My Retiring Father

So, my father, after working for a very long time at the same company, is now at the point where he can finally say goodbye to the wretched place, and do the stuff that he wants to do.

The thing is though, the stuff he really enjoys doing, like fishing, most of those things involve the cottage, which belongs to my mother's parents. Since my parents separated almost 3 years ago, he has been very reluctant to go up there. I guess he just feels awkward about it all, and I don't really blame him, I don't know how I would feel in that situation.

The cottage is where I got to know my father, all those trips into town, early mornings out fishing. He taught me to drive up there because, as he put it, there isn't anything to hit. I learned so much about him up there, and that's where I got to spend the most time with him. I remember all the times we spent under the cottage, trying to get the old pump to work, and both of us cursing it. I will always remember his fishing pole leaning against the tree by the lake, ready for him to use it again the following morning.

I remember one night, there was a brutal thunderstorm, the three of us were all pretty little, and scared. We were sitting on the couch, all huddled up, and Dad got some Koolaid for us, to make us feel better. He had the jug in his hand, and just then, there was a strike of lightning, very close to us, and the thunder was instantaneous, and all of us jumped. Dad did too, and the koolaid spilled out, and for years after, there was a purple mark on the floor, all of us would laugh when we first got up there every summer, and say, "Hey, remember that storm..."

I remember the tape we made when it was raining outside, I remember the time the chipmunk got in the car because Dad left the window open. I remember long walks to the farmhouse. I remember catching frogs in the evening.

Most of all, I remember my dad as a permanent fixture there, that's where he relaxed, where he loved to be. He would say to me in the middle of January "I can't wait to open the cottage up this year, I need to get out of this city".

I hope, beyond hope, that he one day feels comfortable enough to go back with me. It's so hard to think of that place without him there. I'm really happy that Dad is finally getting to retire, he has earned it without a doubt, but I so wish he felt comfortable doing what it is he truly wants to do.

Dad, if you read this, I love you.

Radio

As I'm sitting here listening to the radio, I am amazed at how little taste some people have. Some of the songs that people request are simply horrible, no matter how sentimental it is. I understand that everyone has different musical tastes, but still, there are just plain bad songs out there.

No one needs to hear "Ebony and Ivory", much less request it for someone. What kind of message are you trying to send with a song like that? I just don't understand.

If anyone requested a song, any song by Michael Bolton for me, I would be very offended. In saying this, I hope no one, someone in particular, gets any big ideas.

I think I have pretty broad musical tastes, and I have been told this by a bunch of people, but there is just some music I can't take. I realize that is very subjective, and the stuff I don't like someone else might love. Just don't play it near me :)

Yay!

I FINALLY got a call!

That's it for now :)

Yes it is, no it isn't, YES IT IS!

Anyone who knows me will tell you that I like discussing things, anything usually, with people. Debating can be fun sometimes, but not all the time. Sometimes, it's nice to express an opinion or idea, and not have a 3 hour discussion about it.

For instance, if I said, "Wow, it's nice and sunny today", I wouldn't expect an argument. It's a fact, look outside, and see it's sunny. You don't have to debate that point, it just is. It's beyond me to think that someone would argue with a fact that is plain as the nose on their face. Splitting hairs by saying, yes but it isn't as sunny as yesterday, can be very very annoying.

The other kind of person that bugs me are the ones that take a contrary position to everything that is said to them. You know the type, the ones that will say black is white just to provoke you. Even attempting to talk to someone like that is futile, because they will disagree with everything you say. That sorta reminds me of the argument sketch by Monty Python.

The talk over you people are the best too, they are the ones that figure if they keep talking, you will give up and say they are right. Wars have started over that. "Ok then, keep talking, we will just invade you". If you try to talk a little louder to be heard over their babbling, they talk louder over you, and the cycle continues until both are redfaced and shouting at each other, and it's usually over something so stupid in the first place.

As much as I enjoy a good debate, I don't enjoy pointless arguments with people who just don't listen. Conversation is enjoyable, but getting angry over something ridiculous, not so much. Expressing an opinion and backing it up is fun, but so is listening to what the other person has to say too. There is no point in having someone else to talk to if you don't listen.

At the beep, please record your message, no one will get back to you

Recently, I sent in my resume at the same company my friend Jaci works at. She added a referral to it, so it looked pretty good. A few weeks went by, and then I recieved a voice mail from someone in Human Resources asking me if I was still interested in the postion. I called the number and got voicemail say, so I left a message saying yes I am very interested, please call me back at home or on my cell, and I provided both of those numbers.

Ok, that was almost 2 weeks ago now. I have called every day since, I have left 3 messages so far, and nothing. I am totally in suspense, because I really want this job. I don't want to pester people by leaving a million messages but at the same time, I don't want them to forget about me either.

Did this person go on holidays? Did they get fired? Are they never at their desk, or always on the phone? It's an enigma.

Yesterday, I called the place and asked the reception person to put me through to human resources, and I specifically stated that I wanted to talk to a REAL person, not a recorded message. They said, sure we will put you in touch with someone right away. Yeah, sure, I got a DIFFERENT voicemail this time, for someone else. I left a message.

I'm not sure what the solution to this is except to wait. Stalking is out of the question, not a good way to make a postive impression on prospective employer. Neither is being rude on the phone, although I would like to be. Perhaps having a tantrum in the reception area? I don't that is an ideal solution either.

So, I shall continue to wait, jump on the phone every time it rings, and keep calling, every day, in the vain hope that someone actually answers their damn phone.