Last Thursday, my grandmother went on to be with God and her husband, my grandfather, in heaven. The cause was cancer. She went just like she asked ahead of time: with her kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids all around. She was 83 years old and full of life.
I didn't cry at all, because she was someone who knew where she was going and made sure to make me, and others, feel as okay as possible about what was going on with her. Instead, I celebrated her life and played the role of consoling family members who did grieve.
The funeral was last Sunday and it was a great service all-around. The family sang songs, told stories, and sent her home the best way possible. It was dope and it was great seeing some people I literally hadn't seen in years.
A friend of mine had a pool party the same day, which I promised I would attend weeks before. Luckily, the funeral home was literally right down the road from the party, so I showed up, dress clothes on and all. I hung around for close to an hour, and when she and others asked why I was dressed up, I simply told them I was coming back from a service, but not what type of service. They didn't need to know all that. Besides, in the words of a great man, "When Sinatra says he'll show, he'll show."
I did take another L recently, and this one came (somewhat) outta nowhere. Granted, we've been friends for a long time, and I think after the initial feeling wears off, everything will be cool. It serves as another example of no matter how good things can get, things have to progress, and at a pace for both parties, or things have to change.
On the bright side (yes, there is a bright side), after 750+ days of being unemployed, I start a new job on Monday at a college in Siberia---I mean, well, the people who need to know do know where it is. For everyone else, I'll stick with Siberia.
It's been so long since I've had a job that the first day or two are gonna be a serious adjustment. I'm used to staying up late and watching Sportscenter, movies, reading, writing, and shootin' the shit. Fortunately, that will change, and I'll start sleeping like a human being again.
I'm looking forward to working with students, faculty, and being a part of a community. It's something I've held out for, career-wise, and it's finally here. God knows what he's doing all the time, doesn't He?
Oh yeah, TOTU stands for Tales of the Unemployed. I'll see about coming up with a new title starting next week.
8/25/11 @ 2:21 P.M.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Thursday, August 18, 2011
TOTU: Chapter Five
My Spanish lessons have gotten real again.
I've been learning Spanish online for the past six months, and the process has gone reasonably well. I do my lessons on here, watch movies on HBO Latino, watch DVDs on the Spanish option, and chop it up on occasion with my friends who speak Spanish. For the most part, all has gone well.
It's amazing how easy it was to learn English just from being around it as a child. Learning another language as an adult is possible, but it's very challenging. I'm gonna stick with it, though. Quitting is not an option.
I've taken more Ls recently than I remember. Part of me laughs them off, but you never take chances thinking that your effort won't pay off. A lot of it is on me, though. Due to my situation, I feel handicapped about doing certain things, which comes off as a lack of effort or inconsistency. People gotta do what they gotta do to look out for number one, and I get it. However, it takes two to tango, and at times, it seems like one person is doing more dancing than the other.
It looks like things are brewing, in regards to my current situation, and if they're brewing the way all the indicators are showing, I'll be moving around very soon. I'm ready to do so. The challenges that lie ahead are beyond exciting. Plus, it helps that the energy in this area is all positive, and if there is negative energy, I just haven't seen it, or it's minimal.
There are times when it takes a change of scenery to leave certain people and situations behind. No need to say it aloud to 'em, especially if the effort's been there all this time to make something shake and it hasn't gotten me anywhere. The thing left to do is not say anything else, and just go.
8/18/11 @ 7:38 P.M.
I've been learning Spanish online for the past six months, and the process has gone reasonably well. I do my lessons on here, watch movies on HBO Latino, watch DVDs on the Spanish option, and chop it up on occasion with my friends who speak Spanish. For the most part, all has gone well.
It's amazing how easy it was to learn English just from being around it as a child. Learning another language as an adult is possible, but it's very challenging. I'm gonna stick with it, though. Quitting is not an option.
I've taken more Ls recently than I remember. Part of me laughs them off, but you never take chances thinking that your effort won't pay off. A lot of it is on me, though. Due to my situation, I feel handicapped about doing certain things, which comes off as a lack of effort or inconsistency. People gotta do what they gotta do to look out for number one, and I get it. However, it takes two to tango, and at times, it seems like one person is doing more dancing than the other.
It looks like things are brewing, in regards to my current situation, and if they're brewing the way all the indicators are showing, I'll be moving around very soon. I'm ready to do so. The challenges that lie ahead are beyond exciting. Plus, it helps that the energy in this area is all positive, and if there is negative energy, I just haven't seen it, or it's minimal.
There are times when it takes a change of scenery to leave certain people and situations behind. No need to say it aloud to 'em, especially if the effort's been there all this time to make something shake and it hasn't gotten me anywhere. The thing left to do is not say anything else, and just go.
8/18/11 @ 7:38 P.M.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Disbelief
One way to make feelings of disbelief cease from existing is to take that L and move around with as much grace as possible.
Moving around will be easy. The grace part? Iono. I'm petty by nature.
Oh well. Charge it to the game.
8/14/11 @ 10:13 P.M.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
TOTU: Chapter Four
I missed the Maze concert.
You wanna talk about being mad as hell? On Saturday night, I was mad as hell. Granted, I had some Rudy's to soften the blow, but still. Saturday night was Maze night. It was gonna be the night to get out, put some clothes on, get to this concert, and take some old-school girl by the hand and dance all night long to every single song they played...
...except I didn't go.
That makes two unforgivable events this summer. First, it was missing Sade, and now it's Maze. It's about as big a damn nightmare as one can have.
Onto better things: currently, I'm reading a book about the beginnings of the NFL, but it's also about the social history of particular places in the country during that time. Now I do love sports, but I'm not really big on reading books about sports. When it comes to the books I have, the subjects are all over the place, and if you were to look at my collection, it would be evidence of that. Sports are noticeably absent, which is fine by me. However, this book was sent as a gift, and I like what I'm seeing so far.
Besides that, things are a-ok. The job hunt is the job hunt. I've pretty much decided to change majors before the Pursuit of the Ph.D. takes shape. At the earliest, it'll start in a few weeks. If by chance something comes along, then it'll start in the spring. Either way, it's goin' down, so I'm not too worried about it.
Oh, and the ol' espanol is coming along. I'm gonna be a bilingual monster in no time.
You wanna talk about being mad as hell? On Saturday night, I was mad as hell. Granted, I had some Rudy's to soften the blow, but still. Saturday night was Maze night. It was gonna be the night to get out, put some clothes on, get to this concert, and take some old-school girl by the hand and dance all night long to every single song they played...
...except I didn't go.
That makes two unforgivable events this summer. First, it was missing Sade, and now it's Maze. It's about as big a damn nightmare as one can have.
Onto better things: currently, I'm reading a book about the beginnings of the NFL, but it's also about the social history of particular places in the country during that time. Now I do love sports, but I'm not really big on reading books about sports. When it comes to the books I have, the subjects are all over the place, and if you were to look at my collection, it would be evidence of that. Sports are noticeably absent, which is fine by me. However, this book was sent as a gift, and I like what I'm seeing so far.
Besides that, things are a-ok. The job hunt is the job hunt. I've pretty much decided to change majors before the Pursuit of the Ph.D. takes shape. At the earliest, it'll start in a few weeks. If by chance something comes along, then it'll start in the spring. Either way, it's goin' down, so I'm not too worried about it.
Oh, and the ol' espanol is coming along. I'm gonna be a bilingual monster in no time.
Wednesday, August 03, 2011
TOTU: Chapter Three
I turned 29 yesterday.
That's a scary number. What makes this different from, say, 22-28 is that, during those times, I felt invincible. Once yesterday came around though, it seems like I'm approaching some strange place of mortality; almost as if I officially have 364 days to have as much reckless fun as possible, talk crazy, wear a mohawk if I feel like it, sneak chicken wings into the movie theater, pee in public, and do Ric Flair struts behind women until I approach that next stage in life where such behaviors are not embraced and/or becoming of a man at a particular age.
I won't even type the number, let alone say it. Instead, I'll focus on enjoying 29 as much as possible. If nothing else, two folks told me my number is finally adding up with my demeanor (in other words, I was 18 going on 29 a long time ago.)
Interview number two was a couple of days ago. Being in a room and having numerous people ask you questions from all angles was a new one, but it was cool, mainly because I want to be there. If it was simply going to an interview at a place I had no connection to, other than attempting to collect a check, the process would have either bored me to tears, or my demeanor would have illustrated to them that they have the wrong guy in front of them. However, it was the opposite of that on Monday, and even with that said, I'm not sweating it. Things work out, I'll go work there. They don't, and I'll start the Ph.D. in the fall. It's really that simple.
Maze is coming in town on Saturday, and I'm gonna try my damndest to make it out to their show. This Marable book is getting better with each turn as well. I had a discussion about editing and typos recently that was about as exciting and passionate as talking about a football or basketball game (nerdy, yes, but true.) Oh, and running through the AFI Top 100 movies of all-time has been a blast. That's all for now.
That's a scary number. What makes this different from, say, 22-28 is that, during those times, I felt invincible. Once yesterday came around though, it seems like I'm approaching some strange place of mortality; almost as if I officially have 364 days to have as much reckless fun as possible, talk crazy, wear a mohawk if I feel like it, sneak chicken wings into the movie theater, pee in public, and do Ric Flair struts behind women until I approach that next stage in life where such behaviors are not embraced and/or becoming of a man at a particular age.
I won't even type the number, let alone say it. Instead, I'll focus on enjoying 29 as much as possible. If nothing else, two folks told me my number is finally adding up with my demeanor (in other words, I was 18 going on 29 a long time ago.)
Interview number two was a couple of days ago. Being in a room and having numerous people ask you questions from all angles was a new one, but it was cool, mainly because I want to be there. If it was simply going to an interview at a place I had no connection to, other than attempting to collect a check, the process would have either bored me to tears, or my demeanor would have illustrated to them that they have the wrong guy in front of them. However, it was the opposite of that on Monday, and even with that said, I'm not sweating it. Things work out, I'll go work there. They don't, and I'll start the Ph.D. in the fall. It's really that simple.
Maze is coming in town on Saturday, and I'm gonna try my damndest to make it out to their show. This Marable book is getting better with each turn as well. I had a discussion about editing and typos recently that was about as exciting and passionate as talking about a football or basketball game (nerdy, yes, but true.) Oh, and running through the AFI Top 100 movies of all-time has been a blast. That's all for now.
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