Late

Have you ever known someone who is always late no matter what the occasion or time of day? Well, unfortunately, I do. And let me tell you, it is really, really annoying! Sometimes I can't stand it. They'll tell someone to meet them somewhere at, let say, 5:00 when the person won't show up until 5:15 or maybe even 5:30.

Now, in my book, that is a little disrespectful. When someone tells you or agrees to meet you somewhere at a specified time, BE THERE! Sometimes, when the time has to do with something extremely important, I almost lie about the time and tell the person 15 to 20 minutes earlier than they need to meet me. I hate relying on someone else's timing to make an event work out.

For instance, I went on a trip to Disney World in high school for band. I was in a group with 3 other guys. I said I was going to check out a booth near by while they were on a ride and that I would meet them by a prominent land mark. Well, they felt it was unnecessary to wait any longer for me and left. I soon began to panic. I knew exactly how to get out of the park and where the bus was. What I didn't want to do was leave the other 3 guys alone and loose them. Well, they didn't see it that way. After waiting for 15 minutes longer than I thought it would take them to finish the ride, I ran out of the park and towards the bus. When I got there, my teacher was standing outside the bus. All she said to me was get on. When I stepped on, everyone gave me crap for being late. Then, I was the 3 guys that left me. Needless to say, I was royally pissed at them by this time. When we got to the next park, our teacher asked what happened. One of the 3 guys explained their side and then I explained my side. After this, I didn't trust anyone the least bit.

Then there is someone I know that no matter what, he is always late. Whether it is 5 minutes or 20 minutes, it doesn't matter. After a while, it gets really annoying. At least when it is something important, he is close to being on time. You would think that after a while I would get use to it and maybe tell him to arrive earlier than needed, but no. I still don't. Maybe I should.

Like I said before, these blogs are a way for me to "release my anger" without killing or harming someone. And unfortunately this posting was about a negative aspect in my life and usually the negative things stick with you more than the good things. Thanks for bearing with me.

Windows 7

As most of you know, the latest version of Microsoft Windows, Windows 7, came out on Thursday, October 22. To those with Windows Vista, it is a welcome relief. When Vista first came out, everyone thought it was so great but then, compatibility issues came up and before you knew it Microsoft had come out with Service Pack 1 in less than 6 months of release. From the start, people liked how Vista looked, however, it was power and resources hungry. The requirements meant that you basically had to buy a new PC with Vista on it in order for it to be compatible. Then there were all those pesky security warning messages that popped up whenever you tried to launch an installation. Let's not forget that Microsoft had to be greedy and come out with 4 versions!

Now, Microsoft appears to be getting away from Vista as fast as they can. Microsoft wants to pretend that Vista never happened. Basically, Microsoft took the few good parts of Vista and got rid of the rest. Windows 7 supposedly boots up faster, is much more capable, doesn't have so many security warnings, and supports peripherals much better.

If you go to Microsoft.com, you are assaulted with Windows 7 and how amazing it is. In one of my classes, we watched a video from Microsoft's launch party they had. I have to admit, it was pretty cool. If I find that video, I'll try to post it on here. They said that if your laptop is on a workgroup at home, you'll use your file sharing and printer settings at home, and if you are on a domain at work, you won't share files as freely and use printers at work. Finally they are trying to make things easier. Also, they showed controlling 7 TVs, a digital photo frame, a home theater system, and an X-Box with one laptop. Needless to say this part became an advertisement for companies that were making products to be compatible with Windows 7. Honestly, you really need to check it out.

If you want Windows 7, you can go to win741.com and buy the Home Premium (as a download) for $29.99 plus $13 for a DVD copy to be mailed to you if you are a student. Click on the "Buy" box and then the "BUY NOW $29.99" white logo. You'll be asked to enter in you university/college email. You will receive an email. Follow the link they send you. Underneath the picture of the Windows 7 box, there is a yellow area that says you can also get Windows 7 Professional for the same $29.99 plus $13. No matter what you think you need, get the Professional version. There is not that big of a difference, but for the same price, what the heck.

I'll be looking forward to using Windows 7. Whenever I find the video I mentioned earlier, I'll try to post a link to it.

Age & Memories

Today is my dog's (her name is Kobi) 9th birthday.

I can still remember going to get her. It was February 14, Valentine's Day. My mom, brother, and I went to a man's house in I think Onalaska/Holmen area. My mom had found this guy giving away puppies through someone at work or something; I have no idea. We got there and there were two dogs left. A chocolate lab and a black lab. He said that the town was getting after him since he already had 3 other dogs. We got there and the little puppies were out playing in the front yard in the snow. Well, to make a somewhat unclear story short, we ended up taking the black lab mixed with a Brittney Spaniel.

I can still remember the ride home.

My brother and I sat in the back seat of my mom's car and the puppy sat on the floor between us on the hump in the middle of the floor. I don't think she knew what was going on. We had to go to PetCo to get a small kennel for in the house because this was our first dog. We picked up a kennel and headed home. We setup the kennel and played with Kobi for a little bit. After a little while we put her in the kennel. At this point, she could fit across the kennel (about 2 feet). She laid there on her side, paws stretched out and quietly crying to herself. She was scared half to death. She had no idea what to do. "Where's mommy?" she thought. "Where am I?"

We ended up having to almost drag her out of the kennel to take her outside for the night. The next morning, she was yipping to get out. We took her outside and it seemed like she didn't know what to do. A big, old yellow lab and its owner were walking by and came up our driveway. The yellow lab "relieved" itself on the snow bank. Kobi proceeded to sniff the new yellow spot of snow. The owner said maybe it would give Kobi the idea of "relieving" herself.

Spring came along and Kobi got spayed. I remember this quite a bit because she had to wear a plastic cone on her head so she didn't lick or chew the stitches out. She hated it. One morning, I came down stairs and she had pulled off the cone, chewed on it, sat on it, and "relieved" herself on it. She most definitely never wanted to wear it again.








When we first took her to the vet, my mom asked them how long before she "settled" down. The vet nonchalantly stated "I'd give her 7 years." This was mostly due to the fact that she was part Brittney Spaniel which are apparently very energetic dogs. Well, that came true. She never did start to even show signs of slowing until after she was 7.

She use to always love to go to gramma's house. She had a big, fenced-in back yard where Kobi could run free. Whenever you get out of the car, she always climbs into the driver's seat. She'll either lay down or sit there staring out the window until you come back.

She got away from my dad a few times. She ran around the house a few times and one time she ran a block down the street. My dad jumped in the van, drove down the street with the side sliding door open, stopped, and Kobi jumped in. My dad never did have much luck with her. My dad was originally against having a dog, but I think she grew on her. After 2 or 3 years, my dad started taking her with him when he ran errands.

She always could pull my mom wherever she wanted to go. My mom never could hold her back. She has fallen on ice and in the snow a couple of times with her. She wasn't too happy about that.

When I got my first vehicle, I wanted a truck. I wanted a manual transmission (that's were you push in a clutch peddle with your left foot and shift with you right hand; for those that don't know), which was easiest to find in a compact truck and fairly cheap, and I wanted to be able to take Kobi with me. The only problem was that Kobi liked to stand on the wheel wells so if I turned to fast, she might have been thrown out of the truck.

Looking back on 9 years, I have a lot of memories with her. My gramma has always said "you'd miss her if she were gone tomorrow." I never thought that would be so true. A dog is more than an animal. A dog is a companion. A dog is there for you no matter how bad a day you had and they always listen to your whatever you have to say.

I have more memories than can ever be written down. I just hope that when I'm 80 (hopefully), I can remember my first dog. Kobi.

Co-Workers

Thanks to all who have been reading my blogs. At least some people actually see this stuff. However, I don't think I will be able to always keep this on a good note or have deep meaning behind the things I write. So don't be surprised when things go from extremely good and nice to angry and cruel (or something along those lines).

I've been at the same work place for two years now (I work in a kitchen, just so you know). I know that that is not that long, but it is when it is your first job and have been there since junior year of high school (thinking of it that way makes it sound longer). I was never really interested in working in a kitchen to become a cook, but it was a job, payed the bills, and worked out great for being in school. I originally started as a dish washer with four cooks and the head chef. I stayed a dish washer for about a year and then became the salad/cold-side cook. Boy am I glad I switched. Now I make things dirty and don't have to clean them. Granted the work load of the dish washer has become much lighter that when I first started, but I still don't miss it one bit.

From the time I started until now, I've seen three of the original cooks, one dish washer, and the head chef leave. Then we went through four dish washers and are on the fifth (one didn't even last a week; never showed up after his first day), have replaced one cook twice and are on the third, one cook was replaced and the same guy has been there for about a year and nine months. Where I am now (salad/cold-side), the first replacement left to go to school (on good terms) and the second guy got fired because he ticked off the restaurant manager and just about everyone else. I started on the cold-side working with the second guy, but he was getting in my way and ticked me off so I was more than glad to see him go (oddly though he was going to WWTC to become a chef) so basically I do the work that two people once did more efficiently, better, and cheaper.

One of the guys that quit a couple of months after I started ended up coming back. He's one guy that I'm glad that he came back. When I started as a dish washer, he was the salad/cold-side cook and he was pretty good at it. So whenever he helps me out for a big party or whatever is going on, we get stuff done really freakin' fast. We also give each other a hard time basically all the time too. Also, the head chef came back. I'm really glad about that too because he is a really nice guy and a really good friend.

The real reason for this posting is to talk about the current dish washer. Recently he got a job at another restaurant working in the morning/early afternoon (he's not in school and basically wanted to make more money). The head chef said it was alright as long as it didn't affect his schedule here (where I work). Well, the fact of having two jobs became relevant last Friday. Friday is our busiest day by far and nobody, I mean nobody hardly ever gets off.

It started out really good for me. I was all ready and had backups of what might run out of. I knew it was too good to be true. The head chef told me he got a text message form the dish washer saying someone called in sick at his other job and that he might have to cover for them. The head chef responded saying that he didn't care what was going on and that he was scheduled to work with us way before this ever came up and told him he better get to work no later than 6pm (we start serving dinner at 5:30). The dish washer never responded and never showed up. I was pissed off majorly. Not only did I have to work my station, but I also had to wash dishes whenever I was free (which that Friday happened to be our busiest one in a long time so I was never free).

The dish washer never talked to the head chef all weekend. He showed up on Tuesday for his normal work schedule. The head chef chewed him out. He was told to apologize to everyone in the kitchen (four cooks including myself). He apologized to two (not me and another guy). The head chef asked me Thursday if he apologized to me and I said no. I said I would have told him that his apology was unaccepted and to get the heck away from me (in other words that are not appropriate for blogging). The head chef figured I would have said that and actually wanted me to tell him that (show him how angry everyone was at him).

That is one thing that ticks me off more than anything: people not showing up for what they were scheduled or said they would do. When people don't show up, it makes life ten times worse for everyone else.

Needless to say, the head chef has already hired someone new (problems with the dish washer have been on going for about a year and a half now). I've been wanting him gone since he said he was "taking the winter off to do what he wanted" (we are really slow December thru March so I was going to get all the hours possible and that I wanted anyway; the original plan was to never let him come back in April but I guess he basically came crawling back saying he couldn't find another job). Now I can't wait until he is gone.

(Sorry, kind of my more serious / angry side, but oh well.)

The Little Things In Life

I'm sure everyone has noticed how little things can mean so much to a person. For instance, perhaps just getting someone's mail for them or helping carry groceries brings the most joy to them. For most people, raking their leaves and shoveling their driveway is something they will never forget.

For my grandma, it was cleaning out her rain gutters on her house. As far as she can remember, its been four years since it was done. Well, the gutter was pulled away from the house and sagging in an eight foot section and there were weeds and small trees growing in it. But probably the most humiliating thing for her was people walking by and saying, "gonna harvest the crops before winter?" or "people always said people in [blank] always grew their trees higher." To her, it was embarrassing. So Tuesday night, I went down with a ladder and started cleaning them out. Unfortunately, I only got one side of the house done before it got dark. I never called and told her ahead of time that I was coming and it turned out she was at one of her sister's house playing cards with her. Well, she called home to have my grandpa pick her up. She came home and said I should have called her before I came and I said, "well grandma, I didn't want to interrupt your busy social life." She got a kick out of it. I plan on going down Friday morning and finishing the rest of them.

In high school, my math teacher broke or fractured his ankle and had a big, clunky boot on so he couldn't go outside and shovel snow. (You have to understand that most students didn't like him because he liked to yell, but he only yelled to get his point across. I always liked him and talked to him about things outside of class that were troublesome in my life. To me he was more of a friend that anything else.) It happened to be a snow-day that day for school and I was shoveling our driveway and thought to my self my teacher could probably use a hand. So I went over and started shoveling his small driveway (probably twenty-five feet long by eight feet wide). I saw tracks through the snow that looked like his tire tracks so I thought he was gone. It turned out his wife had left to go to the store and he was home alone. I was almost done with the driveway when he poked his head out the door and told me I'd better come in before I leave. So I did as he asked and when I got inside, he said to me "so were you shoveling and thought of poor-old Mr.[blank]?" I said ya and he said how glad he was I came over because now he didn't have to worry about his wife being out there shoveling the wet, heavy snow. We sat and talked for probably a good hour and then I left. My teacher proceeded to tell all of his math classes how Matt had come over and shoveled his driveway (I found out about this because an underclassman told me he was telling everyone).

After doing these things, you get a feeling of great accomplishment. To me, it never seems to matter the size of the task, but how much it means to the other person. I guess the moral of the story is to go out of your way once in a while to do something nice for another person, whether you know them or not. I usually never think about how much time it took, rather how thankful and happy that person is.

Sickness

Does anyone really like to be sick? Think about it. You miss school. When you miss school, you don't get to learn what the rest of the class did and if you missed a test, you have to make more time to make it up. And for most teachers, they take points off for missing and only allow you to miss so many classes. When one person in a class gets sick, certain people get paranoid about getting sick; especially when a "pandemic" is occurring. Some people carry around sanitizer and even disinfectant wipes to wipe off keyboards, desks and mice. Then later in life, you miss work which means you miss out on pay, then you can't buy what you want or go where you want. Things really start to add up fast. But when you really think about it, most of the time, it's just a common cold. Everyone gets them. They come and go. Nothing to worry about, except being miserable for about a week.

But can you imagine having a life-threatening illness or even cancer? I don't think anyone ever wants to think about these possibilities. Nobody would ever wish such a terrible thing onto another person. We all wish there was some "magic cure" for everything. However, this is not reality. In reality, people suffer and the majority with die because of their illness or cancer. For those that do win the battle, their life is changed forever.

Sometime after I was born, my mom was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. For those that don't know what the thyroid gland does or where it is, it is located in your neck and helps regulate your body temperature. Her thyroid was removed and she underwent treatment. I am unsure what kind of treatment it was, but it worked. Well, needless to say, mom won her battle with cancer and today lives a completely normal life. The only thing that is different now from before is that ever since her thyroid was removed, she has to take a supplement pill every morning. For as long as I can remember, she's always been the cold one in the winter.

One way to look at this is I never had to watch her suffer, but on the other, I was never there for her. There is not a day that goes by that I am not thankful that she is here with me. I'm not sure, and quite frankly never want to think about, what life would be like without her. All that I know is one should never give up hope. Don't ever think that this is the end or there's nothing else worth living for. Because the more you think about it, the more reasons you'll find to live.

Maintenance

Do you ever think about how many things that a person owns that requires maintenance? Think about it. There's a car, a house, all the appliances in a house, computers, motorcycles, ATVs, bicycles, boats, airplanes; you name it, and it typically requires maintenance.

Probably the first thing everyone owns that needs maintenance is a car. First it's an oil change which typically costs $25 if you have someone else do it for you. Then it's brake pads and shoes, and if it is bad enough, rotors and drums. About 50,000 miles later, if they were new when you bought the car, tires. Tires can get expensive. If you have a common rim size, say 16 inch and not low-profile, tires are relatively inexpensive. But if you get into low-profile, larger rim sizes, and truck tires, then the price goes up. Typically when the price for the tire goes up, so does the labor cost. Finally, the most expensive repair, not including body work, is the engine and transmission. I know someone that had a transmission go out and ended up spending $1,500 on a rebuilt one. A rebuilt transmission means that the transmission is used, but the inside components have been replaced and usually means it is a little cheaper.

A house is a whole other story. You have the structure to maintain; siding, the roof, electrical, plumbing, and windows, along with everything in it; appliances, flooring, carpeting, furniture, and everything else that makes a house a home. Appliances die, roofs age and become leaky, windows start to be less efficient and leak air out, plumbing rusts and starts to leak, and furnaces and air conditioners fail. Then there is the interior. Furniture becomes "outdated" and worn down, walls are repainted to co-ordinate with the new furniture, carpet becomes broken down and ragged, and hardwood floors show their age and need to be refinished.

Everything adds up. Usually when you let things go, you end up paying more than you would have if you had done "preventative maintenance." My outlook is that if you think or something looks like it should be repaired, repair it. Don't wait until it is too late. I look at it like this: I can either buy what I need when it is on sale before the old item breaks or I can buy what I need when I need it and spend more money.

I like to be prepared and research products before I buy them. Waiting until I need something means that I am rushed through the research phase and might not get what I want and need, and may end up spending more.

Always check multiple places (stores and websites) and multiple brands. You can narrow it down to a handful of brands, but don't think that you have to buy top-of-the-line. You'll probably be paying for the name more than the quality in the product.

I wrote about this because a family member is having problems with their oil in the engine and I have to figure out what is wrong.