Feels Like School

Last Wednesday (or maybe through an email on Thursday) I promised the guy in charge of our project that I’d finish a work item this weekend. I managed to avoid doing it all weekend, and really impressed myself when I even pulled the old trick of telling myself I’d do it when I got up this morning. I don’t know how many times I had to do that at school... and it sucks because besides the fact that you truly run out of time, you don’t get a good night sleep because you keep on waking up worrying about it. Anyway, I did get up at 5 am and started working on it. I wasn’t done when I left for work, but I did get to work on time and it was a good feeling getting there completely awake. I finished it sometime this morning, and everything was fine. It’s nice that our deadlines are flexible, and that there aren’t many repercussions for doing something late (or being late for that matter). But that’s also the thing that sucks—it doesn’t feel like anyone cares or is even paying attention most of the time, so that makes it harder to want to do a good job.

Raf-tastic

Both Thursday and Saturday night I had these awful gas pains that lasted for hours. And I had to hold it in as much as possible. What did I eat to make me feel so miserable? Does this mean I have to cut down on spicy foods? Grrr... I hope not.

Finally, A Gig

I played a private party tonight with the band I'm "subbing" with. "Subbing" might not be an accurate description, because it appears that they want me to "sub" for them for every gig now. The crowd was great; people were dancing at all times and it seemed like everyone was dancing for the entire last set. The crowd was also almost exculsively French--I can't say I expected that, either. But it looks like the French know how to have fun. I am feeling almost opposite of how I was in my last entry. I guess I haven't had a gig in so long that I've forgotten that it can be fun sometimes.

Cover Band Rock Star

Last night I hung out with a new friend from work and her friends, a whole bunch of people I've never met before. This also meant hanging out at a couple of places I haven't been to. The first place was alright until the loud karaoke music started. I don't get it--here is something they do to draw people into the restaurant, but damn if it doesn't have the opposite effect. So we went somewhere else nearby. The waitress was bad, the conversation was ok, and by the time the cover band started up we were all ready to go. But since someone wanted to see the rest of UT vs Michigan State, we stayed a little longer, which meant we experienced the band.

They were solid, musically. Professional, no wrong notes or lyrics, certainly much better than my band. We saw probably six or so songs, but I don't remember what they played. They were two guitars, bass, and drums, so it was all guitar based stuff.. nothing older than the 80's. But man did I find them depressing. One of the guitar players... he wore (from head to toe) a white baseball cap (turned backwards), sunglasses, soul patch, white long sleeved shirt (pulled up sleeves), red plaid shorts, white socks, red Chuck Taylors. The bass player had a button down shirt halfway unbuttoned, exposing most of his shaven chest. It almost looked like they were parodying the stereotypical rock band, but nothing was quite over the top enough to convince me. They were just the stereotypical rock band. They ran around on stage, turned around 360 degrees, kicked their feet, posed with their mouths wide open, smiled from ear to ear, etc. just like you would expect. So, it looked like they were having a great time! And they thought they looked so cool! But, I got the feeling they perform just like this every night, no matter what vibe they get from the audience (or even if they have an audience at all). They had people dancing, but I wouldn't say anyone in the audience was having a super great time, certainly not enough to explain their super positive stage presence. It looked to me that this was the best a cover band could aspire to be. So I asked myself, is this what I aspire to be? I don't think so.

Raise

You may remember this spring I had to decide whether to take a less interesting position paying more money, or a more interesting position paying less money. I took the more interesting position. For the most part, I’m happy with my choice though I think I would have been just as happy in the other job. I bring this up now because as of my 11/15 paycheck, I am now being paid more in this position than I would be getting in the other one (in other words, they gave me a raise). I’m also finally making more per year than I did five years ago.

Never Thought It Would Happen This Year

Wisconsin (10-1) now outranks Texas (9-2) in the USA Today and Harris Interactive polls, and the BCS. Wisconsin is having a great season!

Guess What I Have

in my hands right now: a hardcopy of The Onion, which I picked up at LJ's an hour ago! They just started distributing in Austin this week. Composing this entry on the way home I thought to myself, "what took so long? Austin and Madison are so similar, this newspaper should've been here ten years ago at least!" Then after I get home I open it up to page 25: "What took you so long? is a question we've heard a lot in the past few weeks... ...What you may not know is that The Onion actually moved here back in 1996..." I called that one right then!

I believe I first saw this paper in 1989, when someone brought a copy from campus to high school. I thought it was great, but didn't imagine it would ever get the nationwide fame it has now. I did miss it enough that when I was stationed in Hawaii I bought a subscription for a year. Now that it is Austin, it feels that much more like home.

Of course I had to check: page 2 lists Andy as Director of Production. I wonder if he ever thought this gig would turn into a career?

The new toll roads are here!!! The new toll roads are here!!!

Before they opened on November 1, I had already examined the maps and thought: "the distance appears to be the same, I guess I'll stick to my normal commute since it's free." Man was I wrong... the higher speed limit, the lack of traffic lights--I'm hooked already. It'll be free until February but as long as I'm living where I am now, I'll be taking it. My old commute involved seven stop lights, and more than 10 minutes, just to get to the Interstate. Now I am down to two to get to the toll road, and if they ever open the stupid onramp north of Parmer it will be down to zero. I estimate I am saving 30 minutes a day taking the toll roads. I almost don't want to move further south because of the improvement, but another way to look at it is that I can live farther away now with the same commute time. Or move farther away setting up a different commute that won't involve tolls.

New Migas

I almost went to my favorite Miga taco place, Taco Xpress (warning--automatic audio content), but, since I was I wanted to catch the last part of the Wisconsin-Iowa football game (WI improved to 10-1 BTW), went somewhere closer--tacodeli. It's probably less than a mile from where I live but I had never been there. The migas were good, but not as good as Loca Maria's (Taco Xpress). I may try going there before work if I can get up early enough. My standard granola bar breakfast just isn't cutting it.

All the tables were taken when I got my food, so I had to sit on a stool along the bar in the middle of the place. The group next to me were talking about their computer programming assignment. I couldn't quite catch where they were taking it or what it was specifically about, but they were old enough to be graduate students at least. I was jealous. I wish I could talk about programming with someone over breakfast tacos! The group was composed of four girls and one guy too... I don't get it!

Work

I need to start taking work more seriously. My job is very unstructured, which is good and bad. Good because I get to decide what I feel is best to do, but bad because it is very easy to do nothing and not get noticed. I've been web surfing too much, and listening to my mp3 player (which might not be so bad except I've been listening to morning shows which can take your attention away from work a bit more than music). Friday I tried to stay away from these influences, but my hands almost type automatically to get me to work-unrelated websites. I hope I can conquer my bad habits before it's too late.

Fantasy Football

I realize Fantasy Football is now slipping back into the realm of nerddom from being cool for the last few years, but I can't help but brag about how well I'm doing this year. I had written off this weekend as some of my key players were on a bye week, but everyone did great (except for my sub quarterback Brad Johnson, who contributed -5 points and will be cut as soon as yahoo will let me). Larry Johnson, (former Packer) Javon Walker, and the Dolphins defense, all had 25+ and all of my DBs and DLs did better than expected. I am now comfortably on top of the league with an 8-1 record.