0838L 10 June 2004

Back at home from a few days on the road. I had pasted a ton of comments into Mr Shinny Shoes post only to have some kind of interruption in my internet connection and lose a ton of it. Save early and often! Now I'm unable to edit that part of my blog from work since is the shiny shoes post has too many naughty words and our security prevents viewing of that page. Hopefully later tonight I can catch up on that. I'll be out of town (Texas for a wedding) over the weekend and probably not post until I'm back. Yesterday I spent several hours traveling with a new person from work. It was funny, we were both very considerate and courteous but the more we talked the less I liked this guy. I'm guilty of being pretty good at empathizing, finding elements in what people say that I can agree with and generally making them think we agree or that I relate to what they're saying especially when it's a largely superficial relationship in which one is simply trying to make things pleasant out of professional courtesy or since you stuck together due to the situation, might as well make the best of it. I'm not sure it's the best way to handle people, then tend to tell you more, often enough to confirm you don't really like them and then you're stuck for the duration. Perhaps if I was more dogmatic, asserting some inflexible and unpopular position right off the bat, people would dislike me and reserve their opinions for the sake of avoiding conflict and saving me the effort of disliking them and I could operate in ignorant bliss convinced the world sees it my way. If you can't tell, I'm starting to entertain myself with this blog today. Anyway here are my gripes about this dude:

- Does't buy american cars (I should discuss my opinions on this some point, I'm not a blind devotee to the UAW or anything like that)
- Thinks all wheel drive is cool
- Offered multiple "perks" - golf at the town's nicest country club, tickets to sporting events - I'm a customer to him
- Always added a suspicious caveat to descriptions of involvement with his kids in the Boyscouts..."I'be never been a big advocate..."
- Was excited about a big screen TV
- Paid someone to finish his basement rather than do it himself
- Lacked a sense of urgency regarding the work at hand
- Too many casual comments like "...well my wife wanted to do this instead so we did..." The guy never overtly expressed anything negative about the woman but he sure made it clear he had some resentment and he seemed like he had been broken, now just seeking the path of least resistance
- He was unneccesarily fearful of thunderstorms
- He didn't like hot weather
- Pretty sure he didn't have soul and I know he clearly was not funky whatsoever
- Is a laywer

currently in me 'ead: "git up, stand up" by Bob Marley from "best of"