urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:thomasguns ...the most cromulent of them all. thomasguns 2006-08-31T21:57:58Z urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:thomasguns:14909 2006-08-31T21:57:58Z 2006-08-31T21:57:58Z Despite the fact that I can't spend all day randomly checking my usual rotation of web pages, I'm really enjoying the new job... it's fucking awesome... also, they ended up paying me $50 for the 2 hours of interview I did in the shop 2 weeks ago... fuck, that's $25 an hour....<br /> So far, every day I've had at least 2 coffee's bought for me, the lunches have been enjoyable, the work is fun and I don't even mind working overtime (which I've done every day so far). My drive is so much shorter and it gives me much more time to make dinner and hang out with Pam...<br /><br /> Good times for Guns... urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:thomasguns:14633 2006-08-24T18:22:35Z 2006-08-24T18:22:35Z yep... today is the day me and Pam celebrate 6 months of enjoying eachother (emotionally and especially physically.... giggity).<br /><br /> I'm taking her out for dinner tonight and I bought her a nice present which I'll mention later just incase she checks my live journal.<br /><br /> Man I love her so much... her and I are such a perfect match. Our 'extravagant' personalities mesh so well together it's unbelievable. I always thought I would have to act different around a girlfriend, but with Pam I truly can be myself without having to worry... It's very nice [said like Borat].<br /> And Pam has such an interesting and entertaining personality. She's so full of energy and is always up for some shenanegans. 6 months seems like a long time now, but I hope it's only a small portion of the time I will spend with Pam in the long run... <br /><br /> truly enjoying this girl...<br /><br /> Rawk,<br /> T urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:thomasguns:14579 2006-08-23T15:53:05Z 2006-08-23T15:53:05Z 2.5 more days left of hell... have monday off.... start new job on Tuesday.... <br /><br /> Fuck it feels so nice to quit a job. And man is it ever nice to know that I won't have to keep coming to Brantford anymore.<br /><br /> <br /><br /> Saw Little Miss Sunshine last night at Galaxy with Pam, B-Rad and his date Ashley (who's boyfriend was very mad that she was hanging out with Brad)... The movie was so depressing that it actually made you feel pretty good. I was wondering if Steve Carrel would be able to act or not and indeed he did a great acting job. My biggest concern was that I would keep thinking of his characters from the Daily Show or 40 Year Old Virgin, but he blew that misconception away right at the beginning of the movie with his performance... good stuff. The end of the movie was truly corny and too cute for my liking, but the the rest of the movie was great...<br /><br /> I'd recomend the movie if you were thinking about seeing it.... but it ain't no Borat... urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:thomasguns:14242 2006-08-18T17:42:19Z 2006-08-18T17:42:19Z Training people is tough when you know for a fact that they can not handle the job you're training them for. You can tell as you're talking to them that they're just smiling and nodding so they don't look 'dumb' (they're not dumb, just embarrassed to look confused). I'm training a person right now to take over my job and I feel so bad for her cause she just doesn't have the skills or knowledge to do the job. I had to create my job, all my spreadsheets, the CAD drawings, the p.o. takeoffs (receipts), all the custom drawings, the complaint forms, the inventory management program, the workorders and the relationship with the customer. It took me months to do all that and because of that I have a very intimate understanding of how it all works and why it has to run the way I set it up. I have to train this person in 1 week and I honestly don't think it's going to work. <br /> On to that, my job is going to actually be split between two people and I don't think that's going to work either. A person has to understand the project as a whole... you can't split it. You have to take everything into consideration when running the project. This is a failure waiting to happen.<br /><br /> Even as I train I find myself ommitting certain key pieces of info just because I know she won't understand until she can comprehend the simple/initial parts of the project. Special cases will pop up when I'm gone and she'll have to figure them out by herself and I guarantee she won't be able to do it right away.<br /><br /><br /> Oh well... I'll have a sweet, stress free job again.<br /><br /><br />Disclaimers Note: the fact that the trainee is female has nothing to do with her understanding of the project. I am not being sexist. A male would have the same amount of trouble. urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:thomasguns:13831 2006-08-17T13:24:00Z 2006-08-17T13:24:00Z This is just a journal entry to remind myself of the job I used to work.<br /><br />8:30 - Arrive at work after just listening to this mornings "What's Wrong with You" or "What Happened".<br />8:31 - Go get coffee<br />8:35 - Sit at desk and drink crappy coffee along with Oatmeal Raisin Nut Muffin from Timmys<br /> - Read headlines from commondreams.org<br />8:40 - Check out todays sunshine girl<br />8:45 - Check Fervid Whisper Message board<br />8:50 - Check out New Projects added to woodweb. Post some comments about peoples woodworking.<br />8:55 - Check for new posts on torontogolfnuts.ca<br />9:00 - Check for posts from friends on my live journal account<br />9:05 - Write an entry in my live journal account.<br />9:10 - Get ready for a hard day at work.<br /><br /> And that's an average morning for me. I guess i'm running about 18 minutes behind today. I was 10 minutes late and had a longer than average talk with a manager in the coffee room today about apprenticeships.<br /><br /> Yep. urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:thomasguns:13546 2006-08-11T19:35:00Z 2006-08-14T17:41:35Z It's hard to describe the feeling you get when you're about to quit. I just printed off my letter of resignation and when I picked it up it felt like a knife. You feel a little rotten knowing that you're going to tell the company you work for that they are now shit out of luck. It's not too bad when you're at an unimportant job, but when you know that a large majority of a company depends on you to be there you feel like shit when you jump ship.<br /> I signed the letter of resignation and it might as well have been in blood. 4:30 will be the time I deliver it to HR. Luckily I won't be giving this directly to my boss as he is on vacation. Dealing with human resources will be a lot easier. My boss is going to have quite a surprise when he comes back on tuesday.<br /><br /> Anyway, that's the rant for now... this shall be fun. urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:thomasguns:13111 2006-08-11T13:42:46Z 2006-08-14T17:39:04Z Sweet... I just got the job offer to work at Novuz. They're actually offering to pay me more than what i asked for too (by $.50). Plus, I get another $.50 raise after my 3 months probation. I like it.<br /><br /> I had my second interview on wednesday and I actually went into the shop and built a cabinet to show off my skills. The best thing is, they are going to pay me for the interview time that I was in the shop.<br /><br /> I'm excited. It's a small custom shop. The owners aren't rich (yet), but they are very fair and kind. If we make this shop take off in success I have no doubt in my mind that they will make sure the workers are rewarded for the success. Current employee listing: 2 owners who work in the shop, my good friend Ian, a co-op student named Gart and 1 secretary. I will be added to the roster as well as a another guy that is going to fly in from Germany... German woodworkers are crazy!!!! ... Sweet. urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:thomasguns:12865 2006-08-09T12:42:15Z 2006-08-14T17:38:43Z 8:45... 15 minutes into work... a shit storm is already brewing. Fuck.<br /><br /> Oh well, second interview tonight at Novuz. Should be neat... at this interview I actually do a bit of work in the shop so they can see if I'm good or not.<br /><br /> rock urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:thomasguns:12762 2006-08-04T19:07:07Z 2006-08-14T17:38:14Z Last night at about 2am I woke up to an unexpected surprise. Quite an uplifting experience it was. Surrounded by the love and warmth of the one I hold so dear to me, I was reminded of one of the many things that are good in my life right now. Though I was tired and drousy I was still able to embrace and become one with the energy in the room. <br /> Yes kids, Pam woke me up with a BJ and then we fucked like crazy... She's so great. Just thought it'd would be good to book mark the day.<br /><br /> T urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:thomasguns:12469 2006-07-29T15:49:13Z 2006-08-14T17:37:46Z Blah blah blah, you have a job....where's all of the sexcapades and misadventures with beautiful women??? This is your libido, telling you to stop posting stuff about your job and start posting some interesting anecdotes of the very amusing life I'm sure you lead. Put Pam back into the story too. She's feeling left out. urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:thomasguns:12073 2006-07-26T16:43:03Z 2006-07-26T16:43:03Z Had myself a job interview today. Place called Nuvuz just on the fringe of Cambridge. Took me 18 minutes to get there which is much better than the usual hour drive I normally do. Small shop, but full of hard working, talented woodworkers. Good pay, semi decent hours. 7 to 4.. but an hour lunch which is nice. Only downside is that there are no benefits whatsoever... no dental, no drug plan, no more Message Therapy.... I know I should take a new job, but I'm not totally convinced that this is the place to be... sometimes I think it'd be great, sometimes I'm skeptical... I'd be giving up a lot of freedoms, but I don't really use the freedoms that I'd be giving up anyway. I hope I have time to talk to some of the other places that I applied to before a job offer is made. urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:thomasguns:11830 2006-07-19T13:39:53Z 2006-07-19T13:39:53Z Today's business report is on making quick decisions with no back up information. Today our customer asked me to give them a quote for a shipment from Kentucky to New York. I figured out the size of the shipment and the type of packaging it would need and then proceeded to call our US shipping department in Kentucky. Our shipper in Kentucky was in a meeting and would not be out for a while. Being the crafty worker that I am, I proceeded to call our shipping department in Brantford and asked "Hey Scott, could you give me a ball park value on a shipment from Kentucky to New York". Scott, without haste, replied with a lazy "No". Well, at this point I didn't care anymore and said "Okay" and hung up. I then proceeded to pull one of Canada's greatest inventions, the tooney, out of my pocket. I stood up on my chair in plain view of all the other cubiclized workers and in a confident voice exclaimed "Heads, three hundred dollars, tails, five hundred dollars". A flip of the tooney and the view of the shiny head of Queen Elizabeth II was all it took to deduce that this shipment would cost $300. I proceeded to call our customer and pass on the valuable information.<br /><br /> This has been the first of many installments of Business Solutions with Tom McIntosh. Check back next week when I give everyone tips about napping on the third floor.<br /><br /> TM urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:thomasguns:11549 2006-07-17T20:43:37Z 2006-07-17T20:43:37Z my job sucks... i should quit and become a full time woodworking machine.. maybe.. just maybe... urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:thomasguns:11443 2006-05-05T03:36:08Z 2006-05-05T03:36:08Z No time for updates, just about time to start partying like grownups. First marriage of the group means we have to set the bar high on the Stag and Doe party. Shaver and Heather are getting married and we need to drink our faces off to celebrate.<br /><br />Details.....<br /><br />June 3, 2006<br />Sol Mar Banquet Hall<br />248 Stirling Avenue S, Kitchener<br />$15 to party down.<br /><br /> You can aquire tix via yours truly, Thomas of Guns urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:thomasguns:11250 2006-03-23T05:40:07Z 2006-03-23T05:40:07Z Back from my Boston trip and holy shit was it ever awesome... too tired and lazy to go into details right now, but I'll fill in some details tomorow... the jist of it:<br /><br />- First time flying is neat.<br />- AVIS is awesome because they pick you up in a bus and take you to your rental car.<br />- Planograms are neat<br />- Harvard and Fenway Park (Green Machine) are cool<br />- Own hotel room / topless jumping on beds = Jive-u-lar.<br />- 7:00 meeting at bar (all covered my company credit card) = hard to remember<br />- Dinner after bar with more drinking (big Guiness please) = lucrative<br /> - My future position within the company was discussed. They are trying to get me to come into a much better position... it's not even like I have to try very hard to get the job... neat... (there are pro's and con's to this one though... TBD later)<br />- More hotel room shenanegans, then bed.<br />- Continental breakfast in the morning (Continetal breakfast consists of your choice of 3 different colored bagels, some poorly arranged fruit and a drink [coffee runs out quick and soon only decaf is available]).<br />- Meeting from 8 to 12 w/ a break in the middle. Then free lunch followed by demontration put on by AJ and sidekicked by yours truly)<br />- Trip over to Staples Headquarters (Holy mother is this some huge shit. Giant building with mega security in place... really cool... [cougar buys T-Guns a drink])<br />- AJ (one of my salesman) drops me off at Boston airport and leaves me with $40 for dinner and pre-flight beer(s). <br /> - Had dinner at a Samuel Adams restaurant in the airport.<br />-Fly home to Cananda... (had fun in Boston, but so glad to be back)<br />- Drive home in record time (leave 9:06, back by 10:00).<br />- Make it home in time to see Pam and go out for more beers (this is one great girl)... so happy to make her the first person I saw back in Cananda.<br />- come back to apartment and catch up w/ Ashley and Ange...<br />- now I am typing.<br />- now I am preparing to post this message and go to sleep [gah, early to rise] urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:thomasguns:10977 2006-03-13T04:41:57Z 2006-03-13T04:41:57Z What a nice weekend.<br /><br /> Friday night Phils for Marks B-day. Predrinking at the house of Guns. Had some Cocasians (sp?) and some rough scotch. Got Mark a wicked scotch chilling device. it consists of 2 glass vase type dingies. One dingy holds ice and the other holds the scotch.. You put the scotch holding dingy into the ice dingy which then cools your scotch without having the ice melt into the scotch. We drank a lot and headed to Phils for an alcoholic slaughtering of Mark and Pam. Mark was cooked around 12 and I believe had to take a breather. Pam as well had outdone herself by 12:30 and needed a soft place to lay down which I provided at my place. <br /><br /> Saturday held an exciting trip to Niagara Falls (see pictures on my MSN space). I'm too lazy to go into details so I'll just note some of the hilights:<br /> - Game of 3 man in which Gabby had about 9 hard ways within 15 minutes.<br /> - Hallway being made the official change room<br /> - Streaking<br /> - Seeing more balls in one night than Richard Simmons.<br /> - Shots by the falls with the shot glasses we won from the arcade.<br /> - Killer glasses<br /> - tailgate parties<br /> - Hating Casino's<br /> - Hallway (changeroom) Crazy 8 Countdown.<br /><br /> Sunday good too....<br />to lazy to write any more...<br />going to bed. urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:thomasguns:10556 2006-03-10T06:10:11Z 2006-03-10T06:10:11Z Was sick for the past two days... slept a lot... watch some Napolean Dynamite. Pam came over yesterday and brought me some really delicious soup to make me feel better... It worked a lot... so did having her company. We worked on her fooseball skils a bit. Yes, she has become my protege. I am teaching her how to be a grand master fooseballer. She is a good learner and already has a good feel for the table. Next year she'll be moving in with a bunch of people that are relatively good at fooseball. They'll also be all pitching in money for a fooseball table. So I'm going to train her behind everyone else's backs so that when she gets to play them for the first time she'll kick there ass. It'll be neat... someday she's going to get really good and kick my ass... it'll be like in Kill Bill when Ella Drive poisons the fish heads of Pai Mei... except Pam won't poison me... she just probably give me a crotch shot with the end of a fooseball bar or something... the irony will be delicious.<br /><br /><br /> Anyway, as for tonight, didn't some cooking... then some 'baking'... them some eating. We made cheese filled tortelini w/ sundried tomato pesto sauce... it was awesome... nice and spicy just the way we like it. Hung out into the wee hours for the morning... like 12:30... [yes that is late for a man w/ a full time job]. Needless to say I feel pretty good.<br /><br /> Not sure if it's officialy Marks birthday now, but happy b-day any way you soon to be drunk son of a bitch. Looking forward to watching you fall to the clutches of Von-Alcohol.<br /><br /> Should be a good weekend.. booze, the lady, Niagara Falls... hell yeah. urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:thomasguns:10241 2006-03-07T05:24:17Z 2006-03-07T05:24:17Z It's really odd how much alike Pam and I are. I don't know what to think other than just don't think, sit back and enjoy the ride... and so I will.<br /><br /> Watched Naked Lunch tonight... seriously, if anyone can explain this to me or point me in a general direction I'd appreciate it. I'm going to give it another viewing because I know there was a lot of symbolism/metaphor's going on in this movie... I just couldn't piece the together. Although David Lynch is always messed like that. Mulholland drive took me a while to understand... Videodrome was a little easier than Mulholland Drive, but still just as messed up..<br /><br /> rock urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:thomasguns:10210 2006-03-02T05:15:21Z 2006-03-02T05:15:21Z A very up and down day. <br /><br />Slept in (forgot to set alarm)[bad mood], go into work thinking it will be a great day anyway [hopes up], business dinner got cancelled [worse mood], rough day at work [not feeling good about anything], come home to house smelling like a hockey players jock strap [losing hope on this day], go out to Home Depot [feel relaxed], go visit Pam at work and drink coffee [feeling a lot better], go to Mongolian Grill for cheap pitchers [feeling really good], head to Duke for 20 minutes to hug all the men [just hilarious], drive Pam home and spend some good quality time before she goes into her house [big smile on my face]....<br /><br /> It's amazing how tiny things can change your mindset so easily. I suppose I just need to learn how to ignore the bad things as they happen and realize my mood will go back to being happy eventually. Of course, it's always nice to know that you have something to share your happiness with in your life.<br /><br /> G'night. urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:thomasguns:9976 2006-03-01T05:19:09Z 2006-03-01T05:19:09Z The wheels of romance are turning again. Had a really fun night tonight... did some chilling, some dining, some coffee'ing and some Kill Billing... and lot's of spooning [GO SPOON!!!] It's nice to have that feeling back again.<br /><br /> Pretty busy week still;<br />Business Dinner (gorging) tommorow / possible jamming and/or meeting with friends<br />Going for massage thursday<br />Hang w/ Pam Friday / go to phils / ??late night events??<br />Saturday: bank to apply for mortgage / huge belt buckle order to take care of / Cabinet job for Ruth at work<br />Sunday: Smiling politely.<br /><br /> Interesting day at work today, aside from all the firings that have been going on (the big broom swept up 6 employees yesterday... rumours say 4 more to be swept up in the upcoming days). Today I brought in two Bread Cutting Boards for some ladies in the packing department (Tommy Guns style). I had told them I'd make them the cutting boards before christmas. Anyway, it was just a gift for them as they have been very kind to me and always listen to my relationship/life stories and give me advice. So I give them their gifts and Lorraine insisted that I take some money for them. Just as I was declining the monetary offer she stuffs some rolled up $5's in my pocket. I thought to myself "okay, no biggie, $5 is fair for a cutting board". I forget about the money until I get home and find it in my pocket. She gave me $30.... that's a lot of money for a cutting board. So I've decided to give most of it back. I'll either directly give her 20 or 25 bux, or since she'll probably refuse the money, I think what I might do is buy her some sort of present. Haven't quite decided yet.<br /><br /> That's my story for the day... I may have some exciting news to announce in the future, I'm just waiting for a couple of approvals before I mention it... rock!<br /> <br /><br />.... on a side note: roomates really suck... the list:<br />1) Trashed apartment<br />2) Broken Rubix Cube<br />3) Black eyes<br />4) Apartment smells like shit (possibly something buried under next item)<br />5) Dirty dishes everywhere... on counter, in sink, all over stove... Seriously, to make supper the other day I had to balance a cookie sheet on the 4" of ledge infront of the sink... I didn't have anywhere to put a cutting board so I had to cut everything by holding it in my hand.... gay.<br />6) Garbage piled everywhere but the garbage bin... like wtf?<br /><br /> aight, that's enough bitching... <br /><br /> over and out<br /> Guns urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:thomasguns:9496 2006-02-27T05:59:38Z 2006-02-27T05:59:38Z Little Britain... see it, live it, love it. I just had a 3 hour session getting updated on season 2 of Little Britain with a very attractive lady (2 things good in that sentence).<br /><br /> This show is hilarious. I'm sad that I hadn't seen it sooner. I'll be watching Season 1 tonight until I fall asleep.<br /><br /> It's British humour, but it reminds me of American humour in the sense that they have no conscience what soever. They rip into obesity and homosexuality so much. It's sweet. Every skit they do is hilarious and all the characters are really well played.<br /><br /> Hopefully you get a chance to see this show. I'll be trying to find out if it still airs on cable t.v.... (crossing fingers) urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:thomasguns:9408 2006-02-23T15:20:45Z 2006-02-23T15:20:45Z You catch one mouse and the whole office will call you a God. I've had numerous people come up to me today to congratulate and thank me on my early morning mouse catch. The thing was half poisoned anyway and wasn't moving very fast. But I got it and impressed all the old ladies at the office. I guess I'm living the dream. urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:thomasguns:8992 2006-02-21T21:44:07Z 2006-02-21T21:44:07Z Approve this, collate that, issue this, meeting here, request for drawing now, ship date yesterday, send/receive, CRO order, no CRF, DSO required, Q40 or Cost Plus?, Cost save your mom, Hebron order, Requisition that, get p.o., FI vs. F&E, Cost back vs estimate, estimated vs actual... reality, what really happened? Have you seen my stapler? urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:thomasguns:8800 2006-02-15T21:08:57Z 2006-02-15T21:08:57Z Office ladies dress like couches and it looks so very ugly. urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:thomasguns:8689 2006-02-12T22:16:58Z 2006-02-12T22:16:58Z So yeah, haven't really posted in a while... don't feel like talking about the past much, so here's to the future:<br /><br /> Thursday; Going to New York. Yep, should be neat. Gonna fly over for business and such. I think my company is trying to hint something to me... like they like me. I guess I'm getting promoted too... More work, possibly more hours... I'm going to have to discuss more $ with them this week. Phils has a working/kick ass fooseball table so I will be hanging out there a lot more again. Getting the band going again as well... good stuff. <br /> My woodworking business on the side is booming as well. Belt buckles are selling like hot cakes which is great. I'm also re-doing some kitchen drawers for a lady at work. Easy money. Her daughter would like an Island put into there kitchen so that should be my next job. I'm also re-finishing an old oak cabinet that my uncle donated to me. Surprisingly enough it was all made from solid wood, that would mean it was made at least 50 years ago. Kinda neat. <br /> Golf season will be back soon which should put a smile on my face. That reminds me, I have to start organizing the Wedding Golf tournament for Dave and Heather... I also have to get fitted for the tuxedos soon and start thinking about witty/funny things to say at the wedding.<br /><br /> Currently reading Generation X by Douglas Coupland. Pretty neat book, although a lot of what i'm reading just makes me want to up and quit my current life. That book just has a way of making life seem so easy if you just become a street rat and leech off of everyone. Maybe the last half of the book will have a more inspiring message.<br /><br /> Oh yeah, i'm now also on my space. What a fucking ridiculous popularity contest that is. Everyone searches to find all there friends, puts them in a big list and selects the 'top 8'. Then we all put up our best pictures (because that's how we want to be known as) and write some silly biography about how 'you wouldn't understand me unless you talk to me'. Shit, I think myspace will last for about 2 weeks for me... although I do find it absolutely hilarious that someone started a Phils group on myspace.<br /> Anyway, if ya feel like hopping on the wagon go and check out my myspace... then be cool and get your own myspace:<br /><br /> <a href="http://www.myspace.com/sir_thomas_guns">http://www.myspace.com/sir_thomas_guns</a><br /><br /> That's about it for now, time to solve the rubix cube again.