Annual Review

So I'm at work yesterday and get to that state of boredom on the computer that you just start clicking icons. One of the first I end up at is AOL Instant Messenger and begin viewing random profiles. I notice that my friend Mr. James Garza of Belton, Texas and Aggie engineering fame has posted an away message begging for emails. Currently experiencing a lull in the day, I jot out a quick note asking about his summer internship. This morning, I am greeted by an email that outlines Garza's feelings about the real world and the small serving he is getting of it for the next few months. Just as often happens with my blogs, my reply to him turned out to help me group together some of my latest thoughts about life in general. For that, Garza, I thank you. Trent had posted a comment about wanting to see more about how I "do things". Well, I can't think of anything better than my philosophy on how I try to handle my post-college activities that consume the majority of my time and effort. This next week I will have been working one year since I graduated last May. I'll be honest with you that I'm very proud of that. I'm proud of where I am and what I'm doing. I'm proud that once again in my life I've made a transition into a totally different environment around completely different people. After all, that's what being an adult all boils down to, doesn't it? Making the most out of the situation you end up in and doing what you can to steer your own destiny. Hope Garza doesn't mind that I'm converting the email I wrote to him today into a blog. Maybe this will help some of y'all with your taste of the real world this summer.

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Excerpt of an Email: Advice to Garza
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Well, glad to hear that you're getting a little taste of the real world work schedule past HEB hours, but I'm sure that some of your older family members have given you a few words of advice. Since I know you have nothing better to do at work than read manuals and emails, I'll give you a bit of my own. Hopefully it may help to tide you over this summer, but it should be a relief to re-read after graduation, too.

- Don't conform. You've probably already found that the majority of workers and the general population feels underpaid, underappreciated, yet overworked. They wallow around in their self-pity and get some sort of cheap thrill off of passing their gloom to someone else, especially a young person. You'll notice that the younger people are much more idealistic and optimistic about nearly any situation. It's like that for a purpose. They need us to spark the monotony that companies put themselves in. Without us, groups would dive-bomb into a rut and just get stuck there. Always keep yourself in check on the emotions you experience throughout the day. Are you frustrated because there really IS a problem with the system, or are you just imitating a learned behavior of sulking? I've always had the belief that if you don't voice a suggestion on how to fix the problem, then you have no right to whine about it. Much of what you experience throughout the day is your choice in how you react to it.

- Know your passion. Sure it was the P in BLIMPS, but it's the one that I think all the others can tie back into (by the way, you'll be surprised how much you can use AFC philosophy in the real world). Think about all the transitions you've made throughout the years. The most notable one recently was high school to college. There was something about what you've become involved in through college that tied to the general passion that you had coming out of high school. It's no different when you step out of academia and into corporate. You need to pinpoint what it is that you are passionate about; that one thing that can drive your day. Use that to help pick your job, but once you get there, do everything you can to find how your passion ties into your work. For example, I'm completely passionate about deeper relationships with people. From a certain angle, my whole job can be based on that. As a manager of a project, I am not the boss of any particular person or department, but I do have to motivate the resources that are given to me to make my job complete in a timely and profitable manner. The better I get to know someone, the more I can tailor my encouragement to drive them to the best ending possible. You'll learn your position quicker, your boss will be impressed, and you'll sky-rocket past all the low-lifes that feel more comfortable with their woe-is-me attitude than stretching themselves to react to the situation.

- Accept the realities. It took about nine months for me to get to the point that I felt like the work world was where I was supposed to be. I started visiting College Station and felt more and more removed. You're right, those early mornings do suck, and it becomes really frustrating that you only have time for dinner and about one activity when you get home before it's time for bed. But understanding that that is just how it is helps to ground you some. Professors preach so much theory that it is very difficult to see how different the practice of it all really is. True, the young people are the ones that should look for the possibility of maximizing a situation and taking out the parts that hinder productivity or morale, but there are certain truths you have to live with. Mornings are early. Work days are long. Weekends don't come soon enough. Life used to be so much easier. Really you only have three choices once you notice these things. You can pout and whine about how much more fun college was and how stressful and time-consuming work has turned out to be, you can do more research and take a job that fits what you're looking for, or you can accept that certain conditions are just part of your environment. Now you have to think in quarters, not semesters. Four years of college somehow led into forty years of work. For so long we focus on what we want to be when we "grow up" that we basically expect a throne and scepter when we cross that stage instead of a diploma. It will take time to get where you want to be. Pay your dues now and focus on your goals for the future.

It's good to hear that you are seeing the differences between college and the work world, because it will help soften the blow once you get there. You're going to meet a lot of unhappy people who had really high hopes and somehow lost them along the way. They shifted priorities somewhere along the line or just had the wind taken out of their sail by someone and never really chose to get back up. But it seems like the ones that are the most successful are those that are not afraid of decisions and choose to give it another shot when they fail. Knowing you, I don't think you'll have a problem with any of it. Just enjoy your summer internship for what it is and make the most out of your last year once you go back to school. Aggieland is in fact the greatest place on Earth, but be sure you use it as a starting point and not as a peak of your "glory days". As a wish for good luck, I leave you this quote that you've probably seen before. Talk to you soon.

"A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the quality of his actions and the integrity of his intent." - Unknown

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Cat & Canine, Part 2

Again, a preface to this post. So I'm trying to settle into this new blog setup. Overall, I'm a fan of the updated tools and features, but my comments are still not working. If you don't see a link, drop me an IM at JBondino to leave a few words. I love hearing what people have to say about my most recent post, but lately I've been deprived of it due to some problem in the code. Web design isn't too difficult after you know what you're looking for, and I know my share of it, but when you start talking about moving stuff around and deleting items, forget it. My luck I would go to my Blogger Dashboard to create a brand new post only to be greeted by a blank history. But no worries. Even if they're erased by some fluke accident, my grandmother has started a binder with the paper printouts of my writings. There's not too many people better than someone who admires your work AND is still a step ahead of you. Thanks, Grannie.

When we last met, we had begun to dive into the genuine problem that I have with cats. I have been thinking about you, dear reader, every time that I have come across one this week, but particularly of course last night. Every Sunday night, my friends and I go over to Nick's house to watch The Sopranos and then Deadwood on HBO, two of my very favorite shows. As it is with anything that you hold dear, you often have to make sacrifices. Mine is that I choose for those two hours to share an apartment, and often a spot on the couch, with Zoe the cat. For the majority of the season, she was the only animal in the house and the absolute queen of her domain. What's worse is that she knew it. People sometimes judge that many animals are not intelligent just because we cannot communicate with them. But I would venture to say that that divider only focuses the actions of that creature more on their goal. For Zoe, it's showing that she can do whatever she wants and I can't do a thing about it.

But on one of the happiest days of my life, Nick pulled up the website of an animal shelter in south Dallas. It seemed that one of his friends that works on a construction site had been frequently visited by a boxer puppy. The crew had grown quite attached to the animal, but none of them had any place to take it. Just after they had turned it over to the shelter, Nick came to the rescue. For several years now, Nick has been obsessed with the idea of getting a dog and naming it after his idol and personal hero, Edward Norton. Although we love the actor, we've often questioned his unhealthy addiction. Even moreso we question why he has had his heart set on one type of dog...a mastiff! Do a quick Google search and see that this dog is one link on the evolution chain away from a buffalo. From what I understand, boxers turn into big dogs too, but at least he won't have to rent out another apartment just to hold the mammoth of a creature that he wanted.

Her name was Brooklyn, named of course for a character that Edward Norton is tied to in one of his upcoming movies. When I met her, it was just as I imagined it would be. Her short, stocky body was bouncing around in excitement at our every move. The white from her paws to just above her knees gave her legs four small socks. The rest of her was a light tan with a face that showed complete dedication and loyalty. It was obvious that everyone in the room was overjoyed to have Brooklyn as a part of the group. Oh, wait, I'm sorry, am I forgetting someone? That's right, Zoe! Well, she sat off in the corner, eyeing the new arrival. I wasn't there at their first meeting, but I can only imagine what went through her devious little mind. Do I feel bad for her? Sure, sure, I mean as much as I despise that cat she does have her appealing side. I was just excited about this dog because I knew it would put her in her place. Throughout the upcoming week, Brooklyn definitely made her presence known. Instead of claiming spots around the house like Zoe would do, Brooklyn just tore them up. I don't think there was a room in the apartment that week that wasn't touched. Carpets, blinds, plants, shoes, you name it and the little puppy was there to tear it up. Zoe had the dog scared for a while, until just recently Brooklyn figured out that she's a lot bigger than the cat. I have to say that I smile a little when that dog goes for the cat and then looks at us to see if we're proud of her. Of course we are, puppy.

But just as the cat was put in her place, I was quickly humbled into mine. I guess it's inevitable when I continue to ridicule Zoe for wanting some attention and recognition, just needing someone to appreciate her for what she is. I went over to Nick's house just the other day to go get some dinner with him. Zoe has a routine of scratching on the door to be let out and then meowing outside when she's ready to be let back in. I climbed the stairs to Nick's apartment and found Zoe waiting there for someone to come to the door. "Oh, cat you're so weak and helpless," I thought. With a certain arrogant pride, I loudly knocked several times against the door. After a second with no answer I tried again. No answer. I looked down at the cat. There were those slanted eyes again, and I swear I saw a grin crease her face. Now just plain frustrated, I pulled out my cell phone and called both Nick's mobile and home phone. Getting the answering machine, I tried to talk loud, hoping the speaker would broadcast my desparate cry for help to wherever he was in the apartment. How was my knocking and pleading over the machine any different from Zoe's scratching and meowing, you might ask? It wasn't, and I suffered a personal defeat that day.

Cats are alright, but it's just that dogs are so much better. Sure, I'll love cats for the fact that they're independent and definitely not as needy as dogs. I'll give you that. But I think Zoe knows how I was reduced to her level that day. Somehow I know that she'll find a way to never let me live that down.

Cat & Canine, Part 1

A couple of side comments before I dive into a MUCH needed updated post (I mean, I'm pushing a month lull here folks, which I would say is totally uncalled for). I'm a big fan of the new templates that Blogger is now offering...the only thing is that I guess I have to switch comment tools so unfortunately all my old ones are lost. Just so you know, old commenting visitors, your words were taken to heart and won't be forgotten. I hope to see many more of your witty quips on my new link.

So now that you know a little about me and where I'm coming from (do some back-reading if you don't, people), it's time to explore just what holds the corporate Bond together. Who are the friends and family that make the days worthwhile and the evenings late and memorable? If you really think about it, the people you interact with day in and day out are the ones who shape you and even sometimes have the power to change your mood, actions, and general outlook. Every new group and even some specific individuals I've encountered has seemed to bring out a side of me that I hadn't really found yet. I'll try to do justice to all of them and our experiences over the course of my next few blogs. After all, practically any one of my daily tales involves one of these people.

But, let's give the humans a rest for a change...it's high time you met my arch-nemesis. This is going to offend some people, so brace yourselves: I hate cats. No, no, I don't hate them. I loathe their very existence. The only reason that I can contain myself from just going nuts when I'm around them is giving some credit to the household feline for being part of the same family as a lion. I mean, seriously, that guy is awesome. I'll respect anyone who has a huge mane around their face and is well-known as the King of the jungle...but anyways.

My friends Nick and Rebecca Snider, both to be introduced later, somehow acquired a cat named Zoe, which translated in French means "child of Lucifer". My only real quarrel with cats before Zoe was that they cling to your clothes like a bag of fish hooks when you try to get them off of you. But Zoe reinforced my cat hatred as she quickly took over Nick and Rebecca's apartment. Every spot in the place was hers. "Don't sit on the couch, Zoe sleeps there." "Don't use that ball, that's Zoe's toy." Of course I would put the crowning defeat at Zoe acquiring the guest bathroom. Honestly, that one wasn't that difficult as you can imagine that trying to find that relaxing peace on the porcelain throne is slightly interrupted by a repugnant smell emitted by a litter box that's parked next to the toilet. She continued to strut around the apartment with that typical cat demeanor. Slow and easy walking, shoulders rolling just behind the neck, tail shot proudly into the air waving slightly at the tip, with slight graceful jumps into your lap whenever they so choose. It became ridiculous when Zoe started smelling my hatred. She was only more encouraged to annoy me. I'll be the first to say that a cat is a self-absorbed animal, but they sure know how to scheme. Bored with the rest of the world and showing it, I became her new toy. There could be 8 different people in the room and she would strut right over and lunge into my lap. She'd settle in for a comfortable nap, but only after staring me straight in the face with those vertical-slant pupils. "You're mine now." Don't try to stare down a cat...the rest of the room will think you're crazy and it only fuels the feline's fire. Obviously, I would push her off, doing my best to detach her already-set claw anchors, but my best efforts were to no avail. She was bound and determined to break me. It wasn't affection she wanted. Cats are notoriously independent and couldn't give a rat's tail if you give them your love or not. I was just another piece of furniture or territory in the house to be claimed. Just Zoe's personal prize.

My only hope would lie in the fact that God saw how stuck up the cat was after he created it. In his eternal wisdom of maintaining balance on the planet, God pulled a little reversal on his own name and made the Dog. A gift from the Almighty was soon to arrive to Nick and Rebecca in the form of a boxer mutt named Brooklyn.

To be continued...