Monday, October 30, 2006

Try again tomorrow

I hadn't been thinking about it too much to be honest. I don't know why, but about three weeks ago I got it into my head that I was going to see if I could get a raise.
I tried twice in a matter of days to ask the boss. One time he said "maybe" and the other he said "we'll see".
The first time I approached him, he was able to turn the tables on me pretty quickly. He says. "What, not enough beer money?" And although it's true, I was serious.
So the second time I was more prepared. I did some research, and I put a lot of thought into how I would ask.
He was leaving for holidays for two weeks, so I had to do it before he was gone.
Well, now I am having another meeting at the bar with him tomorrow afternoon in a sort of show planning session. What direction is the show going in?
Well, it's time to ask about a formal review, and evaluation. Maybe even toss about a number, but we'll see how that goes tomorrow.
I better flip through those notes again, because this guy seems to know how to avoid the issue.
If I am doing a poor job, I need to know, and they need to tell me to pack my bags. I am inclined to think they would've done that by now.

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Afternoon's Pleasures

This has been a delightful afternoon.... first it is civic election day, and if you've read any of my earlier blogs, you'll see Mark Weinmeyer in one of them. Well, turns out he also has a kid whom he denies is his, and he has kind of dissappeared.
Running for office with all those bones in his closet. I know everyone has some secrets, but kids scattered across town, a questionable lifestyle from someone who hopes to be mayor. But you have to give him credit for jumping in.
But he's a non-issue.
I went out on my walk and voted, although it wasn't much of a walk, the library is where I had to vote and that's right behind my building. I guess when your apartment block is nearly full of seniors you can always be assured of a pharmacy and a nearby voting station. Also plenty of churches to pick from.
Maybe they go to coffee and crib parties four days out of the week. But truth be told, I think the coffee and crib parties are right in the basement of my building. So they don't even have to leave.
And back to my walk, I had nothing to do so I went and looked for a place to buy cheap gummies. Halloween is creeping up, and everyone has their candy out, but I am very specific. I am looking for a variety pack with Sour Patch Kids, Swedish Berries, Fuzzy Peaces and Cherry Blasters. I know it exists, I just thought $6.50 was a little steep for 50 tiny little individual packets. So I gave up on that mission and just wandered aroud the downtown.
Finally grew tired of wandering aimlessly so I am back with three papers, a beer, two mags, and my music.
That's enough to keep me going for a while. Afterall, only a few more hours until the Mighty Oilers come on.
And if all that can't keep me busy, I can always turn on Tiger Woods golf.
Yup, I am set.

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Are you sure the numbers are high enough?

A new study shows that one in 12 people in Canada are dissatisfied with their jobs. Wow, no kidding.
Maybe it has to do with pay. How does someone survive as they try to get a start in their chosen career? Oh, wait I didn't want this thing to become somewhere where I came to bitch, and I wasn't going to make it too autobiographical. The fact is, many, many people are in a situation like this.....
It's hard paying your dues, or gathering experience. Or working toward something bigger and better.
How does someone stay satisfied when they are going somewhere they don't really want to be? How do you keep your head high, when you take a kicking everytime you go to work?
Now the other part of the survey says depression is a major factor at the work place. This is where my stubborness comes in, and I say get off your behind, and find something you like.
But the bottom line is, people are afraid of change. How easy it is to get comfortable.
The pay check, albeit very small, keeps coming in every two weeks, and you can't get ahead in order to have a little bit of breathing room to take a chance and move on.
The saddest thing is hearing someone say they only have 15 more years until they can retire. How can someone put themselves through that? Wishing away fifteen years, so you can do what exactly? The ultimate dream is to have a job you love going to everyday, one that pays you, one that gives you time to live, and enjoy some little extras every once in a while.
I certainly don't feel the need to be "rich" because I am already fabulously rich in many ways. I don't need millions in the bank to enjoy a little bit of travellling and a nice meal out. I currently pay more rent than I would like, but I get by.
I love going to work for the most part, and I work in one of the most exciting industries in the world. Hell, I work in show business. Radio talkshows aren't the first thing someone thinks of when they hear show-biz, but in a way it is.
At the end of the day, one needs challenges, and one needs to stay sharp. If you have to try really hard everyday to make exciting things happen, the rewards are abundant.
If you just coast through without ever taking a chance, taking a risk, there's no hope at happieness.
I know this is something I used to bat around on in University, but it really is true. There are only two choices in life. And every decision we make is based on either FEAR or LOVE. It defines every aspect of our lives, good or bad.

Thursday, October 12, 2006

Mayoral Candidates Saskatoon

We are two weeks away from the civic elections in Saskatoon, and it's starting to get quite funny. There are seven people in the running for Mayor. The incumbent is Don Atchison, and he looks like he'll win.
Jim Maddin, a former mayor is back for some reason. Ron Kocsis, a successful First Nations businessman, and Lenore Swystun who is anti-big box and anti-WalMart and all that.
There are also a couple of Mark's. Mark Ewart, and Mark Weinmeyer. They are both okay, but certainly not going to win. But this brings me to a good hearty laugh today because Mark Weinmeyer was feeling a little embarassed about some racy photos that came out.
But there has to be something said about a dude who wants to run for Mayor and takes it quite seriously. He's already been on the site and changed the pictures.
See, he DJ's in his private time, and he plays mucis and is a part of the urban, thug-life $$$ kind of thing a lot of prairie boys seem to get into for some odd reason.
So DJ Sugar Daddy, and his Myspace page should frankly be taken for what they are, and nothing more. Just a guy a few years ago having some fun. Don't write him off, and make this a bigger deal than it is.
It's someone who cares about his city, and wants to make it better. This is a step many of us would not even consider taking.
Alas, he won't be getting my vote, but I won't attack him over irrelevant stuff. It's only my opinion.

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

Hockey's Back!!!

The first night of the new hockey season. Woo hoo. I can't wait for the Battle of Alberta tomorrow night. I haven't got anything to write about, but thought I should get on and type something.
Sometimes you just have to sit around and stare and some sports game that you truly don't give a damn about. I don't know why I am feeling so lazy tonight, but there are baseball playoffs on, hockey's first night and although I haven't get much interest in a particular game, it allows me to putter around in my place and get everything in order before I go home for the weekend.
Not that there's much to do...... yup.

Monday, October 02, 2006

Africa Time

I have a sister who lives in Zambia, and I am always hearing about "Africa time". Now I know what that is..... it takes them four days to count the ballots.
But in a twist, it looks like "King Cobra" might not pull off the surprise victory and oust the incumbent.
Holy cow, he's in third place.
I guess the BBC missed something in their profiles of candidates because they missed the second place guy all together.

Well, Mr. Sata who was supported by Zambia's poor looks like he might slip to third, much to the relief of the Western Leaders I suppose, as he supported President Mugabe in neighbouring Zimbabwe.
But clearly I am no expert, just a guy who is interested in what's happening.

And in a timely note, Anderson Cooper on CNN is having a special tonight called, Killing Fields: Africa's Misery, the World's Shame. It's going to be interesting to see how it's portrayed, but I do confess that it's encouraging they are there in the first place.

More once I actually watch it and decide for myself.