Double Rainbow All The Way

Nathan Fillion is hands down one of my favorite actors. I have yet to see anything of his and not be immensely enjoyed by it.

A few days ago on Twitter he began propagating the phrase 'Double Rainbow'. Upon a bit of digging I found out precisely what it was pertaining too.

I now introduce it to you in the hopes that the phrase 'Double Rainbow' will enter your daily lexicon.

I know it has for me.

Proper Definition - CLICK HERE

The Forest Gump Driving Academy

Let me preface this by noting that I have only lived in this area for about two weeks now. I am, quite literally, well out of my element in terms of location. Prior to interviewing here I had been to the area maybe once and I am several hours away from anything I am familiar with.

I have also lived in, and am familiar with, two very large metropolitan areas.

That being said, this city must have the highest concentration of mentally handicapped drivers I have ever seen. And I don't mean in an unsafe manner, I mean I am on the road with a bunch of Rain Men.

The following examples are merely from my short 15 minute drive to work today.

First, everyone here seems to do at least 10 mph below the speed limit. All the time. The main road I take has a posted speed limit of 45 mph. I was going 35 and FLYING past people. It's insane.

Second, I witnessed a semi attempt to make a turn as if he were a regular vehicle. No preparation in how wide he was going to have to turn, he just cranked it and went. Naturally he went completely up on the sidewalk always before he stopped and realized what he did.

Then he suddenly threw it in reverse and started backing up towards the rest of us. In the middle of a busy intersection. As the lights were changing.

Oh, but there's more.

So for a brief while I travel down this three lane road or what have you. I'm crusin' along when suddenly traffic slows to a crawl. The reason? There's a 'Wet Paint' truck ahead.

Now, I know what you're thinking right now. "Oh Phatty, why get bent out of shape for people abiding by the utility workers. That's a good thing!"

And it is.... except he wasn't on duty. He was just driving on the road, probably to his next job. No lines were being painted, no cones collected, no lights flashing, just driving.

And because the back of the truck said "WARNING: Wet Paint, DO NOT PASS" every naturally decided that in no manner is it acceptable to pass the truck.

This is going down a three lane busy road at 20 mph. Each lane had at least eight or nine cars backed up in it because no one would pass the freakin' truck simply because they could not comprehend that the sign on the back of the truck was not relevant.

After two miles I turned off the road and let the idiot brigade carry on.

Now I have seen a lot of stupid shit on the road in my short life, but this really has to take the cake. You cannot comprehend how dumbfounded I was by the end of my journey.

And I have four more years left in this city.... I think I need to start investing in more Johnnie Walker.

An Unexpected Experience

So often in retail pharmacy you become jaded to what people are actually like. When I'm training someone new, I like to reinforce that you have to be prepared to explain things in very simple terms to patients. And to also be prepared to hear assine things because no matter how stupid you may think a patient is, they can take it up a notch without warning.

Yes, I know that sounds terrible, but you can only hear so many times about someone shoving a suppository WITH the wrapper still on up their ass. It's a fact of life in pharmacy though, nothing ceases to amaze me.

But I digress, for the last ten years this is the type of thing I have seen. People generally pissed off that they aren't getting their way (whether they have a good reason or not) with the occasional kind, understanding person.

Today I was reminded that not everyone is wired that way.

By the halfway point of my first shift on the floor of Big Evil today, I was on my own. And I was shocked, shocked, at how kind and understanding the vast majority of the customers were.

Quite nearly everyone was understanding and helpful, people were laughing and smiling. It was such an utterly stark change from what I'm used to that I could hardly believe it. I didn't have anyone glare or yell at me all day long.

It was amazing.

Perhaps I am a bit on the jaded side from the past few years. Maybe I do need to start giving people a little more credit than I have been.

Who knew I would actually learn something from this little gig?

The Quiet Room

What an interesting day. Now I have studied this company in detail for several of my business classes. I've come to respect how efficient they are in the way they do business. And I'll be the first to admit that they have done a good job in removing many of the... cold ways in which they do business with their employees.

That being said... it was weird. The first video I watched was an eight minute spiel that pretty much said Unions were the reason Jesus was killed. I'm serious, that is all the first video was about.

Now I won't get into my personal views on the matter, but I'm not sure I have ever seen such a biased and, if I may use the phrase, brainwashing video in my life. If I had no outside experience of unions, and I were ignorant, I would easily take everything said there as fact.

And there is something inherently wrong about that.

The best part came later. During my 'tour' I was shown the break room for employees. Off to the side, there was another room with a small window. I was told that it is called 'The Quiet Room'.

Apparently if you are having a bad day and just want some place that's quiet, you can go in there.

I now think that every pharmacy should have a 'Quiet Room' in the back. Seriously, how awesome would that be?

Bitchy customer that does not want to pay their $2 copay? I'm going to the Quiet Room.

Argus down again grinding the pharmacy to a halt? I'm going to the Quiet Room.

Customer wants their Oxycontin filled 14 days early, then becomes angry and borderline violent when you tell them now? I'm going to the Quiet Room.

Shit, while we're there, let's put a kegerator in there. Maybe a Barcolounger. And one of those nifty massaging mats.

How awesome would that be?

It's been just one day and I've already been amazed and disturbed. I'm going to like this place I think.... for a the entertainment aspect that is.

The Dreaded Beep of an Alarm Clock

After 48 long, and ultimately unfruitful, days I shall return to the working world. No, it's nothing as glamorous as counting by five all day and repeatedly telling people 'No, you're hydrocodone subscription has not been called in yet' but it's something.

It'll be the first new job I've had in six years and my first job outside of a pharmacy. To say it is will be weird is a vast understatement.

Aside from that the wife and I survived the move. I do believe River is the happiest out of all of us as she has much more space to run around inside now. I will be EXTREMELY happy when I finally unpack the last box and our decorations will no longer consist of cardboard strewn about.

In any case, I am being a good boy and going to bed early tonight. At 8am tomorrow morning, I become yet another smiling face at Big Evil.

I just hope you guys are ready for the stories.

Acapella

In the process of moving right now, so I figured I would bore you all with some more music.

This is an acapella group someone I dated a few years back introduced me too. They generally put out some rather cool stuff and I couldn't find much on YouTube so I had to upload it myself. I'm fancy like that.

Enjoy.