tofallfromgrace.com : the blog

5 More Friends

It would seem that whenever I go out with friends someone asks me what I am up to. I always seem to only get to say a little bit of what is going on. Then, ultimately, Allison wants to know why I haven’t blogged. So, I tell her I am busy. This doesn’t seem to work to well. So, finally, here is what is all going on.
OfficeMax work; A 6 week sexaul harrassment probe has finally finished with those involved (not me) getting a slap on their hands, talk about stressful. The lady taking my place as Supervisor has decided she doesn’t want it, My boss might be leaving for a better job which ultimately means my little part-time job is becoming a nuisance.
Newspaper work; I was put in charge of four practicum students and have been mentoring them for a while. I also got in a verbal scuffle with the interim director and just two weeks ago I was asked to apply for Editor in Chief by the current Editor in Chief. From what I hear, it is very favorable for me to apply.
School; I just realized a couple of days ago, I have 33 credits left. This means that since I plan on doing a “spanish summer” (three spanish classes) and a possible internship I could theoritically graduate in the fall. However, I don’t want to due to the need for more internships, in other words, I would like to graduate with a job.
Internships and other; I had a meeting with the Denver Business Journal for an intership that I didn’t care for. I have another internship meeting on Tues or Weds with a Wyoming Author who needs some PR work done. Rather strange internship as it is only 4-5 hours a week at $10 an hour and she used to teach PR at the University of Wyoming. I have also applied to volunteer at a cycling camp in Boulder for 8 weeks this summer and I am currently applying for many more internships. I will keep you posted.
Fitness; Lance and I have been taking hour long walks and I have been running and riding on the side when the weather is clear. I might be doing the Cherry Creek Sneak with Lisa and definitely Buena Vista Bike Fest hopefully with Heather. I am up to running 5 miles at a time on the treadmill and need new shoes to run outside. I have gotten up to about 60 miles a week biking as the weather has not been cooperating. Besides that we have also been taking Lance to the dogpark which increases the amount of walking I am doing. I have about 7 pounds to go before I shed all my winter weight gain. I should be there by the end of April.
Personal; Let’s see, Scotty T is moving to the area and I am hoping we can do some mountain biking this summer or at least hang out. Heather and I found a great little bar in Belmar, Baker street, and you will probably see us there quite a bit this summer. I am off to BV for 5 days, a mini vacation for myself and Heather at home. My cousin got married two weeks ago and my other cousin is moving to Denver for a short while before her play goes to London. I haven’t seen my daughter for a bit so that will be good. Oh yeah, my mom is turning 50 and being that I haven’t spoken to her in 3 years, I figure now is the time to call. In case you didn’t know, GM is cutting their labor force quite a bit and my dad is in the thick of things, not good, he told me thursday that he has 28 years in and many guys are saying you are only safe if you have 30. We shall see how that works out.

Well, I guess that is it besides the little things I am doing like changing my diet and buying new clothes, but hey I can’t tell you everything!

Tim

I would like to formally lodge a complaint to tofallfromgrace. In her last post 7 DAYS AGO, she said that she was a bit sad before coming to my house for a football game. I REALLY WONDER if she is still sad seeing how it has BEEN 7 DAYS. Life can change very quickly and as this is the case, I DEMAND AN UPDATE POST!!!! hehe

Tim

Today, today was a huge day for me as I gave notice to my boss that I would be stepping down from full-time status to begin part-time status. This was necessary for me to continue with college and reporting. Towards the end of last year, I was stressed out beyond my ability to cope. This lead to a very unlikable version of myself. Someone I am sure Heather doesn’t want to see. I just couldn’t handle doing that all over again, so here I am switching to part-time. Oddly enough, during my shift a lady walked in who wanted to transfer stores and who just might be my replacement. Oh and also OfficeMax announced today the closing of 110 stores in the United States and 5 in Canada. Luckily, my store will not be affected. Just a weird day overall.
Now I am trying to make a list of all the things I want to do when I officially go part-time in 10 days. Isn’t it weird that their are always tons of things you need to do when your busy yet nothing to do when you have time?!?

I’ve decided to recap my year before moving forward with blogging. BTW, I have also decided that I must blog at least once a week for nothing else to improve my writing for better or worse.
This year was unbelievable and quite possibly ranks up in the top 5 of my life. Let’s see, I took 35 credit hours of college which amounted to accelerated classes in January and summer school which meant I realistically had around 8 weeks that I wasn’t in school. I rode in my first cycling event with my uncle and most of the Elephant Rock Century ride in Castle Rock. Incidentially, I lost some more weight this year and I am more fit. I sold my truck and went from a negative budget to a positive outlook. Big Change! I won the AP writing contest and went to Seattle however I didn’t get the AP internship I applied for. Oh well. I got to see my daughter more this year than in the past and Brandie (my ex)and Heather meet. That meeting was scary! I also got to reconnect with some of my family and now our house is getting filled with boxes as we are going to move next week. Like I said what a year!
Anyway, you should be hearing more from me next year and here’s to an another top 5 year.

Tim

Ah HA! I finally took the time to figure out the REAL reason I haven’t been blogging. Little miss Heather didn’t bookmark the movable type page! That’s my story and I am sticking too it.
I am going to post the links for my first two articles that I have given the Metropolitan (the Met):

The Metropolitan Volume 28 Issue 1
The Metropolitan Volume 28 Issue 2

Incidentally, I like the first one much more than the second. I also should have one going out this week however I will only try to post things that I think may be pertient to more people than just Metro students. That’s all I got right now. I will be gone this weekend to B.V. to see Emily and apparently my cousin Renee.

Have fun,
Tim

i have been busy exploring the globe using this: google earth.

which i have to admit is the neatest program this side of king’s quest.

of course, i have to give kudos to colin for pointing out this link to me and of coursing, ruining any chance i may have had for a life away from my computer.

in case any of you may have missed it, check out epic 2014 after you check out google earth. a bit creepy but i think google may be our new president after this monkey we have running the country.

i am off to stalk via internet.

ciao.

Here in the beautiful United Kingdom a general election is bearing down upon us and is being as well received by the general population as a coffee enema.

In light of this, perhaps it is time we understand our own political leanings.

http://www.politicalcompass.org/

This website asks you a few questions and then helps you understand whether you are ranked with George W. Bush, Nelson Mandela or Stalin …

I’d be curious what everyone’s results are.

Just for the records mine came out as

Economic Left/Right: -5.38
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -2.41

Which on their pretty graph puts me in the same areas as the Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela and Ghandi.

Phew … was worried I may have ended up in a different section! Fab! Time to go and attend a non violent process for world peace!

I thought it might be appropriate to mention the passing of Terri Schiavo this morning in case there are those who don’t follow the news as much as me. I am also doing this at the behest of tofallfromgrace who would like some news discussion included at the Stagger Inn. While I will not take sides on the moral issues surrounding the removal of the feeding tube, I thought it might be appropriate to discuss some of the ramifications of this event.
First, money has long been thought of as the one denominator to getting anything you would like from the U.S. legal system. It would seem that the Schindlers (her parents) had plenty of money to fight Michael Schivao considering they have been going to court for 15 years. Maybe O.J. wasn’t right, money doesn’t buy everything.
Second, very peculiar that while the vactian states “they are opposed to keeping a person alive at all costs — especially if medical intervention prolongs the patient’s agony (CNN).” Does that mean the tube inserted to help prolong the Pope’s life is against their current thinking since some would argue that this is keeping him alive at all costs and prolonging his chronic illnesses?
Lastly, thousands of members of Congress and their aides worked round the clock to pass legislation to save her life most notably Rep. Tom Delay (who has some moral questions of his own to deal with) and all of this culminated into a bill that had the President himself fly overnight to sign. This lead to no avail because nine members of the Supreme Court didn’t even want to hear about it. Nine is more of a majority than thousands, didn’t you know? The voice of the people is heard.
One last thought, I said I wouldn’t take a moral stand although I will on the way Schivao died. Doctors have deemed starving someone as a humane way to die yet consider when we kill any other animal (humans are animals scientifically), i.e. a dog, we euthanize them similar to what Dr. Jack Kevorkian used to do to terminally ill patients. Why is starvation more humane than euthanasia?
Tim