John's Blog

Found Time

UFO conspiracy theorists (and so-called "abductees") talk about the concept of Lost Time.  You're minding your own business doing something -- say, driving along an isolated highway late at night -- and all of a sudden you realize it's much later than you thought it was.  What just happened that you lost track of time like that?  Maybe it was a trick of the mind.  Or maybe you were abducted by aliens, taken to their UFO, thoroughly medically examined, and then you were placed right back where you were abducted but with your memories of the event erased.  Had you even considered that possibility?

On Friday afternoons, I often experience the reverse phenomenon.  Found Time.  That feeling where you suddenly realize it's much earlier than you thought it was.  Haven't I been busy all afternoon?  Shouldn't a lot more time have passed by now?  Did I just work through the afternoon and then get abducted by time-traveling aliens who projected me backwards through time?  Wouldn't that create some sort of paradox since I'd be in the same place at the same time?

Someday soon, Science may have the answers.

Former CEO of Qwest Found Guilty on 19 Counts of Insider Trading

As someone who was once laid off by Qwest under Nacchio's reign, I must admit to finding a little bit of joy in the latest news.  Joe, I hope you enjoyed your millions while you had them.  Let me say, me and my fellow employees all greatly enjoyed the worthless stock options you granted us.  (We can buy Qwest stock for $50 a share?  And the current stock price is $5?  Yippee!) 

Serenity Now

As I mentioned earlier, my new job has more of a commute than my previous job.  In the grand scheme of things, though, it's not really that long of a drive.  The traffic usually isn't too bad.  In fact, it's kind of enjoyable.  I like a good drive.

When I say that the traffic isn't bad, I mean that it isn't bumper-to-bumper traffic.  The traffic doesn't slow to a crawl.  However, like the rest of Omaha, I would say there are quite a few aggressive drivers.  If you drive a few miles over the speed limit, you feel like you're going slow. 

Recently, I've decided to take a new view of traffic.  When someone cuts me off, or encroaches on my lane, or tailgates me, or when I'm stuck behind a slow moving truck, these people are not against me.  The traffic obstacles and road ragers are there to help me.  They are there to teach me to drive -- and live life -- with serene grace.  If the streets were empty of traffic, it would be an easy drive.  But then I would miss out on the learning opportunities that come with my daily commute.

I have a blog, don't I?

It was a week and a half between my last two posts.  Huh.  I guess it was a bit of a shock going back to work at the beginning of March after a month off.  I felt a bit like I didn't have any free time at first.

The new job is going great, by the way.  I'm learning some new skills.  The people are friendly.  The building is new.  I'm not complaining about the pay, and it looks like it has good long term prospects.  So everything is peachy in that department.  Looking back at the last few months, I have to say: best lay-offs ever.

New Emplopyment Obtained!

I mentioned back at the end of November that I was losing my job.  My last day at work was February 1st.  This week I accepted a position at a large, well-established company here in Omaha.  (I know, I am the master of vagueness.)  The pay is good, and it sounds like I'll be working with a good team of people.  My start date is March 1st.

That's right, I'm in the middle of a month off.  If they had told me I could start anytime, I wouldn't have felt right asking them to wait two weeks.  It wouldn't help me portray myself as someone eager to work for their company.  However, I didn't really have a choice in the matter.  It takes them awhile to get a computer and cube set up.  As it so happens, I am definitely OK with two more weeks of leisurely time off.

Happy Opalia

The job hunting seems to be going well so far.  I posted my resume on Monster and now I'm talking to so many recruiters I'm forgetting which one was which.  Hopefully something will pan out.

You know two blog posts ago when I posted the picture of the weird old timey guitar?  Well, these guitars look like a psychedelic rehash of that idea.  It's been claimed that they were played by the "Incense and Peppermints" band Strawberry Alarm Clock.  However the website of former S.A.C. member Ed King seems to refute this.  Whatever they are... they sure look strange.