* Yesterday we were informed that our entire department is being switched to swing shifts. No regard to those of us who have our weekends planned around other things, or require time to train... nope... no severance, no compensation... you've got a month to comply or you can pack your box. I'm watching mothers & fathers sweat the change at every turn... each one's talkin about losing their job... and for them, this job is the only thing between them and a welfare line. I'm very sad.

* I just got a call froma very interesting individual... and it's startling. The change within me at the sound of her voice, compared to what that sound used to invoke. At one point I was telling this girl I love her. Now, 7 months later, I'm sitting here contemplating how a person could be as morally twisted & ****ed up as her.... and wondering how I ever used the word "love" and her name in the same paragraph. Got reminded of a lot of pain today... all because of one phonecall. I hate that I can be so strong & so susceptible at once. I felt like I was over this. **** like what I feel right now makes me question that.

* Forgiveness? You have no idea how much I've forgiven. Each time, it's gotten me nowhere. Each time, the stabbing feeling that I've been walked on haunts me throughout. What the **** is gonna change that now???????

* My ex still hasn't called me back regarding the one time this weekend that I'll be able to see my daughter. Surprised? Nope.

* Effective 5/15/03, I have cancelled my membership with the House Of Champions. I can no longer afford my car, my rent, and the persual of my career in real estate, all at the same time. I am young... & I can train for free (& harder) through my friends. **** it... I have a 24 hr fitness membership, I'll uise that a bit in the meantime... till I can figure out where this year's gonna take me.

* You're still ****ed, Blake. June 7th, bud. I listen to the message you left me everyday. It drives me. Ran 4 miles last night.

* "Learn From This Mistake" by Down... you must listen to this song. My god, does it ****ing apply to my life right now.

* Javi, after me and you train down here, me and you will be going over to pick up my friend Samina, then drive over to my house (or wherever the night takes us) to kick it, watch movies, drink coffee (tea for me) and do other stuff that I don't wanna write about on my work computer (thanks, big brother). Be ready to be out here for awhile.

* One of my primary requirements for a girlfriend for a long time was a nice rack. Thanks to trial & circumstance, I'd like to now add "dick suckin lips" and "innocent schoolgirl look" to the list. Imagine how hot that would be. If only I could find a ***** that could bury all of my inches in her throat. I swear I'd be in heaven. I'd marry that girl... if she wasn't already married of course.

* My new car is treating me well. It gets me to Tony's. Therefore, it has met it's own standard requirement. Now if only finding a girl that I wanted to spend time with, that was as available to me, was that easy. I'd finance me one right now.

* The only technicality is the insurance... the people I'm with now just sent me a premium estimate for about $270 a month. They are out of their minds.

* I'll think of more in a minute.

Everyone is so compassionate and caring and concerned when I'm not cracking jokes about some netwhore's rotten coot.

I hate all of you. Except... well... all the ones I like.

****.

I think everyone was waiting for you to finish rambling.

You know, I didn't consider that as a possiblity.

... and there is a reason for that. If we were in a room full of all the people on Global right now, and I was spelling this out to everyone, a few things would happen.

1) My sister would say "bad dave"
2) Ensanity would dance
3) Matt Jensen would beat me up and tell me to hit him harder
4) Tony would laugh and shoot pool
5) Tammy would sit next to me and be my friend
6) Dogg would look at me and say "mad weed"
7) Blake would say I was own3d
8) Not sure what Javi would do... probably go for the single leg
9) Tong would pull his pants down and stand there looking like a dumb**** in his boxers (don't ask)

Yet not one of them would be waiting for me to stop rambing

very true, countinue

* I'm glad I met Tony. At points in our lives, we meet these people that become "Oracles" to us. It happens to everyone... sometimes we get so consumed in our own self-importances and ways of life that we forget how fundamental it can be to have guidances to accompany our knowledges... and Tony has become that for me. In the short time I've known him and Adam, they have become two of my best friends, each for completely different reasons. Tony is in a class all his own, as a human and as a soul. Me and him are gonna be runnin **** really shortly here.

* Tazo Green Tea. Ya just ain't toppin that ****.

* I need to sell my old car so that I can put some money down on the insurance for my new car. Sounds funny, huh. Next year's tax return will make it allllll better.

* I can't help but think that our management has decided that it'd be more beneficial to everyone if they were to hold the inevitability of this company above everyone's heads, rather than realizing that the integrity of our performance directly affects the security of their own inevitability. Right now, in their eyes, it's our discontent or their discontent... they've made a hardline decision to relieve pressure from above them. When their decision blows up in their faces and they're faced with the pressure from both up top and down below (as in, when the people they've employed finally get sick of their **** and stop producing), we're all losing jobs & ain't no hardline decision stoppin ****.

* I wonder if my bosses realize that there are people in this department who would put nails under their tires if they saw them in a parking lot anywhere outside of work. I wonder if any boss I've ever known has thought of that, really. They all act like the workplace is their kingdom, and like their throne sits atop the world outside that place. I'd hate to be around when that illusion comes crashing down around them.

* There was a time when I figured I'd make a good teammate. Now, through the examples of ineptitude that have constantly been brought before me by people I'm supposed to trust and have confidence in, I realize I'm probably the best leader some of these people will ever see. Fact is, my talent is wasted, my skills are not utilized, my brainpower is untaxed, and I have no one other than those same people who gave me so many examples of beligerence and ignorance to thank.

* 4 years, 7 positions, 1 company. Almost 10 pay raises. Stock Options. Shareholder. Does it matter? Nope.

* Can ya tell I'm angry about work?

A quick recap please? Thanks.

Did you know too much green tea acts as a diuretic?

PWN3D!! Sorry... just kidding.

I hear you Dave.

Particularly with regards to companies making changes that affect it from the bottom up. Management sees it only in a bottom down perspective and they don't realise the door swings both ways. I often wonder do the middle managers that execute these decisions give any forethought of their actions?

Shift work is a cunt I can tell you now. I don't believe that the company can change your hours to shift without paying penalty rates, so I would check with your union rep if you can.

You are already ahead of your co-workers however. Whilst your mates are sitting their *****ing about the current conditions, you're out and being proactive in hunting down a job.

I say the sooner you do that, the better. Hopefully one with better pay.

Unfortunately we are no longer in the Industrial Age Dave. The onus to take care of the employee no longer resides with the employer. You'll notice that hardly anybody holds their job for 20+ years now. It's not good. They company then accrues leave, long service leave, etc. All rights and privelages to a lengthy employment. Its not profitable or productive to have employees like that. And even if they wanted to, conditions in the environment change way. That's why the average job length of someone with a company is 1-2 years and not 15-20.

Problem is we are in the Information Age now and we still have the Industrial Age mentality of our forefathers. Companies are bought and sold like chattel, entire divisions and departments gutted and sold off seperately to maximise profit, outsourcing, economic downturn, layoffs, etc. It's all cause and effect man, why these things happen. We, directly, have very little control over these variables.

What is important is that you can see the signs. And given your time at the one company and you can see it coming, is good. Many people ignore the signs or have know idea what the **** they are preluding.

Once you've acknowledged that your boat is sinking, now is the time to leave. It sucks, especially when you know you were on a winning streak and saw how good you had it before. But like you said, none of that matters now. So you gotta let that go and look forward not back.

On the subject of forgiveness, I honestly think it's a similar story. You have to look forward not back. I got friends I've said I forgive them but in my heart, because I can never forget what they've done, I wonder if I ever truly will forgive them? If you forgive someone, like truly forgive them, then you wipe that slate clean.

If we're constantly reminded of the pain that person brought, maybe we haven't forgiven them. Ever think of that? True forgiveness is honestly putting it behind you and caring enough to leave it be. It's an absolution and sometimes it doesn't come as easily as we want, no matter how easily the words pass our lips.

I notice that a lot of this ramble of yours has been disparate thoughts spread out over the thread. I know you're more logical in this regard, but I'll say it anyway. Prioritise. Clearly career has been a subject on your mind for a long time, and so I'd say this should be your number one priority. It affects everything else you do. Your pay, your car, your right to train (you will be coming to the House again, mark my words), your family, your kid.

You need to investigate your options. If you're looking a similar line of work to Tony, we're talking about you saving a bit of money to pay for certification, education, etc. This may mean cutting back on certain luxuries you have to accomodate that dream.

I think Tony and Adam are good guys and will help lend a healthy dose of perspective to all the **** you raise. One thing I find fairly frightening about a lot of Americans (at least Californians) get so easily worked up over the littlest things, and blow out of proportion all their problems. I don't think you're guilty of this necessarily, but I do want to say, Tony and Adam are about as laid back as any Aussie and yet, seem to be hard working (well, I dunno about Adam :). That is a rarity from what I've seen, so capitalise on it. We all need friends that can lend some perspective. I hope I don't become neurotic...

Anyway this is just my thoughts here.

- J.

I would sit next to you, be your friend, and listen to you ramble.

OWEND!!!! :)

owen hart?

no OWEND!

owen wilson?

yes.. good. Thats the one

OWEND

Originally posted by GhosT^x0
Tony is in a class all his own, as a human and as a soul. Me and him are gonna be runnin **** really shortly here.


thanx bro. unfortunately my stomach is making all these ****ed up noises right now cause i just ate midnight del taco so i'm gonna pass out.

btw, we WILL run **** one day and the first thing i plan on doing upon becoming world dictator is EXECUTING people.
ALL pray they are not on the ****list!!!

the trick is not to think.

Goddamn it, am I the only one to post a serious reply to this ****??

**** you all!

**** you Bob!

- J.

god dam it y does every one want to **** me...first magic man now you

i was serious about my stomach and the executions

Purity you get that hangover?

Hey dude I had a good time. Great ass training man!!

Sorry for not going down today but on my way back from your house my car started ****ing up. A radiator hose fell off or something but now it's fixed :)

XO!!!

Thats it you ungrateful *****es. I grace this ****ty forum with my posting finesse and you repay my excellence with constant bickering and mindless rants?!?! Thats it, Im going to take a ****.

actually NO i didn't blake. it was wierd cause i didn't eat anything all day. either way, let's hope i don't walk into church hungover tomorrow morning.

my condolences dave, sounds like a not so great time in your life as of now - it'll get better mate.

Just stuff some nice vagina in your face and it'll be all good.

so much bull**** in this thread and you don't even mention my phonecall? well, thanks dave :)