So I made a new friend at work the past few weeks, but I think the main reason he might be a friend is because he enjoys taking my money from me so much. (Sidenote: Rachel also enjoys him taking money from me because whenever I make a stupid bet and lose--which is always--she gets to spend an equal amount of money on herself!)
So we were talking golf and we decided we were going to sneak out for a long "lunch" and do a quick nine holes. I must talk a good game because he wanted to play the nine holes straight up for the wager. Knowing that I couldn't touch him straight up, I managed to adjust the wager to the point that if I beat his score on one of the nine holes or tied his score twice, I would win the wager. From the way he talked I figured he was in the Mike Davis-range of golfers (which is pretty good for those who don't know Mike). I dialed Mike up to see if he thought I could possible beat him on one of nine holes. Alas, no answer (when I later did talk to Mike and ask him that question, he had himself quite a laugh). So out I go feeling confident that my lunch would be paid for. It was the first time out this year for both of us. I had to have one lucky hole, right?
Curses! (Seriously, you know what I mean when I say curses!) I lost bad. In fact, I only had one hole where I was close to tying, but he nailed a 25-foot putt to win the hole outright. He told me he knew after my first tee shot (a duff that went about 10 feet to the left into the bushes) that it was in the bag. I pretty much knew the same.
Unfortunately, due to my utter lack of self-doubt (which is to say my extreme level of overconfidence in my worthless abilities), I did not take my loss and move on, I simply moved to another sport. Basketball! Yes, I wagered on a one-on-one game. I showed up at his early morning ball game, played a couple hours, then faced him one-on-one. Since we all know how fat and out of shape I am, let me just say I was begging him to end it (I will add, however, that he was gassed too, as he couldn't hit a wide open layup for his life to end the game). It was a sorry showing, but I was so gassed after the regular ball I had nothing left in the tank for when it counted.
My saving grace is that I pay up. Words can't describe the grin on a man's face as he sees another man pay for his lunch, involuntarily. Logic would say that I've learned my lesson and I'll stop trash talking. The sad reality is that I'm most definitely NOT ready to do that. Tennis anyone?
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Work-Life Balance
So before I even write about this topic can I just say that I've had like 3 DOMINANT posts lately that I've wanted to post but I've been struck down by the powers that be from fear of offending people. So it's not that I haven't written in forever; it's more that I've written "secret posts" that are now stored away in my heart forever. Ah, the internet, where whatever you write is permanently posted somewhere.
So I'm nearing the end of my first "busy season" as we call it in accounting. This week I worked until 3 am on monday night and 1 am wednesday night. My usual night ends with me getting home post-10 pm. I'm pretty sure if I break down this salary thing into an hourly wage I'm making somewhere in the minimum wage range. This accounting profession has it figured out! Take educated people right out of school, work them a ton, and pay "salary" so you don't have to pay any overtime! I will say I haven't really worked any weekends, which are now pretty much "Dad's time to see Cannon awake", so that's been good.
I'm writing a lot of gripes, when in truth I actually enjoy what I'm doing a ton. I'm learning a ton and I like the people I work with (a key for enjoying any job). I'm not saying that I'd prefer to be at work rather than at home all night; what I'm trying to say is that I'm enjoying it despite some long nights. I'm actually excited for some of my future prospects later this year. Things should mellow out for me sometime in the next few weeks and that's when this "life" side of things hopefully will be able to kick into gear.
So I'm about 3 months in to this accounting thing, and I still feel like it's brand new. This is definitely a major tranistional period for Rachel and me. I'm thinking this entire year might be a transitional period because so much has changed for us in the past 8 months or so and we still aren't sure how to react to it all. We always had "just get through school" in our minds as kind of an "ending point" to our early years of marriage. Now that we've started a family and essentially started what the rest of our lives together will be like (for the most part. Rachel won't work forever. I included this side comment specifically for her so she knows that :) ) I think we are both caught off-guard as to how fast this all snuck up on us.
Anyways, I'm rambling. Basically if anybody's up past midnight and needs somebody to talk to, I'm most assuredly awake and most likely at work so feel free to call for a chat! Careful, though, I might lure you into some boring accounting talk. One positive is that if Rachel is having any trouble sleeping at all, she only has to tell me, "Brandon, tell me about your work" and she's out like a light within minutes.
So I'm nearing the end of my first "busy season" as we call it in accounting. This week I worked until 3 am on monday night and 1 am wednesday night. My usual night ends with me getting home post-10 pm. I'm pretty sure if I break down this salary thing into an hourly wage I'm making somewhere in the minimum wage range. This accounting profession has it figured out! Take educated people right out of school, work them a ton, and pay "salary" so you don't have to pay any overtime! I will say I haven't really worked any weekends, which are now pretty much "Dad's time to see Cannon awake", so that's been good.
I'm writing a lot of gripes, when in truth I actually enjoy what I'm doing a ton. I'm learning a ton and I like the people I work with (a key for enjoying any job). I'm not saying that I'd prefer to be at work rather than at home all night; what I'm trying to say is that I'm enjoying it despite some long nights. I'm actually excited for some of my future prospects later this year. Things should mellow out for me sometime in the next few weeks and that's when this "life" side of things hopefully will be able to kick into gear.
So I'm about 3 months in to this accounting thing, and I still feel like it's brand new. This is definitely a major tranistional period for Rachel and me. I'm thinking this entire year might be a transitional period because so much has changed for us in the past 8 months or so and we still aren't sure how to react to it all. We always had "just get through school" in our minds as kind of an "ending point" to our early years of marriage. Now that we've started a family and essentially started what the rest of our lives together will be like (for the most part. Rachel won't work forever. I included this side comment specifically for her so she knows that :) ) I think we are both caught off-guard as to how fast this all snuck up on us.
Anyways, I'm rambling. Basically if anybody's up past midnight and needs somebody to talk to, I'm most assuredly awake and most likely at work so feel free to call for a chat! Careful, though, I might lure you into some boring accounting talk. One positive is that if Rachel is having any trouble sleeping at all, she only has to tell me, "Brandon, tell me about your work" and she's out like a light within minutes.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Live With Your Parents!
Interesting article in the desnews today about the growing number of adults moving back in with their parents. The article cited a 50-year old moving back in with her 80-year old parents. She acknowledged it was quite the humbling experience, but she needed somewhere to get back on her feet.
(Can I just make a quick note completely off topic? I'm sure everybody has noticed that my spelling has been quite off on most of my recent posts and I blame the keyboard on our new desktop. It's a piece and it doesn't pick up my keystrokes. I've had to fix like 30 words already! Anyways, whatever I can do to shift the blame off of my noticeably bad spelling.)
Back to living with the parents. Somebody posted an interesting comment after the article, noting that our capitalist society is what dictates that everybody live in their own house, even though our houses are huge. I kind of agree with that comment. I know in Latin cultures it is not uncommon for multiple generations to live together in the same home.
I guess I'm writing about this because I know if I was still single I'd probably live at home and I'd want to somehow justify myself for being an at-home adult.
I keep wanting to write that I don't see any problem with somebody living at home after they've fallen on hard times, but I guess the reason for the "hard times" would potentially be a problem. Got laid off from your job in a rough economy? No problem. Don't have a job because you're lazy? Problem. Have a job but you're just stupid with your money? Problem.
Other examples of problems: One idiot comment tried to turn it into a rivalry thing, saying it was stupid Utah fans who live at home. BIG MISTAKE-especially since the spineless loser posted as "anonymous". Even being the BYU homer that I am, it is clearly the kids "down south" who pump out 3 kids on the government dime (which equals my dime) while still in school and then move into the parents house for a couple years of "transitioning" period once schools out. Good call.
I have to say, I started this post with the intention to say it was okay to live with the parents after I felt so bad for the lady in the article who had to move back home for a while after getting laid off; however, I've clearly noted points against living with the parents as well. It's also worth noting that the "problem" points are much stronger than the "no problem" points. Hmmm. . . note to Cannon: You cannot move back in with us when you're 50. Sorry!
(Can I just make a quick note completely off topic? I'm sure everybody has noticed that my spelling has been quite off on most of my recent posts and I blame the keyboard on our new desktop. It's a piece and it doesn't pick up my keystrokes. I've had to fix like 30 words already! Anyways, whatever I can do to shift the blame off of my noticeably bad spelling.)
Back to living with the parents. Somebody posted an interesting comment after the article, noting that our capitalist society is what dictates that everybody live in their own house, even though our houses are huge. I kind of agree with that comment. I know in Latin cultures it is not uncommon for multiple generations to live together in the same home.
I guess I'm writing about this because I know if I was still single I'd probably live at home and I'd want to somehow justify myself for being an at-home adult.
I keep wanting to write that I don't see any problem with somebody living at home after they've fallen on hard times, but I guess the reason for the "hard times" would potentially be a problem. Got laid off from your job in a rough economy? No problem. Don't have a job because you're lazy? Problem. Have a job but you're just stupid with your money? Problem.
Other examples of problems: One idiot comment tried to turn it into a rivalry thing, saying it was stupid Utah fans who live at home. BIG MISTAKE-especially since the spineless loser posted as "anonymous". Even being the BYU homer that I am, it is clearly the kids "down south" who pump out 3 kids on the government dime (which equals my dime) while still in school and then move into the parents house for a couple years of "transitioning" period once schools out. Good call.
I have to say, I started this post with the intention to say it was okay to live with the parents after I felt so bad for the lady in the article who had to move back home for a while after getting laid off; however, I've clearly noted points against living with the parents as well. It's also worth noting that the "problem" points are much stronger than the "no problem" points. Hmmm. . . note to Cannon: You cannot move back in with us when you're 50. Sorry!
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Mind of a Teenager
Rachel and I were cleaning our basement yesterday and I came across a notebook that had a journal I wrote all of my senior year of high school. Wondering what's on the mind of a teenage boy? Pretty much one thing. . . Kissing Girls!!! Yeeeah!!!! Well, then we called it "getting action" so pretty much if any of the boys got so much as even a little peck from a girl they "got action."
Unfortunately, most of my entries talk about my plan to "get action" instead of my experiences "getting action." I'm pretty sure that was the case for most of my friends as well, even though they might tell you differently.
I'm pretty sure I need to throw it away because it has quite the amount of self-incriminating entries. Rachel read it and laughed her head off all night long. She thinks I should post the whole thing on here. I'm tempted, but no. I can't imagine even my kids reading what was going on through my 18-year old mind, let alone anybody else. Luckily after Rachel took me to the dance at the end of my senior year I wrote that it turned out awesome instead of writing something like, "My date with that Rachel girl totally sucked." I probably would've landed in the doghouse for the night with something like that!
Also, it appears that I had quite the amount of really self-incriminating entries because as I thumbed through the notebook I noticed I had lots of pages half torn out. Obviously I went back at some point and tore out entries that I thought were bad or something. Man, if I thought they were bad then, then I'm sure they would be crazy now because I was embarrassed at the entries that I left!
Anyways, Rachel has convinced me to post some entries but I must notify in advance for any who don't know (which is very few people) that my language in high school was very R-rated. If I post any further entries I'll be sure to give a rating up front as a warning. This one is PG-13, with apologies to Mark Stubler (I know Lindsey reads my blog so hopefully she won't be mad either:)). The entry is verbatim with my new thoughts in parenthesis.
12-12-1999
Friday we played Jordan in b-ball. We lost in double overtime (No worries, we won state that year!). After the game I was yelling (in the parking lot) "let's go" to Mark. Some Jordan drill-team chic sarcastically yelled, "Yeah, let's go!" I screamed back, "Hey! You're Ugly!" Her friend yelled "Hey! Show some respect!" Jeff Davis started arguing with them then one said "Why don't you apologize?" I yelled, "Why don't you burn in hell!" She yelled, "Why are you guys such dicks?!" Mark Stubler jumped in right as the Jordan Principle came up behind me and Ms. Garret (Copper Hills VP) pulled up behind him, and yelled, "Why are you girls such sluts!" They yelled back, "Hey! Apologize!" He said, "I'll apologize right after I show you my ass!" Then Ms. Garret jumped in. It was pretty funny, but she was pretty pissed. But we talked to her at the Christmas stomp last night and she said it was funny, too. So it's all right.
I've read this post like 10 times in the past 24 hours and I break out laughing every time. Very uncharacteristic of me to lash out like that at a random girl. Even Rachel commented, "I never have known you to be mean like that." That' s probably why such a menial interchange is so memorable. I'm sure the girl thought she could say something since her team just won. Obviously she had no idea we would bring it so strong! I'm still laughing. I should've been meaner in high school. I would have more funny memories like this.
Unfortunately, most of my entries talk about my plan to "get action" instead of my experiences "getting action." I'm pretty sure that was the case for most of my friends as well, even though they might tell you differently.
I'm pretty sure I need to throw it away because it has quite the amount of self-incriminating entries. Rachel read it and laughed her head off all night long. She thinks I should post the whole thing on here. I'm tempted, but no. I can't imagine even my kids reading what was going on through my 18-year old mind, let alone anybody else. Luckily after Rachel took me to the dance at the end of my senior year I wrote that it turned out awesome instead of writing something like, "My date with that Rachel girl totally sucked." I probably would've landed in the doghouse for the night with something like that!
Also, it appears that I had quite the amount of really self-incriminating entries because as I thumbed through the notebook I noticed I had lots of pages half torn out. Obviously I went back at some point and tore out entries that I thought were bad or something. Man, if I thought they were bad then, then I'm sure they would be crazy now because I was embarrassed at the entries that I left!
Anyways, Rachel has convinced me to post some entries but I must notify in advance for any who don't know (which is very few people) that my language in high school was very R-rated. If I post any further entries I'll be sure to give a rating up front as a warning. This one is PG-13, with apologies to Mark Stubler (I know Lindsey reads my blog so hopefully she won't be mad either:)). The entry is verbatim with my new thoughts in parenthesis.
12-12-1999
Friday we played Jordan in b-ball. We lost in double overtime (No worries, we won state that year!). After the game I was yelling (in the parking lot) "let's go" to Mark. Some Jordan drill-team chic sarcastically yelled, "Yeah, let's go!" I screamed back, "Hey! You're Ugly!" Her friend yelled "Hey! Show some respect!" Jeff Davis started arguing with them then one said "Why don't you apologize?" I yelled, "Why don't you burn in hell!" She yelled, "Why are you guys such dicks?!" Mark Stubler jumped in right as the Jordan Principle came up behind me and Ms. Garret (Copper Hills VP) pulled up behind him, and yelled, "Why are you girls such sluts!" They yelled back, "Hey! Apologize!" He said, "I'll apologize right after I show you my ass!" Then Ms. Garret jumped in. It was pretty funny, but she was pretty pissed. But we talked to her at the Christmas stomp last night and she said it was funny, too. So it's all right.
I've read this post like 10 times in the past 24 hours and I break out laughing every time. Very uncharacteristic of me to lash out like that at a random girl. Even Rachel commented, "I never have known you to be mean like that." That' s probably why such a menial interchange is so memorable. I'm sure the girl thought she could say something since her team just won. Obviously she had no idea we would bring it so strong! I'm still laughing. I should've been meaner in high school. I would have more funny memories like this.
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