Book of Jamez

55 y/o malcontent, something of a writer

Author: Jamez

  • Fears

    Here’s where things get scary… We are now where the rubber meets the road…
    The money is starting to add up in my head: $300 for books, $400 deposit me, $300 deposit cats, truck rental, cable internet connection, a bike…

    It’s hard to look at these numbers and think it’s going to be ok. Suzanne reminds me that I’ve been broke, I can do broke and happy… actually broke and happy works a lot better than not broke and happy.

    I’ve got to turn my focus back to where it needs to be: God, AA, and helping others… well, I’m not sure how much time there will be for that but I’ll do my best. I am actually looking forward to new meetings in the Va Beach area, and perhaps I’ll even bother to find a sponsor.

    It will all be ok, and the best thing I can do for myself right now is put one foot in front of the other… not six weeks into the future.

  • Children's Tears

    My last day of work at Children’s.
    Before I could even make my pot of coffee I saw it… a gift bag from Chen. Pencils, pens, notebooks, folders and more- almost all with a Spiderman theme. I was brought to tears (just now again too, as I write this). After the coffee was brewed I cried over the first cup just thinking of all the wonderful people that I had the opportunity to work with and all the families we helped. Phyllis came in shortly after that with a backpack and lunchbox… also Spiderman themed.

    Jen called to wish me well, Albert, Erika, Julie, Julia… people I haven’t seen in a while, but love so much still… made me cry again there that day (and again while I write this).

    It was a useless day at work, there was no work done by me that day, besides the last morning anouncements. I had people to say goodbye to, people to hug and cry to, people I love.

    I had a farewell at the hospital, with people that meant things to me invited (and people that didn’t too :-)). It was bitter sweet seeing all those people and knowing some of them I may not see in a long while. I had wished Natella, Tamara, and Tammy were there but alas it was not to be.

    The farewell outside of the office happened this Friday, and I was truly surprised at the number of people that showed up. Staci and Jen were there, Gerry, Claire, Ann and John, Gary, Jean, Courtney… o so many. It’s hard to be the center of attention… it’s hard to say goodbye to so very many special people.

    I look at Jordan and remember Zelda had just had him when she was interviewed for the job. I look at Lailah and want to cry, she used to fall asleep in my lap at work.

    My heart is full – the only reason I know that I can love more is because of the love I have seen in you. My life and my soul are the better for having worked with each and everyone of you.

  • Deposit on apartment

    I’ve put a deposit down on the apartment I’d like:
    http://www.lawsoncompanies.com/LRC/Kingsbridge/Kingsbridge.htm

    Now I hope I get it, this is where repairing my financial past should hopefully pay off!

  • Finding an Apartment

    It’s not quite as easy as I had hoped it would be. I drove down to VA Beach on Thursday to find an apartment. There were lots of places that were not available until October. Very few places that are taking cats. I even called places to rent just “a room”… here is one example of how that went:

    I left a message. At around 5 she called back to tell me she didn’t have long distance and could I call her back? I can do that, I’m a nice guy. The first questions out of her mouth were about my sleeping and going out habits… you can’t come in after 10:00 p.m. you’ll wake me… you have to take a shower at night, people who shower in the morning just don’t care about their hygiene…. so you have to shower at night, when you get in before 10, cause you’ll wake me otherwise as I’m a late sleeper…
    After 5 minutes or so of a conversation like this… I ask about cats… she’s offended that I didn’t mention it right away… like I had a chance to talk… I’ve aparently wasted her time. I hope future phone calls go better than this one did.

    I did find an apartment that is available on September 9th, one bedroom… nice area… across the street from an AA meeting.. two blocks from the grocery store… and on the bus line… seems promising if I can prove I’m employed in VA.

    I’ll keep you posted.

  • Parent Visit

    Ma and Pa (please notice, just like Clark Kent) and Rhonda and Greg (my sister and her husband) came to visit me in the “big city”.

    I wore them out almost immediately walking about town and through one museum. The truly enjoyed the vegetation, flowers and wildlife… I’m not kidding. My family comes to visit the most powerful city in the world and they truly enjoyed the wildlife more than the memorials… it was cute.

    We did the trolley tour, which is worth EVERY penny ($28 per person). The Holocaust Museum was touching and enjoyed by all. The American History museum was a lot of walking.

    For me it was a pleasure to entertain my family in the city.

  • Fall Schedule

    James Appel 2005 Fall Semester
    Section Component Description Grading Option Grade Units Status
    ENG 111 Cls#: 59917 H13C Lecture College Composition I Graded 3.00
    8:00AM 9:15AM Tues George B Pass 0197 08/18/2005 12/12/2005
    Instructor: Antinarella,Joseph C

    Section Component Description Grading Option Grade Units Status
    ITE 115 Cls#:63529 D01C Lecture Intro Computer Apps & Concepts Graded 4.00
    8:00AM 9:40AM Mon,Wed Whitehurst Building 2045 08/18/2005 12/12/2005
    Instructor: Alger,David C

    Section Component Description Grading Option Grade Units Status
    MTH 3 Cls#: 59953 D08C Lecture Algebra I Developmental 5.00
    11:00AM 1:15PM Tues,Thurs Whitehurst Building 2032 08/18/2005 12/12/2005
    Instructor: Locke,Muriel

    Section Component Description Grading Option Grade Units Status
    PSY 201 Cls#: 60232 D02C Lecture Introduction To Psychology I Graded 3.00 11:00AM 12:15PM Mon,Wed Whitehurst Building 2002 08/18/2005 12/12/2005
    Instructor: Fox,Glenn E.

    Section Component Description Grading Option Grade Units Status
    SDV 100 Cls#: 70880 D03C Lecture College Success Skills Graded 1.00
    2:00PM 3:15PM Mon,Wed George B Pass 0140 08/18/2005 10/12/2005
    Instructor: Staff,C

  • Placement Testing… I hate math

    The best news first… it’s over, the placement test is over and now I can concentrate on other things.

    The results of my English Placement tests are as follows:
    Reading: Score 92
    Writing Skills: Score 92
    now, is that 92 of 100? or 92 out of 1984567? no idea… they say it’s really good thou, so lets assume 100.

    The results of my Math are a little less promising:
    Pre-Algebra: Score 45
    Algebra: Score 28

    After talking with the adviser today, she assures me this is fine, but it does mean I have to take two non credit hours of math… God help me…

    Tonnight at Midnight I get to pick my classes… I’ll let you know.

    jzq

  • Open letter to the people of Britain: Is the cost of freedom… freedom?

    When terror struck the U.S. on 9/11, fear struck the land of the free. Fear of more attacks, fear of lost loved ones, and fear of more fear. I was in Washington, DC the day the planes struck, and can clearly recall how it felts with each passing moment. Nothing compares to those feelings of hopelessness, fear and terror… and I thought nothing could make me feel safe again.

    Soon, the country rallied: flags were flying everywhere, people were lined up to help find survivor or donate blood, and millions of dollars were given to charitable causes. America showed the world why we’re so proud of ourselves.

    Then came the Patriot Act, combatants being held at Gitmo with no access to legal representation, people being arrested for taking pictures of landmarks, memo’s on how torture is excused in our case – because we’re so damn special…

    America reacted immediately and gave the “leaders” of our country almost unlimited power which they’ve used to secure our freedom and spread freedom around the globe.

    But, in reality, it appears as if America has lost its freedoms. The government has more power now than ever before to look into our personal lives, arrest us with even the slightest suspicion, check our bank records, and hold us without allowing us to see an attorney…

    Don’t let it happen to you Londoner’s… don’t let them take from you that which they say they want to protect. Be patient, ask God for direction and help… don’t lose what America has already lost.

  • Batman Begins… thankfully

    I truly enjoyed Batman Begins. I loved Christian Bale as Bruce/Batman, he was great (sometimes I flashed back to his character in American Psycho… he’s scary). The villians were well crafted as well… and a young Jim Gordon was spectacular.

    I would like to say this is the best superhero movie to date…

  • X Smokers Soapbox

    I didn’t want it to come to this, I didn’t want to become this person… but I have. I’ve become the preaching x-smoker that is going to preach at current smokers. See, I managed to finally quit in January, it was one more attempt and for whatever reason this time it took. Who knew.

    Now what bothers me most as a non smoker is the smell of current smokers. I had no idea it was that bad, I would have quit years ago had I realized how bad I smelled. I don’t normally notice, maybe I don’t hang out with too many smokers now that I’ve stopped… but on a recent plane ride I sat next to an obvious smoker…. O MY GOD… well, she had some fashion issues too, but the smell was almost unbearable. I found the smell to be an excellent deterrent when I get a craving… just walk by a smoker and you’ll see what I’m saying.

    I think if a smokers sense of smell were more aware they would not be smoking at all… but alas that is one of the things to dwindle when you smoke.