Best Wishes to the Drunkenpiper

I just wanted to post this to wish Jeremy a happy and fulfilling September's Eve. Already, eager blog readers are awaiting his insightful commentary to roll out about the Church and events taking place in July.

It seems that, just maybe, he'll realize the popular demand, and get out a new post by Groundhog Day. Then again, we may all be doomed to six more months of impending Morocco.

Take care, Piper, and all the best.

Karl A. Kilgore

It's like Winning the Tour Guide Drawing...

Without having to give tours...

Today we got a postcard from Starbucks telling me that we're valuable customers and as a reward for registering our giftcard we received anonymously in the mail a few months ago, they're giving us another $10 to spend.

Kinda cool. In a Joughonian sort of way.

Fact of the Day

As the fall rolls in, your local retail stores order more lightbulbs to sell.

That's because lightbulb usage goes up.

Then the lights go out.

And buying habits change.

Busy Local News Day

Today's Fox 24 Poll:

Do you prefer commemorative stamps over regular postage stamps?

Well, do ya?

Grocery Phase: Complete.

Next Phase: Drug/GM

Where In The World Is Moel Joughon?

That's righ folks, Suriname.

Another sign that my Beltway Days are behind me...

I went to the Courthouse and put in my application for concealed carry. The same day, I also became sworn in as a Notary.

So if any of y'all need something notarized at gunpoint, let me know...

Congratulations Schwartzy

I recently talked to The Schwartz... and guess what?

He has taken a big first step into home-decorating by painting a single wall in his townhouse. I would like to point out that the posters of Marilyn Monroe are not his, but the one of Rothbard is.

In addition, I would like to thank him for pointing this web site out to me.

Also, he is finally giving Moel Joughon (pseudonymn) his cat back. Speaking of which, many cultures judge how a person relates to those he cares about by how he treats his cat...

Or maybe they just judged me by how I treated his cat. Can't remember.

Been listening lately...

to a bunch of recordings from the Vision Forum as I commute into work. It's been interesting to listen to them, and an enjoyable experience.

local scenes...

New Carbon Leaf CD

I just pre-ordered the new Carbon Leaf CD from Amazon.com. The funny thing is that I didn't know about it except that I was doing some dishes (we don't have a dishwasher), and I turned on the Laura Ingraham Show, a conservative radio talk show host. Joining her on the show today was none other than Carbon Leaf, performing some of their songs live from the studio. I really like how with Amazon.com you can purchase the CD and then listen to it streaming over the web as well. Really nice feature for those of us who seek instant gratification.

Anyway, just a shout out.

Also, if any of you out there could pray for us, we're having a difficult time lately dealing with my family. One of the benefits (and horrors) of living so close to your realtives is that you're close to your relatives. My family is really bad about trying to pressure and guilt trip us into making decisions that go along with what they would do. I'm having a hard time with it, as they are very meddlesome and like to get into every aspect of our lives that they can. They had backed off for awhile, but now they're back at it again. This has always been a struggle for me as they have always throughout my life dissaproved of everthing that I had done. Even when I achieve something, they focus immediately on the negative or start asking series of questions about small details I hadn't thought of yet. It always taught me to just be very secretive about going about doing things in my life, and also not to show a lot of joy or emotion about achieving something, as I was sure the good feeling would be shot down as soon as I shared the news. Anyway, that's what I'm having to work through now. I'd really like to move somewhere so that the problem would just go away, but I'm not sure when that could even happen. I have a long way to go on an uncertain path just to have that possibility.

It's Been Awhile

I have been busy for the last 4 weeks or so with work. I'm training in the 17 week management program and that has meant intermittent travel up to Atlanta and working at least 50 hours per week. Add about another hour and a half for my commute and we're set. This week I have been getting up at 5am to work the irregular hours demanded by the bidness. I'm pretty stressed out and worried about being able to make it through.

I have to learn each department and get evaluated at the end of each "phase" by the Store Manager where I am assigned for training, and the department head. Right now, I am learning Grocery (which includes Dry Grocery, Frozen Food, Receiving, and Dairy). There are a ton of acronymns to learn and also the tools of the trade. You only one "do-over" on the phase evaluations, so its pretty much that you need to learn it the first time through.

I'm feeling pretty lost and powerless right now, and not sure how to change that. And yet, making it through this is pretty much the most important thing that I have ever had to do... important because failure hurts more than just me right now.

One of the most challenging aspects is just learning to speak up. Anyone who has ever worked with me knows that when I am on a job, I hardly say anything. Even when I need help, I never seem to know how to get it out and express it in a meaningful manner where I actually get help. I do't know why this has always been a shortcoming, but I can feel in my stomach me getting anxious just thinking about it.

I hope that I'll figure it out soon....

You've come far, though you're far from the end, you don't mind where you are 'cause you know where you've been." -- Carbon Leaf, Let Your Troubles Roll By

Got into the Management Training Program...
Stuff's gettin' better. Gettin' better every day.

Which Comes First?

During my time watching hundreds of orders come down a conveyor belt, I can say with a great deal of confidence that the chicken comes before the eggs.

Western Cantaloupes

"Do you have Western Cantaloupes?"

"Well, ma'am, these are our cantaloupes here. It looks like they come from Arizona and California."

"Is that the same thing as a Western Cantaloupe?"

"Well, I'll go check..."

"Yes, ma'am, they're Western Cantaloupes."

-- it's been a long week.

World Cup...

I had to work 12pm-8pm today, so I am just now watching the France/Portugal game... so far the playing is very beautiful, fun to watch...

Some Sad News...

ENRON FOUNDER KEN LAY DEAD OF HEART ATTACK

**Watch FOX News Channel or go to http://foxnews.com for more

In Other News...

Avril informs us via email of this one-line development:

"I said yes!"

Karl A. Kilgore congratulates her, assuming the question wasn't "Do you want fries with that?" :-p

Night Shift Fun

When you're working 11pm to 7am, sometimes you need to come up with stuff to keep you awake. This morning as the sun started coming up and I started feeling more tired, I decided to rework some slogans in order to keep my eyes open. Here are a few that I came up with:

"It's possible that it's one of her inherited traits, but another possibility is that it is our product." Maybelline

"Looses all structural integrity when consumed orally, yet is resistant to decomposition when handled manually." M&Ms

"There's not even one person who has a negative opinion about us." Sara Lee

"I have great affection for this." McDonald's

"Obtain a unit of our product for your own personal consumption." Cheez-Its (Get your own box)

"Are you in possession of a lactose-based product?" Milk

"We are not dogmatic about our product's assembly." Burger King

"Do not constrain a facial expression." Little Debbie (unwrap a smile)

"We are the correct merchant. Our cost indicator is also accurate." Kroger (Right Store. Right Price.)

Happy Canada Day!