Perhaps I'm channeling my intense lack of interest in my research seminar on American road culture, but I've recently been pondering. This post is just sort of a mental adventure, and it sort of serves as the opposite of Elizabeth's post. Does the imminent desire to pack up and go adventuring suggest some form of idolatry? What I have isn't good enough, so I should give up everything to go find something better. I can appreciate the need to appreciate the world around me, but much of travel literature uses such romantic imagery that it vaguely (or sometimes, outright) suggests worship. Many motorists journey for spiritual goals, but perhaps rejecting our surroundings for personal growth is just another way to retard its development.
Then again, perhaps I just focus on personal contentment as the first step to spiritual development. Then again, part of development and growth is change, which often requires a catalyst. Maybe the act of journeying on the highway readies one for inner growth, and I'm just trying to throw the pejorative label of idolatry on travel to add further negativity to a class I dislike. Or possibly there's bits of truth within the idea.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Monday, August 24, 2009
School Shmool
Every time I feel somewhat content in my educational situation, something messes up. Let me explain a bit..
After two and a half years of coursework, I began work on my thesis. Unfortunately, after passing comprehensive exams and drafting three chapters, the project met with unexpected problems with one of my advisers. It turned out that the best option would be to switch to a new departmental "work around" and attempt to graduate through the non-thesis option. In this new option, I would have to take two research seminars--one American history, one European--and additional coursework to be determined by the graduate director. This fall I was scheduled to take the American research seminar and a class on the history of American religion that was handpicked by the director. Unfortunately the latter class failed to make, so I've now shifted back to an unsure position. The director emailed me directly to inform me that it was canceled and that there was no way I could take the class independently, but he failed to mention what alternate course I should take. I emailed him asking him but have yet to hear anything back. Perhaps I'm due for a campus visit.
After two and a half years of coursework, I began work on my thesis. Unfortunately, after passing comprehensive exams and drafting three chapters, the project met with unexpected problems with one of my advisers. It turned out that the best option would be to switch to a new departmental "work around" and attempt to graduate through the non-thesis option. In this new option, I would have to take two research seminars--one American history, one European--and additional coursework to be determined by the graduate director. This fall I was scheduled to take the American research seminar and a class on the history of American religion that was handpicked by the director. Unfortunately the latter class failed to make, so I've now shifted back to an unsure position. The director emailed me directly to inform me that it was canceled and that there was no way I could take the class independently, but he failed to mention what alternate course I should take. I emailed him asking him but have yet to hear anything back. Perhaps I'm due for a campus visit.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Communication Malfunctions (ranting about the present and the past)
So recently, I've had to deal with a few annoyances. The root of the issues seems to be failures in communication.
My apartment was recently visited by a water leak and some damage to the master bath. Upon discovery, I went to report it to the main office their next business day. They assured me that people would come that day to see it. They did, and they said more people would come that day. A week later the people showed up to tear out the bathroom cabinet and the drywall in order to fix the leak and repair the damage. They did not inform us in advance when they would be coming, so there was tons of our toiletries and personal items that I had to remove in front of them (heck one guy started bringing hand-fulls of hair-ties and other items to the unloading zone). If you've been in our closet/bathroom you'd know there is barely standing room for three people, let alone three dudes standing around with me walking through them trying to carry stuff out of there. If they had called ten minutes before they got there, the entire experience would have been quicker and more comfortable for everyone involved. My previous apartment staff was much more responsible and organized. They called in advance, knocked, left receipts once done, and were amiable. My current landlords could learn something from them.
Once they completed their work with the leak and tearing out the damaged cabinets, they left and said people would come later. Two or three hours later, a man and a woman walk into the apartment without knocking. They panicked, as they claimed to have been told the apartment was empty--yet another example of poor communication. They install a new cabinet, one without drawers (that's not really so bad, but it's very inconvenient that we were not consulted on this decision or at least informed). At the end of the day, they said someone would be by the next day to finish the job.
That was two weeks ago. After they finished the job, they abandoned multiple strips of drywall and cabinet doors in my closet. I consulted the office that day, where I was told that again they would be come finish that day or the next. I set those items outside my door. They stood there up to and after the complex manager and her water damage consultant came through a week later. (Oh by the way I almost forgot to mention the leak that began when they re-installed our bathroom sink, they fixed it the day I found it, but ignored the stuff outside and the rest of the repairs.) After a week and a half I just lugged the left over materials to the trash compactor. Two and a half weeks later, I have no idea when they'll be back to work on the bathroom again. We went ahead and moved stuff back in, but the floor still looks ragged.
At least some of that ranting could have been avoided by improved communication. If the apartment staff could give better estimates, update me on changes, and call in advance, I'd be much more content. And I'd venture to say that their overall service to their residents would be improved.
It sort of reminds me of another communication failure. When I was in Junior High, I was friends with two older guys who were my brother's age. As we grew better friends, we started talking about life, the universe, and everything. Two of us ended our friendship with the other because we were weirded out by some of those conversations with him. What went wrong? I mean, sure, people grow apart, but dropping a close friendship over a few conversations without any discussion is rude and cruel. A year or so later, I apologized to the other guy and he expressed his disappointment with our failure to let him know that we had been bothered by him in any way. He could have been like any other friend who avoids disturbing friends by avoiding certain topics. We all try to focus on the things that bring friends together. Divisions can be overcome by changing what one discusses or how one behaves, but only with communicating issues. To this day, the two remain non-friends. In fact, it has developed into overall dislike and enmity. I think they could be friends and have a good time, if only they could make up. This, however, would require the wrong party to apologize. Sadly, that is unlikely. Time heals all wounds--except of course the wounds that fester and develop into permanent damage. People should just be clear and honest to begin with.
My apartment was recently visited by a water leak and some damage to the master bath. Upon discovery, I went to report it to the main office their next business day. They assured me that people would come that day to see it. They did, and they said more people would come that day. A week later the people showed up to tear out the bathroom cabinet and the drywall in order to fix the leak and repair the damage. They did not inform us in advance when they would be coming, so there was tons of our toiletries and personal items that I had to remove in front of them (heck one guy started bringing hand-fulls of hair-ties and other items to the unloading zone). If you've been in our closet/bathroom you'd know there is barely standing room for three people, let alone three dudes standing around with me walking through them trying to carry stuff out of there. If they had called ten minutes before they got there, the entire experience would have been quicker and more comfortable for everyone involved. My previous apartment staff was much more responsible and organized. They called in advance, knocked, left receipts once done, and were amiable. My current landlords could learn something from them.
Once they completed their work with the leak and tearing out the damaged cabinets, they left and said people would come later. Two or three hours later, a man and a woman walk into the apartment without knocking. They panicked, as they claimed to have been told the apartment was empty--yet another example of poor communication. They install a new cabinet, one without drawers (that's not really so bad, but it's very inconvenient that we were not consulted on this decision or at least informed). At the end of the day, they said someone would be by the next day to finish the job.
That was two weeks ago. After they finished the job, they abandoned multiple strips of drywall and cabinet doors in my closet. I consulted the office that day, where I was told that again they would be come finish that day or the next. I set those items outside my door. They stood there up to and after the complex manager and her water damage consultant came through a week later. (Oh by the way I almost forgot to mention the leak that began when they re-installed our bathroom sink, they fixed it the day I found it, but ignored the stuff outside and the rest of the repairs.) After a week and a half I just lugged the left over materials to the trash compactor. Two and a half weeks later, I have no idea when they'll be back to work on the bathroom again. We went ahead and moved stuff back in, but the floor still looks ragged.
At least some of that ranting could have been avoided by improved communication. If the apartment staff could give better estimates, update me on changes, and call in advance, I'd be much more content. And I'd venture to say that their overall service to their residents would be improved.
It sort of reminds me of another communication failure. When I was in Junior High, I was friends with two older guys who were my brother's age. As we grew better friends, we started talking about life, the universe, and everything. Two of us ended our friendship with the other because we were weirded out by some of those conversations with him. What went wrong? I mean, sure, people grow apart, but dropping a close friendship over a few conversations without any discussion is rude and cruel. A year or so later, I apologized to the other guy and he expressed his disappointment with our failure to let him know that we had been bothered by him in any way. He could have been like any other friend who avoids disturbing friends by avoiding certain topics. We all try to focus on the things that bring friends together. Divisions can be overcome by changing what one discusses or how one behaves, but only with communicating issues. To this day, the two remain non-friends. In fact, it has developed into overall dislike and enmity. I think they could be friends and have a good time, if only they could make up. This, however, would require the wrong party to apologize. Sadly, that is unlikely. Time heals all wounds--except of course the wounds that fester and develop into permanent damage. People should just be clear and honest to begin with.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Emails of a Professional Sort
Dr. [thesis advisor],
Thank you so much for your help and patience over the last few years. You have been a great help in guiding me towards certain research topics, resources, and people. Recently, though, I have decided to fully pursue the new non-thesis option as its demands meet my needs the best. I’ll be continuing coursework to fulfill the new program requirements, and will be setting aside the work I have done on my thesis for the time being. Thanks for letting me borrow the two books on popular religion, and I’ll be getting them back to you in the next couple of weeks. Again I’m sorry for any negative feelings that may have risen from our experience. I wish you the best of luck on all your pursuits and thank you for your help getting me here.
Sincerely,
-----------------
Dr. [second reader],
As you know, I’ve been a bit busy with life outside of school, but hopefully you aren’t offended by my lack of correspondence. Dr. [potential new reader] contacted me about my thesis, and perhaps his comments combined with the time I had spent thinking about everything BUT my thesis allowed me to sense that my work thus far has been subpar and unsatisfactory. That being said, he suggested that the earliest that I would be able to graduate with his involvement would be the fall semester of 2010. Taking into account my negative feelings toward the project and that new potential date of completion, I have decided to fully pursue the new non-thesis option. I will be enrolled in two more semesters of coursework, and Lord-willing, I will graduate in May 2010. I don’t see spending another full year or more working on the thesis to be as helpful as taking a few courses and getting my degree several months sooner.
Thank you so very much for your help and support. I know that you may view your assistance as merely your professional duties, but I feel a very personal level of friendship and thanks for your efforts. Thanks for all that you’ve done, and I’m sure that I will see you in the fall because one of the three classes I need to take is your seminar on American religion.
Sincerely your student,
Thank you so much for your help and patience over the last few years. You have been a great help in guiding me towards certain research topics, resources, and people. Recently, though, I have decided to fully pursue the new non-thesis option as its demands meet my needs the best. I’ll be continuing coursework to fulfill the new program requirements, and will be setting aside the work I have done on my thesis for the time being. Thanks for letting me borrow the two books on popular religion, and I’ll be getting them back to you in the next couple of weeks. Again I’m sorry for any negative feelings that may have risen from our experience. I wish you the best of luck on all your pursuits and thank you for your help getting me here.
Sincerely,
-----------------
Dr. [second reader],
As you know, I’ve been a bit busy with life outside of school, but hopefully you aren’t offended by my lack of correspondence. Dr. [potential new reader] contacted me about my thesis, and perhaps his comments combined with the time I had spent thinking about everything BUT my thesis allowed me to sense that my work thus far has been subpar and unsatisfactory. That being said, he suggested that the earliest that I would be able to graduate with his involvement would be the fall semester of 2010. Taking into account my negative feelings toward the project and that new potential date of completion, I have decided to fully pursue the new non-thesis option. I will be enrolled in two more semesters of coursework, and Lord-willing, I will graduate in May 2010. I don’t see spending another full year or more working on the thesis to be as helpful as taking a few courses and getting my degree several months sooner.
Thank you so very much for your help and support. I know that you may view your assistance as merely your professional duties, but I feel a very personal level of friendship and thanks for your efforts. Thanks for all that you’ve done, and I’m sure that I will see you in the fall because one of the three classes I need to take is your seminar on American religion.
Sincerely your student,
Saturday, June 20, 2009
random blogging notes
I've been trying to keep a little moleskine with me wherever I go, so I can jot down notes about this and that. One thing I use it to remember is random weird things I can comment about in this blog. Today's topic: the retail zombie.
Recently, I was in Target with my wife shoe-shopping. She was perusing merchandise and I was walking down the main shopping lane looking for her down the little aisles. To my surprise, not only did I pass one Target employee, but I passed three or four. They were not clumped together or even very close to each other. Each one was separate, but they all had one thing in common. They looked at the ground in front of them as they walked. They did not care enough about where they were to look around to see there surroundings, but it also seemed like a conscious effort to avoid eye contact with customers in order to avoid having to actually do something.
Now, I have lots of retail/customer service experience, and I know lots of customers are unpleasant (and some are downright awful). Their needs and desires, though, are certainly the business of employees, and to ignore random passersby by staring at the floor with neutral (or harumph-y) expressions is failing at their job. Retail involves plenty of tasks separate from customer relations, but helping the customers is the root of any job on the sales floor. You may have to stock something, or may need to go report for duty somewhere, but as a sales associate of any sort, you have a responsibility to be aware of what's going on in the store and to help whomever may need it.
I also acknowledge that everyone has bad days--heck, one might argue that retail employees have more than others. Such negativity, though, must be tamed by a willingness to do the job for which you are being paid. You don't have to bend over backwards or talk a customers ear off, but please, Mr. Retail man, do your job and give a crap.
Recently, I was in Target with my wife shoe-shopping. She was perusing merchandise and I was walking down the main shopping lane looking for her down the little aisles. To my surprise, not only did I pass one Target employee, but I passed three or four. They were not clumped together or even very close to each other. Each one was separate, but they all had one thing in common. They looked at the ground in front of them as they walked. They did not care enough about where they were to look around to see there surroundings, but it also seemed like a conscious effort to avoid eye contact with customers in order to avoid having to actually do something.
Now, I have lots of retail/customer service experience, and I know lots of customers are unpleasant (and some are downright awful). Their needs and desires, though, are certainly the business of employees, and to ignore random passersby by staring at the floor with neutral (or harumph-y) expressions is failing at their job. Retail involves plenty of tasks separate from customer relations, but helping the customers is the root of any job on the sales floor. You may have to stock something, or may need to go report for duty somewhere, but as a sales associate of any sort, you have a responsibility to be aware of what's going on in the store and to help whomever may need it.
I also acknowledge that everyone has bad days--heck, one might argue that retail employees have more than others. Such negativity, though, must be tamed by a willingness to do the job for which you are being paid. You don't have to bend over backwards or talk a customers ear off, but please, Mr. Retail man, do your job and give a crap.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
the desparate search in a desperate time
So I've been applying to all sorts of jobs around town here. I feel like a horrible partner to my new wife, who is working hard to provide for us. She's very, very understanding, but I still feel a bit bad for my lack of income. At least the money gifts we received for our wedding will help cushion us until someone hires me. I started looking for "real" jobs (i.e. skilled work for ppl with education), but as that led nowhere, I focused on dead-end retail sales and assistant management positions. Today, my friend Kristen advised me to try banks, so I've been applying to them for the last few hours. I don't have bank experience, but I like math, can count back monies, and have maintained cash drawers at many jobs.
Only Best Buy has called me, but they want me for a seasonal (summer) job from July to August. I wouldn't mind that, but after the conversation with whomever I spoke, she told me she'd pass my application on to the next stage. The only calls for jobs that I have received previously were requesting interviews. The call from Best Buy was just a conversation asking for information on work experience, which I had already outlined in my application. Hopefully, I'll get some job soon. I'm pretty confident that I can charm my way into a job as long as I get an interview.
My apologies for the scatter-brained-ness of this post. My syntax was far too conversational and sloppy. Thanks for reading.
Only Best Buy has called me, but they want me for a seasonal (summer) job from July to August. I wouldn't mind that, but after the conversation with whomever I spoke, she told me she'd pass my application on to the next stage. The only calls for jobs that I have received previously were requesting interviews. The call from Best Buy was just a conversation asking for information on work experience, which I had already outlined in my application. Hopefully, I'll get some job soon. I'm pretty confident that I can charm my way into a job as long as I get an interview.
My apologies for the scatter-brained-ness of this post. My syntax was far too conversational and sloppy. Thanks for reading.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Wedding
So last Friday (29 May), Allison and I were married, and we then took off to an adventurous and lazy honeymoon. But let's back up a bit..
I stayed with my brother and my sister-in-law, both of whom were very gracious and kind hosts. I could have stayed at my parents' house, but I would very possibly been in a constant state of battle with my mother. She and I (though we are good now) have a long history of arguments, and pre-wedding stress would not help our relationship if we were forced to be close for long periods of time. Allen and Leah (my hosts/relatives) were very sweet to let me come and go as I needed or pleased.
Speaking of coming and going, I had a few late nights during the week leading up to the wedding. We had a bachelor party sort of hang-out thing Tuesday night, the events of which will not be disclosed on this blog. Let's just say that I had a great time, and that said time involved drinking, talking about interesting things, and fireworks. In attendance were groomsmen Matt, Jeffrey, and James (and Matt's dad who was extremely entertained by the evening's events). The next day I felt fine, and had the usual morning late that my hosts prepare each day. I also had some burn marks on a couple fingers.
Wednesday Allen, Leah, Jeffrey, and I went to pick up our tuxedos (not Leah, she was there for the pleasure of our company). We then enjoyed a delicious meal at Olive Garden (during the wait for our table, I sneaked over to BAM to read Uncanny X-Men 510... thoughts: love the fight scenes, loved that they featured the younger mutants, and am thrilled to see what happens with both [original non-Asian] Psylocke and perhaps Jean coming back from the dead. Spoilers, by the way). Back at the restaurant, I enjoyed the unlimited soup and salad with the Chicken Gnocci soup. It was delicious without making me feel like I had ordered too much food (a rarity for Olive Garden).
That day, my beautiful bride and some of her group began to arrive, and I was able to see some of them. Later that night, as I began to prepare for bed, Matt called me to tell me that he and Jeffrey were coming to pick me up for more adventuring. We did some fun things, which, again, I will refrain from describing, but this time including snake-handling copperheads in the street and road trips out of the area. I slept on the car ride home.
Thursday, I got my oil changed and had lunch with Allison and her ladies at the Subway in Wal-Mart. Then, I went home to wash my car and messed with the wedding and reception music (thanks again to Tim who edited the departure song, Los Campesinos! - You! Me! Dancing!, to something with a better intro). I don't remember a whole lot more of the afternoon, but for dinner, all of Allison's family came over to eat with all of my family at my parents' house. It was busy and surprisingly fun--I expected it to be much more quiet and awkward than it was. Everyone sort of talked with everyone else, and the meal went smoothly.
The day of the wedding, I got up early to head over for the brunch and rehersal, but I kept forgetting things. While checking the car to make certain I hadn't forgotten something, I activated the car's hazard lights. To get through the story quickly, the button broke, and I had a panicked and unscheduled visit to the Chevy dealership, where they kindly fixed it in about five minutes' time (for free!). There was tons of food at the brunch, but it was really quite nice and I had a good time hanging out with my boys and Kevin (Dr. Youngblood, my old Greek teacher and our officiator). The large group at the brunch excused themselves, as I had previously asked my family to do, and we had a brief rehersal for the wedding. Afterwards, I left to take care of a few errands, and I also got to spend some time talking to Spike as we cruised the backroads.
Skipping to the wedding proper, we took our wedding pictures at 5 and the wedding began at 6:30. It went without a hitch, and according to one souce, Allison and I looked very beautiful and super excited and happy the whole time. Huzzah! I teared up during the vows, but I don't think many people noticed (no one has mentioned it to me, but Alli noticed). The reception went well despite the unplanned absence of two desserts, and I had a great time seeing people and drinking lots (~six glasses) of the green party punch that Leah made for us. My groom's X-men carrot cake turned out very well, and as far as I know nobody tried to take the Superhero Squad figures that we placed on it.
All in all, the wedding was a brilliant success and I'm fairly certain a good time was had by all. I'll describe some of our honeymoon in a later post.
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