Sports References Always Work

I've created a new tagline for work. Sports references always work in the workplace ("Game on" when referring to starting your day, "Posting up" when referring to your estimated time of arrival), but I found the perfect phrase the other day. While sitting with a bunch of chaps (people don't use that word enough, so like sexy, I'm trying to bring it back) at Subway while we dined on our sandwiches (which we received at a unbeatable price---thank you Smart Shopper coupons), I came to the conclusion that work is like a football game. It can be a lot of games, but football works the best. You walk in, and the game has begun. You have until lunch to accomplish your tasks at hand and put points on the board, so to speak. While it's not imperative you score, it's best to always put out your best effort and not have to go into halftime (lunch) with a full to-do list left. You then go into halftime, knowing whether you're up or not. Halftime is crucial. It determines whether you can go back into the second half knowing if you can simply "take a knee," and just not do anything the rest of the day since you did so much before lunch, or if you have to play catch up. I try to always be up by halftime and cruise into leaving for the day. It doesn't always happen, but it's a fair goal to shoot for. After relating this message to my co-workers, they all got a big kick out of it, but realized how relevant it is. One co-worker told me it could have been the best one I'd come up with ever (even though I was responsible for coronating another co-worker as "Rampage"...even though he didn't like it at all). But think about how true it is. So in short, everyone should shoot for taking a knee after lunch. That way you'll still have the energy (maybe) to forge ahead for another game (also called Tuesday).

I'm traveling to the Great White North the end of the month for a site visit. I'm kind of excited but it's only for a night, so I plan to make the most of that night. I hope the people I'm traveling with aren't going to act like my parents and enforce a curfew, or worse, we're all in the same room. I definitely don't need bunkmates. I dealt with that for four years of college. During the day I'll be tied up but after that, I'm free. I hear Montreal has a great nightlife, so hopefully I'll be able to enjoy it.

I sometimes think leaving that job will be bad. Our staff is grossly understaffed and losing another person would be bad for morale. But then I think, I really don't care if I do. I'll give them the professional courtesy and leave after two weeks, but I don't think I owe them more than that. I guess a part of me thinks since this was my first job, I owe it to them to stay. My parents seem to think I should stick it out, even if they don't say that directly. I know it has excellent job security, good potential for advancement, etc. But I swear, if I'm still there by the summer, please take me out back and beat me with a switch. I refuse to stay in a place just because it's safe and secure. That's the attitude of a lot of people there, and I'll be damned if I add to the list. I've applied to other positions and been let down each time. I've learned not to invest too much energy into anything; you'll just be let down. It's a bad mindset, but that way, you're never let down. So now I have this opportunity on the table. Not really even on the table; let's just say it's in the air. I have to make another phone call to the contact tomorrow or over the weekend. It involves writing, which is beautiful to me, but what it really involves is getting out of where I am now. Though if it was a paycut and worse hours, that'd be bad. As much as I despise what I do, getting out at 3:30 is pretty sweet. It leaves me so much time to...waste money at Starbucks while my friends finish their days, or work out...yeah, that's about it. That's what my life has come down to folks. Starbucks and free weights. You can bet how exciting my weekends are.

Kind of a rambling, incoherent post as always, but I never said this blog would be good or even make sense. The important part is, I've gotten it off my chest and out of my head, so maybe it'll help me to sleep throughout the night and not wake up before my alarm goes off. Wishful thinking I guess.

It's the End of the World as We Know It: Being called "David" for about the fourth time since I started working there. While my name is close to that, it isn't that. But for some reason, that's what I'm being called. Even when my name is written down on the paper in front of them. Or on the e-mail I send. I'm gonna start calling people another name and see how they feel. It reminds me of this classic "Scrubs" exchange:

Dr. Kelso: [impressed] Well, excellent catch Dr..... uh... Dr.... uhm....

J.D.'s Thoughts: Dorian. You see me every day. Say my name; say it!

Dr. Kelso: [looking in the chart J.D. had given him] ....Martinez.

J.D.: That was the name of the patient, sir.

Dr. Kelso: [looking again] ...Avery.

J.D.: No, actually, that's the--that's the manufacturer of the clipboard...sir.