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Thursday, October 28th, 2004
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3:21 pm - The Worst Good News Possible...
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Yeah, so my boss just wandered up to the front desk where I'm answering phones and staring at the clock out of desperation, dreaming of a day when there will be enough actual real work for me to keep busy... and he proceeded to talk to me about his plans for the department. Which consist of getting me back into the Edge/ Engineering hole in the back of the office, full time, as soon as Dawn (our actual receptionist) returns from her medical leave. This part is good news, in fact, some of the best possible news for me. He didn't mention the fact that the company is 2 months overdue with giving me a $3/hr training raise (this would be very nice, as rent, car insurance, and christmas are all approaching very fast...) so it's not perfectly good news. However, in the same breath, he told me that the reason he could bring me back full time is that he's going to let Matt (the other designer, and my friend) go. This is (obviously) not good news... I will be the only designer at PAC after that point, every other designer having been farmed out to client sites, or told that we'll call them if there's ever any real work left.
Yeah.... Time to redouble the efforts on job searching.
current mood: nervous current music: the whir of computer fans at the otherwise silent front desk
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| Monday, October 11th, 2004
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12:39 pm
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So. Since last time...
I've continued working at PAC Global... they've temporarily cut my hours due to a lack of actual work coming in to the company, they've called me in on a day off, and they've now got me working on training myself in CATIA and FEA software... at the receptionist desk. The good part is that I'm working 40hrs a week again, but the bad news is that I'm now the receptionist as well as a Design Engineer. yay.
I always knew that running a switchboard was something I'd aspire to...
My ebay business is going well- I've made close to $200 in the last few weeks, and am looking forward to next week when I stand to make about that much more (if auctions go ok, more if well). As a fun game, and a supplemental income, it's quite interesting.
Alexis and I had a great weekend as well- I went back and played at the Homecoming game with the Alumni band- it was an amazing game, coming down to a last few minute drive by our offense to regain the lead and win against a long-time rival... The Brown Jug remains in Michigan for another year. Our D&D; session went well, and we also enjoyed a day of sitting together painting D&D; miniatures sunday, relaxing and just hanging out. I cna't imagine being much happier than I am with her... I am truly blessed that she would be interested in being with me.
current mood: bored
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| Thursday, September 16th, 2004
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10:59 am
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Well folks, it had to happen sometime...
You guessed it! After an absense of record length, I'm finally doing it- I'm updating!
SO! Life...
I've been working at PAC Global for almost 3 months now- it's good to have a job that hired me because of the piece of paper I worked for at UM. However, I'd really love it if we had some real work to do... we're a contracting company, and there are days, even weeks sometimes that make me wonder how we're still afloat- there's no work coming in to the US office, and that leaves Matt (the other designer) and I sitting here at work doing ebay, email, and 'self-training'. At the same time, I've definitely polished up my Unigraphics skills, and am starting to learn CATIA v5. As long as I continue to make progress with CATIA as I'm here, I should continue to be here. The ability to add CATIA to my resume without stretching too much is a HUGE increase in my marketability.
Other things... I bought a car just before I started work- it's a 2001 Buick Regal LS Special Edition- it's two-tone gold, with all the features, and was utterly gorgeous (except the color, which I didn't like, but they gave me a $500 discount because of that.)
Then, I had an accident. The car still runs just fine, but I managed to do quite a bit of damage to my right front fender and passenger door... I seem cursed never to have a car w/ a clean right side. Doomed! I intend to repair it before this winter- but I'm still working on building up the $3K it'll take to do so.
I also moved into my own apartment in Sterling Heights, at 15 & Dequindre- it's nice, with an open living room, big bedroom, and TINY kitchen (Seriously, the word TINY in all caps is bigger than my kitchen).
Right around my birthday I also adopted a kitty- a roughly 10 month old brown tabby named Shayla. She lives there (shhhh, don't tell my landlord- I'm not paying the kitty rent) and is always around to greet me with a loud complaint... She's a very talkative, very playful little buddy to have around.
.... that's about it for major happenings in the life of Dan...
Look for slightly more frequent postings in the near future (at least I certainly hope so)
current mood: tired
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| Sunday, June 20th, 2004
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12:27 am - I got a JOB!!!
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Alexis kinda stole my thunder by posting it first, but I've got a JOB!!!!!!! WOOOHOOOO!!! I start July 1 at PAC Global in Troy, MI as a Jr. Design Engineer. I'm thrilled- they're going to hire me, pay me, and train me within the Automotive industry. If you want any more information, you'll have to let me know and I'll answer when I can- I don't know any yet. Company webpage- www.pacglobal.com
SO, I'm now looking for a car, an apartment, car insurance, a plan :-).
Gimme a buzz anytime- I would love to do stuff with folks, especially before July 1. Cell's the same- comment in here if you don't have it.
current mood: bouncy
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| Thursday, February 19th, 2004
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9:51 pm - Update
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End result: Convinced myself onwards towards a neutral attitude, decuded to go. Unfortunately, 'twas the wrong night. Will reattempt next week.
current mood: relieved
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| Thursday, January 29th, 2004
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12:05 pm
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So, in following with the sudden large quantity of pictures appearing on my friends page, here's my "states visited" map. I didn't realize until now that I actually have the entire east coast covered. That's pretty cool.

create your own visited states map
Anyway. In other news, since winter break I've left the state twice on stuff- first, to Canton, OH to interview for a Manufacturing Engineering position, one which looks incredibly interesting, and I'm hoping to hear back from any time. The other trip was to Indian Head, MD, to give the final presentation of the UM-BUGS-1, the prototype generated by the senior design project to our sponsor and my former employer, the Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technology Division. This also went very well, though there isn't any real chance of that generating me a job. I can always hope...
So, I'm basically looking for a job, trying to clean up stuff here, and... well, that's it. Anyone know where I can find a good job for a ME with a bad GPA?
Didn't think so...
current mood: mellow
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| Sunday, December 28th, 2003
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10:21 pm
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Hey all
For those of you who've been waiting with baited breath to find out how the end of my semester went, I can finally tell you. Yeah, yeah, there's not really anyone that cares that much... hell, I didn't, I don't think. But anyway.
I'm official- I've graduated. Three C's and an A, and I'm outta here with a BSE in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan College of Engineering. A crappy cum and a lack of job accompany me, but at least I'm done.
I'm stuck writing the biggest paper of my life with not much support from my team... The Sr. Design Project Final Report. Due in to the United States Navy. At the last minute I'm finally hearing from some of them, but it's really getting to the 11th hour now, as it's due tomorrow. Oy. Hopefully the last few folks will come through- but we shall see.
current mood: nervous
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| Sunday, December 14th, 2003
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11:40 pm - Life, the Universe, and Everything...
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Yeah. So, today I graduated. Whee fun- 2+ hrs of sitting around listening to boring speakers and waiting my turn to walk briskly in a big circle, shake hands w/ the Dean, and get yelled at by the photographer. Yay fun. Or something. Tomorrow is one of two finals I have left (the other's Wednesday) that determine whether or not there's anything written on the diploma that I *should* be getting in late January, or if I'm going to be frantically re-registering for classes during break, taking out student loans to pay for tuition for an unexpected and unwelcome last term. Talk about fun.
I know I haven't been the best LJ correspondant, but it's been a hectic semester, to say the least. Taking 16 credits my last term, 4 of which being my senior design class, was not particularly wise. But, I had to do it, or it wouldn't have been my last semester... I'm still definitely hoping it will be.
I'm starting to look forward to the light at the end of the tunnel- it's not exactly going perfectly, but I think once the classes and such are permanantly over, and I put my full resources into the job hunt and the beginnings of the real world, I'll be ok there too.
I will say that this term has been a set of serious conflicts on my time since day one. Either I have nothing going at all, or I have 43 things that I'm absolutely required to be at. This leaves me regularly having to choose between several sets of friends, or having to choose between school stuff and personal stuff and friends stuff, all of which would have fallen into the mandatory category not more than 5 months ago. But this term has been hell. I want to apologise to all of the people who've felt slighted by my choices- I can make a dozen excuses and cite a dozen reasons for each decision, but I'm quite sure you don't want to hear them. I've never had a term this stressful, and partially because of all this too. Anyway- to those of you heading out into the great unknown of the real world, never fear- let me know what's going on- if I can't catch you before you head out to wherever you're going, I'll make a point to come visit you once you get there. I've got nothing but job searching going next term anyways, it's definitely worth the time and money to me. For those of you who're not going far, excellent- I do intend to have a graduation party, but not until I'm sure I've graduated. Look for something about 2 weeks into January, we'll have a grand old time celebrating the real thing. And, if I'm really lucky, celebrating some job prospects too. I can hope, right?
Trips definitely in the works already: Maryland, to return the old BUGS and present the new UM-BUGS-1 to NAVEODTECHDIV- figure early January on this one; Kansas, to visit my Great-Grandmother, as I haven't seen her in about 5 years, and to say hi to all those folks who're already working out there.
BTW, anyone have a good idea for a spring break trip?? Must do something fun with those folks who will still have school ;-)
Blah. OK, I've wasted enough time that I should have been studying for tonight- hopefully I'll post again sometime shortly after my finals to alert the world that I've FINALLY GRADUATED (for real).
current mood: stressed
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| Sunday, November 23rd, 2003
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5:04 pm - I know, I know, it's been too long
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So. It's been a few months. I've done a bunch of crap, some more stuff's happened to me, and stuff.
In slightly more descriptive terms, here's life as I know it. School's been sucking up much of life, as has Alexis- this left me with slightly more than 20 minutes a week of real time to do anything else ever, and I didn't tend to be near my computer during it. ish.
I'm taking four classes: 2 are going well, one is ok, one is not so ok. My sr. design project is going well, as is ME 458 (automotive). The project progresses rapidly, and we are going through phases of everyone wants to do the few things we have to do right now, then NOONE wants to do the things we've got going. Today was the first time in a while that I actually feel like the meeting went real well, and that was partially because I gave up on some other folks figuring stuff out and went ahead and did it myself. It sucks sometimes, but when you feel responsible for a group, you also have to do what needs doing, not what's the most fun.
My materials class is going ok- the second midterm was kinda sketchy, but I think I'll do averageish on it, within 1 Standard Deviation to be sure, and that'll be ok for the grading. I did very well on the first one and I've turned in all my homeworks, so I've got a good coushion in that class at the moment. I still hate the material though.
Then there's controls. I got the low score on the first midterm, and also got incredibly lucky- I have a professor that really honestly cares about his students- he's meeting with me weekly to help me out each time, bringing me back up to speed- and without threatening me with not passing the class. SO, I have a good bit of work to do there to recover, but I think I can do it.
Alexis... Wow. Though nothing real can ever be perfection, what we have can sometimes make me wonder... I'm incredibly happy and supported and loved, and there's nothing in the world I can compare that feeling with. It's awesome.
It's also exactly one month until every single committment that I have at the UM or relating to UM is officially due- the 23rd of December is the day I promised the Navy the final report on the new and improved BUGS robot. It's incredibly wierd, and rather disturbing.... But also very cool. I'm looking forward to the real world at the moment- I just want to be done with the crap formally known as homework. However, at this point I have no job, and have limited prospects of landing one. All I can do is hope, and keep using the Engintrak system here at UM. Darn them all! Somebody hire me!!!!! But only if you're local. 'cause I don't want to leave the good things I have going here alone- I want the awesomeness never to end. 'sides- I can't afford a car at the moment....
Anyway, if you want more info, you're gonna have to call me- IM me if you don't have the number.
current mood: busy
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| Tuesday, September 9th, 2003
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10:43 pm
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So, School has started, classes have been picked, it's now just a matter of a few months before I'm supposed to graduate and leave the University of Michigan as a student forever. Strange, eh? OK, prolly not for you, but for me this is seriously FUBAR. Anyway.
So this term I'm taking 15 credits- 4 ME classes, and Campus band. I'm taking ME 450- Design and Manufacturing III; ME 458- Automotive Engineering; ME 461- Automatic Control Systems; and re-taking ME 382- Mechanical Behavior of Materials. Yeah... the bane of my existance. Of every class that I've taken here at the University of Michigan, the 2 materials classes that I've been required to take have cost me MANY MANY miserable hours- not to mention that I took the first one a total of 3 times, and this is the second time on this one. Yeah. A fate worse than death is just about accurate.
ME 458 and ME 461 are both Technical Electives- theoretically, they're classes I wanted to take. The answer is- yes, I do believe I actually want to take 'em too. They have decent professors (so far) relatively light workloads (ok, I'm stretching this one) and somewhat close to interesting course material. They should cause a relative minimum of headaches, and this is a good thing.
ME 450... Yeah. I did actually con the Navy into loaning me a BUGS robot and authorizing the redesign project that I was hoping to do- I have my group working on making this big ol' toy into a Lean Mean All-Terrain Ordnance Locating Machine! Or something. Anyway, net result is that I'm doing my senior design project on a military budget with an oversized team of underqualified personell (no offense all (if any of my team reads this thing)). Sounds like I worked for the government all summer, no? Even better is that by loaning me the BUGS the TechDiv was required to keep me employed until the robot gets signed in- which means that my security clearance paperwork will continue to process until that time. There is a very slim but still distinct possibility that I'll get the most amazing resume-boosting christmas present possible from the US Government right around when the BUGS and its redesigned partner reappear in Indian Head. I know, I know. I can hope, can't I?
Anyway, I should prolly at least pretend to do some homework, as I do have some due friday. In fact, every friday. Details, details...
current mood: tired
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| Tuesday, August 26th, 2003
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11:38 am
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It's nearly time. I am 28 minutes (at time of writing this, that is) from leaving the NAVEODTECHDIV for the last time as an employee. I may not have truly enjoyed my stay here, but it wasn't bad. The people were nice, the job wasn't bad, and the place I lived was rather nice. But I was too far away from everyone I loved this summer, and too far away from folks to just bum around w/ people. Therein lies the problem... can't just bum around w/ folks, when there's noone within 500 miles who wants to hang out.
BUT, I'm almost ready to come home, I have one more question to evade and a few more folks to say g'bye too- and it's getting closer and closer... have to turn in my badge, too. At least I remembered this morning to unpack the car sufficiently to get at the box I had stupidly packed my apartment keys into... That took 10 min to dig out... Whee fun... Almost time, almost time. Yar. Maybe I'll go downstairs to see Tuan or something, see if I can waste some time. Dunno.
22 minutes left now... and I still have to pack my car w/ the shit from my cube! Aha! Something to do that's productive too!! Off to take a load.
Hope everyone's doing well, and I'll see y'all when I get back. Ok, maybe a few days after I get back. But still, you knew what I meant.
current mood: anxious
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| Thursday, August 14th, 2003
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11:42 am
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Whew. Bad morning, good week.
Bad Morning: Woke up this morning at 3:00, 3:30, and 3:45. By the manner of waking up each time, I know I managed to go back to sleep for at least 2-3 minutes between each of these... yeah. This does not make for a happy or cheerful or rested Dan once 6AM rolls around. Beat my record for number of times I hit the snooze button in one morning (so am now tired as hell and late), then managed to forget things four times as I was trying to leave (hauling myself back up the damn stairs sucks). Just as I realized that I had everything, I dropped my mug o' juice... and it did that exploding drink thing that only happens when you're running late or already frustrated. Yeah. Did a general cleaning, but will have to finish fixing the rest of the mess when I get home (towels in the wash, doormat either under the hose or in the washing machine, etc). Got stuck behind people going the speed limit ALL THE WAY to the base after that- boxed in on a two lane highway (Maryland 210) by two idiots going 50 and who had a traffic hairball of at least 25 cars stuck behind them but refused to let anyone pass them at all... Guess where both of them work? Yeah. I followed them all the way here. Different building though, or I might have been rude and maybe regretted it later. Lastly (I hope), I managed to actually fall asleep at my computer trying to work out the last math thingey on my program (mostly streamlining stuff now, 'cause it all works- I think) and it just happened to be my boss who wandered in and asked a question of me... I don't know whether or not he knew I was asleep, but I definitely did. Oh well... less than 2 more weeks
Good Week: Yeah, I've had the best week ever (or at least pretty close to it, I'm still out here) since last Wednesday evening. 'specially after the logistics nightmare it could have been... Alexis had plane tickets to be here Wednesday evening - Sunday evening, my folks drove out here for a visit Thursday evening - Wednesday morning, and Christine came out for a visit Tuesday and Wednesday evenings... Yeah. Working it all out so that I could spend as much time with each group of folks without sharing time was difficult, but once it all got figured out, it went really well.
I picked Alexis up an hour or two after my last entry and spend a wonderful couple days with her, only sharing her for one of her four days out here. I had a good bit of sick leave acrued, so I took advantage of it and was 'sick' of coming in to the office and the idea of leaving Alexis wasting time in my apartment while I went and wasted time at work would definitely leave me 'not feeling well' all day. After enlisting Karen (dept. secretary) in my plot, it was very cool. For other reasons, I do regret not having wandered into the office for at least a half day Friday, but all things considered, it was awesome.
We spent Saturday with my folks, My bro, and my Aunt & Uncle... We wandered DC a bit, hit the memorials and such we wanted to do, then a really expensive and pretty good french place, then bummed around my Aunt and Uncle's place playing cards and chatting.
Sunday was also spent enjoying some much needed R&R; with Alexis, then the long car ride (seemed long, you know how that is) back from the airport after sending her home...
Monday evening I hosted my folks for dinner at the place, and they did a birthday thing for me, which was very nice :-). I got a cut-away model of the TOS Enterprise (NCC-1701) which I will very much enjoy once I get a chance to steal some of my dad's paints ;-). I also have been wreaking havoc with my new RC hummer- running it out around the parking lot in circles, dodging the cars all flooding into the neighborhood around 5:30-6ish... Hehehe... Quite fun.
Tuesday was dinner out and Mini-Golf w/ my folks, as well as all the dealing with car stuff necessary since I had to return my rental car and take my folks' van for the rest of the time. I also had to make sure that everything on the Aurora was taken care of so that I can make the call and donate it tomorrow (most likely). Afterwards met Christine at my townhouse and we stayed up too late chatting and listening to Donkey Punch's new live CD. 'twas fun.
Yesterday she and I also did a dinner out and then I sent her on her way out to visit her next stop. I assume she got there ok, and is having a good time- I guess I won't know until she posts when she gets back. Oh well :-).
Work is going well this week (until this morning, we'll see how this afternoon goes), things are actually finishing and stuff... very refreshing to see happen. I'm Uber-over-commenting my matlab code for this project, at least in the intent, titling, and assumption veins- to the point of having text-art figures to describe sensor placement and sensor update patterns... if I can figure out the HTML for LJ, i'll post one of 'em.
% % Text; Figure; 1;: % Basic; Unexploded; Ordnance; Gathering; System; % Proposed; Sensor; Placement; Diagram; % (all dimensions; in; inches;) % % LFB;_________________ _________________RFB % __________________________ % | | | | % | | Front; | | % | | | | % | | | | % | | | | % LB; | | | | RB; % | | | | % | |__________________________| | % | | Sensor; 4; Sensor; 5; | | % | | [\/] [\/] | | % | | (8,4) (8,-4) | | % | | ^ | | % Sensor; 3; | |\ / \ /| | % (3,5.5) | _// | \\_ | Sensor; 6; % | \/ | \/ | (3,-5.5) % | | | % | | | % | center; * (0,0) | % | | % | Direction; of; | % | Travel; | % |_ _| % Sensor; 2; \ | | / Sensor; 7; % (-6,6.5) /_| |_\ (-6,-6.5) % | | % | | % | | % | | % | | % | Back; | % | | % | | % | | % |_______________[/\]_______| % Sensor; 1; % (-17,2) %
Woohoo! I do believe this will work. We shall see, when I post it :-).
Update: Pain in the ass thingey... the periods are NOT there in my art in the code, but LJ insists on condensing spaces to a single charater, so they look rather non-good without them.
Grand total: 10 attempts to get that damned text art to show up correctly. But it finally did.
Update 2: Thank you Elias, that worked. But DAMN that's ugly in the edit entry window....
current mood: annoyed
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| Wednesday, August 6th, 2003
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4:25 pm - Bouncing
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News from yesterday: They put my car back together, but broke one of my brakelines while doing it- making it completely and utterly unsafe to drive. However, they're not admitting they did it. If I was getting the car fixed, I'd be fighting it, and this one I'd feel more than happy fighting. But today, it's not worth it.
They called, the car is reassembled. They almost totalled it and another car because of the brake line damage. I find myself wishing that they had- then they and the insurance company would be getting me a new car. I paid what I owed them for the diagnostics ($423.50) and got the keys back. They won't charge me to keep it in their lot (prolly 'cause they broke it) for the rest of the week, which is good, 'cause I was leaving it there anyway. Got most of my crap out of it yesterday as well, but left a few major details (rearview mirror thingey, parking sticker) that I'll have to grab today or tomorrow.
However, I'm sitting here at work today bouncing around and looking for a clock that's faster and faster... I've looked at the clock more times today than I did all last two weeks combined- because Alexis comes in today. I meet her at the Metro station 'round 5:45, and I cannot wait... I can't figure out why the hours since 1:00 have gone so incredibly slow... Oh wait. I don't want to be here, there's currently nothing interesting to do that isn't also VERY frustrating, and there's a really good reason to want the end of the day. Go figure...
Anyway, the odds of me getting approval and funding for a ME 450 project from here just jumped again, so I've been writing more stuff on a proposal, this time a Sole Source Justification Form, trying to justify spending more than $2,500 without bidding out a contract to do the work/ provide the part. Hmmm... well, since the Dan 'n' Dan Design, Development 'n' Documentation Group (DnDDDnDG, also known as 5 D's 'n' a G) is willing to do the work for $2900 plus parts, is willing to put five people on it for a semester, that works out to roughly $1.50 an hour. Last time I checked, you can't even hire an illegal immigrant speaking english but with no other skills to do 3000 hrs of work at that rate. Hmmm... And for this they get 5 engineering seniors who are about to graduate from one of the best Mechanical Engineering schools in the nation. This sounds like a very wise financial move for them. Sure as hell cheaper than hiring us....
Anyway, I'm gone, as I'm picking up Alexis soonish. Shh, I know it's not time yet, but I can't wait any longer.
current mood: excited
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| Tuesday, August 5th, 2003
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8:42 am
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I can't do it. Not by myself. I can't summon a righteous fury when answers to my questions are well thought out, respectful, and logical. When they are answers that I could have given. I began to try and I felt sick- the kind of sick I feel when I'm lying to myself in some way. I could have kept it up- but if I'd gotten to superiors I prolly would have lost the breakfast I didn't eat on them. So I told them to put my car back together. Not repair. I left the office, and I cried most of the way to work (30+ min drive). And I'm still tearing up every so often now that I'm here. Tears of frustration with circumstances, tears mourning my car, tears of unhappiness at my inability to play the system in a way I know it can be played.
current mood: depressed
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| Monday, August 4th, 2003
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9:55 pm - Car Wreck 9: Misdirection
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The bloody Car Wreck Saga continues....
10:00AM Got a call from the dealership this morning after dropping the car off. They were looking for authorization to take the fuel tank off to inspect it for :::Gasp::: contaminated gas. Yeah. After the last time, when I gave them all 5 frigging work orders and reciepts and phone numbers and contact people for the last 5 times that the car's been in the shop (3 of which completed the exact same procedure they're about to do this afternoon) they didn't actually take the time to check the tank for contaminated gas. Nope. Didn't even slip their mind, they chose not to when I asked, saying that they had found the problem and the car would work now. They flat out RECOMMENDED that I not request the procedure when I mentioned that it might be wise (well, I was sick of returning to the shop every frigging two weeks), saying that they thought that they had it fixed. OK, this is beyond rediculous. However, I do feel very happy about one thing- the risk I took in buying a train ticket out to Cape Cod was entirely justified by this- the mileage since that trip has not yet reached safe levels- I would have been stranded just the other side of New York City on the way back, assuming the car had lasted exactly the same # of miles. I suspect that I'll be able to bitch my way into more than $200 in savings by having the car at the same place that fucked up the repairs the last time. Yeah.
12:30PM Talked to Karen, the dept secretary here, who has been having car problems for a while as well... Guess where she's having her VW repaired? Southern VW Subaru Oldsmobile. Yeah. The exact same place. Guess who else's car died yesterday. Gotta love it. Rediculous doesn't begin to cover it.
3:00PM Whee!! I love playing phone tag... then not getting called back when I wait for said phone call.
4:00PM $1700... and at least 4 days. Which adds another $200 for the rental car until then. I can no longer justify keeping Ugotta Mufasta Aurora (as my brother and I named my car once upon a time during a road trip to Grand Rapids). A $2000 price tag is too huge to continue this hope. I have to wander the town of Waldorf in an attempt to find a used car that I can get 2,000 reliable miles out of and get all the shit from my room home. The irony of this massive debacle is that they did finally find the real problem- the filter/screen leading into the fuel tank from the outside of the car had rusted through and was a rusted mess. The sediment that was contaminating my gas was both from the rusting metal and the sediment that this screen had captured over time. So, they need to replace the tank, the screen, several fuel lines, and some other stuff that I've already forgotten. Though apparently the fuel pump is still ok?? Yeah. Gotta love it. I can't help thinking that had I left the car at my house over 4th of July one more week, Amaco would have found this problem. Instead I wandered through two other places who didn't trust that anyone else had gotten it right, found the same non-problem, and charged me $1200 to not fix it. Rah.
8:00PM Back from the dealership(s) that I visited looking at the possibilities of purchasing a new car out here to replace my old friend. The only two options from a dealership for less than $6995 are: A 96 Ford Minivan w/ 74K miles and a 92 Pontiac w/ 131K miles. Both of these cars were $4995. R i g h t . . . I am needing a 3rd option...
9:40PM After a long and unhappy conversation with my folks, I have a plan of action. I have to go in tomorrow to the Dealership and allow my car to be expendable. I have to convince them that they fucked up (which they did) and attempt to get them to waive the $425 they are going to want to charge me for the labor they've already done. I have to raise a righteous fury when they inevitably are reluctant to do so. I have to continue going up the chain until they either give me my car back w/out charging me or volunteer to repair it without charging me any more than the $425 that I committed to be charged via the phone- AND guaranteeing that nothing else will go wrong. I have to not let myself fall into what is in this circumstance a trap- I can't be too nice. This could be a problem. In the end, unless they volunteer to fix the car, I'm S.O.L. for transportation for a while. I'm looking for a new car once I get to AA. My folks seem to have volunteered the van as a loaner car once they get out here this weekend. Woohoo! Moving back just became much easier. More later, or tomorrow.
current mood: exhausted
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| Sunday, August 3rd, 2003
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10:09 pm - Car Wreck 6: The Undiscovered Problem
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Well, it's going back again. To the shop. Tomorrow morning, bright and early, I have to try to drive my car back to the damned dealership. All the power, all the transmission, all the same damned problems are back. Again. F*&^. More about that tomorrow, whenever I find out how much this version is gonna run me. Sh^t.
In other news, I traveled to Arlington Cemetary today. I realized en route why, though my folks and Alexis and possibly my Aunt and Uncle were going to wander DC and such w/ me next week, I felt a need to make this trip alone anyway. I realized that although many many of the sights and things I'd like to do out here can be done with multiple people, and that I'd get more out of those things with the extra people. This particular site, regardless of if I visited by myself or with all of by greatest friends, is all about a personal reaction to what you see. I wanted to know and experience it for myself without distraction. It was a very interesting few hours. The changing of the guard ceremony was also interesting, very highly steeped in military tradition. I realize that without a personal connection to any of the people buried there, there was no real feel for the magnitude of the place.
I was also incredibly unhappy about the number of children running around unrestrained by their parents in the cemetary. Arlington is not a park to play in. It is hallowed ground. :::sigh::: I hope you understand what I mean.
current mood: annoyed
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| Thursday, July 24th, 2003
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10:55 am
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Yesterday was the change of command ceremony here at the NAVEODTECHDIV. I, as well as a majority of the employees here, attended via television broadcast. The ceremony was originally planned to be outside, but with the threat of thunderstorms looming, it was moved inside, to the one small auditorium on base. Hence the TVs- we didn't all fit.
As many of you may know, some of my favorite books are the adventures of Horatio Hornblower, an officer in the British Navy during the Napoleonic wars. Watching this ceremony was very interesting- it was fun seeing something that hasn't changed much at all in the last 200+ years that I'd also read about many times. I think the only thing that I found unhappy about the ceremony is that none of the participants (except for when actually giving speeches) acted as if there was an audience (no vocal projection, often turning their backs to the audience and then mumbling. In fact, it was very reminiscent of whenever you 'swear in' or some such thing a small group of people in front of a large one (this often happened at my church, so I've seen it again and again). Somehow, these people are incredibly self-conscious, worrying about how they look, what to say, what to do- and the only thing that never occurs to them is how much the audience hates having to listen to the stupid reluctant quiet mumbling that invariably comes out of their mouths...
So, I enjoyed seeing the ceremony, enjoyed the reception after (wheeeee! up to 3 hrs at a barbeque- ON THE NAVY!! (I only spent 1)) and had a generally good day yesterday- also in great part due to a certain particular someone who sent me a package w/ a CD in it, and who I got to chat with as well. ;-)
The morals of the stories? First, if you're ever in a situation of having to take a vow, be sworn in, agree to something publicly in some sort of ceremony, or other such thing- PLEASE forget the rest of the crap you're worrying about (it's not gonna matter anyway) and say what you're supposed to in a strong, confident voice loud enough for people in the middle of the audience to hear clearly (ok, the back would be better, but I'd better not expect perfection...). I know how hard it is to do- when I was ordained as a Deacon in my church in West Bloomfield, I was the only person 'sworn in' during that service. Everyone else was ordained in a relatively large group. There was nowhere to hide, so step up and do it. Second, send me packages and chat with me and visit me!! It makes me happy. :-)
Incidentally, someone just checked a thermometer... it's 59 degrees right now- inside my office.
current mood: cold
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| Monday, July 21st, 2003
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11:35 am - Things you never even thought you might see...
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I just watched a pair of 50 something year old fat balding engineers duct tape training wheels to one of their co-worker's brand new motorcycle, take several digital photos, and practically giggle and bounce their way back into the building.
Just thought I should share...
current mood: amused
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| Thursday, July 17th, 2003
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6:45 pm - Car Wreck 8: Last Contact?
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I picked up my car today from dealership #2 (ran me $820) and returned the rental car (that was a major relief). So far, the car seems to be behaving well. It feels odd, but it most definitely could have something to do with my car actually being able to accelerate. The POS I was driving took nearly 15 seconds to go 0-60, while the Aurora can do it in 6-8 (dunno, never timed it).
During the course of today and tomorrow we'll figure out if it's fixed, or if it's just faking it like it has the last few times :-). Oh well.
All I can do is wait and hope.
current mood: hopeful
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| Tuesday, July 15th, 2003
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3:15 pm - Car Wreck 7: Degenerations
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It ain't over 'till the fat lady sings?
Didn't post yesterday 'cause there was very little that actually changed yesterday... I noticed after I posted that among the rental car's other stellar qualities, there's a little bit of half-assed odometer fraud being attempted- the car has 137,000 miles on it, but you can only tell that when you're sitting in the passenger seat. From the driver's seat, there's this tiny little piece of electrical tape blocking the 1... yeah. So, during those short intervals that the odometer is lit (being digital), it appears that the car has 37,000 miles on it. Nice...
I went into the dealership yesterday to inquire about a loaner car, as not driving this rental would make me happier. They don't have 'em, but they were finishing the first barrage of tests on my car. They say this time it's not the fuel pump and fuel filter. This time it's the Fuel injectors. At $167.99 or so apiece, this was not particularly happy news, but such is life. Yay for having a V-8. But they weren't done with testing, so they couldn't give me a solid estimate, nor were they sure of anything.
I got the phone call this morning early, and they said (to my relief) that not all of the injectors were dead. Only 4. So, for another $744.00 investment into my car, they can fix it. Ya know, it's pretty sad when I considered almost all of that good news. Good that the fuel pump seems to be holding up, good that the repair is a different one, good that the repair is slated to be less expensive than the last one, good that the gas that they see getting to the engine compartment is good gas (not contaminated at all). Yeah. Especially after playing with the Kelley Blue Book values for my car... that was rather depressing. I will have paid more to repair this than it's supposedly worth. That was an unhappy thought. BUT, if this works (gah- hate the 'if') then my car should be ok. It only has to last one more extended trip (Waldorf to Ann Arbor this August) then it'll be easier 'cause it's just for around town. I can spend the next few months looking at new cars, and take whatever they'll give me for the trade in. I do really love that car, but I think by now I've learned to beware of love not returned... Dang it! Why couldn't my car have been nice and lasted 5,000 more miles... That would have been everything that I needed to gradumatate. Oh well.
PS: I didn't use Car Wreck 6 yet 'cause I didn't have a good way to spoof it today. Suggestions are welcome, and even encouraged.
current mood: bored
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