|
Chrometta8
|
read my profile
sign my guestbook
Name: Ian
Birthday: 4/25/1988
Interests: God, family, and friends above all. Next would be music. Every kind of music. from singing, to playing instruments, or even just listening. Finally: puppy chow.
Expertise: No expert with anything. I have some shwanginess with saxophones though. Im also a pretty good at the whole baby eating thing.
Occupation: Student
Industry: Art
Message: message me
Member Since:
5/8/2005
|
|
SubscriptionsSites I Read
|
|
|
|
| It's been a rough quarter. In too many ways.
The worst part: This quarter was set up to be a bad one before it even started. I'm not going to go to detail, even on this unread blog, but let's just say a great thing took a turn for the worse and never fully recovered. I wasn't lying when I said we wanted different things, but that may have been something of an indirect truth. You see, I am looking for the same thing you are, but it just wasn't something we could have shared.
It's on my end too. You're amazing. I just wish we could've erased the past. I'm sorry that I can't bring myself to let go. But don't misunderstand. I blame it more then anything on myself.
I failed you. In every way, I failed you. Not only was I not caring enough to take your mind off lesser, trivial things, but I was also unable to overcome the deep-seated feelings I had towards what happened. It drove a wedge between us that never went away, and I never worked to get rid of it. There was nothing you could have done. You tried anyways, but it ended in the worst way and I don't think I'll be able to get those images out of my head any time soon.
_______________________________________
I hate winter. It's cold. I can't motivate myself. I'm not doing my best with anything and I know it. It bothers me... I hope next quarter is better.
_______________________________________
On a completely different note, I would just like to say that more and more, Otterbein was such a great choice for me. I've never felt so much like I have honest friends who's company I thoroughly enjoy. Though they will never read this, I just want to say a few words:
Zach G - I was originally not going to have a roommate this year seeing as Nathan enlisted. I was weary of getting one too, figuring that I'd enjoy going solo better. Even when I had said you could move in, I was cautious. But I'll be damned if letting you move in wasn't one of the greatest things I could've done this year. You are one helluva roommate, and I would not trade you for any other. If it were socially acceptable for me to say I love you in a straight, European-esque way, I would. We just click. It's amazing. And hysterical every time one of us walks in the room and does something stupid to introduce ourselves. I think it's safe to say that I made the right choice, and thoroughly believe that our lives (as well as the lives of many other DKers) have been forever changed for the better. It's good to have you here, and I hope we continue to be firm friends till we die. And then continue our friendship past the pearly white gates of heaven.
Josh - If I had a quarter for every time we laughed our asses off because of some stupid comment we make, I'd be filthy rich. Somehow when we're in the same room, we manage to cause a royal canadian-irish ruckus, and it's awesome. It's amazing to me that we didn't talk more during Fall quarter, cause I kinda feel like we should have. I foresee many nights of bagpiping on the lawns of Otterbein, and like Zach, I hope our friendship continues to last many years into the days when we're no longer capable of pissing without having hospice workers carry us to ye old porcelain shrines.
Alex - It's funny, because back in the day, people like us wouldn't have hung out. But today, we get along great. Smoking cigars and hangin out at 58 with you and the rest of the sphinx crew has been a blast. I'm looking forward to a lot more good times next quarter, when hopefully I myself join you guys.
_______________________________________
Ending this now, it's already too long.
Good night and God bless.
| | |
| I said something I never wanted to say.
But its too late. There's no going back now.
| | |
| I'm writing this here, because I know few, if anyone, read this. I want a place to write out my frustrations simply because I think it might make me feel better.
I quit my job today.
I worked at the YMCA as a lifeguard for the first several weeks of break up until now. It was the worst experience I've ever had. I'll explain.
First and foremost, the Marion YMCA lifeguard staff is the single worst team of guards I have ever seen. I hope you don't mind swimming at your own risk, because these guards will NOT be watching you, nor carrying out any other part of their job description for that matter. Which goes kinda like this:
- Patron Surveillance/Rule Enforcement
- Pool Maintenance
- Medical Attention (if needed)
Yeah. 90% of the guards I worked with do NONE of that. Now let me fill you in on some of what I saw instead...
- Guards talking to each other on duty
- Guards playing with patrons while on duty
- Guards not even looking at the pool, often reading or sleeping in the guard chair
- Guards talking to their sisters the entire time, then leaving a pool unattended to spray said sister down with hose
- Guards failing to follow restrictions and allowing children use of equipment otherwise reserved for adults
- Guards doing nothing while their pool is empty instead of cleaning
- Guards leave the guard room a mess. I've never seen a place so trashed and abused in my life!
Dear God! Lifeguarding is the easiest job in the world, but something that needs to be taken seriously due to the nature of the work. Yet lifeguards slack off, and allow shit to hit the fan. Because let me tell you- if a lifeguard has a lot of saves under his or her belt, that is a BAD THING. That means that unless they've had a string of rare exceptions where doing their job properly couldn't have helped, they do a terrible job of patron surveillance (primary part of their job!)
I've never had to make a save. I've had to notify many patrons to avoid doing something for safety concerns, which may have forced me to make a save otherwise. I am proud of this. It means I do my job.
Now to the whole 'quitting' thing.
There was a swim meet today. An official had decided to move the guard chair back so that she could conveniently see all of the swimmers during the entire duration of their swim. I decided to move it back to it's original location on the basis that it was unsafe for a guard to make an entry into the water from an unanchored chair sitting 18 in. away from the water (injured guard plus possible emergency in water = bad). The official complained, but I held my ground pointing out the safety concerns, since the chair position is the best position to observe swimmers- ESPECIALLY in a meet where all of the lane lines are being used. The official complained elsewhere (despite the fact that lifeguards are supposed to have the final say), and somehow got the executive director of the YMCA to send someone to me, asking me to move it back. I shared with him my point, and he saw exactly what I was saying and let me keep it there.
This is where the problem came.
I told the other two guards, getting one to respond with "if you can't just 18 inches, you have a problem...". I'm sure said idiot guard considered the risks of jumping forward on an unanchored chair into the water. Silly me. I will remember to worship his amazing ability to defy physics later. This guard, despite my argument decided to move the chair back.
Now let me tell you why this is bad. I now not only look completely incompetent, but I also look like an ass. How am I supposed to go in there an do my duty when my own team doesn't back me up. I wouldn't have cared if they didn't agree! So what! Don't move it back though, you're making the team look completely clueless!
And what is worse- BOTH guards decided to carry on the rest of their shift by talking to each other. Paying NO attention what-so-ever to the swimmers.
It was then that I realized how pointless it was. I can try my best to properly perform my duty as lifeguard, but it will all be for not, because as a team the YMCA team is completely incapable of not only working as a team, but performing the most simple tasks assigned to them as lifeguards.
So there you have it.
The YMCA prefers convenience over safety.
And I hope you swim well enough, because you're not getting any help from the guards.
Oh. And damn is that pool unsanitary! When I started cleaning on my first day back, it was like no one had touched it since the end of summer when I went to college.
That's all. No more YMCA for me. Or lifeguarding for that matter. Lifeguarding is a joke.
| | |
| Irony is a Christian wishing to live a long life.
I call that fear.
| | |
|
