Forgoing the Dishes for Now.

I waited too long to do laundry.  Then again, I keep underestimating how much energy it takes to make it through a full shift at work.  This is especially true for those working overnight.  Since I did laundry today, I'll do the dishes tomorrow.  On Monday, I'm thinking of doing a project or two.  :)

Dinner and Cleanup Before Bed.

Well, I don't normally do much of anything on Saturday, but some things just need to get done.

• Laundry
• Trash
• Dishes
• Some cleanup

Of course, I'll get something to eat first.  After all, gotta have my third meal of my "day."  Work was busy.  If I wasn't checking customers out at a register, I was cleaning or putting up back to school freight.  It's going to be a very interesting next couple of weeks as more of that merchandise comes in.  Since I had to come in late to cut overtime, things just seemed to speed up.  I know it's weird, but that's how it felt.

I'm also working on getting CentOS 6 working on my HP Mini 311.  Everything else seemed to work except for the wireless, so I'm just going to start over.  I'd rather not compile the appropriate files myself.  Perhaps by watching what repositories I use, I'll be more successful.  I didn't even bother trying to get the Nvidia drivers installed either.  I'll see what happens with the 64-bit edition.  I'm wanting to get my computer lab done soon so that I can begin utilizing it.

It's time to go.  I'm using a hotpot to boil water for some cheddar flavored ramen noodles.  I'll be eating that with some fish from a pouch.  It's quick and easy.  After that, laundry.  When I'm done with laundry, I'll do the dishes.  Then it's off to bed after that.

Last Night Was Brutal

One of our coworkers has been out sick, and another one of us was called to a different department.  That made for an interesting time at work.  Needless to say, I don't want to go anywhere at the moment.  I just want to get something to eat and go to bed.  Now to decide what to eat......

Ok, made an improvised dish that involves chili beans, a can of chicken breasts, and a few slices of pepper jack cheese.  It was edible, and I still have some room for desert.  After a long day, I think I've earned it.  The real challenge is going to be getting through tonight.  Since I have to cut overtime, I'll be able to clock in extra late, which is good.  This will mean that I can have an opportunity to relax and reflect on the last several hours.

I'll go ahead and be off to bed soon (after some sugary goodness to soothe my soul of course).

Changing the Purpose of this Blog

I initially had this blog set up so that it could be syndicated by Atlas Media Online.  I figured I'd take the time to change the purpose of this particular blog.  Yes, I have a full blown website, but I didn't see the need to have a separate hosting package for personal blogging either.  I want to blog every day if I can, so starting today, I'll let everyone in on what my life's like.  Of course, I won't go into every single detail.

So what's been new with me?  I'm finally finished with college for a while.  Getting that degree in the mail felt so good as I finally finished something that I started.  It's starting to motivate me to finish more things that I start.  I'm also doing the adult thing and making sure expenses are taken care of.  I'm also trying to be a bit wiser with my money and am rediscovering cheap eating.

I'm also trying to make more friends and become more social outside of cyberspace.  Face to face interaction has so many positives to it.  Through face to face conversation, I can meet more people, and perhaps one of these days it could lead to opportunity.

Speaking of opportunity, I see a big one coming up for me.  I work full time in retail at night (graveyard).  I'm actually wanting to move up for the time being.  If I understand how retail works, then I can become better equipped for any business related task that I undertake.  I attended a leadership meeting at 6 PM CST today, and for some reason, a few things stuck out in my mind.

The previous night, when I first started my previous shift, a lady that I knew came through my line.  She told me that she was moving back to St. Louis.  It was an indication that a chapter of my life was closing and another one was beginning.  I tend to change my mind a lot on various things, so shouldn't it mean that I should be willing to change when need be?  That's what I realized after encountering her one last time.  I realized that I would never see her again, and the time for being with new people was now.

So what am I going to do to improve myself so that I can be more effective around people?  I figured out a few goals to keep in mind.

• Make sure I make the evening meetings every night at my place of work: I know that there's a grace period for clocking in (which prevents over time anyway), but if I'm to succeed, I need to know what's going on with the company I work for.
• Look customers in the eye more often: I need to physically see what I'm doing when it comes to giving change and other things, but I want them to know that I sincerely want to do my best to help them.
• Start packing up things that I'm not using all that often and give some of it away/sell it:  Something tells me I won't be where I'm at forever, and I will have to eventually move.
• Do something social at least once a week.

Well, I better bring this to a close for now so that I can get ready for work.  Have a good night everyone.

The Soverign Individual

Thomas Holbrook II | The Daily Asterisk

This class will be based on group projects and assignments.  Can you work together?  There's no "I" in team.  Be a team player!  Take one for the team!  How many of these phrases are familiar?  As the years pass, it appears that more things are becoming group oriented, and the individual is fading fast.  So why is the individual so important?

Individuals are the ones who bring new ideas and concepts to the table.  The more one becomes a part of a group, the more of themselves they give up.  The issue at hand is that American society, in an attempt to "compete on a global scale," is attempting to kill off the individual to the point where "I" no longer exists.  This is a concern shared by minarchists, voluntaryanists, and anarchists alike.  The reason for such concern is quite simple.

Without the individual, new inventions are not possible.  The old way of doing things persists, even when better methods can be created and utilized.  In terms of political structure, the status quo, even if it's completely corrupt at its core, remains intact.  Drug cartels can prevent diseases from being cured through propaganda that states that only drugs can be used to treat and/or cure said diseases.  Without the individual, those few who are knowledgeable enough can use technology to control the rest of the population for the rest of its existence.

So every chance that you get, act as an individual.  When others ask, "What about the team?" respond by asking, "What about what I want?  Why does it always have to be about the team?"  It is the individual that can also strengthen an entire group, because not everyone is the same if individuals exist.  If a new idea comes to mind, and it can be implemented immediately, then feel free to do so instead of waiting for everyone else's permission.  Whatever you do, do not let the individual be destroyed.

Usefullness

Thomas Holbrook II | The Daily Asterisk

This column will be short this evening and to the point.  This lesson is an illustration of what allows for innovation in any sphere to occur.  The idea is simple.  If one has an open mind, they can derive something useful from pretty much anything out there, even when it appears to be initially useless.  Not to worry if it doesn't make sense at the moment.  In the days to come, it will hopefully become apparent.

The Return

Thomas Holbrook II | The Daily Asterisk

I will keep this short and to the point.  I was once a columnist on the Revere Radio Network.  Due to a changing schedule and creative differences, I simply decided to walk away from being a columnist.  After recent events that took place at Oracle Broadcasting, I realized where I had gone wrong.  I need to rely on myself first and foremost when it comes to things that I create.  So when it comes to writing, I have to do it for myself, not everyone else.  That is where my true motivation lies and that is when I'm at my best, especially when I remain calm and not controlled by my own emotions.  It is for that reason that I will bring back The Daily Asterisk.  The best part of all is that anyone who wants to re-publish my daily column will be free to do so.  What I ask is that columns that are re-published be linked back to the point of origin.  Look for a new column starting tomorrow.