Bryan's Ramblings...
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Enjoy!
Monday, 26 September 2005
Hurricane Rita...
Topic: ramblings
Well the second big storm to hit the gulf coast this year, Hurricane Rita, has touched down. The city of Austin was relatively untouched, weather-wise, by the storm, but at last count they reported 17,000 evacuees from South/Southeast Texas and Louisiana were finding shelter in Austin. Our Convention Center still had Hurricane Katrina evacuees so they started housing evacuees in nearby schools. Not sure when/if they are going to transport those evacuees and get school back on schedule.
I also found out that my brother, Brad, and his wife and daughter decided to move back to the NW and start life back up there. Brad and the family haven't even been back to New Orleans to see what condition his apartment is in. When I spoke with him on the phone he acted like they would fly back someday (soon I'm assuming?) to see what the situation is still at his old apartment and take/ship back whatever belongings they still want to keep (i.e. not ruined by the looting or stinking to high heavens).
Thursday, 8 September 2005
Hurricane Katrina
Topic: family
Ok so everyone and their mother is blogging about Hurricane Katrina. I'm not going to waste your time with my opinion on the whole situation...at least not on this particular blog.
I would much rather talk about how my family was affected personally. My brother, Brad, and his wife and daughter lived in New Orleans before this hurricane, and now they aren't even sure what's left of their apartment. They fled to Dallas, TX and are staying with some friends of his sister-in-law (Johanna's sister). I was fortunate enough to be able to go and visit him last Saturday with my girlfriend, Liza. They seem to be doing good, considering what they've been through and the fact they may have to start their lives over. Brad is already looking for jobs in Dallas.
My other brother, Ben, and his wife and four kids all stayed in Covington (north of New Orleans) during the storm. Thank God they were uninjured and their house not damaged (they did lose a few trees to the storm, however). The power and phone lines were all knocked down in their town, so they had quite a few nights of sleeping on the tile floor (the "coldest" part of the house) and drinking questionable water.
Well, from the beginning, Liza and I suggested they leave and stay with us. They took us up on the offer after the storm and last Monday they all arrived to our quaint little apartment. With all of us there, we now get just under 90 square feet of space a piece. Not a whole lot of room to move around in...but of course it could always be worse. Kami actually left Tuesday morning to go to a seminar in California; she'll be home Sunday night. Meanwhile, Ben and the kids have been chilling at our place while Liza and I go to work. It's the least I can do for Ben and his family considering all of the times they let me stay at their place rent free. Although, in my defense, I usually spent most of my time babysitting while I was staying with them :)
Friday, 5 August 2005
1st day at WaMu...
Mood:
spacey
Topic: ramblings
Well I finished my first day of work at WaMu (aka Washington Mutual) today! And boy am I exhausted! I spent about 20 minutes going over the security points at my new job, and literally the rest of the day (short of my hour long lunch) was spent standing at a "concierge station" greeting people as they came in and reading everything there is to know about WaMu. Did you know the bank was originally founded in 1886? Yeah, it was after a major fire in Seattle almost destroyed the city...
Anyway, like I said, I'm really tired from having to stand up all day. You know how it is when you go to church on one of the busy days (i.e. Christmas/Easter) and there is standing room only? Well multiply that hour by 8 and you can imagine how my legs wanna fall off. But then again, I gotta kinda get used to it since none of the tellers have chairs. I just hope I can get trained soon enough so that I can be sitting at a desk and doing what I was hired to do: represent the bank while assisting others on their personal finances. A "Personal Financial Representative" if you will :)
So, although the day seemed unproductive, I did get all of the disclosures and privacy statements read and signed so at least that's done with :) And I get to work tomorrow from 9am to 1pm...a short day so it outta be fairly nice and easy. Guess we will just have to wait and see...
Tuesday, 2 August 2005
Still alive...
Mood:
happy
Now Playing: 2005 World Series of Poker
Topic: ramblings
Wow it has been forever since I've posted to my blog! Well, two months and one day to be exact...
Since my last posting I have celebrated my 23rd birthday, quit my job at Electra, packed up all of my belongings (except three pieces of luggage, a laptop, a backpack, and a airplane ticket), moved to Texas, traveled to Brownsville (Texas) and then onto Matamoros (Mexico), bought a car (1996 Honda Civic), and got a job at Washington Mutual as a Senior Personal Financial Representative. So...not a whole lot. :) It actually sounds like I've done quite a bit, but I have to admit I've done a lot of lazyin' around and playing video games too.
For the record, my job at WaMu doesn't actually start until this Friday. So...come Friday I'll be a working man again :) And it will be just shy of two months since I quit my job at Electra.
I really miss Electra (and the NW for that matter) but I am sooooo glad to finally be able to be with my baby here in Austin. The distance surely made the last two years rough, but finally we are together!
More later, but for now I need to finish cooking the lasagna for Liza is on her way home from work. And...we are both too hungry to wait while I blog...
Wednesday, 1 June 2005
Ahhh...June 1st...
Mood:
happy
Topic: ramblings
Well it's June 1st, which means two things:
1. My birthday is only a week away. As I told people at work, I am 22 and 51/52 years old today. Yeah, don't worry, they gave me the same strange look...
2. I'm going to Texas *THIS* month! The wait is finally (almost) over: I'll see you soon baby!
Now who wants to help me pack? :)
Tuesday, 31 May 2005
Stop To Salute
Topic: worthy read
I think everyone should read this in honor of Memorial Day, if nothing else...
************************************************
It was raining "cats and dogs" and I was late for physical training. Traffic was backed up at Fort Campbell, Ky., and was moving way too slowly. I was probably going to be late and I was growing more and more impatient.
The pace slowed almost to a standstill as I passed Memorial Grove, the site built to honor the soldiers who died in the Gander airplane crash, the worst redeployment accident in the history of the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).
Because it was close to Memorial Day, a small American flag had been placed in the ground next to each soldier's memorial plaque.
My concern at the time, however, was getting past the bottleneck, getting out of the rain and getting to PT on time.
All of a sudden, infuriatingly, just as the traffic was getting started again, the car in front of me stopped.
A soldier, a private of course, jumped out in the pouring rain and ran over toward the grove.
I couldn't believe it! This knucklehead was holding up everyone for who knows what kind of prank. Horns were honking. I waited to see the butt-chewing that I wanted him to get for making me late.
He was getting soaked to the skin. His BDUs were plastered to his frame. I watched-as he ran up to one of the memorial plaques, picked up the small American flag that had fallen to the ground in the wind and the rain, and set it upright again.
Then, slowly, he came to attention, saluted, ran back to his car, and drove off. I'll never forget that incident. That soldier, whose name I will never know, taught me more about duty, honor, and respect than a hundred books or a thousand lectures.
That simple salute—that single act of honoring his fallen brother and his flag—encapsulated all the Army values in one gesture for me. It said, "I will never forget. I will keep the faith. I will finish the mission. I am an American soldier."
I thank God for examples like that. And on this Memorial Day, I will remember all those who paid the ultimate price for my freedom, and one private, soaked to the skin, who honored them.
~ Army Captain John Rasmussen
Monday, 23 May 2005
Once a day...
Topic: quotes
"She said she cried at least once a day...not because she was sad, but because the world was so beautiful and life was so short."
-Brian Andreas
(compliments of http://www.amymcmullen.com)
Happy Birthday Dad!!!
Mood:
caffeinated
Topic: family
Happy Birthday Dad!!! He's 57 today...still got plenty of years left though. Can't wait to party with him tonight...maybe have a drink or two? :)
Wednesday, 18 May 2005
Judge Mathis
Mood:
hungry
Topic: people who need help
So I was watching Judge Mathis during lunch again today (as I watch almost every weekday during lunch).
The plaintiff was a woman who was suing her ex-husband/father of her son. The father (now remarried) did not pay child support the first 15 years of his son's life. His excuse was fuzzy: either he was in rehab or didn't have a steady job or something. I couldn't quite figure it out because the guy acted like he was still a little drugged up. Another excuse he tried was, "Well she never filed to get child support." None of the excuses worked on the judge, who further pointed out that a real man would take care of his responsibilities that wouldn't require his ex-wife and mother of his child to take him to court to get child support from him.
Well it just so happened that the son was killed in a drive-by shooting at the age of 22. The reason the mom was taking the dad to court: the check that she received from his wife for $2,000 for the son's funeral had a stop payment placed on it. The reason for the stop payment? The husband didn't like the funeral proceedings. He complained that the reverend was not allowed to speak at the funeral as much as he wanted and the father complained about having to be a pallbearer.
The defendant's wife chuckled at one point when the plaintiff introduced her witness (her sister) and Judge Mathis asked, "What's so funny? The fact that your husband doesn't pay child support or the fact that his son was murdered? What's so funny?" She mumbled something about laughing at the witness and the judge had her escorted out of the courtroom.
The plaintiff and her witness bickered back and forth with the father when Judge Mathis banged his gavel.
With all seriousness and sincerity in his voice he said, "I didn't want to have to say this. I didn't want to have to go here, but I have no choice." He then looked at the defendant. "You wouldn't have to be complaining right now about being a pallbearer if only you had been in your son's life the first 21 years." With that he awarded $2,000 to the plaintiff and banged the gavel again.
I think the plaintiff responded the best when she lowered her head and said out loud, "Amen!"
Donuts tomorrow...
Mood:
hungry
Topic: funny stuff
(conversation from work)
Jennifer: "Just so you know, I'll be bringing in donuts tomorrow for the meeting."
Trudi: "Donuts? Really? I guess I won't blend up my slimfast in the morning then..."
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"Mr. Madison, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."
-- from the movie "Billy Madison"
"Do not compute the totality of your poultry population until all the manifestations of incubation have been entirely completed."
-- William Jennings Bryan
(In other words, don't count your eggs before they hatch)
"When seeking a companion, become the type of person you would like to attract!"
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