Category: life

Between todays post over at Office Jabber and the election going on, it really got me thinking how we as a people managed to make it this far.  Now, I’m sure you can figure how the Office Jabber post fits in to this topic, but you may be wondering about the election.  Well, I guess it’s because this is the first year I’ve actually voted in a booth.  The last election I was in school so I did an absentee ballot.  However, after actually going in and punching the card, I really have to ask myself, “How did all those people in FL have such a hard time?”  I mean, seriously, you go to where the arrow is and you put the puncher in the hole.  If people really can’t handle this, how are they functioning in their daily life?

So, both of these events got me wondering how in the world have we gotten where we have?  Is it just because we’ve been relying on the great people to further us, or has it really been a group effort?  I mean, common sense and knowledge isn’t even common anymore (or was it ever?). 

Bah, oh well, maybe it’s just me?

It all started Friday after work (I actually left work late, which I didn’t want to do).  I got home, packed a bag with two days worth of clothes, filled up the water bottle, swung by the Speedway, and hit the road.  First stop was Chicago.

I needed to go there because my suit, which I had previously picked out, finally had arrived and I needed to get it fitted.  So, I had given Ann a call a few days back and said that I was going to be up in the area, and if she was up to anything and if I could crash on her couch Friday night.  Amazingly, it took me exactly two hours to get to her place, just north of downtown.  We then hung out a bit, and then hit a dive bar with her roommate and her boyfriend.  The next morning Ann and I headed out to Schaumburg so I could try on my suit.  While we were out there, we were going to stop by Ikea so she could look for a bed (currently she uses an inflatable twin size mattress).  The suit fitting was good, but the pants were way too huge, so they’re going to have to remove material.  This means another trip to get the pant length altered.  Oh well, not a problem.  However, I was overcharged $100 on the suit.  I still need to call back up there and get that resolved.  We then hit Ikea.  Oh, Ikea.  Talk about the worst place to be on a Saturday in Schaumburg.  Anyways, they didn’t have the bed frame she wanted in stock.  We couldn’t have fit it in her car anyways, and shipping was $100, ouch.

Overall, the trip to Schaumburg, total bust.  We went back to her place, I got all my stuff together, and then it was off to Fort Wayne, IN.

According to Michael, I got there “too early.”  The whole reason I was going to Fort Wayne was because of his engagement party, but that didn’t start until 8pm, and I had arrived at 5:30.  Well, this got me an invite to the dinner where Michael’s and his fianc

It strange how I handle different parts of my life.  It’s as though I am two totally different people when it comes to both work and…the rest of my life. 

At work I’m very dedicated and outspoken.  I want people to hear what I say, and I’m not going to sit back and just do nothing.  Even when I don’t feel as if it’s going to really change anything, I still want my voice heard.  I want to be a part of everything, so that I can try to evaluate everything.  It’s like I’m always thinking about the big picture, even when I’m just a “peon.”  However, unlike a lot of people in my position, I don’t want to just float through.  To me, that’s normal and how it should be.  Unfortunately lots of people don’t think that way.

Now, my personal life, is just about the opposite.  I keep to myself, am shy, and don’t usually say anything about various topics, even though I may feel as if I have a good point.  When I go out with people, I’m definitely not the one that starts randomly talking to others outside of my group, nor am I the one that adds to a political debate between people.  With respect to politics and things of that nature, it’s not like I don’t have anything to say, or to add, it’s just that I don’t want to bother.  Maybe it’s just because I see the futility of discussing/arguing about those types of things when no one is going to change.

How can this be?  How can I be so different between work and social?  It’s like I’m a totally different person when I leave the office.  It definitely makes me question why, and wonder how things would be different if I was more like I am at work while I’m at home.  I think it would be a startling difference.

What’s up wth all the scented stuff these days?  The reason this comes up is because I was in my friend’s fiance’s car and we had a little war with various scents that were in it. 

Now, don’t get me wrong, I enjoy not smelling rank, but when is enough enough?  I mean, you have a different smell for your clothes (actually, multiple different smells because of detergent, fabric softener, and dryer sheets), the scent of your shampoo/conditioner, body wash, purfume, etc.  After awhile, is it just me, but doesn’t it give you a headache?

Granted, I am male, so I most definitely have a different perspective on this than some of you.  However, I don’t think it’s just delimited to gender.  In my house (both apt and parent’s place) there aren’t 80 different spray bottles sitting around for aroma’s.  Hell, I don’t have, and I don’t think my parents have, a bottle of even Febreeze to cover up any odors. 

It does make me curious why some people have such a devotion to smells.

Well, ever since Colleen and I broke up, I haven’t been doing a lot of social things on my own time, other than working out to pass the time.  This leads me to the last part of an entry that Bree wrote awhile ago; How am I supposed to meet new people to hang out with?  It seems as if everyone in this town around my age is either married or in college.  And all the people I knew from college are gone (or I just broke up with them). 

Heck, even a group to go out with to the bars or something would be nice.  Currently when I do go out, it’s with people from work.  Now, don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the people I work with, but I’m with them all day already.  I kinda need some time away from work and work people.  Plus, whenever you go out to the bars with people you work with, conversation naturally turns to work for some time. 

I’ve been thinking about going to the bars by myself, but that sounds too depressing.  I need a group or at least someone else. 

What do other people do?  Even for people to just hang out with, is there a plan of attack, or should I just go with the flow?