Charlie's School of Marketing Blog

Charlie's School of Marketing Blog

For all those whiners out there.. this page is for you

For all those whiners out there.. this page is for you

I'm feeling a general level of stress lately. Part of it is work and all that goes with it. Part of it is money and still trying to figure out how to budget my money properly...you'd think at 30 I'd have this figured out. Part of it is trying to find a new place that isn't in the hood within the confines of previously mentioned budget.

Patience...

I feel adrift...and I know why...need to tune in

flux...

the only constant is change

the tiredness continues...I press on

I emailed regarding a place on the East side...great price and all utilities included...I'll know more soon

spent the weekend with John and Katie...just relaxing, eating and playing poker...a nice change of pace after work on Friday..

Friday...grrrr...I was NOT happy. All was fine until about 5 minutes til close...then it all went downhill...oh well...it happens...made getting out of town that much better..

wherever I may roam

Forgive me Blogger, for I have sinned. It's been 8 days since my last post...

on the road for work the last week and a half...it's not too bad, so long as I don't mix up which store I'm at...remembering where each store keeps it's stock is the tricky part for me. Otherwise, I'm up daily at 6am to be at a satellite store by 7 and I'm done at 4:30...not bad...get's a little crazy at some of those stores.

Shakespeare is SOOOOO much better seen live than read. Got to see Julius Caesar on Saturday night with Holly and her folks at American Players Theatre in Spring...outdoors....very cool

Cirque de Soleil is pretty amazing...Sunday in Chicago...wow wow wow. It's like the circus if Brandon Brown did it...really wild and a bit out there :P

softball season is done...we won our final game to finish on a high note.

I find myself waiting...learning patience and waiting. Not trying to be too anxious about whatever happens next, but just living in the now and appreciating what I have in this moment, while looking ahead and seeing what may be on the horizon for me.

a rolling stone gathers no moss...

the apartment search has officially begun...I made a couple of calls tonight on places....92nd and Lisbon is already rented out, so no go on that one, but I found a studio in West Allis not too far from Holly's house that's affordable, as well as another studio not far from where I'm living now....I'll have a chance to look at the 'Stallis place maybe later this week...

on the road this week for work....Waukesha to Brookfield to Grafton yesterday, with today and the rest of the week in Oak Creek...

In flux on things right now...housing, movement on some things at church...missing my youth..haha...funny to hear myself say that...

if you don't mind, I'd like to ask for prayer; I've felt tired quite a bit lately, to the point of being weary. Even with a good night's sleep, I still wake up tired...thanx

to everything, there is a season

work is kicking into full swing for my "official" position...I've been in Oak Creek the last three days and I'll be in Waukesha tuesday, then Thursday and Friday in Waukesha...helping out more than covering, but on the road nonetheless...

I stopped by my old job tonight...said hi to most folks and chatted for a bit...I miss those guys...they asked when I was coming back..I just laughed...

Eric got the job in Minneapolis....I will continue to make plans to move by October 1st...where to...that's a good question...I guess I've ruled out the East side of town, as it's too far to commute for everything in my life...West Allis looks good...

The next six weeks should be very interesting...to say the least ;)


There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

moving?

I may be moving soon...Eric has a good shot at a job in Minneapolis, and Rob may very well follow him there...I don't think I can swing the rent on our current place by myself, so I've been looking at apartments online this evening.

I'm thinking studio...maybe East side, maybe not...less then $500...parking for sure...

we'll see where this ends up

so what is it you DO anyway?

spent half of my work day in Menomonee Falls, opening the store we have there. Interesting to say the least.

So what do I do? I work for an electrical parts house. Hein is the last of the independents in Milwaukee. Everyone else has been bought and become part of a larger entity.

Here's what my job entails:
I work at the counter. An electrician comes in, and tells me what he needs for the job he's working on. I fetch the parts, write up the order, get a signature from the electrician and he's on his way. In between waiting on electricians, the other folks on the counter and I put stock away on our side of the warehouse. We also pick orders that the inside sales team writes up.

I generally enjoy what I'm doing now...it's just been a LOT to learn...basically everything about electrical distribution in homes and business, as well as data comm. Some days are frustrating because I don't know what the electrician is asking for, or I grab the wrong item for a contractor who's short on time and needs to get back to the jobsite.

Another part of my job that will increase as my knowledge increases: I'm the swingman. I cover other stores when someone needs a day off. I work primarily at the Mothership in Brookfield, but I've also worked at our stores in the Falls, Oak Creek, Downtown Milwaukee and Grafton. I've been to every store except West Bend at this point, as I do the nightly truck run on Friday nights. I do the south stock run to Pewaukee, Waukesha, Oak Creek and Oconomowoc. Basically, the stores order from Brookfield, we build the skids of stock and someone drives the North run and someone else drives the South run. I'll be learning the North run this week as well, just so I can be a backup in case of vacations, illness, whatever...

a chance to relax....?

many thoughts, little energy to type...here we go

4:12...let's not give up yet guys and gals...

Israel/Lebanon...enough already

Bush/media...again...enough already...let the man run the country for crying out loud...

Boobs...yeah..I said it...when did such young girls develop so early? and why are they wearing clothes that reveal so much?

Milwaukee Brewers...I'd settle for more consistency fellas..please

work...learning more everyday

Bible...oh how I missed thee

Sunday mornings....I've missed some..and I'm going to miss some more...and I don't want to

iBook....love it love it love it

end of brain dump

patriotism

the thought on my mind all day today was not one of just being an American, but being a patriot. The difference? To me, a patriot stands up for the ideals of a movement, not just the movement itself. America was founded on the belief of certain inalienable rights, handed down from the Creator, to be extended to all mankind. It seems to me that lately other's rights don't matter nearly as much as "my" rights. People are quick to anger when they feel their "rights" have been stepped on, even in a minor insignificant way. Lawsuits prevail as a means of settling disputes, and no one talks out grievances anymore, except thru lawyers.

I found myself in awe last night as I was walking to join my friends at the fireworks. I live in a country that allows me the freedom to travel at will, because I have a freely given privilege to drive; to assemble en masse and not fear retribution; to question the very government that protects me; to speak my mind and read what I want. Where else in the world can I do this? Really..where? I fear the old ways of Communist Russia are returning; you can't be a Nazi in Germany; there's genocide everywhere: Bosnia, Serbia, all over Africa; Dictators oppress those who speak against them; to be a Christian in many areas of the world will get you killed...and yet here's we complain when someone tell us that Christ wasn't who he said he was, or that there is no God.

I find myself captivated by those around me who don't realize how blessed we have been...God bless America? He has...time and time again,and yet we've tried to, or allowed, Him to be pushed aside...why have I not been a patriot for the Kingdom of Heaven? Why have I not stood up for the very One who stands up for me and goes before me daily? Partly fear, partly indifference...afraid to be bold and look "foolish", not caring enough about others to reach out to them...

Friends, do not forget the One who does not forget us.

meat grinder

yesterday felt like I had been thru a meat grinder at work....left work super tired and more than a little frustrated....just one of those days I guess.

A few folks have emailed me or left me a note here asking how my transition to days has gone and how I feel about being back on days after being 2nd shift for so long. Overall, the transition has gone well, although I feel as though I never have enough time, only now it's because I'm scheduling more, instead of working at night. Meetings at church, softball, social obligations...things like that...It's just learing to re-adjust to my new schedule....so far it's been just under a month, and I'm confident my schedule will settle down soon...I hope so.....

The toughest part for me has been going to bed at a reasonable hour...my body still wants to go to bed after midnight, although I'm trying to go to bed sooner...ok..not really, but I want to.


Rob Bell in Chicago next Friday.....cool :)

what a weekend...

as soon as I got done with work on Friday, I was in the truck and headed for Illinois to my grandparents' house in Galesburg. Hit a spot of traffic just outside of Milwaukee, but other than that, smooth sailing. Managed to pick up the Brewer's game quite a ways down the road til the signal finally gave out.

Arrived at the grandparents' shortly after 9pm, got Saturday morning straightened out, hung out with my cousins from Texas then crashed after midnight. My job over the weekend was to drive my grandparents around for a family reunion, so I wanted to be rested for the drive.

Woke up, showered, light breakfast and off we were. Spent the day at Siloam Springs State Park catching up with family, chasing my sister's kids, or should I say, was chased by my sister's kids, eating, and making sure grandma and grandpa were as comfortable as can be despite the heat.

After phase one of the reunion was over, the grandfolks and I drove into Quincy to stay for the night. We had reservations at a nice little motel that is pretty unassuming from the outside. My cousin Barrett looked at me as I was bringing my bag into the motel and said "there's no internet jacks on the walls, I think we're screwed." I fired up my trusty ibook and sure enough, there was motel supplied wireless :) We were good to go after being assured we could get our internet fix.

Had dinner with some family from Michigan and back to motel to get the grandfolks to bed...Barrett and I made a Walmart run since we weren't content to sit at the motel all night....then off to bed after watching some ESPN and catching up on the World Cup.

right now it's breakfast....mostly the same crowd from dinner last night...the grandfolks and I will be heading back to their place after breakfast. I'll make a stop at my mom's and her folks as well before heading back to Milwaukee....I'm glad I'm working days now, otherwise I'd be so tired from changing my schedule....

a night to unwind

tonight I decided to stay in and not go anywhere....the last couple weeks have been full enough already, and so I said screw it and stayed home.  Laundry and chores were accomplished and bed will be soon enough....amazing how average my life feels now :P

so....

I've been a little busy lately....learning alot at the new job, evenings filled with softball, church meetings and various other things.

Friday, get done with work, come home, clean up a bit, pick up Ben and head to Mayfair to get tickets to see Cars...ate dinner, raided the Apple store, muddled around Mayfair, met up with Holly and saw the movie...loved it!! go see it....as a Nascar fan, I enjoyed all the little touches, but you don't have to be a racing fan to enjoy it :)

Yesterday was rather full....softball tournament in the morning that lasted 5(!) games. got some sore muscles and some sunburn, but overall it was a good chance to play ball.

in the evening was a surprise birthday party for a friend, with many folks attendance, including my friend Julie from Des Moines...hadn't seen Julie since Brandon and Emily's wedding 3 years ago, but we've kept in touch...so good to see her :)

I woke up today very sore and my sunburn itched like mad....so I stayed home from church...didn't want to...but I honestly didn't know how I would sit thru service. my legs are very sore from running and playing catcher yesterday...I've aloe'd up my sunburn to help ease the sting...I'm just waiting for the race to come on today, so to kill time I'm watching Mexico vs. Iran in the World Cup.

a new beginning

so today was the first day of the new job....things went pretty well I'd say. Lots of walking around the warehouse picking orders, learning the system. I didn't have as rough a time getting out of bed this morning as I thought I might, and I'll probably head to bed at 11 tonight to be up at 6:30. Next week I'll be up at the counter working directly with the customers, but for the rest of this week, I'm picking orders back in the warehouse.


I spent this evening just vegging out...listened to the Brewers game (ugh) and looked for some new podcasts to download....it's weird being home at this hour and not having to call into work....haha...oh well

one....more.....day

today is my last day at Industrial Wire....I know that grilling out is the plan for tonight, since there's a holiday this weekend, and after work, some of the guys are joining me at BW3s for a drink as a farewell. As much as I've complained about things at IEWC, I'm still going to miss certain things. Mostly the guys I work with and the friendships I've built with each one of them.

Tuesday starts anew...I think the toughest part will be the schedule adjustment, but I've got the weekend to help with that....I guess we'll see....

second guessing

Holly and I watched Serendipity on Sunday night. Cute movie, but it drove me nuts. Not because it's a "chick flick", but because the two protagonists were always so close to finding each other, and yet, so far away. Throughout the movie, after their chance meeting, fate seems to be pointing them back to each other, in spite of the fact that both of them are in committed relationships.

Why do I bring this up. After the movie, Holly and I ran to the grocery store to get something to fix for dinner. I shared with Holly what bothered me the most about that movie: the second guessing of one's decisions. I tend to second guess myself alot...I come across as confident sure of myself, but internally I wonder about my choices...I'll share with you the example I gave Holly.

Since most of the folks who read this are close friends, I can spare some history. When I was dating Sherri, I felt amazing. I was in love with a beautiful woman who loved God and who loved me. We prayed together, studied God's Word together..it was fantastic. So what happened? After all, I wanted to marry her...at some point, after about a year, we both realized our lives were headed in seperate directions: she to the mission field, and I...I didn't want to leave Milwaukee because I felt like I was called to work here. I started to withdraw from Sherri, and we talked about what was ahead for us and agreed to break off the serious part of our relationship and just be friends...easier said than done, but we managed. After we broke up, I spent the next several months (yes, months) wondering what in the hell I had done...had I just blown my best shot at marriage? Was I doomed to be single forever? Keep in mind I was only 26 at the time...I thought the world was going to end. Have I ever mentioned that I struggle with jealousy? When Sherri came to and Easter service at church with someone else I was so filled with jealousy. I had a hard time being in the same room when both of them were together. When Brian and Sherri's engagement was announced at church, I just put my head down and clapped politely. the two friends on my right caught my eye and smile weakly...Tori came up to me after the service and offered her sympathy. I didn't go to the wedding...Sherri asked, thru a mutual friend, if I wanted an invite, and I politely declined. Brian and Sherri had a few more months of training in Waukesha before heading to Oregon for a year. Can I admit that I was relieved that they were going to the mission field? That I wouldn't have to see them on a regular basis, as if to remind me of what I had NOT chosen...

Holly listened to me as we drove down to the Sentry in Tosa village and as we walked thru the store getting our items. At some point, in the bread aisle, I took her by the arm, looked into her eyes and said "I made the right decision with you" She smiled.

pushing on...even when I don't want to

this week has been long...10 hour days at work and not much time otherwise...I've been getting to bed later and later...last night was just after 6am...tonight will be more of the same I'm sure.

Why? I'm at church, it's 4:30am and I just finished pulling the network cable to tie the Mac into the network for Ben. (BTW Ben, you really ought to log out when you leave for the night...mmmmkay? PWND!!)

Why am I pullling network cable this late? I got done working at 2 and I had promised Ben that I would tie him in a couple days ago. Tonight I pushed thru, even though I had to take an unconventional route, do some drilling and eventually, I'll need to affix the cable to something more permanent...

Work has been tough too...the 10 hour days wear me out. I've agreed to stay on and finish out my two weeks and not take the second week as vacation to help out my boss and the guys I'm leaving behind...Holly thinks I'm crazy, but admires my loyalty. My boss wasn't surprised when I offered to stick it out and has thanked me a couple times already. Last night at work I had to fight off the desire to just pack it in and screw off for several hours...we're actually getting ahead for a change.

I'm going to go home now...and sleep I think....I'm hungry.,.....maybe a sandwich before bed....

transitions

this week at work we're pulling 10 hour days in an attempt to dig ourselves out of the hole sales keeps putting us in. I don't mind so much, except that it has really wiped me out in just two days...I was home by 2:30 this morning, walked the dog, and started working on a co-worker's computer....the caffeine finally wore off at 5 and I crashed...got out of bed about 2, grabbed a sandwich and I'm now mentally gearing myself up for tonight. I think the hardest part about 2nd shift for me has been the lack of social interaction with my friends. I see the guys at work, and I've gotten close to a few of them, but they aren't my friends I've had...follow me? I've got goofy hours that result in email tag with alot of my friends, and the occasional phone call during the week, and trying to see people on the weekends...

That all changes soon...I'm hoping to have some time, like a couple days, to adjust back to waking up in the morning, but nothing is too certain at this point.