Handbasketeer's ramblings

Change

2009-06-08T03:11:51Z

I need to find a new apartment. But I'm too lazy. At least I've already told my complex that I'm not coming back, so thats a step in the right direction.

I need to find other things. But I'm too lazy. Haven't even tried.

Validated

2009-02-16T15:04:55Z

I wonder a lot if I made the right decision. By decision, I mean all of the big ones . Like for the past 7.5 years.

Its funny how something relatively simple vindicates and validates you.

Disgusting

2008-06-22T03:30:25Z

Its a daily struggle to stay neat. My apartment is so disorganized. My desk at work is strewn with random crap. I just don't care, about anything really.

Spend all night cleaning my apartment? Go to the office in the morning and do the same ... maybe ...

Fate, redux

2008-04-11T23:25:51Z

Then again.

There are a ton of things that are out of our control.

Maybe there is fate. Its sometimes comforting to believe that there is a higher power up there. Giving and taking, and such.

Sometimes its all we have, a little faith in fate.

Fate?

2008-03-27T21:05:38Z

I don't believe in fate.

You are given the ability and the opportunity to get what you need. If you really need it, there is a way.

That is sort of a tautology. Defining needs by what is available.

So lets try that again.

Anything that can be said "it was fate", is really just (to me) someone making a logical fallacy.

Like for instance lottery winners : "it was one in 80 million, I was lucky and it was fate that I won". NO, SORRY. Someone gets to be the one, even though everyone's odds are terrible!

Or: "it was fate that I found X!! " (X being a person, job, the proverbial brass ring, your long lost uncle, etc.)

An opportunity came, you had the ability to get it, and the desire to actually do something about it. In fact the opportunity only came because you had the ability to put yourself in the right place, go back a few levels. At some point you reach a butterfly effect though (if I hadn't built that sandcastle when I was 13, I wouldn't have met Bill Clinton).

For instance:

This job. I got this exxon job because:

I had lots of interviews before hand, so I was cool and collected when I came to Fairfax. I had all these interviews on campus (including XOM) because I went to Purdue and had a good GPA. I had a good GPA because I'm a great test taker. Thanks to decathlon. I joined decathlon because I'm clever and competitive (my abilities). I went to Purdue because its in state, and was a great engineering school. I stayed instate because I'm cheap.

So because I'm a clever competitive cheapskate (this whole post is an excuse to get to that alliteration) I'm here today.

So not fate. (yes I skipped a lot more little steps in that, but this is just a thought. And excuse for alliteration

Purdue

2008-03-06T02:33:54Z

I went to Purdue a few weeks ago.

It was great.

I miss college.

No longer a big fish.

2008-03-03T04:02:38Z

I'm going to post here a little more often.

Its not like a ton of people come through here, but you know its nice to type.

Last week was a hectic week of work. The most productive of the new year. Which feels good.

So often I feel like the proverbially big fish in a little pond (back in e-town) that moved to the lake (Purdue) and was still a big fish. So I got cocky and moved to the frickin' ocean and I might just get eaten. I'm generally lost and dazed and confused at work, about a lot of things.

Its my own fault. I was able to direct my energies where and when I wanted them in E-town. I was able to turn it up 'to eleven' when necessary at Purdue to save myself. Here I feel like I can't even find out how to turn it on.

Working here is good for me though. Life is too short to never get burned.

should post

2008-01-31T07:13:48Z

I haven't posted in a long time.

I work for ExxonMobil.

The bigger they are ...

2006-12-01T20:00:02Z

The more they F****** want to hire me!!!!!

I have a job offer from ExxonMobil. Largest. Most Profitable. Company. Ever.

I have a job offer from Arcelor Mittal. Which is the largest steel company in world.

So that was my problem all along. I was messing around with the little guys.

I officially kick ass.

Back from Buffalo

2006-11-15T14:56:59Z

I went to Buffalo Sunday and Monday for Praxair.
I went to Fairfax, VA a couple weeks ago for ExxonMobil.

Hopefully I'll get a job soonish.

Eh,

K G

ExxonMobil !!

2006-10-19T22:17:28Z

I have an onsite interview with ExxonMobil in a couple of weeks.

Makes my fricking day.

Kiran gets to fly to DC!!!

I guess I don't hate interviews that much.

I fricking hate ...

2006-10-15T04:14:08Z

I hate interview bullshit.

I hate the fact that I won't get a job offer from a major corporation, because my interview skills are very very poor. A 'great' interview for me, is average for ... well average people. And well one has to be decidedly above average to have a shot.

Worst of all ... I don't see any chance at salvation. I just have to hope that I can get lucky TWICE, with the same company.

Ugh ...

Interviews are going to kill me.

Interview-licious

2006-10-06T01:34:39Z

I've had lots and lots of interview this week. And in the past couple weeks:

ATK, Shell, Praxair, BP, IBM, Caterpillar, Halliburton ... before today.

Air Liquide, ExxonMobil, Armstrong World Industries ... today.

Samsung, Rohm & Haas, Exelon Nuclear ... tomorrow.

More next week.

Thats the nice thing about going to Purdue. Horribly large companies ... come here to interview us.

Updating

2006-09-13T01:49:55Z

I like never update because ... no one ever comments

Actually its more like the fact that I'm very very lazy. Frigteningly lazy.

I have a couple interviews this week, which is stellar.

I out to be doing work.

Job!

2006-04-25T00:20:53Z

I got a job.

I'll be working at Mittler Supply this summer in southern South Bend. Sure I'll be making a dollar less an hour than last summer, and driving 3 times as far. However this job seems way more rewarding and I'll feel a hell of a lot more useful. I won't feel like I'm rotting like I did at Geocel. I'll be doing the lab technician work of a lady who will be going on maternity leave.

It'll get me out of Elkhart consistently enough. Thats cool.

So I feel a lot lot better.

Spring!

2006-03-21T04:34:21Z

Its officially spring.

Wow!

I am still without a job for the summer, looks like I'll be stuck working in a factory ... that'll be depressing.

So Break ... was entertaining.

Went to Michigan City, had a little side trip that night to Allendale via Bridgman.

Went to Maple Cafe and McNaughton Park, had some quality Hipshear time. Drove home in the rain with froggies in the road.

Had a Grolsch with Nik, spent Sunday out and about with my sis. Went to the 'steak and shake'.

Spent a significant amount of time failing at job whoring. More steak and shake, visited Nik at the IUSB library and watched some A & E on Napolean. Bonaparte kicks ass!

Got some new tires on the car, its a lot happier.

Thursday I went to Kalamazoo and talked to their biz school and then up to Nora. Friday I went downtown to talk at the GVSU biz school ... yeah going straight to getting my MBA is probably not a good idea. I'm going to have to get a real job after graduation.

Ate some Ethiopian food, went to Peppino's for someone's birthday. got a hair cut. Bought some Crown Royal snifters. I love lamp.

Concerning February the thirteenth

2006-03-02T18:29:22Z

On 2-13-06 I took two exams. One in a chemical engineering class at 7:20 in the morning. The other in an elective at 7 at night. Two exam mondays are usually no fun.

I aced both exams that day.

Evidently February thirteenth was one of the greatest days in my life. Just wish I had known it at the time.

Spring semesters are so so much better than fall semesters.

Sad how something like that, pretty much made the month for me.

P.S. February the thirteenth happens to also have been a semi-anniversary of one of the other great days in my life. Funny how those things work.

handbasketeer @ 2006-02-11T13:14:00

2006-02-11T18:12:44Z

<td align="center"> kiran --
[adjective]:

Sexually stunning

'How will you be defined in the dictionary?' at QuizGalaxy.com</td>

Garrison

2006-01-31T23:45:22Z

I lost my post about the weekend.

Nora came down here.
We saw Garrison Keillor, we ate at the Akropolis. Went to goodwill, and I bought some bitchin' plates. Had some triple X.

Good times.

I hungry.

Break

2006-01-10T01:55:26Z

Break was wonderful. Well sort of.

Got ditched at the beginning.
Went to Chicago, I likey the Sci&Ind Museum.
Went to Benton Harbor and ate at IHOP.
Went to Church, oddly enough.
Played pool on Christmas.
Ice skating.
Went to a party at Tonys.
Parents had an anniversary.
They dragged me to Chicago.
New Years at the Egginks then the Catalinos
Went to Kalamazoo for a movie
Went bowling
Ate at a pretty cool sandwich shop in Delphi
Kalamazoo again at the end of break, to go to a museum and such

fun times!

leaving

2005-12-18T21:02:48Z

That semester is done with.

I guess I ought to go home now.

Nora didn't come down here. So sad. So no Indianapolis.

I'll miss purdue this break. This apartment is more of a home than the dorms ever were.

To elkhart, I guess.

Finals approaches

2005-12-07T14:30:32Z

I can't wait for this semester to end. Its been hell. When its over, it'll be so so good. Then again finals weeks have never really really bothered me, unless the final for my worst class is at the end of the week. This semester it is at the beginning. So life is peachy after that. Just kill myself for all 4 other finals, which I am used to doing. Going into my shell and coming out tired and a step closer to death, but generally after saving myself from myself; which is a good thing.

Nora might come down right after finals, that will be a happy occasion. I miss our adventures.

Perhaps I shall extend and edit this entry later today. I'm late for class!

Thanksgiving?!?!

2005-11-28T06:28:20Z

I didn't go to the IU the weekend before thanksgiving. I felt mildly Ill. Considering I didn't get any work done. That was a bad choice.

I went home for Thanksgiving on Monday. However I did not tell my mother this until I was halfway home, and had plans for the evening. If I call her BEFORE I leave, I would be told to pick up 'A' from lafayette, and 'B' from South Bend. Thus having to come home to refrigerate these things. Thus not being able to do anything with my Monday evening. Which would make coming home a day early ... pointless.

But I am clever, and so Nik and I went to the 24 hour diner next to IUSB. Good times.

Tuesday I spent the early part of the day with my sister.
Tuesday night I watched "I walk the Line" in an undisclosed location.

Wednesday I spent a very large part of the day with Nora. Long enough that she left her purple gloves in my car.

Wednesday evening I ate at the Hacienda with Tony, Anthony, Randall, Felipe, Erin, Mr. Matt Stubbs, Drew Monger, so on and so forth I have a bad memory so I can't remember all of them.

I ended up napping in Jay Anderson's basement that night. I can't explain myself.

On Thanksgiving I went and played pool for the first time in a long time. I won a game while largely being on the phone. I am proud of that. Nik and I played some boggle which was a relief. I miss boggle.

We went to Pat's . He gave us some beer education. It was a good thing. His home brew is quality.

Friday, Nik and I went downtown and everybody was there. Cathie ... was seen. Eric Meckley and I finally had some face time. We played 'tri-bond' ... this is something Nik and I could get quite competitive at. It could get ugly. Came back to the Callahans. Gotta love Callahans. I gave Brian Simons the idea of getting a squirrel tatooed on his upper thigh.

Saturday for lunch I went to Sunrise with Pat and Alisha, without Nik. That afternoon I went to Sarah's and saw her for the first time in a long while. Like 4 years. Her mother compared me and my hat and hair to Bob Dylan.

Home again in Lafayette ...

Goodnight!

Dancing porcupine

2005-11-15T19:50:11Z

I went to a brass quintet concert on Friday. They had a sixth member for awhile though, I was very confused. Some lady read mediocre poetry in monotone, that made it a bad idea. It gave me a headache. Fortunately the evening was saved by a dancing tuba.

I went to the zoo. There was a dancing porcupine who was very very insane. Thing was he wasn't behind the glass that said 'porcupine' , that was empty. He was with the flying squirrel, which concerns me. If the zoo can't keep the animals in their respective glass units, what about the animals outside ... they are prone to simply busting out. There was also a psychotic wolverine who ran in circles, practically forever.

EDIT: Nora is correct. the wolverine was clearly prancing. And quite demented.

There were lots of leaves outside the zoo. A pile was made. Jumping occurred. My keys were lost. Had to come back like 2 hours later for them. Ate at Mr. Burger afterwards.

Watched the Wizard of Oz. I had never noticed how flaming the Tin man is. I had always assumed that the cowardly lion was the gayest one, clearly not.

I hate this semester

2005-11-07T17:47:43Z

I hate fall semesters. They suck beyond words.

The first one I felt like a miserable failure. I was really quite torn apart. I turned out fine from it, got a decent GPA and all that ... yet ... life still sucked , hard.

The second fall semester here. I got caught for minor consumption. If that doesn't ruin a semester, nothing does. Academically I was fine. However, I was pretty damn unhappy with everything.

This semester, outside of academics is a precent happy semester. Academically its atrocious. If grades came out right now ... I might not have any As. Considering that my life has been essentially school centric for the past 15 years, with the exception of the past couple of summers and winter breaks ... That is devastating.

Within academics there is a little special class of hell: fluids. Fluids , I hate more than practically anything. More than I hate Notre Dame (and that is saying something). It has practically single handedly caused me to really really not want to be a chemical engineer anymore. I actually wanted to be a chemE; not anymore. I will get this degree, use it for a few years till I can get a degree in something I actually want to do ... and then live a healthy existence in something rational.

I'm not asking for sympathy. I was the dumbass who picked this major. I just wanted to say:

I really really need this semester to end. Since I just don't give a damn anymore.