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Jeff91199
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Name: Jeff
Country: United States
State: Vermont
Metro: Burlington
Gender: Male
Interests: God, sarcasm, witty repartee, friends with a sense of humor, music, loitering, and timely diversions.
Expertise: Writing stories, spending hours at bookstores listening to music and reading, and enjoying a good cup of coffee.
Occupation: Temp
Industry: Various
Message: message meEmail: email me
Website: visit my website
AIM:  Jesusfreak439
Member Since:
8/10/2004
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| Between The Lines
Ripped from the RSVP page of the Burlington Writer's Meetup:
I would have liked not to impose a "rule" for the group to keep this more casual, but after a member came in last week, nearly 1/2 an hour late and expecting feedback on work, then admitting he had not only NOT read the 2nd part of another member's story, but that he hadn't even bothered reading the first part, I felt compelled to remove the member, simply because I find that kind of mentality rude. Thank you. See you Monday. Pretty scathing stuff, huh? Let's see what Ryan, the author of this missive, was really trying to say: I would have liked not to impose a "rule" for the group to keep this more casual I thought we could be relaxed and laid back, but now I'm gonna have to get all control freak on y'all. but after a member came in last week, nearly 1/2 an hour late he emailed me ahead of time to let me know he'd be late, but this kind of behavior can NOT be tolerated, so I felt compelled to make an example of him. and expecting feedback on work
he didn't actually say this, but I have to make these charges stick, so it's okay. then admitting after I grilled him in front of everyone and made him squirm a little he had not only NOT read the 2nd part of another member's story, but that he hadn't even bothered reading the first part having other obligations is no excuse not to read something in depth and recall every detail of it I felt compelled to remove the member, simply because I find that kind of mentality rude. he really, really hurt my widdle feelings, so he's gone now. How dare this insensitive Philistine have an unusually hectic month - excuses, excuses! Thank you. See you Monday. You don't want to see me angry! My last graded English class was back in the days of "A vote for Nader is a vote for Bush!," so my in-depth analysis skills might be a little rusty, but I think this'll pass muster. I'm not sure which is sadder; that I'd wanted to see a writer's group here in Burlington (and had considered starting one a few months ago), only to get kicked out for a relatively minor infraction; or that out of the 39 people here in Burlington who want a Meetup for writers, only 2 or 3 seem to be interested in coming out to this one. Not to dwell excessively on it, but it got me thinking. Writer's groups can be good because, done well, they pull the writer out of his or her solitary bunker, face-to-face with fellow scribes. As a writer, it's good to be around other people sometimes who don't go "huh?" or "that's nice" when you tell them about the story you're writing. And feedback is good, vital sometimes, even. The only trouble is that the only three certainties in life are death, taxes, and stuff happening. If you're in charge of a group of people, sometimes you have to allow for that, for stuff happening, for plans to change, for others to be short on time. Otherwise, I guess you could banish everyone who doesn't do as you'd wished, but you're only shooting yourself in the foot, pal. As for me, I'm planning to take a nice, long break from writers groups. Sometimes it just takes one guy with a chip on his shoulder and a harsh, accusatory attitude to suck all the enjoyment out of it. And after that, it's better, for sanity's sake, if writing is a solo affair.  On a happier note, I've been getting involved with Burlington City Arts these days - I guest blogged for a recent event last month, and I'll be helping set something up on the waterfront this weekend. Should be good times. Speaking of blogs, when you start a blog entry and never finish it, do you leave it there under "private" or "protected," or do you get rid of it altogether? | | |
| The sounds of StarbucksWhirr whirr! Ssss! Ssss! Crunch crunch! Blah blah! - the sounds of Starbucks.
No wonder I can't concentrate. The coffee sure is addictive, though. | | |
| Options (or, From the Pan to the Fire)I know that the application deadline has passed for the first NYC Civic Corps class, but do you know when/if a second class will begin; and when you will begin accepting applications? I recently left New York City in search of greener grass, but just can't stay away. I'd love to return and help the city when it needs me most. I can return any time in August or this fall.
Thanks, Jeff *lastnameredacted*
Full Disclosure: Burlington’s a great place to be, and you’ll seldom hear a bad word about this town from me. Moving up here, IMO, was one of the best decisions I've made. It's friendlier, simpler and slower than the City that Never Sleeps. But it's not for me.
When I returned to NYC last weekend, it was like having my eyes re-opened. If you miss the subway, you’re gonna be mad, but there’ll be another one five minutes later. There are literally thousands of Meetup groups out there, waiting for you to join. Churches have dozens, if not hundreds, of small groups divvied up by neighborhood, sometimes by interest or age. If it’s 3 in the morning and you want a Big Gulp and a slice of pizza, there’s no good reason you can’t put some shoes on and go get it. I don’t care what kind of event you go to, whether it’s for Crackheads Anonymous, Singles with Poodles or Affluent, Poker Playing Tax Collectors, if it’s in Manhattan, you will not find the words “Ample Free Parking Available,” and you will not be expected to drive there.
The economy sucks. Sure does. The economy sucks more than a vacuum cleaner with the engine of a Mustang. Thing is, you can take the guy out of the city, but you can’t take the city out of the guy. And Lord knows, I tried for six years of college and immediate post-college living. And three months (and counting) here in the Green Mountain State. The economy sucks everywhere. By the way, the Burlington Free Press sez that Vermont's probably not going to recover from this economic storm for another 2-3 years.
Screw the economy. I need a city where the "things to do" schedule is 8-10 pages long, in 8-point font. On a Monday night. Where if one church, or one small group, doesn't work out, I can easily find another one without having to wonder how I can finagle a ride. Where, recession or not, the opportunities aren't limited to a handful of industries. Where you don't have to settle for a minimum-wage job because the field you majored in is either underrepresented or not a part of the state's local economy at all. Where you get as much of a rush from being in the city as you would from sticking a fork in the wall socket. Where the sky's literally the limit.
I must be crazy. I've got a good thing here in Burlington - I'm living with one of my best friends from college, the baristas here greet me with a smile and already know what I'm going to order, and to a degree, it is somewhat easier to get involved in things and to have your voice heard. Not to mention that I have a room of my own, with posters on the walls and storage space - quite the upgrade from Mom's couch. I really like it up here, but now that I really realized what I gave up, and what I left behind, how can I not want to go back? I feel a little like Adam and Eve must have once they bit into the forbidden apple from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil (don't know the story? find a Bible). All was hunky-dory before I headed home for Memorial Day weekend, but now that my eyes have been opened, how can I close them again? Plus, I feel really bad for getting my friend's hopes up about having me here in town, only to split - or to want to split - after a few months. It won't be perfect. You're probably going to read (or bypass) entries of mine, grousing about temp agencies, high unemployment, and self-centered jerks on the subway - I guarantee that if I make it back to New York, you will - but no place is. Every place has its good aspects and bad aspects; you have to find a place that matches your pace and temprament and be willing to put up with the bad along with the good. Even if you have to remind yourself 50 times a day why you chose to live where you do (especially if you're giving up a smaller, cleaner and friendlier place), that's what you have to do. Otherwise, you'll lose sight of whatever your goal is, and become angry, disillusioned and bitter.
It won't be a waste. I'd like to think that I've grown as a person, and changed for the better, for having lived here in Vermont, even these three months. I've gotten to know my BFF, her husband and family better. I've become more relaxed and less angry. I've probably been nudged closer to God, which is no easy feat in a state of rocky spiritial soil (don't know the reference? find a Bible). I've made a few friends/friendquaintances, and I've learned how to deal with people in a way that doesn't lead to anger and seeing red. Maybe I had to temporarily leave The City to realize what a good thing I really had down there. I'm here all week. And all summer -I'm taking some computer classes so that I'll have more skills under my belt, and look thatmuch better to potential employers. Plus, I have much more quality time to get in. And the absolute last thing I'd want to do is to burn any bridges on my way out of town. However, there's a huge family reunion in the Bronx over Labor Day weekend. Maybe I can get there with a MetroCard rather than an Amtrak ticket. Speaking of MetroCards...
PS: Let’s keep this between you and me, eh?
In other words, tell anyone about this and I’ll carve the internet out of your computer with a sharpened MetroCard.
PPS: I heard back from the NYC Corps people the following morning. It's a pilot program, so they only have
funding for this first year so far. Cheapskates. I'm applying with Americorps, and if that doesn't pan out, I'll probably start reaching out to temp agencies and firing up LinkedIn. | | |
| What do you do when (you think) no one is looking?
I just answered this Featured Question; you can answer it too!
I do a little gold digging and then bury my nasal treasures on the bottom flaps of the couch. Other times, I read Featured Question responses and laugh. | | |
| Enhance This!Burlington never looked as good as it did last Tuesday! As I mentioned in my last entry, I went to the DMV down in Montpelier to apply for an Enhanced Non-Driver's ID. FAIL.
I grabbed my birth certificate (I truly am the Real Slim Shady) and proof of residence (a piece of mail), and Greyhounded down to Montpelier to apply for the ID (starting next month, it'll be a must-have to cross into Canada)...
My time with the DMV - not just any DMV, mind you, but THE main DMV office for any and everythng here in the Green Mountain State - went longer than planned, for several reasons:
1) According to federal ID requirements, a mobile phone bill just won't do for proof of residency - even though my current address (the place where I'm sitting - reclining, actually - and typing this out) was plainly shown on the bill.
2) 99% of the time, I carry my Social Security card in my wallet (always thought this was a safer bet than leaving it to be swallowed by dust bunnies). Unfortunately, my trip to our (bite-sized) Capital City was the 1% of the time when my Social Security card was not to be found.
3) Because of this, I had to visit the local Social Security office - 20 minutes before closing - where I had to wait 20-odd minutes behind a woman with a very lengthy, very frustrating query, and multiple husbands (hopefully she wasn't killing them for survivor's benefits).
However...
I did get the Enhanced ID! I had to appeal to the Head of Counter Services (a pleasant guy who objected to my choice of cell phone carrier, but was inclined to help me), and fax over a better piece of mail (something that didn't come from Sprint). They issued a temporary sheet of printer paper; and the official one came in the mail yesterday (the DMV told me that it should take 7-14 days. PASS). Much better signature, and better photo, than the original, non-Enhanced ID that I got back in February.
This week's been pretty chill, but it hasn't gone by as quickly as I wanted it to - I'm heading down to NYC with Rebecca and her little ones tomorrow, God willing. One of them has a fever, so if she doesn't feel better, we won't drive down.
Just in case, I reserved a roundtrip on Amtrak, leaving tomorrow morning and coming back Monday night. I've got reservations at Sweet Caroline's Dueling Piano Bar tomorrow night, plans to hang out with a church buddy on Saturday, and I still want to ride the M6 bus one last time on Sunday before it stops running forever. How could you go wrong with one bus line that went through Times Square, Herald Square, Union Square (basically the backbone of Manhattan), and all the way down through Chinatown and Law & Order country?
Well, I should end this thing; I have a trip to pack for tonight and a train to catch tomorrow morning.
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