT did a story about it, and she is quoted as saying that “she’s been harrassed via e-mail so much since they (the pictures) were published that she had to leave Bloomington for California.”

What???

Apparently, an ex-boyfriend is to blame.  He wanted revenge.

The moral of the story here is:

If you don’t want people to see what you’ve done in this digital age, don’t do it!  This isn’t the first time something like this has happened, and I’m sure it won’t be the last.

If I were a young coed, I would love to have a body like that.  I’m sure my wife would as well.

Easter with My Little Halfshell

Taylor has spring break this week.  She stayed last weekend with us, and is staying the evenings with us thru tonight.

Over the weekend we celebrated Easter with my wifes’ family bright and early on Saturday, and on Sunday with my family.  It was honest to goodness pure family fun.

We’ve missed Taylor tremendously, and hopefully sooner than later she’ll be up here permanently.  This weekend her mom and step-dad moved the majority of their belongings up here to their new home.  It’s about 30 minutes away, but that’s better than 4 hours.

We have been very busy, but having loads of fun.  Taylor got 2 new video games for the PS2 from aunties Brenda & Michele.  She got Petz Cats 2 and Madagascar.  The Cats game is more like a “beginner RPG game.”  I don’t like it much, but she does.  I do enjoy the Madagascar game though, as it is like the movie.  The best part is you get to “be” all the main characters, unlike most video games.  Taylor plays until it gets too hard, and then daddy takes over.

Taylors nighties were getting a little tight, so we got out my vintage Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles PJ’s.  I wore these in the late 80’s and they’re still rockin’ in 08!  It kind of reminds me of this picture.  Taylor’s only complaint?  “These feel like boys clothes!”  That’s cause they are!

I’m gonna miss her when she goes back to Tennessee, hopefully for the last time.

That Empty Feeling

Since I’ve started taking Chantix, and quit smoking.  I have this strange feeling, it’s like I’m empty inside now.

While non smokers may not understand what I’m talking about, its more mental than physical and in my case has deep implications.

When you smoke, that’s always your out, or “thing” to do.  Some smokers, like me, always try to “do” something like smoke.  It helps pass the time.

Now that I’m not enjoying my habit, my life feels empty.  It’s very strange, and I’m still getting used to it.

To help, I have been making trips to the nearest gas stations every night to get a pop or ice cream, etc.  It makes me feel like I’m accomplishing something.  Others think I’m just using it as an excuse to smoke, but I’m staying true this time.

Our Taxes at Work

This building is government subsidized housing for elderly people.  It’s located in Decatur, Alabama.

You honestly can’t really tell from the ground.  But pictures are worth a 1,000 words in this case.  Prompted by complaints from a jewish activist and a US Senator, more money is going to be placed in this building to try to disguise the shape.

According to a researcher, the swastika shape pays homage to the German scientists who came to nearby Huntsville after World War II and designed the rockets that put Americans on the moon.