Weird Al's Back..."White and Nerdy"

Weird Al is back and taking on the rap game once more (remember "Amish Paradise" in 2000?). He kicks off this week with a new video parody of the 26 year old Hip Hop Artist Chamillionaire's multi-platinum hit, "Ridin'," and turns it "White and Nerdy". The spoof has received a positive response from the artist saying:
 
"The Weird Al parody definitely gives 'Ridin' the mega-record status. He's done parodies for the biggest mega-stars in the game, and to put me in that category is crazy when you think about the fact that, less than a year ago, I was a new artist to the mainstream."

It's good to know he's still got game...for a white boy.

Nightmare: Face Your Fear

This is a short film written and directed by Timothy Haskell, the creator of the newest and hottest attraction in NYC... NIGHTMARE: FACE YOUR FEAR. 

 

The movie is 6 mins. 27 secs. long. Make sure to turn your speakers up (it's vital in the end). For those of you who haven't yet ventured into this modern day experience of haunted houses, check out their website and see what it's all about. I, and a few of my friends, are planning to go very soon. I'll let you know about the experience, whether it's worth it and/or if you have to be warned to empty your bladder beforehand.

Yayy me!

I got the job! I got the freakin' job! How awesome is that. After much trial and tribulation (and I'll admit, even a little doubt) it finally came to light. If you only understood how much this was needed at this time in my life, and how I was almost at my wit's end, then you would understand my elation.

It all started with a phone call on my cell at 10am today:
Hello....
(him and I exchange pleasantries)
"Are you still looking for work?"
"Yeaaaah".
"Do you still wanna work at CNET."
"Yeaaaah".
"Well, I have great news...you've got the job! Are you excited?"
"Yeah, but I'm trying to keep my composure right now".

There was more conversation afterwards, but it's all semantics right now. LOL. All I can say is, I've never heard an employer sound so happy to give such good news to was once just a prospect. Usually it's a generic, somewhat monotone, and dry "You got the job. Come in on such and such a date" and that's the gist of it. I mean, he even did a "woohoo" on the phone. Come on. LOL.

So, of course, after our conversation I e-mailed everyone the great news. Two minutes after I sent the e-mail I get a call from one of my friends who opens not with a hello, but with a "Fuck yeah you got the job!" To which I replied, "I just sent out the e-mail out 2 minutes ago, you read it already?!" She says, "No, Julia read it and texted me the news. So I told Jen (another one of our friends) I had to hang up because Julz just got the job!" After I finished my conversation with my friend I called my mom at work. While on the phone with her I heard her say aloud "My Baby got the job, my baby got the job!" In the background I could faintly hear, "Congratulations!" and "YESSS, I knew she would." Then e-mails of congrats from everyone else, one of note saying, "WOOHOO...way to go sexy! made my day I can only imagine how you are feeling right about now! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU lol".

This is the kind of support I have and I wouldn't trade it for the world. With that said, I won't have to drink out of sorrow or disappointment like I had originally intended before this, but instead to celebrate.

So, starts my new venture and, finally, a career. Also, a way out of all the current mess and a beginning to my life at last. Wish me luck!

Here's To Second Chances

I just received some interesting news that I had to share. As you already know, I didn't get the Labs Technician position at CNET. However, I received a call from them today telling me that another job is available, with the same title just with a different focus on responsibilities. Then he asked if I was still interested. Well....DUH yeah I'm still interested! I'm still unemployed after all, nothing's changed since the final interview. It was explained to me that the reason I didn't get the job wasn't because of anything I did. They hired a guy who just happened to have done contract work with them long before. Furthermore, I was one of the two for whom they wanted to hire and had the best qualifications for, but because he had worked there before he had the edge.

What followed, of course, was my potential boss having to call my references (ALL 6 of them) to verify my character and work ethic. However, I didn't realize he was going to do it 2 hours after our conversation same day. I mean, I was still in the process of giving every one of my references the heads up. LOL.

So, one by one, my references were contacting me through different mediums--texting, e-mail, and IM--telling me they just got "the call". I couldn't help but laugh. While I was on Yahoo IM with one person, I received a cell text from another. I told that person "I'll brb 'cause I'm texting back my other reference who also said she just received "the call". Then after I finished texting her, I went back on IM with him, then my e-mail notifier showed up with a message from another person saying she too received "the call".

So, it became a windfall of everyone telling me their experience talking to the man in charge of hiring me. With all that said, we will see what comes of this next week.

Stage 4 - Incomplete

I interviewed for a Labs Technician position recently. The whole process took two weeks to complete (by the stages described in the previous post). Today I find out I didn't get the job. I wonder what was the definitive nail in the coffin that sealed this decision.

Anyway, the news of course was a blow, but I'll get over it. Although, my mom and some of my friends will freak. They wanted it more than anything for me, saying "You're gonna get it, we know you will." What's funny is one friend of mine said, "I'm going to go on a hunger strike and also be celibate until you get the job!" Now I guess I can tell him he's free to eat food and pussy...well, until the next time I go on a job interview that is. LOL.

I will say this however, this was the ONE job I actually wanted to interview and get. It was a step towards bigger and better things; validation, motivation, security, challenge -- a position I could finally say "I actually wanted this job and I like it." So I guess it's back to square one. I may have to settle, yet again, for the sake of making ends (barely) meet. If I don't, let me tell you, my new address may be the backyard of a bodega.

AHHHHHH, This sucks! Wasted time and effort.

*On a different matter...let us have a moment of silence for those lost on 9/11. R.I.P. and much love to the families whom are still grieving, for everyday is a reminder of the senseless violence that still continues to this day and still screams for a resolution.*

Help Wanted

Has anyone noticed how contrived (and I am using this in the right context) the interview process has become lately? With what I've learned recently from a friend, and what I've personally experienced is how lengthy and thorough the process is. Almost to the point of frustration and torture:

Stage 1 - Pre-screen phone interview
Stage 2 - RL (Real Life) Interview complete with mapped out questions 4 to 6 pages long and 2 hours time
Stage 3 - Interview with senior staff, and lastly awaiting to see if you finish the lap at...
Stage 4 - The Hire.

Back in the day it was pretty much as simple as it could get:

Stage 1 - you get the call to interview and
Stage 2- yes/no within in the week...done (sometimes blending together and ends up being only 1 Stage).

My previous employs were based mainly on cashiering or working with children, however I've been changing my direction since. Which I guess has been my M.O.....well, since I started working 17 yrs ago. Job titles held before goes as follows:

Jane of all trades in a (old school) Printing Shop
Teacher's Ass't
Administrative Ass't
Public Relations Staff Ass't
Off Broadway Director's Ass't
Sous Chef
After-school Program Counselor
Trip Coordinator/Youth Counselor
Cashier @ Madison Square Garden
Cashier @ high end clothing boutique
Web Content Manager
Freelance PC Hardware/Software Troubleshooter...

In that order. Oh, and did I mention, I'm only 27 years old?! Yeah...I know, but you have to understand that I've been working since I was 10 years old and literally worked for my "allowance". Growing up, I never knew what I really wanted to do or be in life (not that I know now). I just went with what was expected of me and didn't take the time to find myself during.

I've always been described as the "restless" one, forever wandering aimlessly to who knows where. My explanation? I don't know. Boredom? Wanting to see and know more than what I already knew or where I've already been. I don't think I'm alone on this, although I've never met anyone in the same boat as myself as of yet. My friends, as well as people I've met along the way, have their act pretty much together and have their degrees in their respective fields. I don't have a degree in shit to be honest. Everything I've done and everywhere I've worked has been through my own laurels. Not once have I said "I can't do that."

"If you can teach me, great. If you can't, then I'll learn it on my own."

I guess that's the survivor quality I possess as well. When you don't have much in life, then it's only natural (or should be) to wanna be above all that and dust yourself off. Start anew, if you will, on where it is you wanna go, or who you really wanna be, and if you can be content with that, or at least happy as to the direction you are heading towards. Ending it all with a big "F%^K YOU" to those who doubted you (expletives withstanding).

Ode to Daddy

Running from which he help create

Excluding himself from the picture

Said "It's Not Mine"

Poor excuse for they were each other's first

One night of passion led to a lifetime blessed event
Not to him for he couldn't accept it

She didn't recognize him anymore

In all the time they shared she thought it would last forever

Believing it was another's though she was faithful

Ignorance, belligerence and denial from this moment

Led to her indignation and mistrust for years to come

Ignoring the advice of friends to be the MAN he use to be

Today, once again a father and again he runs

You know who you are!

*Written and Copyrighted in 1998*

To Blog or Not To Blog

Now here's the problem with me joining the "blog-o-sphere": I am, by heart, old-fashioned when it comes to writing (hence the word writing). Does anyone remember how good it felt when an idea popped into your head, or when you just had to write in your diary about what happened that day?! You begin to feverishly scribble on that piece of paper, hoping that your hand can catch up with your mind as its racing through tons of information and ideas, hoping u don't forget.

"WRITE FASTER DAMN YOU....FASTER!"

It was sometimes frustrating, but worth it when you saw the end result. Which then leads me to this thought--With all the present advances that are incorporated into basic word processing applications you really don't have to think about whether or not you've put the appropriate syntax, or if you spelled something wrong, etc. So in essence, it should be easy enough to produce, at least, a coherent sentence if nothing else....right? You'd think so. However, in my experience in "talking" with people on the web or reading forums, some people still type these monosyllabic, incoherent, gibberish-ridden entries. I'm not asking you to be a poet or a published writer. I also understand about the techno-ese verbiage on the web, that's fine I do it too. But shit, at least make sense so that I, and others, can understand WTF U TALKIN' 'BOUT!

So ends my first "blog" pushed forth into the web for you to see, critique, comment on and blah, blah, blah. They're not ALL gonna be gems, self-realizing pieces or change the world motifs....they're just words that needed somewhere to go.