Cynthia Watros (Titus) and Kaley Cuoco (The Big Bang Theory) could be twins! If they weren’t 17-years apart.
digg / SpudsterZ / history- An error has occurred; the feed is probably down. Try again later.
As most anyone who’s had the displeasure of my company (virtual or otherwise) the past 2 weeks knows my recent disillusionment with my current job and frantic bid to find another.
So this week I’m performing the usual duties of my job, and I’m still doing it with as much vigor as ever. It suddenly occurred to me this smells like an oxymoron. How can my standards remain at a steady while my primary motivator is finding another job?
Do I do it for our CIO? Our Division Administrator? Our Section Chief? Nope. While I do like and respect those folks, they are just tools utilized to help me accomplish my duties.
So I think I’ve made a prioritized list. Top of the list is least important, bottom is most:
- Myself : Seriously. If I can’t be happy with the person I see in the mirror, I’ll have little to give to those around me.
- Our staff : These people depend, in part, on me to do the best job I can do. They have families and lives which are very important to them and (for most) their livelihood depends on gainful, reliable employment. I also feel a responsibility to ensure their jobs aren’t any more difficult than necessary and it won’t affect their personal lives.
- Our customers : These people pay good money for us to maintain their systems (it’s actually more complicated than that as most didn’t have much choice in the matter). We’re talking about thousands of people all over the state, and their jobs depend on our employer’s ability to maintain their IT infrastructure with minimal disruption.
- Finally, the citizens of the State of Wisconsin : I feel the weight of these people above all. With varying levels of abstraction, every citizen is affected by the work our team performs. If we screw up, those lines at the Milwaukee DMV will grow exponentially, a mother may not get her child support payment or a cop may not be able to tell if the car he just pulled over contains a little old lady or an armed and dangerous felon.
So considering all those reasons, it became fairly clear why I’m not spending all my days at work pouting and playing a complicated game of grab-ass with myself.
I have a job to do.
By: General Larry Platt on American Idol
Pants on the ground!
Pants on the ground!
Lookin’ like a fool with your pants on the ground!
With the gold in yo mouth,
Hat turned sideways,
Pants hit the ground.
Call yourself a cool-cat,
Lookin’ like a fool,
Walkin’ downtown with your PANTS on the ground!
Get it up!
Hey, get your pants off the ground!
Lookin’ like a like a fool.
Walkin’, talkin’, with your PANTS on the ground!
Get it up!
Hey! Get your pants off the ground!
Lookin’ like a fool with your pants on the ground!
Gold in your mouth,
Hat turned sideways,
Pants hit the ground,
Call yourself a cool-cat,
Lookin’ like a fool,
Walkin’, talkin’, with your PANTS on the ground!
BOOM! YEAH!
With your pants on the ground!
A little typing exercise, just for fun. While reading this, keep in mind that less than two years later I had myself kicked out with an “Other Than Honorable” discharge. Oh yeah, that’s a story to share around the campfire some day.
BTW: I always wondered if by “myriad” they really meant “we’re not exactly sure what he did“. 
Commander Patrol Wings U. S. Pacific Fleet
The Secretary of the Navy takes pleasure in presenting
the NAVY ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL to
DATA SYSTEMS TECHNICIAN THIRD CLASS
MARK ROBERT ZEMBRZUSKI
UNITED STATES NAVY
for service as set forth in the following
CITATION:
“For professional achievement as Data Systems Technician and Automated Data Processing Security Petty Officer, Commander, Patrol Wing ONE from November 1990 to November 1993. Petty Officer Zembrzuski performed his demanding duties in an exemplary and highly professional manner. Demonstrating exceptional technial expertise, he was the key player in the installation and maintenance of a myriad of data systems and communications equipment, placing Patron Wing ONE on the leading edge of technology. His meticulous attention to detail as Automated Data Processing Security Petty Officer guranteed the flawless tracking and distribution of over 500 pieces of classified software and ensured automated data processing security instructions and procedures were current and enforced. His diligent efforts and resourcefulness inspired all who observed him and contributed significantly to the ccomlishment of the command’s mission. Petty Officer Zembrsuki’s professionalism and devotion to duty reflected great credit upon himself and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.”
For the Secretary of the Navy,
{signature}
J.R. RYAN
Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy
Doing some research, I run across some old Navy paperwork. Collecting dates, I came up with the below. Information likely only mommy will care about. 
Joined the Navy
04/11/1989
Completed Navy Petty Officer Indoctrination Course
CSTSC Vallejo, CA
03/02/1990
Appointed DS3
02/23/1990
Completed Miniature Electronics Repair C-100-3182
Atsugi, Japan
07/19/1991
Completed DS “A” School
CSTSC Vallejo, CA
02/23/1990
Completed FHLT Maintenance Technician Course J-221-0389
10/12/1990
Serviced precision drill team
CSTSC Vallejo, CA
09/27/1989 – 05/17/1990
Completed AN/UYK-7 Computer Maintenance
CSTSC Vallejo, CA
05/22/1990
Navy and Marine Corps Overseas Service Ribbon 2
Headquarters, Commander Task Force SEVEN TWO/Commander Patrol Wing ONE located on board Naval Radio Receiving Facility, Kami Seya, Japan
11/09/1991-11/08/1992
Appointment of Automatic Data Processing Security Petty Officer (ADPSPO)
for Patrol Wing ONE
07/13/1993
Completed Introduction to Database Management E-555-0013
Fleet Aviation Specialized Operational Training Group, Pacific Fleet
10/09/1992
Military Requirements for PO2
Grace 3.8
07/30/1990
Navy Achievement Medal
Professional Achievement as ADPSPO from 11/1990-11/1993
11/01/1993
Completed Personal Computer (PC) and Local Area Network (LAN) Security
COMFLEACT Yokosuka, Japan
05/10/1993
Ordered to remain away from work on 02/26 to pursue activity of choice due to birthday next day
COMPATRECONFORSEVENTHFLT Kami Seya, Japan
01/22/1993
Anyone who meets me soon learns I have pretty high moral and ethical standards.
Once they get to know me, they realize that unlike others with high personal standards, I have no interest imposing mine on anyone.
Unless we’re talking about work and I’m your supervisor. Then you best step up!
- I have an accent
- There are other terms I can use to refer to a “bubbler”
- Racism happens outside the TV world
- There are some who have never seen snow in person
- Texas has a HUGE population
- My slice of the world is a lot smaller than I thought
…dear Liza, dear Liza.
It’s become apparent that I’m not gonna get to sleep until I get this out.
This past weekend Eileen, Grace & I went to Columbus, OH for Grace’s first Oireachtas (Irish dance competition). As usual, Grace impressed me with her dedication, heart, guts and, well, grace.
While processing the events from the weekend, I browsed the photos Eileen took. After I saw all of them, the cacophony of thoughts and feelings which usually swarm through my head was suddenly silent, replaced by this single warm, glowing, strong, wonderful feeling. I honestly struggle to describe it properly as I don’t recall feeling this before.
This is as close as I can get right now: You know that silly little cliche “I will move heaven and earth for that kid“? It doesn’t seem silly to me any more.
She really is an amazing kid, raised by a amazing woman, and I will do whatever I can to bring all the good in life that they so obviously deserve.
So Grace and Eileen, thank you both for the best Christmas gift I’ve ever received. (k)
Just watched the “final 3″ race, which is probably the most entertaining I’ve seen since I’ve been watching.
Anyway, the OMG part. Big Easy spent HOURS trying to figure out the word scramble, eventually giving up, taking the penalty and losing the race. I noticed that on his second try, he confirmed the letters “F A R N Z” with one of the brothers. The word was “FRANZ”.
How Kafkaesque.
