This Is Your Brain...

Cute Cat

2008-10-01T22:27:00.000-04:00

Hunting Memories

2008-09-28T15:54:00.004-04:00

My niece shot her first deer yesterday. Man was it exciting! A 6 point buck came out of the woods and was staring right at our blind about 40 yards away. Samantha wasn't looking and I just mouthed to her, STOP. Don't move. I thought it was gonna run away, but it went to eating. But it popped its head up now and then to watch us. We were trying to get the gun out the window when a second buck came out of the woods. The first one was still skiddish and started walking right towards us, looking at us the whole time. We held the gun halfway out the window for what seemed like an eternity. We ended up spooking the first buck and he started running. I told Samantha just get the gun up fast. I made a couple weird noises that slightly resembled doe bleats and they stopped at the edge of the woods. I told Samantha SHOOT, SHOOT. And she said she couldn't see them. I looked at her and she didn't have the gun pointed anywhere near the deer. So I turned her body towards the deer and she popped one off a moment later. I told her shoot again 'cause I was looking at the first deer. Then I saw the second one on the ground. She dropped that buck right there w/ one shot. I was so proud.

First Week on the Job

2008-09-27T09:09:00.004-04:00

So the job has been going okay. It's hard to get used to new policies at a new place when you were trained differently and you believe the first way you learned is better. You know things are different when you ask to see someone's ID and they look at you dumbfounded. Like, "ID? What, like my driver's license? I just gave you my member number. Isn't that good enough?" One guy even told me that if he wanted to cheat he would've asked for $30,000 instead of $300. Do you think he would have been okay with someone stealing just $300 from his account?

Friday I was on the teller line w/ my own drawer w/ no one watching me. I was at my previous job for 2 weeks before that happened. Most of the other tellers are very accommodating when I have questions or need help. Most of the tellers. I started on my normal part-time schedule too. Even though I was only there for 4 hours, I was practically counting the minutes. I think I need to win the lottery so I never have to work again.

New Job

2008-09-22T18:45:00.005-04:00

I started a new job today. I kept it quiet from everyone b/c of the debacle of the last time I was hired anywhere. They offered me a job, had me fill out all the paperwork, then called me 3 months later and asked if I could work the next day. I was scheduled for my internship at the Sheriff's Dept so I couldn't work. The guy said, "Whatever" and hung up. I never heard from him again.

So I'm working at a credit union again. The name is actually Saginaw spelled backwards. Some of the basic things I remember from my last job as a teller, but there's a whole new computer system I have to learn and new policies. It's not quite like starting over, but almost. I'm looking forward to about two months from now when I'll be comfortable w/ everything again.

They actually pay me pretty decent considering the fact that I'm supposed to be an intern. But the place is unionized. No offense to anyone out there, but I hate unions. Nothing personal. I just think there was a time and place when we needed them but now they're ruining our country. I'm only temporary so I'm not part of any of that, but I'll take their high wages.

Mountain Lion

2008-09-18T10:28:00.003-04:00

It was a close race, but fighting back won, as opposed to letting yourself be killed like last time. Turning and running without telling your hiking partner was a close second choice. I guess the people fighting are the ones who got left behind.

More Than You Can Chew

2008-09-17T22:28:00.000-04:00

US Navy, Coast Guard Seize

2008-09-15T15:41:00.002-04:00

Semi-Submersible Boat, 7 Tons of Cocaine, Nab 4 Suspects. I can't even imagine the value of everything that was confiscated.

Drill Day

2008-09-15T15:36:00.003-04:00

Since I won't be attending drill this month for the Guard, I had to make up the time w/ my recruiter. I spent 6 hours there listening to him make calls to get a soldier his bonus, helping pick up the armory a little and then I typed up a bunch of pages of enlistment documents. That was all. And I get paid the same amount no matter how long I'm there. I could get used to that.

Cola Doubles Risk of Kidney Disease

2008-09-11T12:15:00.000-04:00

Article here

Regards cola specifically as compared to other pops. (Yes, pop. Not soda. If you're gonna call soda pop by a nickname pick the shorter name. Tee, hee, hee.) What I found startling was the claim that also has the ability to pull calcium from the bones. Does this mean no more Dr Pepper? (gasp!)

2008-09-11T12:09:00.001-04:00

Computers Down

2008-09-03T15:18:00.002-04:00

Pumpkin

2008-08-31T21:21:00.004-04:00

Sad news. Pumpkin died Friday. I'm not even sure what of. He was alive and kicking in the morning and my niece found him all sprawled out and stiff that night. My nephew came over today and went looking for "the fuzzy" so I had to distract him w/ a trip outside to play. I miss all his escape attempts already. Not sure what I'll do for a pet now. I'd really like to get a Brittany puppy, but I don't have the time to train one or the room for it to run around. Maybe I'll get another hamster. One that acts a little more grateful for the toys I buy him.

Gov. of Alaska is McCain's VP

2008-08-29T15:05:00.004-04:00

Sarah Palin, the current governor of Alaska, is McCain's vice presidential nominee. Palin's wikipedia page has already been updated. I was informed of the choice earlier today by someone at a sporting goods store. He stated that she was 24 w/ 4 kids and was a lifetime member of the NRA. Well, those last two facts I could believe, but they got her age wrong by about 20 years. I think she'd make a good VP. She's been doing a great job as governor of AK.

Got Milk?

2008-08-27T11:24:00.000-04:00

First Drill

2008-08-25T13:00:00.005-04:00

This weekend I had my first drill for the Guard. It was different than I expected. First off, the bus didn't arrive to pick up the Saginaw people until 10 am on Saturday. I was expecting an early start. Once I got there, I filled out some paperwork and had my height and weight measured (again). After a lunch of yummy chicken and some other blah things I don't remember, I spent several hours in a classroom w/ other new arrivals.

The other soldiers who had been there a while were learning how to properly clear a room with a 4 man team in preparation for a paintball exercise. Myself and the other new arrivals were supposed to act as linguists and basically watch while the others cleared the rooms. Once we got to the old armory where the exercise was to be held, the sergeant in charge told me I needed a gun and mask even though I told him I was supposed to be a linguist. He said if I was enlisted I was supposed to participate. So I was the "4 man" on the team and had absolutely NO idea what I was doing. Once I explained that to the team leader he would whisper everything I was supposed to do ahead of time, but I still stumbled around like an idiot. And I still got shot right away.

We had dinner of pizza at the old armory and did a few more of the tactical exercises. Afterwards, we all had to take showers. I was horrified that there were no stalls. I successfully avoided showering w/ other women in high school and the fort I'll be attending for basic training will have stalls. This place couldn't fork over a hundred extra dollars for shower curtains? It wouldn't be nearly so bad if one of the girls there wasn't talkative and making eye contact when you're trying to bathe.

The next morning we woke at 0600 and got ready for PT. I did 28 pushups in one minute, my personal best, and more than some of the guys. I also ran a 9:50 mile (also my personal best). I'm hoping my pushup and situp scores will make up for my poor running when at basic. After more showers and breakfast, we cleaned up and some of us attended church. It was held at an actual church a few miles away that one of the sergeants is a pastor at. They opened worship that morning with a color guard ceremony. Never in my life did I think I'd see two people holding M4 machine guns marching into a church. Drill was finished at about 12:30 pm on Sunday. It didn't last nearly as long as I thought. I'm looking forward to the coming months when I get my uniform and know a little bit more of what I'm doing.

If Our Government Were a Horse You'd Shoot It (Part 2)

2008-08-21T16:26:00.004-04:00

About a month and a half ago I applied for a Federal Firearms License so I can sell and transfer guns. Today a lady from ATFE came to do an "interview." Let me tell you, what a waste of taxpayer money. She drove all the way from Detroit (about 230 miles one way) to meet me and give me some paperwork. Everything she told me was written in the paperwork. And even if it wasn't it could have been handled over the phone. They call it an interview but it's really just a rundown of proper procedure (which I already knew since I worked in a gun store). And they do that for everyone that applies. Waste of time and money. Uhhh, they have this thing now called the Postal Service. It delivers parcels from one place to another for mere pocket change. It saves you the hassle of spending $70 on gas and delivering the letters yourself.

New Invention

2008-08-20T15:17:00.000-04:00

The Hunt Begins Again

2008-08-18T20:06:00.002-04:00

I've started my apartment hunt again since my lot rent is up Sept. 20th at the Bay County Park. Almost everything is either way, way out of my price range or, if it decently-priced, it's in or adjacent to Murderville, MI. Or they have cats! I despise the thought of living with a roommate again. I like the idea of being able to assemble tiny explosive devices without being bothered by someone else in the house.

News Stories I've Been Reading

2008-08-14T10:50:00.003-04:00

Olympic Inflation - Why Is Breaking Records so Easy These Days?
Julie Child Part of WWII Spy Ring
Why Are Georgia and Georgia Both Named Georgia?

Who Left My Gun on Top of the TV?

2008-08-13T10:48:00.002-04:00

"How often have you said to yourself, 'I need to shoot an intruder, but where the heck did I put my handgun?!' If you buy this item, you or the armed person on your holiday gift list will always know the answer."

China Won't Participate in Olympic Games

2008-08-07T23:18:00.004-04:00

"Citing Poor Conditions, China Refuses To Send Delegation To Olympics."

"BEIJING—In an 11th-hour move that shocked the international athletic and political communities alike, the Chinese Olympic Team announced Wednesday that it will not be attending the XXIX Olympiad in Beijing due to 'shocking, shameful, and ultimately dangerous environmental conditions' in the host city."
Full Story

Paris Hilton for President

2008-08-06T11:10:00.002-04:00

Does anyone who voted that they'd move to Canada if Paris became president want to change their answer?

Loves Cats and Children...Right

2008-08-06T10:33:00.001-04:00

Public Notice

2008-08-01T21:51:00.009-04:00

Keep your bank account information safe. Today I was depositing a check (no cash back) and the teller wanted me to sign the back of it. I refused as it's a security risk. And it is in no way necessary. All banks/credit unions have a special stamp stating "For Deposit Only" when the check isn't signed. She stamped it and then proceeded to write my account number on the back of the check. I couldn't believe it. If you do this, or worse yet your bank does it, that's an even bigger security risk. A huge one, in fact.

If that bank teller had her way, the person that wrote me the check could view the back of it online and get my signature and account number. All you need to withdraw funds electronically anymore is the routing and account number. And unfortunately, not all businesses verify before debiting payment if the account belongs to the person paying the bill. I was able to pay a $3,000 tuition bill directly from my bank account with no prior verification. Imagine accepting a check from someone you don't know well 'cause it's only $10 or whatever and they're able to clean out your account because they viewed the cleared check online and got your account number. Even though you are required to sign the back of the check when getting cash, don't take an extra and unnecessary risk when making a simple deposit. And if your bank has a policy of writing your account number on the back, find a different bank that knows what the hell they're doing. That is all.

Update

2008-07-25T22:48:00.005-04:00

My goodness! Fifteen days since my last post. What have I been up to? Well, aren't we the nosy one, but I'll tell you anyway. Last week I did very little. I mostly played World of Warcraft that my brother has gotten me hooked on (dammit!). I then proceeded to procrastinate until the last 36 hours to write a paper for my Constitutional Law class, which turned out to be a huge, lengthy project. I despise taking classes from Ph.D's 'cause they seem to give out Master's level work. It's like they forgot what it was like to earn a Bachelor's degree 'cause it was so long ago. Consequently, since my entire weekend was taken up by the 20+ page law paper, that left me only a day and a half to start and complete my presentation on white male privilege for another class. But I manged to finish that at the last minute (or to be literal, the last 3 minutes) as well. Then on Thursday I took the ASVAB and today I joined the Army National Guard. Woo hoo! I won't brag too much about my ASVAB score, but since my sister can't remember her score, I'm going to assume mine was higher. The processing was a damn tedious ordeal and I promise that I intend to write a lengthy report about all the goings on. I've actually been functioning for the last 35 hours on less than 3 hours of sleep. So I'm going to bed.