One step closer to graduation, I suppose

Today we went back to school after our Memorial Day "break," which for me ended up being a Memorial Day "work your ass off." I ended up working a total of 25 hours Friday-Monday. And it wasn't easy either. Yuck.

Oh well, school today was pretty uneventful. Physics and Comp Sci I'm working my ass off to get my project done... which are both due Friday. I'm going to really need to start busting my ass for these things. In English and Calc we reviewed for our Finals which will be tomorrow and Thursday-Friday, respectively. Calc I'm kinda scared about. I'm not studying at all because I don't have the review packet that he was supposed to give us. But meh, I think I may have a GPA so far around 95% anyway, so really, I can do poorly on it and still make an A. Though it is for Pitt Credits... :
Anywho, nothing really eventful today. We ordered our condo down at the beach tonight. I really don't wanna go. Sure it's relaxing, and I might not think the same way in a few months after I'm working consistently 40 hours a week, but I just find myself getting so incredibly bored down there. I just kind of mope around when we're not actually *on* the beach. Oh well. I still would love to go to Canada this summer, especially to Quebec. Kinda getting shot down by friends, though.

Yeah and a bunch of people RSVP'd for my grad party that I haven't seen in ages. People like that used to live on my street before I moved up here, that I really can't remember too well, but I kinda hung out with ALL THE TIME. And it'll be great to see a bunch of them again, I think. The idea of a graduation party still doesn't appeal to me all that much. And as much as I can't wait to get out into the real world, there's still a part of me that's pretty insecure about a lot of it. Not so much in handling myself, just I don't quite adjust to change all that well. Especially huge changes that happen all at once. And it's like, this'll probably be the biggest transition of my life thus far, and I'm pretty sure I'm ready for it, just the idea of going from living under the roof of my parents and them always being there within just a shout, to life... where my money doesn't just go toward weekend movies and dinners, but to survival. And where the decisions I make with my life in the next 4 years will affect me until the day I die. Just so monumental...

Eh, with that said, gonna call it a night. I've been playing with my stupid Comp Sci final all night and I'm starting to see in Java. You know it's not good when...

Is it Friday the 13th?

No. It's Monday the 30th. Happy God-damned Memorial Day.

So I'm driving to work at 9:30 this morning and not 100 feet from the building, I hit this MASSIVE pot hole. This thing was huge. Like, think 2 feet deep, 3 feet in diameter huge. I'm cruising at a steady 35 MPH and when I hit this thing, my entire right side of my car sinks in and then flies upward when I get out of the hole. By this time I was ready to piss myself. Everything's still semi-working, so I figure I'll just pull into the parking lot (which is like 30 seconds away mind you) and check it out.

I get into the parking lot and Alex and Mark were there in their respective cars and they're all "holy shit, I saw that... you alright?" on me. I go I'm fine as I'm walking out to inspect the right side. I get over there and LUCKILY all I can see is a flat tire. Phew. So I call AAA and they're all "We're sorry. We're closed due to a holiday." Bah. So I call my dad and he's all grumpy because he feels obligated to come down and help me out (which I'm glad he did).

He gets there and we take the tire off and he goes "yeah we're gonna need a new tire." By this time, I look at my watch and it's 10:03... and I'm 3 minutes late. So I go in and start working. I peek my head out around 11:00 and he's still there messin with the tire. I didn't really have much time to chat, so I just asked if everything was alright. He said he had to go out and buy a new wheel well... which is like $90. :( Now I feel like shit. Not only did I wake my dad up, but I had him fork $90 over because I hit a god damned pot hole.

Anyway, I go out for my break and it's done and he's gone so he must'nt have stayed long after 11:00. Still, I feel horrible. But what can be done I guess. My dad said he went after he fixed it over to the main CSC to tell him about the pot hole (which is kinda on their little driveway thing entering SW so be careful if you're going there :P) and he said they might be able to pay my dad from the insurance they have. If not, I gotta pay it, because if not, I'll feel so damned guilty. Oh well.

I'm tired. It was a long day and I stupidly signed up to work Monday-Sunday the week of the 19th. Rox0rs.

Why do they force you to put a title?

Seriously. For days like this I don't have one title that I could use to sum up everything...

Anyway, today. Got up early and went to work. Work rather sucked. We had a bunch of people because it's Memorial Day weekend and it was all hot and stuffy inside. Plus, bunch of call-off's is never good.

Got home around 5, parents weren't home but since they were on their way they picked me up McD's. Yum. I had the craving for a McFlurry so that's all I got. Boring, yeah.

But I've been working on my Comp Sci final, and despite my previous thoughts about not ever getting it done, I figured out a crap load of what I needed to do (and previously didn't know how to do) and put it in my program and it works! I'm so incredibly happy because I just might get it done.

Anyway, Happy Memorial Day everyone. I'm going to reiterate something I heard on the radio yesterday. Kinda like, despite what you think about the War in Iraq and the way this government is taking us, always remember those who died to defend this freedom that we enjoy and probably, more often than not, take for granted. It's because of the loyalty of and dedication to the fundamental principles of this country that we all are able to live in freedom. Now despite my own personal views, and even the most liberal of people's views, I don't think anyone can deny any of that. God Bless America, I s'pose.

Work tomorrow, yuck. Have a good one all.

If you're going to discipline, at least know who you're disciplining

So I'm at work today and big, big boss walks in (let's just call him John). Now John typically comes in our "division" of the Science Center maybe once every four months or so, typically because we're the "less important, more slacking" presenters of the CSC. Though, recent statistics have shown that because of SportsWorks, the CSC makes over double its revenue of 3 years ago. Anyway, we were sure lucky to have him come in today!

It's about 1:00 and I'm sitting at one of the simulators. John comes up behind me, kinda does the "hard tap, something's urgent, I really need something badly" tap on my shoulder so I turn around. It's him, and I'm rather, erm shocked... instantly thinking to myself if I was doing anything wrong, etc. Before I could say hi, he shouts "The parachutes are stuck on the rafters. Get them down." (The parachute drop is an exhibit where the visitor can make a parachute, lift it all the way up to the ceiling and have it drop down to see how well it works.) Now I'm on a simulator, and we're not allowed to get up and leave for ANY reason, let alone while the simulator is in motion. So I say, "I'm sorry sir, but I'm unable to go get them down while the simulator's moving. If you want I can call the supervisor for you." He stops me kinda half way through and goes (in an extremely aggressive tone), "You didn't listen to me. I want you to get them down." Once again I go, "I'm really sorry sir. If I were to get up and leave and something would go wrong with the simulator, visitors could be seriously hurt. If you want--," and he begins storming away to where the back offices are.

By this time, I'm feeling that "Oh shit, I'm so screwed" kind of feeling as I just told off the BIG boss. And wouldn't you know it, I get called in the back not 15 minutes later to "have a meeting with he and my supervisor." He didn't say a word, but my supervisor handed me a slip of paper. On it: Disciplinary Action Report. Reason: Insubordination. Without saying a word, I sign it, John takes it, gets up and leaves. By this time I'm like ready to burst into tears, heh, Nicole says "don't worry about it. I know what you did was right and really this won't go any further." Now I feel inclined to believe her, but you don't get how much power this guy has. With a snap of his fingers, he could have SportsWorks torn down. So what's to stop him from putting that write-up in my permanent record? NOTHING! All because I chose not to endanger paying customers instead of complying with his wishes.

I kinda felt better when this other dude later told me as I was getting ready to leave that a bunch of people got written up for really stupid things. Like things that no one, let alone the person who got written up, has control over: The carpet is ugly, the skylights are too foggy, the roof is leaky, a wheel is loose on a wheelchair. There were even rumors circulating that my supervisor got MAJOR disciplinary action against her because of some of this stupid shit.

So yeah, big boss walks in, doesn't know anyone's name, doesn't look around and see thousands of kids / parents having a blast, doesn't see the presenter's being GREAT presenters. All he sees are tiny, miniscule negative things and unleashes hell upon us.

Welcome to the politics that is Carnegie Science Center.

Back in Action!

Inspired by a butt-load of friend, Will's Uber Blog is back. I decided to make it all pretty at blogspot because they rock and I didn't feel like coding the backend of my blog again (after I took it down from the old site). Other than that, boom. New blog. Hopefully I'll have the motivation to continue it... again.

Eh, school's been sucking as per usual. Only 7 more days left and then I'm out of the hell hole for ever. I can't fricking wait. Although in those 7 days I need to cram 3 final projects, 2 final exams, and a trimester exam in Calc. Did I mention I have none of my projects done, no desire to study for finals, and have no idea what I'm doing in calc? Oh yeah.. fun times. :D

Hmm. I'm not sure how political I'm going to make this one. I'm kind of leaning toward not bothering at all, as my certain political ideology is frowned upon by a great number of people. And, I'm sick of the insults, snide comments, and just downright immaturity when it comes to arguing politics. Kind of trying to adopt the whole "I'm not going to change your mind, you're not going to change mine: Deal with it" outlook if I can.

Anyway, I worked at the CSC tonight (as opposed to SportsWorks where I usually work) and it was fun. A lot more guest interaction and less priorities, I guess you could say. Definitely a lot more laid back than my typical job (yuck). BUT AMY'S GONE! BAHHHHH. :(

But yeah, did I mention I'm ALMOST DONE WITH SCHOOL!? Graduation is right around the corner and then I'll never again see 99% of these people that have made my life a living hell the last 4 years. Hah, definitely can't wait.


Weekend: Work, work, work, and more work. Every damned day. But the paycheck will be nice... always look forward to that.

Oh, and here's a good one for ya.