"The Office," via Netflix

I've started watching "The Office", via Netflix's web site. I've gone through the first season, and have just started the second. I'm currently on the one where they award "The Dundies" at a Chili's.

I've never watched this show before. It's pretty good. And if you're paying $10 a month to Netflix anyway, I recommend it.

(Okay, my big T.V. crapped out on me, so I'm stuck watching tv online, and having my mind blown by the amount of wax a human ear can produce. Gimme a break.)

Anyway, it really is a good show.

Ear Wax Removal

Because a picture of ear wax would be too gross.


Maybe ten years ago, one of my ears got stuffed up with wax. After trying one of those over-the-counter things with the bulb and all, I ended up having to go to the doctor to get it done. His nurse squeezed a "Colace" capsule into my ear (it's actually a stool softener) then blew out the wax with a water pick.

On the way out the door, they gave me a printout about ear care, with instructions on how to clean out my ears myself. Unbelievably, I still have that printout, and it came in handy when one of my ears got plugged up again.

Though I ended up having to plunk down $60 on a water pick, and $10 on Colace capsules, it was worth it just to see all the crap coming out of my ear. And for the first time in a month I can hear out of my right ear, which at first freaked me out a bit as I'd grown used to not hearing anything out of that side.

Anyway, I'm glad that's done. And I pumped $70 into the economy, which is saying something.

Economy as Distraction

Sarasota Campus



Is it just me, or is the economy a bit of a distraction right now? It seems like wherever I go, I'm reminded of it.

Every night when I go to work at my factory job, I have to scrounge for work. My normal area being shut down, I end up having to work in other areas. As others are having to do that as well, it's not going to be too long before they have to start sending people home.

A few weeks ago, I went to get my teeth cleaned. My dental hygenist has had her hours cut. She's working only three days a week now. She pointed out that people put off going to the dentist when they're unemployed.

USF has had its budget cut, something like ten percent. For the first time, I heard about "money being an issue" regarding classes.

It makes it a little tough to pay attention to the materials I'm supposed to be learning in my classes. After all, what does Roman History have to do with making a living?

It reminds me of going through a hurricane. Not so much the wind and all that, but the worrying that goes on for days before. It's very taxing, to be expected to go to work and school while waiting for the hurricane that's projected to hit.
Likewise, it's very tough to carry on like nothing's happening right now.

Surely I'm not the only one who feels like this.

Work Post: Communication Committee

single-pole switch


Where I work, only maybe ten percent of us have e-mail access. It's a factory, so management wants us at our machines, making parts like the one above, rather than sitting at a computer. I understand this philosophy, but the lack of e-mail has always caused problems with communication. Again and again, information that is assumed to be known by everyone isn't.

So,they were looking for volunteers for the "communication committee" at work. I figured it was admirable that management wanted to improve communication, so I signed up.

Yesterday, they had the first meeting, from 2p.m. to 2:30. I don't start work until 2:30, so it was over by the time I clocked in.

Nobody had told me about the meeting. If that isn't ironic, I don't know what is.

Super Bowl

I think it's kind of cool, that it's being played here. If you look at some of my earlier posts, I attended a couple of USF games at the stadium.

One nice thing about the Super Bowl, is that it's one of those things you can enjoy even though the economy is in the toilet. Unlike Christmas, and perhaps Valentine's Day (I just saw a jewelry commercial for that day), you're not expected to spend a bunch of money. A bar down the street has a Super Bowl party that costs all of $5 to enter.

I have four Miller "High Life"'s in the fridge, some chips, some dip, and a frozen pizza. If only Christmas was this easy.