Month: October 2010

Books · Writing & Writers

Jervis Tetch

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via: WeHeartIt

 

The writing bug bit me early Saturday morning. I just didn’t know what it wanted me to write about. So I spent the early part of the day reading Star Wars: Death Troopers by Joe Schreiber because it mixes two of my favorite things – Star Wars and the undead (I’m a keeper!). Out of nowhere, I got the urge to read Batman, however. Because I only own one book of Batman – The Dark Knight Returns – I decided that I’d see what was available to me online.

The name Jervis Tetch kept coming back to me, over and over again. For those who don’t know much about the Batman universe, Jervis Tetch is better known as his villain moniker, the Mad Hatter. Based on the Lewis Carroll character, the Mad Hatter is one of those lesser focused on characters due to his goofy features. Like most characters in the Batman world, he’s grown darker with the years. Still, few people think awesome when his name comes up on the roster.

I looked up our friend Jervis Tetch on Wiki (both Wikipedia and DC’s Wikia) and jotted a few titles that might be of my interest. Then I went to the web to see what I could find. During which, I also noted to find a copy of Through The Looking Glass as I already have a copy of Alice in Wonderland sitting on my shelf. However, I couldn’t find a copy on Amazon that wasn’t attached to Alice in Wonderland so I decided to download the free Kindle e-book. Now it’s found a home on my Blackberry Curve.

I don’t know what my sudden fascination with Jervis Tetch means, or if it has any relation to my sudden writing urge – can we all say fanfic? – but at least I got myself a few comic books and an e-book off it (all free, I should add). But who really cares? I’m reading and happy again. I think that’s all that matters. And what will come out of my research? Who knows. I’m just going forward to write some of my thoughts down. And if they bloom into anything of interest, then I’ll be content. If not, then it’s not like I’m losing anything. With the exception, maybe, of my mind.

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My Short and Unhappy Life with Green Mountain Energy

Guillermo1 Comment

The rules say that you can’t text message break up, but is there one that states you can’t end your unhappy relationship with your employer in the same way? Most of our communication is via text message and e-mail, so I don’t see the problem with my medium for quitting my job. Last night I text in sick because I wasn’t in a jolly mood – I’m still to learn if I got the other job – and wasn’t in a good mood of going to work. Later in the night, I was asked, “are you going to be able to make it to work tomorrow” to which I didn’t respond because I was “asleep” already.

In reality, I was spending time with Jyg, attempting to cheer up. It worked, especially because we saw vampire comedy drama Let the Right One In. I planned on going in this morning, but when morning rolled around and my alarms blared up, I realized that I didn’t want to go to work. I had an elevated mood, why the fuck would I want to ruin it with all the bullshit of working for Green Mountain? Because while the company is a great one – and I’m not saying that for fear that goons are reading this post – the people who work at this local office aren’t great. In fact, I’ve had to correct certain “RGV Go-Getters” lies, anything for a sign-up. I’m willing to break the rules for a sign up, but I’m not willing to lie and I’m not going to start covering someone else’s lies. And that there is no guarantee that I’m going to get a paycheck also added to my misery.

So instead of getting dressed, I shut off all my alarm clocks and passed back into blissful sleep during which my (ex)supervisor called and text me. I didn’t look at either until I woke up this morning. He didn’t leave a voice mail, but this is what his text read: “you were scheduled for 9-2 mission. You are considered a NO CALL NO SHOW”

Pish posh, I say. I didn’t care. I didn’t want to respond to him and just wanted him to get it over because I wasn’t planning on going in tomorrow, either. Instead, I replied, “Sorry about that. The meds hit me pretty hard. Also, I’m gonna go ahead and quit. I’ll return my stuff (hopefully) on Monday.”

Nonchalant and sweet, I think. While I’d like to bombard them with reasons for my quitting, I decided not to be a whiner or a snitch. Reap what you sow, I believe.

Coupled with the lack of assurance and lying co-workers, another thing that got to me was the admins way of motivating us. Mostly by putting down those of us who weren’t excelling in our sign-ups. Again, most of these co-workers used lies including, but not limiting to, telling customers that we’ll take care of the extra charges (a lie, considering that customers are responsible for paying all cancellation fees and added charges when doing a future dated switch), that our month-to-month plan is flat rate while our contract is a volatile one, that a co-signer doesn’t need to be present and the person signing the forms can sign of said co-signer when using their social security number.

While I’m not a man of many “morals” but I do have my code of ethics and I can’t work for a company that is constantly challenging them.

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Fud Bacon 2.77

Guillermo2 Comments

 

via: EatSleepDraw

 

I made a sign-up last night for [redacted]. It was a Spanish family who was being screwed up the ass by Stream. One thing I’ve learned from this job is that, while [redacted] might be the best electric company (price wise) in the Valley, Stream simply sucks ass. Later, a man approached me for some help. He was paying $100 more than he was using. I didn’t know how to help him as he was under contract. I offered him the option of switching to us for our gift card deal, or he could wait it out. I know that’s not salesman like of me, but I’m not out to screw people over. I’ll leave that for the veterans.

[Redacted], after all, is a business. And like all businesses, they only really care about themselves. Green energy does have a double meaning. I know this because last night I had to dispel some lies made by another sales rep. I won’t get into that.

This morning was my interview for Texas Car Title and Payday Loan. It was all that I had on my mind since I made the appointment. [Redacted] has managed to suck out every ounce of my joy in a matter of two weeks. I’m drained, emotionally and physically. Stepping outside of my shell is one thing, stepping outside of my shell and asking me to lie to a complete stranger in order to make a couple of bucks is beyond my code of ethics.

What is my code of ethics? That’s one of the questions that was brought up in the interview. I don’t have them written down or anything. And they’re constantly modified because things change so rapidly. Essentially it’s summed to one simple sentence – be happy without screwing over anyone in the process. Considering my past, I haven’t been able to see this through. But I’m doing my best.

I’ll have to get back to her on Friday to find out whether I got the job or not.

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Caption here

GuillermoLeave a comment

 

I'm glad I'm not that guy

 

I work at Weslaco tonight with Meester Binx. I wonder which manager this guy is referring to. City manager? H.E.B. manager?

I hope I have at least one sign up tonight. It’s not like I don’t try, it’s just that most people don’t care. I’m the type of person who makes people care. I never have. Oh well, if [redacted] had a campaign like Renewable Girls, then I’m sure we’d get more business thrown our way – especially from the male base.

Books

Wake up. Sleep. Wake up.

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Life Summed Up

 

I gotta say, I hope my days with [redacted] are numbered. I dropped off a resume a company close to my house Wednesday. My brother works the Weslaco location and he let me know that the Edinburg one was looking for someone. Awesome, I need a job. I got the phone call this morning and did a quick little interview and scheduled a face-to-face Monday morning.

At least I have something to look forward to this weekend. I’m spending most it – I should say all of it – with Meester Binx, working the [redacted] table at various HEBs. Tomorrow we’re working the Weslaco location, Saturday we’ll be over at Mission and Sunday it’s back to San Juan – home of the MVEC cock block. I swear, if I don’t make at least one sign-up this week, I’m going to kill something small. But Monday’s my golden ticket, and hopefully my window to a real job, something I really need right now.

I’ve also been thinking about applying to other places, Barnes and Noble comes to mind. I really like books and I think working in a bookstore would cheer me up a bit. Not to mention, I’ll also know when new books are coming out. There’s also something of a discount, but that’s just a bonus. I’d love the job regardless.

Man, job hunting is less fun than book hunting but at least the outcome of the former doesn’t deplete my bank account like the latter does. After purchasing that new oven, I have a less than stellar balance at the moment. And the more I need to eat, the less I have in the end. I still owe people some money – people whose number I don’t have anymore so if you’re reading this (and I doubt you are) you should really consider calling me (but hopefully after I get a new job that actually pays me).

Yeah, that’s right [redacted] doesn’t pay me like most jobs would. They’re pay plan is solely based on something that’s out of our power. But whatever. I chose it because I thought I could handle it. And I can, for the most part. I just want something that’s a little more reliable and less problematic. A solid job. However, looking forward toward next Summer, I wonder how I’m going to manage the Roadrunners if I’m hired as  Clubhouse Manager again. I liked the job, but the hours won’t fit in with any work schedule. If I get my six minions, then I can manage it. If I don’t, then I haven’t a clue what the hell I’m going to do.

But all this comes back to one essential thing. Sleep. These last few nights I’ve been having a hard time finding that zone where I just slip into my dreams. And because this weekend means another sleepover at Meester Binx’s house, I’m afraid that I’m going to wind up killing someone. Like Meester Binx. I’m too pretty to go to prison. During the summer, all I did was sleep. I even slept at work (which was the only perk of the job, besides meeting a childhood hero – though he did turn out to be a complete and utter asshole). And it’s come to the point that even reading myself to sleep – yes, I know how that sounds – doesn’t work. My eyes are too tired to read, but my mind won’t shut off.

Speaking of reading, I picked up The Sinner by Tess Gerritsen – this is actually the second time I picked it up, but another book got in the way (possibly Hank Moody‘s God Hates Us All). I’m also reading – yes, reading – Bound by Ink, a tattoo magazine. Why a tattoo magazine? I don’t know, I just got the feeling that some of my characters need a little ink because I know I’m not going mark my skin.

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Music · Writing & Writers

Zombie Post

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Zombies as portrayed in the movie Night of the...
Image via Wikipedia

About a week or so ago, some douche bag decided to announce how zombies do not exist, how they’ll never exist and how those of us who talk about the zombie apocalypse aren’t cool. Well, I’m sorry buddy but we all don’t listen to crappy music to pass our time (this guy was a Blink 182 and as we all know, Blink 182 sucks). Truth is, I expect zombies to exist before Blink 182 actually sounds good.

Preparing for the zombie apocalypse is just a pastime. I don’t know anyone who actually thinks that the dead will walk again only to hunt down love ones and eat their brains. If I were dead and brought back to life, I’d wouldn’t waste my time devouring people, or riding buses complaining how I’m bored. Anyway, our “lameness” is no different from compiling our suicide playlist. It’s not that we’re actually planning our suicides, it’s just a way to showcase how awesome we are when it comes our taste in music (note: Blink 182 never shows up on any worthwhile suicide playlist for a reason).

I started writing a zombie short story. It was meant to be a post apocalyptic story that somehow managed to allow the undead into it. I suppose it stemmed from a dream that I had several nights ago in which Izzy and I were traveling down an open road searching for a lost Jyg. The world was a wasteland. Burning bodies and automobiles littered the roads. There were others that we met, but no one that I knew personally in the real world. I have the habit of dreaming about zombies a lot. A few years ago, I had one in which Jyg, Ruben, a few others and I holed up in an abandoned theater. And in another which Monica and I took over our high school alma mater – this actually stemmed from a conversation we had that night. During a study group, I day dreamed of what it would be like if the zombie apocalypse happened during philosophy class – it would only make sense, wouldn’t it? And then once at the stadium – which I also jotted down for a future reference.

And while I’ve been a fan of zombies since I can remember, I’m sorta irked by the sudden popularity. With the series The Walking Dead premiering on Halloween and the boom in the box offices, zombies are appearing just about everywhere – including novels. My only fear is that some Mormon would-be, hack of a writer will get her grubby hands on the subject and fag-it up by making them sparkle or something like she did with Vampires (though vampires have always been on homoerotic side, and for good reason).  And by writing my short story(ies), I fear like I’m just jumping on the wagon – which I’m not, by the way.

Anyway, I’ve focused too much time typing this post than the story I’m talking about. Until next time…

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