If it ain't rough, it ain't right
Take a moment to analyze Detroit sports for a moment. The four Detroit team, The Lions, The Tigers, The Red Wings, and the Pistons, have perennially fit in to a mold.
The Pistons, while having a slump in the mid-nineties, have always been a basketball power house. Expectations have always been for a NBA victory. This year, after losing in the Eastern Conference finals, The Pistons and their fans seem disenchanted. Talks of trades, free agents, and coaching seem to ruin a successful season. Let us not forget they were one of the top four teams this season.
The Red Wings, The Yankees of hockey, are always expected to use their unlimited funding to produce a Stanley Cup winning team. This year, the
Oilers beat the Wings early in the playoffs. A disappointing result for a powerhouse team.
The Lions, ranked consistently as one of the worst teams in the NFL, have made some off-season changes and are slated to fall in about 32 place. No surprise there.
The Tigers, a team with a rich and illustrious
history, are battling back from a 2003 season which was the Tigers' worst ever, and it was very nearly the worst season by
anyone in baseball's storied history. Before the 2003 season the team fired interim manager Luis
Pujols (Garner's replacement; Garner, along with clueless , GM Randy Smith had been fired after the team started the 2002 season with a record of 0-6), and hired on former Tigers great Alan
Trammell to manage the team. Though they finished in a bit of a winning stride, winning five of their final six games, they still finished the season with a record of 43-119. Their 119 losses was bad enough to become the new American League record for most losses in a season.
This year, The Tigers have turned things around and are sitting happy with the most wins in Major League Baseball. Their starting pitches have the lowest ERA, the team is hitting right around .300, and they are on a four-game win streak. It's early to make predictions about the Tiger's future but it's safe to say that even if they quit now, they would already have won more games then they did in 2003.
Detroit sports fans can only hope for a similar turn around from the shameful Lions. It'll be nice to not have to waste my Sunday afternoons watching the Lions face certain defeat.
Ann Arbor - My Kind of Town
So as an aside to the normal "life and times of a recently employed college grad," some action at the box house (note the lack of capitalization) this evening deserves a forum for discussion. This, my friends, is the chosen forum.
Around 7:30PM this evening, I was inside, watching the cinematic masterpiece, "
The Patriot." I noticed Zach standing by the door watching something happening at our neighbors house on Hoover. I asked Zach what he was doing and he told me he was watching one of Ann Arbor finest (a bum) carrying two speakers eyeing the neighbors house. Zach watched the man walk down Hoover towards State. By this time, it had become apparent that he was in search of one of the following:
1. Some new speakers
2. A warm meal
3. Some tobacco
4. Some new BOX friends
5. Some booze
Zach then watched the bum walk in to the partially open door at 933 S. State (a.k.a The box house) It became evident at this point that this man was unwanted in the box house. Knowing that I have had a similar experience with trespassers in that same house, I took it upon myself to dial 911 and inform them of the trespasser.
We followed the bum down Hoover and waited patiently as the 911 dispatcher brought the 5-0 up on the block. Approximately 4 officers approached the house with 3 going behind the house and one entering through the front door. We had waited for the police for about five minutes and not more than 30 seconds after he had entered, the officer walked out with the bum in tow. We talked briefly with the police so they could get our names and phone numbers. After we had finished our conversation, I phoned Chris
Vickery who told me they were inside when the bum entered. Zach and I, having completed our good deed for the day, returned home and waited for the police to leave so we could go find out the scoop.
After the police left, we headed over to get the low-down. Here's the story (recreated) from Chris
Vickery's mouth:
"So John and I were sitting in the family room watching a movie when we heard a rustling and then saw someone slam down two speakers on the desk in the foyer. The bum walked in and told us he had found the speakers in the trash and they were ours. He made claim that the speakers were worth about $200 retail. He walked in to the family room, sat in the roller-chair and got face-to-face with me lying on the couch. He asked me if it was okay to search through the beer cans on the table to find some wounded soldiers to see if there was any left. To his disappointment, he wasn't able to find any leftovers. He then returned to his chair and his face-to-face position and asked me if we had any beers. I told him we were fresh out and then he asked if we had any cigarettes. Knowing there was one lying on the A/C unit behind me and wanting to get the bum out of my face immediately, I handed him the cigarette. The bum, now with cigarette, mentioned that he no longer carried lighters as his friends did crack and he went through the too quickly. However, luckily this bum must have been a boyscout as he was carrying a pack of matches. Contented, the bum rolled himself in to a good position to watch some TV and smoke his
cig with us. The spot he found: Directly in front of the TV only a few feet away. Confused and now angry, John, trying to watch TV, told the bum he couldn't smoke in the house and he was in the way of the TV. It was at the point the cop walked in and said, 'Charlie, what are you doing here?' This bum was well known around town.
It sounds like Charlie was friendly and meant no harm. However under different circumstances, the situation could have been much dirtier had a) No one been home or b) The bum been of a more violent mindset.
I was amazed that the police response time was under 5 minutes. They came quickly and in force. It's good to know that while they're not giving MIP's and parking tickets, they are responsive.
When You've Got Something They Want
While, as per the norm, the weekend has been filled with stuptifying events and memoryless fun, it has also been an insight in to the world of an adult. Friday I had the opportunity to explore some apartment finding sites that were provided by my employer. By the time I woke up this morning, I had two messages informing me that they had received my submissions and were able to help me.
Here's how it works:
1. You select an area
2. You select the amenities
3. You select your price range
4. You send the info off to a finder's site
It then becomes their job to match your preferences with available locations. What's the catch? Nothing. The real estate companies make money from the leasing agents because they've referred a client. Me, the customer, pays nothing.
It's also been quite a surprise how nice real life homes are. After 5 years in the student ghetto:
The places available for the same amount of money are amazing. It's amazing how the world opens up once you leave the "bubble" that is Ann Arbor.
P.S.
Karin Neubauer
Analog/Digital Inspiration
May 16th was the last time I remember participating in a structured activity. This summer has been the most relaxing, stress-free time of my life. Short of a class at UM-Dearborn, my life has been pretty carefree. Late mornings, trash TV, and complete home cooked meals are just some of the highlights.
So I've never understood the use of a blog as an online diary. I will try my best not to make it one. The objective of starting a blog was to track the job process and try to shed a little insite on the subject. After 34 interviews, 8 flights, and 10 corporate meals, I finally settled on a company in Houston, TX. I had a chance to visit their facilities some time ago. I never had a chance to make it in to downtown Houston. Should I be worried about moving there without ever visiting? Maybe. Am I? Not a bit.
The things to be concerned about:
- Finding a place to live
- Close enough to work to have a relativly short commute
- In a good area of town (i.e. Left Pocket Gang territory)
- In a fun part of town
- Price
- Ammenities
- The Move
- U-Haul
- Moving In
- What to Bring
- Moving a Car to TX
- Moving out of Ann Arbor
- The Paperwork
- I've gotten at least 10 forms for taxes, direct deposit, liability, benefits, etc... that I have to fill out
- The Job
- Will I like this?
- Will my desk be nice?
- Will I really spend the next 30 years here?
- What time is lunch?
- How much cnn.com can I explore without being fired?
- Texas
- Will I be required to join the minutemen?
- How can I get a David Carr Texans jersey?
- How long will it take until "Ya'll" becomes part of my regular vernacular?
It might not seem like much but I feel like a mouse looking up at a mountain. Good thing I'm 300+lbs. Maybe I can just move the mountain. This is an exciting process and while it's daunting, I'm really looking forward to it. My only real concern is the friends that will visit and treat Houston like the
Brown Jug.
New Beginnings
Yup, I started a blog. Never thought I'd do it but what better way to tell the world about my changing life, my conquests, and my failures. I don't imagine I'll update regularly. I don't image my posts will be of much interest. I don't image anyone will ever read this. But, just in case, I won't post
tubgirl.
Life's bearing down faster than you can say, "
URSPRACHE." That word sounds German. I bet Tom and Simon love it. My only goal here is to document the move from a life with no responsibility, no finanical stresses, and no problems to a life where I'm responsibile for everything I do.
Also, when I start work in late August, I hope this blog will serve as a way for me to waste time until I can go home.
P.S. This is where I'm moving...
