| Status : Terminated |
[Dec. 4th, 2009|01:57 am] |
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My Lords and Masters at my previous employer have decided that My Services Are No Longer Required (tm). I'm not going to pretend I was an angel, the termination reason was cited as 'Violence in the Workplace' - a person who crossed me earlier on my career was generally on the receiving end of my ire, and what I considered a 'bit of roughhousing' got me on my way out the front door. The current zero tolerance policy that has now been adopted by employers is obviously there to protect them from any type of lawsuit (I suppose), although the 'from nothing to out the door' level of it is something to be concerned about. No warning, no take a few days without pay to cool off and think about your actions. You are just going to be gone. I feel that it's almost erring *too* much on the side of caution - so much can be considered as 'violence' really that it makes it absurdly easy to get fired.
Oddly, as my exit interview was going on I actually felt ... well, happy and relieved. I've been working third-shift jobs in -Marts for nearly a decade. Now - for better or worse - it's finally over. While nervous about hunting for a new job and unemployment, I'm actually just so relieved to have been forced to make the jump to get a better job. It's odd...but when you get stuck in a position like that you just seem to hunker down and let time pass. I think about it now...a decade of night work. I have three friends offline, and I see two of them about once or twice a month. I never get to socialize with them or anyone else for that matter. Third shift is a cruel mistress when it comes to that sort of thing.
My word, I can start dating again once I get a secure position. I don't even know how to go about it these days - people use online meeting sites for the initial ice breaking don't they? I'm going to have to jump in blind again - sheesh, and they say you can never be young again.
While I'm older, I also feel I'm a tad wiser. This time around, I'll be taking advantage of any offers I can get through the unemployment office to train myself for a better job than a lift-and-tote guy at a -Mart or warehouse. I'm planning on going into medical training - I attended a seminar at the 'office today about career paths in the medical field. Becoming a pharmacy tech, dietitian's assistant or CMT won't take much training and can be used as foothold positions to get to the vaunted jobs such as a Registered Nurse or Physician (they require a LOT of training, but buy getting employed in the field you can oftentimes find ways to subsidize your tuition via your employers). The other benefit of starting small is that if I don't like the field (blood! Auuugh!) I haven't wasted tons of time and money (mine and the taxpayers) training for a job I just can't take.
I'm also looking for more local work to help tide me over - even part time. One thing I found the last time I was unemployed (as a wee lad) is that the routine of working is good for you. It helps keep you healthy and confident. Plus, even part-time work will help me stretch my unemployment benefits as I retrain - if I recall correctly, unemployment will help make up the difference for a smaller check than you are used to. But I'll find more out as I research what options are availiable to me for retraining tomorrow.
Of course, there is always art...but that's for my next post! See you there! |
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| Still alive |
[Nov. 11th, 2009|03:44 pm] |
I'm finally seeing the phlemmy light at the end of the tunnel in my bout with whatever barnyard variety of flu I managed to catch - it feels good to be on the mend again.
Here's a couple of pics, even, to show I actually managed to achive mobility a few times. Take that, bacterial invaders! *cough wheeze!*
http://us.vclart.net/vcl/Artists/Louis-LeClerc/undecided.jpg
http://us.vclart.net/vcl/Artists/Louis-LeClerc/SWiR.jpg
I'm really enjoying the style I'm currently fooling with - I'm going to try doing something more impressive with it than I currently have, to see how far it can be pushed.
Sadly, I still can't find the art that Krynn needs...I'm simply going to concede the point that it'll be easier just to redraw the pictures rather than continue tearing my house apart looking for the originals. :) Should only take a couple of hours to redo them on Friday, then I'll mail them off.
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| The Flu sucks - it's cheating this year. |
[Nov. 5th, 2009|04:37 pm] |
I've had the flu before - granted, I am getting up there in years but still...dang thing must be on some sort of viral steroids. I was pretty much KOed for 48 hours. I'm still in the 'dizzy and weak' mode but at least I'm not feeling perma-chills and I can keep a slice of bread down. o.O Dang flu be pwning my butt big time - enough so that I had to call into work (and I hate doing that - WalMart has an attendance policyl where you can't use your sick time on the first day you call in - it's made to keep people from using their sick time as 'free vacation time' I guess...other people went and ruined it for legitimate sickies like myself).
Still, I'm feeling somewhat better now as I said - once the general achey feeling goes away I can get back to drawing. Hah, a three day weekend and I spent two of it in a near-coma of all things. :) What a waste.
Word to the wise - don't get the flu this year. Also, when your friend says his kid brouight home some bug from school don't think you are macho and that your immune system will kick that bug's butt...avoid his house like it's goi a plauge-cart parked outside it. |
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| Aion Online |
[Jun. 19th, 2009|01:58 pm] |
I'm in the beta for this weekend (Asmodians, level 10 cap) for an online MMO called Aion Online. I'll spend the first hour or so making up my characters and getting their names however, so I can post the names here later on in case anyone I know is also playing. Then, you can give me a shout if you are on the game at the same time as I.
I also plan on getting screenshots of the characters so I can make some pics of them, although the game's graphic engine is truly a sight to behold and blows my own work well out of the water and into orbit around the planet. :) |
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| Well, that was quick. |
[Jun. 5th, 2009|09:09 am] |
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It turns out I was just a couple of hours away from completing the game. Hah, I'll have to find a new reason for my procrastination when it comes to art. :) |
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| Fallout 3 |
[Jun. 4th, 2009|02:09 pm] |
If you have been wondering where I've been the past couple of weeks, well there ya go.
I should have it beaten in a week or so more, then people will start seeing me about regularly again. :) |
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| Ouch, my hands! |
[Apr. 28th, 2009|04:49 pm] |
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I've been preparting for a LARP (live action role play) coming up this weekend - hence my absence of late. :) Right now I'm taking a break from making a suit of chainmail. It's crunch time, and it has to get done by this weekend but it does wear on the fingers. After this weekend, I'll be sure to post some pictures of me in all my 'glory' if at all possible for your viewing pleasure. |
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| So, I was watching TV today... |
[Jul. 30th, 2008|07:18 pm] |
...more specificly, a documentary about Shaolin Kung Fu. It was a most awesome documentary, showing a lot of combat forms and styles. They also went into the how and why this particular branch of kung fu developed. From what I gathered, Shaolin style evolved for two reasons :
1) To help the monks protect themselves from the local wildlife (the temple was built in a remote location. This is also how Imitation boxing - the 'animal style' type of martial arts - came to be as the local monks studied the wildlife and they way they fought and moved.
2) To help the monks meditate and reach elightenment. One of the first head monks there, after reaching enlightenment (after meditating in a cave for nine-freakin-years, mind you) returned to the temple to teach his brothers. However, he found that his fellow monks' poor health and physical conditioning led to them having trouble sitting for long periods of time. So he began teaching them basic breathing and stretching exercises. From there, they began studying various fighting forms and evolving into the Shaolin monks now known to the world today.
It was, as I said, an awesome documentary. And also a little enlightening to me as well. I've been having a lot of problems getting myself to draw lately...and now I'm wonding if the problem is less one of inspiration and one of a more physical nature. Perhaps as I'm gettting older, I'm just having problems keeping in the seat long enough due to minor aches and soreness due to the creeping years slowly nibbling away at my comfort level when I sit at the ol' easel.
So, as an experiment, I'm going to spend a couple of months changing my physical routine somewhat - to see if it's a physical barrier that is keeping me from drawing. Here are a few steps I have outlined for myself that I'll follow for the next month or two to see if they can help.
a) No chair at the computer. If I'm on the computer from now on, it will not be sitting. I'll either be kneeling, or in a stretching pose, or some other form of activity that makes my body work rather than letting a chair try and support my body.
b)No chair at the TV. For watching TV, I'll be purchasing a stationary bike for when watching shows on the tube. For playing video games, I'll follow the same guides as for being on the computer - no seat, I'll have to stand or do some sort of stretching pose as I play. I'll also resolve to break out the DDR game more often too.
Heh, who says TV can't be educational? If nothing else, I'll get to see if this helps my artistic abilities and my general well-being. Heck, a century from now perhapas I'll have invented a new style of artistic kung fu. I can use pens, drawing pads and easels as weapons. And with a finishing move of drawing a nefarious moustache on my beaten opponents. :) |
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| Family guy |
[May. 14th, 2008|03:07 am] |
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I've said it about this show before, but here it is again. This show is a total hit-or-miss. When it's bad, it's just horrid...but when it's funny, it's the most hilarious and unpredictable thing out there. And to toast a new icon in my pirate theme, here's the clip I got it from.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXOSi39QS58 |
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volumnus's journal
