Do you have a @$#€! card??

Every store has their "card" these days. You know, whent you check out at the grocery or drug store, and then they ask you if you have a "Stop&Shop card?" And it's annoying everytime they ask, but the thing that gets me most often is that they don't seem to care that I don't have one. The kid behind register can just scan his card. (And sometimes taped onto a big piece of cardboard so it's easier grab and swipe) How ingenious! I don't have to "sign up" for anything and I still get the member perks that legitimate card holders have.

But I don't think the company had this in mind. It is a gross curruption of the system. The actual true card holders don't get their comparative benefits because they're just handing them out to anyone, and employees bankroll and rack up huge activity on their cards. At a Pathmark store, though, there was a notice posted: ANY EMPLOYEE USING THEIR OWN CARD WILL BE TERMINATED. Good policy. Although, it was a notice just for employees, it was conspiciously posted for all customers to read.

Personally, I don't want a card from any store. They can track your purchases and send you junk mail. It's a bastardization of a system that was originally in place solely for the privelege to pay by check. With modernization, that concept is obsolete. Then again, what if I do want a card? They never offer, because they're happy to rack up their own points. Isn't this a form of theft?...or fraud?

Hang up your coat here

I got the coatrack from IKEA today (see Jan. 14 post). They sent me a postcard yesterday (actually two --both addressed to me with my first name misspelled two different ways) so I went and picked it up after my class today. This time my visit to the store was more straightforward. Other than the fact that you still can't just remain on one floor; I looked for a way around the stairs, but there wasn't any. So I went upstairs and then went right back down the back stairs straight to the cashier; then to the pickup counter. It comes it a flat package, 6 feet long, 1 foot wide, about 10 pounds, and the guy wheels it out to me on a cart. I picked it up off the cart with one hand and walked out; the guy seemed surprised. I got home and put it together.
I am actually enjoying class this semester, so far. Take today's workshop section, for example. First we went over HW problems, then we took a short quiz, and then we work in groups on a detailed problem, which we hand in next week. What's interesting is that we lost track of time and ended up staying after class about ten minutes figuring out the problem.
And then the maitre-d' from Chanticleer called me again. He said he just lost a bartender; I meet with him on Friday. Sounds good!

John Mayer

I hate that piece of shit. He can't sing, he can strum a few chords, and his songs are derivative. He plays and emotes on stage with his eyes closed like he's orgasming with his guitar. All women think he's sexy, from teenage girls to desperate housewives and everyone in between. What the fuck is so sexy about a guy who sounds like he's trying to sing with chronic bronchitis or athsma or both?

Another Year

At least I got to celebrate my Birthday, a low-key event with family. My brother stopped by and we had a steak dinner and chocolate cake. My two nephews called and sang to me over the phone. The older one, Kevin, asked how old I am. 32 I said. "That's big!" he replied.

I'm tired, but it's only 10:30. It's too early to go to bed now. I know I'm being stupid. If I'm tired, I should go to sleep. It should not matter what time it is. It's embarrasing to turn in this early. And to top it all off, I didn't get out anywhere today. I don't want to get up too early; it may be a late night tomorrow. Then again, a good night's sleep is a very good thing.

Then I watched the stupid Steelers game and it put me in a crabby mood.

My car is still buried in snow, not that I would have gone anywhere. The driveway plower didn't even come until later this evening. I'll have to dig out in the morning.

Birthday blizzard

Like I said, tomorrow, Sunday 1/23 is my birthday. It's also National Handwriting Day, but that has nothing to do with me. It's because it's also John Hancock's birthday. When I worked behind a cash register, a guy gave me his credit card and the name on the card was "Jonathan Hancock." I was about to say something, but I figured he's heard it all before and it would just piss him off.

So I made it into NYC to have dinner with a couple of friends. I needed to get out at least one night this weekend, becuase it looks like I'll be stuck at home for most of my birthday. (See weather reference in previous post) I'll celebrate with family at home tomorrow, and catch up with some other friends on a later date. On my way home, I get back to Hoboken, where my car is parked, and walk by Starbucks for a warm beverage, but it's closed. That sucked because it was freezing cold out. (yeah, i know, more fun weather commentary) Turns out it's under renovation for a full week and a half. I peeked in, and it was strange, the whole place was torn apart. A typical Starbucks renovation just includes paint, floors, updating equipment, and necessary repairs; usually just to update the store to the current products and brand image. But you rarely see what I noticed: walls being moved and the entire counter torn away. I'm curious about the results.

Homebound.

Here comes the snow. I'm sorry, you don't care about my weather; but I can't help but notice. And if you read anyone else's blogs, they're saying the same things. I'll be stuck here for the next 24 (at least) hours. And tomorrow is my birthday. I was out this morning, breakfast at the diner, then lounge a bit at starbucks, it was packed. People have the same idea: get out while you can. But once the flakes started, I headed home. Even though cars were pouring into the strip mall. Buying last minute groceries. (It's funny, I heard someone call these "French Toast Days" because people stock up on milk, bread and eggs.) The liquor store looked pretty busy too. (Hey, you won't be able to drive anyway.) You knew it was going to snow didn't you? Over a week ago. And it's only because it's the NFL Conference championship weekend (go Steelers!) did we care about this storm so far in advance. If it were projected for Monday, we wouldn't be hearing about it until tomorrow (Sunday) morning, we wouldn't care.

Time to kill

Classes begin today. I go to Rutgers. I'm just taking classes as a non-degree student, hoping to enroll in a Master's program. I'm taking Calculus II. Today was the first class, but it was the workshop section with the TA, not the regular lecture with the prof. The TA could very well be younger than me. The guy's a little hyper, he thought I raised my hand when I just brushing hair out of my face, so he called on me. Since the workshop meetings are based on the previous lectures, there wasn't much to cover. We just went over syllabus and Review of topics. I'm here on campus doing this now. Class was out by 12:30, usually 12:50. I have a curling practice at 4:30, and the curling club is not far from the university, so it's a waste for the 40 min drive home, and then back here to the same general vicinity. It would be a waste to go back and forth. Plus, it's snowing.
It took a while, but I found me a computer lab. First I was at a cluster of only three computers in the building where my class is. Then a line formed and I realized people need the computer to do drop/adds. It's been a while since I did the college thing. I see that paper registration has disappeared, but the lines haven't. Go technology!
Go away kids, you can't register now. I'm busy blogging!! So here I am in a lab with a hundred or so PCs. I like my Mac better (and the mouse on the left), but I guess majority rules.

About last night...

I wasn't drunk. Don't get me wrong. But there's something about drinking beer (i enjoy Guinness), even just having a few, evenly paced, that gives you that tired, post-binge sobering-up exhausted feeling. But without the binge. Add to that the fact that it was a tired day in general (lack of sleep the night prior) as well as I was out performing at a bar (i'm a musician-songwriter) in a contest, the exaustion makes sense. It was at The Exchange in Rockaway. I didn't emerge as a winner, but I can try again in future weeks. It was a songwriting contest and when I got there I realized I had to pick ONE song to enter, which was a tough choice. I settled on "Distractions," the one song which uses the most of my energy, and requires the most piano technique. Perhaps it was too outlandish. I don't know.

After the contest, they continued with the regular open mic. I noticed these girls trying to remeber lyrics to the Sarah McLachlan song "Angel." I helped them out, saying that I cover the song often. They were gonna do it a cappela, (or "acapello," as they called it; lmao!) but they asked me to accompany. That was a mistake, according to me they were never with me, according to them I wasn't with them. They said thanks but we'll do it acapello now. So I went back to sit at the bar next to my friend Vinny. He said he woudn't have played behind them if they had asked him. They're divas.

Earlier that day I went to apply for a job at a dive bar. The Phoenix in Union. Whatever happens happens.

Just checking in if you don't mind

I would love to write graceful writings here. And today, and especially tonite, there's good blog fodder, indeed. I'm sorry you'll have to wait, this constant yawning is overtaking me (i just inhaled myself)
I need sleep. I need beer.

No, wait...I don't need any more beer.

I just need to go on and run the event's of the day thru tonight's dream cycle (and i won't forget the fabric softener this time) ...as i grow even more weary. You will have to wait till morning for my daily reflections. In like manner, I will wait to watch tonight's episode of "24" which i had taped (so DON'T tell me what happened! STOP IT i said! blahblahblah ican'thearyou ican'thearyou blahblahblah)
g'nite

Warning! Religion chat ahead...

Today's Sunday and I'm one of those churchgoing people. As I'm trying to wake up this morning, my Mom yells up to me (oh, yeah, I live with mommy and daddy still, it's a money thing) she asks if I want to go out to Brunch, which of course I do. Zokay, I can do church later this evening. Sunday brunch at this restaurant, it's called The Store, I highly reccommend. It's in Basking Ridge, if you're within 20 mins of it please go someday.

Well, the Steelers pulled it through, barely. I thought the Jets had it at the end, But they came through. (Yeah, I'm a Steeler fan in Jets land...well actually this is Giants land, but nobody talks about them these days.)

So, anyway, I'm Catholic (yes, it's all my fault) and I go to Mass on Sunday. But at some point last year I found myself going to a tradtional Latin Mass at a chapel I found about 20 mins. from home. It was a trip going the first time, it was amusing trying to follow along, not just because I couldn't understand the Latin, but also the fact that a lot of the parts were changed considerably. But I caught on after a while. But whats real cool is everyone's attitude there. Everybody looks as if they want to be there, they pay attention instead of looking all bored. (Although I thought I did hear someone snoring today.) There are no screaming kids, because parents take control of their kids and are kind enough to take a rambunctious child out to the vestibule to calm down. Nobody sneaks out right after communion. So I keep on trekking up there on Sundays. Go to www.latinmass.org if you want to find a Latin Mass near you.
*Pax Domni sit semper vobiscum.*

now go and have a good week!

Rightly Avoiding Futility

Right now I could go to a job interview. Don't get me wrong, I don't have anything scheduled. There's no appointment that I'm blowing off. But, Jimmy's, a bar/restaurant/nightclub in town is conducting walk-in interviews this afternoon for hiring experienced bartenders, servers, and chefs. The only drawback is the keyword "experienced." I have certification from bartending school, but have not yet been hired. So, if i don't go, then perhaps I'm just saving my time and theirs. And, mind you, this place has existed forever in town, but in my 32 years (11 drinking years) i've only been there once. It's a typical suburban meet-market, pseudo-upscale place, with DJ's who play nothing I like.

Geez, why did I even think of applying? I'm looking thru the rest of website, and see things like "Utlimate Dance Party on three floors!" Yikes! They even charge a cover. Thank you, Blog, for helping me pick my own brain! Although, I did email them the other day with a resume attached, it's one bridge i don't mind burning. They never replied anyway. I always enjoy having friends visit me at work, but none of my friends would ever come to this place. So, the hell with it!!

The people we once knew

I just had one of those bizarre sightings of a past aquaintance. There is this guy Bill i once worked with at Starbucks, back when I first started in 1996. He started shortly after me, but he was one of a bunch of people at my store who were being trained for a new store that was about to open nearby. But anyway, i'm sitting earlier today in Starbucks, my former place of employment, and I recognize this guy Bill walking in. But he left almost as soon as he entered, he didn't get anything, didn't stand on line, and he left before I could approach him and say hi. He was a strange bird, but quite enjoyable in moderation. I remember us going out one night to hang out with a bunch of folks at the The Melody Bar in New Brunswick (a real cool place that closed down a few years ago), and a few of us rode in Bill's car and he played his car stereo so fucking loud my ears were hurting. But anyway, today he even had a backpack with him, which was also strange, like he was planning on chilling for a while; but he just walked in, looked around for a little while with this creepy grin on his face, and then he walked out and left. Maybe he was driving by and just wanted to check out the old place; but that doesn't explain the backpack. Why would you get out of car and grab your backpack just to go back to your car less than a minute later? Blows my mind. Interesting sighting, no less. Interaction would have more interesting, i gather. Oh well.

I called back the maitre-d' at Chanticleer. He has enough bartenders at the moment, but says he'd hire waiters. But you wouldn't want me as a waiter. So I'll keep up with the job hunting as best as I can.

IKEA Grand Tour

I just went all the way to IKEA, the swedish furniture megastore; and all I come home with is candles. My main purpose for going was to get me a coatrack; one that stands all by itself on the floor. It's been a chore trying to find one in any store, but i saw one on the IKEA website. It just took forever to locate in the store. In this IKEA you are forced upstairs when you first walk in, even if you don't want to go there, but as soon as you get there you can just go back down the other stairs. I figured it was small enough to be in the self serve area where I could grab the box, but I couldn't find it. And then I looked in the Marketplace section. This is where I got the candles, btw. A box of 50 white tapers, I go thru lots of those, and a couple of 3inch pillars for my brother because i got him candlesticks without candles for christmas, so this completes his gift. But I couldn't find a coatrack in the Marketplace area, and I looked around all the "home organization" section, where the modular closet stuff is. (I did install hooks on my wall once, but they all just fell out eventually.) And so I go back upstairs. And I'm looking thru the Showrooms, and I finally see what i'm looking for; it's only six feet high and takes up one square foot of floor space, but the tag says i need to see an associate. So I get a slip from this snotty girl, go back downstairs pay for my things; and take my slip to pick-up area, and they tell me it'll be 15 minutes. Okay fine. I bring my candles to my car, and park near the loading area and go back in and wait. And i see people who got there after me leaving with carts loaded with big boxes. Where's my coatrack?? When they call my name they tell me it's out of stock. (The snotty girl couldn't find this out?) So this guy sends me to Returns, and I get a refund, and they're gonna send me a postcard when they're back in stock. The guy told me they're in stock in Paramus, the other IKEA in Jersey, but that's a pain in the ass location, unless i try it on a weekday mid-morning. And so went my afternoon.

Before heading to my retail experience, i went thru the ritual of applying for a job. I do that a lot these days, which makes sense since i'm currently unemployed. I'm a certified bartender with bad luck getting hired. So I went to this banquet place, the Chanticleer, and filled out an application, but the maitre-d' was "out at the post office" so I left the app with the receptionist. But when I got home from Ikea, there was a call back from this guy Anthony. Hopefully something good will come out of this.

2nd place

Just got back from the curling club. We lost, but it was a good game no less. (You know, curling, that sport with the sliding rocks and the sweepers on ice.) This currently puts us in a tie for 2nd place in the thursday night league. If we had won, we'd be alone in 1st place, and the team that beat us would have been where we are. So we're 4-2 thus far. Now we play the same six teams again. So anything can still happen. 2nd place is good for me. At least it's a better track than ending 6-8 last year. And two of the guys from that team i'll be playing with on a team in a couple of upcoming bonspeils. (A bonspeil is a curling tournament.) So, that should be cool.
Bunch of party poopers tonite, curlers usually like to stay out late and drink, but everybody decided to be responsible for a change. Only had time for ONE(!) beer. So i'm home earlier than expected. And after ten minutes on the way home, showers suddenly begin, (what fun!) but at least it washed away the dense fog from earlier today.

THE BARK is born! Lost in the fog...

This being the inaugural post of The Barking Slider weblog. A rant of nonsensical eloquence born on this day of dense fog. I know you don't care about my weather but what I really wanted to chat about was the phenomenon known as FOG. It can be annoying sometimes. It cancels flights. I mean, the fog doesn't cancel flights, the airlines cancel flights because of fog. I once had a flight bringing me home from school in Pittsburgh (I went to Duquesne from 91-95) which was cancelled due to dense fog, which means I had to go all the way back to campus, and back to the airport again the next day. And that's not fun because the Pittsburgh airport is 25 min. outside the city. Keep that in mind if you ever fly to pittsburgh (like if you're gonna watch the Steelers beat the Jets this weekend) and plan to have plenty of cash for taxi fare. So sometimes i would fly back and forth to school (home is New Jersey, btw) a few times i took amtrak and it sucked, but then when I had my car at school i would drive back and forth. And one time, i think it was thanksgiving break, there was DENSE FOG the whole way going home, which was annoying because you don't know where the road is going beyond like fifteen feet or so. So you have to be ever mindful of your driving. In clear weather you can scan the road as far as the eye can see and your subconsious takes over the mechanics of driving. Needless to say, that was a stressful ride home. And that's a seven hour drive. But I did have two friends along for the ride, even though I had no idea what they were up to since I was too busy concentrating on peering thru the fog. And one of the guys payed for everything, which was cool, my gas and all our food along the ride, like the Sbarro pizza we got at the Midway service plaza, which is Mile 147 on the PA turnpike.
But that's enough for now. Glad to be here. Hope I haven't bored you. Feel free to leave your comments and insults.