From the Desk of Drear

So I've been harder to get a hold of recently than before (yes, scary). The past two weeks I've been transitioning to a new job this week is the week AFTER my orientation. Needless to say this place is actually the coolest place I've worked at.

While I've worked in places doing things as far reaching as the states I've lived (MO, PA, WI, WA), I seem to have finally landed in a place that keeps my attention and my A.D.D. in check. My new job is as Business Intelligence Reports Engineer for Perceptive Software. You can google them, or check out their recruitment website www.workplaykc.com.

Now the first thing people will/have ask(ed) is wasn't WoTC cooler? My answer is yes -- for many other people including my wife. For me, it was job with extremely nice/cool people where I occasionally got to be invited to the cool stuff. But for the most part wasn't really neat or creative for me. Now I'm one of the "cool" kids. As part of developement I'm given a ton of perks. They like to keep the devs happy.

Things this job has over any other I've worked at:
1. They treat salary employees LIKE salary employees.
2. They have a slide.
3. I'm given an open ended task with a goal.
4. I was invited to a kick ball game.
5. Steady growth.
6. A regulation dodgeball court.
7. Relaxed atmosphere WITHOUT a relaxed unregulated creation process.
8. Booze onsite (even though I don't drink).
9. Very friendly atmosphere; intra and extra team.
10. FREE soda company wide (mmm Coke Zero™ roxxors).

Basically I'm working now for a Silicon Valley-esk company without the 137% increase in the cost of living. Now if I didn't have a 40min commute things would be super green.

I've moved them to my private WordPress blog. If you're interested in a political opinion that varies greatly from most of them I read here you're welcome to read and post comments there. I have reasons for my madness but that's another entire post all by itself. Here's the URL:

http://grimland.dovehaven.com

I'll be using this location/blog for more personalish posts and the like (you know I've always been such an open personality), and to keep in contact with other lodges and brother masons.

Yes, I'm a freemason. That's okay, go ahead and come to grips, I'll wait. Ready? Not only that I'm a Worshipful Master of a lodge here (i.e. the guy in charge).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worshipful_Master

If you haven't died from a stroke, laughed till you peed your pants, or the like well then you're really not far off from the list of emotions that I've had about the ordeal. My ambitiousness knows no bounds apparently. The funny thing was I wasn't even in town for the vote (I was at GenCon). Funny.

Nothing else really going on that I wish to post about. I keep most well guarded.

Well, okay it's not really me but I'm calling in the favor for friends of mine. I have a friend Jennifer (aka Jedana) who we used to play EQ with who's husband Lance (aka Renax) was recently diagnosed with stage 3 cancer of the adrenal gland (cost him a kidney apparently). Read more here:

http://www.dovehaven.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5117

Likely there will be lengthy treatment once he gets a little healthier. So here's why I'm posting: I need stuff. I'm putting together a gamer-esk care-package and need whatever I can get my grubby little hands on. Books are huge as there is gonna be some downtime.

Knowing full well that there are gaming professionals that read my wiffies I'm asking you to take a look and see if you have anything that you could sign/send. If you do please email me directly (http://www.dovehaven.com/forums/sendmessage.php (messages here go directly to myself and Miranda)) and I'll send you my mailing address. Once I have everything accumulated I'm sending the shipment directly away to Lance and Jennifer.

If you don't have anything that you can send, please feel free to donate to my Relay For Life for the American Cancer Society(Next Friday; see previous post). I'd like to thank Jim and Shannon Butcher ahead of time for their help already.

Thanks everyone,

Shaun

Contribute to my lack of sleep.

Weekly voting for either/both parties. Make your opinion heard. Just visit Dovehaven and look for the Straw Poll 2008 link.

The second half of the long cat obit.

http://www.dovehaven.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=48&Itemid=1

A collection of my passing cats history. Here's installment one.

http://www.dovehaven.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=47&Itemid=1

Well today is the end of the year and we are quickly coming up on 2007. Today I'm busy getting the house in order and catering to my wiffies every wish...as much as possible. Not only is she working like crazy to get the house ready but it's also her freak'n birthday. Wish her a happy birthday if you get the chance. ;)

First off I really do like the people I work with. They are all very nice and VERY motherly. That said they are apparently, all in menopause. I was in a meeting most of the day. When I came back, it's a ridiculous temperature (like what my wife enjoys). So I know, without even looking, that's it's at least in the mid 70's or higher. Of course, they get to dress a lot more casual that you'd expect considering what the men are forces to wear. Poor guys have to wear ties and dress shirts. If they'd feak'n dress warmer they wouldn't be cold.

Man, I need to move my desk to the computer room.....

To have Boxer recommend you don't run for Senate?

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/02/07/MNGDLH46FB5.DTL

Honestly, I want Cindy Sheehan to run and win against Dianne Feinstein. Pretty please?

Stuck with me in service this morning.

1 Timothy 1:12-17
I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Well here we see the religion of peace up in arms again. This time over depictions of Muhammad. CNN refuses to show these and for good reason -- apparently riots in the largest Muslim concentration here in the US would be bad for business. Unless the latest census changed things that city is Detroit and the reason is a little obvious unless you live in a hole.
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With Iran basically thumbing their noses at the world, and Hamas now a government, I was struck wondering where the old Doomsday clock stood at (or if it was even in use anymore).


http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,182494,00.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doomsday_clock

Article 13 of the Hamas Charter "There is no solution for the Palestinian question except through Jihad. Initiatives, proposals and international conferences are all a waste of time and vain endeavors. The Palestinian people know better than to consent to having their future, rights and fate toyed with."

I'm just saying....

Today, Hillary Clinton is lambasted in an extremely vulgar fashion by a World leader: She "...needs a company of soldiers. She needs to be taken to barracks where she would be satisfied." Of course, this is a huge oversight by the the nightly news.

Where is NOW? Applauding an end-around that looks to force mandatory payments to healthcare. For more of the nasty details and horrible comments read on....
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I love insurance. That and being "over" instead of "under" on my car loan.

Old and busted. New hotness.

*sigh*

Which Rocky Horror Picture Show character are you? Brad Majors A Hero

Click Here to Take This Quiz Brought to you by YouThink.com quizzes and personality tests.

So apparently the accident I had last week was a little more than just a simple and expensive session of bumpercars.
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