DISPATCHES FROM THE GHOST MOOSE

Time marches on....soon we will be in the 6th month of 2020.  And on June 23, the days begin to get shorter.  We got cheated out of 3 months with this lockdown.  I have done next to nothing other than several walks each day, and a trip to the store every few days.  While I don't doubt the virus was deadly to some, the response to it was too much.  I know many folks who have been laid off.  I had a job offer for a good job rescinded before the job started.  But, since I have been searching for a job since early 2018, this is nothing new for me.  And it allowed me an opportunity to spend time with family in Florida in 2019, and that was very nice.  Coming back to Chicago has been good as well.  I am resigned to the fact that it will take me a year to get a decent job.  so, will keep trying. Hockey is trying to start back up, as are baseball and basketball.  I have really lost interest, as I assume many folks have.  I am in...

Been awhile since I have posted.  I should probably write more during this pandemic, if only to stay busy.  Maybe this will be the first post of may.  or the last post for awhile.  time will tell. the Last Dance programs about the Bulls and Michael Jordan are very well done.  2 episodes left.   I remember those teams, as I was a big bball fan before the Bulls drafted Jordan, and was still playing during those years.  Jordan is an amazing person, and the whole story is fascinating. Better Call Saul ended its season a few weeks ago.  Oak Island ended 2 weeks ago.  Survivor has its season finale on Wednesday.  After that, there are no shows on tv that I watch regularly.  Not that the tv isn't always on. ok.  back to looking at the same job postings I have seen for the last few months.  It's not like any company is actually hiring.

Still on lockdown due to the virus.  I remain skeptical, but what do I know, I'm not a scientist.  So, I will continue to shelter in place. The job offer I had was rescinded.  I was not surprised to get that email.  Every company I have been at has frozen all open positions when the economy slowed.  In this case, I think we are a long way from the bottom.  If unemployment is now 10%, it is likely to hit 20% before it turns around.  But what do I know...I'm not an economist. This season of Better Call Saul has been excellent, and only 2 episodes left this season.  They haven't found the treasure on Oak Island yet, and Survivor has predictably sucked.  So I will sit here and watch more movies, most of which demonstrates that Hollywood is nothing more than a mechanism to launder drug money.  But what do I know, I'm not a film critic.   Come to think of it, what am I? Ok, since I had lunch at 10am, and it's now 2pm, that means t...

A lot has certainly happened since my last post, huh? I had a series of interviews for a job downtown, then they wanted me to travel to New York for a final interview....this after 2 phone interview and 3 onsite interviews, the last with their COO.  so, while I was considering the trip to New York, I got an offer for a different gig not too far from my place.  So, I accepted that one and was supposed to start this past Monday.  But, with the pandemic, things are on  hold for a few more weeks. I finished my contract gig 3 weeks ago, and was planning to visit Florida.  But, I had a cold and was waiting a week before booking my ticket.  I am very glad I did given how quickly travel can change. And so, I have seen quite a few movies over the last few weeks.  some good, some bad.  the best was The Intouchables, a French film.  It was redone here as The Upswing.  The original was much better. The Invisible man sucked. The Hunt sucked ...

I finished my contract job on Friday, and start a new gig on the 23rd, so I have 2 weeks off.  It has been nice so far, and I expect to be bored next week.  But, as a contractor, you get no PTO, so I haven't had but a few days off since September. With all the panic about the corona virus, workers are encouraged to stay home if sick.  But, if you are a contractor, you don't get paid for a sick day.  I tried to code a day as sick...and you can't use a sick day until you've been there for six months.  That policy should be effective for the prevention of the spread of the coronavirus, huh? I am watching the news and they are showing the cruise ship docking in Oakland and the infected patients de-boating. I was going to make a comment about all of them going to San Francisco and taking a dump on the street, but this blog is better than that, right? I was hoping to get to Florida to visit my mom before I start my new gig, but I have a cough and don't want to in...

for want of a nail... I forgot to post my experience of getting a watch battery.  I wear a Casio watch that costs less than a watch battery costs, but wanted to get a battery for a Michael Kors watch since the watch was worthless without it.  so... last weekend, I went to wal mart at about 8am...no one was there to replace the battery. same day, went back at about 1pm...there was no one there to replace a watch battery one week later, back to wal mart, they don't replace batteries in watches unless it is in one of the cheap shit watches wal mart sells. so....went to Kohls 2 days ago...she looks at the watch, and says it is too expensive of a watch...take it to the battery store. went to the battery store...she says she can only replace the battery if the watch costs less than $300...punches a bunch of keys on the keyboard...says she can replace the battery...takes out a special tool and removes the battery.  then says she is out of the A210 battery.  but the ...

The year marches on.  Golf season approaching...we may play Sunday. so, here is where retail business is heading.  I usually do all my shopping on the weekend.  On Saturday, I went to wal mart to get a few things.  It was about 8am.  I walked past all the checkout lines...all were closed. and the line for the self checkout terminals had about 20 people waiting to pay.  So, my items ended up on a shelf and I walked out without buying anything.  after the health club, I went to Kohls to buy a shirt.  Two registers open, and more than 20 people waiting to check out.  On sunday, I went to the grocery store for a few items.  The store has 12 checkout lines...and only 1 was open.  see a trend here? so, watching tv, then heading downtown for an interview.  then meeting a friend for dinner.  good to be busy.