Letters From Omar

Folks, this here is the most glorious memo I've ever written for the man himself. Note that whenever there's an all-caps section in bold, the direction was to make it "big and bold." This phrase has been uttered numerous times in my tenure here at C+ and it never ceases to make me laugh on the inside (for an outward showing of amusement in the presence of my boss could lead to my death). Here it is, my prized piece for Omar:


It has come to my knowledge that there is much work being left behind without supervision. The lack of customer attention due to TALKING amongst employees is beginning to hinder the business and is giving all of our stores a bad image. Image is essential for a successful business here at Seaport Village. Despite the fact that the slow season is upon us we are not given the right to slack off or neglect our duties. In fact, these slow months are when we should be focusing on better customer service skills and promptness to complete tasks. And don’t forget, you are under CONSTANT SURVEILLANCE to improve business.

A large problem I’ve noticed is the belief that everyone is his or her own boss. I would like to clarify to my valued employees that there will be structure. The following is a list of all employees given managerial duties for the stores and the replacements for them when not present:

Alamo Flags: Abdul, Rachel, Nereida

Camera Plus: Ammar, Andy, Mirage

Sports HQ: Ammar, Lisa

Destinations: Roseanne, Martha

The managers are put in place to keep order and to get the job done. All the individuals of the store are to aid in the completion of these objectives. When there are no named managers in the store, the leaving manager will place whomever they see fit to manage the store in charge.

In the cases of Leticia and Dulce, both are MANAGERS, both have also been promoted from the same jobs that you all have started in. They need your help to complete their tasks and are commanding the same respect that everyone else deserves. When you need them, they will be there to help you AS MANAGERS, but most of all, when they ask you to aid them in a stocking task and you have already been instructed to complete that task, get it done, but be sure to follow the number one rule, THE CUSTOMER ALWAYS COMES FIRST.

If any merchandise is needed from the warehouse, contact me, Dulce or Leticia and we will get the supplies to you as soon as we possibly can. If anyone needs to revise their hours or would like to switch schedules with another employee, remember to contact me and let me know of the change. I need to know where my employees are and why they are or are not coming in at specific times or not at all.

If there are any questions, comments or concerns, let me know. My office is always open and my eyes are always watching. We are here to improve business and not to make enemies with the SPV management or anyone else, including ourselves. It is only with your help that our collective stores can succeed. We are to work as a team and through a maturation of teamwork we will make it out of these rough months.

Thank you,



Omar

Phew

I'm certainly glad I decided to field test everything today. While the pack is great and was a lucky buy as it was discounted $30 from its original $150, my inflatable bed roll proved to be a bit of a hassle to keep inflated. Once done and in position it worked out just fine. Folding it up and getting it back in the pack was easy enough. I didn't use my emergency blanket, but I figured if my bag couldn't deal with mild cold last night then I should probably invest in a new one. I'm thinking a 0 degree bag would be best and if I'm still cold after that then the emergency blanket can be used. Though my black sweater/jacket/thing proved to be quite toasty. I also found that I'll need a good pair of gloves and I'll have to layer my socks some as well. My next purchase will be a new pair of boots. I don't know if I couldn't sleep because I was freezing or for some other reason, but I got to bed at 1am and was up sometime soon afterward with me finally getting up at 6am. I'm certainly glad I was unable to sleep as I watched the sunrise on the dead trees and snow. The light produced was something else. I imagine the sunset on a scene like that would have been better as the light produced would give things a purplish hue that would last longer than a sunrise. Well, I'm sure that I'll have more opportunity to see it pretty soon. I'm hoping I can get myself to wake up early more often to get used to long days. Well, that was my New Year's Eve.

Happy New Year

I'm leaving work and won't get to my computer until later tomorrow, so rather than posting a delayed post to go off at midnight, I figured I'd just do it now and say what the title is telling you. Because the New Year is just like this year, but we think that because the Earth has made a rotation around the sun (not the other way around, which I almost typed) from its designated beginning and ending point then all of a sudden there's a blank slate for all of us. Sure, why not. See you next year, kids.

Before I Go

I figured I'd leave you all with this Birdmonster video. I've posted it before, but it's good and the first few seconds of it are of the song "Forever Gone" which made the "deluxe edition" of the album which is only available for download, but it's probably one of their best songs. Anyways:


WOXY.com presents: Birdmonster from WOXY on Vimeo.
I Might Have Guessed

REI

I've been spending lots of time (and money) at REI (Recreational Equipment, Inc.) lately. For those of you unfamiliar with the chain, they're an outdoor goods retailer specializing in camping, hiking, biking and climbing supplies. While I'm a devoted follower and customer of Bass Pro Shops, REI's camping supplies far surpass those of Bass Pro (REI lacks the gun, hunting and fishing departments as well as all of the Red Head clothing and moon pies that I've been acquiring like mad, which is why I put it below Bass Pro...that and Sam works there). So after depositing my check today I decided to pay them a visit to gear up for future hikes and backpacking excursions. I left today with a new inflatable bed roll that only weighs 1lb 11oz and a brand new backpack. I tried it out around the store with roughly 30lbs in it (which is what I should be carrying as it's just above 20% of my body weight) and I couldn't feel a thing. I think I'll be giving it a try tonight...sort of. After I'm off of work I'll be heading East for the night. If my co-worker tells me I can keep my night shift tomorrow then I'll break the backpack in for a nice morning hike, but I'll be testing out the bed roll in the back of my truck anyhow (since my usual tent is still back home). I figure I'll keep the tent I've been using for the past few years that my folks have, but I saw a bivy tent that weighed less than 1lb for only $90, which would help greatly in keeping my pack below 30lbs. I figure that food and clothing for a week can end up weighing me down quite a bit. I'll have to add on weight for toiletries, a hatchet, ice axe, cookware (unless I decide on nothing but cold meals), and, most importantly, water. Lots of water. I don't know what weight I'm at now, but I imagine getting a pack with all of the essentials under 30lbs will be a bit difficult and/or expensive. Either way, tonight will be good. I need to get out; and while everyone else will be celebrating the new year at stupid parties with bad alcohol and fireworks, waiting for a giant disco-ball to drop, I'll be sitting in the bed of my truck with the open sky full of stars, a bottle of Bulleit Bourbon and complete silence (hopefully without cell phone reception...though that will be my alarm clock). Who knows, maybe it'll be cold enough to finally put my emergency blanket to the test.

Urrgh!

I only need the last 12 episodes of the Macross Saga to complete the first season! I don't even want to get into the 2nd and 3rd seasons since the characters all change and it revolves around people who aren't as cool as Rick Hunter and gang. Just when it's getting good, I run out of DVDs and no place, not even the website, is selling the last 12! They're all sold out, etc. While the book store didn't have the books, the website had the whole series for $25, how could I pass it up? At least that will tide me over until the DVDs are re-stocked. Sigh. It's so addicting. Hell, even the mug is sold out! One of these days. And y'know, you're all probably laughing at me for liking this show, but just watch, when it comes out in theaters with big fancy actors you'll watch it and think "wow, how cool is that?! It's got everything!" Then they'll make sequels. And they won't be as good as the first.

Music For 12/30/08

I picked up a copy of Crowded House's latest album last night and I'm really enjoying it, so I figured I'd share a bit with you all.


She Called Up


Fall At Your Feet

And for those of you who have no idea who Crowded House is (which is understandable), it was a band formed with two members of another particular band that holds a special place in my (drunken) heart. And really, if I have to give the title to the next song and the name of the band, then you haven't been paying attention.

Technology and Instant Gratification

There is something absolutely, horribly wrong with our generation. I've complained before about this. I'm guilty of this. And I'm still upset at myself for becoming a part of this society that promotes it. This idea that we can get whatever we want at the snap of a finger or a click of a button is absolutely absurd, and yet everyone in our age bracket subscribes to it. Thanks to the internet, cell phones, email, everything can be done without having to think too much about it. If we want information on the Biafran conflict all we have to do is type it in to a search engine and all of your results pop up. When we want a rare LP we don't have to scour the continent looking for it, we go to e-bay. Hell, we don't even have to go to the grocery store anymore as all you have to do is place an online order to have it all delivered to you. We're a lazy people wanting information at our fingertips without the arduous search for knowledge that people of older generations held as a privilege. Everything we have we take for granted.

Our parents struggled through a world that didn't offer such luxuries. They worked their asses off so that we could have a better life. But what did it actually do to us? It made us ungrateful, unappreciative, lazy, unintelligent. I'll be the first to admit that I succumbed to the appeal of instant information and the lack of work. I did not strive to my potential in either High School or College. I could have been a straight-A student who worked to improve all of his skills in the academic field, but I chose to wing it. My "success" in the world of academia has proven the lax structure of today's society. It's appalling. In all honesty, I shouldn't be graduating college. I should have flunked out long ago, but for some odd reason, whether it be some cunning on my part or the imbecility of the institution to detect when their students are bull-shitting their way through an education, I'm making it through.

While we may tend to believe that this isn't too bad and that perhaps it's simply because we don't have the drive or the care for the educational process that others do, I think it's exactly that laziness and dependence on instant gratification that causes this. Prior to our time the idea of an education was not a right. Well, it was, but only in the beginning of the 20th century did it become this way. College was not a right. These things were held sacred to our ancestors. The process was appreciated, held in high esteem and coveted by people who may not have had the opportunity to go through it. Now all we want is our diploma without having to work a day in our lives for it.

This way of living, this getting everything we want by simply ordering it carries on to our personal lives. We no longer put forth the effort that we should in order to gain something worth holding on to. We see a job as simply a job and if it doesn't suit us then we move on. When my mom and grandparents came to this country my grandfather took up a job as a butcher in order to support his family and put his girl through school. He never once came in late or left early, nor did he call in sick. He didn't complain, he didn't make a fuss. Why? Because his life was still far better than what he had in Communist Cuba. Because fighting for the betterment of his family was more important than petty complaining. And look at ourselves. How many sick days have we taken? How many times have we not gone to work because we didn't feel like going? How many times did we show up late or leave early because it just didn't feel like it was worth going to?

Seeing what my grandparents (on all sides), my mom and my dad have done in their lives makes me ashamed of myself. They taught me to see things through to the end, to finish what I started, to apply myself and put all of myself into whatever project I chose to undertake. The first two I am able to do, but I feel as though I've failed in the application of my being in everything. I often half-ass projects so that I could just get it done rather than get it done right. I'm trying not to do that anymore. But really, how many of you out there have given up on something because it didn't seem like fun right away? How many sports have you quit because you didn't like the people? How many things have you thrown away because you refused to take the time to understand the product? Have you lived up to your potential, or have you told yourself you couldn't do it because it didn't come instantly? I appreciate the struggle. I appreciate the process. I know I've abandoned some things because I wasn't good at them and with that I've taken the process for granted. Maybe that says something about my character. But like the process itself, just give it time and I'll prove myself otherwise. Though this instant gratification is once again shown through this damned post. All I have to do is write down my thoughts and hit "publish." It doesn't make me a writer, it doesn't make me good. It just makes me another schmuck on the internet telling people how he feels when no one wants to listen.

Sorry Andrew, I know you don't like reading lengthy pieces on computer screens.

Macross (Robotech)

I finally got my DVDs back from that brother of mine and have been watching the original series over again. While the English acting is kinda cheesy, the show is still the way I remember it. What I really enjoy about it is that it was brought to the U.S. for kids back in '84, but it featured the deaths of several characters. They don't hide it either. There's the disintegration of various Varitech fighters and Zentraedi battle pods. Not to mention the tragic deaths of Ben Dixon, the Bridge Bunnies, Captain Glovell and Roy Fokker (sorry for the spoilers). And damn that Minmei for being a complete hussy! Rick Hunter saved your ass and kept you alive for two weeks and all you can do is go and make his life absolutely miserable?! So what if he didn't get you a birthday present, the man's been off killing aliens (who are just gigantic humans) and making sure the SDF-1 is safe and that the people of Macross City will get back to Earth alive. That Lisa Hayes is so much better than your modeling career and your stupid agent and your fickle nature. Oo! Sigh. Good news is there's talks of a movie! Check out the few details. As much as I believe Toby Maguire to be a suitable candidate for the role of Rick Hunter, the person portraying him should be me. I wouldn't even have to act, it'd just be me playing myself pretty much. Just with expert piloting skills. And a cool uniform. Dammit. I really can't get enough of this show! And I know that once I get off of work I'm going to drive to Borders to pick up a copy of the books. I've mentioned this before, but I read them back in Jr. High and they were just so cool. I'll look like a loser buying them (if they still have them) but then again, what's new, right?

Music For 12/29/08

This is another band I found around the same time as Mark & the Spies:

Marbles

Red Lights

I couldn't find much else for these guys, but David Bowler of Marbles is doing his own thing and here's some of it:

David Bowler Band

I Don't Belong To You


Nursery Rhyme

Music For 12/27/08

Today's selection will be "(I'm gonna be) 500 miles" day. How can you not like the Proclaimers?

The Proclaimers


Birdmonster


Maximo Park

Cripes

I went on another run today and while I'm not in absolutely horrible shape, I'm not doing so hot either. My right knee is getting a sharp pain after 30 minutes or so of exercise. I don't know if this has to do with improper stretching or if my legs just need to re-accustom themselves to the form and rotation. Either way, I've got a long way to go. Fortunately for me tomorrow's a day off and all of next week is 4-9 with another Sunday off (I get the 4th-7th off, remarkable!), so that means I'll have no interruptions in my running schedule and may even go on a few hikes, bouldering included (haven't done that in a few years, unless you count the museum next to Owen's Bistro).

On the outdoors front, speaking of hiking and bouldering, I finally brought my sleeping bag down from home. My folks, for some reason, got rid of my backpack for...back...packing and I've decided I should get myself a new tent as the one I've been using is torn in a few places and belongs to the parents. REI has some good deals on some spiffy tents. Hmm...checklist:

Camping/backpacking supplies needed

Backpack ($100-200)
Tent ($100-200)
Mini-stove ($50-100)
Pots and pans ($?)
New Boots ($100-150)
Flask (for my booze) ($10-20)
Booze (for my flask) ($40)
Socks and lining ($10-15)
Hatchet ($?)
Reliable knife ($?)
Kerchief ($3.50)
Polarized Sunglasses ($60-120)
Watch ($20)
Sleeping matt ($50-90)

Yep. Long way to go. Hiking/backpacking socks are expensive for some reason. And yes, there is a difference between regular socks and hiking socks. I'm only hoping that Mike (do you even read this anymore?) can use his work thing to buy up used goods for cheap. I know that on the 3rd REI is having their annual used equipment sale. I'll definitely be there. Sam, I didn't add "Gun" to that list because while it would certainly be used as a hiking/backpacking item, it's much more than that.

Music For 12/26/08

I just realized that the fellow who recorded Ted Leo's show from a few posts below was also the fellow who recorded Nick Lowe's entire set from back in October. Clearly the man has good taste in music. So I guess today's selection will come from this King of the Castle called "7."

Nick Lowe

The Man In Love

Ted Leo

Ativan Eyes (New song, tentative title)

Nick Lowe

When I Write The Book

Huh?

Andy has something to do that isn't mindless rambling? It would appear as though I'm keeping myself occupied with small tasks. For one I'll be aiding in Claire the Brave's adventures as semi-personal photographer ("Record keeper of the great journey" is the official title, or "That creepy guy over there with the beard"). Her adventures begin shortly as we have a few of her travels cataloged. I'll be writing a piece for Cougar Cats in the near future and (for some odd reason) I've decided to aid my brother in his comic book writing. That came out of left field.

I know that comics are sort of out there often times, but some of his ideas are just...well...bad. I'm not saying all of his ideas are bad. He gave me three ideas, three different arcs that he'd like to pitch to Marvel Comics for a few of their stories. One for Wolverine, one for Spiderman, one for Young Avengers. I've given the first two a once over, the Wolverine one doesn't have much going for it and it's quite incoherent, but the Spiderman arc seems like it has potential. Good for Brother for trying.

I have to say that I'm sort of glad that I'm tagging along on his little leap of faith here. While I'm certain that the ideas will most likely be rejected, the fact that he's putting himself out there is a noble effort. Why he's selected me to help him in this, I don't know, but I've got nothing else going on. I'm hesitant to look at the Young Avengers outline he has as I have no idea who these folks are since they're a fairly new breed of heroes and I haven't kept up in my comic lore as of late, but Brother assures me that because it is new it is also quite open ended and free to develop. Either way, like I said, I doubt this will go anywhere, but if my relationship with my brother is strengthened through this then I guess it's ok, so long as he doesn't ask me to draw anything. And hey, I can do all of the editing at work.

In other news, I finally get to go back to my usual 4-9 post tomorrow with a day off on Sunday. And as far as strengthening relationships with the brother that matters most, I got the 5th-7th off for desert fun! I'll have my camera ready for that trip. Should I bring alcohol? What a stupid question, of course I should!

Harrison Ford

We all recognize that Harrison Ford is on the "Legends" list, and for good reason. A few months ago I read an article in Men's Journal about the legend himself and reading it again the other day just reminds me of how cool the guy is. He's someone I strive to be like, and maybe if I'm striving to be like him I should just shut up and do whatever it is I do minus the complaining and rambling. Here's the article.