Did you know that Starbucks does not franchise their stores? So I can’t open up my own Starbucks, not that I’d have the money for it. And Sonic won’t let me buy a franchise unless I have previous ownership experience in the food industry. I don’t think either of those are in my destiny, but I don’t like to be told I can’t do it, even if I never plan to do it. Tracey and I headed down to the farmer’s market in OB last night, got some food and chilled. I had a decent headache from work so I laid in bed the rest of the night watching NBA and the Padres game. Mike, glad the game we got you is cool. As for your timing for being out here, keep in mind that I’ll be back in BG June 17-20, so you may try to be here a few days earlier if you can, Tracey will be in Cincinnati from June 15-July 4, so neither of us will around, see what you can do. I found this recent Onion article funny:

Halliburton Employee's Pay Docked For Weeks Spent As Hostage
BAGHDAD—Spokesmen for Halliburton International announced Monday that employee Thomas Hamill will not be paid for the three weeks he failed to fulfill his truck-driving duties while being held at gunpoint by Iraqi captors. "While we share your joy in regaining your freedom, we are forced to withhold your wages for the period of April 9 to May 2," read the official corporate reprimand, which reached Hamill in Germany as doctors treated his bullet wound. "A disciplinary slip noting your failure to report to work has been added to your employee file." Halliburton has not yet disclosed the amount Hamill is being charged for structural damage to the company truck he was shot in.

This morning at work I went to the printer to pick up something I had printed. When I arrived, the printer was out of paper and I had to load it up. For whatever reason loading that printer up with paper reminded me of teaching Eng 111/112 at BGSU. All of a sudden I was remembering the days when I was scrambling to get a worksheet completed in time for class, and since I was created the activity last minute, there was no time to submit the worksheet to the GSW office to print multiple copies for all my students, so I would have to print them out myself in the grad student lab in East Hall. And inevitably, I would send 50 copies of something, go to the printer and it would be out of paper. So I would be frantically looking for more paper to load (often, there wasn’t any and I would have to run down to Mary Jo and get some) and getting increasingly stressed. Eventually I would get the copies done and would rush off to class, arriving with my body just on the verge of an all out sweat and walk in to my class as all the 17 and 18 year olds who knew everything stared at me, with looks of boredom and sleep deprivation on their faces. I would then hand out the newly created activity, which they cared nothing for. I know college freshman often do not know what they want to do with their lives, but I think in 2 years of teaching freshman English, I only had 3 or 4 students who were actually English majors and liked to be in class. I always miss teaching; I don’t miss getting paid like crap though. I think one week I figured out I was making only a few dollars an hour. But it was fulfilling work for me. California’s higher education system is funny here. There are not a lot of full-time teaching gigs, mostly adjunct stuff. I’d love to pick up a class here or there to teach, but not sure I would want to give up that time for just a few extra bucks, when I could be at the beach or elsewhere enjoying my SoCal life.


Good for you mom, finishing your degree. I wonder if you can beat Mike to the diploma? Can’t wait for Mary to get here in a few weeks. I miss softball. Is it bad or wrong that I looked to see if there was a Starbucks near one of my prospective jobs? Mike, you need to call me about when you’re coming out here, or email me, and you never told me how that game was we got you.

I had a phone interview today and it went pretty well. I have a second in person interview next Tuesday. The job is just south of Del Mar, so not too far for me. Things continue to heat up job wise, so I’m encouraged and feeling good. I watched half of the Matrix 3 last night and watched the end of the Kings/Timberwolves game, great game. I also was happy to come home and see the Indians on ESPN2, and they won! A good night. I’m off now to the dentist to get my permanent crown done, good times. Lastly, I’m so into Michele updating her blog.

I just got back from my interview today. It was in Carlsbad, which is 30-40 minutes north of SD. It seemed like a decent job, pretty mellow, but not sure about the commute everyday. It would be close to 1 ½ hours round trip everyday. We’ll see, hopefully I’ll have more options than this in the next few weeks. Still holding out hope that I can stay where I’m at, I’m really into it right now.

As for the weekend, we stayed in Friday night. Went to Encinitas all day Saturday. Brought the mini grill with us, grilled some hot dogs. Tracey and I both surfed, it was fun but the waves were crappy and choppy, but still fun to get out. For some reason we decided to not put any sun tan lotion on our backs. I’m still paying for that mistake at this moment. Saturday night we went to see Snow Patrol, but it was disappointing. The sound was bad due to poor acoustics, this mix was bad, too much bass, and it was very clear the dudes voice is majorly doctored in the studio (which is not a crime I guess). We were so tired by the end that Tracey dosed off for a few minutes on a couch. Fun to do regardless. I was just looking at the summer movie schedule and it sucks. There just is not much worth paying coming out at all this whole summer. There is Spider Man 2, Troy (maybe, prolly wait for video), Anchorman (with Will Ferrel, filmed in SD) and maybe Dodgeball (but just because I was supposed to be an extra in that movie, but they canceled the scene a few days before I was supposed to go). There are a few indies that maybe I’d see, like Coffee and Cigarettes (with Bill Murry and cool ensemble cast) and maybe Chronicles of Riddick, but just disappointing garbage overall, in my opinion. Just thought I would share. Have a good week.