On some of my newer work.  I have been out of the writing scene for a while, but have been writing a lot recently.  I would appreciate those in my circle to take a look at some of my newer works, and I'll be sure to return the favor, now that I have the desire to get back into this.

Thanks, hope to get some comments.

-D

After almost a year of stewing, Tighty Whiteys is  complete.  Thoughtful reads and comments are always appreciated.

I know some people were following this piece so I wanted to make an "official" announcement.

Is going to cite explicit examples of recent shaftings.

As usual, my jalopy decided that it should have died several years ago and has once again presented me with a three-digit (that's hundreds in money we're talking about) process of vehicular-defribulation.  It's about the 20th time something like this has happened in the past four years.  The most recent debacle was chronicled <a href="[link];>in this lengthy Livejournal entry from March</a> and involved a $1,200 transmission replacement.  I can't afford to fix the thing so I'm just glad my parents recently got their $100,000 sinkhole settlement and will be able to help out.  If not, I'd probly' send the thing to be <a href="[link];>blown up by the Mythbusters</a>.

A fitting end for my noble steed.

I was partially shafted by a scholarship program of my school's (although I can't really complain, since they are giving me money) when I found out that two of the three people donating money to me are actually not.  The pleasent surprise arrived at my home--addressed to my parents--in the form of a bill for $290.  Yaaaaaaaaaay.

The next heterosexual male at my conservative Christian college who gently caresses my bottom and compliments my gorgeous new hairstyle will be <a href="[link];>mercilessly dropkicked in the chest.</a>  And pleasently thanked for the comment.

I was recently asked about my haircut preferences by a friend, who wondered if I preferred the way it looks now or the way it looked last week.  I responded, "Whatever attracts the most laydeeeehz.  Then a girl walked by and said, "Hey, nice haircut!"  Then I looked at my friend and gave her an amorous kitten growl.

So I guess things are looking up.

Some of you reading this may have noticed my recent lack of communication (and you certainly know that I'm a fan of communication.)  And without too-much detailing regarding what I've been up to, let me just let you all know that I have not fallen off the face of the earth.  In fact I am here on earth most of the time.

What I have been doing is working, playing video games and being incredibly uninspired.  I have a few poetry lines stuck in my head that I just haven't taken the time to write down, and as someone who likes to both read and write that has been affecting my activity on this site as well as the other writing sites on which I am registered.

So for all of you who despite my avid lack of activity continue to read and comment on my work, let me express to you my utmost grattitude for your interest in what I do and for your continued support--regardless of my presence.

Those of you who provide constant feedback are noted and will have their favors returned when I get back into the grind.

Thanks again to all of you; you know who you are.



-D

Rylee Jade, born February 1st, 2007.  8 pounds, 4 ounces.

I'm not uploading the photos; if you're interested enough to take a gander, they can be found on my live journal and myspace, both of which are linked from my LF profile page.

Anyway, it's a pretty overwhelming feeling, being and uncle.  It's just like, "whoa."  Life.  That's really the only way to explain it.

I know, just a few words, coming from me?  It mus be amazing.

A letter I received today:



"Dear Daniel:

CONGRATULATIONS! WELCOME TO OUR FAMILY!

We have now received all your academic materials and I am pleased to inform you that your regular admission to Florida Christian College has been approved for Spring Semester 2007.

Congratulations on your regular admission!

If you have any questions that need to be answered, please call our Admissions Office.

Thank you for choosing Florida Christian College. We are happy you are coming and we pray you will benefit greatly from your studies. May the Lord bless your time with us and we hope you will enjoy being part of the FCC family.

Sincerely,

(inky-handwritten signature here)

Philip Vincent
Dean of Enrollment
Florida Christian College"


*jigs*

Hi! It's been forever since I've blogged! I have a LJ, a Myspace, Lemonfingers and DA, but I rarely blog on them any more. I guess it's because I'm too busy to be constantly ranting about the everyday doings of my life, but somehow, I miss getting it all out on paper. It's refreshing to look back at how I've felt in the past and at how much I've changed. Isn't that refreshing? WELL?!

Anyway, here's where I am right now.

First off, I am sick as a dog with what I believe to be the flu. I have body aches, feel drained of energy, have slight shudders, experience pain by touching pretty much anything (especially cold stuff,) a sore throat, a cough and slight congestion. Let me tell you this: it was absolutely fun working in that condition.

Speaking of work, let me tell you what's annoying me about it right now.

First off, I should not have to feel guilty about calling in if I'm sick; my bosses do this. If you are sick, they expect you to find someone to cover for you. If you can't, they hang up the phone on you when you call them, because those are my Panera managers.

At my old job, calling in sick was no big deal. They would say, "Hey, that's all right; we'll deal. Get well soon." At my current job, they're more concerned about being inconvenienced then they are with the health of their employees. No offense if you're gay, but the only word for this situation is "gay," and additionally, I have no choice but to bold it. This is boldly gay where gay has never gone before.

And you know what I'm really tired of? The scheduling manager. I'm tired of that guy. Let me lodge a list of complaints regarding the scheduling manager:

1 If someone is sick, hurt, exhausted, or otherwise in pain, they are not a "wimp" or a "whiner." They are sick, hurt, exhausted or otherwise in pain. Deal with it.

2 If someone is sick, hurt, exhausted, or otherwise in pain, don't make them feel like they are ruining your life by not coming in to work. Odds are, they need a job and the money that comes with it, and likely want to keep it. I'm sure they will be back to work as soon as they are able.

3 Stop scheduling people when they are not supposed to be working. And if you need them to work an extra shift, let them know ahead of time. Stop expecting everyone to cancel all prior engagements because you felt it was necessary or convenient for you to put someone to work at a time that, as they have made clear to you, is either very inconvenient or impossible for them. We have already lost three employees in the past month, that I know of, because of this.

4 If someone says "no" when asked to pick up a shift, your answer should be "all right." Not "why?" "All right." Me nor anyone else should feel obligated to defend themselves when they refuse to work at a time they are not scheduled to work at. Once again: deal with it.

5 Stop yelling at people when they have to make an availability adjustment. Like it or not, it is your job to do the scheduling; that's why you're the scheduling manager. Quit making everyone feel like they're approaching the Most Holy Place (woo hoo! Bible reference!) just because they have something more important to do than work for 8 hours at $6.00.

6 How bout' some consistent hours? I shouldn't have to talk to the GM every other week because you can't stop dropping me to 12 hours. While we're at it, how bout some consistent scheduling in general? Why am I an everyone else working different times and days on a weekly basis? I worked Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights for nearly 3/1/2 years at my old job, yet I can't get a solid 5-day workweek here. I'm sure I'm not the only person who feels that this severely dampens my ability to live a life away from the so called "everyday oasis" that is Panera Bread, unless my life is also so monotonously scheduled.

7 Stop taking me off the schedule every time I ask for 1 day off. I asked for 1 day off; I did not say I was quitting or that I, for the rest of eternity, never want to work that day again. Odds are, I had something special planned and wanted or needed to attend said event.

8 It's not the staff's fault if the scheduling book is lost, and "good luck with getting your shifts covered" is NOT an acceptable solution to the situation. You know what would have been acceptable? This: "Sorry everyone, I or someone else misplaced the scheduling book. Let me know about your requests as soon as possible so I can do as much as I can. If nothing can be done, I sincerely apologize for your personal inconvenience." This is much better than "good luck with getting your shifts covered." It would also help improve staff-management relations, I think.

9 Lighten up. You seem to very much despise your job; perhaps you should consider a change of employment? There are many local educational opportunities and job training. If you hate your job as much as you let the rest of the staff know, then I would suggest taking steps to find a new line of work. It is not right that the rest of us should have to suffer because you feel it's necessary or convenient to take your anger out on us.



*PHEW* Just needed to get that off my chest.



The reason I've compiled this list (and BTW, it felt really good to compile) is this: my grandfather is very sick, and will probably be leaving us within the next year, if that. The reason for this is that he badly needs heart surgery, but because of how many he's already had, the doctors are unable to operate. One of his heart's valves is not functioning, and there is nothing anyone can do about it. He is nearing 80 years of age.

So my dad decided, rightly, that we need to go see him--which very well could be the last time we do. So, this coming Saturday, we will be leaving for North Carolina and will be returning late Wednesday evening. I not only made it clear to my scheduling manager as to how long I would be gone, but as to the reasons behind it; he is not obvlivious to my grandfather's condition in the least. His response to my request--which was made 10 days before I would be leaving (pretty good considering we had no scheduling book) was "we'll see what we can do," followed by scheduling me Saturday and Monday. And who's responsibility is it to get the shifts covered? MINE?!

As much as I like a steady income, I may just have to tell my job "goodbye." I think that I would much more regret not seeing my grandfather one last time than missing 2 shifts at work.

Additionally, before the situation with my grandfather, I was going to ask off this Thursday and Friday to go to the Florida Community College Press Associate banquet to see what kind of reviews we got on last year's edition of PHCC's Mobius, which I was privelaged enough to be the editor of. I already paid for the banquet and didn't ask off Thursday and Friday because I felt it would dishonest to put those days under the umbrella of "visiting grandpa" time.

What I will probably do is try to get some people to cover my Thursday and Friday. But if it becomes apparent that I will not be able to get people to cover Saturday and Monday and will be held responsible for not working on those days, then I will probably turn in a letter of resignation Wednesday night.

Yes...yes...my plans are already in motion. Ahaha. Aaaahahaha. AAAAAHAHAH--*cough cough*



As far as the situation with grandpa in general, I feel like I'm ready for what is probably coming. I know that he is saved, which is a huge relief. My main feelings of regret--and make no mistake that there are many of them, is that because of the way my life has been, I haven't really been able to get to know him. Mostly because of the conflicts between my parents & my mother and my dad's side of the family, I didn't really get to know anyone on my dad's side until I was about 10 years old. By that time, we lived in Florida and most of dad's family lived in N.C; it wasn't easy to see them very often. Because of that, visits often had that "we're family but we barely know each other feeling." That awkward, bitter feeling.

In a way, I envy my cousins, who were able to grow up with both sides of their family. Maybe distance kept them apart, but at least they knew there was nothing but distance separating them.

This is something that has bothered me for years, and now it's confronting me. I have a lot of anger toward my mother for denying my brother and father and I to be with our family. She had no right to do that, and because of it, our lives will never be as fulfilled or memorable as they could have been. It is something that is difficult--but possible--to forgive. But it will never be forgotten, and I will never be content with it.

That's why if and when I get married, I will make sure it is of the Lord. I will not marry someone who's family I don't get along with, and I will never do to my children or allow to be done to them what my mother did to my brother and I. There are empty holes in our hearts that will never be filled because she was too angry and vengeful and unforgiving. She thought she was hurting them--which she was. But she must never have considered that she was also hurting us, and ripping scars into our souls that will only be healed when we are reunited with the Lord.

Yes, we'll go see him. But I don't know what to say. I won't know what to say. Perhaps nothing is all there is to say; perhaps it is the best thing to say.



I can no longer bear to read mother's letters. It is a physically and emotionally draining experience, and I can't do it any more.



My school of interest is Florida Christian College in Kissimmee, Florida. It is a small college with about 300 students, on-campus housing, and a very strict code of conduct. If I fully decide to attend, I'll have to see if it is as tough as it sounds.

It looks like it would be a real educational challenge, which is good. Most of the professors hold higher degrees from noted universities and seminaries.

Although I won't like removing my earrings or constantly dressing "work casual," I'll make the small, necessary sacrifices that will lead me along the path of higher eduacation.

My Florida Bright Futures scholarship would be accepted, which is a huge and wonderful relief. My final step is to actually send in the paperwork, which I'd like to do before the end of this week.



I've decided to enlist in this year's Christmas production at church. I'll be singing in the choir, and it is my first singing experience! It's been very fun and uplifting, and I'm excited about inviting my family and friends.

The choir directors are saying that this is the best choir that they have seen in 17 years; very uplifting, to say the least



If you pray, keep me in prayer, because life is not easy and there is much work to be done.



God loves you more than you could ever know. And so do I.

Well for those of you who may have forgotten or simply weren't aware of it, I took an official "leave of absence" back in the beginning of June, due to just being generally busy.  I'm still busy nowadays, but I'm able to find and devote some time to writing and reading the work of others, which some of you may already be aware of.

So basically I'm just "officially" saying that I'm back in the game, for now.



Thanks for reading, and for giving a hoot.

I'd like to toss a big bucket of apologies to all of my circle friends and also to all of you who have been favoriting and commenting on my work over the past weeks.

I've been very busy recently with life in general, school ending, ministry services. doing research on where I'm going to continue my education and pretty much everything else that comes with life.

So to those of you who continue to heap on attention and heartfelt appreciation for what I do, thank you very much.  When I finally get back into a position where I can devote time to really reading and commenting on you all's work, expect it.  But for now, I will have to continue my leave of absence.



Thanks again.



Danny

June 11th, 2006

I was truly honored last night when a group of USF and UT mixed ability (IE some of them were in wheelchairs/deaf/partially blind) dance students performed a piece while my poem "In Our Golden Days We Were Saints" was read.  It truly was a treat to see something I wrote come alive on the stage!

The piece was read to the beat of a metronome, with an orange/golden light ambience (they were obviously playing off of the poem's theme of passing time.)  The reader changed after every stanza; it was a very slow and interpretive dance done by about 6 dancers, 2 of them in wheelchairs.

I really wish I would have had a video camera!  I will hopefully be getting a tape soon -_- .

Anyway, point is, kids, if you ever get the chance to have something you wrote be performed on stage by professionals, DO IT.  It was an amazingly rewarding and unique experience!