The Mighty Lessons Of A Week...

~ I used to be quite enhanted over the years by mysteries and I still think they are beneficial and alluring; however, when they start to provide unneeded false hope and illusions of reality then it is time to just ask the truth. It might sting, it might make you even cry a little, but after that is over you will adjust and possibly live you life a little better and healthier.

~ "Every saint has a past, every sinner had a future." I have loved this quote for years an it constantly reminds me about the values of redemption, remembering and progress.

~ I have learned to give people more than they can handle because they will most likely surprise you.

Literature is the best form of comfort

Tinkering with the idea of having my students dive into Tim O'Brien's "The Things They Carried" tomorrow night. I know it is a bit ambitious for this type of class but I have faith in them. At times, I think we can all use a little of "TTTC".

"All he could do was dig. He used his entrenching tool like an ax, slashing, feeling both love and hate, and then later, when it was full dark, he sat at the bottom of his foxhole and wept. It went on for a long while. In part, he was grieving for Ted Lavender, but mostly it was for Martha, and for himself, because she belonged to another world, which was not quite real, and because she was a junior at Mount Sebastian College in New Jersey, a poet and a virgin and uninvolved, and because he realized she did not love him and never would."

Reason Number 547 Why This Blogger Can Never Teach Younger Students...

From Tuesday September 19th. ENG 0980:
"Well maybe (name not given for privacy reasons), if you pulled your head out of your ass, stopped eating Dortios so loudly and actually paid attention in class, you would not have to distract me and the rest of the class by asking again what the homework is. It is a syllabus, not toilet paper, read it."

Don't get my wrong, I heart my class and try to keep it as mellow as possible for an evening comp. class but I do think an occasional verbal a$$ whipping is good every once in a while and keeps the blood pumping.

Creepy Things That You Need To Stay Away From... Another Of Many Rules All Should Follow...

When someone is staying after work to work on non-office work (such as homework or lesson plans) do not ask them annoying questions concerning work issues or think it is cool to lengthly discuss your odd personal problems. Do you think they really want to be bothered with it? Think they like staying after prison hours just to make sure their crap gets done? They are probably their because they don't want distractions. Put the pieces together Forest, leave em alone and go home if you are done.

Creepy Things That You Need To Stay Away From... Another Of Many Rules All Should Follow...

Crushes are great to have. But learn to take a hint and throw in the towel when you know someone is waaaay out of your league.

Creepy Things That You Need To Stay Away From... One Of Many Rules All Should Follow...

For anybody that thinks their life EXACTLY parallels a tv show or had overly wild hopes that it will, stop it. It is creepy and those around you are starting to notice it. It ain't healthy and psssst..... NEWS FLASH: Most of these shows are NOT based on real life. Learn to deal with your own life and your own reality even though it may be hard to swallow at first. Television is a way for us to forget our troubles not a means to conform every aspect of your life. I have seen this happen with many of the years and on some level almost all of us is guilty of fantasizing but when those lines start to get blurred it is either time to snap out of it or get some help.

"Ain't No Use In Complaining When You Got A Job To Do.."

And that song lyric has never rang truer for me than now. Back to business as usual around here until the show closes which looks like, for sure, January. I am still hunting but also making sure that I keep a good attitude. I know that recently I have been more than a little "off". I had a good conversation with Mrs. Esner at lunch on Saturday regarding jobs, God, choices and life. Her personal career experiences and words of wisdom helped me to see things from a new angle. Also, a belated birthday gift from a friend made me see that everything will work out.

In addition, "Nip/Tuck" seems to provide awesome advice from time to time. I was watching an old repeat on FX when I could not sleep and a quote really got to me. I cannot quote it directly but it went something like this: Some people or situations in your life are like your appendix. You really do not need it or them and sometimes they cause you alot of pain. You are hesitant to lose these things in your life but you soon discover after the removal that you are painfree and better off. Good words to chew on. I have a few appendix like things that I need to remove, and I am working on it. Mine seem to be piece by piece removal opposed to one giant grab and toss.

Felt pretty good about the half marathon this weekend. I ran less than 30 seconds slower than last year. Jen and I were discussing that the weather felt a little warmer than last year but I also know that I was in better shape in Sept 05. I was doing intervals weekly and my speed (or what I have of it) was developing. Due to injuries and teaching, I cannot attend the Tuesday track workouts with the TNT gang but I know I need to start doing those on my own. No excuses now. I have a better attitude and I am getting my focus back. Better late than never!

Funny Things That I Saw During The 1/2 Marathon On Sunday...

~ The man in the mesh shirt. Okay mesh in ANY FORM is not acceptable for clothing. Even the hats are a fashion no, no.

~ The water stop consisting on a guy dressed up as Santa. Thanks, the annoying calypso Jingle Bells that was in my head for the next 4 miles after that.

~ Brian's pugs were so adorable gazing at Elizabeth's bag of chips.

~ Post race school bus filled with sweaty runners = not so good aroma

~ Also, please READ the sign on the window of the bus to know where it is stopping at! I know most of you can read!

I Got Empathy For You Pluto...

Dear Pluto:

I heard the news recently and I am so sorry. What's the deal with those science nerds? Now they have successfully completed their mission to assign you as a "dwarf planet". To steal a saying from one of former my co-workers, "That ain't right". And truly it is not. I mean they let you into their elitist planet club as recent as 1930 only to give you the boot a mere 76 years later. The nerve of them.

On the bright side, we did notice that some loyal backers of yours left some beautiful parting gifts near your stand in the Rocky River Metro Parks. My personal fav. was the retirement balloon and the bottle of beer. I hope the alcohol will help to ease your pain when facing this time of harsh rejection.

Pluto, in a way, I can identify with you this week. UBS has decided to give most of us in Operations the boot within the next few months. No I have not been in orbit here for 76 odd years (a mere 2 1/2 for me) but I still now see the harsh reality of feeling "not in the club". Instead of science nerds, I feel the need to be pissed at business men/women who wear suits costing more than my rent, monthly car payment and student loan payments combined. Oh well, what can you do? I would not even know where to start in order to find these people to confront them just like you have no power to open a can of whoop ass on the nerdy, pocket protector possessing, I am guessing still virgin scientists that demoted your planetary status. Looks like we are left coming back to that beer option. Pluto, for the time being, I would be honored to buy you a Bud or two.

For the time being, Hang in there Pluto. It is best that we stick together during challenging times such as this. In the meantime, don't sell yourself short or "too small" because heavens knows I am not doing that for myself!

Best of Luck,

Risko

Sorry Rhonda

Holy crap, after watching Wrong Turn last night with my dad it is going to be a long time till I go through the hills of West Virginia again.

And The Beat Goes On...

Back to business as usual around here. Well, as usual as it can be despite the lack of energy and positive attitudes being demonstrated by most of the employees. Lots of resume updating and employment hunting going on in this neck of the woods.

Last night was not too bad. Went to a scrapbooking party at Alicia's and got tipsy. Probably not good scrapbooking form but considering the circumstances, I thought it was acceptable. My scapbooking work did not suffer too much.

Thanks to my friends that have called or emailed to see how the sell will affect me directly. Those that work in jobs affiliated with Key already had a pretty good idea and some just found out through other sources and called to check in. Thanks buds. And for those that did not or just don't care, well, I don't really give a crap, you can go screw yourself. And I hope that scooping elephant crap on an daily is somehow worked into your job duties in the near future.

Black Wednesday

Well, it's official. It was announced that McDonald Financial Group was purchased by UBS this morning. I actually got the heads up this weekend but could not say anything till it was officially announced to the media and employees today. We had our operations meeting this morning at 8:45. Those that were not in the office were called by their managers to call dial into the meeting. Many questions were asked by employees with few answers to be given by the head of operations and HR at this time. They explained to us that right now it is a wait and see game. The deal is finalized but the odds and ends regarding who will have jobs and who will not is still being examined and analyzed. I talked with many people in my department and outside and after examining what we do and how it affects the brokerage and bank side, I believe our department will be let go. The plus side is that we will not be let go until end of January and there will be some sort of severance package and extension of benefits (although mine will be short because I have only been here 2 1/2 years).

However, I must say that I consider myself to be lucky. Not much is getting done around here because most are still in shock (even though the rumors have been circulating for a few weeks)but after listening to many talk I do feel like I am in a better position than most. I do not have a family or child on the way (like some of my co-worker friends do). Also, I am pretty young so hopefully that is a plus for the job market. In addition, I do have a part-time teaching gig at the college with some additional hours that I can pick up at the campus writing center. Not near the financial security that I have here but if need be, I will take it.

I know many of you know that I have been pretty grumpy considering my job recently. My attitude has been crappy due to department changes. However, I do love the people in my department. It is no secret that I have been applying and interviewing to other institutions for the past few months but I also felt a sense of security because if those options did not work out I could still stay here at McDonald. Now that has been stripped away. I, like I am guessing many, felt better when I had the choice to walk away from this place instead of it walking away from me under the UBS name. We shall see what the future holds...