Many of my fellow classmates have this idea of what constitutes "their job" within their current employment. The idea that their boss tells them to do something (duties as assigned) that they feel/believe is beneath them.
Now.
I've had a million and two odd and various jobs; nothing was or is beneath me. There might have been things I did not want to, or did not care to do, but beneath me, no.
This also plays into the current job market and the impending graduation. I would love to get my dream job, with my dream salary, in my dream city, and have life be all daydreams and daisies.
The reality is, I am planning to move back home for at least the summer until a job pans out. Even if I do have a job upon graduation, I will still be living at home for at least the summer. (assuming job is in home city.)
However, I am prepared for no job, no income, no dream. I am well prepared to take a job at Starbucks, as a janitor cleaning toilets, or working as a fry cook in the local greasy spoon and any number of various dry good and sundry jobs that come with money.
My fellow classmates do not have this same perspective or reality. Job cleaning toilets? Job making $10 an hour (with any luck)..?!?!? Absolutely not.
Granted many of these classmates have parents who are willing, able, and happy to take care, pay for, and supplement any income for.
I do not. My parents are willing to help me out, live at home "rent free" (rent will be paid in chores) and helping out financially in other ways until I have an income coming in, but I can guarantee that they, as well as I, expect me to get a job of some kind (if available) and contribute in some form.
This would be the same idea of something I posted about a few years ago: I did not have a summer job, I had a job. (gee golly gosh, I've been in the work force (legally) for 20 years. (illegally) for 26 (thanks, babysitting.)
So. Where did this sense, idea, of entitlement come from and more importantly, how can we make it go away?
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
inner dork: The history of toilet paper
Because OMC is a demanding little bugger:
I give you, the history of toilet paper:
Did you know…
Before the invention of toilet paper as we know it, people used fur, grass, leaves, their hands. (side note: this is why in some cultures the left hand is considered unclean. I will leave it at that.) (Because they use their left hand…) (In case it wasn’t clear.)
The ancient Greeks used stones and pieces of clay; ancient Romans used sponges on the ends of sticks, kept in jugs filled with salty water. (Cause that seems clean and as if it wouldn’t lead to other diseases or anything.)
Toilet paper as paper dates back at least to the late 14th Century, when Chinese emperors ordered it in 2-foot x 3-foot sheets. (Goodness that’s big.)
Corncobs were next (youch!) and then, of course the Sears cateloug (cause I like to shop while…you know…) (Which, why do people bring reading material into the bathroom? I am never in there for any length of time to warrant this. Which maybe that's the reason I don't understand it...)
Joseph C. Gayetty of New York started producing the first packaged toilet paper in the U.S. in 1857. It consisted of pre-moistened flat sheets medicated with aloe and was named "Gayetty’s Medicated Paper". Gayetty's name was printed on every sheet. (Now that’s advertising.)
Rolled and perforated toilet paper was invented around 1880. It can be attributed to the Albany Perforated Wrapping (A.P.W.) Paper Company in 1877, and to the Scott Paper company in 1879 or 1890. On a side note, the Scott Company was too embarrassed to put their name on their product, as the concept of toilet paper was a sensitive subject at the time, so they customized it for their customers... hence the Waldorf Hotel became a big name in toilet paper. (I had no idea!)
In 1935, Northern Tissue advertised "splinter-free" toilet paper. (Holy smokers! I would have thought that by 1935, this “issue of the tissue” (I just came up with that) would have solved.
In 1942, St. Andrew's Paper Mill in Great Britain introduced two-ply toilet paper (those fancy Brits)
America experienced its first toilet paper shortage in 1973. (Because…..???)
Now, we have double-ply...which I keep forgetting I buy, therefore, I'm really not eliminating any waste (pun was not intended) because I keep using the same amount.
I knew some of this, but not all of this, so thanks: http://www.nobodys-perfect.com/vtpm/ExhibitHall/Informational/tphistory.html
For providing the info I did not know.
OMC, you’ve finally been dorked! How does it feel?
I give you, the history of toilet paper:
Did you know…
Before the invention of toilet paper as we know it, people used fur, grass, leaves, their hands. (side note: this is why in some cultures the left hand is considered unclean. I will leave it at that.) (Because they use their left hand…) (In case it wasn’t clear.)
The ancient Greeks used stones and pieces of clay; ancient Romans used sponges on the ends of sticks, kept in jugs filled with salty water. (Cause that seems clean and as if it wouldn’t lead to other diseases or anything.)
Toilet paper as paper dates back at least to the late 14th Century, when Chinese emperors ordered it in 2-foot x 3-foot sheets. (Goodness that’s big.)
Corncobs were next (youch!) and then, of course the Sears cateloug (cause I like to shop while…you know…) (Which, why do people bring reading material into the bathroom? I am never in there for any length of time to warrant this. Which maybe that's the reason I don't understand it...)
Joseph C. Gayetty of New York started producing the first packaged toilet paper in the U.S. in 1857. It consisted of pre-moistened flat sheets medicated with aloe and was named "Gayetty’s Medicated Paper". Gayetty's name was printed on every sheet. (Now that’s advertising.)
Rolled and perforated toilet paper was invented around 1880. It can be attributed to the Albany Perforated Wrapping (A.P.W.) Paper Company in 1877, and to the Scott Paper company in 1879 or 1890. On a side note, the Scott Company was too embarrassed to put their name on their product, as the concept of toilet paper was a sensitive subject at the time, so they customized it for their customers... hence the Waldorf Hotel became a big name in toilet paper. (I had no idea!)
In 1935, Northern Tissue advertised "splinter-free" toilet paper. (Holy smokers! I would have thought that by 1935, this “issue of the tissue” (I just came up with that) would have solved.
In 1942, St. Andrew's Paper Mill in Great Britain introduced two-ply toilet paper (those fancy Brits)
America experienced its first toilet paper shortage in 1973. (Because…..???)
Now, we have double-ply...which I keep forgetting I buy, therefore, I'm really not eliminating any waste (pun was not intended) because I keep using the same amount.
I knew some of this, but not all of this, so thanks: http://www.nobodys-perfect.com/vtpm/ExhibitHall/Informational/tphistory.html
For providing the info I did not know.
OMC, you’ve finally been dorked! How does it feel?
reflection
I've thought about this often, but finally feel the need to write it out; remember when this blog was funny and insightful? Full of clever and witty moments and comments?
Okay, so maybe that is a bit high on myself, but you know what I mean. I feel like I have been such a Debbie Downer and Negative Nelly as of late. Late being the last year..or so... I know and understand that things change, making people change. Or people change, therefore, things change, which, it what has happened with me. But, still. I'm ready for it to change back. Which, I know I can control, to a certain extent, and not to the other extent, but I am ready for things to change. For the better. Nay, the best.
I guess there isn't really a point to this point, just that, yes, I've notice it too, and I'm working on it.
Okay, so maybe that is a bit high on myself, but you know what I mean. I feel like I have been such a Debbie Downer and Negative Nelly as of late. Late being the last year..or so... I know and understand that things change, making people change. Or people change, therefore, things change, which, it what has happened with me. But, still. I'm ready for it to change back. Which, I know I can control, to a certain extent, and not to the other extent, but I am ready for things to change. For the better. Nay, the best.
I guess there isn't really a point to this point, just that, yes, I've notice it too, and I'm working on it.
Monday, February 02, 2009
a moment to vent
Okay, so, we got our comp exam schedule (March 30 and 31, eck!) and, in doing my part, I followed-up with my "advisor" to remind him that I need to take my exams alone, per the no contact order.
His response?
That I would be taking the exam in another room on the third floor, and my fellow classmates would be taking the exam in a room on the third floor as well, but he felt comfortable that I would not come into contact with BJ.
Um, are you fucking kidding me?
So, instead of doing the email back and forth thing, I just called him to get an explanation. Classmates will be on the third floor and the room they want to put me in should (keyword) be moved to the basement (of the same building) come exam day. Again, he felt sure that I would not come into contact with my fellow classmates. He, of course, could not guarantee this, but he felt sure.
I did not. I explained this. It was clear I was not getting anywhere. So. I very eloquent email off to the crisis counselor, who shared my thoughts and feelings. Let's see where this goes.
I am so fucking tired and frustrated. The very fact that I had to follow-up. I was afraid of this kind of "accommodation" from the very beginning. The fact that my "advisor" talked to me as if I was a problem and being unreasonable. The fact that I am still dealing with and talking about it.
ARGH!
I am SO tired of this school, of this town, of the people, of the program, of this place. I am doing my best to make the most out of my last months, but truly, the bad, horrible, no good days have SO, SO, SO outweighed the good, that really, has it been worth it? Did I make the biggest mistake of my life by quitting my job and coming here? Who knows and time will tell, but truly, this is another stupid and frustrating situation that simply did not need to happen, which has been the theme of this journey called grad school.
Vent, over.
His response?
That I would be taking the exam in another room on the third floor, and my fellow classmates would be taking the exam in a room on the third floor as well, but he felt comfortable that I would not come into contact with BJ.
Um, are you fucking kidding me?
So, instead of doing the email back and forth thing, I just called him to get an explanation. Classmates will be on the third floor and the room they want to put me in should (keyword) be moved to the basement (of the same building) come exam day. Again, he felt sure that I would not come into contact with my fellow classmates. He, of course, could not guarantee this, but he felt sure.
I did not. I explained this. It was clear I was not getting anywhere. So. I very eloquent email off to the crisis counselor, who shared my thoughts and feelings. Let's see where this goes.
I am so fucking tired and frustrated. The very fact that I had to follow-up. I was afraid of this kind of "accommodation" from the very beginning. The fact that my "advisor" talked to me as if I was a problem and being unreasonable. The fact that I am still dealing with and talking about it.
ARGH!
I am SO tired of this school, of this town, of the people, of the program, of this place. I am doing my best to make the most out of my last months, but truly, the bad, horrible, no good days have SO, SO, SO outweighed the good, that really, has it been worth it? Did I make the biggest mistake of my life by quitting my job and coming here? Who knows and time will tell, but truly, this is another stupid and frustrating situation that simply did not need to happen, which has been the theme of this journey called grad school.
Vent, over.
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