Book of Jamez

55 y/o malcontent, something of a writer

Category: School

  • What if everything changed?

    The boss is talking retirement, the roommate (landlord) is talking about moving (once his Mom passes on) – well so what? Love my boss and my roommate, consider them family, but I’m ready to go too.

    It would actually be a pretty cool thing if these two things happened in conjunction and it forced me to change too. It would force me to look at my life as it stands now and see what I’d like to do with the rest of it – however long that may be.

    With the whole world out there and I can choose to do anything I want, that seems pretty exciting doesn’t it? Warmer climate? school? menial labor? sure I don’t care any of those would be fine

     

  • Paragraph

    When I was young my parents moved around a lot (for various reasons, most of them having to do with alcoholism) and as a result I ended up attending several different elementary schools – sometimes we would show up mid-term at these new schools. No one seemed to have the same curriculum so besides having to make new friends and get used to the new surroundings I also had to figure out what the heck it was that I was supposed to have been taught already.

    This became a problem for me when a teacher asked everyone to read a paragraph or two from a story. The two kids before me each read a bit, I have no idea what they read I was busy trying to figure out what the hell a paragraph was. It was my turn and I still didn’t know what one was so I just started reading.

    As I read I went through the information in my mind trying to ascertain if I’d been taught this and forgotten already or if this was an entirely new word and was baffled. All this thinking in my head had me distracted so words that I knew how to pronounce tied my tongue in knots and made me feel more insecure than before. Not only did I not know what a paragraph was, but now all the other kids think I’m a moron. Great way to start a new school. As I still had no clue what a paragraph was I just kept reading and reading and reading – finally I was so embarrassed that I stopped in the middle of a particularly long (what I was to discover later) paragraph.

    There was an eerie silence in the classroom then. I imagine they all wondered if I was going to keep reading, having heard me stumble through several paragraphs poorly they probably hoped not. Eventually the teacher must have nodded to the girl behind me and she picked up where I dropped the ball. I was mortified, I recognized that I screwed up, the silence and awkwardness was too much for me.

    Eventually I did learn what a paragraph was, I don’t think anyone ever set me down to tell me it was just a general observation of other classes. Today when I’m in a meeting and reading out loud I flash back to that morning class and still feel a sense of calamity and chaos spread through me – but at least I know when to stop now.

  • PVC, XYZ and Sad Little Girls

    This weekend my friend Eric and I hooked up with our friend Rosy from High School. We wanted to try to get her to relax and have a good time – she’s very serious and we did manage to get her to smile here and there and I do believe I heard a chuckle or two as well. Eric and I are both likely bruised on shoulders and shins from her assaults when we would joke at her expense.

    Eric is retired Air Force and Rosy is active Air Force and when the two of them get to talking about what’s been going on the last 21 years they talk in letters. You would think that I would be used to this kind of thing – having lived in DC for the last 10 years, but I just couldn’t keep up. I just kind of zoned out when they would start and I’d reflect that if either of them were with me at a WoW convention they’d hear just as many letters or in DC with the locals.

    We went to see the Baltimore Aquarium on Friday during the day and that evening came into Baltimore suburbs for a Dinner Theater. We saw the play Midlife the Crisis Musical at Toby’s Dinner Theater in Columbia and were very entertained.

    Each night the three of us were up into the wee hours of the evening like old times and our bodies will be paying for it I think for the next few days. We did get to show Rosy the sites of DC, the fun of Baltimore (that can be had with your clothes on and your wallet still intact) and laughter which she desperately needed.

    I hope that the next time I have a few days with old friends that they remember how old we are and that even as the youngest of us – I complain the loudest!

  • The Black Knight and the Rose

    Over 20 years agoEric “Sleazy” Nelson, Rosy Pieper and James Appel roamed through the halls of G-E-T High School (yes, that’s really a school) causing nothing but trouble…

    Ok, that’s not true, for the most part we were well behaved, Rosy especially – she didn’t even smoke cigarettes.

    We did however form friendships that have lasted on and off for the last couple decades; they both disappeared off my radar when I was drunking and boozing – how dare they – they didn’t actually go anywhere, I just lost touch with reality. Along with several other folks from back they, these friendships remain strong.

    It was just last summer that we were all in the same spot again for the first time in ages and it was nice to see friends at home.

    This weekend Eric, Rosy and I will hang out together and reminisce about old times complain about new times and have a good time, the only regret we are likely to have is that Ted and others wont be with us, as that would make it a truly memorable weekend.

  • I've got a bike…

    I should be riding it. I think this Thursday morning (boss is in class that day) I’ll take it to the bike shop and have them make sure it’s ok… I think one of my tires is a little low, and want to be sure I don’t get stuck somewhere. There is a bike rack to park my bike right outside my office building, so that is very convenient… I also understand that it is only 4.2 miles to Takoma Park (where my office building is located) so that works as well.

    I’m eagerly awaiting the implementation of DC Smart Bikes in the city, I think that will bring a great change to the way everyone gets around. I suppose there is no helping tourists, they just walk where and when they want, but the residents and workers of the city will find a lot of benefit to bikes for rent for cheap.

  • That Old Summer Camp Feeling

    Back in 1986 or 87 when I went off to camp, it was a job corp type camp filled with other kids and we stayed in some kind of religious university dorm rooms. I recall everyone pairing off, everyone had a boyfriend or a girlfriend. I didn’t have one, didn’t really want one either, but felt kind of pressured to get one. Mind you, at this time everyone except Liberace was straight, so for a 6 year old kid any attractiveness towards the male gender was frowned upon.

    I did finally give in, started holding hands and kissing with Rebecca, the little red head girl… so very Charlie Brown of me. We never did more than kiss, and I didn’t believe the other boy’s bravado about going further. At the time George Michael’s “I Want Your Sex” had recently been released and believe it or not, Monagomy was the topic of discussion; the kids didn’t know what it meant and one of the camp counselors explained it to us.

    So a part of me, back then, thought this girl, Rebecca, maybe she could be the one for me, the one that ‘fixes’ me. At the end of summer camp, we vowed to keep in touch and I assumed remain faithful to one another. So the next year at camp, I was shocked to learn she had moved on… well relieved a bit too, I didn’t really want to be ‘fixed’ I liked guys and didn’t not want to be myself.

    I don’t want to date someone just for the sake of dating someone, I want it to be more than that. So, that spark has to be there and even a little bit of Wow!!! has to be there.

  • School

    … is frustrating right now.

  • Update

    Hi,I’ve probably told you all more than enough, to check my site: http://mrjamezq.blogspot.com/ if you want to know what’s going on with me… well… I haven’t written anything there in a while… so you can claim you did and still don’t know what’s going on.

    I’m temping at the NAHB which is about a 20 minute walk from home. Nice job, nice folks… but only 4 days a week. There are issues there… like the one woman who put together a fax, even made the cover sheet… walked past the fax machine came to my desk and said: “This needs to be faxed to this number (pointing to the number on the cover sheet she made) ASAP.” So, I smile and don’t ask why she’s such a lazy cow.. I get up and fax her two pages. Or the fact that “short-term” means anything from 1 month to 25 years… but I digress.

    I’m also working at Olsson’s Books and Records, in DC. Very laid back. I’m pretty sure there are three people (minimum) that don’t like me… I don’t much like them either. I hate when there are author events and the authors and their fans can’t seem to understand what closing time means… perhaps if they hung out in more bars they would get the concept. Remind me, IF I ever get famous, what I hated about book events.

    Gary and I went bike riding on Monday, was a little hot but nice. I need to exercise more, but the bike seat is broken and I’m saving cash… and DC drivers are nut jobs (no offense to you nut jobs… er DC drivers).

    WHC (Washington Hospital Center) finally called back about the job I intervied for over a month ago… they want me to come in (Monday) and take some tests: Word, Excel, Power Point… no worries. The job is a union job, and I don’t know what that means yet. I would almost rather stay at NAHB if it was 5 days a week.

    I was hoping to go to WI this summer for an AA thing… but it just can’t happen in this financial situation. I’ll have to see what else I could do… but winter is fast approaching there so no promises.

    No men… as there is no time. The cats are a little grumpy due to not getting enough attention, but when I do give it they are content if only for a purr or two.

    I am going to my meeting in Georgetown, and considering getting a sponsor… there are two candidates… don’t hold you breath, I’m very picky.

    On Monday, I’ll be contacting Northern Virginia Community College about classes this fall, I need a minimum of six credits to maintain my financial aid. I hope this shouldn’t be a problem… just have to decide which classes I would like to take.

    I read: To Kill A Mockingbird for the first time, and I must say it was a really good book. Currently I am reading: Hunting in Harlem which has promise.

    OK, its way past my bedtime. I miss most of you (some of you I actually see on occasion)Jamez

  • Job Seeking

    Suggestions for staffing agencies keep coming to mind, but I’ve only told one agency what they should do to improve their services. Here are some common items that would make the process better for all parties:

    • Standardize and computerize forms. It’s 2006 people, all of this can be done on a computer, not only making it easier on the applicant, but also making the data more accessible and searchable for Employers.
    • Computer peripherals need upgrading. An applicant should have non-sticky keyboards, a smooth flow (optical preferred) mouse, and a decent work station from which to test.
    • Consolidate test information. Three of the agencies I’ve applied to this week had the exact same tests. My scores were relatively the same, this is wasting my time and yours, talk to one another.
    • Don’t call me every day to ask me if you can send out my resume… That’s why I came to you in the first place: So you could find me a job.
    • Be friendly to prospective clients. Whether they are job seekers or employers, treat them with the same level of respect you would like to receive. Only one agency had a truly rude receptionist, but all of them should be aware of the impression they set for your company.

    I’m done ranting now, time to look for more jobs.

  • Ready, Set…

    I’m packed, mostly, the computer is still up (obviously) and I have some cleaning to do… but I am ready.

    I think it will be ok if I leave today, so that’s my goal, to head out for DC now, otherwise I’m basically sleeping on the floor tonight anyway.