During my time of receiving a government check, I had to report weekly and also apply for three positions each week. The reporting is all done electronically.
One position that caught my fancy was a part time job being a TSA security agent at the Jackson airport. I found the link on Career builder.com, pointed my mouse at it and click, I was on my way! This was two years ago!
I followed the link to the TSA website. You have to set up a user I'd and no password., No biggie. The secure site has a "dashboard" for you to use so you can follow you progress in becoming a government employee, uniform and all!
After filling out all the paperwork on the website, you give them authorization to do a credit check on you. They also get your email address so you can be kept aware of your status through the process. For several months I got an email about once a month. After that, not so much...
One year later, I get an email inviting me to the next step. Yes, a year later! I am to be tested with an aptitude test.
The test is two parts, with a break in the middle. Because of security reasons I cannot describe the test. There were 9 other applicants in the room. After a little bit of discussion, we all learned that each of us had applied over a year ago! I began the testing, and was on the fast track, so I decided to skip the break and move forward. I was almost done with the test when I overheard one of the applicants ask the overseer "now how do you get to the next part of the test?". I just about fell out of the chair! I finished, got up to leave, and out of the corner of my eye, saw the looks of amazement of the faces of the other applicants. I'll bet some of them are still there! Before I got three miles down the road, I got the email that I had passed! On to the next step!
Another year passes, yep you read that right! I got am email, then a phone call from the local TSA office, asking me to come in for the next round!
I went to the airport at my assigned time to their undisclosed location. Spent my time going through the steps, which cannot be disclosed. They tell me I pass, and hand me an envelope containing the paperwork for a medical physical.
I made my appointment, pee'd in the cup, and jumped through all the hoops. The medical doctor came in and did his thing, cough, cough. Now, on to the next step. Wrong!
I get an email indicating that my file is on medical hold. I get this envelope containing six requests for additional information, not from me, but from my medical providers!
At this point, I have decided to punt! If you have not complied with any of their requests for information within 21 days of their request, your file is terminated. You can restart the process all over again, if you desire, at some point down the road. I'll be playing with grand babies by then!
Now, to decide what my next great adventure will be!
Retired in 2012. I'm trying to out run old age and boredom. So far, I'm winning the race!
Friday, February 28, 2014
Sunday, February 23, 2014
A Day at the Auction
Had the opportunity this week to work several days at an auction site in Vicksburg. Its interesting to see how these events go down. You show up on the day of the auction, sign up for a bid number, sit down, and enjoy the fun!
A lot of other things have to happen before auction day: items for sale are surveyed, contracts have to be signed, items are consolidated into lots, lot numbers are assigned, pictures are taken, and an inventory catalog is put together. The day before the auction is preview day, thing finally, its auction time!
The events leading up to auction day can take weeks and are often months in the making. The sorting and assigning "lot numbers" is by far the most labor intensive task. Items are either assigned an individual lot number or are accumulated into packaged groupings such as garden tools, mechanic tools, sets of dishes, etc.
A picture of each "lot" is taken, along with the lot number. The item is cataloged into the inventory. The items are presented to the buyers at the auction gallery through the use of a video monitor. This speeds up the sale time dramatically, compared to the days of physically presenting each item to the crowd. This is an absolute necessity when the catalog has over 500 items for sale.
The day before the auction is preview day. The auction site is open to the public so that they can get an up close look it any item that they might be interested in buying the next day. Auction employees are stationed throughout the site to make sure that items are not moved, or lot number tags changed, and to answer any question about the items that have been inventoried for the sale.
Depending on the volume of items to be sold, a concession area may be on site. These are typically run by charity groups as fund raisers, or outside vendors. This is a great way to keep the bidders on site through the day. My job on this day was concessions, including grill master and sales.
The auction starts promptly at the designated time. With the video monitor, the auctioneers are able to got through around 100 lot numbers an hour, depending on how fierce the bidding wars become. Items are sold absolute, unless the seller has put a reserve on it, which gives the seller the right to refuse or accept the highest bid, if it has not reached the "reserve" minimum bid.
Once the item has been sold, the auction company staff is at work preparing all the necessary paperwork for the item. Most of this activity is done electronically, via "wifi connection" between all of the staff working in the background.
Once you have paid, you can take possession of your purchase, and have it verified at the exit door. There is usually a day after the auction that is reserved for pickup of items too big or too heavy for the buyer to manage on auction day.
As quickly as the auction gets started, the concession area is already busy, with iced drinks, and smoke drawing them in for an early bite.
It was interesting to watch the crowd come and go. Today's auction was at a motorcycle shop. Lots of cycle guys, young and old, looking for a deal. One young couple arrived on a "street rocket", with the female passenger hanging on, almost in the fetal position. Lots of potential buyers, with weathered beards, or long ponytails neatly arranged in a French braid. Then there was the "Blue tooth boys" who had me wondering, were they talking to themselves, each other, or somebody else in Blue tooth headset land. Its funny to see buyers come out with items that were such a deal that they just could not resist bidding on and suddenly they hear the words SOLD!
A lot of other things have to happen before auction day: items for sale are surveyed, contracts have to be signed, items are consolidated into lots, lot numbers are assigned, pictures are taken, and an inventory catalog is put together. The day before the auction is preview day, thing finally, its auction time!
The events leading up to auction day can take weeks and are often months in the making. The sorting and assigning "lot numbers" is by far the most labor intensive task. Items are either assigned an individual lot number or are accumulated into packaged groupings such as garden tools, mechanic tools, sets of dishes, etc.
A picture of each "lot" is taken, along with the lot number. The item is cataloged into the inventory. The items are presented to the buyers at the auction gallery through the use of a video monitor. This speeds up the sale time dramatically, compared to the days of physically presenting each item to the crowd. This is an absolute necessity when the catalog has over 500 items for sale.
The day before the auction is preview day. The auction site is open to the public so that they can get an up close look it any item that they might be interested in buying the next day. Auction employees are stationed throughout the site to make sure that items are not moved, or lot number tags changed, and to answer any question about the items that have been inventoried for the sale.
Depending on the volume of items to be sold, a concession area may be on site. These are typically run by charity groups as fund raisers, or outside vendors. This is a great way to keep the bidders on site through the day. My job on this day was concessions, including grill master and sales.
The auction starts promptly at the designated time. With the video monitor, the auctioneers are able to got through around 100 lot numbers an hour, depending on how fierce the bidding wars become. Items are sold absolute, unless the seller has put a reserve on it, which gives the seller the right to refuse or accept the highest bid, if it has not reached the "reserve" minimum bid.
Once the item has been sold, the auction company staff is at work preparing all the necessary paperwork for the item. Most of this activity is done electronically, via "wifi connection" between all of the staff working in the background.
Once you have paid, you can take possession of your purchase, and have it verified at the exit door. There is usually a day after the auction that is reserved for pickup of items too big or too heavy for the buyer to manage on auction day.
As quickly as the auction gets started, the concession area is already busy, with iced drinks, and smoke drawing them in for an early bite.
It was interesting to watch the crowd come and go. Today's auction was at a motorcycle shop. Lots of cycle guys, young and old, looking for a deal. One young couple arrived on a "street rocket", with the female passenger hanging on, almost in the fetal position. Lots of potential buyers, with weathered beards, or long ponytails neatly arranged in a French braid. Then there was the "Blue tooth boys" who had me wondering, were they talking to themselves, each other, or somebody else in Blue tooth headset land. Its funny to see buyers come out with items that were such a deal that they just could not resist bidding on and suddenly they hear the words SOLD!
Saturday, February 15, 2014
Valentine Dinner Date at the Waffle House
In my neighborhood, we have a group of five couples that get together each Friday night to share fellowship and a meal together. We typically gather at one of our houses and share a bottle of wine, break some bread, and tell a story or two.
One neighbor was looking through a monthly restaurant guide one day, and then be posting in particular caught her eye. The Waffle House in Pearl, Ms on Pearson Road was having a special dinner offering on Valentines Day, reservations recommended.
Being a budget conscious group, she suggested this for our Friday night gathering, and we all said "why the hell not!". Reservations for 6:30 were made and our plans were set.
We arrived to find the Waffle House fully decorated. Paper hearts were pasted on the windows. Tissue paper covered the lighting globes. The tables were covered in red table cloths. Table decorations included vases with artificial flowers, wine glasses with a votive candles, paper hearts, and red metallic confetti.
The evening even had a special menu, with choice of T-bone, ribeye, 3 pork chops, or chicken. Also included was a drink, salad, Texas toast, hash browns, and a slice of chocolate or pecan pie. All this, dinner for two, for a price of $22.99! You could also order from the regular menu, or add addition side items. What a deal!
Our group of nine took up the far end of the restaurant. Once seated, we began to take it all in, take a bunch of pictures, and immediately post them to Facebook for all our friends to see!
Drink orders were placed. Most ordered unsweet tea. As the waitress began to take the food orders, some asked for tea refills. Waitress says "sorry, we be done run out of unsweet tea. But you can have sweet tea or a soda". Some opted for the sweet tea, and others requested a soda. The Coca Cola tap on the dispenser was out of order, so they were filling glasses from two liter bottles.
The orders were delivered to the head cook. He got busy slapping meat onto the flattop griddle, along with the hash browns, eggs, and everything else he could fit onto that small cook space.
Slowly, each order eventually made its way to our tables. What ever got done first, went to the table first. I got a plate with three pork chops, but no silverware. Next our salads arrived with the plastic wrap still in place. A few minutes later the silverware and salad dressing arrived. It took a while, but finally the spousal unit's ribeye steak arrived, along with our side items. The Waitress picked up my place of pork chops and slid them onto the larger platter that had all the side items on it. As the chops landed at their new destination, the waitress commented, "now that's how its post to look". I remarked, "awesome"!
We made it through the main course, and it was time for the dessert! Several minutes passed, then finally our chocolate and pecan pies made it to our table. Dinner was complete!
Several other families had also made reservations, bringing along their kids. I just love to watch kids make a mess, and I get a kick of asking them if they put ketchup on their waffle!
I asked the waitress if they would be serving "green eggs and ham on St. Paddy's Day, and if so, we would be back! She and the other staff members said that was a great idea, and to please come back, as we were the best customers they had seen all week! We left them, with our stomachs full, and a sizeable tip on the tables for the entertainment!
This obviously wasn't our typical dinner date, but hey, variety always adds spice to life. The cook staff was not prepared for the massive amount of dishes to prepare outside of their typical Friday note requests. Somehow they made it work, and you never know, we just might be back on St. Paddy's day!
One neighbor was looking through a monthly restaurant guide one day, and then be posting in particular caught her eye. The Waffle House in Pearl, Ms on Pearson Road was having a special dinner offering on Valentines Day, reservations recommended.
Being a budget conscious group, she suggested this for our Friday night gathering, and we all said "why the hell not!". Reservations for 6:30 were made and our plans were set.
We arrived to find the Waffle House fully decorated. Paper hearts were pasted on the windows. Tissue paper covered the lighting globes. The tables were covered in red table cloths. Table decorations included vases with artificial flowers, wine glasses with a votive candles, paper hearts, and red metallic confetti.
The evening even had a special menu, with choice of T-bone, ribeye, 3 pork chops, or chicken. Also included was a drink, salad, Texas toast, hash browns, and a slice of chocolate or pecan pie. All this, dinner for two, for a price of $22.99! You could also order from the regular menu, or add addition side items. What a deal!
Our group of nine took up the far end of the restaurant. Once seated, we began to take it all in, take a bunch of pictures, and immediately post them to Facebook for all our friends to see!
Drink orders were placed. Most ordered unsweet tea. As the waitress began to take the food orders, some asked for tea refills. Waitress says "sorry, we be done run out of unsweet tea. But you can have sweet tea or a soda". Some opted for the sweet tea, and others requested a soda. The Coca Cola tap on the dispenser was out of order, so they were filling glasses from two liter bottles.
The orders were delivered to the head cook. He got busy slapping meat onto the flattop griddle, along with the hash browns, eggs, and everything else he could fit onto that small cook space.
Slowly, each order eventually made its way to our tables. What ever got done first, went to the table first. I got a plate with three pork chops, but no silverware. Next our salads arrived with the plastic wrap still in place. A few minutes later the silverware and salad dressing arrived. It took a while, but finally the spousal unit's ribeye steak arrived, along with our side items. The Waitress picked up my place of pork chops and slid them onto the larger platter that had all the side items on it. As the chops landed at their new destination, the waitress commented, "now that's how its post to look". I remarked, "awesome"!
We made it through the main course, and it was time for the dessert! Several minutes passed, then finally our chocolate and pecan pies made it to our table. Dinner was complete!
Several other families had also made reservations, bringing along their kids. I just love to watch kids make a mess, and I get a kick of asking them if they put ketchup on their waffle!
I asked the waitress if they would be serving "green eggs and ham on St. Paddy's Day, and if so, we would be back! She and the other staff members said that was a great idea, and to please come back, as we were the best customers they had seen all week! We left them, with our stomachs full, and a sizeable tip on the tables for the entertainment!
This obviously wasn't our typical dinner date, but hey, variety always adds spice to life. The cook staff was not prepared for the massive amount of dishes to prepare outside of their typical Friday note requests. Somehow they made it work, and you never know, we just might be back on St. Paddy's day!
Friday, February 14, 2014
Personal Banking, it ain't what it used to be.....
I my day, the banks closed around 2:00 p.m.so they could process all the transactions for that day. To pay somebody, you simply wrote them a check, which could be cashed at just about any bank in the area. You could even write a "counter check" by just writing your account number on the form. I even had an account at one bank where you didn't even have an account number. My, how the times have changed.
If you have a lot of coinage to deposit, you don't have to put them in paper rolls anymore. The bank now weighs the coins for the most accurate count.
Now, if you want to cash a check, you have to have a photo ID to prove that its you. You also have to have an account at the bank. In some cases, you have to wait up to five days to have access to the funds after the deposit.
With all of the electronic banking services, you do not have to go to the bank to make a deposit. Simply use the "mobile banking" app, take a picture of the check and fit it within the square box and you are done. Young people either don't have paper checks or don't know how to write one. They use their debit card for everything! Buy something, use the debit card. Need cash, use the debit card. If they are short of funds, they put the charge on a credit card. They don't get paper bills anymore either, choosing to pay electronically.
Soon we won't even need a multi pack of Charmin. It will be done electronically!
If you have a lot of coinage to deposit, you don't have to put them in paper rolls anymore. The bank now weighs the coins for the most accurate count.
Now, if you want to cash a check, you have to have a photo ID to prove that its you. You also have to have an account at the bank. In some cases, you have to wait up to five days to have access to the funds after the deposit.
With all of the electronic banking services, you do not have to go to the bank to make a deposit. Simply use the "mobile banking" app, take a picture of the check and fit it within the square box and you are done. Young people either don't have paper checks or don't know how to write one. They use their debit card for everything! Buy something, use the debit card. Need cash, use the debit card. If they are short of funds, they put the charge on a credit card. They don't get paper bills anymore either, choosing to pay electronically.
Soon we won't even need a multi pack of Charmin. It will be done electronically!
Monday, February 3, 2014
Facebook Dating Game
With the spousal unit out of town for five days, and food running low, it was time for something different. I got in the car and went in search of something quick and informal. I nixed fast food drive thru's and didn't want just Amy ole sammach. I decided on Firehouse sub's.
Its was well after the noon rush, so there was no line at the counter. They have one of those fancy coke dispensers where you can pick just about any flavor imaginable. A woman in front of me must have been fascinated by the machine. She would dispense something, give it a taste, then pour it out, and try another. After the fourth one, I let out a cough to let her know some other people were in line. After three more samples she was done.
I found my seat and it wasn't too long before my brisket sammich found its way to my table. I pulled out my smartass phone to check on the happenings of the day. I don't like eating by myself and I don't do it too often. Suddenly, I had the idea to invite someone to share lunch with by "tagging" them with me through a "check in" on Facebook!
I got to thinking, hummm. Who should I invite. Very quickly I ruled out family members, too easy. Then I thought, why not a friend. My guy buddies would think I had gone nuts. The ladies might get a kick out of it, but who? No sense picking one that was married with a husband. No point tagging a single with a jealous type boyfriend. I know just the one!
My friend Kay was the perfect choice! She is single, no boyfriend that I know of, and she lives two hours away! I tagged her and waited for the fun to begin!
Conversation began quickly. After finishing up "our" lunch date, it was time to move on. I had several errands to run, so I figured I'd continue the fun, and continue the tagging. Kay wasn't interest in tattoos, so I didn't stop for a quick tag at the local ink parlor. I did my walk through at the Pearl Walmart, looking for some photo ops, and got too tickled to take the picture. I was cracking up so bad, I forgot to tag ole Kay.
After a few more stops, and lots of Facebook dating chatting, it was time to end the "lunch date". As I was driving, I looked to the left, and there it was! I made a quick uturn and pulled into the parking lot of Metro Monuments and Memorials. I tagged ole Kay with a note: "Our fun time today has now come to an end". What a way to end a date!
Several of our mutual Facebook friends started following our postings and clicked "like", and some even offered a comment or two! Fun was had by all!
Next day, my friend Kay decided to pick up and continue our lunch date into a Super Bowl party for two. This continued on for a couple of hours, when suddenly, some of her family members got concerned that Kay was messing around with a married man! She became very uneasy about "family involvement". I had a hard time picking myself up off the floor from laughing so hard! Those concerned family members finally figured it out and calmed down!
Kay had played along with this big ole dog long enough and finally had gotten bit!
So, beware Facebook friends. The next time the spousal unit leaves town, you just might be my next lunch partner!
Its was well after the noon rush, so there was no line at the counter. They have one of those fancy coke dispensers where you can pick just about any flavor imaginable. A woman in front of me must have been fascinated by the machine. She would dispense something, give it a taste, then pour it out, and try another. After the fourth one, I let out a cough to let her know some other people were in line. After three more samples she was done.
I found my seat and it wasn't too long before my brisket sammich found its way to my table. I pulled out my smartass phone to check on the happenings of the day. I don't like eating by myself and I don't do it too often. Suddenly, I had the idea to invite someone to share lunch with by "tagging" them with me through a "check in" on Facebook!
I got to thinking, hummm. Who should I invite. Very quickly I ruled out family members, too easy. Then I thought, why not a friend. My guy buddies would think I had gone nuts. The ladies might get a kick out of it, but who? No sense picking one that was married with a husband. No point tagging a single with a jealous type boyfriend. I know just the one!
My friend Kay was the perfect choice! She is single, no boyfriend that I know of, and she lives two hours away! I tagged her and waited for the fun to begin!
Conversation began quickly. After finishing up "our" lunch date, it was time to move on. I had several errands to run, so I figured I'd continue the fun, and continue the tagging. Kay wasn't interest in tattoos, so I didn't stop for a quick tag at the local ink parlor. I did my walk through at the Pearl Walmart, looking for some photo ops, and got too tickled to take the picture. I was cracking up so bad, I forgot to tag ole Kay.
After a few more stops, and lots of Facebook dating chatting, it was time to end the "lunch date". As I was driving, I looked to the left, and there it was! I made a quick uturn and pulled into the parking lot of Metro Monuments and Memorials. I tagged ole Kay with a note: "Our fun time today has now come to an end". What a way to end a date!
Several of our mutual Facebook friends started following our postings and clicked "like", and some even offered a comment or two! Fun was had by all!
Next day, my friend Kay decided to pick up and continue our lunch date into a Super Bowl party for two. This continued on for a couple of hours, when suddenly, some of her family members got concerned that Kay was messing around with a married man! She became very uneasy about "family involvement". I had a hard time picking myself up off the floor from laughing so hard! Those concerned family members finally figured it out and calmed down!
Kay had played along with this big ole dog long enough and finally had gotten bit!
So, beware Facebook friends. The next time the spousal unit leaves town, you just might be my next lunch partner!
Saturday, February 1, 2014
Facebook, a Wonderful Thang
Facebook started out as a college kids dream tool for communication and interaction with friends near and far. Before long, the Parents discovered it. The kids have moved on to Twitter, Instagram, Reddit, and other social media sites. The Parents are slowly following along.
The developers are trying to figure out how to make money with these social media sites. Every time you click one of those advertising links and buy something, they get paid. Every time you buy more game tokens they get paid.
I hate when the developers release their latest version. Few of the new enhancements have on/off switches.
Parents have caught on like wildfire. Its a great way to keep up with family, friends, and old school mates. Postings of recipes are popular with the "over 40" crowd. Dog and cat lovers are abundant, posting pics of the latest lost and found critters.
Its funny, everyone sees something posted on Facebook, and immediately assumes its true, then they "like it" and "share". Occasionally they click the wrong thing and their account gets hacked, and they get cloned, or some things even worse.
Employers have even gotten in on the act, checking up on you as employees, and especially new hires.
Some folks, like my friend Keith Keaton, have formed groups to follow and discuss the annual televised beauty pageants. Other groups relate to specific College fan groups, home town remembrance groups, and reunions of all sorts.
There are lots of groups that have been forms for the purpose of having an online garage sale of sorts. I finally figured out the "b" meant the post "bumps" the photo to the front of a listing, as a refresher for those browsing.
There are some great story tellers out there like my friends Ronnie Hamilton and Fryer Chuck.
Each fall, Facebook becomes full of College Football and all the revelry of campus life, tailgating, and the joys and sadness of either winning or losing. Postings of the pretty girls or toasts to their team are common place. With a loss, there is always next week or next year.
Its been a great way to alert folks about family medical issues, births of children, and even death. I love looking at postings of old friends found recently on Facebook.
My page has been developed strictly for my entertainment . I enjoy sharing pictures of funny things that encounter in life, great food, and good times. Hopefully, none of you have taken offense to any of my postings. None are intended to harm, only entertain! I've enjoyed it so much that some of friends encouraged me to start this blog. I had to begin referring to my wife as the "spousal unit" and the boys as "son 1 and son 2" so that their friends wouldn't comment on some of my postings that they are tagged in. I have been known to post and tag people to Tattoo Parlors as we drive by! And there is always a comment that needs a reply, and pictures that need captioning.
So be careful what you post on Facebook, you just might get a comment from me.
The developers are trying to figure out how to make money with these social media sites. Every time you click one of those advertising links and buy something, they get paid. Every time you buy more game tokens they get paid.
I hate when the developers release their latest version. Few of the new enhancements have on/off switches.
Parents have caught on like wildfire. Its a great way to keep up with family, friends, and old school mates. Postings of recipes are popular with the "over 40" crowd. Dog and cat lovers are abundant, posting pics of the latest lost and found critters.
Its funny, everyone sees something posted on Facebook, and immediately assumes its true, then they "like it" and "share". Occasionally they click the wrong thing and their account gets hacked, and they get cloned, or some things even worse.
Employers have even gotten in on the act, checking up on you as employees, and especially new hires.
Some folks, like my friend Keith Keaton, have formed groups to follow and discuss the annual televised beauty pageants. Other groups relate to specific College fan groups, home town remembrance groups, and reunions of all sorts.
There are lots of groups that have been forms for the purpose of having an online garage sale of sorts. I finally figured out the "b" meant the post "bumps" the photo to the front of a listing, as a refresher for those browsing.
There are some great story tellers out there like my friends Ronnie Hamilton and Fryer Chuck.
Each fall, Facebook becomes full of College Football and all the revelry of campus life, tailgating, and the joys and sadness of either winning or losing. Postings of the pretty girls or toasts to their team are common place. With a loss, there is always next week or next year.
Its been a great way to alert folks about family medical issues, births of children, and even death. I love looking at postings of old friends found recently on Facebook.
My page has been developed strictly for my entertainment . I enjoy sharing pictures of funny things that encounter in life, great food, and good times. Hopefully, none of you have taken offense to any of my postings. None are intended to harm, only entertain! I've enjoyed it so much that some of friends encouraged me to start this blog. I had to begin referring to my wife as the "spousal unit" and the boys as "son 1 and son 2" so that their friends wouldn't comment on some of my postings that they are tagged in. I have been known to post and tag people to Tattoo Parlors as we drive by! And there is always a comment that needs a reply, and pictures that need captioning.
So be careful what you post on Facebook, you just might get a comment from me.
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