C Note(s)

I learned many life lessons while working at Costco Travel. One of which was being ... Showtime Ready! A couple years ago I was still working at Costco Travel therefore sometimes I traveled for business. And even while traveling, especially on behalf of Costco, you should always be Showtime Ready! One of my last business trips was to Puerto Rico and Aruba. In order to appreciate this story, you need to know that Costco will maximize their investment in you. That translates into full itineraries from sun up to sundown on each day of travel. Honestly, I would do the same. A typical day is a group breakfast, followed by a full day of 5 to 6 hotel site inspections, and finally a group dinner or activity. Of course, nothing that involves humans operates exactly on schedule like a Swiss watch, so adjustments are required on-the-fly. One particular day in Puerto Rico we were terribly off schedule due to unforeseen events. Like I said, not perfect. Our group leader, also my manager...

I've experienced karaoke cheers and jeers over the years. While I've karaoked a few times in my teens and early 20's, I really only recognize my early 30's as my start to my karaoke "career" for lack of a better term. And what I meant by "career", I included time behind the mic as well as in front. That's right, in the early stages I was karaoke host with the most at Malarky's. When I wasn't working, I was singing at the same place. Once I was established and comfortable hosting karaoke, I was encouraged to tour the surrounding area including Seattle to observe other karaoke. Not necessarily to compare myself but know how other DJ's do it. See what their strengths and weaknesses are, and see how I can apply that to my show. Karaoke Cheers and Jeers All and all, I've had an awesome time singing, and drinking beer with my friends while waiting for my turn. I've learned my vocal tone range, and the songs that fal...

One of your duties as a Costco FE Supervisor is sometimes being tasked with completing the first audit, yet not be the auditor for the entire day. It's taken a year of observations, but I finally decided that being the first auditor is like being a panda zookeeper in the video that went viral on Facebook, YouTube, and all other social media. To give you some insight, you waltz down to the Membership Desk and Refunds Area with an RF Scanner Gun in your hand. Usually it's hot garbage spilling out of the 2 racks provided to store refunds done. I was trained to move all the items over from the left to the right to begin the audit. But usually there is merchandise in both racks, mostly clothes. I kinda wanna scream Panda, Panda, Panda, like the song . And like the song, I'm not impressed with it. By the time you're sent down there, there's only an hour or so prior to the auditor to show up for the day, yet you have more than an hour's worth of work ... ...

So after 3 months, I decided that Mark VI is gone. I set out to purchase a new 7th Generation iPod Nano. I looked into the usual places for pricing comparison of Craigslist, and FB Market. But I also tried out the shopping apps of OfferUp and Letgo. Sure enough, OfferUp had what I was looking for. During the summer of 2016, Mark VI tumbled outta my pocket and ate shit right into the pavement like he had done before. Except this time I heard the tell-tale quishy sound of glass shattering. He and I rolled along until New Year's Eve when he done ran off, never to be seen again. The following is i nteresting timeline about my iPod Nano's... iPod Nano, Generation 2 (G2), Mark I – 9/28/08 to present (on loan to my sister, she is the custodian) iPod Nano, Generation 3 (G3), Mark II – 10/6/09 to 2/7/10 (dropped in Costco parking lot, cracked screen) iPod Nano, Generation 3 (G3), Mark III – 2/8/10 to 2/22/10 (put it through the laundry, accidentally forgot it in a pocke...

Happy St Patrick's Day to one and all! It's a day we celebrate Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland, right here in the United States. His death on March 17th, 461 A.D. is the recognized day to commemorate his work with the local pagan Irish. Irish are warm and welcoming, if not at least witty (some say snarky), which when it comes to drinking they strive for inclusion. To the best of my knowledge, I'm a small percentage of Irish from my Dad's side. It would explain a few things! That inclusion reminded me of a story that happened on St. Patrick's Day in 2012 ... A large group of my friends called ourselves, The Brew Crew. We collectively decided to post up in Renton instead of Seattle for our usual celebrating of St. Patrick's Day of corn beef, cabbage and pints of Guinness. That usually is found at any one of the Irish pubs in Seattle. My sister and I were late because of a Sounders match, that night, conflicted with the start time...

What's Lent, you ask? If you are a follower of the Catholic religion, they believe a man named Jesus Christ fasted in the desert for 40 days, and 40 nights. So ... that religion implores you to sacrifice something for the same period, leading up to Easter. Or just watch the movie #40Daysand40Nights - your choice. Well, I'm not Catholic by any means, but I consider myself a religious man nonetheless. I gave it some thought. "What would I give up for Lent?" I didn't know where to start so I started a Google search. The usual answers of coffee, chocolate, etc were a majority of the search results. While I'm a ginormous coffee fan, in which the withdrawal symptoms would be significant. I can only imagine the headaches, the mental fog and nausea. No. What sacrifice would rip my heart out completely? Give up music for Lent! As a matter of fact, I'm listening to my extensive iTunes library while I type this entry. I'm fairly certain I would ...

Ever since I was a young man, I have had a blessing and a curse of a sixth sense. Sometimes I refer to it as a disturbance in the Force (ala Star Wars), my Spidey Sense going off (ala Spider-Man), or the Universe talking to me . In the end, it's still referencing a metaphysical connection that I have created with my friends, family, and loved ones that creates a physical reaction within me. I realize that'll read like I'm crazier than a shithouse rat. Then again, the by-line for this blog states "Memoirs of a Madman", so you've already been warned - AND IF you haven't already figured that out well you're in trouble! I digress... The feeling is always the same: a blackhole in my lower intestines. It's acute, too. I am literally just living my life, then BAM! Two snakes are coiled and constricting my intestines so intently that causes my appetite to lessen to starvation and almost has me doubled-over. That's the blessing part. I c...