BMI Pain and Pride

October 6, 2000

Listen to this! Today at work my boss was having a problem with a job. She was taking 9 databases and mixing them to one large database. Well the data wouldn’t go from one program to the other so this lady was gonna type it all. It would have taken her about two days. I saw her and asked “what are you doing?”. She told me and I said “well try transferring it from MS access to MS Word and then back to Access. She did, and it worked!! I saved her a ton a time. She was so happy. It was cool.

Also I learned of another work problem. The temp agency I’m with, Staffmark, requires employees to work at a place for 13 weeks before that place can hire them full time, if they choose to do so. Well BMI wants to hire me full time and I guess I’m game for it. But there is this 13-week thing in the way which is making it that much longer before I can receive any benefits or vacation, etc. So with that in mind I just passed my 1000-hour mark at staffmark, which means I am eligible for benefits including holiday pay. So, if I finish the 13 weeks at staffmark I can start at BMI full time December 4th. Sounds ok. BUT if I start then I will not eligible for holiday pay on BMIs rules. So I can keep temping at staffmark until Jan 1st and at least get paid for the holiday of Christmas. Then Ill switch to full time at BMI. Of course that delays all the benefits even longer. So I’m getting caught in all the technical rules of Staffmark and BMI when all Im trying to do is get benefits as soon as possible! Oy what a mess!!

For those who don’t know, BMI is a music liscensing company. I work in the TV Operations department. Basically when you watch TV and hear any song some writer somewhere gets paid for it. We keep track of who wrote what songs on what TV shows. Specifically I look up episodes from databases to provide other employees with updated publishing info about the songs. And I file too much for my own good.

The Fire Hydrant

October 4, 2000

Last night was pretty cool. I worked half the day and came home and applied for a second job at a restaurant as a host. Just to meet people. I got the job and start some time next week. Good for extra money and just to do some things outside of the house that don’t cost money! Willie and I went to Mitch’s to eat with a friend of hers. We watched a movie and ate and played with Mitch’s dog. Great fun was had by all.

Update on the fire hydrant. Willie and I decided to keep it. He’s going to paint it all artsy (whatever that means) and it will be what they call a “conversation piece” which is Latin for “garbage”. On the bright side its going to take up space in the living room, so that’s a bonus!!! I dunno…we’ll see. Worst case scenario I have to throw it away later. Hauling it up three flights of stairs was no fun. It weighs 200 some pounds. JIMINY!!

Well my work day is over and I must be off to fend the offenses of the future!

Leaving Torbay Dr.

October 2, 2000

Willie and I got all moved into our new apartment. Just taking care of some minor details today. Mason managed to pick up a fire hydrant several months ago and conveniently (for him) he abandoned it! So when I moved out of the house I had to get rid of it. Willie and I thought about basically dumping it on the side of the road but I didn’t feel good about that so I made some calls and I’ll drop it off at the city fire dept today. I will return the keys to the house in what should be my last and final visit.

Another detail I had to take care of was the 30 ft rope swing. My old roommate shawn was craze enough to climb the tree to put this thing up. The limb is about 35 feet up. It was quite an ordeal to get this rope swing up but when it was there it was great fun. We have the installation of the rope swing on video if anyone wants it. Anyway, I alone and singlehandedly climbed the tree with great peril and risk to my life and cut it down and didn’t get a scratch on me! Well one, but it’s tiny. I still have the rope so Im hunting for a place to hang it again!

Anyway, the new apt is put together pretty much. Just gotta tack a few pics on the wall and we’re there. Since the house was known as the palace (due to its great size, which was REALLY tiny), I have dubbed our new apt “the penthouse”. It’s on the top floor and its pretty “styling” as they say…and they say it often. And we should soon have loads of naked women there. No just kidding. Maybe we’ll strip Willie down though. No, just kidding. We’re two good little Christian boys. Well, I am. Ok I’m a boy anyway.

This is of course the first edition to the journal so hopefully I can keep the maintenance on this up! I’ll try! Mostly Im just getting sick of feeling guilty for not returning emails.

Until tomorrow!

Craig