31.

Today is my 31st birthday. I am an oldie, aren't I?

And how will I spend my birthday at work? By trying to ignore as many people as I can. And calling back some recruiters and seeing if they found anything. And find out when I can go on my second interview with the law firm. And buy "Rent" on DVD.

My dad came to visit this weekend. It was good to see him, but man, does he get older every time I see him. I know everyone gets older, but he gets OLDER.

His arm is hurting him more than ever. He can't even put on his jacket without help.

But it's not even the ailments that bug me so much. It's the other stuff... he loves to talk, so he will talk about anything, but usually it's about the same stuff he always talks about. He makes a lot of noises, to make sure everyone knows that he is in pain. He farts wherever. He makes jokes, but they are usually embarrassing.

One thing that really got under my skin this weekend... well, we went to Melissa's parents for dinner. We had a pretty good time there. They gave us some food to take home... lasagna, and meatballs and sausage in sauce. It was all put in one bag, and for some reason, my dad was carrying the bag. When we got home, before I even turned on the light, the bag rips, and out falls the sauce container. Sauce spills everywhere, right by the dining room table and the china cabinet. My dad doesn't apologize... just says that the bag ripped and it was dark. But I saw the bag... yes it did rip, but I don't think it would have ripped if he was holding the bag properly. So then I have to go look for stuff to clean the carpet with... I found a few things, and while I was trying to clean it, dad is standing over me, just watching. I had to tell him, dad, please don't stand over me while I try to clean this. I was really annoyed. But then again we probably shouldn't have given him the bag to hold in the first place.

That is the problem. We always have to baby him and take care of him. He is only 60... I know that sounds old, but I keep thinking of people like Vince McMahon and Ric Flair. They are over 60, and they do all this crazy stuff in the ring. If my dad took one bump, he would be done.

But what happens when we have our baby to take care of? He is planning on coming up to visit, obviously, but can he stay with us? I don't think he can. We are going to be worrying too much about the baby, and I will not have time to take care of all his needs as well. I love the guy, but please.

I know my dad has been through a lot throughout his life. So have I. But you have to have a little respect when staying over someone else's house, and you have to have a little class. I know he shows a little more respect when he goes to visit my aunt, but just because I am his son doesn't mean he can walk around in boxers and fart in my chair. That's just not right.

Sorry for my venting. I love my dad, but there are some things I wish he would change about himself.

Update...

So yesterday went by like crazy... so much going on!

I was supposed to meet with this one recruiter yesterday. But he called me in the morning to tell me that the law firm that he passed my resume on to wanted to meet up with me ASAP. Which meant yesterday. I wasn't dressed or anything, but that didn't matter. Awesome... first interview!

So I left work at noon to head to the recruiter. Spoke to two guys there, and then told me that the guy I was supposed to meet up with at this law firm at 1:30 got pulled into a meeting and wouldn't be ready until 2:30. I was like, sure! I am in no rush to get back to work. So after I left the recruiter, I took a walk to the law firm, and then looked for a place to eat nearby (which ended up being an Au Bon Pain). I sat in there for awhile, eating and psyching myself up.

So at 2:30, I spoke with the current billing supervisor at this place (it's his position I would be getting... he is being promoted to billing manager). And it went really well. I think he really liked my personality, and my technical skills are perfect for this place (they are currently going through a conversion to a new finace software... the same one I am using at this crappy place). I did mention some of my "supervisory" skills... how with my manager out for most of the past two years, I did an effective job supervising the people here. We left it on great terms, and he said he'd talk to the recruiter who would then get back to me.

So I left, and headed back to work... got back to work at 3:30. A nice 3 1/2 hour lunch, don't you think?

Then I did get a call back from the recruiter, saying that they did really like me, and they will probably have me in for a second interview sometime next week. I will really have to do my homework on this supervisory stuff... but I should be ok.

So, cool! So far I haven't been able to get any interviews except this one, so we'll see what happens. It is for a billing supervisor position, and they have 17 billing coordinators, which seems like a lot. But I will learn more about all of that stuff later on. First, I have to focus on getting them to like me enough to hire me!

And I will get to wear one of my new suits next week.

Waiting...

No interviews yet.

I have spoken to a bunch of recruiters, and hopefully I will get some stuff lined up next week. They have told me about a couple of job opportunities at some big law firms in Boston, so I'm all for that. I am meeting up with one of the recruiters tomorrow, and I'll probably follow up with a couple of others as well. They better start doing their jobs for me!

As for my time at my current place of employment... it's really weird. I am ignoring the people who I know were involved in the decision, and it seems like they are ignoring me, for the most part, as well. I swear they are talking about me behind my back... with my boss' office closed. I even heard that the controller was peaking in on me one day. For what, I have no idea. But they are all weird and they all suck.

The good news is that Melissa had her regular doctor's appointment, and the baby is doing great. That's all that matters, right? :)

Peek-a-boo...

What a great start to the week.

First, it snowed a lot yesterday. I was lucky enough not to slip on the way to the bus this morning, even though I almost slipped on the slippery floor once I got inside after I got off the bus.

When I got to work, I sat down, and then noticed that my pants were ripped. They were ripped right under the zipper, and a decent sized one. When I sit, you could see my red boxer-briefs. Definitely a good look for me, don't you think? I didn't leave my office all morning, and during lunch went to the Gap to buy some jeans to wear for the rest of the day and for class tonight, and then to J Crew to buy a shirt to go with the jeans.

The day has got to get better, right?

Update.

So this is what's going on so far. I have contacted a couple of agencies and submitted my resume to some companies online, but nothing is happening yet. I understand that it is early, so I am not worried.

I did talk to L through e-mail yesterday, and we are going to discuss the situation more on Monday. I can't really blame her for what is happening... it's really all this company's fault. They were not honest with me at all, and they kept wanting her to come in, probably because they weren't really considering me at all. And yes, I know she has a situation at her job right now where she might not have a job at all there in a few months. But she does need to know that if she was in my position, she would be just as upset. It's nothing against her, really... if it was anyone, I would be feeling the same thing. It's just that I know her, and it's still a really awkward and weird situation.

BTW, Lauren, if you read this, I do apologize for calling you my "friend" in quotes... I was just really pissed off at the whole situation at the time.

But I really am so pissed off at this company. Anyone who I talk to here totally understands what I am going through. I guess it is common knowledge that people do talk behind other's backs here, and no one knows how to deal with confrontation effectively. There is no loyalty or honestly, and unless you are in a "click," they won't care about you.

So you know... even if I did get the job here, I still probably wouldn't be happy. I'd still have to deal with the same people and the same bullshit. So I will be so happy to get out of here. Anyt other job to me will be better. I just need to find the perfect one.

Part 2: the good news.

Ok, enough with the work bullshit.

The good news is that on Tuesday, Melissa, her mom and I went for the ultrasound. It was soooooo awesome. We saw the baby moving around a lot, and we got some awesome pictures.

And...............

We're having a little girl!

Lots of people were wondering if I really wanted a boy, but you know what, I didn't really care one way or the other. I just want to have a cute, healthy baby. A little girl will be awesome! And of course I can still teach her all about baseball stuff (but this Yankees-Red Sox thing is going to be hard!)

It really puts things in perspective. And all of this stuff that I will have to do with work and finding a new job is all for this kid. I want to better my situation so that she will have a better life. She will have an awesome life anyway, because she will have two awesome parents, but whatever I can do to make it even more awesome... you know.

Part 1: the bad news.

Ok, this entry will be the bad one with bad news. The next one will be the good one with good news.

So this might be bad news now, but ultimately, I know this will end up being very good news for me...

The work situation here has finally been all cleared up. And the verdict: I have to look for a new job, pronto.

They fucked me over here big time. My boss came in to my office on Monday at 4 PM, saying that the main reason was that they did not think my heart would be into the job that much, that I really want to get out of billing, and that I just want this position because it's there and I can get some managerial experience. That is pretty much true, but that's besides the point... it should have been my decision to make. After everything I have done at this company, and putting up with my old manager and then basically running the show while she has been out on two maternity leaves these past two years... and they thank me by not giving me the job I deserve.

That was one slap in the face. The other: of all the people they could have hired, they had to hire L.

Do they not care that she is my "friend" and if I did stick around, it wouldn't be awkward? I argued with my boss that she does not have more experience than me and she is not more qualified, and it is weird that they are hiring her. Does he care? He just shrugs it off.

So my only option right now is to get out of here as soon as possible. I have already spoken to some recruiters and they are going to start working on stuff for me. I have never been so motivated in my life.

Then, Monday evening I had class. And Lauren was in one of them. When I saw her, I said to her, "congratulations, but this is all bullshit." That's all I said to her. Then she tries to tell me about some job she saw posted online somewhere, and I am thinking, to quote Jack Bauer, "thanks, but I can find my own fucking job."

I know this will end up being the best thing for me. I am so done with this place and I am done with most of the people who I have to work with. If they want some new blood in this position, then it will be great for me to have a change of scenery. And let them deal with having two new people who have no idea... and in a matter of months I won't even think about this place anymore.

Super Bore.

Last night's Super Bowl was not exciting. Pittsburgh beat Seattle, 21-10. Both quarterbacks played like crap, and there were tons of mistakes. The refs blew a few key calls, screwing Seattle. For example, Roethlisberger did not get into the end zone on that TD he "scored." No way.

A few other things I noticed:

The Hasselbecks are so BALD. And they are self conscious about it. Have you noticed how Matt is ALWAYS wearing a baseball cap to cover up his lack of hair?

The commercials sucked. There was only one that I even liked a little bit.. the one with the "magic fridge" full of beer.

Aaron Neville singing the national anthem SUCKED.

It seemed like everyone... the announcers, the fans, the refs... all wanted the Steelers to win. The announcers would only talk about all things Pittsburgh. Especially about Jerome Bettis. No one gave any attention to the Seahawks. No wonder they didn't win... no one was giving them a chance, and they were making sure of that!

Even Sports Illustrated got in on it. I saw this on Yahoo.com:

"The magazine screwed up when it started selling its "Steelers Championship Package" on its website before the game even started. If you typed in "www.sipittsburghoffer.com," up came an order form for all sorts of Steelers championship junk. But there was no such Seattle package. In fact, when you typed "www.siseattleoffer.com," the Pittsburgh one came up."

Well, now that the Super Bowl is over, we can soon start concentrating on what really counts... baseball season!

It's Friday, it's raining...

...and I haven't even mentioned that my sister had twins this past week. Two girls. Why did I forget? Because it is hard to even care.

I can't remember the last time I spoke to her. I'm not going to get into all the crap again... I've done that already many times. And most people already know. She had a baby girl that I have never met, and now she had two more that I will probably never meet. And their names are Rachel and Sarah. Rachel, for my mom, cool. But Sarah? Although my dad said that my sister just liked the name and didn't name her after for our crazy freakin' psycho retarded aunt, that name will always be associated with that nutcase. Great. But hey, it's her life.

Yes, it is her life. But it is too bad that her life consists of being a spoiled, brainwashed brat, surrounded by other stupid, brainwashed assholes.

Anyways, I have not heard any feedback about the interview or the job yet. I know that Lauren and some other guy interviewed on Wednesday, but I have not heard much about that either. They are really gonna stretch this out as long as possible, right?

My continued obsession...

This is great. Everything you need to know about Jack Bauer is right here.