I had a craving today for chicken wings and thats when it dawned on me! I have yet to see a place that serves chicken wings... the same food that is an essential stapple at alomst all pubs in Canada is not served here. Today it is Tuesday here, which is the same day the Smitty's has $0.30 wings... sighhhhh!
I was at a Aussie Rules game on Saturday with a fellow named Sebastian who is from Calgary. Well neither one of us had tickets and when we got to the stadium it was evident that the game was sold out. We decided that our best course of action was to wait around where people picked up tickets in hopes that we could stumble upon a couple. Our first pleasant surprise is when some guy left the stadium and gave us a pass to get back into the stadium, which would get one of us in, but no seat. Than only a few minutes later a guy walked up to us and asked if we were watingfor tickets, which obviously we were, so he gave us a childrens ticket that we were able t upgrade to an adult ticket. For the record kids tickets, which are 0 to 16 years of age only cost $2.75... talk about a good way to spend a Saturday afternoon with your family. As it turned out the childrens ticket was left over because a 12-year-old girl missed a birthday party. I was her replacement and let me tell you how loud it is sitting with a dozen 12-year-old girls yelling "MEXICAN WAVE MEXICAN WAVE!!!" every few minutes.
The girls yelling were the least of my problems. It was the guy sitting behind me with his two kids. The guy had an ongoing commentary for the game as if his two kids and I were unable to see the field which happens to be larger than a soccer field. It wasn't just the commentary that was annoyig it was the fact that it was always negative. Even when the home team scored they could have kicked it further, if they made a tackle the tackle could have been harder.
There was a arger dilema at hand though... the father in question was not only annoying the hell out of me, buth e was breeding his two kids to do the same thing. Sure on this fine afternoon the kids were too engrossed in their fairy floss (aka candy floss) to care what the father was saying, but in a few years the three of them will be sitting in the same seats, but rather than eating fairy floss and enjoying the game all three of them will be mumbling to themselves how crappy the play is on the field and if they were out there they would do things differently. Guys take it from me... there is a reason that we are sitting in the comfortable confines of the stands while the players are out trying their best on the field and it isn't because we could do a better job than the.
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Resumes
I have to pose a question... am I the only person who thinks a resume is the dumbest thing ever??
Yes I'm sure it could be used to initially sort through the first batch of applicants... i.e. this guy/girl does not know how to spell, wow he only made it up to grade 7, oh his resume only filled up half a page and it was written in pencil... great.
Other than sorting through the first wave of people what else could it possibly tell you? I mean first off can you not write pretty much whatever you want? Obviously there is a chance that you could get caught lying, but so what?? There is a better chance that you could tell the truth and not get hired, either way you end up with the same result of not getting the job. On the flip side, if you do get the job because you lied and you don't get caught ho harm ho foul. Although I am going to add a disclaimer... if you lie try and make sure you can pull off the lie. For example if you are applying for a serving job and say that you have 5 years experience working at some restaurant, but are unable to carry a tray of dishes... this may be hard to pull off.
I am in the process of looking for some dead beat job here in Australia and if I walked up to some manager and gave them my resume what is Manitoba Hydro, Future Shop and Sports Traders really going to mean to them? Are they going to call these places? Most likely not! Might they ask for a letter of reference?? Maybe, so what do I do scurry home and type out a glowing letter of reference for myself or do I go through the trouble of trying to get a hold of my former employers? I think we both know the answer to that question.
What appears to be the last problem I could possibly face is that the jobs I have previously had are boring! There is nothing exciting about these jobs that could interest an employer that could possibly make them think of later on when deciding whom to hire. Yes I could try and ride things out on my vibrant personality, but that is so much work when I could just put down adult entertainment. I will make a wager that if the coversation went something like...
Boss: ummmm... Danny it says here that you used to be an adult performer. May I or should I ask what exactly that is?
Danny: Well Boss I used to be a stripper for a few local clubs back home.
Boss: HAHAHAHAH!!!! You used to be a stripped? I bet you got...
You know what road that conversation is going down and I don't need to lead you there. I don't want to incriminate myself, but is honesty really the best policy? George O'Leary could provide an argument that says one should not lie on a resume, but I'm not applying to coach the Notre Dame Football team like the infamous former coach did. I am just looking for some part time gig that will pay me as much money as possible with as little work possible. I thought I had finished my resume a few years ago, but I think after some thought that I may need to make a few adjustments! Can someone pass me the white out??
Yes I'm sure it could be used to initially sort through the first batch of applicants... i.e. this guy/girl does not know how to spell, wow he only made it up to grade 7, oh his resume only filled up half a page and it was written in pencil... great.
Other than sorting through the first wave of people what else could it possibly tell you? I mean first off can you not write pretty much whatever you want? Obviously there is a chance that you could get caught lying, but so what?? There is a better chance that you could tell the truth and not get hired, either way you end up with the same result of not getting the job. On the flip side, if you do get the job because you lied and you don't get caught ho harm ho foul. Although I am going to add a disclaimer... if you lie try and make sure you can pull off the lie. For example if you are applying for a serving job and say that you have 5 years experience working at some restaurant, but are unable to carry a tray of dishes... this may be hard to pull off.
I am in the process of looking for some dead beat job here in Australia and if I walked up to some manager and gave them my resume what is Manitoba Hydro, Future Shop and Sports Traders really going to mean to them? Are they going to call these places? Most likely not! Might they ask for a letter of reference?? Maybe, so what do I do scurry home and type out a glowing letter of reference for myself or do I go through the trouble of trying to get a hold of my former employers? I think we both know the answer to that question.
What appears to be the last problem I could possibly face is that the jobs I have previously had are boring! There is nothing exciting about these jobs that could interest an employer that could possibly make them think of later on when deciding whom to hire. Yes I could try and ride things out on my vibrant personality, but that is so much work when I could just put down adult entertainment. I will make a wager that if the coversation went something like...
Boss: ummmm... Danny it says here that you used to be an adult performer. May I or should I ask what exactly that is?
Danny: Well Boss I used to be a stripper for a few local clubs back home.
Boss: HAHAHAHAH!!!! You used to be a stripped? I bet you got...
You know what road that conversation is going down and I don't need to lead you there. I don't want to incriminate myself, but is honesty really the best policy? George O'Leary could provide an argument that says one should not lie on a resume, but I'm not applying to coach the Notre Dame Football team like the infamous former coach did. I am just looking for some part time gig that will pay me as much money as possible with as little work possible. I thought I had finished my resume a few years ago, but I think after some thought that I may need to make a few adjustments! Can someone pass me the white out??
Monday, May 22, 2006
I have a confession to make… I depend on “networking” way too much! Many people may consider being well “networked” a good thing, but I’ve come to terms with the harsh reality it is NOT. Ever since I was about 15 or 16 I’ve depended on networking to help me get things whether it is a job, a spot on a sport team, into a different social network etc… I don’t believe I did it consciously, but I believe how I have networked myself has certainly shaped how my life had panned out so far.
I came to this realization just recently and only because moving to a new country has exposed my dependency on networking because I now have no network to fall back on. Now that I am out looking for some dead end job here in Adelaide I have no network to go to and ask for recommendations as to where I should work. TO be honest back in Canada I’ve been out of the job hunt for awhile and the one or two times I went to pick something up for a short period of time I tapped into my network to get that job.
I guess it is true that certain situations in your life will make you learn about yourself, usually the stuff that you would never think of otherwise and well… moving to Australia has not made me learn much about myself, but it has exposed my dependency on networking. I will have to use my spinster skills and convince myself that this is a good thing and having to find a job on my own is a good thing, but it also leads me to believe I better pick up on creating a new network.. TO THE PUB!!
THINGS I LIKE THIS WEEK
I came to this realization just recently and only because moving to a new country has exposed my dependency on networking because I now have no network to fall back on. Now that I am out looking for some dead end job here in Adelaide I have no network to go to and ask for recommendations as to where I should work. TO be honest back in Canada I’ve been out of the job hunt for awhile and the one or two times I went to pick something up for a short period of time I tapped into my network to get that job.
I guess it is true that certain situations in your life will make you learn about yourself, usually the stuff that you would never think of otherwise and well… moving to Australia has not made me learn much about myself, but it has exposed my dependency on networking. I will have to use my spinster skills and convince myself that this is a good thing and having to find a job on my own is a good thing, but it also leads me to believe I better pick up on creating a new network.. TO THE PUB!!
THINGS I LIKE THIS WEEK
- I love Sports Illustrated and the 10 issues I got in the mail last week. Reading that magazine is my cocaine
THINGS I DO NOT LIKE THIS WEEK
- Australian tax file number and the fact that I don't have one yet... this may cause employment problems for Danny
Thursday, May 11, 2006
And Dennis was his Name-O
After finally finishing my Athabasca course I decided it was time to venture out and get my first haircut. I was going to go through an extensive search to find the best place to get a haircut, so I walked into the first place that was full of old saucy ladies getting perms and made an appoint. I figured because it had a sign outside on the sidewalk that said "Men's Haircuts Now Available" that it must be good. Well I sat down the guy asked how I wanted it cut I responded "short" than he pulled out the clippers and went at it. He did not offer a coffee, did not tell me his name, nor did he want any other details about how I wanted my hair. While "clipping away" he managed to cut my ear and I'm not talking a little paper cut, but actual blood. Anyways, 15 minutes later my haircut was done and I looked like Jim Carey in Dumb and Dumber. After all was said and done I paid $25 to cut my ear, bad haircut (and I mean seriously theres not much to giving Danny a status quo like haircut), no talking and no coffee. I did however receive a cut out piece of paper that had been photocopied, which after looking it over realized it was his business card. At first I thought it was a coupon to make up for cutting my ear. Is it just me or is the second round of the NHL play-offs been very disappointing?? I mean Buffalo up on Ottawa 3-0, Carolina 3-0 over New Jersey. At least Edmonton looks to be putting up a fight against San Jose. The NHL must be thrilled to see teams like Buffalo and Carolina making a run for the Stanley Cup. I mean people care about as much for those teams as people do for how my Australian haircut went. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that one team... I'm not going to reveal who is going to comeback from 3-0 down. Excuse me for one second I just sneezed and got gunk all over my hand and the keyboard.
After getting gunk on my hand I decided to just save my entry... please dismiss the hockey bit... there will be no comeback.
Friday night Erin and I attended the med ball, which is essentially dinner, dancing and free booze. Anyways I met this guy named Ben, super nice guy and he kept talking about this Dennis... Dennis this Dennis that. I finally asked him if Dennis was short with a shaved heard, which he replied yes. I than said "you mean closet peeer" and he burst out laughing. Apparently closet peeers real name is Dennis and he is famous.
University of Athabasca... if you happen to read this please take note! It should not take a week to enter a final grade into your computer. People pay good money for your money grabbing correspondence courses... use that money and hire more staff.
Things I like this Week
- I'm hoping to receive my first "package" this week.
- I will get over my cold.
THINGS I DO NOT LIKE THIS WEEK
- That I'm not over my cold yet.
- Thieves! England sent their criminals to Canada way back when and the apple never falls far from the tree.
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Closet Pee
Hello everyone,
I apologize its been so long between entries, but now that Erin and I have internet on the way that will soon change. Anyways I have a few things I'd like to get off my chest, so get comfortable and enjoy the ride.
I realized something the other day... there are some things that no matter where you are in the world, no matter what culture... it is NOT cool. Upon Erin arriving in Australia she attended a house party with her med school friends. At some point in the night on of her classmates decided that it would be a good time to pee in the closet (in case you are keeping track at home... this is the not cool thing). I'd like to clarify that there is never a good time to pee in the closet, but regardless Erin and Carmen (one of Erin's friends) decided to point out the closet peeer (not sure if thats a word). Most of the people are going to be in Australia for 4 years and this guy decided to pee in the closet in the first few weeks.... well this leads me to the point in my story... I wonder what its like to have everyone think of you as the closet peeer. Every time I see this guy the first thing I think of is that he went wee wee in the closet, which causes me to instinctively pretend I'm holding a hose near my crotch and go about pretending that I'm putting out a fire.
Moral of the story is... friends don't let friends pee in the closet at any time.
A guy in Erin's class ad I go running about three times a week... he's a nice guy, actually he's a nice guy/a**hole similar to me. Anyways this is a conversation we had the other day... (His name is Peter and he's from Melbourne) I'll set the sceen... its about 5 P.M. and there is a gorgeous sunset.
Peter: I reckon thats beautiful... golly just beautiful.
Danny: Yes its quite nice
Peter: do you'al have sunsets back in Canada?
Danny: ahhhhhhh yeah we have sunsets.
Peter: AH really I didn't know that. Do people fancy them like they do here?
Danny: Yeah they like them. It even looks similar to this sunset its just that ours would be over a fresh water lake rather than an Ocean.
Anyways, how did Peter think the sun went down in Canada? It just would sit there up in the sky and all of a sudden it turned dark outside? I know I've asked stupid question since I got here, but I pretty much assumed upon arriving in Australia that the earth turned at the same speed in Australia as it does in Canada.
THINGS I LIKE THIS WEEK
I apologize its been so long between entries, but now that Erin and I have internet on the way that will soon change. Anyways I have a few things I'd like to get off my chest, so get comfortable and enjoy the ride.
I realized something the other day... there are some things that no matter where you are in the world, no matter what culture... it is NOT cool. Upon Erin arriving in Australia she attended a house party with her med school friends. At some point in the night on of her classmates decided that it would be a good time to pee in the closet (in case you are keeping track at home... this is the not cool thing). I'd like to clarify that there is never a good time to pee in the closet, but regardless Erin and Carmen (one of Erin's friends) decided to point out the closet peeer (not sure if thats a word). Most of the people are going to be in Australia for 4 years and this guy decided to pee in the closet in the first few weeks.... well this leads me to the point in my story... I wonder what its like to have everyone think of you as the closet peeer. Every time I see this guy the first thing I think of is that he went wee wee in the closet, which causes me to instinctively pretend I'm holding a hose near my crotch and go about pretending that I'm putting out a fire.
Moral of the story is... friends don't let friends pee in the closet at any time.
A guy in Erin's class ad I go running about three times a week... he's a nice guy, actually he's a nice guy/a**hole similar to me. Anyways this is a conversation we had the other day... (His name is Peter and he's from Melbourne) I'll set the sceen... its about 5 P.M. and there is a gorgeous sunset.
Peter: I reckon thats beautiful... golly just beautiful.
Danny: Yes its quite nice
Peter: do you'al have sunsets back in Canada?
Danny: ahhhhhhh yeah we have sunsets.
Peter: AH really I didn't know that. Do people fancy them like they do here?
Danny: Yeah they like them. It even looks similar to this sunset its just that ours would be over a fresh water lake rather than an Ocean.
Anyways, how did Peter think the sun went down in Canada? It just would sit there up in the sky and all of a sudden it turned dark outside? I know I've asked stupid question since I got here, but I pretty much assumed upon arriving in Australia that the earth turned at the same speed in Australia as it does in Canada.
THINGS I LIKE THIS WEEK
- love that Erin and I got tickets to Coldplay for June in Melbourne
- that the Moose won their first series against the Crunch (bad team name)
THINGS I DO NOT LIKE THIS WEEK
- Do not want to see Koby Bryant and the Lakers beat Steve Nash and the Suns
- How long it takes to get internet hooked up in Adelaide
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